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Mets Sign Francisco Rodriguez

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WEDNESDAY, 4:47pm: The Mets officially announced the three-year deal with K-Rod.  David Lennon and Ben Shpigel give inside looks at the negotiations.

TUESDAY, 4:43pm: The Angels didn’t get a chance to match the Mets’ offer.

3:42pm: Sherman agrees on the fourth year, $14MM vesting option mentioned by Rosenthal.

2:31pm: Sherman says the Mets agreed to terms with K-Rod on a three-year, $37MM deal.  He gets about half as much money as was originally floated.  The Angels will receive the Mets’ #25 pick in next year’s draft as well as a supplemental pick.

2:12pm: Sherman says K-Rod may be in New York tomorrow for his physical.

1:43pm: Sherman says Kinzer and the Mets are huddled this morning trying to put the finishing touches on the K-Rod deal.  If it gets done, the Mets may move on to Derek Lowe.  Rosenthal says the deal includes a $14MM fourth-year vesting option plus performance bonuses.

6:32am: David Lennon of Newsday also speaks of a three-year deal worth $12MM a year being close.

2:46am: Jon Heyman says the Mets appear to be closing in on a deal with K-Rod, likely for three years and about $37MM.  The gap was apparently closed when the Mets guaranteed a third year.  Just a year ago, a lesser, older free agent closer, Francisco Cordero, received four years and $46MM.

12:54am: According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets are on the brink of landing Francisco Rodriguez.  His agent Paul Kinzer is more optimistic than ever.  A deal could be done before the end of the Meetings.

Mets Looking At Starters

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4:15pm: Jayson Stark says the Mets will meet with Scott Boras today to discuss Perez and Derek Lowe.  They’ll also meet with the agents for Jon Garland and Randy Wolf.

3:10pm: In a radio appearance on WFAN, via MetsBlog, Jon Heyman said that the Mets are interested in bringing back lefty Oliver Perez, but the two sides are "still far apart on the dollars." He went on to say that Perez and agent Scott Boras are seeking five years and around $70MM.

C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Tuesday

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11:55pm: Joel Sherman has a source saying it’s possible Cashman could begin the process of finalizing a contract for Sabathia while in San Francisco.

Sherman notes that Cashman is looking at many other free agent starters as well, and is pushing to begin closing deals.

10:30pm: As you might imagine, Dan Graziano speaks of a breakthrough in the Yankees’ negotiations for Sabathia.

10:07pm: Jon Heyman talked to Angels owner Arte Moreno, who said, "I wouldn’t say we’re in the Sabathia picture at all."

9:14pm: Ken Davidoff and Kat O’Brien say Cashman bailed on his media session today to meet with Sabathia in San Francisco.  Cashman may want to meet Sabathia’s wife, who is obviously a factor in his decision.

9:13pm: Sabathia is a fallback position for the Giants, according to Brian Sabean. 

7:56pm: Doug Melvin says the Brewers have not increased their offer to Sabathia, nor have they decided that they won’t.  The ball is in Melvin’s court on whether to increase the offer.

6:30pm: Brian Sabean says reports of a weekend scheduled with Sabathia are false.

6:05pm: Danny Knobler says the Halos remain a serious player for Sabathia and could trade a pitcher like Jered Weaver for a bat if they sign him.

5:03pm: An update from Peter Gammons:

Some players have said the Angels have made it clear to Sabathia that they’ll guarantee him six years, but both sides say it is not true. Sabathia has not turned down the Yankees, either. He has offers from the Brewers, Angels and Red Sox, and the Giants have made it clear they will be in the bidding in certain circumstances.

4:45pm: According to Ken Davidoff, the Brewers do not intend to raise their offer to C.C.

4:32pm: Rosenthal says there’s no truth to the rumor that Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer.

4:09pm: Baggarly talked to an exec close to the Sabathia talks who believes the Brewers are emerging as the frontrunner.

3:39pm: Joel Sherman doesn’t say anything about the Yanks’ offer being declined, but he does say the Yanks have heightened interest in A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe as Brian Cashman continues to wait on C.C.

3:24pm: Unconfirmed rumor from Andrew Baggarly: Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer.  He still printed it though.  The Giants are expected to meet with Sabathia this weekend; they’d need to get creative to sign him.

2:21pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia is convinced the Giants will become a serious bidder.

1:45pm: Tony Jackson’s heard word that Giants officials are "supremely confident" they’re going to sign Sabathia.

1:34pm: Sabathia apparently spent a lot of his time with the Yankees peppering them with lifestyle questions about New York, says Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.

12:11pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Giants intend to meet with C.C. Sabathia, perhaps in San Francisco this weekend.  They weren’t able to get together while Sabathia was in Vegas.

A.J. Burnett Rumors: Tuesday

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10:57pm: Heyman says the Yankees’ topped the Braves offer for Burnett by a few million dollars.  He says the Yanks apparently will attempt to sign all three top free agent starters – C.C. Sabathia, Derek Lowe, and Burnett.

8:34pm: J.P. Ricciardi says the Blue Jays won’t offer Burnett a five year deal or four years with an option.  Braunecker still won’t admit the Jays are out of it.

5:18pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Yankees are considering making a five-year offer to Burnett.  Dan Graziano believes Burnett has the personality to thrive in New York. 

3:21pm: Ken Rosenthal says it’s not out of the question that Burnett’s price could rise to five years, $100MM if the Yanks miss out on Sabathia.

3:06pm: ESPN’s Keith Law says Burnett is unlikely to sign this week, barring a major change.

2:14pm: Rosenthal says the Braves will meet with Braunecker again today.

2:07pm: Some talk from Braunecker via Amalie Benjamin:

Braunecker also said that about a half dozen clubs have "significant mutual interest" in Burnett, including one team that entered the fray in the last 72 hours and one that has essentially been eliminated from the mix.

1:23pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says the Yanks’ meeting with Burnett took place Monday night, and they’ll talk again today.  The Yankees are prepared to top Atlanta’s offer and wouldn’t mind signing both Burnett and C.C. Sabathia.

1:00pm: Joe McDonald of The Providence Journal says the Red Sox had "significant dialogue" with Burnett and he appears to be Boston’s main free agent pitching target.

12:26pm: Joel Sherman says the "Blue Jays have now acknowledged there is almost no way Burnett is returning," which J.P. Ricciardi pretty much said publicly a few days ago.  Sherman notes that they hope to sign Carl Pavano to a minor league deal.  He says the Jays are targeting an $83MM payroll, something I originally missed but Drunk Jays Fans didn’t.

11:15am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Brian Cashman hopes to meet with A.J. Burnett’s agent Darek Braunecker today.  The Yankees are expected to top Atlanta’s four-year, $60MM plus a vesting option bid.  The Braves seem willing to counter, though.

Derek Lowe Rumors: Tuesday

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5:22pm: Heyman says the Yankees are negotiating with Boras about a four-year deal for more than $65MM.

1:19pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Phillies and Yankees lead the charge for Lowe, who wants $80MM over five years.  A team official for one club told Heyman he was "shocked" with the escalating bidding.

8:34am: According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, a Phillies official denied the presence of a three-year offer for Derek Lowe.  Does this mean they have two or four years on the table?  Cafardo talked to another source who said Lowe likes the idea of pitching for Philly.

Phillies Starting Pitching Rumors

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2:20pm: Dan Graziano says the Phillies expressed interest in Andy Pettitte.

8:47am: Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Inquirer says that as the Phillies’ talks with Jamie Moyer drag on, they’re looking at alternatives.  They seem to have some kind of offer out to Derek Lowe.  Hagen adds that they have some interest in Braden Looper while Randy Wolf is unclear.

Phillies, Moyer Wrangle Over Dollars

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11:37pm: Jon Heyman says Ruben Amaro Jr. is being very aggressive in his pursuits of Moyer and Derek Lowe.  He says the Phils have offered Moyer two years and $14MM but Moyer wants an additional $4MM on the contract.

12:47pm: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Phillies and Jamie Moyer "continue to haggle purely over dollars."  Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. admitted the negotiations have been "a little disappointing."

A.J. Burnett Rumors: Monday

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9:57pm: Jerry Crasnick says the Red Sox met with Braunecker today and are "right there in the mix with Atlanta and the Yankees for Burnett."

6:37pm: Dave O’Brien is getting indications Burnett could make a decision this week and not wait for Sabathia.  But O’Brien believes it’d take a five-year offer (no vesting option) for him to do that.

6:15pm: Heyman agrees, suggesting a forthcoming Yankee offer for Burnett in the four-year, $64MM range.

5:38pm: Jerry Crasnick and Jayson Stark believe the Yankees want to meet with Burnett’s agent, and may be willing to offer more guaranteed money than Atlanta did.  The Braves apparently guaranteed $60MM over four years and added a vesting option.  Burnett and Derek Lowe hope to wait until C.C. Sabathia signs.

3:56pm: ESPN’s Peter Gammons says Burnett’s agents feel talks are progressing with the Braves.

11:54am: According to Ken Rosenthal, free agent starter A.J. Burnett talked to former teammate Carl Pavano about the Yankees.  Pavano did not steer Burnett away, despite his poor experience.

Colletti Frustrated With Manny Situation

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9:44pm: Jayson Stark says Boras requested a meeting with the Dodgers for Tuesday, presumably to discuss Manny.  However, Danny Knobler suggests negotiations for Manny will be handled by Frank McCourt.

3:34pm: Dodgers GM Ned Colletti seems frustrated with the Manny Ramirez situation, based on quotes obtained by ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick:

"I just find it curious.  We made an offer and never heard back. We made an arbitration offer and never heard back. Maybe we have to look into the communications we’re using."

It seems that Scott Boras didn’t seriously consider accepting either offer, given the complete lack of communication.  Colletti will continue trying to fill the team’s other needs.

Colletti was chatty with reporters; Joel Sherman has more.  The Dodgers have moved on from Derek Lowe and are past the possibility of Jason Varitek.  C.C. Sabathia doesn’t sound like a priority for Colletti, while Rafael Furcal remains on the radar.  And of course a deal may be close with Casey Blake.

Manny, Lowe, Blake Decline Arb Offers

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11:31pm: Type A free agents Manny Ramirez and Derek Lowe also declined arbitration, according to Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News.  The Dodgers will get two picks for each if they sign elsewhere.

10:32pm: According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, Type B free agent Casey Blake turned down the Dodgers’ offer of arbitration as expected.  The Dodgers stand to gain a draft pick if he signs elsewhere.  Blake received a few two-year offers but aims for three.

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