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Ethier’s Arbitration Hearing Date Is Set

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Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Andre Ethier’s arbitration hearing is scheduled for February 17.

As Jackson writes, "that should give the sides plenty of time to reach an agreement and avoid a hearing, but you never know."  Ethier and his representatives have asked for $3.75MM, while the Dodgers submitted a $2.65MM bid.  He is the team’s only pending arbitration case.

Wolf, Dodgers Resume Talks

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According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, the Dodgers resumed contract talks with Randy Wolf.  He’s thought to be asking for a deal similar to Jon Garland’s ($7-9MM).  While Wolf is the Dodgers’ first choice, he’s expected to wait until the Mets reach a resolution with Oliver Perez.  So once again, we’re waiting on the notoriously patient Scott Boras.

Gurnick says the Dodgers also spoke to Braden Looper’s agent today; he’s their backup plan.

D’Backs Sign Jon Garland

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THURSDAY: The D’Backs’ signing of Garland is official; he was introduced today.

WEDNESDAY, 2:52pm: More details from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick: Garland gets $6.25MM in ’09 and the 2010 option for $10MM has a $2.5MM buyout if the D’Backs reject it.  If Garland rejects it it’s a $1MM buyout.  Bottom line: if he doesn’t return in 2010, he’ll have made either $7.25MM or $8.75MM for ’09.

1:49pm: Different take from Ken Rosenthal; he says Garland is guaranteed more than $8.5MM in total.  Heyman figures Arizona’s Garland signing makes the Dodgers the "heavy favorite" for Randy Wolf.

1:11pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman has contract details.  Garland will earn $6.25MM in ’09, with his ’10 buyout pushing the guaranteed money to about $7MM.  The 2010 mutual option is for about $10MM.

10:41am: According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks agreed to terms with starter Jon Garland on a one-year deal with an option (likely mutual) for 2010.  Garland’s guaranteed money is believed to be in the $6-8MM range.  The Diamondbacks probably could’ve re-signed Randy Johnson for a similar amount; did they make the right decision? 

Garland’s early December choice to decline the Angels’ offer of arbitration turned out to be a mistake.  The Angels will receive a supplemental draft pick for their loss.

The move uses up the D’Backs’ remaining payroll room, presumably taking them out of the mix for free agents such as Pedro Martinez and Braden Looper. 

Stark On Greinke, Manny, Dunn, Swisher

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The latest from ESPN’s Jayson Stark…

  • The Cubs’ ownership situation is not close to the finish line, which is one reason the team won’t be acquiring Jake Peavy anytime soon.
  • One source of Stark’s suggested Zack Greinke nearly left his current agent John Courtright of SFX for Scott Boras, a whisper I’d heard as well.  But now Greinke is happy with his contract and agent.
  • Free agents such as Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez could reasonably wait until March to sign.  Not a bad thing for this website!
  • Adam Dunn would like Manny to sign earlier, as he’s waiting to see what the Dodgers (his preferred team) do.  The Nationals have been Dunn’s most aggressive suitor, the Orioles have mild interest, and the Braves have backed off.
  • Stark questions the idea of talks for Manny heating up lately, since the Mets, Yankees, and Angels are out and the Giants are only conditionally interested.
  • When Alex Rodriguez was a free agent last winter, Joe Torre advised the Dodgers against signing him.
  • The Phillies would like to move Geoff Jenkins for a right-handed hitting outfielder, but Jenkins is paid too much.  Jay Payton and Emil Brown are not on the Phillies’ radar; they still like Nomar Garciaparra.
  • The Yankees are apparently "softening to the idea of trading Nick Swisher," with the Braves the top suitor.

Rosenthal On Abreu, Garland, Glavine, Sisco

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

  • The Mariners and Giants are interested in Bobby Abreu, if the price is right.  Yesterday Buster Olney suggested that Abreu is willing to take a one-year deal.  The A’s and Nationals have other targets, while the Mets, White Sox, and Braves are seen as long shots.
  • Rosenthal examines the nuances of Jon Garland’s December 7th decision to reject arbitration, saying that it wasn’t an obvious mistake at the time.
  • Tom Glavine’s agent Gregg Clifton did not attend yesterday’s meeting with Frank Wren; it was a health update and not a contract negotiation.  Rosenthal says Glavine figures to seek a Freddy Garcia-like deal.  The Braves need to save money to add an outfielder, with Nick Swisher atop their list.  The Yankees’ goal in moving Swisher or Xavier Nady would be to recoup prospects.
  • The Brewers are not interested in projects such as Kris Benson, Jason Jennings, Mark Redman, and Victor Zambrano.  They’re just lukewarm on Mark Mulder.  Benson is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Rangers, and Cardinals; one exec reviewed his audition as "so-so."
  • Rosenthal doesn’t seem to buy the idea that Jason Varitek and Scott Boras feared the Red Sox could cut him if he accepted arbitration, noting that Boras client Travis Lee was advised to accept years ago.
  • The Braves have reservations about re-signing Andruw Jones, who could be a Spring Training cut.
  • The A’s deal for Russ Springer will be worth more than $3MM plus incentives.  They’re also eyeing Brian Shouse and Andrew Sisco as possible pen additions.  Sisco, recovering from Tommy John, has also auditioned for the Rockies and Giants.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Wednesday

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11:39pm: Dylan Hernandez and Ken Gurnick talked to Ned Colletti tonight about Manny, but there’s not much new to report.

3:50pm: Not sure where the rumor started, but you can cross the Cardinals off the list for Manny suitors.

8:39am: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times talked to Scott Boras, who anticipates that his client Manny Ramirez will be signed by Spring Training (February 14th).  Boras claims the Manny negotiations are taking shape and progressing and "the train has left the station."  Of course, we all recall Kevin Towers saying the same thing about a Jake Peavy trade.

Boras acknowledged that he’s still talking with the Dodgers and (of course) implied that he has more than one additional suitor.

In other Manny news, Mets manager Jerry Manuel said he’d like to add the slugger (despite the team’s lack of interest).

Randy Wolf Rumors: Wednesday

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11:36pm: MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick believes the Dodgers and Wolf "will remain apart until the Mets sign a pitcher," perhaps because the Mets have more money to spend than the Dodgers.  Braden Looper is the Dodgers’ fallback plan.

4:42pm: Ken Rosenthal addresses Randy Wolf’s situation now that Jon Garland is no longer an option for the Mets and Dodgers.

Wolf’s agents are still talking to both teams; the Mets are currently focused on Oliver Perez though.  The Mets are also talking to Ben Sheets’ agent.  One Rosenthal source said the Mets "could sign Wolf quickly if they made him a pre-emptive offer."  That won’t happen unless Perez is ruled out.

Rosenthal says the Dodgers "reassessed their positions with Wolf and Garland after the Yankees re-signed free-agent lefty Andy Pettitte for $5.5 million with the chance to earn $6.5 million in incentives."  We’re left to read between the lines; does it mean the Dodgers are now offering less to Wolf?

Odds and Ends: Lohse, Reyes, Greinke, Howard

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Links for Tuesday…

  • Chat today, 2pm CST.
  • Rangers president Nolan Ryan called the Winter Meetings "a big waste of money and time."
  • Nationals GM Jim Bowden implied that a Tom Glavine signing is unlikely.
  • Kyle Lohse feels the pain of all the unsigned free agents; he didn’t sign until March 14th last year.  Lohse said he "put a lot of pressure on all parties" to get his four-year, $41MM extension done on September 29th.  Given that it wasn’t on the open market, Scott Boras did well for Lohse.
  • The Dodgers prefer Dennys Reyes over Luis Ayala, says Ken Gurnick.
  • Joe Posnanski loves the Zack Greinke signing.  Sam Mellinger says the Royals and fans are no longer allowed to complain about baseball’s financial structure.
  • Maury Brown leans slightly toward Ryan Howard winning his arbitration case.  I think the Phillies will prevail.
  • Brandon Lyon turned down more lucrative offers for a chance to close in Detroit.  ESPN’s Keith Law likes the Tigers’ signing, in part due to Jim Leyland’s track record with relievers.
  • The Marlins seem to prefer the trade market, if they are to add a catcher.
  • Joe Nathan knows his $47MM extension signed in March of ’08 is looking pretty good right now.

Rosenthal On Manny, Garcia, Greinke

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column…

  • Rosenthal speculates that the Giants may not be the right fit for Manny Ramirez, given a challenging ballpark and questionable supporting cast of hitters.  Rosenthal suggests a contract that might work for Manny and the Dodgers: two years with a third-year player option, with no-trade protection covering only the first two years.
  • Many remaining free agents – Adam Dunn for example – may prefer a one-year deal because it will increase their options and allow them to re-enter the market after the season.
  • The White Sox found the price for Freddy Garcia to be too high ($1.5MM plus $6.5MM in incentives).  Rosenthal deems Oliver Perez a bad fit for the Sox in part because he’s a flyball pitcher.  Also there’s the whole Scott Boras thing.
  • Among the right-handed hitters the Phillies are mulling, Rosenthal feels that Nomar Garciaparra and Rich Aurilia make the most sense.
  • The Angels may go to Spring Training with their current club.
  • Zack Greinke received "very minor" no-trade protection in the first two years of his new deal, with seemingly no protection when his salary shoots up to $13.5MM in 2011.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Monday

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9:46pm: Chris Haft of MLB.com wonders if Manny Ramirez would be given as many opportunities to hit the ball if he signed with the Giants, similar to how Barry Bonds was intentionally walked so often.

4:30pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Manny still wants a four or five-year deal at about $25MM per.  On rival exec believes the Dodgers and Manny are in the "fourth inning" of negotiations.

10:17am: The latest Manny Ramirez information came from Bill Shaikin on Saturday, and there’s not much to report.  It seems that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti awaits a counteroffer from Scott Boras after their two-year, $45MM offer was made almost three months ago.  Boras wants the Dodgers to up their bid:

"We have let the Dodgers know what Manny’s position is.  They are fully aware of the terms he feels are fair."

Shaikin says the Dodgers "do not equate an asking price with a counteroffer."  He adds, "The Dodgers do not believe the San Francisco Giants are serious about Ramirez. The Giants are happy to let the Dodgers think that way."

I have to side with Colletti on this one.  His offer was initially laughed off, but now it looks quite fair.  Manny doesn’t appear to have any other offers, and there are other quality free agent corner outfielders available who will likely play for one year and less than half the average annual salary.

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