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Gammons On Pitching: Wolf, Garland, Looper

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In a blog post that leads off with a discussion of the effect of the WBC on pitching, Peter Gammons offers up a quick update on a few back-end starting pitchers.

According to Gammons, Randy Wolf, Jon Garland, and Braden Looper are all receiving similar offers at this point: roughly $5 million per year, plus options and incentives.

Gammons also mentions that Wolf in particular was not close to a deal with any particular team as of Friday, perhaps adding his two cents to the recently debunked rumor that the pitcher was close to signing with the Dodgers.

Dodgers Intensify Talks With Wolf, Garland, Looper

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3:30pm: A bunch of reporters played telephone with Rosenthal’s "inside track" report on Wolf, saying the Dodgers were close to a deal.  You can see that Stark rejected that notion below, and Tony Jackson agrees that they are not close.

12:50pm: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Dodgers have intensified their talks with free agent starters Randy Wolf, Jon Garland, and Braden Looper.  Stark says that rather than favoring Wolf, the Dodgers have equal interest in all three and hope to sign one within a few days.  He adds that the Dodgers haven’t spoken to Wolf’s agent Arn Tellem in several days.

Stark says the Dodgers continue to pursue Dennys Reyes, Luis Ayala, and Russ Springer, and plan to take care of their pitching staff before addressing Manny Ramirez.

Dodgers Are Lead Suitors For Wolf

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According to Ken Rosenthal, major league sources say the Dodgers have the "inside track" on signing Randy Wolf. Such a deal would likely be for one or two years.

The Dodgers are talking with Jon Garland and Braden Looper as well as Wolf.

The Mets, who consider Wolf an alternative to Oliver Perez, are still talking with Ben Sheets and Pedro Martinez as well as Garland and Perez.

Phillies Unlikely To Add A Starter

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Chuck Hixson of PhillyBaseballNews.com recently asked Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. about free agent starters Braden Looper, Jon Garland, and Randy Wolf.  Amaro responded:

"I’d like to think that we’re at the point on our payroll, where those guys wouldn’t fit. We’re really kind of looking more for bullpen help.  We are looking at some guys from outside the organization to add some depth and experience for us in the bullpen."

Diamondbacks, Rangers Interested In Jennings

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According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Diamondbacks have interest in free agent right-hander Jason Jennings.

The D-Backs have an offer out to Braden Looper, but if that falls through Jennings could be next on the list.  Jennings last pitched effectively in 2006, when he finished 9-13 with a 3.78 ERA.  He lasted just 27 1/3 innings last season.  Renck claims the Rangers have also expressed serious interest.

Wolf Rejects D’Backs Offer

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According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, free agent lefty Randy Wolf rejected an offer from the Diamondbacks.  Jon Garland did the same last week; Garland’s offer apparently had two option years.  Piecoro says the D’Backs have about $4-5MM left to spend this winter.  Braden Looper is said to be next on the list.

Piecoro adds that the D’Backs have two arbitration-eligible players, Chad Qualls and Conor Jackson.  They’re closer to an agreement with Qualls than Jackson.

Rosenthal On Andruw, Nady, Lyon, Madson

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

  • The Braves are pulling back for the moment in their search for an outfield bat.  They’ll hope for a free agent bargain or the right trade.  Rosenthal says they’re torn about Andruw Jones.  The Braves seek a right-handed hitter but aren’t dead set on it.  They were unwilling to meet the Yankees’ demands for Xavier Nady.
  • Brandon Lyon’s agent is telling teams he has a two-year, $9MM offer in hand (Kyle Farnsworth money).  The Tigers or Twins are possibilities there, while the Cardinals may have offered one year.  Jon Paul Morosi confirms Detroit’s interest, but says they’ve yet to make an offer.  Morosi believes the Tigers have about $5MM left in their budget.
  • Ryan Madson turned down a three-year, $12MM extension from the Phillies.  The Scott Boras client is eligible for free agency after the season.
  • Execs have all kinds of concerns with Oliver Perez: his flyball tendencies, frequent walks, and inability to reach 200 innings.
  • The Yankees have little interest in Ben Sheets and Freddy Garcia.  The Rangers, Mets, and White Sox remain in the mix for Garcia.
  • The Brewers and other teams are in on Braden Looper, while the Orioles and Dodgers have backed off.
  • Edgardo Alfonzo is playing well in the Venezuelan Winter League and could make a comeback.

Russell Martin Hopes To Discuss Extension

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According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, Dodgers catcher Russell Martin hopes to discuss a long-term extension with the team this winter.  Martin changed agents this offseason. He’s arbitration-eligible for the first time, so his salary will jump up from $500K to several million.  Said Martin:

"I just want to get treated fairly.  I’m not trying to steal the bank."

Martin had a private lunch with the McCourts yesterday at the Dodgers’ new spring home, but they did not discuss a contract.  Brian McCann will be paid $15.5MM for his three arb years, $8.5MM for his first free agent year, and has a $12MM club option for another.  That deal was signed almost two years ago, however.  Also, Martin is a Super Two player and under team control through 2012.

In other Dodgers’ notes, Shaikin adds that they’ve backed off on Juan Cruz.  Jon Garland, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Andy Pettitte, Luis Ayala, and Dennys Reyes remain on the radar to varying degrees.

Cards Could Pursue Free Agent Pitchers

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According to MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, the Cardinals would love to upgrade their rotation and could do so via free agency. Ideally they would trade an outfielder for pitching, but the Cards are interested in pitchers with limited health risks willing to sign a short-term contract.

Leach confirmed with Jon Garland’s agent that the Cardinals "have called," but nothing has happened beyond that. Leach breaks down the chances that Andy Pettitte, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Odalis Perez, Ben Sheets or even Oliver Perez ends up in St. Louis.

The Cardinals appear unlikely to add a reliver or a second baseman.

Jon Garland Rejects Offer From D’Backs

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According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, starter Jon Garland rejected a contract offer from the Diamondbacks.  The offer is unknown, but Piecoro believes the D’Backs have about $4MM left to spend this winter.

Pedro Martinez, Ben Sheets, and Jason Jennings are also on the radar.  Piecoro figures Braden Looper would make sense based on his similarity to Garland.

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