Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Ask The Tough Questions
Nobody knows for sure where this year’s crop of free agents will end up. But several blogs are asking all the right questions.
- Athletics Nation asks fans "what’s the worst thing Billy could do?"
- The Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan asks, "Should the Cubs sign the Big Unit?"
- The Big Lead looks at the Yankees pursuit of just about every free agent on the market and asks, "How can it not work?"
Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. You can reach him here.
Yankees Pursuing Peavy
A quick update on Jake Peavy. On Thursday, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune said it was clear that neither the Braves nor Cubs would be acquiring Peavy. The Braves are moving on, looking at A.J. Burnett, despite Buster Olney’s suggestion that both sides need this deal. Krasovic wondered if Kevin Towers might approach the Yankees and Angels.
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal reports Brian Cashman and Towers have been discussing a Peavy deal since the GM meetings earlier this month. Towers apparently wanted to engage NL clubs – a "strong preference" for Peavy – before touching base again with the Yankees again but talks have now officially recommenced.
This continues to be mentioned as it makes good news, and who knows, but it remains a longshot. Peavy would need to be given financial reason to waive his no-trade clause to play for a high-profile AL club on the east coast, and the Yankees would need to trade more prospects (despite already dealing five young pitchers away for Nick Swisher, Damaso Marte, and Xavier Nady) rather than solve their rotation needs through free agent signings.
Steinbrenner Ready To Offer Burnett, Lowe Contracts
Hank Steinbrenner made a bold statement about the Yankees’ free agent targets, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.
“We’re prepared to make offers to Burnett and Lowe,” Steinbrenner said. “I’m starting to become very optimistic. I think it’s going to be mutually beneficial to us and for these particular players that we’re after for them to join the Yankees.”
Steinbrenner also confirmed that the Yankees offered C.C. Sabathia a contract.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Peavy, Teixeira, Burnett
Ken Rosenthal’s got an interesting new column up.
- Now that talks with the Braves have ended for the time being, Padres GM Kevin Towers is talking with the Yankees about Jake Peavy. The Yankees have had “numerous discussions” with the Padres, even though they just offered C.C. Sabathia a contract and are still considering A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.
- Peavy’s agent Barry Axelrod said that “the Angels probably would be more appealing” geographically, but “from other perspectives, they might be less appealing” than other teams
- Rosenthal talked with an agent who said that the Angels could wait a week or 10 days before making Mark Teixeira a “knockout offer” with a deadline.
- Even though the Yankees traded for Nick Swisher, they could still have interest in Teixeira if he’s willing to consider a shorter contract of four or five years for top dollar.
- Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi knows that Toronto “won’t be the highest bidder” for A.J. Burnett. Ricciardi hopes that Burnett likes Toronto enough to re-sign.
- The Indians are considering going after both Juan Cruz and Jeremy Affeldt instead of an experienced closer.
- The Phillies and Giants could also bid on Cruz.
- The Cardinals will have interest in Affeldt and Joe Beimel as they try to strengthen their bullpen.
Yanks Make Offer To Sabathia
5:13pm: Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News says the offer is for six years and $140MM.
4:37pm: Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger says the Yankees made their initial offer to Sabathia, but they expect his agents to look around a bit.
1:14pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Yankees will also make offers to A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe within the next day or two.
FRIDAY, 10:27am: ESPN’s Buster Olney says this initial Yankees offer will be in the $140-142MM range. By the way, the Giants have already touched base with Sabathia’s agents.
THURSDAY: According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees will "aggressively extend a proposal" to C.C. Sabathia tomorrow. He believes the Yankees will go to "a financial region that no other franchise would even consider" to lure the ace. Sherman’s guess is an initial bid in the six-year, $150MM range (and that may not be the final offer).
If the Yankees are successful in signing Sabathia, they hope to add A.J. Burnett or Derek Lowe next.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sabathia, Yankees, Pirates, Rays
Let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- MetsBlog feels the reported interest in C.C. Sabathia is overblown. Rather, they see the Mets waiting for Sabathia to sign before making a move of their own for starting pitching.
- River Ave. Blues still sees the Yankees pursuing Mark Teixeira or Adam Dunn, even with the acquisition of Nick Swisher.
- Where have you gone, Andy Van Slyke speculates on what the Pirates will do this winter while finding humor in this recent quote from the Buccos’ GM: "we’d love to upgrade the offense, upgrade our pitching, and rebuild the bench."
- MVN Outsider takes the role of Andrew Friedman in their "Being the GM" series and proposes three moves for the Rays including trading Andy Sonnanstine and Chad Bradford for Andre Ethier.
- With the Rays likely to trade pitching this winter, Rays Prospects takes a closer look at how the starting pitchers throughout the organization performed in 2008. Sonnanstine was clearly a better pitcher than Edwin Jackson.
- Pinstripes Published has started a series looking at some of the cheaper alternatives that can be found in the free agent market. First up, starting pitchers.
- Ump Bump is taking a look at what each team needs this offseason. They have already gone through eight teams including the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Phillies.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Swisher, Wood, Hermida
A look at the newest column from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Rosenthal believes the Nick Swisher trade is a prelude to other moves for the White Sox, and shouldn’t be judged in isolation.
- Darren Oliver could follow Damaso Marte and re-sign quickly, as his market value is also diminished by his Type A status.
- Texas native Kerry Wood is a good match for the Rangers, though they’re not going to want to do three years at $10MM per (I think). Jim Hendry says Wood will always be welcome to come back to Chicago. Rosenthal says the Rangers also have interest in Colorado’s Huston Street.
- The Cubs and the Rays are two suitors for Florida’s Jeremy Hermida, though they’ve cleared enough payroll already to be deliberate with this one.
Mets Join Yanks In Sabathia Chase?
Bill Madden, Anthony McCarron, and Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News say the Mets will be in the mix for C.C. Sabathia:
Omar Minaya was dicussing a trade for a pitcher with a GM but said he would first have to see how Sabathia’s free agency was progressing, a baseball executive said. A Mets official subsequently wouldn’t deny interest in Sabathia.
Of course, the Yankees hope to sign Sabathia quickly. Joel Sherman believes the Mets are only trying to drive up the price for the Yankees, since both teams will be in on the same second-tier starters. Matthew Cerrone doesn’t even see the Daily News article as an indicator of Met interest in C.C.
Nick Swisher Trade Reactions
The Yankees acquired Nick Swisher yesterday for Wilson Betemit, Jhonny Nunez, and Jeff Marquez. The reactions are clearly in favor of the Yanks; let’s take a look.
- ESPN’s Keith Law says Swisher has upside for the Yankees at a reasonable price. He is unimpressed with Chicago’s return, though mildly intrigued by the idea of the Sox teaching Marquez a cutter.
- Peter Abraham notes that the Yankees see Swisher as their regular first baseman, and Mark Teixeira loses leverage. MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer figures the Angels are thrilled by the trade, as they may not have to compete with the Yanks for Tex.
- Ken Davidoff loves the move for the Yankees, and believes it gives them even more cash to throw at C.C. Sabathia.
- South Side Sox gives us an inside look at the trade negotiations between Brian Cashman and Ken Williams. They really don’t get the move.
- Williams would not commit to keeping the rest of the lineup intact.
- Ken Rosenthal believes the Swisher trade is a prelude to something bigger.
- Sox Machine says the White Sox must be banking on Swisher failing to right himself.
- Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald wonders if Swisher can handle the New York media.
- MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo looks at the prospects involved in the trade.
Odds and Ends: Ankiel, Hoffman, Mussina
Linkage for Thursday…
- Viva El Birdos tries to put a price on Rick Ankiel, and decides now is the time to trade him. Ankiel, a Scott Boras client, is eligible for free agency after the ’09 season.
- Derrick Goold runs through the lefty reliever options for St. Louis on his blog. It doesn’t seem like Trevor Hoffman is on the Cardinals’ radar. Hoffman wants to remain a closer, so he won’t be going to San Francisco either.
- Brian Cashman explains that $6MM for one year of Damaso Marte was too much, but $12MM over three years works. Ken Davidoff still doesn’t get it.
- Mike Mussina will make his decision early next week.
- Tony Massarotti runs through best and worst case scenarios for the Yankees and Red Sox.
- Jeff Zrebiec names ten possible free agent targets for the Orioles.
- Omar Minaya spilled the beans to WFAN’s Mike Francesa. He’s not interested in Ben Sheets, but will make an offer to Pedro Martinez.
- The Twins seem more likely to make trades than sign free agents, according to Joe Christensen.
- Could Ted Turner buy back the Braves?