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Cards Meet With Boras, No Offer For Holliday

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Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and Scott Boras met for 90 minutes on Sunday night, but the meeting "failed to produce" a formal contract offer for Matt Holliday.

Mozeliak stresses that the club's recent agreement with Brad Penny should not be seen as a sign that the Cardinals are giving up their pursuit of Holliday. However, the general manager did concede to the fact that there is a "gulf" between the Cardinals and Boras.

For now, the Cardinals will look at anywhere from three to five alternatives to Holliday as they wait, including retaining Mark DeRosa. The Cards don't plan to wait around forever though. Says Mozeliak:

"I think we will be patient with Holliday to start… But we're not going to take this deep into the winter. In fairness, they need to get clarity where other clubs see this going."

Mozeliak described the talks as preliminary, but as Strauss points out, chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. attended, which could signal that finances were discussed. For the time being, the Cardinals can wait for the market for Holliday to develop more. However, given that Mozeliak has said one alternative to Holliday will be to focus more on pitching, it seems like they can't wait around too long, or all of their best options will be off the table.

Giants Notes: Rodriguez, Uggla, Bumgarner

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Let's take a look at some Giants tidbits courtesy of Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News…

  • We heard earlier today that the Giants are one of a handful of teams interested in Ivan Rodriguez.  It has also been reported that the club is interested in Yorvit Torrealba and Brad Ausmus as they look to ease Buster Posey into the role of catcher.  However, Baggarly says Miguel Olivo, Rod Barajas, and Jason Kendall are more likely targets.
  • Although Florida's Dan Uggla is highly coveted by GM Brian Sabean, he is unwilling to sacrifice valuable commodities such as left-hander Madison Bumgarner to get him.
  • Just as the club wants to wait before giving Posey the reins as starting catcher, they would like to have Bumgarner start the year in Triple-A.  In order to do this, they need to find a fifth starter.  If they cannot retain Brad Penny, they'll have to look out-of-house.

Giants’ Talk: Catchers, Rotation, Howry

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Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News and John Shea of The SF Chronicle have some notes on the Giants' for us…

  • GM Brian Sabean said "nobody thinks [Buster Posey] is ready to catch 100-plus games in the big leagues," however they haven't made any "money offers" to any free agent catchers. He acknowledged that a multi-year deal for a backstop "wouldn't be wise."
  • As for why they didn't offer Type-A free agent Bengie Molina arbitration, Sabean said the team didn't "need another arbitration case," and that they "have multiple needs and we want to spread the money throughout the roster."
  • Sabean indicated that the team isn't comfortable paying Brad Penny or Juan Uribe what they want, and neither is likely to return. Both players declined one year deals last week.
  • Shea says that if Penny leaves, the team probably won't move Jonathan Sanchez in a trade, while Baggarly says there is "less resistance to the idea of Madison Bumgarner beginning the season in the rotation."
  • The team has informed reliever Bob Howry that they would like to bring him back, but they have not yet talked about money.
  • The Giants will not forfeit a draft pick to sign a player, which rules out the Type-A's. They hold the 24th overall pick in next year's draft. However, Sabean said that Type-A's who weren't offered arbitration were "more sensible targets."

Giants Rumors: Penny, Uribe, Molina

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Joan Ryan of MLB.com spoke to Giants' GM Brian Sabean about a variety of hot stove topics, so let's round 'em up…

  • Sabean said the market "right now is as slow or slower than last year in developing."'
  • The Giants made a one year offer to Brad Penny, and offered one year plus an option to Juan Uribe last week. Both were declined.
  • Sabean added that catcher Bengie Molina "probably has been offered" a multi-year deal by another team, which would essentially guarantee he isn't coming back to San Francisco.
  • Even though there might be some interesting "secondary free agents,'' as Sabean called them, he says they may not make as much sense as giving their own young players a chance.
  • "In a perfect world, you'd love to have (Madison) Bumgarner and (Buster) Posey burst on the scene,'' Sabean said. "But you don't want to rush them. So you keep at it, at the grindstone, and be ready when the best opportunities pop.''
  • Sabean mentions that they're "willing to go at the pace of the marketplace and show more patience," adding that people shouldn't read anything into it if nothing happens during the Winter Meetings next week.

Red Sox Interested In Rich Harden

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Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports are reporting that Boston is "serious about pursuing" free agent starter Rich Harden.  The Canadian right-hander had been rumored to be a target of the Red Sox given — as Rosenthal and Morosi note — the club's recent strategy of signing proven pitchers with health issues to short-term deals in an attempt to find a bargain.  Unlike Boston's signings last season (John Smoltz and Brad Penny), Harden has proven that he can pitch well in the American League, which makes him particularly attractive to the BoSox.

Harden is a Type B free agent who was not offered arbitration by his previous team, the Cubs, earlier today.  Rosenthal and Morosi were told by a source that Boston has yet to formally offer Harden a contract.

Discussion: Sabean And The Giants

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Some of the moves we can expect from San Francisco came into focus with Chris Haft's terrific interview with Giants' GM Brian Sabean for MLB.com. Among the tidbits:

  • The Giants are unwilling to offer Bengie Molina more than a one-year contract, though they will offer him arbitration.
  • Brad Penny's current contract demands are "out of reach at this point."
  • Juan Uribe, who hopes to earn something similar to his $4.75MM deal from 2008, won't get close to that from the Giants.
  • Still, this doesn't mean the Giants won't be spending money this winter. Haft writes, "Sabean said that he envisions the Giants filling their personnel needs through free agency rather than trades."

The full piece, including Sabean's take on why he dislikes trades, is worth checking out. And now that you know what Sabean won't do, what do you think he should do?

Cafardo On Cabrera, Penny, Upton

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In his latest column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe examines the differing opinions on this year's free agent market and passes on some info from around the majors. The highlights:

  • One National League GM on the top players in this year's free agent class: "[Matt Holliday] won’t get what Mark Teixeira got. No chance. [John] Lackey may get A.J. Burnett money, but I’m not even sure anyone would go that high."
  • A separate source tells Cafardo that many teams will wait out the market this winter, potentially resulting in a few bargains for thrifty teams later in the offseason.
  • Cafardo wonders if the Detroit Tigers would entertain trade offers for Miguel Cabrera, who will make $20MM next season. If so, Cafardo thinks the Red Sox would get involved.
  • The Seattle Mariners believe they're very close to contending, which will mean hanging on to Felix Hernandez and pursuing players like Lackey and Jason Bay this offseason.
  • The San Francisco Giants are interested in bringing back Brad Penny.
  • Cafardo says it "isn't far-fetched" that the Rays could deal B.J. Upton. He suggests Upton's availability will depend on Carl Crawford's future with the team, or lack thereof.

D’Backs Search For Pitching

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Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic brings home a bunch of Diamondbacks hot stove buzz from the GM Meetings…

  • The Diamondbacks would have to give up their second-round pick if they sign a Type A free agent who turned down arbitration.  GM Josh Byrnes told Piecoro he'd consider it if the player came at a discount.  You can check our free agent list to see all the types.
  • Piecoro wouldn't be surprised to see Livan Hernandez return as the D'Backs' fifth starter.  He wouldn't be the main rotation pickup; the bigger targets are probably Randy Wolf, Jason Marquis, and Brad Penny.
  • Piecoro can't find a team that would be able to send the D'Backs a pitcher for catcher Chris Snyder.  The Royals, Mets, Reds, Brewers, and Astros don't fit, in Piecoro's opinion, while the Blue Jays already nixed a deal.  The Rays, Nationals, Mariners, and Giants may also be looking for a catcher, but they might not match up either.
  • The D'Backs would like to bring back arbitration-eligible infielder Augie Ojeda.

Olney On Ausmus, Carroll, Prior, Penny

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A few notes from ESPN's Buster Olney…

  • Via Twitter, Olney's heard from other teams that the Reds would love to move closer Francisco Cordero.  Of course, closers are plentiful and Cordero is set to earn $25MM over the next two years.  I mentioned in our Reds Offseason Outlook that the team would have to eat half of that to make him mildly appealing.  Similarly, the Indians would definitely listen on Kerry Wood, who is set to earn $20MM over the next two years.
  • Olney believes other teams could join the Reds and Tigers in cost-cutting mode.  He says the teams with payroll space "will be in position to make some excellent deals."
  • Olney finds it unlikely that Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, or John Lackey will receive a $100MM contract.
  • Catcher Brad Ausmus on 2010: "I could end up playing if somebody wants me."
  • The A's are interested in free agent infielder Jamey Carroll. Ed Price of AOL FanHouse tweets that the Dodgers and at least seven other teams are also interested in Carroll.
  • Mark Prior is throwing on flat ground and plans to audition for scouts.  Prior, 29, most recently had shoulder surgery in June.
  • The Giants are attempting to re-sign Brad Penny, who lost 12 pounds since the end of the season.
  • Olney wonders if the Royals will dump more players before the December 12th non-tender deadline.  I think Mike Jacobs, John Buck, and John Bale fit the bill.
  • Olney's heard that the Phillies "will be aggressive in signing a set-up man/closer safety net," with Brad Lidge having flexor tendon surgery.

Sherman On Lackey, Phillies, Giants

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The latest from Joel Sherman of the New York Post…

  • The Angels' willingness to let John Lackey leave without a serious offer raises a red flag for at least a few execs with other clubs.  With Lackey being the best available free agent starter, it's easy to forget that his 2009 season did not begin until May 16th due to an elbow strain.  In 2008, he began on May 14th because of a triceps strain.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports also has a Lackey article, and it takes a different tone.  Rosenthal says the Angels would still like to re-sign Lackey, adding that "Plan B could be a renewed effort to trade for Roy Halladay."
  • Heyman assesses the Phillies and attempts to douse rumors about them eyeing Chone Figgins and Halladay.  He does see the needs as third base, the rotation, and the back of the bullpen.  Our own Mike Axisa wondered if my Jose Valverde prediction made sense, because Valverde might prefer to sign somewhere he'll surely close.  Maybe a guy like Brandon Lyon fits better.  David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News says GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has reached out to at least six free agents, and Murphy provides guesses.  Two clubs made trade offers as well.
  • A $90MM payroll might keep the Giants out of the Matt Holliday–Jason Bay bidding.  Sherman suggests the Giants are not locked into a first base acquisition in the infield – Pablo Sandoval can play both corners, and Freddy Sanchez can even be considered at third base if the Giants pursue another second baseman.  Sherman says the Giants are currently looking to re-sign Brad Penny and Bengie Molina.  Since he made only six starts for the Giants, you have to look to 2007 as the last time Penny truly had success.   Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News believes the Giants will at least offer arbitration to Molina, which I imagine will hurt his market.
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