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Derek Lowe

Braves Make Offer To Lowe

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David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the Atlanta Braves made an offer to free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe on Friday.

O’Brien guesses that the Braves’ offer was for more than the New York Mets’ reported three-year offer of $36MM. He also speculates that the annual amount would be at least $15MM in at least a three-plus-an-option deal, if not a four-year deal.

Wren Considering Trade For Pitcher

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Braves GM Frank Wren was on 790 The Zone yesterday.  Wren explained that the Braves have other options besides Derek Lowe, and had several things in play prior to John Smoltz leaving:

There’s other guys out there that we like.  I have trade proposals on my desk as we speak that would bring another pitcher to us.  There’s other things we can do…The trade proposal that I have on my desk – that was put in place six weeks ago.

So far this winter the Braves added two starters: Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami (pending a physical).

Other notes: Wren wouldn’t comment on Andruw Jones, and doesn’t see the Braves acquiring Manny Ramirez or Jake Peavy.

Perrotto’s Latest: Top 20 Remaining Free Agents

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John Perrotto’s latest Every Given Sunday column at Baseball Prospectus takes a look at the top 20 remaining free agents (sorted by WARP3 – Wins Above Replacement Player) and offers destination predictions and top suitors (or lack thereof in some cases) for each one. For those without a BP subscription, here’s a quick summary:

  • Manny Ramirez – Dodgers
  • Orlando Cabrera – Athletics
  • Derek Lowe – Braves/Mets/Cubs
  • Adam Dunn – Nationals
  • Bobby Abreu – Reds
  • Ben Sheets – Rangers
  • Orlando Hudson – Nationals
  • Andy Pettitte – Astros (at less than $10MM)
  • Jason Varitek – Red Sox (at less than $10MM)
  • Ty Wigginton – Astros
  • Ivan Rodriguez – Not much of a market, may have to take a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training if he’s not signed soon. Could he end up involuntarily retired, a la Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Mike Piazza?
  • Kevin Millar – Orioles
  • Mark Grudzielanek – Padres
  • Braden Looper – Brewers
  • Garret Anderson, Eric Hinske, Ray Durham, Jim Edmonds, Paul Byrd, Odalis Perez – All of them (with the exception of Byrd, who may retire) are drawing little to no interest and may be without a club on Opening Day.

Mets Confident About Rotation

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Newsday’s Ken Davidoff writes that "the Mets remain confident that they’ll eventually land one of their top two choices" for their rotation: Derek Lowe or Oliver Perez.

The Brewers aren’t interested in Lowe and Davidoff heard from one Phillies official who doesn’t expect him to sign with Philadelphia. The Braves remain a legitimate suitor for Lowe, but if he signs with Atlanta, the Mets could simply bring back Perez. After all, as Davidoff says, "if there’s any competition for Perez, it’s in hiding."

Derek Lowe Rumors: Saturday

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5:19pm: We’ve got a bit of a status update in Ken Rosenthal’s latest.

Fresh off closing the deal on Kenshin Kawakami, it seems as though the Atlanta Braves are the latest front runners in the Derek Lowe sweepstakes. Citing a source, Rosenthal says the Braves are "all over" Lowe. As for the team that was perhaps overtaken in this case, Rosenthal writes, "Mets officials seemed pessimistic."

Any pending offer from Atlanta is not likely to include a fourth year, according to Rosenthal. However, an offer for three years in the $40-42MM range with a club or vesting option is "one possibility."

Braves Sign Kenshin Kawakami

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2:47pm: Says Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown, the contract is a three-year deal.

1:43pm: David O’Brien says, "Deal is done, pending physical." Kenshin Kawakami is an Atlanta Brave.

SATURDAY, 11:34am: In the comments section of his own post, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes:

I really think the Braves have reached an agreement with Kawakami. And not because a Japanese paper reported it.

In the body of the article, he writes that an announcement by Kawakami’s people "could come at any time."

7:45pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman that the Braves may have already lured Kawakami. The report says "multiple Major League sources" are confirming tonight that a deal is near completion and that this rate, Kawakami could take a physical on Monday. The report also details that the Braves are readying their first offer for Derek Lowe, which they plan to make next week. More from Bowman here.

FRIDAY, 5:00pm: This link is gaining in popularity.  It says the Braves are close to a deal with Kenshin Kawakami, but there’s still a chance he could sign elsewhere.  I do think the Braves may end up signing him but I still feel this report may be jumping the gun.

Brewers Won’t Sign “Big-Bucks” Starter

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In a preview of his Sunday column, Tom Haudricourt reports the Brewers aren’t likely to sign a big ticket free agent starting pitcher this offseason.

As an indication of just how unlikely that signing might be, Haudricourt has a quote from Doug Melvin; says the Brewers GM, "I haven’t even talked to Scott Boras."

At the very least, that quote would appear to explicitly eliminate Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez from the Brewers’ shopping list.

Derek Lowe Rumors: Friday

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7:45pm: Mark Bowman reports that the Braves are actually readying their first offer for Lowe, which they plan to make on Monday or Tuesday. More from Bowman here.

3:40pm: O’Brien has details on the Braves’ five-hour meeting with Lowe and Boras.  He says the Braves’ offer is expected today and they want Lowe badly.  It may require a four-year commitment.

As far as Kenshin Kawakami – the Braves are among the four finalists.  On the offensive side O’Brien suggests Adam Dunn or Xavier Nady could be targets.

9:26am: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves met with Derek Lowe and Scott Boras for several hours yesterday.  O’Brien says the Braves’ offer was unknown, implying that they did make an offer.

O’Brien also reiterated that Boras said the Mets’ widely reported three-year, $36MM offer was never made and would’ve been far too low anyway.  O’Brien mentions the Phillies, Brewers, and Angels as other Lowe suitors, but Ken Rosenthal said those three clubs denied interest.  Brewers GM Doug Melvin said Tuesday in regard to Lowe: "We’re not in on him."

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, M’s, Cards, Mets, Manny

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On this date eight years ago, Juan Gonzalez signed a one-year deal for $10MM with the Indians. The contract is significant because Gonzalez had turned down an eight-year, $143MM deal from the Tigers less than a year earlier. Four years later on this same date, Carlos Beltran would not turn down a seven-year, $119MM offer from the Mets, becoming the tenth $100MM player in Major League history. With C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira already spoken for this year, there are no more $100MM players available, but there are still plenty of signings being made and many players still looking for work. Let’s gander at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • The Bottom Line takes a look at which prospects the Red Sox should be willing to part with in order to acquire a catcher. 
  • In Mo We Trust wonders if the Yankees would be better suited to keep both Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher.
  • When Sid Slid wonders if Kenshin Kawakami is a good fit for the Braves and feels the money would be better spent on Derek Lowe.
  • Bleeding Blue and Teal asks if the Mariners are better suited looking at a player like Eric Hinske.
  • C70 At The Bat contemplates the Cardinals’ payroll and wonders how the team can consider keeping all six of their outfielders.
  • Mets Geek breaks down the Mets’ offseason and wonders if Omar Minaya miscalculated the market.
  • El Lefty Malo is warming to the idea of the Giants signing Manny Ramirez.
  • Feeling Dodger Blue says Manny is a "must," outlining why he is worth more than just the offense he will provide.
  • We Should Be GMs chronicles the Phillie’s history of signing the "wrong brother."
  • Midwest Sports Fans breaks down the Twins’ roster and payroll and looks at who the Twins should bring in and who should be moved, arguing that the team should keep Delmon Young.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

Heyman On Manny, Lowe, Crede, Redding, Hinske

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The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…

  • The Giants "look like a major threat" to the Dodgers for Manny Ramirez and are "making a serious run at him."  Former teammate J.T. Snow apparently raved about him.  Nonetheless Heyman says the Dodgers are "probably still considered the favorite."  Heyman lists the Rangers as "intrigued."  He believes Ramirez will get three guaranteed years somewhere.
  • Heyman says Derek Lowe is "quite possibly" in play for the Phillies, though we heard from Ken Rosenthal today that the team denied interest.  Heyman also sticks with the Brewers and Angels as outside possibilities despite reports to the contrary.  He believes Mets GM Omar Minaya prefers Oliver Perez to Lowe.
  • The Giants, Twins, and Rangers are in on Joe Crede.
  • Players said to be in on Freddy Garcia: the Mets, White Sox, and Rangers.  We can probably cross off the Mets with their Tim Redding signing.
  • Heyman believes the Dodgers want to replace Brad Penny with Randy Wolf.
  • Heyman says the Pirates offered more guaranteed money than the Red Sox to Rocco Baldelli.  Dejan Kovacevic had this first in an article published early this morning.
  • The Red Sox were looking at Eric Hinske but with Baldelli and Mark Kotsay in tow it’s unlikely.  A Japanese team has "allegedly shown interest" in Hinske.
  • Before signing with the Rays for two years and $16MM, Pat Burrell was getting offers in the one-year, $5MM range.
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