Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

A.J. Burnett

Sherman’s Latest: Lowe, Saito, Teixeira

By | at

The latest from Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

  • Mets GM Omar Minaya recently admitted he did not expect to pursue A.J. Burnett or Derek Lowe, saying, "I’m probably not going to be in there right now, financially.  Not after spending all the money that I did on K-Rod."  Sherman isn’t sold, though – he thinks Lowe’s price could drop and give the Mets a shot.
  • The Dodgers haven’t received a counter-offer to their two-year, $45MM proposal, so they won’t be making another bid.  Sherman adds that they are planning to non-tender Takashi Saito.
  • The A’s remain the frontrunners for Rafael Furcal.
  • Sherman says the Nationals have bid seven years and $140MM for Mark Teixeira.  That offer was reported on Wednesday to be eight years, $160MM.  Sherman says the backup plans are Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson.  I believe the Hudson link is new.
  • The Mariners had tried to pry Jonathan Niese from the Mets for J.J. Putz.  Sherman also notes strong interest in Aaron Heilman.  He says the Mets and Cubs did not discuss Jason Marquis, contrary to reports.

A.J. Burnett Rumors: Thursday

By | at

7:18: Mark Bowman at MLB.com says it’s down to the Braves or the Yankees for Burnett. Interestingly, he notes that A.J. might not necessarily want to be an "ace" of a staff like he would be in Atlanta. He has the Yanks’ offer between $80-85MM.

12:12pm: Rosenthal heard indications the Braves were preparing a final push for Burnett and would guarantee a fifth year.

10:33am: Rosenthal and Fraley see the Yankees as the clear frontrunner for Burnett.  They say Braunecker will contact other clubs today to give them one last chance to beat the Yanks’ five-year, $85MM offer.  Will the Braves counter?  Burnett signing with the Yankees would be undesirable for the Blue Jays in two ways – they’d have to face him fairly often, and they’d (tentatively) get the Yanks’ second-round pick instead of a first-round one.

9:46am: Buster Olney says the Yankees are confident they won’t be overbid for Burnett, at least.

9:19am: Chipper Jones spoke to Burnett about ten days ago, and the pitcher told him that if he does play in the NL, it’ll only be with the Braves.

8:53am: Ken Davidoff and Kat O’Brien wrote that the Yankees "appeared to be closing in on a deal" for Burnett late last night.  They put the offer at about $80MM.

8:32am: Ken Rosenthal and Gerry Fraley say the Braves have not offered Burnett five guaranteed years.  The fifth year is an easily attainable vesting option, though.  Dan Graziano says that this time around, Braunecker is not seeking an opt-out clause for Burnett.

2:19am: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has been all over the A.J. Burnett talks.  Today he says the Yankees have a five-year deal worth about $85MM on the table.  Burnett’s agent Darek Braunecker isn’t seeking much more than that – he’s eyeing a Carlos Zambrano-influenced $91.5MM payday.  It’s an interesting comparison, given that Z’s deal was signed over a year ago and not on the open market.

Crasnick says discussions continued with the Yankees late Wednesday.  Yankee players have been calling Burnett, lobbying him to choose their team over the Braves.  Crasnick believes a deal could be in place as soon as today.

Yesterday we heard conflicting reports about whether the Braves guaranteed a fifth year in their offer.

Derek Lowe Rumors: Thursday

By | at

12:08pm: Despite yesterday’s reported contention from a Boras guy, ESPN’s Jayson Stark heard the Braves have "zero interest" in Lowe.  Randy Wolf is on their radar as a backup plan for A.J. Burnett though.

Also, the Mets are probably out on Lowe and Burnett, according to Omar Minaya.

10:23am: According to WEEI’s Lou Merloni, the Yankees’ signing of C.C. Sabathia made the team more appealing to Lowe.

9:50am: Some Derek Lowe chatter this morning – Jayson Stark says the Yankees would remain interested in Lowe if they sign A.J. Burnett.

Odds and Ends: Rule 5, Beltre, Schmidt, Bako

By | at

Stray links I’ve collected over the past few days…

A.J. Burnett Rumors: Wednesday

By | at

11:53pm: Not seeing the $91MM rumor on Rosenthal’s blog anymore.  Mark Feinsand wrote earlier today it was $80MM.  Feinsand even said the Yankees and Burnett were "working into the night on closing a deal."  A Mark Bowman source put the Yanks’ offer at $85MM.

10:12pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Yanks are offering $91MM over five years.  He also learned that the Yanks will not sign both Burnett and Lowe – just one of them and then possibly other free agent pitchers.  Similar to Crasnick’s note below.

9:57pm: Tony Massarotti indicates the Red Sox are out and Burnett will choose between the Yankees and Braves.  Jerry Crasnick says that if the Yankees sign Burnett, a third free agent rotation addition would likely be a short-term guy like Ben Sheets as opposed to Derek Lowe.

6:54pm: Jon Heyman believes the Yankees’ five-year offer to Burnett is for $80MM.

6:09pm: Crasnick’s report about the Yanks’ five-year offer to Burnett is online now.  Crasnick’s source says a deal could be in place as soon as tomorrow.  He says the dollar figure is not known but Burnett’s agent is believed to be seeking a deal approaching Zambrano’s five years, $91.5MM. 

6:06pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports on TV that the Yankees have offered Burnett a five-year deal.

4:53pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman has a Major League source who does not believe the Braves offered Burnett five years.

4:06pm: ESPN’s Keith Law believes bidding on Burnett will exceed the value of Carlos Zambrano’s contract, which is for $91.5MM over five years.

12:54pm: Rosenthal and Gerry Fraley report that the Braves made an offer to Burnett late Tuesday for $80MM over five years.  That guaranteed fifth year could be big.

11:14am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves are pushing hard for A.J. Burnett and talks with him progressed through the night.  The Yankees remain involved, however.

Derek Lowe Rumors: Wednesday

By | at

10:08pm: A note from Dave O’Brien:

Just so you know, one of Boras’ guys also claims the Braves have expressed at least some interest in Lowe.

5:18pm: Jayson Stark has a source saying the Phillies aren’t pursuing Lowe, and didn’t make an offer.

4:27pm: Gordon Edes agrees, Lowe is not on the verge of signing.  He does have offers in hand from the Yanks and Phillies, with the Mets and Red Sox in talks.  The Brewers made contact but are considered a long shot.  Edes says Lowe’s desire to return to Boston has been overstated.  Edes says the two offers are in the four-year, $65MM range, and a fifth year could clinch it.

3:14pm: Rosenthal says the Yankees’ talks with Lowe are progressing, but reports that they’re close are overblown.  He adds that the Yanks are also in active discussions with A.J. Burnett, and, surprisingly, Andy Pettitte.  Kevin Baxter believes it’s the Yanks or retirement for Pettitte.

8:56am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees were discussing a four-year, $66MM deal with Derek Lowe late Tuesday night.  Via MetsBlog, Heyman said on WFAN this morning that the Yanks are closing in.

C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Tuesday

By | at

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

By | at

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.

C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Monday

By | at

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

By | at

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.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows scroll to top