Yankees Rumors: Mussina, Giambi, Teixeira
George King of the New York Post has a handful of Yankees rumors this morning.
- Mike Mussina‘s agent, Arn Tellem, will travel to his client’s Pennsylvania home this week to talk about the pitcher’s future. The general vibe is that Moose will retire, but he may file for free agency after the World Series to keep his options open. I imagine the Yankees would like to resolve this quickly. Currently, GM Brian Cashman is not counting on Mussina.
- Tellem told King that Jason Giambi would like to stay in New York if they’ll have him. While it may not be the ideal solution, 30 home run bats are rare and it’s worth considering.
- King says the Yankees "haven’t been wild" so far about chasing Mark Teixeira. Tex hasn’t even filed for free agency yet, so there’s still plenty of time to get wild.
- The Yankees are counting on a healthy Jorge Posada behind the dish in ’09.
Brewers To Listen On Fielder
According to George King and Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, the Brewers have informed teams they’ll listen to offers for first baseman Prince Fielder. Fielder, 24, hit .276/.372/.507 in 694 plate appearances this year. He’s under team control for three more years; his salary will increase drastically as he goes through the arbitration process for the first time this offseason.
The article’s authors do not see the Yankees as suitors for Fielder, due to his defense and the team’s long-term desire to move Derek Jeter to first base after the 2010 season. The Jeter logic seems a little shaky, since Fielder is only under team control through 2011.
I discussed six possible Fielder suitors earlier this month. The question is, who’s willing to give up good young pitching?
Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Holliday, Griffey
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up; let’s take a look.
- "The prevailing opinion around baseball" is that C.C. Sabathia will sign with the Yankees, and C.C.’s friend Jimmy Rollins agrees.
- Matt Holliday "definitely intrigues" the Yankees. But they’d have to give up a lot to get him for one year, and they seem full at the outfield corners.
- Heyman, perhaps sensing a divide that does not exist, says Pat Gillick has relied on scouts rather than stats to make his decisions. Heyman also speaks of "a new hesitancy on the part of some to go for another young Ivy League stat man" at the general manager position.
- Heyman echoes the commonly held sentiment that the White Sox will not re-sign Ken Griffey Jr.
- The Mets are prioritizing catcher, bullpen, rotation, and outfield over second base. They’ve talked about Giants backstop Bengie Molina, owed $6MM in the last year of his deal.
- Heyman believes Boston’s chances of trading Mike Lowell are "practically nil" due to his hip surgery. His sources won’t rule out a run at Mark Teixeira though. In other Boston buzz, Heyman sees Coco Crisp on the trading block and a two-year offer for Jason Varitek.
Odds and Ends: Rivera, Floyd, Peavy
Links for Tuesday…
- The Red Sox added pitcher Virgil Vasquez while losing infielder Gil Velazquez.
- Dave Cameron has another free agent bargain: Juan Rivera.
- The Astros made their first Taiwanese signing: 22 year-old righty reliever Chia-Jen Lo.
- Japanese reliever Ryota Igarashi hopes to try MLB eventually (but not in 2009).
- Viva El Birdos figures the Cardinals will check in on Kenshin Kawakami.
- Bud Selig has praise for Padres owner John Moores.
- Rays Index passes along a report that Cliff Floyd‘s injury could end his career. This could open up some free agent possibilities.
- River Ave. Blues says the latest Jake Peavy news is the nail in the coffin for the Yankees.
- MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince is not a big fan of the rumors.
Odds and Ends: Hughes, Tigers, Affeldt
Links for Monday…
- I’m working on this year’s Top 50 Free Agents list, with predicted destinations. It’s always a tough puzzle to assemble. Anyone have educated guesses on where Ben Sheets, Oliver Perez, Braden Looper, and Jon Garland might sign?
- MLB.com’s Mychael Urban believes Mark Mulder would like to return to the A’s, but the team may not be interested. Plus, Mulder isn’t even considering destinations until he is healthy.
- Japanese free agent pitcher Kenshin Kawakami hired American agent Tony Attanasio. The Red Sox may be interested.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post takes the Yankees to task for their unwillingness to include Phil Hughes in a Johan Santana package.
- Tigers officials are meeting in Detroit for four days to discuss trade possibilities.
- MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel explains why a Luis Castillo for Jose Guillen swap is unlikely.
- Dave Cameron considers Jeremy Affeldt a possible free agent bargain. He could be underrated, but not a bargain if he renews last year’s desire for a four or five-year deal.
Burnett Would Consider Yankees
George King of the New York Post talked to A.J. Burnett‘s agent Darek Braunecker, who said Burnett will "see if the Yankees are interested" if he chooses to opt out of his deal. It always makes sense to keep the Yankees involved.
When we last checked in on the Burnett situation Friday, we were confused by J.P. Ricciardi’s characterization of the talks. Jeff Blair believes the Blue Jays are willing to do a three-year, $48MM contract. Talking to Murray Chass recently, Braunecker downplayed his client’s injury history.
Cafardo’s Latest: Hot Stove, Twins, Gordon, Pedro
Nick Cafardo from the Boston Globe has a nice article up catching up on some Hot Stove news, with a few other odds and ends tied in. Let’s hit the highlights here:
- Cafardo seems to think the Yankees could entice C.C. Sabathia to pitch on the East Coast, and that the Angels would be crazy not to re-sign Mark Teixeira at whatever the cost. He also points out Joe Maddon’s connection to Francisco Rodriguez from his days as a coach with the Angels, and covers other top names such as Jake Peavy, A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, Manny Ramirez, Pat Burrell, Matt Holliday, and Garrett Atkins.
- The Minnesota Twins were ranked as the #1 team in young talent by the 2009 Bill James Handbook. Minnesota had ten players in the top 150: Joe Mauer, Delmon Young, Justin Morneau, Kevin Slowey, Scott Baker, Carlos Gomez, Nick Blackburn, Jason Kubel, Denard Span, and Glen Perkins.
- The article includes a Q&A with Tom Gordon, who has high praise for the Phillies, particularly Brad Lidge. Gordon says that having avoided Tommy John Surgery, he feels he can continue his career, and would love to pitch in Philadelphia next year. Gordon will understand if his option is declined, but is emphatic in saying he’s "going to pitch somewhere." Plenty of teams need bullpen help, and even with his injury, I can’t imagine him having a hard time finding work.
- Cafardo likes the idea of either Rocco Baldelli or Gabe Kapler as a fourth outfielder for the Red Sox.
- Would Pedro Martinez consider an incentive-laden contract to be Boston’s fifth starter next season?
- Red Sox catching prospect Mark Wagner has shown improvement the Arizona Fall League. This only adds to the Jason Varitek dilemma that Boston is faced with.
Heyman’s Latest: Manny, Holliday, Peavy
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new rumor-packed article up.
- Heyman suggests the battle for the three elite free agents – Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and C.C. Sabathia – will mostly be fought by the New York and Los Angeles clubs. Heyman talked to one GM who believes the country’s economic situation will not affect the big names but could be bad for the lower-tier guys.
- Heyman’s potential Manny suitors: the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles, and Phillies. The Phillies’ interest will depend on whether Pat Burrell stays. I’m not sure why the Orioles would be in the mix.
- The Rockies are "very likely" to trade Matt Holliday. The Rox would be willing to sign Holliday for five years and $100MM, but that won’t cut it. The team’s focus in a trade will be a young starter. Heyman echoes a Ken Rosenthal thought from a few months ago: surprising small-market teams may enter the Holliday bidding.
- Heyman has the Mets, Rangers, and Indians as teams looking at Brian Fuentes. The Mets are the favorite to sign him in the three-year, $36MM range.
- Jake Peavy has already turned down one American League team. Heyman believes hes particularly opposed to the Rangers and has mixed feelings about the Yankees. Peavy is reeling from the Padres’ decision to shop him.
- Heyman has unkind words for Luis Gonzalez, who may not be welcomed back to the D’Backs based on his "uneasy relationship" with Stephen Drew and Chris Young.
- Heyman does not think MLB has any evidence against Nationals GM Jim Bowden in the scout skimming scandal.
- Heyman gives Ruben Amaro a slight edge over Mike Arbuckle to replace Pat Gillick as Phillies GM.
- George W. Bush as baseball’s next commissioner? "Many have long believed" that Bush would like to be Bud Selig’s successor.
Odds and Ends: Yankees, Pena, Epstein
Let’s round ’em up for Friday…
- The Royals claimed 24 year-old righty Jairo Cuevas off waivers from the Braves.
- I recently did a Q&A with a blog called The ‘Burgh Blues.
- Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News expects the Yankees to spend big this winter. Meanwhile, Peter Abraham reminds fans not to panic.
- Joel Sherman examines why the Yankees and Red Sox discarded Carlos Pena in 2006.
- Theo Epstein’s new deal will be made official after the World Series.
- Sox Machine debates whether the White Sox should add a starter this winter.
- Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire wonders whether the nation’s economy will affect the free agent market.
- Billy Beane, Newt Gingrich, and John Kerry propose a data revolution for our health care system.
Davidoff’s Latest: Mussina, K-Rod, Manny
Ken Davidoff of Newsday has some new hot stove info in a blog post.
- Davidoff would be shocked if Mike Mussina does not retire. He expects a news conference after the World Series, and gives a 1% margin of error for his prediction. Bold prediction; Buster Olney felt differently in his blog a week ago. Yankees beat writer Peter Abraham agrees with Davidoff that Mussina will retire.
- The Mets apparently do not believe Francisco Rodriguez is worth his asking price. They’re also not intending to pursue Manny Ramirez. Not exciting news for fans, but Omar Minaya can’t acquire players based on media or fan pressure.