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Pettitte Looking For Two Years?

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8:33pm: Yankees GM Brian Cashman says there’s mutual interest with Pettitte.

4:44pm: We know Andy Pettitte wants to pitch in 2009, and he prefers the Yankees.  However, the Yanks want to hear from Mike Mussina before they talk to Pettitte.  Further complicating matters, Ken Davidoff says Pettitte may desire a two-year deal.

Davidoff figures the Astros will try to jump in and sign Pettitte.  The Astros seem to have room in the budget for one free agent starter.

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.

LaRue’s Latest: Francoeur, Sabathia, Teixeira

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Here’s the latest from Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune.

  • The Braves are mentioning Jeff Francoeur "in trade talks with anyone who will listen."  Royals GM Dayton Moore is known to be a fan.  Looking at 2008’s bottom ten in OBP…Moore signed Jose Guillen (.300), acquired Mike Jacobs (.299), and has been linked in trade talks to Francoeur (.294) and Yuniesky Betancourt (.300).  And don’t forget Willy Taveras (.308).
  • LaRue says the Angels are hinting they can afford both Mark Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia.  The Yankees could afford it, too.
  • He says the A’s are eyeing Jason Giambi.  Oakland recently hired Giambi’s strength coach.  Billy Beane scoffed at the idea that he hired the strength coach to lure Giambi, but no one was really suggesting that.  Susan Slusser believes Giambi seeks a three-year deal, which would put him out of the A’s range.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Tex, Furcal, Johnson, Lofton

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

  • If they are to sign Mark Teixeira, the Angels would like to do it quickly.  However, it’s Scott Boras’ custom to let the market develop until late December or so.  It’s possible the Angels change gears on November 14th.  There are other big names to pursue, though none fit as perfectly as Tex.
  • Rosenthal’s worst case scenario for the Yankees: C.C. Sabathia goes to a West Coast team while A.J. Burnett re-signs with Toronto.  The Jays truly are in the mix for Burnett.  ESPN’s Keith Law says Burnett expects to receive multiple five-year offers.
  • The Orioles plan to make serious offers to Teixeira and Burnett.  Still, both are considered long shots for Baltimore.  Another note: the Orioles were one of the teams the Yankees outbid for Sergio Mitre.
  • The Dodgers are considered "a good bet" to re-sign Rafael Furcal.  The Giants have their eye on him if he hits the open market.
  • About ten teams have inquired on Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson.  We had a Cardinals rumor yesterday.
  • The Rangers figure to trade one or two of their catchers, with Gerald Laird a strong candidate to be traded.  The Red Sox and Marlins are looking for catching, though the Rangers are wary of Florida’s Scott Olsen.
  • Rosenthal wonders if Brandon Webb could leave the D’Backs after the 2010 season.
  • Kenny Lofton wants to play in 2009.

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.

Braves Offer Tazawa Major League Contract

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8:09pm: According to John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Mariners scouts met with Tazawa today.  The Yankees will not pursue Tazawa.

7:25pm: O’Brien has more.  He says the Braves made a multiyear offer to Tazawa, and will know his decision in a few weeks.  In an earlier post, O’Brien passed along a rumor that the Braves’ offer topped the $6MM Pedro Alvarez received.

4:10pm: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves offered Junichi Tazawa a Major League contract.  O’Brien says the Red Sox, Mariners, Cubs, and Marlins are also interested in the 22 year-old pitcher.  This offer could put the Braves in the lead, but the dollar amount is unknown.

Heyman’s Latest: Holliday, Bradley, Hudson

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports from the GM meetings…

  • Matt Holliday showed up at the GM meetings to talk to Scott Boras, sparking trade speculation by reporters.
  • The Rangers failed to reach an agreement with Milton Bradley, and he’ll seek a four-year deal worth more than $10MM per.  Good luck with that.
  • Heyman says the Nationals are interested in Mark Teixeira and Matt Holliday, which MLB.com’s Bill Ladson first reported yesterday.  It does not seem that the Nats have the goods to acquire Holliday.  Heyman adds A.J. Burnett as a possibility, though Ken Rosenthal said to scratch them from the running this morning.  Adam Dunn is a more realistic name for the Nats.
  • The Angels haven’t ruled out signing Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia, though it’d be tough to fit both in the payroll.
  • The Yankees are eyeing Orlando Hudson, and could even ask him to play center field.  Nick Piecoro figures this would require an absurd offer from the Yanks.

A.J. Burnett Opts Out

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4:28pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, Burnett has officially opted out of the remaining two years and $24MM on his deal.  The Blue Jays remain in the mix.  If he leaves, they’ll at least end up with two draft picks.

10:22am: What’s the deal with A.J. Burnett?  We were supposed to have an opt-out decision yesterday before the GM meetings began.  Ken Davidoff talked to Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker.  Apparently Braunecker will meet with the Jays today to see if they’ll make a "knock your socks off" offer to keep Burnett off the market.  Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star says the Jays will have to look at other free agent starters if Burnett leaves.

Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald does not see the Red Sox in on Burnett or C.C. Sabathia, based on Theo Epstein’s comments.  The Yankees are expected to be major players.

Could Yankees Keep Pavano?

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1:27pm: Pavano told Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record, "Let’s hope I get to write a better chapter in pinstripes."

10:12am: Ken Davidoff of Newsday gives a 1% chance of the Yanks re-signing Pavano.

8:11am: Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News has a source saying Yankees GM Brian Cashman remains a big fan of Carl Pavano, and he hasn’t closed the door on the oft-injured starter.  Cashman is expected to speak with Pavano’s agent during the GM meetings.  Pavano’s agent said his first choice is the Yankees, because of "unfinished business."

Pavano has a $13MM club option with a $1.95MM buyout.  It doesn’t seem likely that the Yankees would guarantee him that kind of money, but they could buy out the option and renegotiate.

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