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Odds and Ends: Phelps, Mirabelli, Varitek

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Random rumors and links for your perusal…

  • The Cardinals inked Josh Phelps to a minor league deal that could be worth up to $1MM.  I always liked Phelps; he’s a more than capable bench guy.
  • The Red Sox bit the bullet and brought Doug Mirabelli back for another round.  Tony Massarotti notes that the Red Sox may sign Jason Varitek to an extension this spring worth upward of $10MM annually.  I still like the idea of going after Kenji Johjima next winter.
  • RotoAuthority ranks the shortstops for fantasy leagues, hot off the press.

Notes From Hot Stove, Cool Music: Cashman, Santana, Varitek

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A few interesting tidbits came about via the Hot Stove, Cool Music charitable event on Saturday.  The Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford has the details.

  • Brian Cashman admitted that he lost some power when the Hank and Hal regime took over.  He no longer has full authority to run everything, a sticking point when he signed on several years ago.  It would not be shocking to see Cashman move on when his term ends after the 2008 season.  He’s finishing up a three-year, $5.4MM deal.
  • For what it’s worth, Theo Epstein seemed to indicate that the dragging Johan Santana talks are not holding up other moves for the Red Sox.  But really it’s hard to believe that Coco Crisp’s situation hasn’t been delayed.  Boston already lost the White Sox as a suitor, most likely.
  • During Spring Training, Scott Boras plans to begin contract extension talks with the Red Sox for Jason Varitek.  Here’s a look at other free agent backstops the Sox could consider after the ’08 season.  Kenji Johjima could be an interesting signing.

Odds and Ends: Estrada, Payton, Kielty

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Random rumors from the day…

  • The Bucs are set with their starting five, unless they can trade Matt Morris.  Dejan Kovacevic adds that the Pirates and Johnny Estrada have mutual interest but haven’t spoken in a while.
  • Roch Kubatko expects the Orioles to shop Jay Payton now that they’ve acquired Chris Roberson.  Really, all of their vets should be fully available.
  • Bobby Kielty has interest from three or four teams, but his first choice is Boston.  The likelihood of that increases if Coco Crisp is sent elsewhere.  Kielty is willing to give up switch-hitting if his new team so desires.
  • Troy E. Renck has salary details on Mark Redman and Kip Wells.  Redman gets $1MM, with another possible $500K in incentives.  Wells gets a $3.1MM base with another possible $1.5MM in incentives.

Gammons Chat: Crisp, Santana, Ramirez

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The Boston Globe ran a chat with Peter Gammons today, and some good hot stove material came about.

  • Gammons believes the Rangers or A’s could go after Coco Crisp if he’s not dealt to the Twins.  He notes that "the A’s think he’s the best CF in the game right now," and that Billy Beane could acquire him to flip him.
  • He says the Mets are currently trying to build up inventory to trade for Johan Santana, and that might be why Bill Smith hasn’t pulled the trigger on anything yet.
  • Gammons believes the Red Sox will exercise Manny Ramirez’s $20MM options for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.  He notes that Manny is getting himself into phenomenal shape this winter.

Odds and Ends: Cantu, McPherson, Youkilis

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Some evening odds and ends for your enjoyment…

  • The Marlins are "pretty far along" on a deal with Jorge Cantu.  He’d battle with Jose Castillo for playing time at third base.  Dallas McPherson may be another possibility – he had talks with another club (the Giants?) recently fall through.  The Fish are one of three or four clubs McPherson likes, though he’s not sure whether the interest is mutual.  I hope the Marlins sign ’em both, maybe one of the three works out.
  • Nick Cafardo discusses the slight possibility that the Red Sox and Kevin Youkilis discuss a long-term extension rather than go year-to-year with him.  This is Youk’s first year of arbitration eligibility.  I imagine his salary could jump up from $425K to $2-4MM.

Latest Johan Santana Rumors

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UPDATE, 1-2-08 at 10:45pm: Nothing new with Boston’s pursuit of Santana; Nick Cafardo says the Sox still have two different offers on the table for the Twins.  Cafardo notes that Santana’s agent quoted the starting bid around seven years, $140MM – and the Red Sox are fine with that. 

UPDATE, 1-2-08 at 4:19pm: LEN3 adds that the Mariners are not in the running for Johan.  Coupled with the info below it seems to be between the Mets and Red Sox currently.

FROM 1-2-08 at 1:21pm:

Peter Abraham had a note this morning about Johan Santana.  He says "there are no indications the Yankees will suddenly get back into the mix for Santana."  Abraham notes that the main issue for the Yanks remains the massive extension they’d have to give Santana.

Back on December 28th Joel Sherman said the Yanks had "become more entrenched in their unwillingness to pay the price both in prospects and dollars."  He noted that they were reluctant to hand over Phil Hughes or $130MM to Johan.

On the 27th, Jayson Stark said the Yankees last offer was Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez, and an undetermined fourth player, but the proposal was off the table.  Stark believed that Hank Steinbrenner could still decide to re-engage the Santana talks though.

Johan Santana Rumors

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UPDATE, 12-29-07 at 10:59am: Jayson Stark’s sources speak of glacially moving Santana talks with the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, and Mariners that may drag out for several more weeks.

UPDATE, 12-28-07 at 11:00am: Joel Sherman’s sources name the Red Sox as the "strong favorite" to acquire Santana in the new year.  He sees the Yankees backing down and the Mets as lagging behind for lack of MLB-ready young players in their offer.  Also here’s a Jayson Stark Santana article I missed yesterday giving his take on the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets.

UPDATE, 12-27-07 at 2:59pm: Charley Walters has some quotes from the Twins’ president.  He gives the impression that the Twins’ priority is still to sign Santana to an extension, for what it’s worth.  They’ll have to do better than four years and $80MM though.

FROM 12-26-07 at 10:50pm:

LEN3 checks in with the latest Johan Santana rumors this evening.

  • The Mets appear to be a solid contender, even without offering up Jose Reyes.  Neal ponders whether the Twins would prefer to send Santana to the NL so they can avoid him.  Matthew Cerrone has been saying this for some time, adding that Santana would prefer to come to the NL as well.
  • Interesting note – Neal says Kei Igawa’s name has surfaced in regards to the Yankees talks.  It wouldn’t materially change the deal though.
  • Neal says talks with the Red Sox are currently dormant. 

Twins Back Down On Santana Demand

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Murray Chass reports this morning that the Twins have scaled back their demands for Johan Santana, at least with the Yankees.  He says they are now willing to substitute Jeff Marquez for Ian Kennedy.  So the Yankees would have to give up Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Marquez (and one more player, I’m guessing). 

Marquez is a 23 year-old Double A righty who probably does not fall within the Yankees’ top ten prospects.  He seems a more reasonable demand than Kennedy.  About three weeks ago, Bill Madden said the Yanks could’ve acquired Santana for Hughes, Cabrera, Marquez, and Mitch Hilligoss but bailed out for financial reasons.

Anyway, Chass adds that the Yanks would be hit by luxury tax if they acquired and extended Santana.  For example, a five-year, $100MM deal would result in a constant $7.5MM annually in luxury tax.  This does not seem to bother the Yankees.

Nick Cafardo wrote a few days ago that the Red Sox are standing pat with an offer of Coco Crisp, Jon Lester, Justin Masterson, and Jed Lowrie for Santana.  For what it’s worth, David Ortiz doesn’t think the Sox will get Johan.

Latest Johan Santana Rumors

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The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo has the latest on the lingering Johan Santana saga.

  • The Red Sox are standing pat with their offer of Coco Crisp, Jon Lester, Justin Masterson, and Jed Lowrie.  I’ve said it before – I consider this an excellent offer, though I might try to find a permutation that involves Jacoby Ellsbury and another player rather than Crisp/Lester.  The Twins seem to like this offer too; they just want to see if the Yankees crack and offer up Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, and Phil Hughes.
  • The Theo Epstein regime typically hasn’t been jazzed about contracts exceeding four years.  However they will break that rule for a Santana extension and are prepared to go seven if they have to.
  • Cafardo dismisses the idea that Josh Beckett would be upset by Santana earning twice his salary.  Beckett will get his payday after the 2010 season, unless he flames out or the Red Sox extend him earlier.
  • Random question: is there any chance the Red Sox exercise Manny Ramirez’s $20MM option for 2009?  Rob Bradford discussed this very topic over at the Boston Herald.

White Sox Sign Alexei Ramirez

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UPDATE, 12-22-07 at 6:00pm: Ramirez can earn another $3.25MM in incentives.

UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 10:57pm: Ramirez gets a mere $4.75MM over the four-year pact.  That’s an excellent move right there, in my opinion.  Dirt cheap – low risk, decent reward.

FROM 12-21-07 at 5:35pm:

The White Sox made an interesting move today, signing Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez to a four-year contract.  The presence of Jose Contreras should be helpful for him.  Ramirez probably profiles as Chicago’s center fielder, though he could also play second base.  Here’s what Baseball America had to say about him a few months ago.

It’s tough to judge this signing until we hear the money involved.  He was apparently highly sought after, as ESPN says he worked out for the Red Sox, Indians, Reds, Cubs, Mets, Yankees, Twins, and A’s too.  Ramirez is apparently 26 years old.  I think he’s going to need some time in the minors, as Clay Davenport has equated Cuban baseball with our short season A ball.

As a means of comparison, Yuniesky Betancourt signed for four years and $2.826MM in January of 2005.  Kendry Morales signed a four-year deal worth around $10MM in December of 2004.

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