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Brewers Rumors: Sheets, Cameron, Swisher

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Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the latest from Brewers GM Doug Melvin on the team’s plans:

  • We already knew Melvin doesn’t anticipate signing a free agent starter.
  • Derek Lowe isn’t an option for the Brewers, who haven’t even talked to Scott Boras.
  • The Brewers will monitor the trade market and consider dealing for a starter.
  • The team could make an exception for Ben Sheets. Melvin said he’d have to consider signing the pitcher if he wanted to return to Milwaukee.
  • Before signing Trevor Hoffman, the Brewers were looking into Juan Cruz, a Type A free agent, but didn’t like the idea of giving up a first rounder, especially now that they’ll only get a second round pick for losing C.C. Sabathia.
  • The Yankees still have interest in Mike Cameron and floated the idea of a Nick Swisher for Cameron swap.
  • Melvin likes Cameron’s defense though, so he’s "not motivated to move him."
  • After they’re done with their six arbitration cases, the Brewers payroll will approach $80MM.

Brewers Won’t Sign “Big-Bucks” Starter

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In a preview of his Sunday column, Tom Haudricourt reports the Brewers aren’t likely to sign a big ticket free agent starting pitcher this offseason.

As an indication of just how unlikely that signing might be, Haudricourt has a quote from Doug Melvin; says the Brewers GM, "I haven’t even talked to Scott Boras."

At the very least, that quote would appear to explicitly eliminate Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez from the Brewers’ shopping list.

Derek Lowe Rumors: Friday

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7:45pm: Mark Bowman reports that the Braves are actually readying their first offer for Lowe, which they plan to make on Monday or Tuesday. More from Bowman here.

3:40pm: O’Brien has details on the Braves’ five-hour meeting with Lowe and Boras.  He says the Braves’ offer is expected today and they want Lowe badly.  It may require a four-year commitment.

As far as Kenshin Kawakami – the Braves are among the four finalists.  On the offensive side O’Brien suggests Adam Dunn or Xavier Nady could be targets.

9:26am: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves met with Derek Lowe and Scott Boras for several hours yesterday.  O’Brien says the Braves’ offer was unknown, implying that they did make an offer.

O’Brien also reiterated that Boras said the Mets’ widely reported three-year, $36MM offer was never made and would’ve been far too low anyway.  O’Brien mentions the Phillies, Brewers, and Angels as other Lowe suitors, but Ken Rosenthal said those three clubs denied interest.  Brewers GM Doug Melvin said Tuesday in regard to Lowe: "We’re not in on him."

Heyman On Manny, Lowe, Crede, Redding, Hinske

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The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…

  • The Giants "look like a major threat" to the Dodgers for Manny Ramirez and are "making a serious run at him."  Former teammate J.T. Snow apparently raved about him.  Nonetheless Heyman says the Dodgers are "probably still considered the favorite."  Heyman lists the Rangers as "intrigued."  He believes Ramirez will get three guaranteed years somewhere.
  • Heyman says Derek Lowe is "quite possibly" in play for the Phillies, though we heard from Ken Rosenthal today that the team denied interest.  Heyman also sticks with the Brewers and Angels as outside possibilities despite reports to the contrary.  He believes Mets GM Omar Minaya prefers Oliver Perez to Lowe.
  • The Giants, Twins, and Rangers are in on Joe Crede.
  • Players said to be in on Freddy Garcia: the Mets, White Sox, and Rangers.  We can probably cross off the Mets with their Tim Redding signing.
  • Heyman believes the Dodgers want to replace Brad Penny with Randy Wolf.
  • Heyman says the Pirates offered more guaranteed money than the Red Sox to Rocco Baldelli.  Dejan Kovacevic had this first in an article published early this morning.
  • The Red Sox were looking at Eric Hinske but with Baldelli and Mark Kotsay in tow it’s unlikely.  A Japanese team has "allegedly shown interest" in Hinske.
  • Before signing with the Rays for two years and $16MM, Pat Burrell was getting offers in the one-year, $5MM range.

Odds and Ends: Bradley, Roberts, Cruz, Smoltz

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Links for Friday…

Rosenthal On Fielder, Buchholz, Edmonds

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

  • Rosenthal suggests the Brewers trade Prince Fielder for "premium pitching" and then sign Adam Dunn to replace him.  Which begs the question, why wouldn’t the team giving up this premium pitching just sign Dunn instead?
  • Despite signing John Smoltz, the Red Sox still are not willing to trade Clay Buchholz for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  The Sox may be willing to move Michael Bowden or especially Daniel Bard for Salty.
  • The Yankees’ interest in Mike Cameron "seems to be waning."
  • Despite Jon Heyman’s report, the Phillies, Angels, and Brewers deny interest in Derek Lowe.  Rosenthal says the market for Oliver Perez is even worse.
  • Rosenthal suggests veterans such as Nomar Garciaparra, Frank Thomas, and Jim Edmonds could go the Kenny Lofton route.  Lofton, a capable player, sat out the 2008 season when his salary demands weren’t met.  As I mentioned yesterday, we’ll soon see which former stars are willing to play for a pittance (if you consider more than $500K a pittance).
  • The Orioles have Edmonds on the radar as a first base candidate.
  • Suitors for lefty reliever Dennys Reyes: the A’s, Mets, and Dodgers.  The Tigers and Rangers are also known to be on the lookout for a southpaw in the pen.

Derek Lowe Rumors: Thursday

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1:15pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets and Lowe remain far apart in negotiations.  Heyman sees the Angels, Phillies, and Brewers as other suitors aside from the Braves.

11:40pm: Mark Bowman notes that the Braves’ meeting with Lowe was arranged before they lost Smoltz, but their interest has increased this week. Chipper Jones already made a pitch to Lowe.

10:45pm: Gordon Edes of Yahoo says the Braves have "zeroed in on Lowe" and have significant interest.  An Edes source adds that the Red Sox topped Atlanta’s offer for Smoltz by "a couple million."

9:41am: Interesting line from Mike Puma of the New York Post: "Some believe the Nationals could be a suitor for Lowe."

8:45am: According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, Derek Lowe is scheduled to meet with the Braves today in Atlanta.  The apparent loss of John Smoltz to Boston stings, but Lowe would be a huge addition.

I am with J.C. Bradbury on the Smoltz thing.  While it will feel wrong to see him in any other uniform, $5.5MM guaranteed would’ve been risky for the Braves.

Brewers Agree To Terms With Trevor Hoffman

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11:40am: Haudricourt now says Hoffman’s deal does not have a 2010 option.

10:24am: Tom Haudricourt says Hoffman gets $6MM in ’09 with $1.5MM in incentives, plus the 2010 club option.

9:42am: ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Brewers have agreed to terms with Hoffman on a one-year deal with an option.

9:20am: Bloom and McCalvy say the Brewers faxed a term sheet to Hoffman’s agent.

8:36am: MLB.com’s Barry Bloom and Adam McCalvy heard from a source that the Brewers are nearing a deal with Trevor Hoffman.  The AP says the same.  The deal would be for one year with an option for 2010 and is "pretty close" to happening according to the source.

Brewers, Dodgers Pursuing Hoffman

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11:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Brewers have emerged as the frontrunner for Hoffman.

10:19pm: Bill Shaikin says Hoffman will make his decision Thursday.  Kevin Towers said tonight that the Padres "just don’t have the money" to retain their longtime closer.  He added that if Hoffman would’ve accepted their $4MM offer they it would’ve been hard to exercise Brian Giles’ $9MM option.

9:07pm: Tom Haudricourt spoke with Doug Melvin and Melvin believes that the Brewers have a legitimate shot at landing Hoffman.  He does not believe the team is not being used to drive up the offer from the Dodgers. Melvin is confident based on his previous work with agent Rick Thurman. Melvin and Thurman have agreed to speak again tomorrow morning.

4:11pm: Jon Heyman believes the Brewers are making a stronger move for Hoffman.

3:36pm: Both offers from the Dodgers and Brewers are for one year with a club option, and both exceed $4MM.  Hoffman’s agent (Rick Thurman) expects to have a deal within 48 hours.  A requirement of Hoffman signing is that he is the closer.  The Brewers have not heard back today from Thurman yet.

11:19am: Brown has confirmed that the Brewers made an offer as well.

WEDNESDAY, 8:43am: Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times says the Dodgers offered Hoffman a one-year contract worth more than $4MM.  Hoffman would take the ninth inning in L.A.  Buster Olney confirms the one-year offer as well, but neither Olney nor Shaikin mention the club option Brown did.

TUESDAY, 11:11pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown says the Dodgers offered Hoffman a one-year deal with a club option.  Brown suspects the Brewers have made an offer as well.  Hoffman is "thought to prefer Southern California," though he might have to take a setup role in L.A.  At this point, the Padres have not reconciled with Hoffman or restored their offer.

8:16pm: Haudricourt says the Brewers have to battle geography if they hope to win the Hoffman sweepstakes.

6:37pm: Hoffman is in discussion with the Brewers over the "parameters of a contract" according to Ken Rosenthal. His source, who has knowledge of the negotiations, says, "It’s got legs."

5:37pm: Jon Heyman echoes the Brewers and Dodgers are in the running and that Hoffman "could sign in coming days." Heyman reiterates Hoffman’s interest to say close to his "home base" in Anaheim, CA.

1:21pm: Hoffman’s agent says they have mutual interest with the Brewers, though Haudricourt got the impression they may seek two years.

10:13am: Tom Haudricourt talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who indicated Trevor Hoffman is the team’s top choice to fill the closer role.  The two sides have talked parameters and Melvin hopes to learn his chances soon as discussions continue.  The Brewers’ main competition might be the Dodgers, but Hoffman would have a lock on the ninth inning in Milwaukee.  Haudricourt believes the Brewers want to do a one-year deal with an option.

Mark Teixeira Leftovers

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More Mark Teixeira info…

  • Tony Massarotti chronicles the Red Sox-Yankees angle to the Teixeira negotiations from start to finish.
  • Lisa Olson says the Yankees lured Tex with a montage backed by his beloved band Twisted Sister (and also $180 million).
  • Teixeira says the botched negotiations with the Red Sox in ’98 had nothing to do with his decision.
  • Jack Curry got some comments from Red Sox owner John Henry on the situation.
  • Yankees president Randy Levine accused Brewers owner Mark Attanasio of "sour grapes."
  • Ken Davidoff banters with Hal Steinbrenner about the Yankees’ approach.
  • Gordon Edes says the Red Sox put together an offer with vesting options that would’ve reached ten years and $212MM; Scott Boras made a similar pitch to the Angels.  Boras wanted either nine years or $23MM per from the Sox; he told them the Nationals did commit to a ninth year.  That was when John Henry emailed the media.  As for the Angels, Arte Moreno believes no player is worth more than $160MM.
  • Joel Sherman says the Angels were Teixeira’s first choice.
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