A.J. Burnett Opts Out
4:28pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, Burnett has officially opted out of the remaining two years and $24MM on his deal. The Blue Jays remain in the mix. If he leaves, they’ll at least end up with two draft picks.
10:22am: What’s the deal with A.J. Burnett? We were supposed to have an opt-out decision yesterday before the GM meetings began. Ken Davidoff talked to Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker. Apparently Braunecker will meet with the Jays today to see if they’ll make a "knock your socks off" offer to keep Burnett off the market. Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star says the Jays will have to look at other free agent starters if Burnett leaves.
Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald does not see the Red Sox in on Burnett or C.C. Sabathia, based on Theo Epstein’s comments. The Yankees are expected to be major players.
Odds and Ends: El Duque, Tazawa, Ausmus
Links for Tuesday. Be sure to check back on Odds and Ends posts, as I update them throughout the day with minor links.
- The Jays may no longer have A.J. Burnett under contract, but they continued their claiming frenzy by adding pitcher Les Walrond.
- The A’s re-hired Jason Giambi‘s strength coach. Does it mean anything?
- The Cardinals remain intrigued by the idea of bringing Edgar Renteria back.
- The Dodgers bought out catcher Gary Bennett for $50K; he’s a free agent now.
- Mike Cameron thinks C.C. Sabathia has a good chance of re-signing with the Brewers. He says Sabathia could be a pioneer by taking less money to stay.
- Yahoo’s Tim Brown says Orlando Hernandez is working out and intends to play next year. He did not pitch in the Majors at all this year due to foot injuries.
- Dylan Hernandez chatted with Scott Boras last week.
- The New York Daily News discusses Baseball Prospectus’ Nate Silver, whose political website is immensely popular.
- Patrick Newman points out that Junichi Tazawa will not be the first Japanese amateur to sign with an MLB team.
- Buster Olney says Brad Ausmus wants to play in 2009 if it’s close to his San Diego home. The Dodgers could be one possibility.
Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Burnett, Matsui
Here’s a look at the latest column from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.
- C.C. Sabathia is the Yankees’ top offseason target, and they’ll make him an offer beyond Johan Santana‘s $137.5MM. Heyman also sees the Yanks pursuing A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Oliver Perez (with Ben Sheets a less likely target). Heyman’s sources believe the Yanks could even attempt to sign three free agent starters.
- The Yankees aren’t counting on Mike Mussina, and may wait on him before considering Andy Pettitte.
- Contradictory note from Heyman: the White Sox have no plans to try to keep Joe Crede or Juan Uribe, but might consider bringing Uribe back as a utility man.
- Heyman dismisses vague rumors about Hideki Matsui trade talks.
Latest Dodgers Info
Alex Speier of WEEI has the latest Dodgers chatter, as GM Ned Colletti held court this evening. Ned wasn’t in a very revealing mood.
- Colletti reiterated that no offer has been made to Manny Ramirez. He hasn’t met with Scott Boras yet. Since the Dodgers have so many needs, Colletti would like to resolve the Manny situation quickly. In Jerry Crasnick’s survey of 15 executives, 10 chose the Dodgers as Manny’s destination. It’s unlikely that the Dodgers are able to sign Ramirez and C.C. Sabathia.
- Those other needs include shortstop, third base, the bullpen, and the rotation.
- Colletti was not sure whether Jeff Kent and/or Nomar Garciaparra will retire.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Peavy, Burnett, Sabathia
Let’s take a look at the latest column from Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports.
- Don’t look for a Jake Peavy trade this week at the GM meetings, as the Padres haven’t found a match with Peavy’s five preferred teams.
- A.J. Burnett‘s agent should announce his client’s decision to opt out today. Rosenthal notes Burnett’s preference to sign near his Maryland home, with the Yankees and Red Sox as the most realistic possibilities.
- Rosenthal believes the Brewers offered C.C. Sabathia $100MM over five years (rather than four). The Brewers can say they tried, but no one expects Sabathia to settle so far below his market value. Also, the Brewers will decide today on Mike Cameron‘s $10MM option.
- The Phillies’ areas of uncertainty: GM, left field, fifth starter.
Brewers Prepare Offers For Sabathia, Sheets
According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, the Brewers will submit a formal contract offer to C.C. Sabathia today. Ken Rosenthal heard Wednesday that the offer might be in the four-year, $100MM range. Brewers GM Doug Melvin doesn’t expect to hear back from Sabathia’s agent (Greg Genske) soon, but notes that Sabathia should only have a handful of serious suitors.
Melvin will also submit an offer soon for Ben Sheets. He’ll further discuss the possibility with Casey Close at next week’s GM meetings. Sheets and Sabathia are Type A free agents, so the Brewers could net four draft picks if they leave. In that case I’d expect them to pursue another starter.
Lefty reliever Brian Shouse prefers Milwaukee, but the 40 year-old hopes for a two-year deal.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Ordonez, Yankees, Red Sox
A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…
- MetsBlog says Magglio Ordonez may not be the best option but could be a good backup plan should other scenarios not play out (ie. Manny Ramirez).
- Talking Chop thinks Ordonez is a good fit for the Braves noting that the team has significant money to spend this offseason.
- River Ave. Blues is not excited about the possibility of Ordonez in the Yankees’ outfield, noting that it makes more sense to re-sign Bobby Abreu for less money.
- Was Watching wonders if the Yankees would have to sign C.C. Sabathia in order to trade for Matt Holliday. They feel it would be strange for the Yankees to go after Holliday one year after bowing out of the Johan Santana sweepstakes.
- Over The Monster takes a look at whether the Red Sox should re-sign Jason Varitek and what other options are available.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Dodgers Rumors: Manny, Furcal, Peavy
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti talked to the media yesterday; here’s the latest.
- Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News believes Colletti will pursue a competent backup catcher to allow more rest for Russell Martin. A decision is due on Gary Bennett‘s $900K option within seven days.
- So far this offseason, Colletti and Scott Boras have exchanged two voicemails. They’ll meet in person to discuss Manny Ramirez and other Boras clients (Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux, Andruw Jones, maybe Joe Crede) at next week’s GM meetings. Colletti will not put the other team needs on hold to deal with Manny.
- Colletti has had preliminary talks with the agents for Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake, and Nomar Garciaparra, while Jeff Kent is expected to retire.
- Colletti intends to acquire a top of the line starting pitcher, but Jake Peavy is unlikely (the Dodgers would have to pay extra due to the same-division factor). Free agents Lowe and C.C. Sabathia may be considered. The Dodgers have seven days to decide on Brad Penny‘s $9.25MM option versus the $2MM buyout.
- The Dodgers would love to have Takashi Saito back, but the situation with his elbow injury is unclear.
- Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones have expressed a desire to be traded through the media, but not formally to the Dodgers.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Sabathia, Teixeira, Peavy
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports posted a new column yesterday; let’s take a look.
- Rosenthal says the "expectation in some baseball circles" is that the Brewers will offer a four-year, $100MM contract to C.C. Sabathia. However, between the Yankees, Angels, and Dodgers he could probably do significantly better.
- Mark Teixeira should draw interest from the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels. Rosenthal adds that Mike Lowell does not have a no-trade clause (I believe I wrote earlier that he did).
- The Padres and Braves are at an impasse in the Jake Peavy talks, with the Padres seeking five players. The Braves don’t want to surrender Tommy Hanson, as Tom Krasovic reported Saturday.
- Scott Boras is reportedly pitching Jason Varitek as the Tigers’ next catcher.
- Rosenthal suggests that Manny Ramirez‘s defense may keep NL teams away.
Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Holliday, Griffey
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up; let’s take a look.
- "The prevailing opinion around baseball" is that C.C. Sabathia will sign with the Yankees, and C.C.’s friend Jimmy Rollins agrees.
- Matt Holliday "definitely intrigues" the Yankees. But they’d have to give up a lot to get him for one year, and they seem full at the outfield corners.
- Heyman, perhaps sensing a divide that does not exist, says Pat Gillick has relied on scouts rather than stats to make his decisions. Heyman also speaks of "a new hesitancy on the part of some to go for another young Ivy League stat man" at the general manager position.
- Heyman echoes the commonly held sentiment that the White Sox will not re-sign Ken Griffey Jr.
- The Mets are prioritizing catcher, bullpen, rotation, and outfield over second base. They’ve talked about Giants backstop Bengie Molina, owed $6MM in the last year of his deal.
- Heyman believes Boston’s chances of trading Mike Lowell are "practically nil" due to his hip surgery. His sources won’t rule out a run at Mark Teixeira though. In other Boston buzz, Heyman sees Coco Crisp on the trading block and a two-year offer for Jason Varitek.