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Arbitration Decisions

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Free agents’ decisions on whether to accept their teams’ offers of arbitration are rolling in.

  • Eric Gagne told the Red Sox that he won’t their offer of arbitration.  The Boras camp had sent signals otherwise, but it was an idle threat.  He wants that multiyear deal or at least a chance to close.  The Red Sox get a delicious sandwich pick for their dalliance with Gagne.  Could’ve been more, if Gagne was lights out for them and snagged Type A status.
  • Mark Loretta accepted; Trever Miller declined.  Loretta should make $3MM+ to take on a utility role.  The Astros could always still trade him to a team looking for second base help.  As for Miller, he could still return.  The Astros will get a sandwich pick if he leaves.
  • Ron Mahay declined the Braves’ offer.  No surprise since he’s looking for three years.  You have to consider their sandwich pick as an added benefit of the Teixeira trade.
  • Aaron Rowand is expected to decline, which is a formality since he’s going to get at least three years.  As a Type A, the Phils probably hope he ends up with the Yankees somehow.

Coco Crisp’s Agent Speaks

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Coco Crisp’s agent, Steve Comte, supplied all sorts of quotes to the Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford.  Covelli’s not a fourth outfielder, he’s better than Jacoby Ellsbury, he’s a proven commodity, stuff like that.  It was interesting to read, and you can see where Crisp and Comte are coming from.  But it doesn’t really change anything, because if the Red Sox don’t trade Crisp and he wants his $4.75MM next year, he’s going to have to live with a reduced role.

Bradford mentions that the White Sox, A’s, Rangers, and Braves have inquired on Crisp.  The Padres, Twins, and Orioles have also been connected to him.

Red Sox Considering Bench Additions

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Sean McAdam writes today about some bench players on Boston’s radar.  He names Russell Branyan, Ryan Klesko, Corey Koskie, Jeff Cirillo, and Olmedo Saenz as possibilities.  Branyan may be toward the bottom of the list.  He had an odd .196/.320/.423 line this year with 10 HR in 163 ABs.

Klesko seems the best hitter of the bunch with a .744 OPS this year.  Koskie missed the ’07 season with post-concussion syndrome.  He said he’ll re-evaluate in January and decide whether he can play or has to retire.

Red Sox, Blue Jays and Erik Bedard

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A note from Jayson Stark’s recent column is making the rounds – that the offers the Orioles were hearing for Erik Bedard were coming from the Blue Jays and Red Sox.  Stark notes the strong improbability of Bedard being trade to a division rival.

The count of teams interested in Bedard reached 11 during the crazy Winter Meetings.  The Red Sox are the 12th team. 

Here’s the tally: Phillies, Cardinals, Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, D’Backs, Reds, Cubs, Red Sox, and Blue Jays.  Toss out the AL East and we’re at 9.  Toss out the Phils and Cards for lack of top tier available youngsters too.  That leaves us with these 7: Mets, Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, D’Backs, Reds, and Cubs.

Heyman’s Latest: Santana, Gagne, Kuroda

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has penned (or typed I guess) a new column with some hot stove banter.

  • The Mets are offering Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, and others for Santana.  Joel Sherman thinks the offer is at least viable, and that Aaron Heilman may interest Minnesota..  The Yankees offered Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Jeff Marquez.  The Red Sox proposed Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson.  The Mariners have offered Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow.  Seems to me the Red Sox still have the advantage, at least slightly.
  • Heyman says the Brewers and Astros are in the mix for Eric Gagne (if he doesn’t accept arbitration).  Regarding the Brewers, though, Doug Melvin said today that they already have a closer in Derrick Turnbow.
  • Heyman says offers for Hiroki Kuroda are expected to approach $15MM per year.  Damn, for him?

Gagne May Accept Arbitration

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According to Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald, Eric Gagne may accept Boston’s offer of arbitration.  The deadline for that decision occurs tomorrow.  Bradford says a surprising number of players might accept tomorrow.

Bradford thinks it may just be posturing, and Gagne will hook on to close with the Brewers, Rangers, or Astros.  After all, he’d make more money in 2009 if he finished ’08 with 30 saves.

Not Much Cooking With Johan

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UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:25pm: Check out LENIII’s latest.  He believes the Red Sox were always serious about Santana.  Neal suggests the Angels are a sleeper even though they’ve yet to discuss Johan with the Twins.  Neal spoke to an agent who nominated the Mets as his sleeper.  As for the Dodgers, Neal’s not sensing much interest. 

FROM 12-6-07 at 10:13am:

Thus is the nature of the rumor mill – tons of words expended on possibilities, sometimes with little closure.  The latest semi-news on Johan Santana:

At this moment, nothing much appears to be simmering on the Santana hot stove.

Beckett Won’t Ask For Restructured Deal

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Remember when Josh Beckett signed his three-year, $30MM extension on July 16th of 2006?  At the time of the signing, Beckett’s Boston career consisted of 114 innings of a 5.12 ERA.  Many considered the extension questionable.

A year and a half later, Beckett’s extension is a huge bargain.  He could easily get the same amount over two seasons.  There had been some concern that the Red Sox might trade for Johan Santana and pay him upward of $20MM per year, perturbing Beckett.

Rob Bradford was able to contact the gruff Beckett last night, and his salary doesn’t seem to be a concern.  Beckett knows plenty of pitchers had worse years in 2007 and made more money (Mike Mussina, for example).  He’ll get paid in line with his work starting with the 2010 season. 

Johan Santana Rumors: Wednesday

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UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 7:50pm: Tim Brown says the Red Sox had a moment of doubt, but they remain the frontrunner for Santana.  The previously mentioned packages apply.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 6:21pm: LENIII checks in on the interest level of the six teams involved.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 5:05pm: Santana’s agent, Peter Greenberg, indicated that the Mets are in the running for Santana.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 2:48pm: BP’s John Perrotto talked to a Twins official, and it definitely looks like the Meetings will end without a Johan deal.  Perrotto says he’s still likely to be dealt before Spring Training.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 2:18pm: Ken Rosenthal believes the door is open for more teams to jump in, especially the Mariners.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 12:43pm: Jon Heyman reports that the Mets are trying to work their way back into the mix.  They’re still viewed as a longshot without Jose Reyes in the offer, but at least the Twins are listening.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 12:21pm: The Red Sox and Twins are still engaged in talks.  The Sox are still considering the Yankees a factor.  And no, Ellsbury signing on with Boras doesn’t change the Twins’ opinion of him.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 11:26am: Joel Sherman describes Boston’s two goals in the Santana Sweepstakes.  He wonders whether the Sox and Twins could reach an accord on players and then the Red Sox wouldn’t be able to agree with Santana on an extension.  Meanwhile Gammons himself reiterates that he senses the Twins will hold onto Santana.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 10:54am: Peter Gammons via Amy Nelson is saying Santana may not be traded.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 9:56am: According to Keith Law via MetsBlog, the Twins have reached out to the Mets, Dodgers, and Angels to revisit Santana talks.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 9:43am: Joel Sherman agrees with Bill Madden’s take below – part of the reason the Yankees pulled out is that even they have a payroll.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 8:30am: The Yankees could’ve had Santana for Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez, and Mitch Hilligoss.  Brian Cashman, however, never wanted to sacrifice Hughes for Santana and convinced his bosses that the Yankees couldn’t afford him now that Andy Pettitte is in the fold.  This near-trade won’t be forgotten by Yankees fans, unless Hughes takes off in ’08.

FROM 12-5-07 at 12:55am:

Time for a fresh Johan thread.  Yesterday’s had 297 comments on it.

The Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford says the Red Sox told Ryan Kalish’s agent that his name has never come up in the Santana talks with Minnesota.  Peter Gammons had said the 19 year-old outfielder was added to the deal to make it a 5-for-1 around 3pm yesterday.

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