Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Dodgers Rumors

Cafardo’s Latest: Pettitte, Kotsay, Red Sox

By | at

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a number of items to cover in today’s Sunday paper:

  • While the Mets are front-runners in the Derek Lowe sweepstakes, the Red Sox have a lot of money to play with having lost out on Mark Teixeira and could make a strong play to outbid competition.
  • The Dodgers and Rangers are interested in Andy Pettitte if he doesn’t accept the Yankees reduced $10MM offer.
  • Don’t rule out a return to the Red Sox for Mark Kotsay as a fourth outfielder and added infield depth.
  • Cafardo reports a source close to the talks says Teixeira was "very concerned" with Mike Lowell’s fate should he sign with Boston, but that financial matters and the negotiations process removed that "awkward situation."
  • Jose Fernandez can play first and third base. He’s 34 and just completed seven years in Japan, hitting 20+ HR every year. He could be an interesting right handed-hitting option for teams looking to add depth to their infield and DH.
  • The Red Sox, Orioles, Braves, Reds, and Cardinals remain interested in Kenshin Kawakami.
  • Now that Teixeira is gone, Jim Bowden is not interested in Manny Ramirez. Perhaps Adam Dunn?
  • The Sox are still unwilling to deal Clay Buchholz for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Mets Target Lowe, Perez

By | at

Now that Mark Teixeira has found a home in New York, the Mets would like to talk with two other Scott Boras clients about following suit, Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reports. The Mets are interested in Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez, in that order, and believe that the market may be shaping up to allow them to obtain their first choice.  Nothing is imminent for the Mets at this time.

With the Yankees (almost) definitely out of the picture, and the Red Sox seemingly focused more on hitting, the Mets are optimistic that they can get Lowe for considerably less than the five-year $90MM deal he was rumored to be looking for initially. If for some reason this doesn’t work out, the enigmatic Perez would be their next choice, Shpigel says.

Lowe, 35, had a 3.24 ERA in 211 innings for the Dodgers in 2008. Perez, 27, had a 4.22 ERA in 194 innings for the Mets.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Wednesday

By | at

4:31pm: Rob Neyer’s latest post on ESPN.com discusses what Ramirez’ chances are to claim himself a big contract. Neyer doesn’t like the odds. His guess is two years for $45MM. He lists the Dodgers as the likely match.

8:55am: Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger tells us to take the New York Mets off the Manny List. Graziano writes that GM Omar Minaya is having trouble selling Ramirez to ownership, despite how well he would fit in with the team. He adds that despite the Red Sox missing out on Mark Teixeira to the Yankees on Tuesday, Ramirez had a worse day. As Graziano puts it, “Because, honestly, where is he going to go now?”

8:01am: Common sense tells T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times that Manny’s best — and possibly only — option is a contract with the Dodgers. He wonders if the Dodgers and owner Frank McCourt really even want Ramirez to return. Regardless, Simers doesn’t see the slugger ending up with a small- or mid-market franchise.

Jesse Spector of the N.Y. Daily News writes the New York Yankees could still sign Manny, even after taking on more than $400MM in payroll in the past week, and have a 2009 payroll less than the 2008 version. His hypothesis hinges on not bringing back left-hander Andy Pettitte and trading Hideki Matsui in particular.

Olney’s Latest: Lyon, Cabrera, Castillo

By | at

The latest from ESPN’s Buster Olney.

  • Olney says the Brewers "might take a look at" free agent reliever Brandon Lyon, who’s been linked in other reports to the Twins and Red Sox.  It’s been reported that Lyon seeks a multiyear deal and may wait until Brian Fuentes signs.  Nick Piecoro suggested that one unknown Lyon suitor views him as a starter.
  • Olney says the Brewers will probably reach out to Trevor Hoffman, and the Dodgers will also take a look.  He adds that the Dodgers will not attempt to re-sign Derek Lowe despite his sinking price tag.
  • The Dodgers turned back to Rafael Furcal after realizing Orlando Cabrera had an asking price close to the amount Furcal signed for.  The market for Cabrera seems weak, perhaps since he will cost a draft pick.  Cabrera signing with the Dodgers would’ve been ideal for the White Sox, who would’ve swiped L.A.’s #17 draft pick in June.
  • Olney says the Mets continue to attempt to unload Luis Castillo, who has $18MM left on his deal.
  • Interesting note: "For the first time in recent memory, the Yankees’ offices will be closed in the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day — one of the signs of the more measured leadership of Hal Steinbrenner."

Another Manny Update From Feinsand

By | at

SATURDAY, 5:47pm: Mark Feinsand reports:

"Manny Ramirez has told friends that he is confident the Yankees will offer him a contract of at least three years."

Earlier this week we clarified that Manny has yet to receive any offer from the Yanks, as far as we can tell.

As this evening’s article states, where Ramirez ends up is largely contingent upon the upcoming Mark Teixeira signing. The Angels, Yankees and Dodgers are on the short list of bidders for Ramirez’ services.

THURSDAY: On Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News relayed thoughts from a baseball official who believed the Yankees are willing to give Manny Ramirez a three-year deal worth $22-25MM per.  So this is a likely non-Yankees baseball person giving an opinion.  Feinsand added that two other officials were skeptical that the Yankees would offer three years.

Today, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote:  "The New York Daily News has already reported the Yankees have a three-year, $66 million offer out to Manny."

As far as I can tell, the New York Daily News did not report that the Yankees made a three-year offer or any offer to Ramirez.  If they did, please send me the link and I’ll put it up!

Furcal Signs With Dodgers

By | at

FRIDAY, 8:37pm: The Furcal deal is official.  Jesse Spector has quotes from the conference call.

WEDNESDAY, 9:08pm: Just to keep this baby going, we have the contract numbers from Tony Jackson.  A backloaded three years, $30MM, $3MM of which is a bonus at the end of the contract.  The 2012 option for $13MM does vest with 600 PAs in ’11.

8:23pm: The deal may be done, but we still can’t get the numbers nailed down. According to Tim Brown’s writethru, it could be either $33MM or $30MM. Brown has "a Dodgers source" who says it’s the latter "and includes a fourth-year option for $12 million, vesting with 600 plate appearances in the third year. Other incentives could bring the total worth of the deal to about $45 million." The AP report (below) that gave the $33MM figure had quoted " a person familiar with the negotiations."

7:43pm: This MLB.com report from Ken Gurnick says "it is believed the deal is pending the passing of a physical exam." That’s probably about as final as we’re going to get for now. It’s worth noting that a little bit earlier, Tony Jackson talked to Kinzer, who said such a statement would be premature.  (The Dodgers, like most teams, don’t confirm deals until after the physical.)

7:08pm: The AP says the final numbers on the contract are 3 years, $33MM:

Furcal gets $7.5 million next season, $9.5 million in 2010 and $13 million in 2011. The deal includes a $13 million team option for 2012 with a $3 million buyout.

7:02pm: This wire report from CBSSports.com has a quote from Kinzer:

"They know we didn’t have a signed contract, that we didn’t have even a verbal agreement. We had, ’Things look very good and Raffy’s going to sleep on it,’" Kinzer said after a news conference for another client, Francisco Rodriguez.

5:53pm: Rosenthal has updated his post with a bit more info and a timeline from Wren. Around midnight on Monday, after much negotiating, Kinzer told Wren, "we’re good." Tuesday morning, says Rosenthal (note the slight discrepancy from Brown’s report below), Wren "got a voicemail from Kinzer" asking for the term sheet to be put together and faxed to him, which Wren did. "Shortly thereafter, Kinzer began ’backpedaling,’ saying he promised the Dodgers he would talk to them." And on Tuesday, the Dodgers "suddenly" appeared willing to grant Furcal a third year — and today, the Braves were told that Furcal would not be joining them.

5:43pm: Tim Brown reports that the Braves had sent Furcal a signed term sheet, according to "a club source." Monday night, Kinzer asked for the paperwork to be faxed to him. Braves GM Frank Wren complied Tuesday morning. Writes Brown:

No member of the Braves’ front office – not Wren, not longtime former GM John Schuerholz – could recall a time when a signed term sheet was not the equivalent of a handshake agreement, ethically – if not legally – binding.

Brown adds that the Braves believe Kinzer shopped the term sheet to the Dodgers, who had been reluctant to commit to a third year.

4:47pm: The latest from Rosenthal:

The Dodgers and Furcal were still hammering out an agreement Wednesday afternoon, sources said, but the Braves had been informed that Furcal would not accept their deal.

4:10pm: Ken Rosenthal says Furcal decided to sign with the Dodgers.

Mark Bowman’s latest doesn’t suggest Furcal made a decision, but he does explain why the Braves thought they had a deal.  Bowman’s source believes the Dodgers offered three years plus a fourth-year player option.

11:48am: Yahoo’s Tim Brown: Furcal is "nearing an agreement with the Dodgers."  Joel Sherman learned from Kinzer that the Dodgers are in the lead, having matched the Braves’ three-year, $30MM (plus a fourth-year vesting option) offer.  Paul Kinzer told Sherman the idea of switching to second base for the Braves gave Furcal pause.

Kinzer told Danny Knobler there was never a verbal agreement with the Braves.  Kinzer lives in Atlanta and received 50 phone calls from fans after the story broke yesterday.

9:39am: Yesterday we watched as Rafael Furcal and his agents seemingly ignored a gentleman’s agreement with the Braves to continue negotiating with the Dodgers.  Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times learned from Ned Colletti that the Dodgers improved their offer to Furcal (the original was two years with a vesting option).

According to Buster Olney, the Braves offered three years, $30MM with a vesting option for the fourth year.  Olney says the A’s were at $38MM guaranteed over four years.

Sarah Green also contributed to this post.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Crosby, Kawakami, Wolf

By | at

3:44pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street says Crosby cleared waivers.

9:00am: The word from Ken Rosenthal…

  • The A’s placed shortstop Bobby Crosby on outright waivers in the hope that some team will assume his $5.75MM salary for ’09.  After his lousy ’08, he may go unclaimed.
  • The Braves were focused on Rafael Furcal; they’re not looking to add a different infielder as a backup plan.  They still want another starting pitcher.  Dave O’Brien names some possible targets.
  • Rosenthal says some teams fear Kenshin Kawakami might want to match Hiroki Kuroda’s three-year, $35.3MM deal.
  • The Mariners would like to add a left-handed hitter with power; they’re waiting for a bargain.
  • The Rockies are apparently debating whether to sign Tim Redding or trade for Jason Marquis.  Reports in the Denver Post suggest Redding is the top target.
  • Randy Wolf is looking for $30MM over three years.  The Astros were in the $22-24MM range before pulling back.

Dodgers Rumors: Wolf, Johnson, Strickland

By | at

Diamond Leung of the Riverside Press-Enterprise has some info on the Dodgers.

  • Randy Wolf would be open to playing for the Dodgers again, which doesn’t come as much of a surprise.  They have not made an offer though.  Wolf is said to be looking for three years and $30MM.
  • Randy Johnson has a few offers in hand, but not from the Dodgers…yet.
  • The Dodgers signed reliever Scott Strickland to a minor league deal.

Heyman’s Latest: Perez, Greinke, Dye, Garland

By | at

The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman, non-Teixeira department…

  • Heyman describes the Mets’ chance of signing Oliver Perez as "remote for now." He names other "potential suitors" – the Brewers, Dodgers, Reds, and perhaps Mariners.
  • Apparently some Yankees people wouldn’t mind if Andy Pettitte passed on their $10MM offer, as they’d be able to pursue Ben Sheets or Derek Lowe.
  • The Red Sox "looked into" trading for Zack Greinke but didn’t like the price.
  • Heyman says the Reds, Braves, and Rays are still showing interest in Jermaine Dye.
  • He says the Dodgers, White Sox, and Mets "could be possibilities" for Jon Garland.  A return to Chicago?

Wigginton Too Pricey For Twins?

By | at

According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

The Twins like Ty Wigginton but believe he’s looking for a bigger contract than the three-year, $17.5 million deal the Los Angeles Dodgers gave Casey Blake. So the Twins have had little to no dialogue with Wigginton’s agent, Dan Lozano.

I had Wigginton pegged for two years and $12MM or so, but he is four years younger than Blake and outhit him in 2008 (though he had 172 fewer plate appearances and was largely aided by Minute Maid Park).  If Wiggy can really get a better contract than Blake, it would’ve made sense for the Astros to tender him a contract and then trade him.

Christensen adds that the Twins still have hope for acquiring Mark DeRosa, but talks for Garrett Atkins and Adrian Beltre hit dead ends.  Also, Jon Heyman tosses the Twins into the mix for Michael Young.  We’d previously heard about the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals discussing him.  Heyman did not find evidence talks for Young got serious with any team, though, and he wonders if Young would approve a trade to Minnesota.

In other Twins news, Christensen notes that the Twins expressed interest in free agent reliever Brandon Lyon, who seems to be waiting until Brian Fuentes signs.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top