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Brewers Not Close To Looper Deal

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5:41pm: Brewers GM Doug Melvin confirmed interest in Looper but denied that they’re close to a deal.  Melvin would not say whether the Brewers made an offer, but suggested Looper and the Brewers’ other targets want multiyear deals.

10:28am: In the "Etc." section of his Sunday update, Nick Cafardo has some updated information on a few free agents, as well as some potential trades.

  • Updating a key part of the back-of-the-rotation market, Cafardo says Braden Looper is "close to signing with the Brewers."
  • The Diamondbacks and Red Sox may soon revisit the possibility of an Eric Byrnes trade. Such a deal would likely be made more enticing for the Sox if Miguel Montero were somehow included.
  • The Red Sox would really rather not move Clay Buchholz for a catcher, even if that catcher were Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden of the Texas Rangers. However, Daniel Bard may be in play for a potential deal with Texas.
  • The Reds, Indians, Pirates and Giants are all in the mix for Ty Wigginton. Back on Dec. 18, we had a Wigginton update in an Odds and Ends post that said the player was not interested in returning to Pittsburgh.

Other topics of note (found on page 5 of Cafardo’s article) include the Tampa Bay Rays’ plan for a DH upgrade, as well as some notes on Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez.

Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com.

Nationals Sign Daniel Cabrera

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10:26pm: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports the contract for Daniel Cabrera is a one-year deal worth $2.6 million, about a million less than he’d have been owed after arbitration.

1:24pm: According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals signed Daniel Cabrera to a one-year deal (pending a physical).  One of Ladson’s sources says the Nats beat out the Mets and Pirates for him.  So far this offseason the Nationals have added Cabrera and Scott Olsen to their rotation.

Cabrera, 28 in May, made 30 starts for the Orioles in 2008 with a 5.25 ERA.  His walks remained high, while his strikeout rate was way down and he lost 1.7mph off his average fastball.  Cabrera’s season ended in September with an elbow sprain, which did not require surgery.

Odds and Ends: Wilson, Bautista, Hairston

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Linkage for Friday…

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Teixeira, Giants, Braves, Bradley, Pirates

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On this date 17 years ago, the Blue Jays signed 40-year old future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield to a one-year, $2.3MM contract. The signing was a good one as Winfield helped the Jays to their first title in 1992. That year he hit .290-26-108 with a .377 OBP and 137 OPS+, including what would prove to be the series-winning two-run double in the top of the 11th of game 6 of the World Series. Did I mention he was 40? With this year’s crop of free agents playing euchre as they patiently wait for Mark Teixeira to make up his mind, let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Sully Baseball is not worried about the Red Sox possibly losing out on Mark Teixeira feeling the money may be better spent on pitching.
  • The Bottom Line wonders if the Red Sox are better off waiting a year and going after Matt Holliday to replace Jason Bay.
  • El Lefty Malo projects the Giants offense for next season and shows that one more big bat would give them a league-average offense.
  • Braves Blast laments the Braves inability to land a starting pitcher so far this off-season and wonders what options are left.
  • The Launching Pad does not see any of the remaining free agent pitchers as an upgrade for the Braves over what is already on the roster.
  • Goat Riders of the Apocalypse is aggravated by the lack of big moves from the Cubs and while they would like Milton Bradley as a Cub, they think it is unlikely.
  • Baseball Handyman offers grades for the free agent signings to date, with only the Francisco Rodriguez contract earning an ’A’.
  • The ’Burgh Blues takes a look at the Pirates inability to find pitchers that can find the strike zone.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Abreu, Millwood, Wigginton

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Links for Thursday…

Four Teams Pursuing Redding

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According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies, Rangers, Mets, and Orioles have been the most aggressive suitors for free agent starter Tim Redding. Redding, 31 in February, posted a 4.95 ERA in 33 starts for the Nationals this year while earning $1MM.  They decided to non-tender him.

Other notes from Renck…the Rox have had productive talks with Glendon Rusch, and Ray King has drawn interest from the Phillies, Marlins, and Pirates.

Pirates Close To Extension With Doumit, Not McLouth

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According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are close to signing catcher Ryan Doumit to an extension.  Doumit, 28, had a breakout year with a .318/.357/.501 line in 465 plate appearances. He’s arbitration-eligible for the first time.

Kovacevic learned that talks with Nate McLouth’s agent for an extension are "close to dead," according to his agent.  The two sides were never close on the dollars.  McLouth is under team control through 2011 anyway.

Derrick Turnbow Derby

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We learned yesterday from Dejan Kovacevic that five teams are in serious talks for free agent reliever Derrick Turnbow.  One large-market team (not the Pirates) made a Major League offer.

Jon Paul Morosi talked to Turnbow’s agent Damon Lapa, who said the Tigers called him this week to reaffirm their interest.  The Tigers have Turnbow’s medical records (he dealt with a slight labrum tear this year).  Lapa expects his client to sign somewhere by the end of the year. 

According to Morosi, the Pirates, Marlins, Rays, Rangers, and Phillies have also shown interest in Turnbow.  The last three are new, while the Rockies and Giants have been linked to Turnbow in the past as well.

Pirates Looking at Ray King

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Ray King is currently playing winter ball in the DR, but he’s one of several relievers the Pirates are pursuing — including Chris Bootcheck and Derrick Turnbow, as we knew — according to MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch. He’s 34, weighs 230 lbs, and a lefty.

King was on the Nationals’ Opening Day roster, but only spent 12 games with the Nats before heading to Triple A (with the affiliates of the White Sox and the Astros). Though his major league ERA has been (well) over 4.00 since 2005, in 32 games with Houston’s AAA Round Rock Express he posted a 2.25 ERA.

Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.

Daniel Cabrera Suitors

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According to John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus, the Pirates top the list of suitors for Daniel Cabrera.  He says the Brewers, Padres, Rangers, Blue Jays, and Nationals are also interested.   

We learned yesterday that the Blue Jays are interested but haven’t made an offer yet.  Cabrera’s agent has heard from about half the teams in baseball, and one even offered a multiyear deal.

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