C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Tuesday
11:55pm: Joel Sherman has a source saying it’s possible Cashman could begin the process of finalizing a contract for Sabathia while in San Francisco.
Sherman notes that Cashman is looking at many other free agent starters as well, and is pushing to begin closing deals.
10:30pm: As you might imagine, Dan Graziano speaks of a breakthrough in the Yankees’ negotiations for Sabathia.
10:07pm: Jon Heyman talked to Angels owner Arte Moreno, who said, "I wouldn’t say we’re in the Sabathia picture at all."
9:14pm: Ken Davidoff and Kat O’Brien say Cashman bailed on his media session today to meet with Sabathia in San Francisco. Cashman may want to meet Sabathia’s wife, who is obviously a factor in his decision.
9:13pm: Sabathia is a fallback position for the Giants, according to Brian Sabean.
7:56pm: Doug Melvin says the Brewers have not increased their offer to Sabathia, nor have they decided that they won’t. The ball is in Melvin’s court on whether to increase the offer.
6:30pm: Brian Sabean says reports of a weekend scheduled with Sabathia are false.
6:05pm: Danny Knobler says the Halos remain a serious player for Sabathia and could trade a pitcher like Jered Weaver for a bat if they sign him.
5:03pm: An update from Peter Gammons:
Some players have said the Angels have made it clear to Sabathia that they’ll guarantee him six years, but both sides say it is not true. Sabathia has not turned down the Yankees, either. He has offers from the Brewers, Angels and Red Sox, and the Giants have made it clear they will be in the bidding in certain circumstances.
4:45pm: According to Ken Davidoff, the Brewers do not intend to raise their offer to C.C.
4:32pm: Rosenthal says there’s no truth to the rumor that Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer.
4:09pm: Baggarly talked to an exec close to the Sabathia talks who believes the Brewers are emerging as the frontrunner.
3:39pm: Joel Sherman doesn’t say anything about the Yanks’ offer being declined, but he does say the Yanks have heightened interest in A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe as Brian Cashman continues to wait on C.C.
3:24pm: Unconfirmed rumor from Andrew Baggarly: Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer. He still printed it though. The Giants are expected to meet with Sabathia this weekend; they’d need to get creative to sign him.
2:21pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia is convinced the Giants will become a serious bidder.
1:45pm: Tony Jackson’s heard word that Giants officials are "supremely confident" they’re going to sign Sabathia.
1:34pm: Sabathia apparently spent a lot of his time with the Yankees peppering them with lifestyle questions about New York, says Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
12:11pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Giants intend to meet with C.C. Sabathia, perhaps in San Francisco this weekend. They weren’t able to get together while Sabathia was in Vegas.
A.J. Burnett Rumors: Tuesday
10:57pm: Heyman says the Yankees’ topped the Braves offer for Burnett by a few million dollars. He says the Yanks apparently will attempt to sign all three top free agent starters – C.C. Sabathia, Derek Lowe, and Burnett.
8:34pm: J.P. Ricciardi says the Blue Jays won’t offer Burnett a five year deal or four years with an option. Braunecker still won’t admit the Jays are out of it.
5:18pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Yankees are considering making a five-year offer to Burnett. Dan Graziano believes Burnett has the personality to thrive in New York.
3:21pm: Ken Rosenthal says it’s not out of the question that Burnett’s price could rise to five years, $100MM if the Yanks miss out on Sabathia.
3:06pm: ESPN’s Keith Law says Burnett is unlikely to sign this week, barring a major change.
2:14pm: Rosenthal says the Braves will meet with Braunecker again today.
2:07pm: Some talk from Braunecker via Amalie Benjamin:
Braunecker also said that about a half dozen clubs have "significant mutual interest" in Burnett, including one team that entered the fray in the last 72 hours and one that has essentially been eliminated from the mix.
1:23pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says the Yanks’ meeting with Burnett took place Monday night, and they’ll talk again today. The Yankees are prepared to top Atlanta’s offer and wouldn’t mind signing both Burnett and C.C. Sabathia.
1:00pm: Joe McDonald of The Providence Journal says the Red Sox had "significant dialogue" with Burnett and he appears to be Boston’s main free agent pitching target.
12:26pm: Joel Sherman says the "Blue Jays have now acknowledged there is almost no way Burnett is returning," which J.P. Ricciardi pretty much said publicly a few days ago. Sherman notes that they hope to sign Carl Pavano to a minor league deal. He says the Jays are targeting an $83MM payroll, something I originally missed but Drunk Jays Fans didn’t.
11:15am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Brian Cashman hopes to meet with A.J. Burnett‘s agent Darek Braunecker today. The Yankees are expected to top Atlanta’s four-year, $60MM plus a vesting option bid. The Braves seem willing to counter, though.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Tuesday
10:09pm: Angels owner Arte Moreno to Jon Heyman: "Teixeira’s my guy. There are obviously other people we like. But he’s our main target." Currently, the Angels aren’t planning to set a deadline when they make an offer to Tex.
9:11pm: Brian Sabean ruled out Teixeira for the Giants.
4:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Angels are "beginning to recognize they will not be the high bidder" for Tex. Some of Rosenthal’s sources believe the Nationals will come in the highest.
3:48pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown says Angels owner Arte Moreno "has been deeply involved in negotiations with Scott Boras regarding Teixeira, as well as with agent Greg Genske on Sabathia." Brown says the Angels may be willing to give Tex seven years if necessary. The Halos are weighing the idea of going after Manny Ramirez if they miss out on Tex and C.C.
11:39am: Jon Heyman says the Red Sox have been one of Tex’s most aggressive pursuers.
1:47am: Yahoo’s Gordon Edes surveyed several club officials, and they believe the Red Sox will sign Mark Teixeira. They have the money and a strong relationship with Scott Boras. However, the Yankees are heavily interested even if they’ve yet to make an offer. And the Angels are said to be "desperate" to retain Tex. As far as we know, no one’s made an offer. Edes sees the Orioles and Nationals on the periphery, though both clubs are serious about Teixeira.
Ben Sheets Rumors: Tuesday
9:43pm: Nolan Ryan says the Rangers examined Sheets’ medical records and determined he’s healthy. Sheets seems to have mutual interest, though the Rangers would need to move players to fit him in the payroll.
6:35pm: Joe Girardi was impressed with Sheets. Meanwhile T.R. Sullivan talks about whether the Rangers could fit Sheets in the budget.
12:14pm: Feinsand now says the Yankees will offer around $26MM over two years to Sheets (hat tip to RAB).
8:26am: Joel Sherman says the Yanks have yet to decide whether to make Sheets an offer.
12:58am: According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, the Yankees are preparing an offer for Ben Sheets to be made within 72 hours (hat tip to River Ave. Blues). Feinsand believes it will be in the two-year, $30MM range.
Red Sox Interested In Pettitte, Pavano, Penny
5:26pm: WEEI’s Alex Speier says that while the Red Sox touched base with Pettitte’s agent, there’s almost no chance they sign him. They also have not had meaningful dialogue for Ben Sheets.
8:30am: Add Carl Pavano and Brad Penny to the starting pitchers under consideration for Boston, according to Nick Cafardo. He says the Marlins are the favorite for Pavano, and the Yankees are still in it. We learned yesterday that the Blue Jays have interest.
12:36am: According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox expressed interest in free agent lefty Andy Pettitte. Could Pettitte cross enemy lines in 2009? For now Massarotti says the Red Sox have simply kicked the tires, as they seem to do with most interesting free agents.
Derek Lowe Rumors: Tuesday
5:22pm: Heyman says the Yankees are negotiating with Boras about a four-year deal for more than $65MM.
1:19pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Phillies and Yankees lead the charge for Lowe, who wants $80MM over five years. A team official for one club told Heyman he was "shocked" with the escalating bidding.
8:34am: According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, a Phillies official denied the presence of a three-year offer for Derek Lowe. Does this mean they have two or four years on the table? Cafardo talked to another source who said Lowe likes the idea of pitching for Philly.
Lamb Re-Signs With Brewers
12:33pm: MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy says the deal with Lamb has been finalized, with the Brewers on the hook for something close to the league minimum for ’09.
TUESDAY, 10:58am: Tom Haudricourt says Lamb’s signing will be announced today. Haudricourt rejects the Rosenthal/Price report about the Lamb signing paving the way for a Hall trade.
MONDAY, 8:07pm: Rosenthal and Ed Price say the Lamb signing could prompt the Brewers to trade Bill Hall. Hall interests the Yankees, but he has almost $16MM left on his deal. Rosenthal notes that Yankees targets Hall and Mike Cameron are friends of C.C. Sabathia.
4:52pm: According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, the Brewers are "closing in on a deal to re-sign free agent third baseman Mike Lamb." GM Doug Melvin will continue discussions with Lamb’s agent later today.
Rick Ankiel Rumors
Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel is popular, with at least five interested teams. He adds the Yankees, Rays, and Giants to the previously known Braves. With the lack of center fielders on the market, the interest makes sense. Sherman says the Cardinals seek a closer and/or a starter, and have some interest in Ian Kennedy.
C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Monday
11:12pm: Clarification of the earlier Colletti stuff from Tony Jackson: "What Colletti actually said was that Sabathia had made the Dodgers aware, not directly but through conversations with third parties, that he had a desire to pitch for them."
10:38pm: Heyman says the Red Sox talked parameters with Sabathia and "perhaps even" made an offer. They’re not expected to beat the Yankees’ offer though.
Jeff Passan offers his take on the Brewers’ angle.
9:26pm: Rosenthal’s source says the Red Sox were just doing their due diligence in meeting with Sabathia. The Sox are focused on Mark Teixeira.
9:19pm: The Giants say it’s "debatable" as to whether they’ll meet with Sabathia. Andrew Baggarly indicates Brian Sabean implied they don’t plan to make a competitive offer to Sabathia.
9:14pm: Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash says Sabathia is not concerned about the makeup of the Brewers’ roster. Doug Melvin does not believe they’d need to be too creative with a contract.
7:26pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia requested both Yankees meetings, the second of which took place at the pitcher’s room at the Wynn. Sabathia’s left Vegas, and didn’t give the Yanks a timetable.
7:17pm: Bill Shaikin talked to a Giants official who says they’re "definitively" not interested in Manny Ramirez. They are, however, interested in Sabathia.
Abraham notes that Sabathia requested that second meet with the Yanks.
6:19pm: Peter Abraham learned from Brian Cashman that the Yanks met with Sabathia again today.
5:41pm: Sabathia’s meeting with Yankees officials lasted 2.5 hours yesterday, as he gathered information on the team and the city. He told the Yankees he’s not delaying his decision due to a desire to pitch elsewhere; he just wants to gather the facts.
4:32pm: Sabathia apparently told Colletti he wants to be a Dodger? Speaking to reporters, Colletti left it as a "possibility" the Dodgers could get involved.
4:12pm: Doug Melvin deems the opt-out and sixth year chatter "speculation" (despite the reports below and another from Phil Rogers). But after meeting with Sabathia’s agents today, Melvin says the Brewers are still in it. They’ll meet again later in the week.
Also, there’s an article making the rounds where Bill Madden quotes an industry source as saying Greg Genske is "dead as an agent" if Sabathia ends up signing for $120MM.
12:03pm: Joel Sherman says Brian Cashman brought Joe Girardi and Reggie Jackson along for their recent meeting with Sabathia. Privately, the Yanks feel that Sabathia would be entirely invested in New York if he signs with them (despite his West Coast leanings).
11:49am: Jon Heyman has a Brewers update. He says they’re open to adding a sixth year, bringing the total to $120MM (closer to $110MM with deferred money). He also heard an opt-out clause could be added after two years. Heyman says Sabathia hated having Spring Training in Florida, a slight mark against the Yankees.
10:30am: Dan Graziano was told yesterday that the Brewers added a sixth year to their Sabathia offer, but he admits there are conflicting reports on that.
9:33am: Buster Olney says to take it for what it’s worth, but his source says the meeting between Sabathia and the Yankees went "great."
8:44am: According to George King of the New York Post, the Brewers could offer C.C. Sabathia an opt-out clause after three seasons to entice him to sign (similar to the Blue Jays’ deal for A.J. Burnett). At this time, only the Brewers and Yankees have offers on the table for Sabathia. King talked to a source who said in regard to the Giants, "It would have to be a total default position in terms of years and dollars." Perhaps that indicates the Giants can’t really go beyond the Brewers’ five-year, $100MM offer.
A.J. Burnett Rumors: Monday
9:57pm: Jerry Crasnick says the Red Sox met with Braunecker today and are "right there in the mix with Atlanta and the Yankees for Burnett."
6:37pm: Dave O’Brien is getting indications Burnett could make a decision this week and not wait for Sabathia. But O’Brien believes it’d take a five-year offer (no vesting option) for him to do that.
6:15pm: Heyman agrees, suggesting a forthcoming Yankee offer for Burnett in the four-year, $64MM range.
5:38pm: Jerry Crasnick and Jayson Stark believe the Yankees want to meet with Burnett’s agent, and may be willing to offer more guaranteed money than Atlanta did. The Braves apparently guaranteed $60MM over four years and added a vesting option. Burnett and Derek Lowe hope to wait until C.C. Sabathia signs.
3:56pm: ESPN’s Peter Gammons says Burnett’s agents feel talks are progressing with the Braves.
11:54am: According to Ken Rosenthal, free agent starter A.J. Burnett talked to former teammate Carl Pavano about the Yankees. Pavano did not steer Burnett away, despite his poor experience.