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Rosenthal’s Latest: Furcal, Bradley, Greinke

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Another day, another Ken Rosenthal column.

  • The A’s have payroll flexibility, and are expressing "strong interest" in free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.  Bobby Crosby is set to earn $5.25MM in ’09, but it makes sense to upgrade.
  • Contrary to previous reports, Rosenthal says the Tigers are not in on Furcal.  They’ll also pass on Francisco Rodriguez, which was expected.
  • Rosenthal discusses possible fits for Milton Bradley, including the Rays, Rangers, Blue Jays, Mets, Cardinals, and Phillies.  It will be hard to overlook the health risk and give Bradley a three-year deal, especially for an NL club.
  • Rosenthal confirms interest in Khalil Greene from the Orioles and Reds.  The Blue Jays and Tigers have also been mentioned.
  • There’s no way the Phillies can afford Manny Ramirez; a look at their ’09 commitments makes that clear.
  • The Royals hope to sign Zack Greinke and Alex Gordon to long-term extensions.  Rosenthal feels trade discussions could pick up for Greinke if the Royals can’t sign him.  Keith Law said the same yesterday.
  • The Padres will exercise Brian Giles’ $9MM option in the next day or two.

Mets Prioritize Pitching

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9:15pm: Michael Schmidt has a look at the amusing binder the Boras Corporation compiled to sell Oliver Perez.

6:31pm: Mets GM Omar Minaya commented on Manny Ramirez, indicating that he plans to invest in pitching instead.

2:34pm: The Mets expressed preliminary interest in Jon Garland and Ryan Dempster, according to Ken Davidoff.  Dempster’s agent made it clear that he won’t be re-signing with the Cubs soon.

1:23pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote in his blog this morning that the Mets are probably not willing to go past three years for Francisco Rodriguez or any reliever.

10:03am: More Mets chatter from Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He says the Mets and Rays have had preliminary discussions about Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine.  The Rays have some interest in Aaron Heilman, though the Mets would need to give more.

Sherman believes the Mets’ interest in Ibanez is minor, and Carlos Delgado or Ryan Church would have to be dealt first.

9:45am: The Mets are prioritizing pitching this winter, based on articles by Mike Puma of the New York Post, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, and Ken Davidoff of Newsday.  Let’s dig in!

  • Puma says the Mets have Scott Boras clients Oliver Perez and Derek Lowe on the radar.  Perez offers the benefit of familiarity, though he’s not likely to sign quickly.  Ken Rosenthal says the Mets would probably do $12MM a year for Perez, but Boras will want more.  Rubin notes that Lowe is doubly attractive to the Mets for his closing experience.
  • Rubin lists the Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs, and D’Backs as potential trade destinations for Aaron Heilman.  The Rays have also been connected to Heilman.
  • Davidoff mentions Omar Minaya’s Javier Vazquez connection.  ESPN’s Keith Law says the Vazquez to the Mets rumor "appears to have originated in the Chicago camp, and the White Sox are keen to move him." 
  • ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Mets inquired on Rays pitcher Edwin Jackson.
  • Davidoff also points out the Mets’ interest in Raul Ibanez despite their emphasis on pitching.  The Royals and Cubs are also in on Ibanez so far.

Red Sox Rumors: Bay, Tazawa, Kawakami, Lugo

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Collecting today’s Red Sox rumors and links…

  • Nick Cafardo says the Red Sox did not meet with C.C. Sabathia’s agent and he doesn’t appear to be in their plans.
  • The Sox are eyeing southpaw reliever Billy Traber, according to WEEI’s Alex Speier.
  • Scott Boras believes Derek Lowe would be a good fit in Boston or New York.  Nick Cafardo says Lowe would like to return to Boston, maybe even at a slight discount.
  • Jason Bay’s agents say he’s loving Boston and is open to a contract extension.
  • When asked about the possibility of Manny Ramirez signing with the Yankees, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein basically said it’s not his concern.
  • Otherwise, the theme of Epstein’s comments was flexibility.  Justin Masterson could be a starter or reliever, and Epstein won’t get hung up on acquiring any one player.
  • Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the Red Sox are heavily involved on Junichi Tazawa, though the Braves and Mariners are after him as well.  The Sox also like Kenshin Kawakami and may have interest in Paul Byrd and Javier Vazquez.
  • Cafardo believes the Mets and White Sox have interest in Julio Lugo.  It would have to be a bad contract swap.  Cafardo adds that the Red Sox view Jacoby Ellsbury as their starting center fielder, and there has been trade interest in Coco Crisp.
  • Boston’s luxury tax threshold for 2009 is $160.5MM.
  • By tomorrow the Red Sox should receive the Jason Varitek book compiled by the Boras corporation.  Boras gave a ridiculous Varitek pitch to the media; click the link for quotes.  Epstein will meet with Boras today to discuss his clients.
  • The Red Sox plan to talk to the Rangers, with Taylor Teagarden, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Gerald Laird as possibilities.  For Teagarden, the Red Sox would probably have to give up Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden.

Davidoff’s Latest: Sabathia, El Duque, Heilman

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A few notes from Newsday’s Ken Davidoff, who has blog posts here and here.

  • C.C. Sabathia’s agents met with the Yankees yesterday, among other teams.  As you know, teams can only talk contract with their own free agents currently.  Sabathia is certainly open to playing for the Yankees.
  • Orlando Hernandez not only wants to pitch in 2009; he wants to close.  He’s thinking big after missing all of 2008.
  • Davidoff gives a 10% chance of the Yankees re-signing Jason Giambi, and a 1% chance of re-signing Carl Pavano.
  • The Rays like Aaron Heilman, though not as much as they once did.

Mets Rumors: Wolf, Fuentes, K-Rod, Street, Pedro

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11:37am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets are eyeing Randy Wolf, in addition to Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.

Heyman adds that some Mets people are concerned about their catching, but others aren’t thrilled with the free agent options.

9:20am: All kinds of Mets rumors this morning.

  • Let’s begin with the closer situation.  The Mets are interested in Brian Fuentes, but Omar Minaya will not rule out Francisco Rodriguez. He makes a great point: contract numbers are tossed around early, but the player often fails to reach that amount. 
  • Joel Sherman says the Mets also want to speak to the A’s about Huston Street.  However, his sources say the A’s feel they match up better with the Indians, Rockies, and Brewers (all interested parties).  Rosenthal has Kerry Wood and Joe Beimel in the Mets’ sights as well.  Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog believes J.J. Putz could be a trade target, with interest on the Mariners’ side. 
  • Ken Davidoff explains how the Mets could end up signing K-Rod – the Fuentes market blows up, while Rodriguez settles for less.  I’m on board with that.
  • The Javier Vazquez rumors were addressed in this post.  Elsewhere on the starting pitching front – Minaya will talk to Pedro Martinez’s agent, but he’s unlikely to return.  Aaron Heilman won’t be moving to the rotation.
  • We’ve heard about the Mets’ interest in Raul Ibanez, but Minaya does not seem to consider the offense a problem.  He even spoke optimistically about a Luis Castillo rebound (though he did not give Castillo a ringing endorsement).

LaRue’s Latest: Manny, Ibanez, Putz

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Larry LaRue of The News Tribune has several new rumors…

  • Scott Boras has floated an asking price for Manny Ramirez that begins at $27MM per year.  It seems that the Dodgers may be willing to offer that salary for two years, but Boras wants a significantly longer term.
  • The Cubs and Mets expressed interest to Raul Ibanez’s agent.  Does this mean the Cubs are comfortable with the idea of Ibanez in right field?
  • The Tigers crave a closer, and J.J. Putz may be a target.  Putz will earn $5MM in ’09 with an $8.6MM option for ’10.

Mets Interested In Javier Vazquez?

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10:34am: Sherman says Minaya is not high on Vazquez as he once was.  He heard the Mets might require the White Sox take Castillo’s contract, which would probably be a dealbreaker.

TUESDAY, 8:16am: Joel Sherman and Mike Puma of the New York Post talked to a Mets official who called the Vazquez idea a "pipe dream."  It’s difficult to see the White Sox taking Luis Castillo’s contract back in a trade; Vazquez’s value is not that low.

MONDAY: According to Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune, the Mets are interested in White Sox pitcher Javier Vazquez.  Van Dyck implies that the Sox could move top prospect Aaron Poreda into the rotation to replace him.

Vazquez has a connection to Omar Minaya, who traded him to the Yankees in December of 2003 as the Expos’ GM.  Vazquez is owed $23MM for 2009-10.  He’d give the Mets a pretty deep rotation.  Van Dyck doesn’t believe it’d take much if the Mets paid all of his salary.  Aaron Heilman could be a start.

Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Atkins, Podsednik

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Let’s check in on the Rockies next.

  • Matt Holliday may be selling his Denver-area home, not that it means anything.  Tracy Ringolsby has the Nationals, Rays, Cardinals, and Mets as teams interested in Holliday.  Meanwhile, Troy E. Renck explores a Yankees scenario.
  • Renck can’t see the Rox trading both Holliday and Garrett Atkins.  Ringolsby says the Angels are more interested in Atkins than Holliday.  Renck has the Indians and Twins as suitors for Atkins.
  • Scott Podsednik is open to returning to the Rockies, and they could have a place for him if Willy Taveras is dealt.
  • Renck expects the Rockies to be in on Carl Pavano if the Yankees don’t re-sign him.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Fielder, Beimel, Eckstein

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Ken Rosenthal is on the scene at the GM meetings, and as usual has all kinds of new info.

  • The Brewers are unlikely to trade Prince Fielder, and reluctant to trade J.J. Hardy or Alcides Escobar.  It’d be smart to retain those three players.
  • Rosenthal still likes the Braves as the favorite for Jake Peavy, but wonders if the Cubs or another team could incorporate a third team to get it done.
  • The Cubs will need to spend much of their available money on pitching, which may leave little payroll room for an outfielder like Bobby Abreu.  They could backload contracts and move some of Jason Marquis’ salary though.
  • The Mets are interested in lefty reliever Joe Beimel, as well as usual suspects Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, and Kerry Wood.  They also like Raul Ibanez.
  • The Cardinals could move forward with a Ryan Ludwick/Colby Rasmus/Rick Ankiel outfield, or trade one of them.  Ankiel, entering his contract year, seems most likely to go if Rasmus is ready.
  • David Eckstein is marketing himself as a second baseman for 2009.
  • Don’t look for the Phillies to move Shane Victorino in a Matt Holliday deal.
  • The Cardinals and Nationals are not contenders for A.J. Burnett.  Still no word on Burnett’s opt-out.
  • The Marlins may wait until some of the top free agent starters sign before shopping Scott Olsen.

Cafardo Rumors: Wigginton, Ibanez, Rodney

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A few rumors we missed from Nick Cafardo’s Sunday column…

  • The Indians would want a young closer type in return for catcher Kelly Shoppach.
  • The Tribe has Houston’s Ty Wigginton on the radar as a third base possibility.  But then who would play third for the Astros?
  • The Yankees have been calling around aggressively, even inquiring on Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman.  They’re not available.
  • The Mets are said to be eyeing Raul Ibanez for left field.
  • The Tigers are dangling setup man Fernando Rodney, hoping to acquire a better closer.  Jon Paul Morosi believes the Tigers might aim for a reliever they control for a year or two, as their in-house options should be ready by 2010.
  • A conflict might arise with the Angels hoping to sign Mark Teixeira quickly while Scott Boras plans to let the market develop.
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