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Rosenthal’s Latest: Santana, Fuentes, Heilman

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The execs may be on a plane home right now, but the writers are still filing all sorts of rumors.  Here’s Ken Rosenthal’s latest piece.

  • Rosenthal says the Mets did not talk to the Twins about Johan Santana today, which is surprising.  But they did talk earlier this week, at which point the Twins gave the Mets a list of players they liked.  The Mets were fine with everyone on the list, which probably included Carlos Gomez and Mike Pelfrey.  Rosenthal adds that the Mets are the only NL team firmly in the mix for Santana, and shipping him to the other league might be a factor for the Twins.
  • The Giants turned down an offer of Delmon Young for Tim Lincecum before Young was sent to the Twins.  This leaves skepticism that the Giants will accept three years of Alex Rios after turning down five of Young.
  • The Mets made a straight up offer of Aaron Heilman for Brian Fuentes.  As far as I can tell Heilman doesn’t reach free agency until after the 2010 season, so the Rockies would be doing pretty well here.  Plus, they could plug him into the rotation.  Oddly the dealbreaker was the Rox asking for Scott Schoeneweis as well.  I thought the 34 year-old had negative trade value.  Rosenthal adds that the Tribe took a glance at Fuentes as well.
  • The Rox offered Jamey Carroll for Josh Barfield, which is pretty lopsided even with the year Barfield had.  Of course the Indians declined.

Heyman’s Latest: Santana, Gagne, Kuroda

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has penned (or typed I guess) a new column with some hot stove banter.

  • The Mets are offering Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, and others for Santana.  Joel Sherman thinks the offer is at least viable, and that Aaron Heilman may interest Minnesota..  The Yankees offered Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Jeff Marquez.  The Red Sox proposed Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson.  The Mariners have offered Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow.  Seems to me the Red Sox still have the advantage, at least slightly.
  • Heyman says the Brewers and Astros are in the mix for Eric Gagne (if he doesn’t accept arbitration).  Regarding the Brewers, though, Doug Melvin said today that they already have a closer in Derrick Turnbow.
  • Heyman says offers for Hiroki Kuroda are expected to approach $15MM per year.  Damn, for him?

Not Much Cooking With Johan

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UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:25pm: Check out LENIII’s latest.  He believes the Red Sox were always serious about Santana.  Neal suggests the Angels are a sleeper even though they’ve yet to discuss Johan with the Twins.  Neal spoke to an agent who nominated the Mets as his sleeper.  As for the Dodgers, Neal’s not sensing much interest. 

FROM 12-6-07 at 10:13am:

Thus is the nature of the rumor mill – tons of words expended on possibilities, sometimes with little closure.  The latest semi-news on Johan Santana:

At this moment, nothing much appears to be simmering on the Santana hot stove.

Johan Santana Rumors: Wednesday

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UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 7:50pm: Tim Brown says the Red Sox had a moment of doubt, but they remain the frontrunner for Santana.  The previously mentioned packages apply.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 6:21pm: LENIII checks in on the interest level of the six teams involved.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 5:05pm: Santana’s agent, Peter Greenberg, indicated that the Mets are in the running for Santana.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 2:48pm: BP’s John Perrotto talked to a Twins official, and it definitely looks like the Meetings will end without a Johan deal.  Perrotto says he’s still likely to be dealt before Spring Training.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 2:18pm: Ken Rosenthal believes the door is open for more teams to jump in, especially the Mariners.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 12:43pm: Jon Heyman reports that the Mets are trying to work their way back into the mix.  They’re still viewed as a longshot without Jose Reyes in the offer, but at least the Twins are listening.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 12:21pm: The Red Sox and Twins are still engaged in talks.  The Sox are still considering the Yankees a factor.  And no, Ellsbury signing on with Boras doesn’t change the Twins’ opinion of him.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 11:26am: Joel Sherman describes Boston’s two goals in the Santana Sweepstakes.  He wonders whether the Sox and Twins could reach an accord on players and then the Red Sox wouldn’t be able to agree with Santana on an extension.  Meanwhile Gammons himself reiterates that he senses the Twins will hold onto Santana.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 10:54am: Peter Gammons via Amy Nelson is saying Santana may not be traded.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 9:56am: According to Keith Law via MetsBlog, the Twins have reached out to the Mets, Dodgers, and Angels to revisit Santana talks.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 9:43am: Joel Sherman agrees with Bill Madden’s take below – part of the reason the Yankees pulled out is that even they have a payroll.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 8:30am: The Yankees could’ve had Santana for Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez, and Mitch Hilligoss.  Brian Cashman, however, never wanted to sacrifice Hughes for Santana and convinced his bosses that the Yankees couldn’t afford him now that Andy Pettitte is in the fold.  This near-trade won’t be forgotten by Yankees fans, unless Hughes takes off in ’08.

FROM 12-5-07 at 12:55am:

Time for a fresh Johan thread.  Yesterday’s had 297 comments on it.

The Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford says the Red Sox told Ryan Kalish’s agent that his name has never come up in the Santana talks with Minnesota.  Peter Gammons had said the 19 year-old outfielder was added to the deal to make it a 5-for-1 around 3pm yesterday.

Santana/Reyes/Haren Rumor Quashed

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UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 5:45pm: Billy Beane, who rarely comments on trade rumors, actually went out of his way to call mine below a "total fabrication."  I guess I should be proud, right?  I was the subject of an elaborate hoax/impersonated sportswriter (thanks, Fake John Delcos!).  I apologize – not sure why someone would go to such lengths, but lesson learned. 

FROM 12-5-07 at 3:36pm:

Just got an incredible rumor from a trusted New York sportswriter.  Stay with me, because this one’s crazy.  But rest assured that if the source wasn’t good, I wouldn’t post it.

Minnesota has initiated talks for a three-way blockbuster with the Twins and A’s.  Here’s how it would go down:

Mets send Jose Reyes, Kevin Mulvey to A’s
Mets send Hector Pellot to Twins
A’s send Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson to Mets
A’s send Dan Haren to Twins
Twins send Johan Santana to Mets

Mets get Johan Santana, Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson
A’s get Jose Reyes and Kevin Mulvey
Twins get Dan Haren and Hector Pellot

The source says Haren is exactly the type of player the Twins want for Santana, a cheap frontline starter. It’s known the Mets would hate to deal Reyes but they would get some value beyond Santana.  Billy Beane is happy because he gets Reyes for one more year than he had Haren plus longtime favorite Mulvey.  And, he’s out of Crosby’s contract.

Thoughts?

Dan Haren Rumors: Wednesday

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UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 11:20am: Joel Sherman says Stephen Drew, Mark Reynolds, and Tony Pena are also off the table in the Haren talks.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 8:09am: Susan Slusser adds that the A’s aren’t being unreasonable with Arizona – they haven’t asked for Justin Upton or Chris Young. Slusser also notes that Billy Beane wouldn’t sit down with the Tigers unless they’d discuss Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin.  That’s when the Tigers turned to the Marlins.  Beane downplayed the chances of trading Haren, but what else is he going to say?

FROM 12-5-07 at 12:09am:

Technically it’s Wednesday now, and some of the more rumor-filled threads were getting really long.  So I’m happy to start a set of new ones.  You can check out Tuesday’s Dan Haren thread here.

According to Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune, the D’Backs are willing to discuss a package of Carlos Gonzalez, Emilio Bonifacio, and Brett Anderson for Haren.  That the D’Backs could spare these three very talented youngsters without skipping a beat speaks to how deep their farm system is.  Magruder’s source says the A’s could ask for a staggering six players. 

Jose Valverde, Dustin Nippert, and/or Alberto Callaspo could be involved to give the A’s some MLB-ready talent.  From previous reports, we know that Conor Jackson and Max Scherzer will not be involved.  Ken Rosenthal had suggested last night that the A’s initial request scared the D’Backs off, but he’s since corrected that information. 

The A’s, however, want to wait for something to happen with Johan Santana before trading Haren.

Additionally, Magruder adds that the D’Backs have a touch of interest in Noah Lowry.

Rangers Rumors: Blalock, Lamb, Padilla

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Evan Grant has the latest Rangers hot stove buzz.

  • 27 year-old third baseman Hank Blalock is getting a lot of play.  Grant names the Cardinals, Phillies, Twins, and Dodgers as teams that have inquired.  Jon Daniels says no team has made an impressive offer and he’s not inclined to trade Blalock.  It would be a bit of a sell-low move.
  • The Rangers met with Mike Lamb’s agent yesterday afternoon; they’re the frontrunners for him.  They have a full-time first base job for Lamb, who came up in the organization.
  • Teams are interested in Vicente Padilla, but everyone wants the Johan thing to be finished before moving on pitching.

Dan Haren Will Be Pricey

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UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:09pm: Hank Steinbrenner weighed in on the Haren-Yankees talks, calling Billy Beane’s request "ridiculous."  The Yankees are out on Haren.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 2:00pm: Nick Piecoro’s source says Conor Jackson is not a part of the Haren talks, actually.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 12:13pm: The Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford says the A’s and D’Backs have had "constructive talks" about Haren for Carlos Gonzalez, Conor Jackson, and two others.

FROM 12-4-07 at 10:58am:

OK, you already knew that.  But Joel Sherman has details.

  • Billy Beane sees Dan Haren as equal in value to Johan Santana, all things considered.  Over the next three years, that could be true – plus Haren is much more reasonable in terms of salary.
  • Beane’s focus is young pitching.
  • Beane doesn’t want Melky Cabrera from the Yankees.  He wants a package starting with Phil Hughes and one of Ian Kennedy or Alan Horne.
  • Sherman says the Mets don’t have the blue-chippers in Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber, and Kevin Mulvey. 
  • The Dodgers and D’Backs match up better for Haren than the Yankees and Mets, though Arizona doesn’t really have the young pitching.
  • Joe Blanton won’t be cheap either; Beane equates him with Brad Penny.
  • Athletics Nation believes Blanton is much more likely to be traded than Haren this winter.

Johan Santana Rumors: Tuesday

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UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:00pm: LENIII says that despite their public proclamations, the Yanks haven’t told the Twins they’re out on Johan.  Neal recommends you go to bed anyway.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:28: A new team is in the mix for Johan, but barely.  The Rangers talked to the Twins today about what it would take, but they’re not expected to pursue it much further.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:05pm: Talks are expected to re-open in about an hour, after the execs have dinner.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 8:21pm: Theo Epstein expects negotiations with the Twins to carry "well into the night."  He says the Red Sox are being flexible, so it sounds like they’ll hammer something out.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 7:50pm: Not much to report here.  Twins and Sox still haggling, per LENIII.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 7:09pm: Hank is sticking to his story, that the Yanks’ deadline for a Santana deal has passed.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 5:02pm: All the Santana-Angels stuff is bogus, according to GM Tony Reagins.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 4:28pm: Per Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus: Santana to Boston is "all but done" with Lester, Masterson, and Kalish in the package.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 4:25pm: Stark says the Angels and Twins continue to talk Santana, with many of the youngsters earmarked for Cabrera being mentioned.  Seems the Halos have shifted gears from Cabrera to Johan even though they have no need for starters.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 4:14pm: Hey, it’s been a few minutes without a Johan update.  A Red Sox source told Gordon Edes he’s not buying that the Yankees are out on Santana.  I heard the exact same thing from my own Winter Meetings source – my guy says the Yanks fully expect to hear back from the Twins about a final offer later tonight.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:26pm: The Yankees, who rarely have kept their word lately, have closed the door on Johan talks.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:08pm: The Twins want to get this thing done by day’s end.  700 reporters just sighed in relief. 

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 2:51pm: Per Peter Gammons, this baby is getting closer and is now a 5-for-1 deal.  The addition is outfielder Ryan Kalish.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 2:12pm: Phil Miller heard some speculation that the Twins could throw in another player on their side to make this thing work.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 2:04pm: According to Sean McAdam, the Twins will also meet with the Angels this afternoon to discuss Santana.  The Twins would want Jered Weaver and Brandon Wood for starters.  McAdam says the Red Sox and Twins haven’t spoken since this morning.  Meanwhile Joe Christensen says there’s lobby buzz about the Red Sox/Twins deal becoming a 5-for-1. 

Peter Abraham chimes in, saying the Yankees have made their final offer and the Twins would have to approach them now.  That’s one way to frame it; Joel Sherman says it’s more that the Yankees just won’t get a chance to top Boston’s best offer.  The Yankees left off pushing Hughes/Cabrera/Marquez/Alberto Gonzalez.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 1:15pm: ESPN Peter Gammons says the Twins are trying to decide between a 3-for-1 (Ellsbury/Lowrie/Masterson) or a 4-for-1 (Lester/Crisp/Lowrie/Masterson).  No contract negotiations with the Red Sox and Santana’s agent have taken place yet.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 1:08pm: The Boston Globe has an update, basically saying negotiations are to resume this afternoon between the Red Sox and Twins.  It’s still not known whether the Twins will take an Ellsbury package or the Lester one.  Meanwhile WFAN’s Sweeny Murti expects the Red Sox to send Lester, Crisp, and two others for Johan.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 12:02pm: Jon Heyman says the Red Sox will enhance their offer one more time to get this thing done.  It still won’t include both Lester and Ellsbury.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:13am: Not sure when this morning he wrote it, but George King still thinks the Yankees are the favorite for Johan.  Peter Abraham quotes Hank as saying the Yanks are done talking to the Twins about Santana, for now.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 9:59am: Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald has an update.  The Red Sox looked at Lester’s medical records and saw no issues.  There are two different possible scenarios/packages of players still in play.  None include Ellsbury and Lester/Buchholz.  Masterson and/or Lowrie are expected to be in there one way or another.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 8:34am: LENIII is hearing the four players are Lester, Crisp, Lowrie, and Masterson – same as Gordon Edes said.

FROM 12-4-07 at 7:31am:

It was a long Monday with all the twists and turns you’d expect in the Johan Santana talks.  Here’s the latest, which will surely be updated throughout the day.

The Red Sox and Twins called it a night around 2am CST, but Gordon Edes thinks the Red Sox are close and a deal could be announced this morning.  The Twins looked at Jon Lester’s medical records; the Red Sox reviewed Santana’s.  The supposed deal right now is Coco Crisp, Justin Masterson, Jed Lowrie, and Lester.  Not bad but it would represent a concession by the Twins.  If an agreement is reached, the Red Sox still need to pull off a contract extension.

Ed Price has a different take on Boston’s offer – his source says it’s Lester, Crisp, Ellsbury, and Lowrie.  It would be odd to see two center fielders included, but there you go.

Meanwhile Mark Feinsand says the Yankees are moving on to Dan Haren.  Brian Cashman will probably find equal if not bigger demands coming from Billy Beane.

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