Boras Speaks
Scott Boras held court with the media in Las Vegas this evening. Here’s the full transcript. Amy Nelson described the scene.
- He has contract offers for Mark Teixeira from every team with interest. It’s possible that Tex could reach an agreement by the end of the Meetings, but it’s certainly possible he doesn’t. Boras defended the idea of Tex signing with a losing team based on Tigers signings he brokered a few years back.
- The Red Sox offered Jason Varitek a contract.
- Boras on Ned Colletti’s comment that he hadn’t heard back since their offer to Manny Ramirez: "I think you’d have to revisit that with Ned Colletti, that information is inaccurate."
Derek Lowe Rumors: Wednesday
10:08pm: A note from Dave O’Brien:
Just so you know, one of Boras’ guys also claims the Braves have expressed at least some interest in Lowe.
5:18pm: Jayson Stark has a source saying the Phillies aren’t pursuing Lowe, and didn’t make an offer.
4:27pm: Gordon Edes agrees, Lowe is not on the verge of signing. He does have offers in hand from the Yanks and Phillies, with the Mets and Red Sox in talks. The Brewers made contact but are considered a long shot. Edes says Lowe’s desire to return to Boston has been overstated. Edes says the two offers are in the four-year, $65MM range, and a fifth year could clinch it.
3:14pm: Rosenthal says the Yankees’ talks with Lowe are progressing, but reports that they’re close are overblown. He adds that the Yanks are also in active discussions with A.J. Burnett, and, surprisingly, Andy Pettitte. Kevin Baxter believes it’s the Yanks or retirement for Pettitte.
8:56am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees were discussing a four-year, $66MM deal with Derek Lowe late Tuesday night. Via MetsBlog, Heyman said on WFAN this morning that the Yanks are closing in.
John Smoltz Rumors
9:30pm: Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski confirmed interest in Smoltz.
6:56pm: MLB.com’s Jason Beck says at least seven teams have shown some level of interest in Smoltz.
4:04pm: Rosenthal says "the Braves are prepared to lose Smoltz if another team offers him a significant guarantee on a one-year deal."
2:53pm: Jerry Crasnick indicates Tom Glavine doesn’t have the same open-mindedness to other teams as Smoltz. For Glavine it’s probably the Braves or retirement. Glavine’s ahead of schedule in his rehab.
2:10pm: Nick Cafardo says Smoltz still prefers Atlanta but is also considering the Red Sox, Mets, and Tigers. The Tigers’ interest appears to be mutual, according to Jon Paul Morosi.
1:54pm: Sean McAdam says the Red Sox have had discussions with Smoltz’s agent. They’ve checked in on tons of free agents though, perhaps as a ruse.
WEDNESDAY, 11:43am: ESPN’s Peter Gammons says the Red Sox are one of the teams that received Smoltz’s medical info.
TUESDAY: Rosenthal says Smoltz’s agents are passing out medical info to teams. Rosenthal spoke to one GM who believed Smoltz might be willing to leave the Braves.
MONDAY: Since the Braves have yet to offer a contract to rehabbing pitcher John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal wonders if other teams will jump in with bids. But rest easy, Braves fans. Everyone still expects Smoltz to re-sign with Atlanta.
C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Tuesday
11:55pm: Joel Sherman has a source saying it’s possible Cashman could begin the process of finalizing a contract for Sabathia while in San Francisco.
Sherman notes that Cashman is looking at many other free agent starters as well, and is pushing to begin closing deals.
10:30pm: As you might imagine, Dan Graziano speaks of a breakthrough in the Yankees’ negotiations for Sabathia.
10:07pm: Jon Heyman talked to Angels owner Arte Moreno, who said, "I wouldn’t say we’re in the Sabathia picture at all."
9:14pm: Ken Davidoff and Kat O’Brien say Cashman bailed on his media session today to meet with Sabathia in San Francisco. Cashman may want to meet Sabathia’s wife, who is obviously a factor in his decision.
9:13pm: Sabathia is a fallback position for the Giants, according to Brian Sabean.
7:56pm: Doug Melvin says the Brewers have not increased their offer to Sabathia, nor have they decided that they won’t. The ball is in Melvin’s court on whether to increase the offer.
6:30pm: Brian Sabean says reports of a weekend scheduled with Sabathia are false.
6:05pm: Danny Knobler says the Halos remain a serious player for Sabathia and could trade a pitcher like Jered Weaver for a bat if they sign him.
5:03pm: An update from Peter Gammons:
Some players have said the Angels have made it clear to Sabathia that they’ll guarantee him six years, but both sides say it is not true. Sabathia has not turned down the Yankees, either. He has offers from the Brewers, Angels and Red Sox, and the Giants have made it clear they will be in the bidding in certain circumstances.
4:45pm: According to Ken Davidoff, the Brewers do not intend to raise their offer to C.C.
4:32pm: Rosenthal says there’s no truth to the rumor that Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer.
4:09pm: Baggarly talked to an exec close to the Sabathia talks who believes the Brewers are emerging as the frontrunner.
3:39pm: Joel Sherman doesn’t say anything about the Yanks’ offer being declined, but he does say the Yanks have heightened interest in A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe as Brian Cashman continues to wait on C.C.
3:24pm: Unconfirmed rumor from Andrew Baggarly: Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer. He still printed it though. The Giants are expected to meet with Sabathia this weekend; they’d need to get creative to sign him.
2:21pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia is convinced the Giants will become a serious bidder.
1:45pm: Tony Jackson’s heard word that Giants officials are "supremely confident" they’re going to sign Sabathia.
1:34pm: Sabathia apparently spent a lot of his time with the Yankees peppering them with lifestyle questions about New York, says Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
12:11pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Giants intend to meet with C.C. Sabathia, perhaps in San Francisco this weekend. They weren’t able to get together while Sabathia was in Vegas.
Rangers Like Clay Buchholz
11:29pm: Ryan was apparently just joking with the Buchholz lines.
3:01pm: Some chatter today about Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz today. Rangers president Nolan Ryan admitted to interest, but Theo Epstein values him tremendously. Ryan’s quote was a tad presumptuous:
I think he’s a real talent. Obviously being a Texas kid we think will look really good in a Texas uniform.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Tuesday
10:09pm: Angels owner Arte Moreno to Jon Heyman: "Teixeira’s my guy. There are obviously other people we like. But he’s our main target." Currently, the Angels aren’t planning to set a deadline when they make an offer to Tex.
9:11pm: Brian Sabean ruled out Teixeira for the Giants.
4:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Angels are "beginning to recognize they will not be the high bidder" for Tex. Some of Rosenthal’s sources believe the Nationals will come in the highest.
3:48pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown says Angels owner Arte Moreno "has been deeply involved in negotiations with Scott Boras regarding Teixeira, as well as with agent Greg Genske on Sabathia." Brown says the Angels may be willing to give Tex seven years if necessary. The Halos are weighing the idea of going after Manny Ramirez if they miss out on Tex and C.C.
11:39am: Jon Heyman says the Red Sox have been one of Tex’s most aggressive pursuers.
1:47am: Yahoo’s Gordon Edes surveyed several club officials, and they believe the Red Sox will sign Mark Teixeira. They have the money and a strong relationship with Scott Boras. However, the Yankees are heavily interested even if they’ve yet to make an offer. And the Angels are said to be "desperate" to retain Tex. As far as we know, no one’s made an offer. Edes sees the Orioles and Nationals on the periphery, though both clubs are serious about Teixeira.
D’Backs Keeping Snyder, Montero
9:01pm: WEEI’s Alex Speier says the D’Backs offered Montero to the Red Sox for Michael Bowden and were turned down.
6:48pm: According to Ed Price, the D’Backs are telling people they plan to keep catchers Chris Snyder and Miguel Montero. They did not like the way the market was shaping up.
Red Sox Rumors: Ortiz, Lyon, Delcarmen
More Red Sox rumors from Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe…
- David Ortiz has 10-and-5 rights, in case you’re thinking up trade scenarios.
- The Sox have interest in Brandon Lyon for a late-inning role.
- Manny Delcarmen narrowly missed arbitration, perhaps a calculated move by the team.
Rafael Furcal Rumors: Tuesday
5:59pm: Kinzer told Rosenthal the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Royals, and A’s are in the running for Furcal, who still wants a four-year deal.
5:34pm: The Red Sox have not contacted Paul Kinzer about Furcal, says WEEI’s Alex Speier.
3:28pm: J.P. Ricciardi confirmed his informational meeting with Furcal’s agent. The Jays would have to move some things around to fit in any significant acquisition.
12:12pm: The Dodgers have made re-signing Furcal their top priority, says Tom Verducci.
12:32am: Though Furcal reportedly rejected an Oakland offer of four years for $35-40MM, GM Billy Beane would not say his pursuit is over.
12:11am: According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers re-opened talks with Rafael Furcal Monday night. They are unwilling to give him a four-year deal.
Red Sox Rumors: Payton, Taguchi, Bard, Paulino
Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald has a few new Red Sox rumors:
- The Sox are not interested in Jay Payton or any Craig Landis client (he also reps Jon Garland). They’re also not in on So Taguchi.
- Josh Bard could be a Plan B or C at catcher. Ronny Paulino has also been discussed.