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Cliff Lee Rumors: Sunday

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We checked in earlier today on the top free agent hitter, Carl Crawford. Now, let's round up the latest updates on the market's top pitcher….

  • Lee told teammates that he would return to the Rangers if they offer him a sixth year, sources tell Tim Brown of Yahoo (via Twitter).
  • Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter) hears that Texas will not offer six years to Lee but expects the Yankees to do so.
  • The Nats are a longshot to land Lee, GM Mike Rizzo told MLB.com's Bill Ladson (via Twitter).
  • The Yankees have yet to make a formal proposal to Lee and his agent Darek Braunecker is hoping to get a deal done in Orlando, says Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter links).
  • It still looks like a two-horse race for Cliff Lee, who has been visited in person twice by the Rangers and once by the Yankees, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. "It appears the Rangers will draw the line at five years for the 32-year-old lefthander," Cafardo says. "But the Yankees could put it over the top with a sixth year."
  • An AL exec explains to Joel Sherman of the New York Post why the Yanks are the favorites: "There is no Plan B that is acceptable [when it comes to upgrading a rotation that needs to be upgraded]. They have looked around and know it is worthwhile to spend what they must to fix what is broken."
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports isn't necessarily buying that there are only two clubs seriously in on Lee.
  • Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News breaks down the kind of offer the Rangers could make to keep Lee in Texas.

Odds & Ends: Rivera, Pirates, Beltre, A’s

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Links for Sunday, with winter meetings right around the corner….

Carl Crawford Rumors: Sunday

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In his ESPN.com blog entry today (Insider required), Buster Olney passes along an interesting note: Agents that have spoken to Olney believe "a ton" of free agents will sign within the next week. Of course, while we could see a lot of second- or third-tier names come off the board, it may take a little longer for elite players like Carl Crawford to sign. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that Crawford's representatives have told teams negotiations could take some time, with plenty of suitors emerging. Here are today's other Crawford-related tidbits:

  • Crawford would be a perfect fit for the Angels, says Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. According to DiGiovanna, the Angels, who have long been considered a favorite to land Crawford, would prefer to pay the outfielder a higher annual salary over five or six years rather than guaranteeing seven or eight years.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post discusses the Yankees' interest in Crawford, writing that the team is "staying in touch if, for no other reason, to make sure the Red Sox pay a premium should he go to Boston." Sherman doesn't expect the Yankees to seriously consider Crawford unless they miss out on Cliff Lee and need to use one of their current outfielders to trade for a pitcher.
  • Within Cafardo's aforementioned piece, he notes that Theo Epstein and the Red Sox are reluctant to dish out long-term deals, meaning it's unlikely they'd make Crawford an eight-year offer.

Odds & Ends: Marlins, Cardinals, Bruce, Jeter

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Links for Saturday night…

  • Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post says the Marlins are still looking for bullpen help (specifically a veteran lefty), a lefty bat off the bench, and outfield help.
  • Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said that his team's lineup is set for 2011 after today's Lance Berkman pickup, reports Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter links). Mozeliak described the team's payroll as "leaking," adding that Berkman received a higher salary as a trade-off for just one year.
  • Jay Bruce is optimistic about a new contract with the Reds according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Bruce mentions that nothing is imminent, however. 
  • SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that about five teams called to express interest in signing Derek Jeter before he re-upped with the Yankees, though the shortstop never considered going anywhere else. In fact, he didn't even listen to what they had to say (Twitter link).
  • The recently non-tendered George Sherrill has drawn some interest according to Marc Carig of The Star Ledger (Twitter link). The Yankees are not one of the interested teams, however.
  • Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News looks at Plan B and C should Texas be unable to retain Cliff Lee.
  • Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic tweets that Chad MacDonald will be the Mets' new scouting director. He served as the Diamondbacks director of international scouting for the last two years. 

Rosenthal On Greinke, Lee, Rangers, Yankees

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The Rangers are trying to work out a way to both sign free agent left-hander Cliff Lee and also acquire Zack Greinke from the Royals, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.  This would be the "perfect world" scenario for Texas, but Rosenthal notes that such a scenario is unlikely to happen as the Rangers "face steep odds" in getting even one of the aces.

Texas has been considered the favorite to land Greinke if Kansas City does indeed move him this winter, but a source tells Rosenthal the Rangers' proposals for Greinke have been "not even close" to convincing the Royals.  Rosenthal notes that some members of the Rangers organization believe the Royals don't really intend to deal Greinke given the high asking price of at least "two young pitchers with Greinke-like potential in any trade for their ace."  While the Rangers are able to expand their payroll this winter, Rosenthal wonders if they would have enough to even afford both Lee's sure-to-be massive contract and the $27MM Greinke is owed through 2012.

The Rangers' main competition for Lee, the Yankees, could afford to have both pitchers in their rotation, but Rosenthal says "the Yankees don't view a Greinke trade as realistic" since they "still have reservations" about Greinke's ability to pitch in New York.

Yankees Close To Agreement With Derek Jeter

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Derek Jeter and the Yankees could have a contract finalized by Saturday, according to Roger Rubin and Bill Madden of the New York Daily News.  The reported deal would pay Jeter "in the neighborhood of $19MM annually" over three years, and there could be a fourth year that vests if Jeter meets certain "reachable parameters."

The $19MM annual salary roughly matches the average salary earned by the Yankee captain over the span of the 10-year, $189MM pact he signed with New York before the 2001 season, if a mild step down from the $21MM he earned in 2010.  $19MM also happens to be about the midpoint between each side's demands — Jeter was reportedly looking for $23MM per season and the Bronx Bombers only offered a three-year, $45MM contract.

If Jeter signs by the weekend and Mariano Rivera's contract is soon finalized, the Yankees will reach their goal of having both franchise icons back in the fold before the start of the winter meetings on Monday.

Derek Jeter Rumors: Saturday

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The Yankees and long-time captain Derek Jeter appeared to be closing in on a deal late last night, but there are still some hurdles that need to be cleared. Let's keep track of latest surrounded the game's active career hits leader throughout the day, with the most recent news up top…

  • Jack Curry of the YES Network tweets that both Jeter and Mariano Rivera have agreed to defer money, concessions that help pushed talks along. Rivera is close to re-signing as well.
  • SI.com's Jon Heyman says a contract could be finalized today. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says that the deal will be for three years at $15-17MM annually, and that the fourth year option will be a "creative hybrid solution" that is not guaranteed and can't vest. (Twitter links)
  • Sweeny Murti of WFAN.com tweets that the Yankees worked deep into the night to get a deal done, and they're talking about a three-year contract worth $51MM that includes a fourth year vesting option at $10MM. The two sides are reportedly "very close."

This post was originally published on November 4th, 2010.

Derek Jeter Rumors: Friday

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Not only are the Yankees close to signing Mariano Rivera to a two-year deal, negotiations with Derek Jeter seemed to take a step forward yesterday. The Yankees increased their offer to Jeter and agent Casey Close lowered his asking price. Here are the latest updates on Jeter and the Yankees:

  • "Significant progress" has been made between Jeter and the club over the last two days, tweets Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated.
  • The Yankees are still waiting to hear Jeter's response to their most recent proposal, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
  • The Yankees are hesitant to add a guaranteed fourth year, though they are willing to offer Jeter more than $15MM per season, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. If the Yankees do add a fourth year, it would likely be an option triggered by performance.

Olney On Crawford, Berkman, Konerko

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The Angels are seen as the favorites to sign Carl Crawford and we know the Red Sox met with him and his representatives, but it looks like at least one more American League team has strong interest in the left fielder. ESPN.com's Buster Olney has the details:

  • The Yankees are very much engaged in conversations with Crawford, though it's unclear whether they have the flexibility to spend on him and Cliff Lee (Twitter links). The Yankees plan to set up a meeting with Crawford, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
  • The A's are targeting Lance Berkman enthusiastically, but they haven't started talking salary with him (Twitter link).
  • The White Sox still appear to be the favorites to sign Paul Konerko, Olney writes. The Orioles and Cubs appear to be in on the first baseman, but the Diamondbacks may no longer be bidding for him.
  • Olney says the Nationals missed out on a chance to extend Adam Dunn or recoup more value for him. 
  • Olney boldly predicts that the Yankees will reach an agreement with Derek Jeter today.

Interesting Non-Tenders

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By our unofficial count, 50 players were non-tendered yesterday.  You can sort the decisions by team in our non-tender tracker.  Those that reached our playing time requirements have been added to the 2011 free agents list, which is robust at the moment.  Let's take a look at some of the more interesting non-tenders.

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