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C.C. Sabathia

Free Agent Situation For Peavy?

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Interesting article from Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune last night.  Krasovic talked to Jake Peavy’s agent, Barry Axelrod.  Given Peavy’s full no-trade clause and below-market contract, Axelrod thinks it’s fair to compare this to a free agent situation.  If trade talks stretch into the offseason, C.C. Sabathia’s new deal could come into play.

First things first, Peavy will need to be granted full no-trade powers upon any trade.  But if he considers a trade outside of his five preferred teams, Sabathia’s salary will be relevant.  Axelrod is implying that Peavy could accept a trade outside of his comfort zone, for the right price:

"If it is someplace where Jake is being asked to make massive change and someplace he may not really want to go, it may take more enticement to get him to agree."

Maybe this brings teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets into play.  But if Peavy requires $20MM+ per year and a package of top prospects, he loses much of his appeal.

I imagine Axelrod’s goal is still to get Peavy to one of his five teams.  But each scenario is flawed in some way, and Peavy might have to stay put unless he expands his options or three-team deals emerge.  Axelrod’s comments may also serve to motivate a team like the Braves to try to get something done before open season on free agents begins.

C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Monday

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David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a C.C. Sabathia rumor:

The figure I’m hearing that Milwaukee might offer C.C. $100 million for four years. They’re hoping that by going with fewer years and more per year, they can keep him. He’s indicated to friends a serious interest in staying there, he liked it so much.  The Brewers might help their chances of signing him if they pick up the option on Mike Cameron, who’s a good friend of CC’s.

With Cameron, the Brewers figure to have over $70MM committed (not including Chris Capuano).  It’s hard to see the Brewers backloading an already huge $25MM salary to Sabathia, so they’d probably have to take payroll to the mid $90MM range to fit him in.  Keeping Cameron and Sabathia would seem to limit roster construction – it could necessitate a Prince Fielder or J.J. Hardy trade, or leave little money for third base or the bullpen.

Cafardo’s Latest: Hot Stove, Twins, Gordon, Pedro

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Nick Cafardo from the Boston Globe has a nice article up catching up on some Hot Stove news, with a few other odds and ends tied in. Let’s hit the highlights here:

  • Cafardo seems to think the Yankees could entice C.C. Sabathia to pitch on the East Coast, and that the Angels would be crazy not to re-sign Mark Teixeira at whatever the cost. He also points out Joe Maddon’s connection to Francisco Rodriguez from his days as a coach with the Angels, and covers other top names such as Jake Peavy, A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, Manny Ramirez, Pat Burrell, Matt Holliday, and Garrett Atkins.
  • The Minnesota Twins were ranked as the #1 team in young talent by the 2009 Bill James Handbook. Minnesota had ten players in the top 150: Joe Mauer, Delmon Young, Justin Morneau, Kevin Slowey, Scott Baker, Carlos Gomez, Nick Blackburn, Jason Kubel, Denard Span, and Glen Perkins.
  • The article includes a Q&A with Tom Gordon, who has high praise for the Phillies, particularly Brad Lidge. Gordon says that having avoided Tommy John Surgery, he feels he can continue his career, and would love to pitch in Philadelphia next year. Gordon will understand if his option is declined, but is emphatic in saying he’s "going to pitch somewhere." Plenty of teams need bullpen help, and even with his injury, I can’t imagine him having a hard time finding work.
  • Cafardo likes the idea of either Rocco Baldelli or Gabe Kapler as a fourth outfielder for the Red Sox.
  • Would Pedro Martinez consider an incentive-laden contract to be Boston’s fifth starter next season?
  • Red Sox catching prospect Mark Wagner has shown improvement the Arizona Fall League. This only adds to the Jason Varitek dilemma that Boston is faced with.

Blue Jays Rumors: Burnett, Manny, Ryan

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10:07pm: Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution heard the Blue Jays will make Burnett a "take it or leave it" offer of four years, $54MM ($13.5MM per year).  Burnett’s agent hasn’t heard that, and Ricciardi says there’s no offer on the table currently.  Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail says the Jays have indicated privately they’ll do a three-year, $48MM deal ($16MM per year).  On the open market, Burnett can probably get four or five years at a higher salary.

10:06am: A little more on Ricciardi’s talks with Burnett’s agent.  Here, Ricciardi says talks have been "very productive."  But here, Ricciardi says they’re "not going bad, they’re not going good.  They’re fine."

8:42am: Talking to Cathal Kelly at the Toronto Star, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi gives the standard line of being willing to trade any player if it makes the team better. Beyond that, he gave some quotes about his offseason plans.

  • Ricciardi says payroll will be $100MM, which should mean $15MM+ to spend after A.J. Burnett leaves for greener pastures.  Ricciardi may allow for uncertainty in the rotation and spend that money on a slugger.  He likes Manny Ramirez, but doesn’t sound optimistic on signing him.
  • Burnett hasn’t officially decided whether to opt out, but…c’mon.  The Jays’ exclusive window to talk to him will depend on when he opts out.  Burnett’s agent set salary expectations at more than Derek Lowe, less than C.C. Sabathia.
  • Ricciardi says trading B.J. Ryan is not a priority for the Jays at present.
  • To sum it all up: Burnett is a long shot, he won’t be replaced with another free agent starter, Manny is unlikely, Marco Scutaro is the shortstop, and Ryan is probably staying put.  If all of those things hold true, it may be difficult to improve in 2008.  On the other hand, full seasons of Vernon Wells, Adam Lind, Aaron Hill, Travis Snider, and a free agent hitter could result in a decent offense.

Heyman’s Latest: Manny, Holliday, Peavy

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new rumor-packed article up.

  • Heyman suggests the battle for the three elite free agents – Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and C.C. Sabathia – will mostly be fought by the New York and Los Angeles clubs.  Heyman talked to one GM who believes the country’s economic situation will not affect the big names but could be bad for the lower-tier guys.
  • Heyman’s potential Manny suitors: the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles, and Phillies.  The Phillies’ interest will depend on whether Pat Burrell stays.  I’m not sure why the Orioles would be in the mix.
  • The Rockies are "very likely" to trade Matt Holliday. The Rox would be willing to sign Holliday for five years and $100MM, but that won’t cut it.  The team’s focus in a trade will be a young starter.  Heyman echoes a Ken Rosenthal thought from a few months ago: surprising small-market teams may enter the Holliday bidding.
  • Heyman has the Mets, Rangers, and Indians as teams looking at Brian Fuentes.  The Mets are the favorite to sign him in the three-year, $36MM range.
  • Jake Peavy has already turned down one American League team.  Heyman believes hes particularly opposed to the Rangers and has mixed feelings about the Yankees.  Peavy is reeling from the Padres’ decision to shop him. 
  • Heyman has unkind words for Luis Gonzalez, who may not be welcomed back to the D’Backs based on his "uneasy relationship" with Stephen Drew and Chris Young.
  • Heyman does not think MLB has any evidence against Nationals GM Jim Bowden in the scout skimming scandal.
  • Heyman gives Ruben Amaro a slight edge over Mike Arbuckle to replace Pat Gillick as Phillies GM.
  • George W. Bush as baseball’s next commissioner?  "Many have long believed" that Bush would like to be Bud Selig’s successor.

Mets Eyeing Lowe, Fuentes

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Joel Sherman of the New York Post talked to an NL executive who has spoken to Mets officials.  That official says the Mets plan to pursue free agent pitchers Derek Lowe and Brian Fuentes this winter.  Sherman believes they will check in on C.C. Sabathia and Francisco Rodriguez, but won’t be willing to match their prices.

Lowe and Fuentes would fill two of the Mets’ three offseason needs for roughly $30MM in ’09 salary.  That could be all of the available money, unless the Mets backload the contracts, raise payroll, or shed salary via trades.  Left field would be the team’s remaining question mark.

Massarotti On The Red Sox

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Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe takes a look at the upcoming offseason for the Red Sox.

Massarotti says the Sox have had internal discussions about Mark Teixeira, which is not a surprise.  The Red Sox definitely have the money for him.  Signing Tex would necessitate trading Mike Lowell and moving Kevin Youkilis to third base.    Lowell is owed $24MM over the next two years, and he has no-trade protection.  He had hip surgery recently and is expected to be ready for spring training.  My guess at possible suitors: the White Sox, Indians, Twins, Angels, Brewers, Reds, Dodgers, and Giants.

I thought the Sox would be players for C.C. Sabathia, but Massarotti suggests that is unlikely.  He says Boston officials have concerns about Sabathia’s long-term durability.  Massarotti does not see the Red Sox as players for any big name starter.

One other note: the Sox have yet to discuss an extension with Jason Bay’s agent.

Mets Eyeing K-Rod?

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According to ESPN’s Andrew Marchand (via MetsBlog):

An executive with knowledge of the Mets thinking says the Mets plan to be in on the Francisco Rodriguez sweepstakes, but are "unlikely" to bid on C.C. Sabathia.

So far, the Mets seem like the most reasonable candidate to give K-Rod a record-breaking contract.  Maybe they won’t meet the 5/75 demand, but it’s hard to see other teams coming close.

Odds and Ends: Bowden, Cain, Young

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Links for Tuesday…

  • Chat today!  2pm CST.
  • Joe Pawlikowski at River Ave. Blues looks at some under-the-radar free agents.
  • MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy crunches the numbers and determines that it would be difficult to fit C.C. Sabathia into the Brewers’ payroll.  I think they could retain Mike Cameron and sign Sabathia, but only if they’re willing to take payroll into the mid-$90MM range and forgo other improvements.  Or, they could save $17-19MM by declining Cameron’s option and trading Fielder.
  • Reds beat writer John Fay muses on the team’s offseason needs.
  • Nationals GM Jim Bowden was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer this summer, but delayed surgery until after the season (a decision he regrets).  He’s OK now and back to work.
  • I get this question all the time: if the Yankees sign C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira, do the Brewers or the Angels get the Yanks’ first-round pick?  Baseball America’s Jim Callis explains that it’s determined by which player has the higher Elias rating.  In this case it might be Tex by a hair, but the official rankings are not out yet.
  • MLB.com’s Chris Haft heard the Twins covet Matt Cain and would be willing to trade Delmon Young for him.  Haft does not believe the Giants would make the one-for-one swap.
  • As of Monday night, the Mariners had not decided on their new GM.  They are not supposed to make an announcement during the World Series, so today remains an option.  It’s also been suggested they announce it tomorrow before the Series begins or get a waiver and do it on Friday (an off-day). 

Odds and Ends: Dice-K, Varitek, Rolen

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Links for Monday…

  • Tim Brown and Peter Abraham offer their takes on the top free agents.
  • A note from Abraham – if Daisuke Matsuzaka finishes top three in the AL Cy Young vote, he’ll get an extra $2MM in each of the ’09 and ’10 seasons.
  • The Mariners could hire their new GM as soon as tomorrow.  Geoff Baker discussed the merits of the four candidates in two recent posts.
  • Jason Varitek was mum on his future last night.
  • Joe Frisaro has the Marlins’ 2009 payroll in the $30-35MM range.  They have 15 arbitration-eligible players.
  • I came across an interesting note about B.J. Upton.  Back in 2004, Devil Rays GM Chuck LaMar wanted to sign Upton to an unprecedented eight or nine-year contract before he reached the Majors.  The new Rays regime eventually succeeded with a similar deal for Evan Longoria.
  • The Diamondbacks signed a Korean high school catcher named Kim Jae-yoon for $150K.
  • Jordan Bastian would be stunned if Scott Rolen exercises his right to opt out of his contract or demand a trade.
  • T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers are not in the running for C.C. Sabathia.
  • SI.com’s Jon Heyman looks at how the Phillies were built.
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