C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Wednesday
1:08am: Gordon Edes notes that Giants GM Brian Sabean told reporters he would not be willing to give Sabathia a sixth year on a contract. They are the fallback option if the big lefty decides he wants to take less to pitch close to home.
12:25am: The big news on the C.C. Sabathia front is that Yankees GM Brian Cashman flew to San Francisco to visit with Sabathia for the third time in three days. ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the visit is not about money and was initiated by Sabathia. Some believe Cashman will attempt to sell Sabathia’s wife Amber on New York.
Stark talked to several baseball people who still don’t believe Sabathia wants to be in New York. One predicted the Yanks would have to include an opt-out clause. Also, Stark speaks of indications that the Dodgers told C.C. they might be interested if they can fill some of their other needs affordably.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday
11:20pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown talked to roughly half the teams in baseball, and could not identify a suitor for Manny aside from the Dodgers.
8:26pm: Tony Reagins said the Angels signing Manny is "not a likely scenario."
1:30pm: Manny apparently still seeks the same six-year type deal. Rosenthal says Colletti told Boras he’ll need to talk to Frank McCourt before further conversations can occur.
11:25am: ESPN’s Jayson Stark says "Scott Boras met with the Dodgers late Monday might to discuss the return of Manny Ramirez." While Manny is still open to signing with the Dodgers, they have not put their two-year, $45MM offer back on the table.
Andruw Jones Draws Inquiries
Diamond Leung talked to Ned Colletti, who said a few teams asked about Andruw Jones. However, those teams would ask the Dodgers to pick up the "vast majority" of the $22.1MM owed to Jones. Hmmm…would 150% of it be sufficient?
Dodgers Sign Casey Blake
8:55pm: There’s also a club option for a fourth year.
7:51pm: Tony Jackson says it’s $17.5MM over three years for Blake.
TUESDAY, 12:28pm: ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the Dodgers have reached an agreement with Blake for three years and slightly more than $17.1MM. The Twins apparently offered two years, $14MM. He adds that Mark Loretta‘s deal is for one year and $1.25MM.
MONDAY, 11:09pm: Jackson has Colletti saying there’s no agreement in place, and they’ll meet again with Blake’s agent Tuesday. Ken Rosenthal says a three-year, $17MM deal is close.
9:47pm: Jayson Stark says the Dodgers are inching toward a Blake deal, but only have two guaranteed years on the table.
8:05pm: Jackson now says a three-year, $17MM deal with Blake could be announced tonight.
7:09pm: Tony Jackson says the Dodgers are not close to signing Blake, though Colletti sounds more hopeful. Dylan Hernandez says the Dodgers offered Blake three years at nearly $6MM per, and could get an answer tonight.
4:40pm: Colletti hinted to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick that his offer for Blake is for three years. Also, second baseman Orlando Hudson is apparently not on the Dodgers’ radar.
3:10pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown says the Dodgers raised their offer to three years and are nearing an agreement with Blake.
12:55pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers are waiting to hear back from Casey Blake about a recent offer. They should hear his decision today. Blake is reportedly seeking three guaranteed years.
Rafael Furcal Rumors: Tuesday
5:59pm: Kinzer told Rosenthal the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Royals, and A’s are in the running for Furcal, who still wants a four-year deal.
5:34pm: The Red Sox have not contacted Paul Kinzer about Furcal, says WEEI’s Alex Speier.
3:28pm: J.P. Ricciardi confirmed his informational meeting with Furcal’s agent. The Jays would have to move some things around to fit in any significant acquisition.
12:12pm: The Dodgers have made re-signing Furcal their top priority, says Tom Verducci.
12:32am: Though Furcal reportedly rejected an Oakland offer of four years for $35-40MM, GM Billy Beane would not say his pursuit is over.
12:11am: According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers re-opened talks with Rafael Furcal Monday night. They are unwilling to give him a four-year deal.
Pirates Rumors: Eckstein, Wilson, Turnbow
5:29pm: A handful of teams have expressed interest in Doug Mientkiewicz, reports Jenifer Langosch. He expects to sign within a few weeks, and his agent will meet with the Pirates this week.
4:56pm: Kovacevic confirmed that the Pirates are in negotiations with Eckstein. The Orioles and Padres are also said to be in on him. As for Wilson: the Dodgers are said to be exasperated by the Pirates’ asking price.
12:10am: Let’s check in with Dejan Kovacevic and Rob Biertempfel for the latest on the Pirates.
- Kovacevic on Jack Wilson: the Tigers are out, the Dodgers are quiet lately, and the Twins are in. Biertempfel says the Orioles continue to watch from afar. Wilson’s contract is a sticking point for all suitors.
- Kovacevic believes the Pirates have at least not ruled out the idea of pursuing Pedro Martinez.
- Derrick Turnbow will throw for scouts in mid-January, so he probably won’t sign until then. The Pirates and Giants are among eight teams that have expressed interest.
- The Pirates seem likely to make a Rule 5 pick this year.
- With Pirates target Mark Loretta signing with the Dodgers, Biertempfel wonders if the Bucs may pursue David Eckstein or Craig Counsell.
Dodgers Sign Hector Luna
According to Diamond Leung, the Dodgers signed Hector Luna to a minor league deal (hat tip to Drunk Jays Fans).
Four Teams Inquire On Michael Young
12:51pm: Joel Sherman agrees that the Mets inquired on Young. He says the Rangers are under no pressure to move big contracts though.
12:38pm: Young is not as pricey as we thought – Ken Rosenthal says he’s already been paid $20MM in bonus money from his new deal, leaving $60MM or so over five years (Heyman said something similar). But, Rosenthal says the Rangers are unlikely to seriously consider trading him.
11:16am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals inquired on Young. He says the Rangers are not shopping Young but will listen. The Mets might have to move Luis Castillo before they could slot Young in at second base.
12:00am: Yahoo’s Tim Brown talked to an AL exec whose team is in the market for a shortstop, and learned that the Rangers are quietly shopping Michael Young. Young’s five-year, $80MM extension will begin next year. He’s got no-trade protection to deal with. The Rangers would want young pitching back for Young. It will be hard to find a team willing to take on that contract.
Blue Jays, Indians, Dodgers Interested In Kris Benson
Roch Kubatko of MASN Online ran into Kris Benson, who says he’s fully recovered from rotator cuff surgery. The Blue Jays, Indians, and Dodgers have expressed interest.
C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Monday
11:12pm: Clarification of the earlier Colletti stuff from Tony Jackson: "What Colletti actually said was that Sabathia had made the Dodgers aware, not directly but through conversations with third parties, that he had a desire to pitch for them."
10:38pm: Heyman says the Red Sox talked parameters with Sabathia and "perhaps even" made an offer. They’re not expected to beat the Yankees’ offer though.
Jeff Passan offers his take on the Brewers’ angle.
9:26pm: Rosenthal’s source says the Red Sox were just doing their due diligence in meeting with Sabathia. The Sox are focused on Mark Teixeira.
9:19pm: The Giants say it’s "debatable" as to whether they’ll meet with Sabathia. Andrew Baggarly indicates Brian Sabean implied they don’t plan to make a competitive offer to Sabathia.
9:14pm: Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash says Sabathia is not concerned about the makeup of the Brewers’ roster. Doug Melvin does not believe they’d need to be too creative with a contract.
7:26pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia requested both Yankees meetings, the second of which took place at the pitcher’s room at the Wynn. Sabathia’s left Vegas, and didn’t give the Yanks a timetable.
7:17pm: Bill Shaikin talked to a Giants official who says they’re "definitively" not interested in Manny Ramirez. They are, however, interested in Sabathia.
Abraham notes that Sabathia requested that second meet with the Yanks.
6:19pm: Peter Abraham learned from Brian Cashman that the Yanks met with Sabathia again today.
5:41pm: Sabathia’s meeting with Yankees officials lasted 2.5 hours yesterday, as he gathered information on the team and the city. He told the Yankees he’s not delaying his decision due to a desire to pitch elsewhere; he just wants to gather the facts.
4:32pm: Sabathia apparently told Colletti he wants to be a Dodger? Speaking to reporters, Colletti left it as a "possibility" the Dodgers could get involved.
4:12pm: Doug Melvin deems the opt-out and sixth year chatter "speculation" (despite the reports below and another from Phil Rogers). But after meeting with Sabathia’s agents today, Melvin says the Brewers are still in it. They’ll meet again later in the week.
Also, there’s an article making the rounds where Bill Madden quotes an industry source as saying Greg Genske is "dead as an agent" if Sabathia ends up signing for $120MM.
12:03pm: Joel Sherman says Brian Cashman brought Joe Girardi and Reggie Jackson along for their recent meeting with Sabathia. Privately, the Yanks feel that Sabathia would be entirely invested in New York if he signs with them (despite his West Coast leanings).
11:49am: Jon Heyman has a Brewers update. He says they’re open to adding a sixth year, bringing the total to $120MM (closer to $110MM with deferred money). He also heard an opt-out clause could be added after two years. Heyman says Sabathia hated having Spring Training in Florida, a slight mark against the Yankees.
10:30am: Dan Graziano was told yesterday that the Brewers added a sixth year to their Sabathia offer, but he admits there are conflicting reports on that.
9:33am: Buster Olney says to take it for what it’s worth, but his source says the meeting between Sabathia and the Yankees went "great."
8:44am: According to George King of the New York Post, the Brewers could offer C.C. Sabathia an opt-out clause after three seasons to entice him to sign (similar to the Blue Jays’ deal for A.J. Burnett). At this time, only the Brewers and Yankees have offers on the table for Sabathia. King talked to a source who said in regard to the Giants, "It would have to be a total default position in terms of years and dollars." Perhaps that indicates the Giants can’t really go beyond the Brewers’ five-year, $100MM offer.