Extension Offer On Table For Sabathia
C.C. Sabathia‘s future may become a popular topic during the 2008 season as he heads toward free agency. He’s in line for a megadeal – he turns 28 in July and won the ’07 AL Cy Young award.
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer confirmed yesterday that the Indians have made an offer to Sabathia. Hoynes expects negotiations to drag at least until the regular season begins, since Sabathia wants five to seven years and the Tribe doesn’t want to go that far.
Jake Peavy had a well below-market deal running through the 2009 season, and about a month ago he inked a contract extension covering the 2010-12 seasons for $52MM. The three-year extension also has a club option for 2013. Peavy’s contract will be the model for Mark Shapiro, rather than anything Johan Santana signs.
Realistically, I think the Indians could top out around four years, $72MM plus an option for 2013 in their offer to Sabathia. Will Sabathia make that concession, or will he go for the free market and maybe get seven years, $140MM?
Matt Clement Rumors
FROM 12-31-07 at 11:20am: Wuerz says Clement balked at the idea of a minor league deal with the Cardinals.
FROM 12-30-07 at 12:26pm: John Perrotto believes Clement is leaning towards the Pirates or Indians, partly because of a new home he built in Butler, PA (same place he was born).
FROM 12-30-07 at 2:10am:
Here’s a rumor I missed from a couple of days ago. Scott Wuerz of the Belleville News-Democrat, a Southern Illinois newspaper, indicated in his blog that the Cardinals were close to signing Matt Clement. Haven’t seen recent buzz about this in the Post-Dispatch, but maybe Wuerz has the scoop.
Other teams previously linked to Clement: the Royals, Mariners, Blue Jays, Rockies, Pirates, Indians, and Phillies. The Astros pulled out and the Padres seem full. Clement underwent rotator cuff surgery in September of 2006, with his agent comparing the procedure to that of Drew Brees.
White Sox Sign Alexei Ramirez
UPDATE, 12-22-07 at 6:00pm: Ramirez can earn another $3.25MM in incentives.
UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 10:57pm: Ramirez gets a mere $4.75MM over the four-year pact. That’s an excellent move right there, in my opinion. Dirt cheap – low risk, decent reward.
FROM 12-21-07 at 5:35pm:
The White Sox made an interesting move today, signing Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez to a four-year contract. The presence of Jose Contreras should be helpful for him. Ramirez probably profiles as Chicago’s center fielder, though he could also play second base. Here’s what Baseball America had to say about him a few months ago.
It’s tough to judge this signing until we hear the money involved. He was apparently highly sought after, as ESPN says he worked out for the Red Sox, Indians, Reds, Cubs, Mets, Yankees, Twins, and A’s too. Ramirez is apparently 26 years old. I think he’s going to need some time in the minors, as Clay Davenport has equated Cuban baseball with our short season A ball.
As a means of comparison, Yuniesky Betancourt signed for four years and $2.826MM in January of 2005. Kendry Morales signed a four-year deal worth around $10MM in December of 2004.
The Mark Prior Derby
Let’s do a recap on the Mark Prior Derby, which is getting more confusing each day. Jerry Crasnick has added some good info this afternoon. Prior wants a one-year deal and hopes to be on a big league mound before the end of May.
- Yankees – They’ll probably pass, per Hank Steinbrenner.
- Red Sox – Named only by Jayson Stark.
- White Sox – Named only by Stark.
- Mariners – Named by Stark, denied by Jim Street.
- Mets – Named by Stark, Crasnick, Ken Rosenthal, Ed Price
- Cardinals – Named by Stark, Crasnick, Rosenthal, Matthew Leach
- Padres – Named by many, made an offer according to Crasnick. Prior went to USC but would have to take less money to play in San Diego
- Astros – Named by many, made an offer according to Alyson Footer
- Giants – Named only by Stark
- Reds – Named by Stark, Crasnick. Prior previously played under Dusty Baker
- Nationals – Named by Stark, Crasnick, Bill Ladson
- Rangers – Named by Crasnick but not Stark, aggressively pursuing according to Rosenthal
- Marlins – Named only by Crasnick
- Indians – Named only by Crasnick
One more and we’re at half of all baseball teams linked at some point. The Phillies and Pirates are not interested, and it’s probably safe to count the Cubs out.
Pirates Pulled Out Of Bay To Cleveland Deal
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has some new information for us regarding an aborted Jason Bay deal. Kovacevic says the Bucs made a decision through the entire chain of command that Franklin Gutierrez, Kelly Shoppach, Cliff Lee, and a minor league pitcher wasn’t enough for Bay and Ronny Paulino.
This situation has been confusing to follow from the start, with plenty of conflicting information floating about. For instance, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Paul Hoynes said on Wednesday that Lee and Shoppach were never involved in these talks – the Bucs wanted three to five of the Indians’ top prospects. Before that there was that whole business about whether talks had occurred at the Winter Meetings and been revived.
Indians Rumors: Haren, Blanton, Bedard, Inge
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer gets the Indians rumor mill churning.
- As we mentioned earlier today, the Indians have spoken to the A’s about Dan Haren and Joe Blanton. They’ve also inquired on Erik Bedard. The Tribe is quietly looking to pair C.C. Sabathia with another ace. Such an acquisition would soften the blow if Sabathia leaves after the ’08 season. Hoynes says a Haren acquisition might require one player from the Indians’ 25-man roster plus at least one near MLB-ready guy.
- The Tribe had brief talks with Detroit about Brandon Inge, but they’ve moved on. Doesn’t seem to be much interest in Inge.
- Cliff Lee and Kelly Shoppach weren’t part of the Jason Bay discussions. Instead, the Pirates were looking for a slew of the Indians’ best prospects. It seems the Bay talks have since cooled.
Surprise Players For Haren
During the Winter Meetings, there wasn’t much talk of the Indians or Reds pursuing Oakland starter Dan Haren. However, there’s buzz that both Ohio teams have interest.
The Tribe definitely inquired on Haren. See Susan Slusser’s article today, where she notes that Asdrubal Cabrera was "believed to be an A’s target." The Indians don’t want to part with the young infielder, a player they stole from the Mariners in June of 2006 for Eduardo Perez. Paul Hoynes further solidifies it, saying Mark Shapiro has spoken to Billy Beane about Haren.
Slusser believes the Reds "might turn their focus toward Haren with an offer that could include starter Homer Bailey" if they can’t get Erik Bedard. Slusser’s report is unclear whether Wayne Krivsky has had conversations with Billy Beane about Haren. Ken Rosenthal says the Reds are "pushing for Haren," which does indicate talks.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Santana, Cabrera, Kuroda, Edmonds, Rolen
Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest hot stove buzz around baseball.
- Johan Santana is Boston’s only target – they’re not after Dan Haren or any other starter. The talks keep slugging along. For what it’s worth, Curt Schilling expects the Red Sox to get him.
- 36 year-old first baseman Alex Cabrera is a sleeper power threat among free agents. The former Rockie, Cub, and Diamondback has been mashing in Japan since 2001. The Nationals don’t have any room for him but want him anyway. Rosenthal says A.L. clubs are looking at him as a DH candidate, also. Cabrera hit .295/.377/.512 with 27 HR in 441 ABs in Japan in 2007.
- Hiroki Kuroda has not reached an agreement with any team, according to Rosenthal.
- The Padres are still considering Jim Edmonds as a center field candidate.
- Here’s a new one: the Indians expressed interest in Scott Rolen. The talks have cooled however.
- Rosenthal says the Astros don’t think they will get Miguel Tejada. Instead they’ve moved on to…Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt.
Cleveland In The Haren Sweepstakes?
In mentioning the possible Dan Haren trade, Buster Olney mentions the Indians as a sleeper pick. They haven’t really been mentioned in relation to the 27-year-old righty, as talks have been dominated by the Diamondbacks. The Yankees and the Dodgers are the other teams Olney mentions as interested.
This would make Cleveland’s rotation for 2008:
1. C.C. Sabathia
2. Dan Haren
3. Fausto Carmona
4. Jake Westbrook
5. Paul Byrd
Mentioned as A’s bait are Jeremy Sowers, Aaron Laffey, and, of course, Adam Miller. It’s unlikely that they’d be interested in players like Andy Marte and Josh Barfield, since a trade of Haren would signify the A’s beginning to rebuild. They’d likely want players with little to no service time. They could, in addition, trade Joe Blanton and Huston Street as part of this process.
–Joe
Jamey Carroll Traded To Indians
UPDATE, 12-7-07 at 8:19pm: Troy E. Renck says this deal is done, and right now it’s for a player to be named later. Dan O’Dowd said he wasn’t eating any of the $2.15MM owed to Carroll, so that’s some pocket change to put toward a free agent reliever. Yes, I just referred to two million dollars as pocket change.
FROM 12-7-07 at 9:46am:
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News says the Rockies are set to trade utility infielder Jamey Carroll to the Indians. It was to be for minor league starter Sean Smith, but that part has changed. The teams will talk today and figure out the return. The Rockies will save a few million bucks by moving Carroll. The Rox previously offered Carroll to the Indians for Josh Barfield, by the way.
As for their second base vacancy, Tadahito Iguchi and David Eckstein remain on the radar. There are complications with both.
Iguchi is said to want three years, but could settle for two. He likes the idea of playing second base, and the Rox are the current suitor offering that (though the Orioles could enter the picture). However Iguchi’s agent told Ringolsby that replacing countryman Kaz Matsui concerns Iguchi.
As for Eckstein, he’s said to want four years. I could see him settling for three, but two would be a pretty big concession.