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Mets, Phillies, Dodgers Interested In Ibanez

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According to Ken Davidoff of Newsday, the Mets, Phillies, and Dodgers have expressed interest in free agent outfielder Raul Ibanez.  Ibanez would replace Pat Burrell in Philly, and is a backup plan for the Dodgers if they fail to sign Manny Ramirez.  The Cubs and Royals may also get involved, but both clubs face payroll limitations currently.

Interest from four NL clubs means Ibanez could remain an outfielder for his age 37-39 seasons, a dicey proposition.  He allowed 18 more bases than the average left fielder in 2008, according to the plus/minus system.  Ibanez hit .293/.358/.479 in 707 plate appearances, earning just $5.5MM in the last year of his contract.  He should be able to double his salary in ’09.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Burnett, Lowe, Peavy

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Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal.

  • Rosenthal says reports of the Blue Jays’ four-year, $54MM offer to A.J. Burnett are inaccurate – they’ve yet to make a proposal.  He’s on board with Kat O’Brien’s info from yesterday, noting Boston’s interest.
  • Scott Boras is apparently telling teams he wants "a Zito-type contract" for righty Derek Lowe.  Lowe is 35, while Zito was 28.  Is Boras implying that he wants $18MM a year?  Obviously Lowe will not find a seven-year offer.  ESPN’s Buster Olney says Boras wants five years for Lowe.
  • The Padres told the Yankees a Jake Peavy deal is possible even without Phil Hughes.  They’ve scouted Hughes anyway, but he’s off-limits.
  • The Rockies will sit back and listen on Garrett Atkins and Huston Street.  They don’t plan on signing a free agent to replace Matt Holliday.
  • The Mets want to add a righthanded bat, though they’re not high on Pat Burrell.

Yankees Rumors: Abreu, Burnett, Teixeira

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George King of the New York Post and Kat O’Brien of Newsday have the latest on the Yankees, who are in hot pursuit of free agent starting pitching.

  • The Yankees will offer arbitration to Bobby Abreu, according to Jon Heyman.  No surprise there.
  • King says the Yankees are preparing an offer for A.J. Burnett, "perhaps a five-year deal worth about $80 million."  Burnett’s agent says they’re just discussing parameters.  It would be a strong offer, dwarfing the Blue Jays’ four years, $54MM.  ESPN’s Buster Olney believes a fifth guaranteed year will ultimately result in the winning bid for Burnett.
  • The Yankees may make an offer to Derek Lowe soon; they’ve reached out to Scott Boras regarding him.  Other Lowe suitors: the Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets, and Rangers.  O’Brien adds that the Yanks expressed interest in Mark Teixeira to Boras (despite the Nick Swisher acquisition).  The Orioles are also in on in Tex.
  • King talked to a "baseball exec" who sees the Cubs re-signing Ryan Dempster at four years, $52MM.
  • Andy Pettitte’s agent doesn’t want a pay cut from this year’s $16MM.
  • The expectation is still for Mike Mussina to retire; we may know this week.
  • The Yankees aren’t in on Jake Peavy, as evidenced by Kevin Towers’ comments last night.  Rick Sutcliffe and Mark Grace have been pitching the Cubs to Peavy, though the hangup seems more about which players the Chicago would send to San Diego.
  • The Yanks have an offer of about six years, $140MM on the table for C.C. Sabathia, and he’s mulling it over (somewhere).

Mets Targeting K-Rod, Fuentes

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Adam Rubin, David Lennon, and Jon Heyman each provide info on the Mets’ search for a closer today.  Let’s take a look.

  • Rubin talked to Francisco Rodriguez’s agent Paul Kinzer, who says that due to a paperwork mixup, he still doesn’t have K-Rod’s medical records from the Angels.  Once Kinzer gets those, the Mets and other teams will review K-Rod’s history.  Rubin says Brian Fuentes might do a tour before signing, but there are no plans for Rodriguez to visit New York.
  • Lennon says the Mets are also waiting for Fuentes’ medical records.  The Mets are fixated on Fuentes and Rodriguez, but want to interview both to aid their decision.  Lennon says the Mets will resolve their closer situation before moving on to other concerns.
  • According to Heyman, Mets people are leaning toward K-Rod over Fuentes.  The Mets may have to stretch to four years to get him.

Pedro Will Pitch In ’09

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TUESDAY: MLB.com’s Marty Noble talked to a member of the Mets hierarchy who would be "very surprised" if Pedro re-signs.

MONDAY: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to Pedro Martinez’s agent, Fern Cuza.  Cuza says his client will pitch next year, and "it’ll be fun to see the old Pedro again."  He’s healthy now after last year’s hamstring injury.

The Mets will be in the mix.  GM Omar Minaya reportedly told Mike Francesa of WFAN that he’ll make Pedro an offer "of some sort."  You have to think Pedro will end up with a one-year, incentive-based deal somewhere.

Mets To Make Offers To Free Agent Targets

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According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Mets will make offers to Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes this week, and perhaps Derek Lowe and other starters.

Rather than attempt to scare other teams off with massive initial bids, the Mets will make small offers and work their way up.  It seems that the sticking point with K-Rod will be guaranteeing a fourth year.  That was what they had to do to get Billy Wagner three years ago.

Gammons’ Latest: Penny, Jenks, Salty

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Let’s take a look at Peter Gammons’ Saturday blog post.

  • Gammons indicates that Brad Penny is working hard this offseason, and teams such as the Cardinals, Red Sox, Rangers, and Blue Jays "appreciate" his past success.
  • The Mets are apparently worried about Bobby Jenks’ declining strikeout rate, a sentiment echoed by Joel Sherman.  Sherman talked to a Mets official who said the chances of acquiring Jenks are "close to zero."
  • The Rangers apparently wanted Clay Buchholz or two of Justin Masterson/Nick Hagadone/Michael Bowden for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  The Red Sox aren’t biting.
  • The Rangers would probably have to trade Hank Blalock ($6.2MM) to make room for Kerry Wood.

K-Rod Takes A Physical

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MONDAY, 8:55am: Matthew Cerrone sorts through this mess at MetsBlog.  Seems that K-Rod took a physical, but not for the Mets or any specific team.  The whole thing is getting confusing, but it’s safe to say he’s not close to signing.

SUNDAY, 7:34pm: A variety of sources, including MLB.com, have quoted Rodriguez’ agent Paul Kinzer directly as saying that the following rumor, posted earlier this evening, is inaccurate.

7:25pm: According to a report issued by Venezuelan newspaper El Universal, Francisco Rodriguez has visited doctors in New York City for a physical. The move may be interpreted by some as a step forward in ongoing negotiations between Rodriguez and one of his most interested suitors, the New York Mets.

Matthew Cerrone at MetsBlog mentions an instance last season where El Nuevo Dia had reported that the Mets had signed Livan Hernandez, when in fact they had not done so. Despite this, the story certainly qualifies, at the very least, as a rumor.

Mets Concerned About K-Rod’s Velocity

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John Harper of the New York Daily News has been reporting on a rumor that Francisco Rodriguez’s decreased velocity last season has been a source of hesitation for the Mets. Harper reported yesterday,

"…a source said the Mets ’have concerns’ about… K-Rod’s dip in velocity, from 95-96 mph a couple of years ago to 91-92 mph this year, also is a concern as he seeks a long-term deal.

"His velocity was down and he had back-to-back years of heavy use," the source said. "The history in those cases for most guys is that it catches up to you."

A legitimate concern that every ball club should be scrutinizing but not something a player’s agent(s) are ever keen to be publicized. And in another article updated last night, Harper published their immediate response:

"K-Rod’s agent, Paul Kinzer, insists that such talk is misinformed. He says that Rodriguez is more comfortable throwing his fastball at lower velocities because it gives him better command. ’I saw him hit 96 (mph) twice and 97 once late in the season…" Kinzer said Saturday. "The velocity is there when he needs to reach back for it. He told me he’s just more comfortable around 92-93.

’He says he has a better feel for his change-up when he’s not overthrowing his fastball, and his change-up has become a big part of his arsenal.’"

I’m surprised Kinzer could not muster up a more convincing defense considering his client, due to his violent delivery, has long been considered a potential for injury.

In that same article, Harper cites a source that says the Mets are looking to sign a closer for no longer than three years.

Mets Won’t Bid On Sabathia

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Marrty Noble of MLB.com talked to a source who says the Mets won’t offer C.C. Sabathia a contract.

David Lennon of Newsday agrees, writing that the Mets “will not be involved in the bidding war for Sabathia.”

Yesterday, it looked like the Mets might also bid on C.C..

The Yankees offered Sabathia a record-setting deal, but Brewers GM Doug Melvin thinks they’re overbidding.

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