A.J. Burnett Rumors: Tuesday
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.
Red Sox Interested In Pettitte, Pavano, Penny
5:26pm: WEEI’s Alex Speier says that while the Red Sox touched base with Pettitte’s agent, there’s almost no chance they sign him. They also have not had meaningful dialogue for Ben Sheets.
8:30am: Add Carl Pavano and Brad Penny to the starting pitchers under consideration for Boston, according to Nick Cafardo. He says the Marlins are the favorite for Pavano, and the Yankees are still in it. We learned yesterday that the Blue Jays have interest.
12:36am: According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox expressed interest in free agent lefty Andy Pettitte. Could Pettitte cross enemy lines in 2009? For now Massarotti says the Red Sox have simply kicked the tires, as they seem to do with most interesting free agents.
Blue Jays To Meet With Pavano’s Agent
11:06pm: O’Connell says the Jays have significant interest in Pavano. Bastian also reports that J.P. Ricciardi did not deny that he’d listen on Alex Rios.
7:22pm: MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian reports that the Blue Jays plan to meet with Carl Pavano‘s agent Tom O’Connell this week. O’Connell plans to get together with about ten clubs at the Meetings in regard to Pavano. The Marlins and Rockies have been connected to him in the past.
A.J. Burnett Rumors: Monday
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.
Winter Meetings Previews
We’ve added a few new Winter Meetings preview to the collection…
- Yahoo’s Tim Brown runs through plans for all of the American and National League teams.
- Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post says the Rockies are all about left-handed relief help. They’ve got several trade chips to work with.
- Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the Phillies covered. You know the plan: starting pitcher, outfielder.
- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reminds us of the Cardinals’ wish list: starter, closer, lefthanded reliever. Arthur Rhodes would fit, but he’s leaning toward the Reds. Strauss wonders if John Mozeliak can match up with the Blue Jays to find relief help.
- The Twins still want to add a shortstop or third baseman according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, though several options have already been eliminated. Neal summarizes the players on the radar. The Twins are also looking for bullpen help.
- Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune discusses the Padres. Kevin Towers will keep the Jake Peavy talks going with the Cubs while also searching for a shortstop and veteran catcher.
- Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reminds us that Peavy and a left-handed hitting outfielder are on the Cubs’ wish list. The bat comes first, says Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star says Dayton Moore has already accomplished his main goals, and now looks to replenish his right-handed relief. The Royals would also like to add a proven middle infielder and seem to have a glut of corner/DH types.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic and Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune analyze the Diamondbacks. Josh Byrnes seeks a second baseman, left-handed reliever, and pitching in general. Miguel Montero is the top trade chip. They have about $10MM to spend, less if Brandon Lyon accepts arbitration.
- Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News says the Rangers could trade Gerald Laird, Hank Blalock, Kevin Millwood, or Vicente Padilla.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Doug Melvin about C.C. Sabathia, who still hasn’t reacted to their offer. If Sabathia and Ben Sheets leave, Melvin could add two starters. Melvin also said it’d be too risky to trade J.J. Hardy and start Alcides Escobar at short. Rickie Weeks has drawn interest, but Melvin would require "a pretty good hitter" in return. Mike Cameron is a more likely trade chip. As for the team’s closer search, Melvin doesn’t expect to be in on the big names.
- Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post says the Marlins probably won’t steal headlines at these Winter Meetings as they did in ’07. Still, Jorge Cantu, Matt Treanor, and Jeremy Hermida may be dealt. The Fish have been "actively shopping" Treanor and Hermida. The Marlins have mild interest in free agents Ivan Rodriguez and Carl Pavano.
- Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says Ken Williams has asked the Reds about Homer Bailey. Could the Reds match up for Jermaine Dye? The White Sox hope to add more MLB-ready starting pitching and maybe a backup catcher.
- The Orioles need starting pitching, with a slew of names under consideration according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun: A.J. Burnett, Paul Byrd, Jon Garland, Mark Hendrickson, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Kenshin Kawakami, Koji Uehara, Bartolo Colon, and Matt Clement. The O’s also hope to extend Brian Roberts, trade Ramon Hernandez, and find a shortstop. They have interest in Adam Everett.
- Roch Kubatko of MASN Online explains what it’s like for a reporter at the Meetings.
Marlins, Pavano Have Mutual Interest
According to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post, Carl Pavano is open to returning to the Marlins. Capozzi says the Marlins are one of at least five teams interested in the 32 year-old righthander (the Rockies are believed to be another).
Pavano hopes to turn his career around with a healthy 2009. He’s worth a look if he’ll sign for $2-3MM plus incentives.
Rockies Talking Trade With Reds
8:50pm: Reds GM Walt Jocketty says nothing is close with the Rockies; he’s talked to a lot of clubs. His snide remark: "They all didn’t allow it to get out."
Jocketty talked to the Rockies about Matt Holliday, but it was a short discussion.
7:37pm: Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News says the Reds have definite interest in Atkins, but not Torrealba or Taveras. The Reds like the idea of adding Atkins’ righthanded bat. They don’t like Torrealba’s price and Taveras’ inability to get on base. Ringolsby says the Phillies, Angels, and Twins are also after Atkins.
3:28pm: Troy Renck confirms Rosenthal’s report, and also speaks of speculation that the Red Sox will make a run at Chris Iannetta. A long shot to be sure.
Other Rockies notes: Renck says the Rox told people close to Manny Corpas that he’s still the closer, meaning Street might be on the outs. Additionally, the Rockies have expressed interest in Carl Pavano.
1:17pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Rockies aren’t done dealing – they’re talking trade with the Reds and other clubs. The Reds like Willy Taveras, Yorvit Torrealba, and Garrett Atkins, with a "definite interest" in Taveras.
Meanwhile the Indians like newly acquired Huston Street and the Nationals are one club eyeing Carlos Gonzalez. Rosenthal says the Rockies figure to hang on to Greg Smith.
It seems we can’t yet judge the Holliday trade for the Rockies. It did seem odd that they would acquire a closer and a young center fielder, two positions at which they already had solid options.
Marlins Rumors: Max Ramirez, Pavano, Rhodes
Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald has the latest on the Marlins.
- The Marlins have had informal talks with the Rangers regarding catcher Max Ramirez. The Fish are willing to trade lefty Scott Olsen, though the Rangers are wary of his makeup and home run tendencies. The Marlins are OK with their in-house options if they can’t work out a trade. The Marlins aren’t interested in Gerald Laird.
- The Marlins may consider bringing Carl Pavano back to Florida, the site of his last success.
- Luis Gonzalez, Mark Hendrickson, Paul Lo Duca, and Arthur Rhodes are the Marlins’ free agents. Of the four, Rhodes stands a chance of being re-signed. However, the Marlins have not spoken to Rhodes’ agent in weeks.
- Juan C. Rodriguez reports that despite reports, the Marlins are not in on Junichi Tazawa.
Davidoff’s Latest: Sabathia, El Duque, Heilman
A few notes from Newsday’s Ken Davidoff, who has blog posts here and here.
- C.C. Sabathia‘s agents met with the Yankees yesterday, among other teams. As you know, teams can only talk contract with their own free agents currently. Sabathia is certainly open to playing for the Yankees.
- Orlando Hernandez not only wants to pitch in 2009; he wants to close. He’s thinking big after missing all of 2008.
- Davidoff gives a 10% chance of the Yankees re-signing Jason Giambi, and a 1% chance of re-signing Carl Pavano.
- The Rays like Aaron Heilman, though not as much as they once did.
Yanks Decline Options On Giambi, Pavano
According to Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Yankees declined their options on Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano as expected.
With Giambi, the Yanks chose his $5MM buyout over his $22MM option. For Pavano, they chose a $1.95MM buyout over a $13MM option. Either player could re-sign for less, though it’s not likely.