Rafael Furcal Rumors: Thursday
8:35pm: According to Jeff Passan, Furcal has been offered many three-year deals, but he wants a four-year contract. Furcal’s agent, Paul Kinzer confirmed that the Orioles, Braves, Giants, Cubs, Dodgers and A’s are interested, along with one unnamed "mystery" team.
1:30pm: MLB.com’s Mychael Urban talked to Kinzer, who said the A’s have examined Furcal’s medical records. Urban also says the A’s expressed interest in Jason Giambi.
9:40am: Rounding up the recent Rafael Furcal links…
- According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s are still pursuing free agent shortstop Furcal. They like that he’s not a Type A free agent and won’t cost them a draft pick.
- Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times wrote on Friday that the Dodgers "would like to bring back Furcal, although they appear more likely to sign Orlando Cabrera to a short-term deal." MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick said Furcal is the "lynchpin of the club’s infield plans" after talking to Joe Torre.
- Henry Schulman talked to Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer yesterday, who said his client will not accept an incentive-based deal.
- The Cubs have talked to Kinzer about Furcal, but it’s "nothing serious" at this point.
- J.P. Ricciardi told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian he’s not interested in Furcal.
Odds and Ends: Teixeira, Giles, Beimel
Links for Wednesday…
- You can hear me on Lenny Melnick’s radio show at about 7:15pm CST.
- The Marlins could be an interesting long shot for Raul Ibanez, but he’d have to leave significant money on the table.
- Indians manager Eric Wedge really wants the team to bring in a closer.
- George King likes Jason Giambi for the Rays; Cork Gaines imagines the negotiations.
- Jesse Spector talking to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who wasn’t in a revealing mood.
- Tony Massarotti expects the Red Sox to make a huge offer to Mark Teixeira.
- Padres outfielder Brian Giles doesn’t expect to be traded this winter. If the team is in the tank next summer he might approve a deal, perhaps contingent on a contract extension.
- Jacob Jackson says Kevin Towers has handled the Jake Peavy negotiations poorly so far.
- Former Reds GM Wayne Krivsky could end up in Baltimore’s front office.
- Bernie Williams is still not ready to retire.
- Derrick Goold believes the Cardinals have $17-21MM to spend.
- At least six clubs are in on Joe Beimel. The Tigers are one, while the Cardinals, Rockies, and Mets may be others.
Blue Jays To Sit Out Free Agent Market?
Beyond attempting to re-sign starter A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi does not intend to dabble in free agency this year. He told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian he’d probably stay in-house. Ricciardi shot down rumors of interest in Jason Giambi, Milton Bradley, and Rafael Furcal. Drunk Jays Fans doesn’t buy the talk, though.
Trades are Ricciardi’s ideal route, though Richard Griffin notes J.P. has rarely dealt prospects for Major Leaguers. Griffin believes big league trade chips may include B.J. Ryan, John McDonald, and Lyle Overbay. Jason Frasor could be another.
Stark’s Latest: Abreu, Arroyo, Hudson
ESPN’s Jayson Stark is back with a look at needs and plans for all 30 teams. I highly recommend you read the article, but here are a few highlights. He’s also got a fresh blog post here.
- The Phillies are eyeing Doug Brocail and Russ Springer.
- The Mets like Bobby Abreu, but not his three year, $45MM asking price.
- The Reds are quietly listening on Bronson Arroyo, and the Rangers may be interested.
- Contrary to previous reports, Stark believes the Mets’ first order of business is getting a starting pitcher.
- Here’s a new one – the Marlins are interested in Orlando Hudson?
- The Astros may be trying to move money, and Stark implies trading Miguel Tejada or Jose Valverde could be one path.
- The Rockies have "actively explored" signing Jeremy Affeldt, who could also wind up back home with the Mariners. A few more interesting names for Seattle: Joe Crede (if Adrian Beltre is traded), Jason Giambi, and Ken Griffey Jr.
Blue Jays Rumors: Greene, Giambi, Penny
Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail has a few Blue Jays rumors, hidden at the bottom of his column today.
- The Jays have kicked the tires on Padres shortstop Khalil Greene, who will almost certainly be dealt if San Diego acquires Yunel Escobar. Greene is coming off an awful season and is set to earn $6.5MM, so he shouldn’t be too hard to pry loose.
- Free agents Jason Giambi and Brad Penny are on the Jays’ radar.
Brown’s Latest: Furcal, Manny, Abreu
Tip of the cap to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, who was the first reporter yesterday to name the three players the Rockies would receive in the Matt Holliday trade. Now let’s take a look at Brown’s latest column.
- Brown believes everyone cleared their physicals in the Holliday deal, so expect news conferences soon. He says the A’s may add a couple more hitters, possibly Rafael Furcal and/or Jason Giambi.
- Brown says Jim Bowden is promising everyone the Nationals will be in on the Manny Ramirez bidding. With Josh Willingham, Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes, Austin Kearns, Wily Mo Pena, and Willie Harris already under team control, where does Manny fit in? Bowden has already said he plans to use Willingham as an outfielder.
- The Yankees have yet to contract Bobby Abreu. They still figure to offer him arbitration, of course.
Perrotto’s Latest: Free Agent Predictions
John Perrotto has his Every Given Sunday column up over at Baseball Prospectus. Perrotto offers a list of some educated guesses as to where some of the top free agents in baseball will land, with some surprises here and there. Let’s take a look:
- Perrotto lists the Yankees loading up on starting pitching, landing C.C. Sabathia and Derek Lowe, while the Dodgers land Manny Ramirez after doubling their initial offer to four years, $100MM.
- Perrotto says the Nationals will land Mark Teixeira, as they could be prepared to offer Teixeira – a Maryland native – ten years, $200MM. Turning down that kind of money would certainly be difficult.
- Perrotto has Adam Dunn landing on the North Side of Chicago and having an adventurous time in right field for the Cubs. According to these predictions, he’ll be joined by Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood – neither of whom are going anywhere.
- Perrotto feel Andy Pettitte won’t be back with the Yankees, and feels that he will either take a below-market contract from his hometown Astros or retire. He also pegs Mike Mussina to likely retire, but agrees he’ll be back with the Yankees if he does indeed make a run at 300 wins.
- Other predictions from Perrotto: Raul Ibanez and Francisco Rodriguez to the Mets, Milton Bradley to Toronto, Orlando Cabrera to Minnesota, Casey Blake back to Cleveland, A.J. Burnett to the Orioles, Brian Fuentes to the Angels, Nick Punto to St. Louis, Randy Johnson to the Angels, Jason Giambi to Oakland, and Orlando Hudson to the Mets.
- The list of players who will end up back with their current teams: Ben Sheets, Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Jamie Moyer, and Jason Varitek, on a two-year $20MM contract, courtesy of Scott Boras.
LaRue’s Latest: Francoeur, Sabathia, Teixeira
Here’s the latest from Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune.
- The Braves are mentioning Jeff Francoeur "in trade talks with anyone who will listen." Royals GM Dayton Moore is known to be a fan. Looking at 2008’s bottom ten in OBP…Moore signed Jose Guillen (.300), acquired Mike Jacobs (.299), and has been linked in trade talks to Francoeur (.294) and Yuniesky Betancourt (.300). And don’t forget Willy Taveras (.308).
- LaRue says the Angels are hinting they can afford both Mark Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia. The Yankees could afford it, too.
- He says the A’s are eyeing Jason Giambi. Oakland recently hired Giambi’s strength coach. Billy Beane scoffed at the idea that he hired the strength coach to lure Giambi, but no one was really suggesting that. Susan Slusser believes Giambi seeks a three-year deal, which would put him out of the A’s range.
Davidoff’s Latest: Sabathia, El Duque, Heilman
A few notes from Newsday’s Ken Davidoff, who has blog posts here and here.
- C.C. Sabathia‘s agents met with the Yankees yesterday, among other teams. As you know, teams can only talk contract with their own free agents currently. Sabathia is certainly open to playing for the Yankees.
- Orlando Hernandez not only wants to pitch in 2009; he wants to close. He’s thinking big after missing all of 2008.
- Davidoff gives a 10% chance of the Yankees re-signing Jason Giambi, and a 1% chance of re-signing Carl Pavano.
- The Rays like Aaron Heilman, though not as much as they once did.
Yanks Decline Options On Giambi, Pavano
According to Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Yankees declined their options on Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano as expected.
With Giambi, the Yanks chose his $5MM buyout over his $22MM option. For Pavano, they chose a $1.95MM buyout over a $13MM option. Either player could re-sign for less, though it’s not likely.