Cafardo Rumors: Wigginton, Ibanez, Rodney
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.
More Peavy: Yankees, Angels, Cubs
10:37pm: Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune comments on the Cubs’ interest in Peavy. There’s not much new here – if the Cubs can’t re-sign Ryan Dempster, they could take a crack at Peavy. Van Dyck has an unconfirmed rumor of a Cubs offer of Felix Pie, Ronny Cedeno, and others. The others would be pretty important in such a scenario.
Van Dyck makes a good point in that the Cubs might have to dive into the pool of second tier free agent starters if they can’t get Dempster or Peavy.
8:42pm: Padres GM Kevin Towers recently spoke to the press, stating that Jake Peavy has approved two AL teams in addition to his known five NL clubs. The Yankees and Angels are now possibilities. If there were to be any acceptable AL teams, it figured to be these two based on earlier rumblings.
Rockies Shopping Holliday, Atkins, Taveras
9:11pm: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves are not interested in Taveras after all.
10:47am: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post and Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, the Rockies are shopping Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, and Willy Taveras.
Holliday, a Scott Boras client, is set to earn $13.5MM in 2009 before reaching free agency. Ringolsby says the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Mets, and Phillies have shown interest. Renck has the Cardinals as a lurker. The Nats may also be interested. The Rockies will target young pitching in return.
Atkins is under team control for 2009 and 2010. Ringolsby has the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Mets, Phillies, White Sox, and Twins as interested parties. Renck sees the Indians as another possibility.
Taveras is also under team control through 2010. Ringolsby says the Royals, Yankees, White Sox, and Braves are in on him, while Renck adds the Nationals.
Yankees Sign Sergio Mitre
According to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro, the Yankees signed sinkerballer Sergio Mitre to a split contract. The Major League portion is for $1.25MM, and there’s a club option for 2010. Eight teams had shown interest. Mitre may not be ready until midseason following July Tommy John surgery.
Odds and Ends: Pudge, Ohman, Manny
Rounding up linkage for Monday…
- The Jays claimed two players off waivers: shortstop Angel Sanchez and pitcher Kelvin Jimenez.
- The Cubs and Nationals swapped minor leaguers. The Cubs sent pitcher Matt Avery to the Nats for another pitcher named Ryan Buchter.
- Good stuff from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick – he surveyed 15 front-office people on the top stories of the offseason.
- One of a million conversations taking place at the GM meetings: Brian Cashman chatting with Walt Jocketty.
- Tony Massarotti’s top five lies told during free agency.
- Ken Davidoff names his top ten GMs.
- Joe Posnanski on the Mike Jacobs–Leo Nunez trade.
- River Ave. Blues explains why the Yankees should offer arbitration to Ivan Rodriguez.
- The official list of the 191 players eligible for free agency.
- The Braves hope to re-sign free agents Will Ohman, Greg Norton, and John Smoltz. The Smoltz situation may not be resolved until January.
- Tracy Ringolsby lists needs for every team.
- The Tigers signed an independent league lefty named Kris Regas to a minor league deal.
- John Shea says the Giants and A’s will consider the big-name free agent sluggers this winter.
- Padres GM Kevin Towers doesn’t see Manny Ramirez signing until Christmas time. He sees the New York and L.A. teams as suitors.
- Joe Sheehan proposes five radical offseason moves.
- The Cubs signed a couple of Korean players: catcher/outfielder Jae-hoon Ha and pitcher Soo-min Jung.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Peavy, Burnett, Sabathia
Let’s take a look at the latest column from Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports.
- Don’t look for a Jake Peavy trade this week at the GM meetings, as the Padres haven’t found a match with Peavy’s five preferred teams.
- A.J. Burnett‘s agent should announce his client’s decision to opt out today. Rosenthal notes Burnett’s preference to sign near his Maryland home, with the Yankees and Red Sox as the most realistic possibilities.
- Rosenthal believes the Brewers offered C.C. Sabathia $100MM over five years (rather than four). The Brewers can say they tried, but no one expects Sabathia to settle so far below his market value. Also, the Brewers will decide today on Mike Cameron‘s $10MM option.
- The Phillies’ areas of uncertainty: GM, left field, fifth starter.
Odds & Ends: Amaro, Marte, Griffey
Some Odds & Ends to begin the day:
- The Phillies are expected to announce Ruben Amaro Jr. as their next General Manager on Monday. Says Ken Mandel of MLB.com, "Amaro, 43, served as a batboy for the Phillies from 1980-83, and played for the Phillies from 1992-93 and 1996-98. He moved into the front office after retiring as a player." As the clubs Assistant General Manager, he’s been the heir apparent to the 71-year-old Pat Gillick as GM.
- The Yankees are expected to decline Damaso Marte‘s $6MM option, according to George King III of the New York Post. Marte made $2MM this year and the Yankees are opting to buy him out for $250,000. I expect them to make an attempt to sign him to a new contract but no details yet.
- Larry Stone of the Seattle Times says Ken Griffey Jr. is open to returing to Seattle. No comment from M’s new GM Jack Zduriencik.
Yankees Are Abreu’s First Choice
According to Jesse Spector of the New York Daily News, Bobby Abreu would like to remain a Yankee. Chris Leible, one of Abreu’s agents, said that Abreu’s been "very happy with the Yankees" and that returning to play for them is his "first choice."
Spector points out that the Yankees have lots of outfielders already under control next year. Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Xavier Nady, Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner are all options for the Yankees in the outfield. Since Jorge Posada might have to DH, the Yankees can’t afford to carry too many outfield-DH type players.
Abreu was productive for the Yankees this year, hitting .296/.371/.471 in 156 games. The Yankees plan on offering him arbitration.
Yankees Rumors: Teixeira, Manny, Mussina
According to Newsday’s Ken Davidoff, a Yankees insider thinks that Manny Ramirez is more likely than Mark Teixeira to sign with the club. Hank Steinbrenner and the Yankees haven’t ruled Manny out of their plans, but that doesn’t mean they’re likely to sign either Manny or Teixeira. The Yankees’ priority is starting pitching this offseason.
Davidoff wrote Thursday that “it would be a shocker” to see the Yankees offer Teixeira a contract of 10 years and $200MM. Last year, Tex turned down an eight-year offer from the Rangers worth around $140MM.
According to Peter Abraham, Mike Mussina’s agent, Arn Tellem, arrived in Pennsylvania to talk with Mussina about his future. Abraham speculates that Mussina will announce his retirement "sometime soon." In September, Mussina said if he comes back he would play three more years to try and reach 300 wins.
Hank: Yanks Will Consider Manny
The AP talked to Hank Steinbrenner today, who said the Yankees are looking at everything and will consider Manny Ramirez. It’s not much of a story, as Ramirez is a questionable fit for the Yankees and their priority is starting pitching. Plus, Hank said it.