Olney’s Latest: Hall, Cameron, Benson
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?
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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).
Odds and Ends: Cameron, Inge, Bay
Here are some random rumors and links I’ve cobbled together today.
- The Fish officially signed Jorge Cantu to a minor-league deal worth $500K with $100K in incentives.
- The Cardinals re-upped Aaron Miles for $1.4 mil. This team needs some good middle infielders.
- According to Tyler Kepner, Alex Rodriguez has been "privately endorsing" Mike Cameron. Well, it’s not private anymore! The Yankees could entertain such a signing if they trade Melky Cabrera but don’t want to move Johnny Damon back to center. Kepner’s article also discusses the internal struggle between Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. Hank wants Johan Santana, Hal wants to show a little financial restraint.
- Lynn Henning digs into the Brandon Inge situation, with help from the always-insightful Keith Law. Henning believes Inge would view a shift back to catcher "with contempt."
- Scott Wuerz runs through various possible Cardinals targets. He notes that the Pirates had considered the White Sox their best possible trade partner for Jason Bay, and are disappointed by Chicago’s Nick Swisher acquisition.
- Seems that Bartolo Colon has yet to crack 90 mph in the Dominican Winter League.
- There are rumblings that the Astros are considering bringing Freddy Garcia back.
- R.J. Anderson snagged an interesting interview with Paul DePodesta.
- Minor League guru and MLB.com senior writer Jonathan Mayo has a new book coming out about what it’s like to face Roger Clemens. I’m going to do a Q&A with Jonathan next week; if you have any good question ideas leave ’em in the comments. By the way, Mayo finished his book before the Mitchell Report came out.
- Yankees fans – Ray Istorico has an illustrated history of the early Yankees coming out in a few months.
- I will be appearing on XM Radio’s MLB Home Plate show on Sunday around 2:25 CST.
Yankees Won’t Re-Sign Clemens
Anthony McCarron got another tidbit out of Hank Steinbrenner in his interview yesterday. He learned that the Yankees will not consider re-signing Roger Clemens, if he does play in 2008.
Hank feels that Andy Pettitte will provide all the veteran leadership his staff needs, and he doesn’t expect Roger back anyway. Back on December 15th, Ken Davidoff suggested that Clemens was leaning toward coming back, with his sights on the Red Sox or Astros.
Clemens will address Brian McNamee’s steroid claims Sunday on 60 Minutes.