Latest Johan Santana Rumors
The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo has the latest on the lingering Johan Santana saga.
- The Red Sox are standing pat with their offer of Coco Crisp, Jon Lester, Justin Masterson, and Jed Lowrie. I’ve said it before – I consider this an excellent offer, though I might try to find a permutation that involves Jacoby Ellsbury and another player rather than Crisp/Lester. The Twins seem to like this offer too; they just want to see if the Yankees crack and offer up Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, and Phil Hughes.
- The Theo Epstein regime typically hasn’t been jazzed about contracts exceeding four years. However they will break that rule for a Santana extension and are prepared to go seven if they have to.
- Cafardo dismisses the idea that Josh Beckett would be upset by Santana earning twice his salary. Beckett will get his payday after the 2010 season, unless he flames out or the Red Sox extend him earlier.
- Random question: is there any chance the Red Sox exercise Manny Ramirez‘s $20MM option for 2009? Rob Bradford discussed this very topic over at the Boston Herald.
Yankees Done With Santana?
Newsday’s Kat O’Brien recently spoke to a source with knowledge of the Yankees’ talks with the Twins for Johan Santana. According to the source:
"I don’t see it happening with us. We pulled out in Nashville, and we haven’t put an offer back on the table."
O’Brien always has Hank Steinbrenner’s ear, and Hank was noncommittal this time when asked about the Yanks’ chances. It sounds like the Yankees would need to crack and put Ian Kennedy into the deal, which just doesn’t seem wise. They’d be better off just calling off the whole thing, and it sounds like that’s the likely path.
Carlos Silva Signs With Mariners
UPDATE, 12-20-07 at 3:18pm: The bar is raised higher than we thought – four years, $48MM according to Rosenthal. This is the new price of a big league innings eater. The Mariners remain interested in Erik Bedard and Johan Santana.
UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 7:03pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street is reporting via a source that the Silva deal is done. He agrees with Rosenthal’s original figure of four years, $44MM. Remember a year ago, when the Twins weren’t sure whether to exercise his $4MM option?
UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 3:08pm: John Hickey of the Seattle PI expects Silva to be introduced to Seattle on Thursday.
UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 11:11am: The AP is reporting that the Ms are "closing in on a deal" with Silva.
FROM 12-18-07 at 1:59pm:
A scoop from Ken Rosenthal – the Mariners are in "serious negotiations" with Carlos Silva for a deal worth at least four years, $44MM. It appears that talks for Erik Bedard would not be affected by this signing.
Rosenthal notes that $44MM or more would represent the bar for Silva’s tier of starters being moved slightly up. That is to be expected; some have speculated it might take more like $12MM annually to get Silva. Silva may not be anything special, but he’s shown the ability to eat American League innings. Those guys don’t grow on trees.
By the way, Charley Walters says the Royals put out a three-year, $30MM offer to Silva.
Odds and Ends: Santana, Cabrera, Kapler
A few good reads that I didn’t know how to fit elsewhere.
- LENIII does a Johan Q&A. I can’t say much has changed but he does dissect the situation well.
- Mike DiGiovanna also does a mailbag, with tidbits about Howie Kendrick, Miguel Cabrera, Paul Konerko, and many others.
- I know I said I like to skip minor signings, but it’s interesting to see Gabe Kapler out of retirement, signing with the Brewers.
Steinbrenner: “Outside Chance” For Johan
Hank Steinbrenner spoke to Kat O’Brien yesterday regarding Johan Santana. The key quote: "There’s still an outside chance that we get him." Steinbrenner also indicated that he has final say over this deal, in case you were wondering.
Plus, Steinbrenner said the Yankees looked into Mark Prior but are not currently interested. No worries for Prior, he’s got plenty of suitors.
Odds and Ends: Barrett, Koufax, Santana
A few notes from this evening…
- Michael Barrett and the Padres avoided arbitration, arriving at a $3.5MM deal. A little less than I expected given his $4.6MM salary in ’07. If some team acquires Barrett on the cheap he could bounce back if he’s comfortable. Wasn’t long ago he was one of the better-hitting catchers in the game. Is there even a slight chance he wouldn’t embarrass himself back at the hot corner?
- Great ShysterBall post in reference to Curt Schilling‘s attempt to call out Roger Clemens.
- Sandy Koufax did not do steroids.
- Derrick Goold looks at how David Eckstein ended up leaving the Cardinals despite his desire to stay.
- LENIII says it’s possible nothing has happened on the Johan Santana front since the Meetings ended. Neal also names Kris Benson as a pitcher on the Twins’ radar. They were one of many teams watching his recent session. Plus they were eyeing Glendon Rusch before he signed with the Padres.
Stark’s Latest: Prior, Lofton, Otsuka
ESPN’s Jayson Stark dishes some good rumorage in his latest column.
- Stark dug around to find all the Mark Prior suitors and came up with this list: Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, Mariners, Mets, Cardinals, Padres, Astros, Giants, Reds, Nationals (11 teams). Let’s compare notes. MLBTR readers have seen the Yankees, Mets, Cards, Padres, Astros, Reds, and Nats linked to Prior already. So Stark has added the Red Sox, White Sox, Mariners, and Giants. The idea of the Mariners runs contrary to this MLB.com article. Stark did not name the Rangers, who are said to be aggressively pursuing Prior. Prior is dead set on a one-year deal and would take a big league mound in May in the best case.
- The Phils are focused on Geoff Jenkins and Mike Cameron, offering two year deals to each. They might just take the first one to accept. Stark says Kenny Lofton could be an option if both decline. Lofton batted a career-best .335 for the Phils in ’05.
- Stark rattles off a laundry list of pitchers the Phillies are interested in: Akinori Otsuka, Byung-Hyun Kim, Roberto Hernandez, Kris Benson, John Parrish, Sidney Ponson, Chad Durbin, Kyle Lohse, and Jeremy Affeldt. Given Stark’s 21 years at the Philadelphia Inquirer, I imagine he has a connection or two. Most of those are new names besides Benson, Lohse, Ponson, and Affeldt.
- A source of Stark picks the Yankees as the favorite for Johan, but it should be noted that they’re having internal debates about pulling Phil Hughes off the table.
- For all the crazy Cubs fans we’ve got here: Stark says they’ve talked to the Orioles about both Brian Roberts and Erik Bedard, but couldn’t pull off a deal for both. They favor Roberts even though they need Bedard much more.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Prior, Bedard, Haren
The rumor mill is picking up today, thanks in no short part to Ken Rosenthal. Check out his latest column.
- Rosenthal believes the Padres are Mark Prior‘s first choice, but as usual they won’t pay as much as other teams. Both Texas clubs are in the lead for Prior currently. Rosenthal also names the Cards, Mets, and Yankees are suitors, as we knew. The Pirates, by the way, have not inquired.
- Talks for Erik Bedard have slowed down, because the Orioles aren’t impressed with the offers. The Mariners, Reds, and Mets are the top contenders. Rosenthal indicates that the Reds may be overvaluing Homer Bailey, compared to the perception of other clubs.
- Interesting late-game suitors for Dan Haren: the Rockies and Braves. You wonder, then, whether they’ll also inquire on Bedard.
- Rosenthal notes that the Chris Burke acquisition could be a sign that the D’Backs won’t re-sign Orlando Hudson. Burke will have to show something first though.
- The Orioles don’t seem likely to flip Luke Scott; they like his style. The guy could hit 30 bombs this year, in the opinion of Ron Shandler and Co.
- The Twins are up to 39 on their 40 man roster, so they’ll have to be creative to take back four players in a Johan Santana deal. It could mean including a player with Johan.
Latest Johan Santana Non-Rumors
After getting volumes of new information each day during the Winter Meetings, the rumors surrounding the Johan Santana talks have slowed to a boring trickle. It’s still a big deal, though, so here’s the latest.
- Yesterday Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe notes that it may make sense for the Twins and Red Sox to hammer out a deal before front offices shut down for a week to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. He says talks between the two parties are ongoing, and the Twins are sitting back and hoping for the Red Sox to crack and put two of Ellsbury/Buchholz/Lester in the package. The Yankees are lurking but similarly won’t give up two of Chamberlain/Hughes/Kennedy. The Mets aren’t deemed worthy based on their prospects. Edes’ source doesn’t expect a deal soon.
- Today, Charley Walters wrote that the Red Sox are the favorites with their firm offer of Lester/Crisp/Lowrie/Masterson. He says there’s buzz something could be done within days. Walters reiterates Edes’ take on the Yankees’ stance and tosses the Angels into the mix as a dark horse.
Odds and Ends: Johan, Hudson, A-Rod, Dallas
Collection o’ links…
- LENIII has a Johan Santana update…nothing groundbreaking going on, pretty much looks like the Yanks and Red Sox are still both involved.
- The Brewers were apparently pretty deep in discussions for Miguel Tejada during the Winter Meetings.
- After a year out of baseball Javy Lopez is back with the Braves on a minor-league deal. Remember when he slugged .687 with 43 home runs in 457 ABs? Good times.
- Nick Piecoro has some chatter about Orlando Hudson, who hits free agency after the ’08 season. The most interesting part is that Hudson refers to Bob Melvin as "Bo-Mel." It’s the same story with Hudson – he’d like an extension, the D’Backs are noncommittal. You never know – I certainly didn’t expect them to re-up Eric Byrnes. But as of right now it seems like Hudson will walk.
- Alex Rodriguez is not on speaking terms with Scott Boras…let’s all hope they reconcile, they were a great couple.
- Barry Jackson says the Marlins have their eye on Dallas McPherson. The Giants are known to be interested as well.
- Mike Sweeney‘s agent has been in touch with the Royals as well as two other clubs. I think he might have to accept a bench role this year.