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A.J. Burnett

Rosenthal’s Latest: Byrd, Putz, Wilson

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Rumor machine Ken Rosenthal has a new column…

  • Free agent starters C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett are in no hurry to sign. Makes sense; they’re obviously special compared to the other starters on the market.
  • Nationals owner Ted Lerner "has spent extensive time" with Scott Boras, presumably in regard to Mark Teixeira.
  • The Cubs want to acquire their left-handed hitting outfielder before worrying about Jake Peavy.  Rosenthal says the trade market is bleak, suggesting free agents such as Raul Ibanez and Milton Bradley might make sense.  As we’ve said, there is no perfect fit for the Cubs’ right field vacancy (unless Brian Giles will waive his no-trade clause).
  • Paul Byrd is "virtually certain" to decline Boston’s offer of arbitration.  He aims to pitch near his Atlanta home – the Braves, Marlins, or Rays could work for him.
  • A Rosenthal source pegged Jon Garland’s chance of accepting arbitration at less than 50-50.  ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick recently indicated it was 75-25 he’d decline.  Buster Olney says "some executives are stunned" that Garland will seemingly not accept.
  • Rosenthal spoke to officials from two teams interested in Mariners closer J.J. Putz.  The Ms haven’t decided yet whether to make him available, contrary to a previous report.  Jack Zduriencik apparently doesn’t consider his club in rebuild mode.
  • The Giants’ signing of Edgar Renteria: "widely panned in industry circles."  Joel Sherman found the same consensus.  This differs from the web, where Keith Law and Dave Cameron liked it.
  • Rosenthal says the Dodgers are not pursuing Jack Wilson; those talks broke down earlier in the offseason.  Who to believe?  He says the Tigers are making a "more serious push."
  • Phillies shortstop prospect Jason Donald is a popular trade target, but the Phils might need him to fill in for Chase Utley at the start of the season.

Odds and Ends: Renteria, Burnett, Delmon

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Interesting linkage this Thursday evening:

Yankees Rumors: Burnett, Sabathia, Pettitte

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10:37pm: Yanks GM Brian Cashman plans to meet with Sabathia this weekend prior to the Meetings.  Also, Brewers GM Doug Melvin plans to meet with Sabathia’s agent Greg Genske Monday or Tuesday to get a response to their offer.

3:27pm: Dodgers manager Joe Torre expects Pettitte to return to the Yankees. 

8:56am: The latest on the Yankees front…

  • Ken Davidoff says the Yankees and Blue Jays were willing to give A.J. Burnett a fifth year vesting option.  The Braves seem likely to sign Burnett if they will guarantee that fifth year as has been reported.  Braves officials are confident, and Tony Massarotti says they’re "rumored to be on the verge of a five-year deal that could be worth $80 million."  Meanwhile the Red Sox have moved on to Derek Lowe.
  • Davidoff says Yankees officials are confident they’re the only serious suitor for C.C. Sabathia, as there’s still a $40MM gap between their offer and Milwaukee’s.  Davidoff believes the Yanks will move on to Lowe and Andy Pettitte (not Manny Ramirez or Mark Teixeira) if they sign C.C.
  • According to Jack Curry of the New York Times, Pettitte does not want a pay cut from last year’s $16MM.  Curry says the Yanks have offered Pettitte $10MM, which was first reported by Joel Sherman on Tuesday.  Pettitte still sounds like he wants to return to the Yankees, but he’s letting his agents battle for a better salary.

Stark’s Latest: Burnett, Cantu, Lowe, Furcal

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Jayson Stark’s got a heaping helping of hot stove updates in his most recent blog post at ESPN.com.

  • The Braves’ most recent offer makes them the frontrunners for A.J. Burnett, says Stark.
  • We’re still waiting for another team to come close to the Yankees’ offer for C.C. Sabathia. Stark suggests Sabathia may make up his mind by next week.  He also says there’s "increasing buzz about the Yankees’ interest in Ben Sheets."
  • The White Sox appear to have expressed some interest in Jorge Cantu.
  • Stark doesn’t think the Phillies stand a very good chance of signing Derek Lowe.
  • Only the Dodgers and A’s, and perhaps the Orioles, remain interested in Rafael Furcal.
  • If the Dodgers end up missing on Furcal and Casey Blake, their focus might shift to names like Ty Wigginton and Adrian Beltre.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Johnson, Cano, Peavy

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4:54pm: The Big Unit is open to the Giants or A’s, not a big surprise.  Johnson’s agent says about ten teams have expressed interest, Giants included.

11:49am: Ken Rosenthal is working overtime; here’s his latest.

  • The A’s remain the frontrunners for Rafael Furcal.  Also, they’re targeting starter Randy Johnson to add a veteran presence to their rotation.  Rosenthal adds that the A’s may prefer Nick Johnson over Jason Giambi.
  • The Phillies made an offer to Derek Lowe, who seems to be their backup plan if they can’t sign Jamie Moyer.  Rosenthal speculates that the Dodgers could consider Moyer.  If the Phils sign Lowe, they may have to go cheap in left field.
  • Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf are on the Yankees’ radar.
  • The Braves haven’t ruled out five guaranteed years for A.J. Burnett.  Rosenthal agrees with Mark Bowman that the Braves actually have little interest in Adam Dunn.  He adds that Raul Ibanez might be out of their price range.  Instead, the Braves could choose to trade Kelly Johnson for an outfielder.
  • Rosenthal believes the Dodgers will renew talks for Robinson Cano at the Winter Meetings, and the Yankees will again ask for Matt Kemp.
  • The Cubs are speaking daily to the Padres about Jake Peavy.  Rosenthal says the Orioles do not seem to be the third team at this time.
  • Rosenthal believes the Royals could make a run at Kyle Farnsworth.

A.J. Burnett Rumors: Thursday

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4:22pm: Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi: "It looks like we’re going to lose Burnett."

1:53pm: O’Brien’s source says the Yankees are going to make an offer to Burnett today or tomorrow.

11:23am: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Braves GM Frank Wren confirmed today that he made an offer to free agent starter A.J. Burnett.  Wren added that the proposal does not guarantee a fifth year.  O’Brien believes there is a fifth-year option.  He adds that the deal averages $15MM per year.  It doesn’t really sound like the type of offer Burnett needs to pounce on.

Olney’s Latest: Manny, Peavy, Fuentes

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ESPN’s Buster Olney has a bunch of new info in today’s blog.

  • Olney continues to wonder if Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras will "wave the white flag" and accept the Dodgers’ offer of arbitration.  It could result in a huge one-year salary, and the current market for Manny is not robust.  However, Peter Abraham said in July that a condition of Manny’s trade was that he would decline arbitration.  Did anyone else write this?  Hopefully a journalist will ask Boras about it soon.
  • Olney says the Cubs would love to have Adam Dunn in their lineup, but he’s a stretch as a full-time right fielder.  The Cubs are willing to sacrifice some defense in right, but how much?
  • Could Dunn or Pat Burrell wind up with the Rays on an affordable one-year deal?
  • The Cubs and Padres "have a basic framework in place" for a Jake Peavy deal built around third baseman Josh Vitters.  Things may pick up after the Cubs’ ownership situation is resolved.
  • The Astros don’t have a ton of flexibility to move their high-salaried stars, but Jose Valverde is one they can deal without restriction.  He’s due for a nice raise from this year’s $4.7MM.
  • Olney suggests the Rockies were wise to trade Matt Holliday when they did, or they might’ve gotten significantly less.
  • Olney speaks of "a belief within the Rockies’ organization" that Brian Fuentes could come back on a multiyear deal.  The Rockies could trade Huston Street in that case.
  • The Braves may push A.J. Burnett for an answer before C.C. Sabathia signs, in case the Yanks miss out on C.C. and come after Burnett.
  • Apparently there is "serious tension" between Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland.
  • Olney sees Rafael Furcal signing with the A’s.

Braves Preparing Five-Year Offer For Burnett

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2:07pm: Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Braves will probably guarantee a fifth year to Burnett, at a salary of $15-16MM per.

9:56am: Will the Braves be the team to commit five years to A.J. Burnett?  According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, they’re preparing such an offer.  Feinsand wonders if Burnett will jump at this offer without waiting to see what C.C. Sabathia does. 

SI.com’s Jon Heyman seems to agree with Feinsand’s report.  He learned from Braves GM Frank Wren that the Braves are in on Burnett but not Jake Peavy, and heard talk that the Braves might consider a fifth year.  Wren described talks for Peavy as "pretty much" over.

Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the Braves are one of six teams in negotiations with Burnett.  Heyman believes the other teams to be the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, and Nationals.

Javier Vazquez Trade Reactions

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The word yesterday evening was that the Braves acquired starter Javier Vazquez and lefty reliever Boone Logan for Tyler Flowers, Brent Lillibridge, Jon Gilmore, and Santos Rodriguez (MLB.com’s Mark Bowman confirms the prospects).  Look for the trade to become official tommorrow.  Reactions to the deal:

  • South Side Sox expects a couple of accompanying moves: the trade of Jermaine Dye for a young starter and the signing of an affordable free agent outfielder.  They don’t see the White Sox benefitting from the Vazquez trade in 2009, but at least Ozzie cleared out his doghouse.
  • Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says the Sox will still have power if Dye is dealt.  Gonzales also provides info on the prospects received for Vazquez.
  • Yahoo’s Tim Brown says the White Sox are also willing to trade Paul Konerko and Jim Thome.
  • Sox Machine provides a more in-depth look at the prospects.
  • From the Braves’ point of view, J.C. Bradbury sees this as a solid win-now move that won’t affect the ’09 team.
  • Ken Davidoff says the Braves will now have less of a need for Jake Peavy or A.J. Burnett.  I think, though, that they’ll still aggressively try to acquire one of the two.  Most of the rumored packages for Peavy didn’t involve the prospects sent to Chicago, with the possible exception of Flowers.
  • Dave Cameron notes Vazquez’s career-long underachievement.  This always baffled me when trying to do fantasy baseball projections based on component stats.

Braves Rumors: Hampton, Lowe, Burnett

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Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the latest on the Braves in a new blog post.

  • The Braves never intended Mike Hampton to be one of the two front-rotation starters they acquire this winter, so his rejection of their offer doesn’t affect their plans much.
  • O’Brien notes that he’s heard no indications that the Braves are actively pursuing Derek Lowe.  A.J. Burnett seems to be their top target, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Jake Peavy talks revived at the Winter Meetings.
  • The Braves made trade inquiries on Roy Oswalt and Matt Cain and "haven’t received favorable replies in those pursuits."
  • Free agents Ben Sheets and Randy Johnson don’t seem to be on the radar due to concerns over their reliability.
  • The Braves continue to seek a power bat, with Ryan Ludwick and Jermaine Dye the two targets mentioned in recent weeks.
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