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Derek Lowe

Derek Lowe Rumors: Wednesday

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Boston.com, the Boston Globe Web site, is reporting with a background source that Derek Lowe is close to a deal with the New York Mets. The post indicates the deal could be three to four years in the neighborhood of $15MM/season.

The N.Y. Daily News and N.Y. Post each have related stories to the Mets’ interest in Derek Lowe.

John Harper’s Daily News story indicates a deal could be reached between Christmas and New Year’s.

Ben Shpigel of the N.Y. Times writes that if the Mets sign Lowe, they might need to thank the Yankees.

Yankees Sign Mark Teixeira

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3:58pm: Joel Sherman says the Red Sox were at eight years, $168MM, so the Yankees outbid them by $12MM.

3:38pm: The contract does not include an opt-out clause, according to Danny Knobler.  Knobler agrees with Olney that the Red Sox fell about $10MM short.  He says the Sox are not inclined to react by "stepping up their pursuit of Derek Lowe or any other top starting pitcher."

2:55pm: Olney now agrees it’s an eight-year, $180MM deal ($22.5MM per year).  Bill Madden says Teixeira told the Yankees he preferred them all along, after the Angels and Red Sox backed off.  Ha.  Joel Sherman says the Yankees made this decision with the 2010 season in mind, given the weak free agent market.  He says they’ll now attempt to trade one of Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Xavier Nady, and Nick Swisher.

2:26pm: Buster Olney says the Yankees have reached an agreement with Teixeira on an eight-year deal worth more than $170MM.

Aside from the Red Sox, the Brewers and Blue Jays also lose here.  Each team’s draft pick from the Yanks is pushed back one round – the Brewers get a second-rounder from them for C.C. Sabathia, the Jays get their third-round pick for A.J. Burnett.

2:17pm: According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees are on the verge of signing Mark Teixeira to an eight-year, $180MM deal with a full no-trade clause.

Olney’s Latest: Lyon, Cabrera, Castillo

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The latest from ESPN’s Buster Olney.

  • Olney says the Brewers "might take a look at" free agent reliever Brandon Lyon, who’s been linked in other reports to the Twins and Red Sox.  It’s been reported that Lyon seeks a multiyear deal and may wait until Brian Fuentes signs.  Nick Piecoro suggested that one unknown Lyon suitor views him as a starter.
  • Olney says the Brewers will probably reach out to Trevor Hoffman, and the Dodgers will also take a look.  He adds that the Dodgers will not attempt to re-sign Derek Lowe despite his sinking price tag.
  • The Dodgers turned back to Rafael Furcal after realizing Orlando Cabrera had an asking price close to the amount Furcal signed for.  The market for Cabrera seems weak, perhaps since he will cost a draft pick.  Cabrera signing with the Dodgers would’ve been ideal for the White Sox, who would’ve swiped L.A.’s #17 draft pick in June.
  • Olney says the Mets continue to attempt to unload Luis Castillo, who has $18MM left on his deal.
  • Interesting note: "For the first time in recent memory, the Yankees’ offices will be closed in the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day — one of the signs of the more measured leadership of Hal Steinbrenner."

What’s Next For The Braves?

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David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sums up the Braves’ current known targets in his latest blog post.  As O’Brien notes, things have not gone according to plan for the Braves this winter.

  • The Braves have yet to indicate interest in Adam Dunn or Pat Burrell for their left field vacancy.  Juan Rivera might’ve been an option; he re-signed with the Angels.  Since the Braves struggled against lefties in 2008, Burrell would be a better fit.
  • They have not indicated any interest in Ben Sheets, nor have they shown serious interest in Derek Lowe.  The Braves’ #7 draft pick next year is protected, should they sign one of the two.
  • The Braves are "squarely in the bidding" for Japanese starter Kenshin Kawakami.

Brewers Not Close To Looper Deal

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5:41pm: Brewers GM Doug Melvin confirmed interest in Looper but denied that they’re close to a deal.  Melvin would not say whether the Brewers made an offer, but suggested Looper and the Brewers’ other targets want multiyear deals.

10:28am: In the "Etc." section of his Sunday update, Nick Cafardo has some updated information on a few free agents, as well as some potential trades.

  • Updating a key part of the back-of-the-rotation market, Cafardo says Braden Looper is "close to signing with the Brewers."
  • The Diamondbacks and Red Sox may soon revisit the possibility of an Eric Byrnes trade. Such a deal would likely be made more enticing for the Sox if Miguel Montero were somehow included.
  • The Red Sox would really rather not move Clay Buchholz for a catcher, even if that catcher were Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden of the Texas Rangers. However, Daniel Bard may be in play for a potential deal with Texas.
  • The Reds, Indians, Pirates and Giants are all in the mix for Ty Wigginton. Back on Dec. 18, we had a Wigginton update in an Odds and Ends post that said the player was not interested in returning to Pittsburgh.

Other topics of note (found on page 5 of Cafardo’s article) include the Tampa Bay Rays’ plan for a DH upgrade, as well as some notes on Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez.

Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com.

Murray Chass: Furcal, Sabathia, Lowe, Teixeira

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Murray Chass has a nice Sunday post covering some of the biggest names in the game.  Let’s take a look:

  • Chass summarizes the Rafael Furcal fiasco nicely, and explains the potential legal hazards that refusing to work with the Wasserman group could lead to.
  • Brian Cashman has said that his refusal to trade for Johan Santana last year was because the Yankees knew C.C. Sabathia was going to be a free agent this year. Chass looks at their numbers side-by-side and points explains how by not trading for Santana, the Yankees risked missing out on both aces.
  • The Mets are very interested in Derek Lowe, but not his pricetag. Boras wants similar money to Barry Zito – about $18MM per season – for the 35-year-old Lowe. The Mets also like Oliver Perez, but he’s another Boras client with a big price tag. The Mets don’t want to add another big contract.
  • Is there really a team with a $200MM+ offer on the table for Mark Teixeira? Chass isn’t so sure. It seems that Boras always has a "mystery team" in on the negotiations, but his client never seems to sign there… Don’t count the Red Sox out just yet.

Mets Starting Pitching Update

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SATURDAY, 6:27PM: Ken Rosenthal confirms several of the ideas suggested in Heyman’s Friday article.

The Mets apparently are in fact interested in Tim Redding as a back-of-the-rotation starter, and would like to add either Derek Lowe or Oliver Perez to the front. The Mets appear willing to give Redding a two-year deal, while the Rockies, also interested in Redding’s services, are willing to do a one-year deal only.

Jason Marquis appears to be a likely target of the team that fails to sign Redding.

FRIDAY, 12:28PM: SI.com’s Jon Heyman has the latest on the Mets’ quest to add two starting pitchers.

Heyman says the Mets are waiting for Scott Boras to get Mark Teixeira signed before seriously engaging for Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez, their top two targets (in that order).  Randy Wolf is the third choice if the Boras clients fall through.  Heyman suggests Lowe’s asking price is $66MM over four years.

The Mets are also looking to add a back-end type to soak up innings.  This group includes Freddy Garcia, Tim Redding, and Jason Marquis.

Heyman’s Latest: Perez, Greinke, Dye, Garland

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The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman, non-Teixeira department…

  • Heyman describes the Mets’ chance of signing Oliver Perez as "remote for now." He names other "potential suitors" – the Brewers, Dodgers, Reds, and perhaps Mariners.
  • Apparently some Yankees people wouldn’t mind if Andy Pettitte passed on their $10MM offer, as they’d be able to pursue Ben Sheets or Derek Lowe.
  • The Red Sox "looked into" trading for Zack Greinke but didn’t like the price.
  • Heyman says the Reds, Braves, and Rays are still showing interest in Jermaine Dye.
  • He says the Dodgers, White Sox, and Mets "could be possibilities" for Jon Garland.  A return to Chicago?

Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Markakis, Johnson

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We have a new column from Ken Rosenthal this evening.

  • Mark Teixeira is holding up many areas of the free agent market, as guys like Brian Fuentes and Milton Bradley know the Angels will be interested if Tex signs elsewhere.
  • Rosenthal believes the Yankees should continue to be aggressive and make a competitive bid for Teixeira.
  • The "poor working conditions and occasionally unruly crowd behavior" make it hard for the A’s to attract free agents.  Their move in 2012 should help.
  • Rosenthal believes Chase Utley’s seven year, $85MM deal could provide a framework for a Nick Markakis extension.
  • The A’s will wait for free agent bargains now that they’ve lost Rafael Furcal.
  • The Red Sox and Mets are the main suitors for Derek Lowe, with the Yankees less likely.
  • The Braves have been shopping Kelly Johnson for an outfielder.  Attempts to acquire Ryan Ludwick or Corey Hart did not work out.
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