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Jake Peavy Rumors: Friday

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1:47pm: This Scott Miller column is from yesterday, but it has some good info.  Miller’s source believes the Braves are the frontrunners for Peavy and are willing to include Gorkys Hernandez.  Additionally, the source said the Cubs are very aggressive and the Dodgers are making a strong pitch.

12:53pm: Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says Samardzija is not on the table and has a full, not partial, no-trade.  Additionally, the Cubs have not thrown Fontenot into the mix.  Miles gives a 50-50 chance of the Cubs getting Peavy.

9:39am: GM Kevin Towers expects to trade Jake Peavy before the winter meetings, saying, "The train’s kind of left the station."  Continuing the metaphor, Barry Axelrod said, "The only thing we’ve got is a brake."

According to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan, the Cubs have moved in front of the Braves in the battle for Peavy.  Passan says the Padres want Jeff Samardzija (who has a limited no-trade clause), and the Cubs could also include players such as Felix Pie, Sean Marshall, Ronny Cedeno, Kevin Hart, and Donald Veal.  Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times suggests Rich Harden or Mike Fontenot could be involved.  De Luca notes that a Peavy trade would probably prevent the Cubs from acquiring Brian Roberts.  ESPN’s Buster Olney believes Josh Vitters would have to be involved, while the Daily Herald’s Bruce Miles adds Jose Ceda, Welington Castillo, and Mitch Atkins as possibilities.  Miles does not see the Cubs as a player for C.C. Sabathia, by the way.

The Padres would prefer a deal with Atlanta, but can’t pry Tommy Hanson loose.  The Braves are willing to trade Yunel Escobar, Charlie Morton, and Jordan Schafer.

Meanwhile, Tom Krasovic at the San Diego Union-Tribune says Peavy and Barry Axelrod are concerned about the Braves’ shortstop situation if they are to include the defensively-talented Escobar.  Perhaps the Braves could sway them by outlining some contingency plans at the position.

Latest On Rafael Furcal

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According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers have a two-year deal in mind for free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.  SI.com’s Jon Heyman recently said their offer was in the two-year, $25-30MM range.  His agent is looking for four years, and says ten other teams have expressed interest.

Heyman believes the Orioles and Royals may be suitors, though Furcal may be out of the Royals’ price range.  The Tigers are out, but the Cubs, Giants, Blue Jays, and A’s are in.

Mets Rumors: Fuentes, Cordero, Delgado

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5:18pm: More on the Mets: Ken Davidoff says they’re shopping Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis, and Pedro Feliciano.  The A’s, Rays, and Rangers are fans of Heilman.  The Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs, and D’Backs were also tossed into the mix by Adam Rubin, though the D’Backs haven’t had recent talks.   The Mets would be willing to pick up some of the $3.6MM owed to Schoeneweis next year.

4:58pm: Brian Fuentes’ agent Rick Thurman calls the below rumor of an offer to the Mets a "total fabrication."

10:56am: Checking in on the Mets…

  • Tracy Ringolsby says Brian Fuentes’ agents proposed a four-year, $44MM deal to the Mets.  Ringolsby heard the Indians and Cardinals don’t want to go beyond two years.  The Mets also met with Francisco Rodriguez’s agent.
  • The Mets are considering free agent Chad Cordero, who is coming off July shoulder surgery.
  • GM Omar Minaya seems willing to spend big money on a closer and one starter, and then fill the other starting spot cheaply.  The Mets could, say, sign Derek Lowe and trade for the affordable Edwin Jackson.  The Mets haven’t exchanged names yet for Jackson.
  • Ryan Dempster and Jon Garland may be on the radar, as Minaya met with their agent yesterday.  Dempster’s agent said he can handle New York.
  • Carlos Delgado approached the Mets late in the season about an extension for 2010, but they decided to pass.  Delgado wasn’t bothered by this.
  • Ken Davidoff adds that the Mets have let scout/former Bulls GM Jerry Krause go.

Rosenthal: Cubs Want Peavy And Dempster

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Ken Rosenthal is working overtime today with his second column. This time Rosenthal reports that the Cubs are willing to give Ryan Dempster a four-year deal even if they land Jake Peavy from the Padres.

The club also is willing to give Dempster a four-year contract, sources say, a decision that should put them in good position to retain the free-agent right-hander.

Even though the Cubs are for sale, team officials apparently believe that they can absorb the four years and $63 million remaining on Peavy’s contract while committing at least $50 million to Dempster over the same term.

Rosenthal notes the close relationship between Dempster and Jim Hendry could keep Dempster from accepting a longer or more lucrative deal with another team.

However, Rosenthal notes there would likely be a ripple effect on the roster if the Cubs were to resign Dempster and trade for Peavy.

  • The Cubs would likely be unable to resign Kerry Wood.
  • Several players may have to be traded to reduce payroll, including Jason Marquis.
  • May have to opt for a cheaper left-handed hitting outfielder than originally thought.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Jake Peavy Rumors: Wednesday

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11:00pm: Meanwhile, Yahoo’s Tim Brown says the Braves, Cubs, and Cardinals are all working out contigency plans to replace the players they’d use in a Peavy deal.

10:53pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs are the frontrunner for Peavy, "perhaps even ahead of the Braves." He says the Cubs also want to re-sign Ryan Dempster.  The Cubs’ dream rotation would be Peavy, Carlos Zambrano, Dempster, Ted Lilly, and Rich Harden.

The Braves had a window of exclusivity to hammer out a Peavy trade, but that has apparently passed.  The Padres like the Cubs’ young pitching, even if it doesn’t match Atlanta’s.

If the Cubs pull this off, they’d have to cut costs by perhaps letting Kerry Wood go and going cheaper in right field.

WEDNESDAY, 9:14am: Ken Davidoff swapped emails with Peavy’s agent, Barry Axelrod.  Axelrod stresses that Peavy’s list of preferred teams is just guidance for the Padres, and is not definitive or all-inclusive.  The Padres have not yet requested approval for any team or trade.

TUESDAY: Time to begin a new thread for Jake Peavy rumors.  According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres consider the Braves, Cubs, and Dodgers as potential matches for a Peavy trade.  GM Kevin Towers is "down the road" with two of those clubs (probably the Braves and Cubs), but nothing is imminent.  Things could slow down as free agency opens up, giving potential trade partners more options for their rotations.

Mets Prioritize Pitching

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9:15pm: Michael Schmidt has a look at the amusing binder the Boras Corporation compiled to sell Oliver Perez.

6:31pm: Mets GM Omar Minaya commented on Manny Ramirez, indicating that he plans to invest in pitching instead.

2:34pm: The Mets expressed preliminary interest in Jon Garland and Ryan Dempster, according to Ken Davidoff.  Dempster’s agent made it clear that he won’t be re-signing with the Cubs soon.

1:23pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote in his blog this morning that the Mets are probably not willing to go past three years for Francisco Rodriguez or any reliever.

10:03am: More Mets chatter from Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He says the Mets and Rays have had preliminary discussions about Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine.  The Rays have some interest in Aaron Heilman, though the Mets would need to give more.

Sherman believes the Mets’ interest in Ibanez is minor, and Carlos Delgado or Ryan Church would have to be dealt first.

9:45am: The Mets are prioritizing pitching this winter, based on articles by Mike Puma of the New York Post, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, and Ken Davidoff of Newsday.  Let’s dig in!

  • Puma says the Mets have Scott Boras clients Oliver Perez and Derek Lowe on the radar.  Perez offers the benefit of familiarity, though he’s not likely to sign quickly.  Ken Rosenthal says the Mets would probably do $12MM a year for Perez, but Boras will want more.  Rubin notes that Lowe is doubly attractive to the Mets for his closing experience.
  • Rubin lists the Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs, and D’Backs as potential trade destinations for Aaron Heilman.  The Rays have also been connected to Heilman.
  • Davidoff mentions Omar Minaya’s Javier Vazquez connection.  ESPN’s Keith Law says the Vazquez to the Mets rumor "appears to have originated in the Chicago camp, and the White Sox are keen to move him." 
  • ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Mets inquired on Rays pitcher Edwin Jackson.
  • Davidoff also points out the Mets’ interest in Raul Ibanez despite their emphasis on pitching.  The Royals and Cubs are also in on Ibanez so far.

Cubs Rumors: Dempster, Peavy, Sabathia, Hill

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6:05pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are willing to offer Dempster a four-year contract.  This helps their chances, though Dempster’s agent said today "there’s very little possibility he’s going to sign soon with the Cubs."

9:36am: Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times has fresh Cubs rumors this morning.

  • De Luca’s sources describe the Cubs’ interest in Jake Peavy as "limited."  Instead, the Cubs have "deep interest" in C.C. Sabathia.  De Luca also wonders if the Cubs will entertain A.J. Burnett.  Dave van Dyck suggested Derek Lowe could fit.  The Cubs’ payroll room will depend on free agents Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood, plus their ability to move Jason Marquis.
  • Rich Hill’s lost 2008 season killed his trade value.  He’ll be out of options next spring.
  • De Luca’s sources say the Cubs continue to pursue Brian Roberts and Raul Ibanez.  Ibanez would play right field for the Cubs, even though he allowed 18 more bases than the average left fielder this year.

Furcal To Hit The Open Market?

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Bill Shaikin and Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times have the scoop on free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.

Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer met with Dodgers GM Ned Colletti recently, and they didn’t see eye to eye.  Kinzer doesn’t want to compromise much on the term despite Furcal missing most of ’08 due to back surgery.  Furcal wants to return to the Dodgers, but may be "forced" to hit the open market to find the four-year deal he craves.  At least seven teams have expressed interest, the Cubs, Giants, and Blue Jays among them.  The Royals, Orioles, Cardinals, Indians, Tigers, and Twins also make sense.

Jake Peavy Rumors: Tuesday

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9:58pm: Peavy apparently rejected one trade, to an American League team with a small ballpark.

12:12pm: David O’Brien says Braves and Padres officials met Sunday and Monday to talk Peavy, discussing proposals not including Tommy Hanson.  The Braves remain the favorite.

12:08pm: Brewers GM Doug Melvin says he is not engaged in talks for Peavy.

10:32am: Joel Sherman says the Yankees have shown no early movement toward Peavy.  Free agents just make more sense.  Still, Jay Paris snagged some good quotes from Axelrod and Towers about the Yankees possibility.

8:52am: Peavy’s agent, Barry Axelrod, says they have not given approval for the Yankees or Angels.  Axelrod reiterated that the Yankees would have to pay a premium (likely an extension).  Towers said he doesn’t believe the Angels would have to pay the same premium.

8:35am: Towers also doubts Peavy would approve a trade to Milwaukee.

8:03am: Let’s kick off a fresh post for today’s Jake Peavy rumors.  A reminder of the latest news: Peavy has preapproved the Yankees and Angels, bringing his total to seven teams.  Padres GM Kevin Towers indicated that Peavy would not approve a trade to Boston.

Towers referenced the Dan Haren and Mark Teixeira deals while indicating he wants quality over quantity back.  CBS’s Scott Miller has info on some players discussed.  He says Felix Pie, Ronny Cedeno, and Rich Hill are available from the Cubs.  With the Dodgers, Chad Billingsley and James McDonald have been discussed.  We know Towers wants more from the Dodgers, but Billingsley seems unlikely.

Braves Rumors: Ludwick, Dempster, Francoeur

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David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has been churning out rumors in the comments section of his blog.

  • He believes the Braves are interested in Ryan Ludwick, but is not sure if they’d give up Kelly Johnson.  O’Brien also suggests Rick Ankiel could be available, and that either player would interest Atlanta.
  • O’Brien says the Cubs offered three years, $36MM to Ryan Dempster.  Most folks think he’ll re-sign, but the Braves have spoken to Dempster’s agent.
  • He adds that the Braves will make an offer to Mike Hampton, though Hampton will shop around and may prefer the West Coast.  He’s looking for a one-year deal.
  • The Royals still love Jeff Francoeur.
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