Latest On C.C. Sabathia
The latest on the C.C. Sabathia Sweepstakes…
- Indians GM Mark Shapiro said yesterday "it’s pretty obvious" that his team is in sell mode. There’s no new information on the team’s reported attempt to sign Sabathia to an extension before actively shopping him.
- The Phillies have scouted both Sabathia and Erik Bedard in recent weeks. The Mariners attempted to observe Phils prospect Carlos Carrasco last night, but he was scratched with shoulder stiffness. With Brett Myers in the minors, GM Pat Gillick is trying not to look desperate.
- Yesterday ESPN’s Buster Olney heard that the Rays and Red Sox "essentially have no interest in completing a trade for Sabathia, because of other concerns."
Rosenthal’s Latest: Athletics, Phillies
From his Full Count video update, Ken Rosenthal brings us a couple bullet points:
- In contention, the A’s suddenly could become a buyer. Rosenthal cites the big names: Matt Holliday, Jason Bay or even C.C. Sabathia, and that the A’s certainly have the prospects to pull it off.
- The Phillies could enter the mix for Sabathia as well; however, they’d have to give up top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco is the top rated Phillies prospect for the second straight year by Baseball America.
By Nat Boyle
Stark’s Latest: Sabathia, Bedard, Phillies, Freel
It’s Thursday, and you know what that means. Time for another installment of Jayson Stark’s Rumblings and Grumblings at ESPN.com.
- Stark runs through a laundry list of candidates for the Mariners’ and Mets’ manager and GM vacancies.
- The Indians will not be giving a negotiation window for a team hoping to sign C.C. Sabathia while acquiring him.
- Erik Bedard is "now officially on the market." Bedard’s value has diminished since the Mariners acquired him, however.
- The Phillies have already inquired on Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Bronson Arroyo, and Jarrod Washburn. Stark sees Bedard joining that group, but believes it’d require Carlos Carrasco and Antonio Bastardo.
- Ryan Freel is drawing strong interest; Stark names the Phillies, Braves, Mets, and Marlins as suitors.
- Ken Griffey Jr. apparently still wants to finish his career in Seattle.
- Stark agrees with Ken Rosenthal – Mark Teixeira is not available. Nor is Ben Sheets, by the way.
- The Marlins are looking for center field, catcher, and bullpen help. Stark believes they’d be willing to give up a near-arb Josh Willingham type for players with less service time.
- The Yankees seem open to bringing back Jason Giambi next year, after they buy out his option. Giambi is currently third in the AL in OPS at .979.
Phillies Rumors: Iguchi, Carrasco
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 10:52am: It’s "more unlikely than likely" that the Phils re-sign Iguchi.
FROM 12-5-07 at 8:53am:
Scott Lauber has a few Phillies notes for us this morning.
- Since the Phillies released him at the end of the season, a waiver will have to be obtained for Tadahito Iguchi to be allowed to re-sign with the Phillies and start the season normally. It can be done.
- Lauber says Pat Gillick indicated for the first time that he’d be willing to trade prospects for pitching. Lauber names Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery, Josh Outman, and Adrian Cardenas as possibilities to go.