Heyman’s Latest: Burnett, Lowe, Hudson, Tex
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has several new blog posts up. Let’s take a look.
- The Yankees planned offers in the four-year, $60MM range for A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe, but that’s not sufficient for either pitcher. Burnett wants five years, and Lowe presumably at least $16MM per year and perhaps five as well.
- The Indians, Mets, and Yankees are in on Orlando Hudson, who wants a five-year, $50MM deal. The Dodgers are another possibility. The New York teams would have to do some shuffling to make room for Hudson. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported the Indians’ interest yesterday evening. The Tribe is also in on Orlando Cabrera, according to Yahoo’s Tim Brown.
- Heyman says the Angels will make a "fair proposal with a deadline" for Mark Teixeira, with Miguel Cabera‘s eight-year, $153MM deal as a baseline. This echoes recent columns from Ken Rosenthal and Bill Ladson.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Lowe, Everett
Time to discuss Ken Rosenthal’s latest…
- Mark Teixeira is likely to sign before Manny Ramirez. The Nationals and Orioles are in the mix, but the Angels and Red Sox are more likely destinations.
- One GM predicted Raul Ibanez will receive a three-year deal worth $8-12MM per year. Not exactly going out on a limb there. ESPN’s Jayson Stark named a dozen teams that have expressed interest.
- Rosenthal says the Mets are more likely to sign Brian Fuentes or Francisco Rodriguez than to acquire a closer via trade. Doesn’t exactly fit with Stark’s statement that J.J. Putz would go to the top of the Mets’ list if available.
- Scott Boras emphatically disputed the notion that he wants a Barry Zito-like contract for Derek Lowe.
- Rosenthal wonders if Adam Everett would make sense for the Tigers.
Brown on Sabathia, Teixeira, Lowe, Peavy
In his latest article, Tim Brown at Yahoo! Sports considers a possibility that others have discussed: maybe C.C. Sabathia doesn’t want to play for the New York Yankees. He certainly has options–Brown’s list includes the Dodgers, Angels, White Sox, Red Sox, Mariners, Tigers, and of course, the Brewers.
Not signing C.C. would increase the likelihood that the Yankees make a serious offer to Mark Teixeira. Nick Swisher seems to have the starting job at first base for now, but failing to land Sabathia might shift the Yankees’ attention to all three of Teixeira, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe, says Brown.
Lowe might take his time before signing a new deal this offseason, with the news that Scott Boras is looking for the same average annual value obtained previously by Barry Zito ($18MM).
Finally, Brown notes that Padres GM Kevin Towers is waiting to hear from the Cubs about the possibility of continued trade talks regarding Jake Peavy, now that Ryan Dempster has been signed.
Crisp-Ramirez Trade Reactions
The Red Sox traded center fielder Coco Crisp to the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez today; tip of the cap to Brian McRae for the scoop. Let’s round up the reactions and consequences.
- MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel says Royals GM Dayton Moore will now attempt to rebuild his bullpen, perhaps by trading an outfielder or first baseman. Kaegel says "word from Chicago downplays the Cubs’ reputed interest" in Mark Teahen.
- MLB.com’s Ian Browne says Red Sox GM Theo Epstein will bring in a fourth outfielder to replace Crisp. Browne suggests free agents Gabe Kapler or Rocco Baldelli.
- Ken Davidoff says the Sox now have the flexibility to move Justin Masterson into the rotation, reducing the leverage of the agents for Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett.
- Craig Brown of Royals Authority expects the Royals to trade Teahen now.
- Dave Cameron gives the slight edge to the Royals in the trade.
- According to ESPN’s Peter Gammons, the Reds were also part of the "surprisingly small market for Crisp."
- Matt Porter of the Boston Globe profiles Ramirez.
- ESPN’s Keith Law says both teams may be disappointed, and 2008 may have been Ramirez’s career year.
Lowe Wants $16MM
Today we’ve heard Scott Boras wants a Zito-like contract for Derek Lowe, or at least a five-year deal. Now SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Lowe seeks $16MM per year, on par with Andy Pettitte‘s 2008 salary.
That salary is pretty reasonable; I would’ve thought Boras would start the bidding around $18MM and worked his way down. What do you think – four years, $64MM for Lowe?
Rosenthal’s Latest: Burnett, Lowe, Peavy
Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal.
- Rosenthal says reports of the Blue Jays’ four-year, $54MM offer to A.J. Burnett are inaccurate – they’ve yet to make a proposal. He’s on board with Kat O’Brien’s info from yesterday, noting Boston’s interest.
- Scott Boras is apparently telling teams he wants "a Zito-type contract" for righty Derek Lowe. Lowe is 35, while Zito was 28. Is Boras implying that he wants $18MM a year? Obviously Lowe will not find a seven-year offer. ESPN’s Buster Olney says Boras wants five years for Lowe.
- The Padres told the Yankees a Jake Peavy deal is possible even without Phil Hughes. They’ve scouted Hughes anyway, but he’s off-limits.
- The Rockies will sit back and listen on Garrett Atkins and Huston Street. They don’t plan on signing a free agent to replace Matt Holliday.
- The Mets want to add a righthanded bat, though they’re not high on Pat Burrell.
Odds and Ends: Perez, Lowe, Garland, Swisher, Neshek
Some Tuesday evening links:
- Odalis Perez is waiting to sign a new contract this offseason, says MLB.com’s Bill Ladson after a conversation with Perez’ agent. Ladson also notes that Nats’ GM Jim Bowden has expressed interest in resigning the lefty starter. Perez did start 30 games last season with Washington.
- The Braves have a significant interest in Derek Lowe, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Beyond Lowe, Atlanta may look next at Jon Garland, Randy Wolf, or Oliver Perez. Bowman categorizes the members of this group as potentially "profitable gambles."
- Nick Swisher will play almost exclusively at first base for the Yankees–at least for now, says Ed Smith of the New Jersey Star-Ledger.
- Twins reliever Pat Neshek had successful Tommy John surgery this morning, and will soon begin rehab. He’s targeting Spring Training 2010 for his return, according to Kelly Thesier at MLB.com.
Yankees Rumors: Abreu, Burnett, Teixeira
George King of the New York Post and Kat O’Brien of Newsday have the latest on the Yankees, who are in hot pursuit of free agent starting pitching.
- The Yankees will offer arbitration to Bobby Abreu, according to Jon Heyman. No surprise there.
- King says the Yankees are preparing an offer for A.J. Burnett, "perhaps a five-year deal worth about $80 million." Burnett’s agent says they’re just discussing parameters. It would be a strong offer, dwarfing the Blue Jays’ four years, $54MM. ESPN’s Buster Olney believes a fifth guaranteed year will ultimately result in the winning bid for Burnett.
- The Yankees may make an offer to Derek Lowe soon; they’ve reached out to Scott Boras regarding him. Other Lowe suitors: the Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets, and Rangers. O’Brien adds that the Yanks expressed interest in Mark Teixeira to Boras (despite the Nick Swisher acquisition). The Orioles are also in on in Tex.
- King talked to a "baseball exec" who sees the Cubs re-signing Ryan Dempster at four years, $52MM.
- Andy Pettitte‘s agent doesn’t want a pay cut from this year’s $16MM.
- The expectation is still for Mike Mussina to retire; we may know this week.
- The Yankees aren’t in on Jake Peavy, as evidenced by Kevin Towers’ comments last night. Rick Sutcliffe and Mark Grace have been pitching the Cubs to Peavy, though the hangup seems more about which players the Chicago would send to San Diego.
- The Yanks have an offer of about six years, $140MM on the table for C.C. Sabathia, and he’s mulling it over (somewhere).
Mets To Make Offers To Free Agent Targets
According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Mets will make offers to Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes this week, and perhaps Derek Lowe and other starters.
Rather than attempt to scare other teams off with massive initial bids, the Mets will make small offers and work their way up. It seems that the sticking point with K-Rod will be guaranteeing a fourth year. That was what they had to do to get Billy Wagner three years ago.
Steinbrenner Ready To Offer Burnett, Lowe Contracts
Hank Steinbrenner made a bold statement about the Yankees’ free agent targets, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.
“We’re prepared to make offers to Burnett and Lowe,” Steinbrenner said. “I’m starting to become very optimistic. I think it’s going to be mutually beneficial to us and for these particular players that we’re after for them to join the Yankees.”
Steinbrenner also confirmed that the Yankees offered C.C. Sabathia a contract.