Odds and Ends: Sheets, Moeller, Yankees
Links for Saturday…
- As more teams lock up lefty relievers, Jon Paul Morosi sees the Tigers as more likely to land Joe Beimel.
- Tom Haudricourt has heard that Ben Sheets is more likely to sign with the Rangers, who have Mike Maddux campaigning for them, than the Yankees.
- Peter Schmuck hears that the Orioles have signed catcher Chad Moeller to a minor league deal.
- Ken Davidoff writes that the Yankees shouldn’t concern themselves with Andy Pettitte just yet.
- Dave Perkins of the Toronto Star doesn’t like the Yankees’ aggressive spending.
- Jack Curry of the New York Times writes that the Yankees are instant favorites for the World Series.
- Another New York Times writer, Ben Shpigel, writes that the Mets especially need Oliver Perez now that the Phillies have signed Raul Ibanez.
- RotoAuthority breaks down the re-vamped San Francisco bullpen for fantasy baseball purposes.
- Matt Clement‘s optimistic about his fresh start with the Jays.
- Two players re-signed with their clubs after being non-tendered: Norris Hopper of the Reds and Scott Mathieson of the Phils.
- Hideki Okajima will run a marathon Sunday, and the Red Sox aren’t thrilled.
Crasnick on Lowe
Central Maine Sports Blog had an e-mail conversation with Jerry Crasnick regarding the current status on Derek Lowe.
The Yankees are likely out of the Lowe sweepstakes, says Crasnick, considering the $243 million they’ve already committed to the rotation. By process of elimination, Crasnick names the Mets as frontrunners for Lowe’s services.
Check the link to read more of the e-mail. Kudos to Matthew Boudwell for the update.
Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com.
Jake Peavy Rumors: Saturday
Jake Peavy‘s agent Barry Axelrod explains his client’s preferences:
"Jake has a strong preference to stay in the National League. If Jake’s ever going to accept anything to the American League – and I don’t want this to be taken wrong – I can safely say that it’s going to be the Yankees or Red Sox or maybe the Angels. Those teams are going to be in contention and are going to spend money. If there were circumstances where he would be asked to go to the AL, kicking and screaming, those are the three places."
Also, Padres GM Kevin Towers revealed in a radio interview that the Angels asked about a Peavy-Adrian Gonzalez package deal, but the Padres don’t want to trade Gonzalez. As a baseball fan, I like it when Towers reveals things like this. It must be incredibly frustrating for rival GMs though.
Yankees Sign A.J. Burnett
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Yankees reached a preliminary agreement with A.J. Burnett on a five-year, $82.5MM deal ($16.5MM per year on average). The deal is pending a physical, and some final terms must be hammered out. The Blue Jays will receive the Yankees’ second-round pick in next year’s draft, plus a supplemental pick.
That’s $243.5MM spent by the Yankees on starting pitching, unless C.C. Sabathia opts out. The Braves will have to figure out a Plan B.
A.J. Burnett Rumors: Friday
2:45pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says both teams have guaranteed five years. The Yankees are offering "just beyond" $80MM and the Braves at least that amount. Sherman believes those to be the best and final offers and expects Burnett to choose sometime between today and Monday.
11:54am: Burnett is in "decision-making" mode, according to his agent.
9:05am: Kat O’Brien and Ken Davidoff of Newsday talked to Hal Steinbrenner, who said he’s optimistic about the Yankees signing A.J. Burnett. They have a five-year, $80MM offer on the table. It seems possible the Braves may have matched it, but it’s not confirmed.
Willy Taveras Will Be Non-Tendered
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says to expect outfielder Willy Taveras to join the free agent market:
The Nationals’ unwillingness to take Taveras and Juan Morillo for Tim Redding — a deal Colorado thought was done — will lead the Rockies to non-tender the center fielder today, making him a free agent.
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News agrees he’ll be non-tendered, noting the Yankees, Red Sox, Reds, Marlins, and White Sox also had trade discussions for Taveras.
Renck adds that Glendon Rusch has a minor league offer for $750K in hand, and is weighing offers from four other clubs. Rusch would be the Rockies’ second lefty behind newly signed Alan Embree.
A few more notes: the Rockies have mild interest in bringing back Josh Fogg…they’re the favorite for Redding if he’s non-tendered too…the Rox will make a non-guaranteed offer to Scott Podsednik…Joey Gathright would be of interest if non-tendered.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Thursday
9:56:
2:38pm: Tim Brown and Gordon Edes talked to involved execs (not with the Angels) who believe the Boras camp is "using the media to ratchet up the price beyond what any team had actually offered."
Brown and Edes say the Angels were told the Red Sox and Nationals offered eight years at about $20MM per. The Angels don’t want to do an eighth year, so they’ll look into trades for Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, and possibly Adrian Beltre. Raul Ibanez is the top free agent backup plan.
Brown and Edes believe Boras could insist on an opt-out clause in a deal with the Nationals.
8:59am: Mike DiGiovanna says the Angels "are believed to be willing to offer at least seven years for something in the $160-million range" for Tex.
8:51am: Jon Heyman says the Yankees have re-entered the Teixeira sweepstakes.
2:40am: Summing up the reported offers made to Mark Teixeira:
- Orioles: seven years, $140-150MM
- Nationals: eight years, $160MM
- Angels: reluctant to exceed seven years; no offer yet? (Boras implied there was)
- Red Sox: making progress; no offer yet? (Boras implied there was?)
By the way, Joe Haggerty transcribed the full Scott Boras talk from yesterday at his site.
A.J. Burnett Rumors: Thursday
7:18: Mark Bowman at MLB.com says it’s down to the Braves or the Yankees for Burnett. Interestingly, he notes that A.J. might not necessarily want to be an "ace" of a staff like he would be in Atlanta. He has the Yanks’ offer between $80-85MM.
12:12pm: Rosenthal heard indications the Braves were preparing a final push for Burnett and would guarantee a fifth year.
10:33am: Rosenthal and Fraley see the Yankees as the clear frontrunner for Burnett. They say Braunecker will contact other clubs today to give them one last chance to beat the Yanks’ five-year, $85MM offer. Will the Braves counter? Burnett signing with the Yankees would be undesirable for the Blue Jays in two ways – they’d have to face him fairly often, and they’d (tentatively) get the Yanks’ second-round pick instead of a first-round one.
9:46am: Buster Olney says the Yankees are confident they won’t be overbid for Burnett, at least.
9:19am: Chipper Jones spoke to Burnett about ten days ago, and the pitcher told him that if he does play in the NL, it’ll only be with the Braves.
8:53am: Ken Davidoff and Kat O’Brien wrote that the Yankees "appeared to be closing in on a deal" for Burnett late last night. They put the offer at about $80MM.
8:32am: Ken Rosenthal and Gerry Fraley say the Braves have not offered Burnett five guaranteed years. The fifth year is an easily attainable vesting option, though. Dan Graziano says that this time around, Braunecker is not seeking an opt-out clause for Burnett.
2:19am: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has been all over the A.J. Burnett talks. Today he says the Yankees have a five-year deal worth about $85MM on the table. Burnett’s agent Darek Braunecker isn’t seeking much more than that – he’s eyeing a Carlos Zambrano-influenced $91.5MM payday. It’s an interesting comparison, given that Z’s deal was signed over a year ago and not on the open market.
Crasnick says discussions continued with the Yankees late Wednesday. Yankee players have been calling Burnett, lobbying him to choose their team over the Braves. Crasnick believes a deal could be in place as soon as today.
Yesterday we heard conflicting reports about whether the Braves guaranteed a fifth year in their offer.
Odds and Ends: Giambi, Saberhagen, Chacon
Today’s stray Winter Meetings links as everyone heads home…
- Jason Giambi maintains hopes of returning to the Yankees; he may be willing to take a discount.
- Dave Cameron believes the Rays won the Edwin Jackson–Matt Joyce swap, handily.
- Brett Saberhagen was hired as an agent for Dan Evans’ firm. He’ll focus on pitchers.
- Shawn Chacon‘s agent is trying to find his client a job. Troy Renck also notes that the Rockies’ offer to Glendon Rusch is a $750K minor league deal.
- Kevin Kaduk relays his first Winter Meetings experience.
Cashman Flies To See Pettitte
Why did Yankees GM Brian Cashman jet off yet again this morning? Joel Sherman and George King of the New York Post have the answer.
Cashman headed to Texas to talk to Andy Pettitte. Cashman will offer Pettitte his last rotation spot for $10MM, and move on if he’s not interested.