Another Manny Update From Feinsand
SATURDAY, 5:47pm: Mark Feinsand reports:
"Manny Ramirez has told friends that he is confident the Yankees will offer him a contract of at least three years."
Earlier this week we clarified that Manny has yet to receive any offer from the Yanks, as far as we can tell.
As this evening’s article states, where Ramirez ends up is largely contingent upon the upcoming Mark Teixeira signing. The Angels, Yankees and Dodgers are on the short list of bidders for Ramirez’ services.
THURSDAY: On Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News relayed thoughts from a baseball official who believed the Yankees are willing to give Manny Ramirez a three-year deal worth $22-25MM per. So this is a likely non-Yankees baseball person giving an opinion. Feinsand added that two other officials were skeptical that the Yankees would offer three years.
Today, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote: "The New York Daily News has already reported the Yankees have a three-year, $66 million offer out to Manny."
As far as I can tell, the New York Daily News did not report that the Yankees made a three-year offer or any offer to Ramirez. If they did, please send me the link and I’ll put it up!
Gammons’ Latest: Teixeira, Cameron, Montero
The latest blog post from ESPN’s Peter Gammons is up.
- Gammons talked to a source close to Mark Teixeira who says Tex and the Red Sox are not that far apart.
- The Yankees backed off on the Mike Cameron trade because Melky Cabrera is showing improved plate discipline in winter ball (his walk rate is up, though it’s only 15 games). Additionally, Brett Gardner has believers in the organization.
- The Diamondbacks were unwilling to trade catcher Miguel Montero to the Red Sox for Daniel Bard, while the Sox wouldn’t part with Michael Bowden. Gammons says it hasn’t been seriously discussed but wonders if the Red Sox would eat the $22MM owed to Eric Byrnes to get Montero.
- One part of the post that is getting attention is when Gammons names a bunch of things "we don’t know," implying that he suspects these things are possible. For example: "We don’t know whether the Red Sox will decide not to pony up and sign Teixeira or whether there really might be a three-way deal among the White Sox, Angels and Reds that would put Jermaine Dye in Cincinnati, Joey Votto in Anaheim and Chone Figgins in Chicago." So, not quite a trade rumor here. The Reds would, of course, want more for Votto if he’s even available. When this semi-rumor makes the rounds it must be discussed in the proper context – the paragraph’s theme was things we don’t know are accurate.
Angels Agree To Terms With Juan Rivera
2:44pm: The AP reports Rivera’s three-year deal is worth $12.75MM. It might turn out OK if Rivera is able to hit .300 to push his OBP to an acceptable range.
FRIDAY, 1:49pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says Rivera has agreed to a three-year contract with the Angels. Three years seems excessive, but we don’t know the money yet. Does this take the Halos out of the mix for Manny Ramirez?
THURSDAY, 10:37pm: According to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, the Angels are nearing a three-year agreement with free agent outfielder Juan Rivera.
Brown says the Halos are pursuing other free agents as well and operating as if Mark Teixeira will sign with the Red Sox. GM Tony Reagins has talked to the agents for Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, and Adam Dunn, but not Milton Bradley. The Angels may also sign a closer, and Brian Fuentes makes sense.
Odds and Ends: Abreu, Millwood, Wigginton
Links for Thursday…
- Luke Hudson agreed to stay with the Royals on a minor league deal. And because Braves fans keep emailing it…the Braves signed Lance Niekro as a pitcher, as noted in the minor league transactions we linked yesterday. Talking Chop and Henry Schulman have more.
- Along similar lines, here’s a link to Joel Sherman’s December 12th story about the Orlando Hudson and Adam Dunn being the Nationals’ backup plan for Mark Teixeira. That came four days before the Jon Heyman report people keep emailing.
- C.C. Sabathia‘s preferred teams heading into free agency: the Yankees, Brewers, and Angels.
- Dave O’Brien tries to figure out what the Braves should do with all their money.
- John Fay explains why the Reds may attempt to acquire a young shortstop.
- The Orioles may move on to Gregg Zaun now that Matt Treanor is off the board.
- Geoff Baker speculates on a possible Mariners-Brewers trade match, though nothing seems to be cooking currently.
- RotoAuthority looks at the biggest losers, comparing ’09 fantasy baseball mock draft positions to ’08.
- I did a Q&A with Called Safe At Second.
- ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick writes about how teams view free agent outfielder Bobby Abreu.
- Kevin Millwood has twelve million reasons to pitch 180 innings in 2009. I never understood that phrase. Why is each dollar a reason?
- Dejan Kovacevic says Ty Wigginton has no wish to return to Pittsburgh.
- Roch Kubatko is hearing the Orioles may have reached a settlement with Sidney Ponson regarding the grievance.
- Pitcher Jon Leicester is the latest to head to Japan.
- Might not read about this on MLBTR, eh? Chico Harlan says the Nationals signed 16 year-old Dominican prospects Bill Pena and Gregory Baez.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Markakis, Johnson
We have a new column from Ken Rosenthal this evening.
- Mark Teixeira is holding up many areas of the free agent market, as guys like Brian Fuentes and Milton Bradley know the Angels will be interested if Tex signs elsewhere.
- Rosenthal believes the Yankees should continue to be aggressive and make a competitive bid for Teixeira.
- The "poor working conditions and occasionally unruly crowd behavior" make it hard for the A’s to attract free agents. Their move in 2012 should help.
- Rosenthal believes Chase Utley‘s seven year, $85MM deal could provide a framework for a Nick Markakis extension.
- The A’s will wait for free agent bargains now that they’ve lost Rafael Furcal.
- The Red Sox and Mets are the main suitors for Derek Lowe, with the Yankees less likely.
- The Braves have been shopping Kelly Johnson for an outfielder. Attempts to acquire Ryan Ludwick or Corey Hart did not work out.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Wednesday
2:15pm: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun talked to Orioles president Andy MacPhail, who reminded that the Orioles have flexibility with their offer.
10:46am: Nick Cafardo talked to a GM for one of the five teams in the Teixeira bidding who believes the Red Sox are in the lead. So…was it Andy MacPhail, Jim Bowden, Brian Cashman, or Tony Reagins?
9:54am: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Orioles have not improved their initial offer to Mark Teixeira. The Red Sox, Angels, and Nationals have higher bids on the table. Olney’s source believes Teixeira would have to "really, really want to play there" to take Baltimore’s offer.
Based on the most recent reports, the Red Sox appear to be at eight years, the Nationals at eight years, $160MM, and Angels at eight years and at least $160MM, and the Orioles at seven years in the $140-150MM range. I’m guessing a ninth year and an opt-out clause will be two of the biggest factors when it’s all said and done.
Cardinals Rumors: Fuentes, Saito, Kawakami, Uehara
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the latest on the Cardinals’ hunt for pitching.
GM John Mozeliak is getting impatient with Brian Fuentes‘ agents, who are waiting for the market to develop. They might be waiting for the Angels to jump in, but that won’t happen until the Mark Teixeira situation is resolved. Strauss says the Cardinals have offered two years and $16-18MM, and the ball is in Fuentes’ court. Fuentes, of course, wants three years and more than $30MM. The Cardinals are reluctant to give him the third year.
Strauss says the Cards "may investigate the availability" of Takashi Saito, though the Dodgers hope to re-sign him. Strauss also learned that Mozeliak met with the agents for Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara at the Winter Meetings.
Derek Lowe Rumors: Tuesday
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has the latest on the market for free agent starter Derek Lowe. Heyman says "some baseball people think" the Cubs might get in on Lowe, since his price tag may be similar to the four years and $63MM left on Jake Peavy‘s contract.
Heyman believes the Yankees will resume discussions with Lowe if they fail to sign Andy Pettitte. However, he says they expect Pettitte to accept their $10MM offer.
Heyman indicates the Braves, Red Sox, Mets and Angels are also on Lowe’s radar.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday
SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Yankees aren’t optimistic about signing Mark Teixeira, and "seem ready to pounce for Manny Ramirez." He says the Yankees "love the idea of Manny."
Heyman notes that Teixeira signing with the Red Sox would be ideal for Manny and Scott Boras, since Boston is not a possibility for Ramirez. The Angels might have heightened interest in Manny if they are unable to sign Tex.
Phillies Sign Raul Ibanez
TUESDAY: The Phillies’ three-year, $31.5MM deal with Ibanez is official.
FRIDAY, 12:45pm: Geoff Baker offers commentary on the signing. He says the Cubs cooled on Ibanez over defensive concerns while the Angels remained in a Mark Teixeira holding pattern.
7:56am: Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Phillies have signed Raul Ibanez to a three-year deal. Rosenthal says the contract is worth $30MM. The deal is pending a physical.
As a type A free agent, the Mariners will receive the Phillies’ first round pick next year (#28) and a supplemental pick between the first and second round. With Ibanez now the everyday left fielder, Jayson Stark says the Phillies will cut ties with Pat Burrell.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.