Red Sox, Mets Express Interest In John Lackey
The Red Sox expressed preliminary interest in free agent starter John Lackey this week at the GM Meetings, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Additionally, David Lennon of Newsday says Mets GM Omar Minaya spoke to Lackey's agent on the phone. There's no cost to express interest, so why not?
The Mariners, Rangers, Brewers, and Yankees have been linked to Lackey in various reports. Earlier this week, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick polled 20 baseball people, and the Yankees, Mets, and Angels were seen as the most likely to sign him. Lackey's agent told Brewers GM Doug Melvin that his client is open to any club.
Heyman On Damon, Lackey, Crede
After working the lobby all week at the Chicago GM Meetings, SI's Jon Heyman has the latest hot stove chatter…
- The Giants "appear to have emerged as one potential competitor" for the services of Johnny Damon.
- The Rangers met with John Lackey's agent yesterday, though they're not expected to have that kind of money available. Heyman adds that the Brewers and Mariners haven't ruled out signing the righty.
- Joe Crede is among the third base candidates the Orioles will consider. We heard about Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa, and Pedro Feliz earlier today.
- Lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez "appears very popular in the free agent market." If that's true, then the Braves figure to offer arbitration to Gonzalez, a Type A.
- Mets GM Omar Minaya said some teams have shown interest in second baseman Luis Castillo, and Heyman says the Dodgers have spoken to the Mets. Castillo has $12MM coming over the next two years and it might be time to sell relatively high.
Roy Halladay Rumors: Thursday
The Blue Jays are not resigned to trading ace pitcher Roy Halladay, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. However, Feinsand believes Halladay "wants out of Toronto," and would require an extension as part of waiving his no-trade clause. As you know, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos won't rule out trading within the division, opening up Yankees and Red Sox speculation.
SI's Jon Heyman says the Yankees will inquire on Halladay; why wouldn't they? Heyman believes Halladay favors a deal to an East Coast team and was willing to go to the Yankees or Red Sox last summer. Since then, the asking price has presumably come down. Heyman also expects the Mets to check in on Doc, but sees them as a long shot.
Feinsand and Heyman also get into the Yankees' other options to add top-level pitching. Feinsand says the Yankees "already have their sights set on signing either Halladay or Cliff Lee if both become free agents after next season," but fear Lee might sign an extension with the Phillies. He says Yankees officials have mixed opinions on whether to pursue John Lackey this winter.
Hideki Matsui Reports
There was a throng of Japanese media at the GM Meetings, seemingly in the hunt for Hideki Matsui news the majority of the time. NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman has more today, after yesterday's Red Sox report was misinterpreted and repeated around the web…
- One report has Theo Epstein talking about how David Ortiz is his DH, making Matsui an unlikely match.
- There's word that the Rays could look into Matsui if they move Pat Burrell.
- The Angels could make sense, while the Mets would only if they convince themselves Matsui can play the field.
- Newman likes the White Sox and Orioles as possibilities if the Yankees don't re-sign Matsui.
Heyman On Figgins, Pineiro, Braves
SI's Jon Heyman reports from Chicago, where the GM Meetings are wrapping up…
- The Phillies are "intent on pursuing Chone Figgins hard," while the Mets are also fans of the Seth Levinson client. The Angels still hope to re-sign Figgins. Joel Sherman of the New York Post has more on the Mets' interest, explaining that moving Luis Castillo would make signing Figgins easier. Sherman thought another reasonable addition for the Mets might be Carlos Lee, but his idea was shot down by Ed Wade and a Mets official.
- Heyman senses mixed signals with the Mets and Matt Holliday – Omar Minaya loves the player, but the money required will be huge and the Mets might be better-served spreading it around.
- The Mets are interested in Joel Pineiro, and Minaya met with his agent Arn Tellem.
- On Page 2 of the article, Heyman quotes a couple new Scott Boras gems.
- Braves GM Frank Wren admitted he'll field offers on his starting pitching excess. It appears inevitable that the Braves will trade one starter, Derek Lowe or Javier Vazquez according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.
- My Billy Wagner-Cubs idea should probably be put to bed, as Jim Hendry said he wouldn't spend a lot of money on a closer given Carlos Marmol's talent. Marmol himself is due a large arbitration raise.
Curtis Granderson Becomes Available
The Tigers are letting teams know center fielder Curtis Granderson is available, according to an NL executive who talked to the New York Post's Joel Sherman. Sherman believes the Yankees would have interest.
Sherman qualifies the rumor, saying Granderson nor Edwin Jackson are players the Tigers truly want to trade. Sherman notes that Jackson appeals to both New York teams.
While we named Granderson in our center fielder trade market post, we didn't think he was really available. One thing I learned writing that post is that Granderson's 2009 batting line was misleading, and he's well worth the $25.75MM owed to him over the next three seasons. The Tigers could restock the cupboards with a Granderson trade. Pure speculation, but might the Cubs be interested in the Illinois native? Way back in March of '07, Granderson talked to us about the possibility of playing in Chicago.
Milton Bradley Suitors
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at the Milton Bradley situation in an article this morning.
Sullivan, like many, sees the Rangers as the favorite. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News looks at all the factors there.
Giants GM Brian Sabean was quizzed about a possible bad contract swap for Bradley, and shot down the idea. The Mets and Rays appear in the mix to a certain extent, with Omar Minaya even admitting he'll talk to Jim Hendry about it. Luis Castillo figures to be in that discussion, but Sullivan says reports suggest Mets ownership may be anti-Bradley.
ESPN's Bruce Levine adds more detail. He says Hendry spent over an hour Monday with the Rays discussing a Bradley-Pat Burrell swap, with the $12MM salary difference a key. A similar gap exists with Kevin Millwood, who Levine believes the Rangers would "gladly" swap for Bradley. However, Levine says the Rangers will only take about $4MM of Bradley's contract at this point.
A few other notes from Sullivan: the Cubs remain fans of Marlon Byrd, who is now a free agent. That interest suggests that the Cubs' "left-handed bat" obsession from a year ago has gone by the boards. Sullivan also mentions that the Cubs "are in no hurry to open up talks with Derrek Lee on a contract extension." Lee will earn $13MM in 2010 in the last year of his contract.
Mets Meet With Boras
Mets GM Omar Minaya met with agent Scott Boras last night at the GM Meetings for 45 minutes, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman says Matt Holliday, Alex Cora, Jarrod Washburn, and Rick Ankiel were discussed.
Of course, the Mets' plans extend beyond Boras clients, and Sherman says Bengie Molina sits atop their list of catching targets. The Mets made a play for Molina four years ago. Another target might be Chone Figgins, as suggested by SI's Jon Heyman.
Sherman sums up the Mets' offseason situation:
The Mets' priority list in order is a slugging left fielder, a high-end starting pitcher and a regular catcher. But a Mets executive said that if the club cannot land a significant left fielder they could spend more on a starter such as free agent John Lackey. For now, the Mets more are contemplating a mid-rotation type starter such as Randy Wolf, Joel Pineiro, Jason Marquis and Washburn.
In our recent Top 50 Free Agents list, we predicted the Mets will sign Holliday, Wolf, and Brad Penny. All speculation at the time, and there hasn't been any actual connection to Penny so far.
Mets Notes: Holliday, Barajas, Pineiro
Lots of newsbits swirling about the Big Apple's non-World Series winners…
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that the Mets will meet with Scott Boras tonight to at least get an idea of what it will take to sign Matt Holliday.
- As reported earlier today, the Mets weren't interested in Jason Varitek but were considering Bengie Molina at catcher. Sherman (also via Twitter) added Rod Barajas and Chris Snyder to the New York catching "wish list."
- SI's Jon Heyman (via Twitter) reports the Mets are interested in Joel Pineiro, but not at his reported demand of a three-year/$30MM contract.
- MLB.com's Barry Bloom figures that Gary Sheffield and Carlos Delgado are both done in New York after Mets GM Omar Minaya was very non-committal about the possibility of re-signing either of the two veteran sluggers.
- The Toronto Sun's Bob Elliott, however, thinks the Mets will at least "keep an eye" on Delgado's progress in winter ball (via Twitter).
Diamondbacks Considering Hernandez
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic hears that the Diamondbacks are considering free agent right-hander Livan Hernandez. The 35-year-old posted a 5.44 ERA in 31 starts with the Mets and Nationals last season, but as Piecoro notes, Hernandez's primary role in Arizona would be to serve as both a positive clubhouse influence and to eat some innings at the back of the rotation.
If Hernandez did sign, he would be joining his fifth different team in three years. It would also be his second stint in the desert — Hernandez made 43 starts for Arizona over the 2006 and 2007 seasons, delivering a 4.64 ERA overall and throwing the second-highest number of innings (204.1) of any D-Backs pitcher on the 2007 club.
Piecoro said that the team was impressed by Hernandez's work with Miguel Montero, and bringing back Montero's old mentor could have a positive effect on the young catcher as he goes into 2010 as the incumbent starter behind the plate.