Giants, Johnson Have Mutual Interest
According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle Randy Johnson‘s agents say “San Francisco has a lot of appeal” for their client.
Barry Meister, who represents the Big Unit, said “Randy’s really interested” in playing for San Francisco because the Giants are in the National League, they train in Arizona and they have the chance to be competitive.
Giants GM Brian Sabean didn’t rule out Johnson either, saying the Giants “obviously would have a chance to win” with him on the mound.
Rangers Rumors: Millwood, Sanchez, Salty
MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan sums up the latest Rangers buzz…
- The Brewers inquired about Kevin Millwood, but the teams didn’t find a match. Millwood has a limited no-trade clause and will earn $11MM next year. If he pitches 182 innings in ’09, a $12MM salary for ’10 will become guaranteed.
- A Rangers source told Sullivan the Giants "made it abundantly clear" they’re not trading Jonathan Sanchez.
- The Royals are interested in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but talks didn’t go anywhere.
Sabean Rant
Giants GM Brian Sabean treated beat writers to what could only be described as a rant today. He’s angry with the way the whole C.C. Sabathia thing went down in the media.
Brewers Looking For Pitching
9:00pm: Tom Haudricourt has an update. Nothing came of Doug Melvin’s talks with the Rangers, and he denied talking to the Giants or Mariners.
The Brewers haven’t made an offer yet to Randy Johnson, who seems to prefer the West Coast. Melvin says he won’t pursue Hoffman. And, some of the $100MM offered to Sabathia is available for pitching.
5:06pm: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan says Melvin spoke to the Rangers about pitching. Melvin is said to hold Kevin Millwood in high regard.
3:27pm: Danny Knobler heard from two sources that Brewers GM Doug Melvin can’t shift any of the $100MM offered to C.C. Sabathia to players, and the Brewers are "very unlikely" to pursue a closer (this despite meetings with closers that are known to have taken place).
1:51pm: This information has all pretty much surfaced prior to today, but let’s put it all in one place. The Brewers are considering Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman as closer options, with Randy Johnson a rotation option.
Randy Johnson Rumors
WEDNESDAY, 1:11pm: Nolan Ryan confirmed the Rangers’ interest in Johnson.
TUESDAY, 8:37pm: Jack Magruder says the Astros and Angels met with Johnson’s reps at the Meetings. He adds that the Rangers, Brewers, and Cubs touched base before the Meetings.
2:54pm: Four California teams are said to be eyeing Randy Johnson: the Dodgers, Angels, Giants, and A’s. Mike DiGiovanna learned that the Dodgers and Angels are more on the fringes. We’ve also seen Johnson linked to the Cubs as a fallback for Jake Peavy.
C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Wednesday
1:08am: Gordon Edes notes that Giants GM Brian Sabean told reporters he would not be willing to give Sabathia a sixth year on a contract. They are the fallback option if the big lefty decides he wants to take less to pitch close to home.
12:25am: The big news on the C.C. Sabathia front is that Yankees GM Brian Cashman flew to San Francisco to visit with Sabathia for the third time in three days. ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the visit is not about money and was initiated by Sabathia. Some believe Cashman will attempt to sell Sabathia’s wife Amber on New York.
Stark talked to several baseball people who still don’t believe Sabathia wants to be in New York. One predicted the Yanks would have to include an opt-out clause. Also, Stark speaks of indications that the Dodgers told C.C. they might be interested if they can fill some of their other needs affordably.
C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Tuesday
11:55pm: Joel Sherman has a source saying it’s possible Cashman could begin the process of finalizing a contract for Sabathia while in San Francisco.
Sherman notes that Cashman is looking at many other free agent starters as well, and is pushing to begin closing deals.
10:30pm: As you might imagine, Dan Graziano speaks of a breakthrough in the Yankees’ negotiations for Sabathia.
10:07pm: Jon Heyman talked to Angels owner Arte Moreno, who said, "I wouldn’t say we’re in the Sabathia picture at all."
9:14pm: Ken Davidoff and Kat O’Brien say Cashman bailed on his media session today to meet with Sabathia in San Francisco. Cashman may want to meet Sabathia’s wife, who is obviously a factor in his decision.
9:13pm: Sabathia is a fallback position for the Giants, according to Brian Sabean.
7:56pm: Doug Melvin says the Brewers have not increased their offer to Sabathia, nor have they decided that they won’t. The ball is in Melvin’s court on whether to increase the offer.
6:30pm: Brian Sabean says reports of a weekend scheduled with Sabathia are false.
6:05pm: Danny Knobler says the Halos remain a serious player for Sabathia and could trade a pitcher like Jered Weaver for a bat if they sign him.
5:03pm: An update from Peter Gammons:
Some players have said the Angels have made it clear to Sabathia that they’ll guarantee him six years, but both sides say it is not true. Sabathia has not turned down the Yankees, either. He has offers from the Brewers, Angels and Red Sox, and the Giants have made it clear they will be in the bidding in certain circumstances.
4:45pm: According to Ken Davidoff, the Brewers do not intend to raise their offer to C.C.
4:32pm: Rosenthal says there’s no truth to the rumor that Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer.
4:09pm: Baggarly talked to an exec close to the Sabathia talks who believes the Brewers are emerging as the frontrunner.
3:39pm: Joel Sherman doesn’t say anything about the Yanks’ offer being declined, but he does say the Yanks have heightened interest in A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe as Brian Cashman continues to wait on C.C.
3:24pm: Unconfirmed rumor from Andrew Baggarly: Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer. He still printed it though. The Giants are expected to meet with Sabathia this weekend; they’d need to get creative to sign him.
2:21pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia is convinced the Giants will become a serious bidder.
1:45pm: Tony Jackson’s heard word that Giants officials are "supremely confident" they’re going to sign Sabathia.
1:34pm: Sabathia apparently spent a lot of his time with the Yankees peppering them with lifestyle questions about New York, says Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
12:11pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Giants intend to meet with C.C. Sabathia, perhaps in San Francisco this weekend. They weren’t able to get together while Sabathia was in Vegas.
Marlins Rumors: Cantu, Uggla, Pudge
10:17pm: Berardino says the Giants appear to be out of the running for Cantu due to defensive concerns. That sentiment has been coming from the Giants writers as well lately.
12:36pm: MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro says the Marlins "don’t have immediate interest" in Ivan Rodriguez.
10:49am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins don’t expect to trade Dan Uggla or Jorge Cantu at the Meetings, "but they remain open to all ideas." Cantu has been linked to the Giants and White Sox in recent days.
Rosenthal names the Braves, Reds, and Rays as teams interested in Jeremy Hermida, though nothing is close. Nick Cafardo also suggested the Giants. The Cubs apparently haven’t discussed Hermida in a while.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Tuesday
10:09pm: Angels owner Arte Moreno to Jon Heyman: "Teixeira’s my guy. There are obviously other people we like. But he’s our main target." Currently, the Angels aren’t planning to set a deadline when they make an offer to Tex.
9:11pm: Brian Sabean ruled out Teixeira for the Giants.
4:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Angels are "beginning to recognize they will not be the high bidder" for Tex. Some of Rosenthal’s sources believe the Nationals will come in the highest.
3:48pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown says Angels owner Arte Moreno "has been deeply involved in negotiations with Scott Boras regarding Teixeira, as well as with agent Greg Genske on Sabathia." Brown says the Angels may be willing to give Tex seven years if necessary. The Halos are weighing the idea of going after Manny Ramirez if they miss out on Tex and C.C.
11:39am: Jon Heyman says the Red Sox have been one of Tex’s most aggressive pursuers.
1:47am: Yahoo’s Gordon Edes surveyed several club officials, and they believe the Red Sox will sign Mark Teixeira. They have the money and a strong relationship with Scott Boras. However, the Yankees are heavily interested even if they’ve yet to make an offer. And the Angels are said to be "desperate" to retain Tex. As far as we know, no one’s made an offer. Edes sees the Orioles and Nationals on the periphery, though both clubs are serious about Teixeira.
Marlins Catcher Rumors
Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has the latest on the Marlins’ trade talks for a catcher.
The Rangers could part with Max Ramirez or Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but want a frontline starter type such as Chris Volstad, Josh Johnson, or Ricky Nolasco. The Marlins aren’t willing to do that, but instead could flip Jonathan Sanchez to Texas if they get him. Or, they could send Anibal Sanchez if they add a starter.
The Marlins also have an eye on Pittsburgh’s Ronny Paulino. Meanwhile current Marlin Matt Treanor could be non-tendered or traded for a minor piece.