Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Yankees Rumors

Rosenthal’s Latest: Mariners, Young, Shouse

By | at

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports compiles a number of rumors from around the majors:

  • The Mariners need to free up money, but to do so, they’d likely have to trade one of Adrian Beltre, Jarrod Washburn or Miguel Batista. All three will be free agents after the season, but moving one of them would be "extremely difficult."
  • The Mariners and Yankees considered a Hideki Matsui-Washburn swap, but Matsui’s contract ($13MM) pays him more than Washburn’s ($10.35MM) so they didn’t find a match.
  • The Twins are looking to move Delmon Young.
  • They showed interest in Washburn last year, but only some of Rosenthal’s sources believe he and Delmon Young could be the foundation for a larger deal.
  • Rosenthal has a source who says the Yankees are not currently pursuing Juan Cruz. Yesterday, we had a discussion about the rules regarding free agent quotas.
  • The Yanks like their bullpen, but they could try to add an arm if they trade Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher.
  • The Rays are making a strong run at Brian Shouse.
  • The Orioles would not likely have to give up much more than a low-level prospect to deal for Rich Hill.

Free Agent Quota: 8 Type A/Bs

By | at

12:30pm: In an email, Bloom told me it is a combination of eight Type A and Bs (not eight of each) and whether or not the team offered arbitration has nothing to do with the quota.

11:37am: Bloom says that a unilateral exception was granted this offseason allowing any team to sign as many as eight Type A or B free agents.  A total of 216 free agents filed, an exceptionally high number.  Another note: Bloom learned from Manfred that while draft pick compensation would be eliminated if the player waits until after the June draft to sign, it has yet to occur.

10:44am: Brian Cashman told Peter Abraham the Yankees could sign up to eight Type A free agents if they wanted to.  Cashman’s exact quote shows less certainty:

"I’m not sure of the exact number, but it’s one we won’t worry about either way."

10:05am: One reader asks a question I can’t answer: if the quota is three Type A/Bs, how were the Giants able to sign Jeremy Affeldt (B), Bob Howry (A), Randy Johnson (B), Edgar Renteria (A), and Juan Uribe (B)?  Does it only apply to Type A/Bs who were offered arbitration?  Is the quota three of each type?

7:45am: Just wanted to add the info from a January 6th Nick Cafardo article, where he stated that this year’s quota is nine Type A or B free agents.  Everyone I’d spoken previously to believed the Yankees have not approached any quota.  I know the CBA allows for more Type A/Bs to be signed if you lose them, and the Yankees lost Bobby Abreu and Mike Mussina. We attempted to tackle this in October and came away confused. 

Still, Bloom talked to MLB’s executive VP of labor relations Rob Manfred for his article and it seems highly unlikely that Manfred would be wrong. – Tim Dierkes

1:28am: Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com is reporting that the New York Yankees cannot sign any more Type A or Type B free agents this offseason.

According to the Basic Agreement, and confirmed by a top Major League Baseball official, once the Yankees signed C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, they had signed their quota of Type A or Type B free agents under the collectively bargained rules established by management and the Players Association, Bloom wrote.

All three were Type A free agents who played for other teams last season aside from the Yankees. The Yankees could re-sign their own Type A or Type B free agents without it affecting the quota.

Under the rules, "if there are from 39 to 62 [Type A and B] players [during a given offseason], no team can sign more than three."

Re-signing Type A pitchers Andy Pettitte and Damaso Marte did not affect the Yankees’ limit.

Offseason speculation has put the Yankees on the peripheral of interest for outfielder Manny Ramirez and pitcher Ben Sheets. This finding curbs those chances.

O’Brien On Braves’ Outfield Options

By | at

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the Braves’ quest to add a power-hitting outfielder:

We think they’d like to make it one of these guys, maybe in this order of preference:  1. Bobby Abreu (we’ll explain), 2. Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher (both Yankees, one or the other expected to be traded), and 4. (there can’t be a No. 3 if two guys are tied for No. 2) Adam Dunn, whose asking price (reportedly $14MM per year) is still way, waaay above what the Braves have to spend.

O’Brien says the Braves have roughly $5-9MM to work with, and they also hope to sign Will Ohman and Tom Glavine.  O’Brien then runs through the pros and cons of adding Abreu, Nady, Swisher, and Dunn.

Stark On Greinke, Manny, Dunn, Swisher

By | at

The latest from ESPN’s Jayson Stark…

  • The Cubs’ ownership situation is not close to the finish line, which is one reason the team won’t be acquiring Jake Peavy anytime soon.
  • One source of Stark’s suggested Zack Greinke nearly left his current agent John Courtright of SFX for Scott Boras, a whisper I’d heard as well.  But now Greinke is happy with his contract and agent.
  • Free agents such as Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez could reasonably wait until March to sign.  Not a bad thing for this website!
  • Adam Dunn would like Manny to sign earlier, as he’s waiting to see what the Dodgers (his preferred team) do.  The Nationals have been Dunn’s most aggressive suitor, the Orioles have mild interest, and the Braves have backed off.
  • Stark questions the idea of talks for Manny heating up lately, since the Mets, Yankees, and Angels are out and the Giants are only conditionally interested.
  • When Alex Rodriguez was a free agent last winter, Joe Torre advised the Dodgers against signing him.
  • The Phillies would like to move Geoff Jenkins for a right-handed hitting outfielder, but Jenkins is paid too much.  Jay Payton and Emil Brown are not on the Phillies’ radar; they still like Nomar Garciaparra.
  • The Yankees are apparently "softening to the idea of trading Nick Swisher," with the Braves the top suitor.

Rosenthal On Abreu, Garland, Glavine, Sisco

By | at

The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

  • The Mariners and Giants are interested in Bobby Abreu, if the price is right.  Yesterday Buster Olney suggested that Abreu is willing to take a one-year deal.  The A’s and Nationals have other targets, while the Mets, White Sox, and Braves are seen as long shots.
  • Rosenthal examines the nuances of Jon Garland’s December 7th decision to reject arbitration, saying that it wasn’t an obvious mistake at the time.
  • Tom Glavine’s agent Gregg Clifton did not attend yesterday’s meeting with Frank Wren; it was a health update and not a contract negotiation.  Rosenthal says Glavine figures to seek a Freddy Garcia-like deal.  The Braves need to save money to add an outfielder, with Nick Swisher atop their list.  The Yankees’ goal in moving Swisher or Xavier Nady would be to recoup prospects.
  • The Brewers are not interested in projects such as Kris Benson, Jason Jennings, Mark Redman, and Victor Zambrano.  They’re just lukewarm on Mark Mulder.  Benson is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Rangers, and Cardinals; one exec reviewed his audition as "so-so."
  • Rosenthal doesn’t seem to buy the idea that Jason Varitek and Scott Boras feared the Red Sox could cut him if he accepted arbitration, noting that Boras client Travis Lee was advised to accept years ago.
  • The Braves have reservations about re-signing Andruw Jones, who could be a Spring Training cut.
  • The A’s deal for Russ Springer will be worth more than $3MM plus incentives.  They’re also eyeing Brian Shouse and Andrew Sisco as possible pen additions.  Sisco, recovering from Tommy John, has also auditioned for the Rockies and Giants.

Randy Wolf Rumors: Wednesday

By | at

11:36pm: MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick believes the Dodgers and Wolf "will remain apart until the Mets sign a pitcher," perhaps because the Mets have more money to spend than the Dodgers.  Braden Looper is the Dodgers’ fallback plan.

4:42pm: Ken Rosenthal addresses Randy Wolf’s situation now that Jon Garland is no longer an option for the Mets and Dodgers.

Wolf’s agents are still talking to both teams; the Mets are currently focused on Oliver Perez though.  The Mets are also talking to Ben Sheets’ agent.  One Rosenthal source said the Mets "could sign Wolf quickly if they made him a pre-emptive offer."  That won’t happen unless Perez is ruled out.

Rosenthal says the Dodgers "reassessed their positions with Wolf and Garland after the Yankees re-signed free-agent lefty Andy Pettitte for $5.5 million with the chance to earn $6.5 million in incentives."  We’re left to read between the lines; does it mean the Dodgers are now offering less to Wolf?

Ben Sheets Rumors: Monday

By | at

6:38pm: T.R. Sullivan believes that now the New York Yankees have signed Andy Pettitte, Ben Sheets’ options are closing up.

“Anytime somebody signs another starting pitcher, that obviously lessens the competition,” Rangers president Nolan Ryan told Sullivan. “Obviously, Andy and Ben are at two different points in their careers, but I don’t think Andy signing hurts anything.”

Sullivan notes that the Rangers are the only team that has publicly stated interest in Sheets, but the process continues to move slowly. The Rangers are reluctant to offer a multiyear contract. Sheets wants at least a two-year deal while the Rangers are looking one year with a possible club option.

11:26am: The latest on the Rangers and Ben Sheets comes via a T.R. Sullivan report from yesterday afternoon.  Sullivan wrote:

The Rangers remain deeply concerned about the medical reports. Sheets’ agent, Casey Close, is looking for a multi-year contract. The Rangers would prefer just a one-year deal, possibly with an option. The two sides have discussed financial parameters, but there hasn’t been an official offer from either side. Close would like to get other teams involved, most notably the two in New York.

If there’s another team infatuated with Sheets, it hasn’t leaked to the media yet.  As Sullivan wrote, the Mets are focused on Oliver Perez.  The Yankees are in serious talks with Andy Pettitte.  The Dodgers are looking elsewhere, and the Orioles "just don’t seem interested."  Doug Melvin won’t rule Sheets out for the Brewers but does not expect to re-sign him.

Who else needs pitching and can afford Sheets?  We can’t rule out the A’s or Cardinals.  The Pirates and D’Backs seem to be budgeting less than Sheets wants. 

Yankees Sign Andy Pettitte

By | at

3:11pm: The Yankees announced today that they signed Pettitte to a one-year deal.  The AP says Pettitte is guaranteed $5.5MM and could reach $12MM with incentives.  The move should allow the Yanks to move Joba Chamberlain to the fifth starter role, with various other young pitchers ready to step in as needed.

A note from the conference call: Brian Cashman says not to expect any more moves of significance.

1:30pm: John Harper of the New York Daily News says the two sides have "essentially agreed" to a deal but final details need to be worked out.

12:28pm: Rosenthal now agrees that it’ll be less than $6MM guaranteed with incentives that could push the total to $12MM.  He says the two sides are "closing in" on a deal.

11:53am: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Yankees are close to a deal with Pettitte that could guarantee nearly $6MM with another $6MM in incentives.  The deal could be done this afternoon.  Ken Rosenthal wrote earlier that the incentives could push Pettitte close to $16MM.

10:09am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, Andy Pettitte and the Yankees are in serious talks and there’s a "lot of optimism" for a one-year deal.  It would be for less than $10MM guaranteed.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top