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Ben Sheets

Braves Offer Four Years, Close To $60MM To Lowe

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9:12am: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has a source saying Lowe is "leaning strongly toward signing with Atlanta."

7:34am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Braves’ offer to Derek Lowe is close to $60MM over four years.  The two sides are in serious discussions.  Heyman says Lowe prefers the National League.  The reported offer seems fair; it’s difficult to see the Mets matching it.

The Mets could end up with another Boras client, Oliver Perez.  They’re at three years and $30MM for him.  Jerry Crasnick and Matthew Cerrone both wondered today if the Mets will get in on Ben Sheets.

Perrotto’s Latest: Top 20 Remaining Free Agents

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John Perrotto’s latest Every Given Sunday column at Baseball Prospectus takes a look at the top 20 remaining free agents (sorted by WARP3 – Wins Above Replacement Player) and offers destination predictions and top suitors (or lack thereof in some cases) for each one. For those without a BP subscription, here’s a quick summary:

  • Manny Ramirez – Dodgers
  • Orlando Cabrera – Athletics
  • Derek Lowe – Braves/Mets/Cubs
  • Adam Dunn – Nationals
  • Bobby Abreu – Reds
  • Ben Sheets – Rangers
  • Orlando Hudson – Nationals
  • Andy Pettitte – Astros (at less than $10MM)
  • Jason Varitek – Red Sox (at less than $10MM)
  • Ty Wigginton – Astros
  • Ivan Rodriguez – Not much of a market, may have to take a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training if he’s not signed soon. Could he end up involuntarily retired, a la Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Mike Piazza?
  • Kevin Millar – Orioles
  • Mark Grudzielanek – Padres
  • Braden Looper – Brewers
  • Garret Anderson, Eric Hinske, Ray Durham, Jim Edmonds, Paul Byrd, Odalis Perez – All of them (with the exception of Byrd, who may retire) are drawing little to no interest and may be without a club on Opening Day.

Cafardo’s Latest: Manny, Dunn, Fielder

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has lots of rumors in his latest article:

  • Apparently the Giants were willing to offer Manny Ramirez a four year deal in the form of a one year deal with three option years. No more details are known, except that the Giants remain interested in Manny.
  • Brad Ausmus has had ongoing talks with the Padres and Dodgers, according to Cafardo’s sources. The Red Sox aren’t interested.
  • The Angels, Giants and Mets are possible suitors for Xavier Nady.
  • Cafardo’s heard other clubs talking about the Red Sox and Rockies restarting the Todd Helton for Mike Lowell trade talk, but hasn’t heard anything similar from the Red Sox.
  • At least one of Cafardo’s sources thinks Prince Fielder would make a lot of sense in Boston. Clay Buchholz could be a starting point if these talks were to start.
  • Ben Sheets is becoming a bargain, so the Braves or Rangers could jump in and sign him affordably.
  • Cafardo calls Atlanta an "emerging" destination for Adam Dunn.

Brewers Rumors: Sheets, Cameron, Swisher

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Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the latest from Brewers GM Doug Melvin on the team’s plans:

  • We already knew Melvin doesn’t anticipate signing a free agent starter.
  • Derek Lowe isn’t an option for the Brewers, who haven’t even talked to Scott Boras.
  • The Brewers will monitor the trade market and consider dealing for a starter.
  • The team could make an exception for Ben Sheets. Melvin said he’d have to consider signing the pitcher if he wanted to return to Milwaukee.
  • Before signing Trevor Hoffman, the Brewers were looking into Juan Cruz, a Type A free agent, but didn’t like the idea of giving up a first rounder, especially now that they’ll only get a second round pick for losing C.C. Sabathia.
  • The Yankees still have interest in Mike Cameron and floated the idea of a Nick Swisher for Cameron swap.
  • Melvin likes Cameron’s defense though, so he’s "not motivated to move him."
  • After they’re done with their six arbitration cases, the Brewers payroll will approach $80MM.

D’Backs Rotation Plans

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According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the D’Backs plan on going after many free agent starters in hopes that one of them will sign at an affordable rate. Arizona appears to have $4-5MM to spend on an arm.

The club has traditionally avoided incentive-based deals because they bring financial uncertainty, but Piecoro sees "indications the team might be willing to relax its policy." Piecoro names Ben Sheets, Pedro Martinez and Jason Jennings as possible fits for the club, but those pitchers are considered health risks, so incentive-based deals could work for them.

To Sheets’s credit, he did make 31 starts last year, so he’s likely to get much stronger offers than the other two.

Brewers Not In On Lowe, Mulder

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A couple of Brewers rumors were denied by GM Doug Melvin today.

First up, Ken Rosenthal’s suggestion that the Brewers "are interested in Derek Lowe, but only at a modest price."  Melvin said, "We’re not in on him."  Next, Nick Cafardo’s rumor that the Brewers are "big on" Mark Mulder.  Melvin: "I really haven’t contacted his guy."

MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy says the Brewers are not particularly interested in Oliver Perez or Jon Garland, but could re-sign Ben Sheets.

Rangers Rumors: Manny, Sheets, Gagne, Young

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman checks in with a post on the Rangers; most of the info came up during his recent MLB Network appearance.

  • Heyman says the Rangers "are considering a pursuit" of Manny Ramirez, noting that Jon Daniels isn’t currently pursuing him but didn’t rule it out.  Heyman still considers the Dodgers and Giants the top suitors.  El Lefty Malo doesn’t seem him landing with San Francisco.
  • The Rangers maintain interest in Ben Sheets and are also considering bringing Eric Gagne back.  T.R. Sullivan also mentions Tim Redding, Chad Cordero, Jason Isringhausen, and Eddie Guardado.
  • The Rangers have received inquiries on Vicente Padilla (Braves) and Michael Young.  Young has been loosely linked to the Twins, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals.  Sullivan names Hank Blalock and Kevin Millwood as other trade candidates.

Mets Backup Plans for Lowe

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Regis Courtemanche of Metsblog.com has a guest blog up at Newsday, discussing the Mets’ backup plans should they fail to sign Derek Lowe.

The Mets have expressed interest in Oliver Perez, Randy Wolf, and Jon Garland. Courtemanche’s first choice is Wolf.

Wolf posted similar numbers to Perez last year, and Perez is represented by Scott Boras, and will be asking for more years and money than Wolf. Additionally, Wolf is represented by the same agent – Arn Tellem – as Francisco Rodriguez, and is already on good terms with Omar Minaya.

Is not giving Lowe the money he wants really worth the drop-off in quality you might get with any of the backup plans though? Courtemanche doesn’t think so, especially because not going after Lowe leads to the possibility of him landing with the Braves or Phillies, which would harm the Mets even further.

Courtemanche also wonders why there has been no interest shown in Ben Sheets:

His susceptibility to injury is probably why, most notably the shoulder problems he incurred in 2006. Nevertheless, Sheets is much better than any of the above mentioned alternatives since he allows fewer homers, earned runs, and walks. Plus, his five complete games were third in the majors behind Roy Halladay, and his former teammate, C.C. Sabathia. Worth a second look if you ask me.

Olney’s Latest: Peavy, Braves, Lowe, Sheets

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More from Buster Olney’s notes from around the majors:

  • The Braves were so close to completing a trade a for Jake Peavy in November that they may want to revisit talks. Says Olney, "What they could do, if they are intent on contending in 2009, would be to sign Orlando Cabrera as a stop-gap at shortstop for 2009, and then deal [Yunel] Escobar in the package for Peavy." He also suggests the Braves give up on their refusal to give Peavy a no-trade provision for the entire length of his contract as that’s been a sticking point. Landing Peavy under any circumstances is a move their own players would support, even if he was given special treatment.
  • Derek Lowe may have missed out on the big money when the Yankees signed A.J. Burnett for 5 years, $82.5MM over him. Lowe’s highest offer is $36MM.
  • Olney says "there are more starting pitchers available than there are big-money offers available, so the Mets are bound to wind up with a good free agent pitcher."
  • Olney reports several teams are concerned about Ben Sheets’ medical reports; however, it’s his shoulder, not his elbow, that’s worrisome.
  • Pure speculation: "Jason Giambi will sign with Oakland, Pat Burrell will land with Tampa Bay."

Odds and Ends: Miles, Bako, Sheets

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A couple of links for you bar-hopping kids with Blackberries.  Happy New Year’s Eve.  Be safe out there…

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