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Perrotto’s Latest: Sabathia, Varitek, Crede, Villone

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John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus checks in with his usual Sunday column.  He’s got some new hot stove material to consider.

  • Perrotto says the Indians are holding firm at an offer of four years plus an option for C.C. Sabathia.  As of a week ago, the Indians were said to have an offer on the table for him.  I suggested that the Tribe might top out around four years, $72MM plus an option for 2013.
  • Perrotto writes that "Boston is expected to sign catcher Jason Varitek to a two-year extension worth around $20 million."  Varitek could retire after that.
  • Perrotto suggests that Joe Crede is on the Giants’ radar if they don’t re-sign Pedro Feliz (hat tip South Side Sox).  Crede seems like he’ll be involved in one of those late Spring Training deals, given the need to prove his health.
  • The Yankees, Mets, and Pirates are interested in free agent lefty reliever Ron Villone.

Neal On Johan Santana Talks

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I recently named La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune as Rumor Royalty for the Twins.  He answered a few questions for MLBTR, so let’s kick it off.

MLBTR: Are you sick of the Johan Santana saga yet?  These talks have been dragging for a month after it seemed like something would get done at the Winter Meetings.  Who will cave in – the Twins, Yankees, Mets, or Red Sox?

Neal: Can’t wait for this to end! I think the Twins have sent out signals in recent weeks that they have lowered their demands some in order to get something done. I initially felt that the Red Sox had the best chance to land Santana because I kept hearing how well talks were going. Then I thought the Yankees would step up and make the deal because they have a greater need for a front line starter than Boston. But the Mets have a greater need than the Yankees, and as soon as the Twins indicated that they would accept a deal with the Mets without Jose Reyes being involved the Mets’ chances shot upward.

I don’t blame a team for holding out to get what they want, but Santana will require a hefty contract extension wherever he winds up. A team won’t empty its roster and take on salary. So get what you can and move on.

Olney’s Latest: Hall, Cameron, Benson

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Buster Olney’s ESPN blog is always a good read.  A few nuggets from today’s posting:

  • Olney wonders whether the Brewers and Dodgers will revisit talks about Bill Hall.  There seems to be this general vibe that Hall is upset about moving positions again, even though he hasn’t said anything publicly.  Plus, he’d have to move back to third as a Dodger anyway.
  • According to Olney: "The Yankees were never seriously engaged in talks to sign Mike Cameron."  However you can’t really say Cameron’s agent used the Yankees to pump up Cameron’s price, since he signed for just one year and $6.2MM.
  • The Phils may send people to watch Kris Benson throw next week.  I believe this would be the second time they’ve observed him, so maybe it’s getting serious.

Mets In Lead For Santana, Yanks Out?

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UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 6:45pm: Santana’s agent says he has not demanded that the Twins trade Johan prior to pitchers and catchers reporting.

UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 5:30pm: One source told Ken Rosenthal that the Yanks "are no longer talking to the Twins about Santana."  If that’s true, perhaps Hank will just announce it soon.

UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 3:51pm: Cerrone has a bit more, including a note that Santana and his agents are in lock down.

FROM 1-11-08 at 7:53am:

MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone sums up the latest buzz around the Johan Santana trade talks.  It seems the Mets are in the lead for Santana, proactively trying to find a way to make it work.  They are Santana’s preference, they have the money for him, and they might have the players to get it done.

Cerrone says Santana would like to have this thing wrapped up before pitchers and catchers report, about five weeks from now.

David Lennon of Newsday also checks in on the situation, agreeing with most of Cerrone’s info.  It’s still not completely clear whether the Twins have stopped bringing up Jose Reyes.  Lennon adds that the Mets couldn’t complete the deal just by adding Fernando Martinez, as had been previously reported.  Kevin Kernan says the Mets won’t do a five for one deal, anyway.  There seems to be a lot of conflicting info floating about on this one.

Brewers Sign Mike Cameron

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UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 5:21pm: Tom Haudricourt has the contract details.  Cameron gets a $1.25MM signing bonus and will make about $4.22MM in ’08 (missed out on $780K due to his suspension).  The 2009 option is for $10MM, plus a $750K buyout.  As Haudricourt says, in a way it’s a one-year, $6.22MM deal.  Were the Padres unwilling to pay this amount?  By the way, the signing isn’t a precursor to a Bill Hall trade.

FROM 1-11-08 at 2:18pm:

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Brewers have signed center fielder Mike Cameron to a one-year deal with a club option for 2009.  The amount is not yet known, but this seems like a solid move by Doug Melvin.

Rosenthal adds that one reason the Yankees may have passed is that they were unwilling to pay both Cameron and Johan Santana.  (Really?)

Once Cameron finishes his 25 game stimulant suspension, he’ll push Bill Hall to third and Ryan Braun to left field.  So the Brewers gain defensively and get a career .251/.341/.445 hitter to play center (definitely above average for the position).

Yankees Sign Jason Lane

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UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 10:34pm: According to Peter Abraham, the Yanks signed Lane to a minor league deal.

FROM 1-10-08 at 8:56am:

The Yankees are looking an affordable option as a possibility at first base.  Mike Puma of the New York Times reports that 31 year-old free agent Jason Lane is on the radar.

Puma points out that Lane would have to learn first base, as he hasn’t spent much time there is his career.  Lane was a late bloomer, and may have topped out with his 26 home run season in 2005.  But this wouldn’t require much of a commitment, so it makes sense to give him a look.  The Sports Hernia weighed in on this rumor today, check it out.

Mets May Have Top Santana Offer; Yanks Backing Off?

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UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 11:29am: Christensen says Mets owner Fred Wilpon gave Omar Minaya the green light to try to acquire Santana, meaning he’s amenable to a contract extension exceeding $100MM.

UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 9:38am: Peter Botte of the New York Daily News has a new quote from Hank: he’s "leaning away from" from the Yankees doing a Santana deal.

FROM 1-09-08 at 10:54pm:

Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune suggests the Mets might be the best fit for Johan Santana.  He says they’re offering four players, three of them pitchers: Deolis Guerra, Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey, and Phil Humber.  It’s a strong package. 

Christensen says the Twins would accept if the Mets added Fernando Martinez to the package (not sure if Martinez would replace Gomez, or it would just be five players instead of four).

Something’s got to give here in the next few weeks – how long can the Santana saga hold up the free agent pitching market?

Hank: Yanks Would Not Exceed Five Years On Johan

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Kat O’Brien spoke to Hank Steinbrenner yesterday, and learned that the Yankees’ take on Johan Santana has not changed.  They’re still in on him.  One new tidbit: Hank said he wouldn’t go past a five-year extension for Santana.  Since he’s already signed through 2008, an extension would go through 2013.

Keep in mind that Santana might not waive his no-trade clause if not given the contract he seeks.

Notes From Hot Stove, Cool Music: Cashman, Santana, Varitek

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A few interesting tidbits came about via the Hot Stove, Cool Music charitable event on Saturday.  The Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford has the details.

  • Brian Cashman admitted that he lost some power when the Hank and Hal regime took over.  He no longer has full authority to run everything, a sticking point when he signed on several years ago.  It would not be shocking to see Cashman move on when his term ends after the 2008 season.  He’s finishing up a three-year, $5.4MM deal.
  • For what it’s worth, Theo Epstein seemed to indicate that the dragging Johan Santana talks are not holding up other moves for the Red Sox.  But really it’s hard to believe that Coco Crisp’s situation hasn’t been delayed.  Boston already lost the White Sox as a suitor, most likely.
  • During Spring Training, Scott Boras plans to begin contract extension talks with the Red Sox for Jason Varitek.  Here’s a look at other free agent backstops the Sox could consider after the ’08 season.  Kenji Johjima could be an interesting signing.

Johan Santana Rumors: Saturday

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Burned out on vague Johan Santana non-rumors yet?  Me neither!  Here we go…

  • Hank: "leaning towards doing it."  Hmmm, that makes it seem like the Twins aren’t part of this decision.  Hank notes that he has final say over Brian Cashman, in case you were wondering.
  • Pete Caldera says the Yankees do not have a standing offer.  This seems more a technicality than anything, because I imagine the offer is still good.
  • LEN3 says the Twins are backing off a bit on their demands – they realize they won’t get both Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.  Instead, Jeff Marquez, Kei Igawa, and maybe others could be substituted for Kennedy.
  • LEN3 adds that the Twins have accepted that the Mets won’t part with Jose Reyes, and will still talk.
  • Meanwhile the Red Sox and Twins haven’t spoken much lately but Boston is still offering two different packages (one centered around Jacoby Ellsbury, the other around Jon Lester).

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