Yankees Rumors

Odds and Ends: Crede, Swisher, Astros

By Tim Dierkes | January 7, 2009 at 2:15pm CDT

Links for Wednesday…

RotoAuthority identifies a bunch of sleepers who had between 200-400 at-bats in 2008 in posts here and here.
Joe Crede remains on the Rangers’ radar, but they have not made an offer.
All kinds of interesting thoughts from Peter Gammons.
Fred Claire contrasts Pat Burrell and Milton Bradley.
Dave Sheinin says the Nationals inquired on Nick Swisher, but their offer did not impress the Yankees. Chico Harlan mentioned the same yesterday. Joel Sherman notes that the Mets and Braves had interest in Swisher before he was traded to the Yankees.
In that post, Sherman also predicts the contracts for Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez.
The Astros are mostly done, unless Drayton McLane pulls a surprise move.
Murray Chass reflects on Carl Pohlad.
Eric Stashin talked to Wayne Graczyk of the Japan Times about various Japanese pitchers.

Mark Teixeira Leftovers

By Tim Dierkes | January 7, 2009 at 8:43am CDT

More Mark Teixeira info…

Tony Massarotti chronicles the Red Sox-Yankees angle to the Teixeira negotiations from start to finish.
Lisa Olson says the Yankees lured Tex with a montage backed by his beloved band Twisted Sister (and also $180 million).
Teixeira says the botched negotiations with the Red Sox in ’98 had nothing to do with his decision.
Jack Curry got some comments from Red Sox owner John Henry on the situation.
Yankees president Randy Levine accused Brewers owner Mark Attanasio of "sour grapes."
Ken Davidoff banters with Hal Steinbrenner about the Yankees’ approach.
Gordon Edes says the Red Sox put together an offer with vesting options that would’ve reached ten years and $212MM; Scott Boras made a similar pitch to the Angels. Boras wanted either nine years or $23MM per from the Sox; he told them the Nationals did commit to a ninth year. That was when John Henry emailed the media. As for the Angels, Arte Moreno believes no player is worth more than $160MM.
Joel Sherman says the Angels were Teixeira’s first choice.

Odds and Ends: Aurilia, Sweeney, Nady

By Tim Dierkes | January 6, 2009 at 8:15pm CDT

Still more Tuesday links…

The Giants and Rich Aurilia maintain mutual interest, though the Giants want to address the offense first.
Mike Sweeney hopes to play this year, says MLB.com. Said Sweeney, "I want baseball to shut the door on me while I’m kicking and screaming." The Royals have not expressed interest.
Much is being made of Mark Teixeira and his wife choosing the Yankees on December 12th.
According to ESPN Radio’s Andrew Marchand, the Mets have a face-to-face meeting scheduled with Scott Boras to discuss Oliver Perez and Derek Lowe (hat tip to MetsBlog).
John Fay guesses the Reds "have at least explored trading for Xavier Nady."
Paul DePodesta on the Padres’ recent non-roster signings.
Aging corner-type veterans aren’t doing well, according to Keith Law, Dave Cameron, and Tom Verducci.

Yankees Sign Angel Berroa

By Nat Boyle | January 6, 2009 at 7:09pm CDT

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yankees have signed infielder Angel Berroa to a minor-league contract.

Rather than having his $5.5MM option picked up, Berroa was bought out for $500K and non-tendered by the Dodgers in December. It was anticipated they would attempt to re-sign him. He’ll compete with Cody Ransom to be the Yankees utility infielder.

Phillies Sign Marcus Giles

By Tim Dierkes | January 6, 2009 at 5:51pm CDT

According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Phillies signed second baseman Marcus Giles to a minor league deal worth $600K. He can help while Chase Utley is out.

Additionally, the Tigers signed Alexis Gomez for $415K and the Yankees signed John Rodriguez for $450K.

Pettitte Rejects Yankees’ Offer

By Tim Dierkes | January 6, 2009 at 4:39pm CDT

4:39pm: Joel Sherman says the Yankees are "strongly inclined to lower the $10MM offer" made to Pettitte now that he’s rejected it. A deal seems unlikely, though moving some salary might compel the Yanks to put the $10MM offer back on the table.

3:34pm: Sam Borden, attending the Mark Teixeira press conference, said Hal Steinbrenner "did not seem particularly optimistic" about re-signing Pettitte.

TUESDAY, 10:17am: John Harper and Ken Rosenthal are both saying the Yankees haven’t closed the door on signing Pettitte. Brian Cashman has talked to Pettitte’s agents recently, according to Harper. He adds that the Yanks "seem determined to draw the line at $10 million."

MONDAY, 10:18pm: According to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times, Andy Pettitte rejected the Yankees’ one-year, $10MM offer. The Yanks could certainly find a useful free agent arm for a similar price, or else just go with internal options. But one more veteran in the rotation could go a long way.

Nationals Rumors: Wolf, Dunn, Hudson

By Tim Dierkes | January 6, 2009 at 4:32pm CDT

Rounding up Nationals rumors…

According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals are interested in free agent lefty starter Randy Wolf. The Mets and Dodgers are also known to be in on him, while we haven’t heard much about the Brewers, Cardinals, or Orioles lately.
The Washington Post’s Chico Harlan says the Nats want to acquire players who will still be in their primes in 2010 or 2011. Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson make sense, at the right price.
The Nationals aren’t interested in Xavier Nady and don’t believe they "have a legitimate shot at trading for Nick Swisher."
Odalis Perez remains under consideration, but isn’t a priority.

Yankees Sign Jason Johnson, DFA Duncan

By Tim Dierkes | January 6, 2009 at 2:15pm CDT

According to Sam Borden, the Yankees signed pitcher Jason Johnson to a minor league deal. He will compete for the fifth starter job. Johnson, 35, is known for his ability to get groundballs.

Also, the accompanying move to the Mark Teixeira signing: Shelley Duncan was designated for assignment.

Odds and Ends: Saito, Teixeira, LaRoche

By Tim Dierkes | January 6, 2009 at 11:37am CDT

Rosenthal’s Latest: Swisher, Nady, Kapler, Zaun

By Tim Dierkes | January 6, 2009 at 8:50am CDT

The latest from Ken Rosenthal.

A recent Ned Colletti-Scott Boras conversation about Manny Ramirez didn’t result in progress. Boras still has his sights on at least $100MM over four years. Rosenthal adds that Manny is "cool to the idea of playing in San Francisco."
Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady are drawing "significant interest." Rosenthal speculates that the Giants, Braves, or Pirates would make sense.
The door is not closed with the Yankees and Andy Pettitte. Pettitte recently rejected the Yanks’ one-year, $10MM offer.
Some Mets people prefer Oliver Perez to Derek Lowe. The Braves have yet to speak to Boras about Lowe, while the Brewers and Phillies have financial concerns about fitting him in.
Trevor Hoffman has a West Coast preference (the Dodgers or maybe a Padres reconciliation) but interest with the Brewers is mutual. Other relievers on the Dodgers’ radar: Juan Cruz, Guillermo Mota, and Dennys Reyes.
Brian Fuentes’ agent had serious talks with the Yankees, but no offer was made. Fuentes would’ve been Mariano Rivera’s set-up man and perhaps taken over upon his retirement.
Rosenthal notes that MLB kicked in a small part of the $10MM owed to Sidney Ponson from their luxury tax pool, which is not uncommon.
If they can afford it, the Rays would like to sign Gabe Kapler.
The Orioles, Red Sox, and A’s are interested in Gregg Zaun.
Perhaps because of the cool market for his services, Orlando Cabrera is willing to play second base. The Yankees did not have interest.
That Gavin Floyd for Brian Roberts rumor "seemingly arose from internal discussions among Orioles officials."

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