Mets Rotation Plans
12:20pm: MLB.com’s Marty Noble writes:
The possibility of the Mets signing a lesser alternative isn’t precluded, but the club is unlikely to act on picking up another starter until it’s satisfied it has done all that is possible — and financially feasible — to bring in Lowe.
Noble says the Mets sense Lowe’s price tag is $16-17MM per year.
8:37am: Ken Davidoff of Newsday lays out the Mets’ plans for their starting rotation.
For Oliver Perez‘s slot, the Mets want to either re-sign Perez or sign Derek Lowe. Randy Wolf, Jon Garland, and possibly Tim Redding are the backup plans to these two.
The fifth starter job has sparked an internal debate – it could be given to Jon Niese, or the Mets could bring in competition with pitchers like Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, or Eric Milton. This decision will not be made this month.
Derek Lowe Rumors: Tuesday
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has the latest on the market for free agent starter Derek Lowe. Heyman says "some baseball people think" the Cubs might get in on Lowe, since his price tag may be similar to the four years and $63MM left on Jake Peavy‘s contract.
Heyman believes the Yankees will resume discussions with Lowe if they fail to sign Andy Pettitte. However, he says they expect Pettitte to accept their $10MM offer.
Heyman indicates the Braves, Red Sox, Mets and Angels are also on Lowe’s radar.
Mets Interested In Tim Redding
Add another pitcher to the Mets’ list. According to Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News, the Mets have expressed interest in new free agent Tim Redding. Redding was non-tendered by the Nationals on Friday after they failed to work out a deal with the Rockies.
Ken Davidoff says Oliver Perez and Derek Lowe continue to top the Mets’ list; they’re less enthused with Ben Sheets, Jon Garland, or Randy Wolf. As for Pedro Martinez‘s replacement, Davidoff suggests names like Freddy Garcia or Eric Milton. As for Andy Pettitte, Mark Feinsand says the Mets are not involved.
Mets Considering Randy Wolf, Oliver Perez
10:14pm: Wolf told MLB.com’s Marty Noble tonight that the Mets have shown "some interest." Noble says the Yankees, Orioles, Dodgers, Braves, and Giants are also "thought to have interest."
7:58am: According to Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News, the Mets have checked the bullpen off their list and will now look to upgrade the rotation. It seems that Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf are the top targets, with the pricey Derek Lowe a less likely possibility. McCarron notes that the Mets have a strong relationship with Wolf’s agent Arn Tellem, who brokered the Francisco Rodriguez contract.
With A.J. Burnett off the board, perhaps the market for Lowe will heat up this week. The free agent starting pitching options remain strong – look at what was available on this date a year ago.
Offensively, McCarron doesn’t see much more than an Alex Cora addition on the horizon for the Mets.
Braves Not Interested In Lowe, Peavy?
According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, the Braves aren’t interested in available starters Jake Peavy and Derek Lowe. The market for Lowe seems to be shrinking, as Scott Boras sticks to demands for four or five years at $16.5MM per (similar to A.J. Burnett‘s deal). Knobler says there’s still bad blood between the Braves and Padres over the Peavy talks.
It sounds like the Braves have turned to Kenshin Kawakami to complement their Javier Vazquez acquistion.
Crasnick on Lowe
Central Maine Sports Blog had an e-mail conversation with Jerry Crasnick regarding the current status on Derek Lowe.
The Yankees are likely out of the Lowe sweepstakes, says Crasnick, considering the $243 million they’ve already committed to the rotation. By process of elimination, Crasnick names the Mets as frontrunners for Lowe’s services.
Check the link to read more of the e-mail. Kudos to Matthew Boudwell for the update.
Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com.
Sherman’s Latest: Lowe, Saito, Teixeira
The latest from Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- Mets GM Omar Minaya recently admitted he did not expect to pursue A.J. Burnett or Derek Lowe, saying, "I’m probably not going to be in there right now, financially. Not after spending all the money that I did on K-Rod." Sherman isn’t sold, though – he thinks Lowe’s price could drop and give the Mets a shot.
- The Dodgers haven’t received a counter-offer to their two-year, $45MM proposal, so they won’t be making another bid. Sherman adds that they are planning to non-tender Takashi Saito.
- The A’s remain the frontrunners for Rafael Furcal.
- Sherman says the Nationals have bid seven years and $140MM for Mark Teixeira. That offer was reported on Wednesday to be eight years, $160MM. Sherman says the backup plans are Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson. I believe the Hudson link is new.
- The Mariners had tried to pry Jonathan Niese from the Mets for J.J. Putz. Sherman also notes strong interest in Aaron Heilman. He says the Mets and Cubs did not discuss Jason Marquis, contrary to reports.
Derek Lowe Rumors: Thursday
12:08pm: Despite yesterday’s reported contention from a Boras guy, ESPN’s Jayson Stark heard the Braves have "zero interest" in Lowe. Randy Wolf is on their radar as a backup plan for A.J. Burnett though.
Also, the Mets are probably out on Lowe and Burnett, according to Omar Minaya.
10:23am: According to WEEI’s Lou Merloni, the Yankees’ signing of C.C. Sabathia made the team more appealing to Lowe.
9:50am: Some Derek Lowe chatter this morning – Jayson Stark says the Yankees would remain interested in Lowe if they sign A.J. Burnett.
A.J. Burnett Rumors: Wednesday
11:53pm: Not seeing the $91MM rumor on Rosenthal’s blog anymore. Mark Feinsand wrote earlier today it was $80MM. Feinsand even said the Yankees and Burnett were "working into the night on closing a deal." A Mark Bowman source put the Yanks’ offer at $85MM.
10:12pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Yanks are offering $91MM over five years. He also learned that the Yanks will not sign both Burnett and Lowe – just one of them and then possibly other free agent pitchers. Similar to Crasnick’s note below.
9:57pm: Tony Massarotti indicates the Red Sox are out and Burnett will choose between the Yankees and Braves. Jerry Crasnick says that if the Yankees sign Burnett, a third free agent rotation addition would likely be a short-term guy like Ben Sheets as opposed to Derek Lowe.
6:54pm: Jon Heyman believes the Yankees’ five-year offer to Burnett is for $80MM.
6:09pm: Crasnick’s report about the Yanks’ five-year offer to Burnett is online now. Crasnick’s source says a deal could be in place as soon as tomorrow. He says the dollar figure is not known but Burnett’s agent is believed to be seeking a deal approaching Zambrano’s five years, $91.5MM.
6:06pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports on TV that the Yankees have offered Burnett a five-year deal.
4:53pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman has a Major League source who does not believe the Braves offered Burnett five years.
4:06pm: ESPN’s Keith Law believes bidding on Burnett will exceed the value of Carlos Zambrano‘s contract, which is for $91.5MM over five years.
12:54pm: Rosenthal and Gerry Fraley report that the Braves made an offer to Burnett late Tuesday for $80MM over five years. That guaranteed fifth year could be big.
11:14am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves are pushing hard for A.J. Burnett and talks with him progressed through the night. The Yankees remain involved, however.
Derek Lowe Rumors: Wednesday
10:08pm: A note from Dave O’Brien:
Just so you know, one of Boras’ guys also claims the Braves have expressed at least some interest in Lowe.
5:18pm: Jayson Stark has a source saying the Phillies aren’t pursuing Lowe, and didn’t make an offer.
4:27pm: Gordon Edes agrees, Lowe is not on the verge of signing. He does have offers in hand from the Yanks and Phillies, with the Mets and Red Sox in talks. The Brewers made contact but are considered a long shot. Edes says Lowe’s desire to return to Boston has been overstated. Edes says the two offers are in the four-year, $65MM range, and a fifth year could clinch it.
3:14pm: Rosenthal says the Yankees’ talks with Lowe are progressing, but reports that they’re close are overblown. He adds that the Yanks are also in active discussions with A.J. Burnett, and, surprisingly, Andy Pettitte. Kevin Baxter believes it’s the Yanks or retirement for Pettitte.
8:56am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees were discussing a four-year, $66MM deal with Derek Lowe late Tuesday night. Via MetsBlog, Heyman said on WFAN this morning that the Yanks are closing in.