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Cliff Lee Rumors: Wednesday

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SI.com's Jon Heyman reported yesterday that two teams may have offered Cliff Lee seven-year deals, and the rumor mill will be flying again today. Remember, the Yankees, Rangers, Angels, and Nationals all deny such an offer. Here's a look at all of yesterday's rumors, and here are today's:

  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports identifies the Red Sox as one of the "mystery teams" who made a seven-year bid for Lee. However, they didn't offer enough money for Lee to realistically consider accepting. Rather, the proposal was about increasing Lee's leverage with other teams and trying to force the Yankees to add an extra year.
  • Boston's agreement with Carl Crawford is good news for Lee, who is now the clear top free agent left on the market. Sherman speculates (via Twitter) that the Angels and Rangers, who were in on Crawford, could make a stronger push for Lee now. Brian Cashman, however, says the move won't affect the Yankees' approach on the lefty (Twitter link).
  • Rangers president Nolan Ryan told MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan that the Rangers have asked Braunecker to tell them what it will take to sign Lee. The Rangers have not made an offer, but they're considering a six-year deal, since they expect it will take a long-term commitment to sign Lee.
  • Lee will decide on his next team by the end of the weekend, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
  • The Yankees offered Lee a six-year deal worth $140MM, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (on Twitter). George A. King III of the New York Post hears that the team is comfortable offering between $137.5MM and $150MM.
  • Cashman confirmed to reporters that the Yankees have made an offer, according to Marc Carig of the Star Ledger (on Twitter).
  • GM Mike Rizzo told Ben Goessling of MASNSports that the Nationals did not meet with Lee's agent today (Twitter link).
  • The Brewers are not the mystery team interested in Lee, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel confirms (on Twitter).
  • Though it appeared that the Yankees were about to make a strong offer, they have yet to propose a deal formally, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter).
  • Braunecker has left the building!  He wouldn't reveal where he's going, reports CBS Sports' Danny Knobler.
  • The Rangers met with Braunecker again this morning, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  • Lee's agent Darek Braunecker told ESPN's Richard Durrett that one club has been eliminated.
  • The Yankees are going to make a very strong six-year offer in the $140-150MM range to Lee today, tweets Heyman.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders if Lee really has received seven-year offers, and if he'd go to a non-contender that offered seven years. He spoke with two executives who had Lee in their organization once, and both feel he would.
  • Sherman also checked around and ruled out the Cubs as a seven-year team. He says there was some buzz about the Brewers, but that the finances are beyond their means.  ESPN's Buster Olney rules out the Orioles.
  • MLB.com's Bill Ladson has a source who says the Nationals aren't out of the Lee sweepstakes "by any means," despite GM Mike Rizzo's comments. Ladson's source feels Jayson Werth's seven-year deal actually increased Washington's chances for Lee.

Cubs Interested In Matt Garza

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9:54pm: The Cubs and Rays met again to talk about a potential trade that would send Garza to Chicago for prospects, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com. The Brewers and Rangers have also met with the Rays about Garza, but the Cubs have the strongest current bid, according to Levine. However, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel hears that talks between the Rays and Brewers did not progress (Twitter link).

5:17pm: The Rays have been uninspired by the offers for Garza and may hold on to the right-hander until next summer, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter).

10:40am: The Cubs are one of four teams in the mix for Rays righty Matt Garza, reports ESPN's Bruce Levine.  The Rays are interested in receiving prospects in return.

Garza, 27, would be the best available pitcher aside from Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke.  He posted a 3.91 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 1.2 HR/9, and 35.8% groundball rate in 204 2/3 innings this year.  Garza could earn $6MM+ in arbitration for 2011 and is under team control through '13.  As a Super Two, he'll go to arbitration four times.  Garza probably has a touch more trade value than Shaun Marcum did despite the higher salary, given the extra year of control.  We learned yesterday that Garza may also interest the Rangers and Brewers.

Levine also feels that the Cubs could still be a match for Chris Davis after the Carlos Pena signing, with the Rangers eyeing minor league catcher Robinson Chirinos.

Zack Greinke Rumors: Wednesday

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Yesterday we learned that teams may be upping their offers for Royals ace Zack Greinke, though the Royals' asking price remains high.  The latest:

  • An executive of an interested team hears that the Royals won't deal Greinke before Cliff Lee signs, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark (on Twitter). The Royals may not have to wait long, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports Lee will sign by the end of the weekend.
  • The Phillies have discussed Greinke with the Royals, reports CSNPhilly's Jim Salisbury, but it's a long shot.
  • The Dodgers haven't heard back from the Royals about Greinke, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (on Twitter).
  • MLB.com's Joe Frisaro hears that the Marlins did not discuss Greinke with the Royals (Twitter link).
  • One of the Marlins' attempted three-team trades would have sent Greinke to Florida, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Talks are lukewarm, but still alive, Rosenthal reports.
  • The asking price on Greinke has gone up since last summer, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). The deal will be "very hard to get done," according to one interested executive.
  • The Nationals are being aggressive, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse. MLB.com's Bill Ladson heard earlier that Washington was not pursuing the right-hander, however.
  • Five teams are seriously pursuing Greinke and another three are on the periphery, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports – in an article, not a tweet!  The Royals are specific with their request – pitching to replace Greinke and up-the-middle help.  The Royals are moving slowly and there is no frontrunner.  The Rangers, Dodgers, Nationals, and Blue Jays have shown some measure of interest.
  • The Cubs called on Greinke but a mid-rotation addition is more likely for them, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.

Cubs Sign Carlos Pena

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Carlos Pena and the Cubs have officially agreed to terms on a one-year deal believed to be worth $10MM, half of which is deferred. 

Pena, 33 next May, saw his average slip below the Mendoza Line in 2010, totaling a line of .196/.325/.407. While the average and strikeout rate (32.6%) are concerns, Pena still managed to hit 28 home runs. That he managed a .325 OBP with a sub-.200 average speaks well to his plate discipline (14.9 BB%), and his average was deflated by a career-low .222 BABIP.  Pena was affected by plantar fasciitis during the season, from which he is now said to be recovered.

Earlier, it was believed that Pena and agent Scott Boras were looking for a two or three-year deal, which would have been unsurprising in what's shaping up to be a players' market.  However, one-year "pillow contract" will allow Pena to rebuild stock in the National League and enter a first base class that could be weak beyond Prince Fielder, if the Red Sox and Cardinals hammer out their rumored extensions with Adrian Gonzalez and Albert Pujols, respectively.  A strong 2011 will position Pena as the second-best first base option on the market.  This year, he drew interest from the Orioles, Nationals, Mariners, Braves, and Blue Jays as well as the Cubs.

MLB.com's Carrie Muskat first wrote that the deal was close, then later added the numbers via Twitter. Jon Heyman broke the news (via Twitter) that the two had agreed to terms.

Cubs Targeting LaRoche, Pena

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11:28pm: The Cubs met with Carlos Pena's agent, Scott Boras, again tonight, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (on Twitter). Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago reports that Boras is looking for a two or three-year deal.

2:06pm: The Cubs are targeting first baseman Adam LaRoche and would like to close a deal soon, reports CBS Sports' Scott Miller.  The Nationals are known to be in on LaRoche as well.  The 31-year-old hit .261/.320/.468 with 25 home runs in 615 plate appearances for the Diamondbacks this year, earning $6MM.  His walk rate slipped while his strikeout rate rose.

Both clubs have also been linked to Carlos Pena; Cubs GM Jim Hendry met with Scott Boras on that front but did not exchange dollar figures, tweets MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.

Rangers, Cubs Talking Multiplayer Trade

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8:52pm: The Cubs like Davis, but don't want to part with much in a trade, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link).

6:00pm: The Rangers and Cubs are discussing a trade that would send Chris Davis and Darren O'Day to Chicago, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse (on Twitter).

Davis, 24, has the makings of a slugger, but has struggled to realize his potential. He has 39 homers in 872 big league plate apperances, which projects to 25 or 30 over the course of a full season. Davis has a .248/.300/.459 line in parts of three major league seasons and he strikes out in 32% of his plate appearances.

The Rangers claimed O'Day off of waivers from the Mets in 2009 and saw him develop into a valuable cog in their bullpen. The sidearmer has a 1.99 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 in 117 2/3 innings for Texas.

Cubs Shopping Tom Gorzelanny

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6:52pm: The Tigers contacted the Cubs about Gorzelanny, according to Steve Kornacki of MLive.com.

9:38am: The Cubs are aggressively shopping lefty Tom Gorzelanny, reports Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Trading Gorzelanny would open up a spot in the Cubs' rotation, but wouldn't clear much payroll.

Gorzelanny, 28, posted a 4.09 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 4.5 BB/9, 0.73 HR/9, and 40.7% groundball rate in 136 1/3 innings this year.  He's arbitration eligible for the second time after earning $800K in 2010.

Brandon Webb Rumors: Tuesday

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Things are heating up for free agent starter Brandon Webb.  The latest:

Odds & Ends: Yankees, Giants, Astros, Marlins

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Some late night links after a busy day for the Diamondbacks…

Cubs Close To One-Year Deal With Pena

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This post was originally published on Dec. 8, 2010.

The Cubs are closing in on a one-year deal with Carlos Pena, writes MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. She adds, via Twitter, that the deal is believed to be for $10MM.

Pena, 33 next May, saw his average slip below the Mendoza Line in 2010, totaling a line of .196/.325/.407. While the average and strikeout rate (32.6%) are concerns, Pena still managed to hit 28 home runs. That he managed a .325 OBP with a sub-.200 average speaks well to his plate discipline (14.9 BB%), and his average was unquestionably deflated by a career-low .222 BABIP.

Earlier, it was believed that Pena and agent Scott Boras were looking for a two- or three-year deal, which would be unsurprising in what's shaping up to be a players' market.

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