Rick Ankiel Rumors

Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel is popular, with at least five interested teams.  He adds the Yankees, Rays, and Giants to the previously known Braves.  With the lack of center fielders on the market, the interest makes sense.  Sherman says the Cardinals seek a closer and/or a starter, and have some interest in Ian Kennedy.

C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Monday

11:12pm: Clarification of the earlier Colletti stuff from Tony Jackson: "What Colletti actually said was that Sabathia had made the Dodgers aware, not directly but through conversations with third parties, that he had a desire to pitch for them."

10:38pm: Heyman says the Red Sox talked parameters with Sabathia and "perhaps even" made an offer.  They’re not expected to beat the Yankees’ offer though.

Jeff Passan offers his take on the Brewers’ angle.

9:26pm: Rosenthal’s source says the Red Sox were just doing their due diligence in meeting with Sabathia.  The Sox are focused on Mark Teixeira.

9:19pm: The Giants say it’s "debatable" as to whether they’ll meet with Sabathia.  Andrew Baggarly indicates Brian Sabean implied they don’t plan to make a competitive offer to Sabathia.

9:14pm: Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash says Sabathia is not concerned about the makeup of the Brewers’ roster.  Doug Melvin does not believe they’d need to be too creative with a contract.

7:26pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia requested both Yankees meetings, the second of which took place at the pitcher’s room at the Wynn.  Sabathia’s left Vegas, and didn’t give the Yanks a timetable.

7:17pm: Bill Shaikin talked to a Giants official who says they’re "definitively" not interested in Manny Ramirez.  They are, however, interested in Sabathia.

Abraham notes that Sabathia requested that second meet with the Yanks.

6:19pm: Peter Abraham learned from Brian Cashman that the Yanks met with Sabathia again today.

5:41pm: Sabathia’s meeting with Yankees officials lasted 2.5 hours yesterday, as he gathered information on the team and the city.  He told the Yankees he’s not delaying his decision due to a desire to pitch elsewhere; he just wants to gather the facts.

4:32pm: Sabathia apparently told Colletti he wants to be a Dodger?  Speaking to reporters, Colletti left it as a "possibility" the Dodgers could get involved.

4:12pm: Doug Melvin deems the opt-out and sixth year chatter "speculation" (despite the reports below and another from Phil Rogers).  But after meeting with Sabathia’s agents today, Melvin says the Brewers are still in it.  They’ll meet again later in the week.

Also, there’s an article making the rounds where Bill Madden quotes an industry source as saying Greg Genske is "dead as an agent" if Sabathia ends up signing for $120MM.

12:03pm: Joel Sherman says Brian Cashman brought Joe Girardi and Reggie Jackson along for their recent meeting with Sabathia.  Privately, the Yanks feel that Sabathia would be entirely invested in New York if he signs with them (despite his West Coast leanings).

11:49am: Jon Heyman has a Brewers update.  He says they’re open to adding a sixth year, bringing the total to $120MM (closer to $110MM with deferred money).  He also heard an opt-out clause could be added after two years.  Heyman says Sabathia hated having Spring Training in Florida, a slight mark against the Yankees.

10:30am: Dan Graziano was told yesterday that the Brewers added a sixth year to their Sabathia offer, but he admits there are conflicting reports on that.

9:33am: Buster Olney says to take it for what it’s worth, but his source says the meeting between Sabathia and the Yankees went "great."

8:44am: According to George King of the New York Post, the Brewers could offer C.C. Sabathia an opt-out clause after three seasons to entice him to sign (similar to the Blue Jays’ deal for A.J. Burnett).  At this time, only the Brewers and Yankees have offers on the table for Sabathia. King talked to a source who said in regard to the Giants, "It would have to be a total default position in terms of years and dollars."  Perhaps that indicates the Giants can’t really go beyond the Brewers’ five-year, $100MM offer.

Giants Rumors: Burrell, Turnbow, Sanchez

9:22pm: Baggarly says Brian Sabean touched base with 25 teams today.  Baggarly does not buy recent rumors connecting the Giants to Cantu, Encarnacion, and Hank Blalock.

6:08pm: Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News provides the Giants rumors…

  • Pat Burrell would love to play for the Giants, but he’s far down on the team’s list due to defensive concerns.
  • The Giants offered Derrick Turnbow a non-guaranteed contract.  The Pirates are another team eyeing Turnbow.
  • Jonathan Sanchez is a popular name in trade talks.  Baggarly doesn’t foresee a Sanchez for Edwin Encarnacion or Jorge Cantu straight up type deal.

Astros Will Not Trade Valverde

7:30pm: Ed Wade assured reporters today that Valverde will not be traded.

11:04am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Astros are willing to trade Miguel Tejada.  Teams are interested in him as a shortstop and third baseman.  Rosenthal figures the Twins, Dodgers, Giants, and Angels could be matches.  He adds that the Astros realize they’d have to eat some of Tejada’s $13MM for ’09.  Richard Justice figures it’d require eating at least half.

Rosenthal says the Astros are not inclined to trade closer Jose Valverde. And Justice figures Ty Wigginton could be tough to move as his salary climbs toward $10MM.

Phillies Interested In Delmon Young?

7:05pm: LEN3 says the Twins would want more than Donald for Young, but it’s a moot point because the Phillies don’t want to trade Donald.  The teams haven’t spoken lately and don’t have plans to meet in the near future.

Neal also says there’s nothing going on between the Twins and Giants.

4:20pm: LEN3 says the Twins do like Donald.  Neal also believes the rumor about the Giants being interested in Young.

One other fresh note from Neal’s blog post – Dennys Reyes "might be on the Reds’ radar."

1:26pm: According to Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News, the Phillies have inquired on Twins outfielder Delmon Young.  Hagen believes the Twins would want shortstop prospect Jason Donald in return.

Odds and Ends: Teahen, Mastny, Clement

Sunday evening links…I will add to this post as needed.

Cafardo’s Latest: Halladay, Hermida, Abreu

Time for a look at the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

  • Relievers on the Tigers’ radar: Trevor Hoffman, David Weathers, Arthur Rhodes, and Joe Beimel.
  • Blue Jays J.P. Ricciardi is frank: "We will not trade Roy Halladay."
  • Marlins right fielder Jeremy Hermida is said to interest the Reds, Rays, and Giants.  John Perrotto says the Rays have inquired on Hermida.
  • Cafardo believes the Dodgers will turn to Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, or Jermaine Dye if they fail to re-sign Manny Ramirez.
  • Cafardo likes the Angels and Brewers as dark horses for Jake Peavy.
  • Cafardo says not to discount the possibility of the Nationals signing Ken Griffey Jr.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Closers, Castillo, Cantu

Ken Rosenthal has a new column up, let’s take a look at the highlights:

  • Rosenthal doesn’t see Mark Teixeira signing with the Nationals, even for the rumored ten-year, $200MM contract. He’s got better options in the Angels, Red Sox, and Yankees. Scott Boras managed to get Alex Rodriguez a ten-year deal with a losing team in 2000 when he signed with the Rangers, but Rosenthal doesn’t forsee a repeat.
  • The Indians are waiting on the Mets’ closer decision to make a decision of their own. Once New York signs or trades for a closer, the market will likely collapse. The Mets are preparing simultaneous offers to Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, and Kerry Wood.
  • The Brewers could spend big money on a closer once they hear from Ben Sheets and C.C. Sabathia. If the Brewers can somehow retain both, they won’t have money to spend on a closer and would likely have to trade Prince Fielder.
  • The Mets are desperately trying to unload Luis Castillo so they can make a run at Orlando Hudson. They’re having no luck though, even in trying to swap him for another bad contract. The Rangers rejected a swap of Castillo for Vicente Padilla.
  • Nationals GM Jim Bowden is interested in Willy Taveras. Doesn’t make any sense to me. The Nats already have Lastings Milledge, Josh Willingham, Elijah Dukes, and Austin Kearns.
  • The Rockies prefer to keep Garrett Atkins, but the Twins, Dodgers, Giants, and Phillies are all interested. Chase Utley has been a long-time supporter of bringing his former UCLA teammate to the Phils for a reunion.
  • The Marlins are getting several inquiries on Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla. They don’t plan to trade either, though if the Giants were to offer Jonathan Sanchez for Cantu, the Marlins would jump at the chance.
  • Jermaine Dye, Mike Cameron, Marcus Thames, and Marlon Byrd are all available via the trade market, for teams needing a right-handed hitting outfielder. Rosenthal still feels Cameron could still end up in pinstripes.
Show all