Mark Teixeira Rumors: Tuesday
10:09pm: Angels owner Arte Moreno to Jon Heyman: "Teixeira’s my guy. There are obviously other people we like. But he’s our main target." Currently, the Angels aren’t planning to set a deadline when they make an offer to Tex.
9:11pm: Brian Sabean ruled out Teixeira for the Giants.
4:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Angels are "beginning to recognize they will not be the high bidder" for Tex. Some of Rosenthal’s sources believe the Nationals will come in the highest.
3:48pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown says Angels owner Arte Moreno "has been deeply involved in negotiations with Scott Boras regarding Teixeira, as well as with agent Greg Genske on Sabathia." Brown says the Angels may be willing to give Tex seven years if necessary. The Halos are weighing the idea of going after Manny Ramirez if they miss out on Tex and C.C.
11:39am: Jon Heyman says the Red Sox have been one of Tex’s most aggressive pursuers.
1:47am: Yahoo’s Gordon Edes surveyed several club officials, and they believe the Red Sox will sign Mark Teixeira. They have the money and a strong relationship with Scott Boras. However, the Yankees are heavily interested even if they’ve yet to make an offer. And the Angels are said to be "desperate" to retain Tex. As far as we know, no one’s made an offer. Edes sees the Orioles and Nationals on the periphery, though both clubs are serious about Teixeira.
C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Monday
11:12pm: Clarification of the earlier Colletti stuff from Tony Jackson: "What Colletti actually said was that Sabathia had made the Dodgers aware, not directly but through conversations with third parties, that he had a desire to pitch for them."
10:38pm: Heyman says the Red Sox talked parameters with Sabathia and "perhaps even" made an offer. They’re not expected to beat the Yankees’ offer though.
Jeff Passan offers his take on the Brewers’ angle.
9:26pm: Rosenthal’s source says the Red Sox were just doing their due diligence in meeting with Sabathia. The Sox are focused on Mark Teixeira.
9:19pm: The Giants say it’s "debatable" as to whether they’ll meet with Sabathia. Andrew Baggarly indicates Brian Sabean implied they don’t plan to make a competitive offer to Sabathia.
9:14pm: Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash says Sabathia is not concerned about the makeup of the Brewers’ roster. Doug Melvin does not believe they’d need to be too creative with a contract.
7:26pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia requested both Yankees meetings, the second of which took place at the pitcher’s room at the Wynn. Sabathia’s left Vegas, and didn’t give the Yanks a timetable.
7:17pm: Bill Shaikin talked to a Giants official who says they’re "definitively" not interested in Manny Ramirez. They are, however, interested in Sabathia.
Abraham notes that Sabathia requested that second meet with the Yanks.
6:19pm: Peter Abraham learned from Brian Cashman that the Yanks met with Sabathia again today.
5:41pm: Sabathia’s meeting with Yankees officials lasted 2.5 hours yesterday, as he gathered information on the team and the city. He told the Yankees he’s not delaying his decision due to a desire to pitch elsewhere; he just wants to gather the facts.
4:32pm: Sabathia apparently told Colletti he wants to be a Dodger? Speaking to reporters, Colletti left it as a "possibility" the Dodgers could get involved.
4:12pm: Doug Melvin deems the opt-out and sixth year chatter "speculation" (despite the reports below and another from Phil Rogers). But after meeting with Sabathia’s agents today, Melvin says the Brewers are still in it. They’ll meet again later in the week.
Also, there’s an article making the rounds where Bill Madden quotes an industry source as saying Greg Genske is "dead as an agent" if Sabathia ends up signing for $120MM.
12:03pm: Joel Sherman says Brian Cashman brought Joe Girardi and Reggie Jackson along for their recent meeting with Sabathia. Privately, the Yanks feel that Sabathia would be entirely invested in New York if he signs with them (despite his West Coast leanings).
11:49am: Jon Heyman has a Brewers update. He says they’re open to adding a sixth year, bringing the total to $120MM (closer to $110MM with deferred money). He also heard an opt-out clause could be added after two years. Heyman says Sabathia hated having Spring Training in Florida, a slight mark against the Yankees.
10:30am: Dan Graziano was told yesterday that the Brewers added a sixth year to their Sabathia offer, but he admits there are conflicting reports on that.
9:33am: Buster Olney says to take it for what it’s worth, but his source says the meeting between Sabathia and the Yankees went "great."
8:44am: According to George King of the New York Post, the Brewers could offer C.C. Sabathia an opt-out clause after three seasons to entice him to sign (similar to the Blue Jays’ deal for A.J. Burnett). At this time, only the Brewers and Yankees have offers on the table for Sabathia. King talked to a source who said in regard to the Giants, "It would have to be a total default position in terms of years and dollars." Perhaps that indicates the Giants can’t really go beyond the Brewers’ five-year, $100MM offer.
Colletti Frustrated With Manny Situation
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
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.
Stark’s Latest: Dye, Greinke, Teixeira
Jayson Stark’s Winter Meetings preview is up; let’s take a look.
- Stark sees "just about zero chance" the Padres trade Jake Peavy at the Meetings. The Cubs will need at least a few weeks to settle their ownership situation before they can make a trade and take on his contract. Plus, a Stark source says it makes sense for the Padres to wait until the top free agent starters are off the board.
- The Braves, Reds, Royals, Rays, and possibly Mets have shown interest in Jermaine Dye. Dye played for the Royals from 1997-2001 before he was traded for Neifi Perez. The White Sox are willing to trade Paul Konerko and Jim Thome too.
- The Mariners would listen on "pretty much anybody." But given the surplus of closers on the market, it seems unlikely that Jack Zduriencik will be bowled over with an offer for J.J. Putz.
- The Royals really don’t want to trade Zack Greinke, but they’ll at least discuss him. The price would be massive. It doesn’t look like they want to trade David DeJesus or Mark Teahen either, but Jose Guillen can be had.
- The Marlins have been pushing Jorge Cantu over Jeremy Hermida, though Hermida’s drawn plenty of interest. Nick Cafardo named the Rays, Reds, and Giants earlier today.
- The Angels figure to attach a two or three-day deadline to their eventual Mark Teixeira offer.
- Stark sees Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake as the two free agents most likely to sign this week. Most execs Stark surveyed see Teixeira and Manny Ramirez signing in January.
Angels Rumors: Teixeira, Sabathia
Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times has the latest on the Angels.
- The Halos still haven’t made an offer to Mark Teixeira. They’re thinking five or six years at $20MM per, but it could take seven or eight.
- The Angels need to figure out the Tex situation soon, or risk missing out on C.C. Sabathia as well.
- The Angels’ left field plans are linked to whether they sign Teixeira. If they don’t get him, they could add a Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn, or Manny Ramirez.
Cafardo’s Latest: Halladay, Hermida, Abreu
Time for a look at the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
- Relievers on the Tigers’ radar: Trevor Hoffman, David Weathers, Arthur Rhodes, and Joe Beimel.
- Blue Jays J.P. Ricciardi is frank: "We will not trade Roy Halladay."
- Marlins right fielder Jeremy Hermida is said to interest the Reds, Rays, and Giants. John Perrotto says the Rays have inquired on Hermida.
- Cafardo believes the Dodgers will turn to Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, or Jermaine Dye if they fail to re-sign Manny Ramirez.
- Cafardo likes the Angels and Brewers as dark horses for Jake Peavy.
- Cafardo says not to discount the possibility of the Nationals signing Ken Griffey Jr.
Manny Declines Arbitration; What’s Next?
No surprise here, but Jon Heyman writes that Manny Ramirez will decline the Dodgers’ arbitration offer.
The Dodgers can still negotiate a contract with Manny, though they need infield help and starting pitching help as well.
Manny is seeking five years, though that’s unlikely. Heyman suggests that teams may be willing to go four years, however. He also names Manny as a good fallback for the Yankees and Angels, should they fail to sign Mark Teixeira. In fact, Heyman offers up the idea of the Yankees pursuing both Manny and Tex if they fail to sign C.C. Sabathia.
Mets Likely To Offer Deals To Closers
Andrew Marchand of ESPN radio 1050 in New York has a source who says the Mets will "probably" offer a deal to a closer at the Winter Meetings. Finding a closer remains a priority for the Mets, who may prefer Francisco Rodriguez over other options. Buster Olney recently wrote that the Mets will offer deals to multiple closers during the Winter Meetings and will give the closer’s job to the first free agent to accept his offer.
Marchand’s source said that Bobby Abreu, who wasn’t offered arbitration, and Raul Ibanez, who was, could be targets for the Mets once they make progress in the bullpen.
Manny Ramirez is apparently not on the Mets’ radar.
Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Manny, Lowe
Be sure to check out Jon Heyman’s Winter Meetings preview.
- A friend of C.C. Sabathia tells Heyman the pitcher received two offers from unknown teams prior to Thanksgiving, in addition to the ones from the Brewers and Yankees. Sabathia is taking his time with this, as he should.
- Manny Ramirez "admires the dollar." Just letting you know.
- A competing owner suggested to Heyman that the Cubs could cut budget. At any rate, they probably won’t do anything major til their ownership situation is settled.
- Derek Lowe is looking for $90MM over five years. He wants at least five years; ten teams are after him. Brian Cashman apparently expressed "heavy interest" to Scott Boras yesterday.
