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A’s Avoid Arb With Jack Cust

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7:01pm: Stiglich has heard from a reliable source that the deal is worth $2.8MM; definitely a nice raise.

5:41pm: Joe Stiglich of the Contra Costa Times reports that the A’s have signed Jack Cust to a one-year contract.

Exact terms are not yet available, but Cust can expect a hefty pay raise from the $410,000 he made last season.  Working as an outfielder and designated hitter for the A’s in ’08, he blasted 33 dingers and drove in 77 runs.  Then again, Cust also set the American League record for strikeouts in a season and finished with a batting average of just .231.

Rosenthal On Fielder, Buchholz, Edmonds

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

  • Rosenthal suggests the Brewers trade Prince Fielder for "premium pitching" and then sign Adam Dunn to replace him.  Which begs the question, why wouldn’t the team giving up this premium pitching just sign Dunn instead?
  • Despite signing John Smoltz, the Red Sox still are not willing to trade Clay Buchholz for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  The Sox may be willing to move Michael Bowden or especially Daniel Bard for Salty.
  • The Yankees’ interest in Mike Cameron "seems to be waning."
  • Despite Jon Heyman’s report, the Phillies, Angels, and Brewers deny interest in Derek Lowe.  Rosenthal says the market for Oliver Perez is even worse.
  • Rosenthal suggests veterans such as Nomar Garciaparra, Frank Thomas, and Jim Edmonds could go the Kenny Lofton route.  Lofton, a capable player, sat out the 2008 season when his salary demands weren’t met.  As I mentioned yesterday, we’ll soon see which former stars are willing to play for a pittance (if you consider more than $500K a pittance).
  • The Orioles have Edmonds on the radar as a first base candidate.
  • Suitors for lefty reliever Dennys Reyes: the A’s, Mets, and Dodgers.  The Tigers and Rangers are also known to be on the lookout for a southpaw in the pen.

Odds and Ends: Pavano, Giambi, Manny, Tigers

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Links for Thursday…

  • RotoAuthority looks at possible injury risk young starters for 2009, by way of the Verducci Effect.
  • Anthony Castrovince says the Indians looked at Mark Mulder, Kris Benson, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon before signing Carl Pavano.  The Tribe’s rotation appears set.  The article also outlines Pavano’s incentives, which kick in at 18 starts.
  • A reminder: for the past month or so we’ve had a Top Stories section in the righthand sidebar.  If you’re looking to find the biggest hot stove news of the past few days quickly, look there first.
  • I did a Q&A with 3:10 To Joba.
  • Ben Shpigel tries to quantify how slow this offseason has been.
  • Susan Slusser has a few details on Jason Giambi’s contract. Jon Heyman confirms Slusser’s earlier comment that the A’s are considering Orlando Cabrera.
  • Bill Plaschke says the Dodgers are "playing the Manny Ramirez game perfectly."  McCovey Chronicles liveblogs that game from the Giants’ side.
  • Jason Beck looks at the dwindling closer options for the Tigers.

A’s Rumors: Abreu, Cabrera, Barton

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Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle has the latest on the A’s.

  • The Jason Giambi press conference is scheduled for today.  Joe Dillon was designated for assignment to make room.
  • Slusser believes Billy Beane will take a look at Bobby Abreu and/or Orlando Cabrera if their price tags slip.
  • Daric Barton is drawing trade interest, with the Nationals a possibility.

Jason Giambi Reaches Agreement With A’s

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6:50pm: Mike Puma of the New York Post says the deal is for one-year at $4.5MM with a $5MM club option ($1MM buyout) for 2010. The physical is scheduled for tomorrow.

5:50pm: Ken Rosenthal wrote earlier today that the the A’s have reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract with Giambi and the deal is at the finish line, pending a physical.

TUESDAY, 9:54am: Olney says Giambi is on the verge of agreeing to a deal with the A’s worth $6.5MM guaranteed – $5.25MM in ’09 plus a $4MM 2010 option with a $1.25MM buyout.  Quite affordable!

In an article posted several hours ago, Susan Slusser wrote:

A team source said Monday that the A’s are moving toward completing a deal…A major-league source said there’s widespread belief that a package already is in place and that an announcement could be imminent.

Slusser says the A’s could still add another free agent if the price is right, but Mark Mulder is just a "vague possibility."

MONDAY, 3:38pm: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the A’s have made significant progress in their talks with Jason Giambi.  He says a deal appears imminent.  Mychael Urban heard today that the A’s could sign Giambi this week, possibly for one year with an option.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Swisher, Nady, Kapler, Zaun

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal.

  • A recent Ned Colletti-Scott Boras conversation about Manny Ramirez didn’t result in progress.  Boras still has his sights on at least $100MM over four years.  Rosenthal adds that Manny is "cool to the idea of playing in San Francisco."
  • Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady are drawing "significant interest."  Rosenthal speculates that the Giants, Braves, or Pirates would make sense.
  • The door is not closed with the Yankees and Andy Pettitte.  Pettitte recently rejected the Yanks’ one-year, $10MM offer.
  • Some Mets people prefer Oliver Perez to Derek Lowe.  The Braves have yet to speak to Boras about Lowe, while the Brewers and Phillies have financial concerns about fitting him in.
  • Trevor Hoffman has a West Coast preference (the Dodgers or maybe a Padres reconciliation) but interest with the Brewers is mutual.  Other relievers on the Dodgers’ radar: Juan Cruz, Guillermo Mota, and Dennys Reyes.
  • Brian Fuentes’ agent had serious talks with the Yankees, but no offer was made.  Fuentes would’ve been Mariano Rivera’s set-up man and perhaps taken over upon his retirement.
  • Rosenthal notes that MLB kicked in a small part of the $10MM owed to Sidney Ponson from their luxury tax pool, which is not uncommon.
  • If they can afford it, the Rays would like to sign Gabe Kapler.
  • The Orioles, Red Sox, and A’s are interested in Gregg Zaun.
  • Perhaps because of the cool market for his services, Orlando Cabrera is willing to play second base.  The Yankees did not have interest.
  • That Gavin Floyd for Brian Roberts rumor "seemingly arose from internal discussions among Orioles officials."

Cafardo’s Latest: Quota, Saito, Mulder

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The column is from Sunday, but we missed a lot of good stuff from Nick Cafardo’s latest.

  • Finally an answer!  Cafardo learned that teams can sign as many as nine Type A or B free agents this year.  So to all those who emailed: yes, the Yankees can technically sign Manny Ramirez.  I tried to decipher the quota section of the Basic Agreement in October, but didn’t come up with nine.
  • At some point this winter, the Red Sox made an offer to Takashi Saito.
  • Cafardo says Boston does not have interest in Michael Young.
  • The Brewers and A’s "are big on" Mark Mulder.  The Red Sox will also watch him throw this month.
  • Luis Gonzalez is likely to sign somewhere as a fourth outfielder.

Odds and Ends: Andruw, Marquis, Coonelly

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Links for Monday…

Odds And Ends: Otsuka, Orioles, Johnson

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I’ll keep this updated as more comes in, but for now these are your Saturday links…

  • Patrick Newman found that Akinori Otsuka will work out in front of reps from all MLB teams next month. Apparently Padres GM Kevin Towers is interested if Otsuka’s healthy.
  • Roch Kubatko knows there’s pitching talent coming from the minors, but he doesn’t love the current Orioles rotation and expects them to add two more starters.
  • The difference between 69 and 72 in 2009 wins isn’t worth much to the Orioles, Peter Schmuck writes.
  • The Red Sox move on after missing out on Mark Teixeira.
  • Eric Wedge doesn’t seem bothered by the Yankees’ big acquisitions.
  • Vernon Wells knows how hard it will be to compete now that former-teammate A.J. Burnett’s in pinstripes along with a couple other big names.
  • Keith Law says the Randy Johnson signing moves the Giants "toward 2009 respectability, if not outright contention."
  • Vlae Kershner doesn’t like the possibility of Garret Anderson on the A’s.
  • Bleed Cubbie Blue argues that Adam Dunn’s patience-power combination would work well for the Cubs. Last week Dunn said he thinks so too.
  • Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi revealed his favorite meal and dream date in a Q&A with the Sporting News.

Olney’s Latest: Lowe, Castillo, Hudson

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Buster Olney focuses his new column on reluctant-to-spend teams and how they’ve changed the market. He turns up some interesting rumors…

  • The Rays and A’s are in a "bidding war" of sorts over the likes of Jason Giambi, Pat Burrell, Garret Anderson and Bobby Abreu. Both teams are willing to spend, but neither wants to go first since prices are higher now with both teams interested than they will be once the first team signs a player.
  • The Mets are in a great position since the Cards and Brewers aren’t likely to compete for Oliver Perez, Derek Lowe and Randy Wolf. This means they can wait, knowing that bargains will likely surface.
  • The Mets have "quietly continued to gauge" the Luis Castillo market and are interested in moving him and some of his salary.
  • If they find a taker, they could pursue Orlando Hudson.
  • As Joel Sherman predicted, the Nationals are now courting O-Dog.
  • Olney asks whether aging stars like Ken Griffey Jr. and Pedro Martinez will choose to play for the offers they’re likely to get.
  • Brad Penny may soon decide where he wants to pitch next year. He’s weighing "an overture from the Cardinals" against other options.
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