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Manny Ramirez

More Odds And Ends: Padres, Francoeur, Manny, Phillies

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A few more notes from the MLBiverse…

  • Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the Padres have not set their ’09 payroll but that it could be as low as $40MM. Krasovic also notes that the Braves are not one of the teams that have inquired about Khalil Greene. Also, Kevin Towers continues to sound positive about the possibility of resigning Trevor Hoffman. The Padres have offered Hoffman a one-year deal for $4MM with a ’10 option at the same price.
  • Paul DePodesta comments about all of the rumors that are swirling on his personal blog.
  • We have heard this before, but now a Braves official is saying there have been no recent discussions involving Jeff Francoeur.
  • Jayson Stark discusses why a six-year deal for Manny Ramirez makes little sense.
  • Ken Mandel takes a closer look at the Phillies’ contract commitments and what they mean for the ’09 roster.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Thursday

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Here’s what we know about the Dodgers’ offer to Manny Ramirez: it’s two or three years in length, with an option year.  The average annual value is in the $23-27MM range.

ESPN’s Buster Olney noted that GM Ned Colletti made a "very public show" of his offer, and Joel Sherman sees it as a PR move.  Sherman guesses the Dodgers will ultimately sign Manny at four years, $100MM.  Ramirez does not seem to be the priority for any other team.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Furcal, Bradley, Greinke

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Another day, another Ken Rosenthal column.

  • The A’s have payroll flexibility, and are expressing "strong interest" in free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.  Bobby Crosby is set to earn $5.25MM in ’09, but it makes sense to upgrade.
  • Contrary to previous reports, Rosenthal says the Tigers are not in on Furcal.  They’ll also pass on Francisco Rodriguez, which was expected.
  • Rosenthal discusses possible fits for Milton Bradley, including the Rays, Rangers, Blue Jays, Mets, Cardinals, and Phillies.  It will be hard to overlook the health risk and give Bradley a three-year deal, especially for an NL club.
  • Rosenthal confirms interest in Khalil Greene from the Orioles and Reds.  The Blue Jays and Tigers have also been mentioned.
  • There’s no way the Phillies can afford Manny Ramirez; a look at their ’09 commitments makes that clear.
  • The Royals hope to sign Zack Greinke and Alex Gordon to long-term extensions.  Rosenthal feels trade discussions could pick up for Greinke if the Royals can’t sign him.  Keith Law said the same yesterday.
  • The Padres will exercise Brian Giles’ $9MM option in the next day or two.

Yankees Rumors: Sabathia, Marte, Mussina

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11:09pm: Brian Cashman sums up the Yankees’ plan: "We’re going to show a lot of love."

12:15pm: It’s about time we check in with Yankees links.

  • The Yankees will make their record-breaking pitch to C.C. Sabathia.  If it fails, they’ll move on to A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Oliver Perez.
  • Joel Sherman says the Yankees could get involved on Manny Ramirez, but only if they fail to sign Mark Teixeira and manage to trade Hideki Matsui.
  • Sherman says the Yanks are in on the catching market just to be safe, engaging the Rangers about Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  They’ll also "keep tabs" on Ivan Rodriguez.  If the Yanks find another club that values Robinson Cano highly and offers pitching, he could be traded and Orlando Hudson signed.  None of this stuff seems likely.
  • Peter Abraham believes the Yanks are working on an extension with Damaso Marte.
  • Buster Olney says some of Mike Mussina’s friends believe that the longer it takes for him to decide on 2009, the more likely it is he pitches. 
  • Peter Abraham believes Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy will be traded before next season, but Brian Cashman has not lost faith in Hughes.

Mets Prioritize Pitching

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9:15pm: Michael Schmidt has a look at the amusing binder the Boras Corporation compiled to sell Oliver Perez.

6:31pm: Mets GM Omar Minaya commented on Manny Ramirez, indicating that he plans to invest in pitching instead.

2:34pm: The Mets expressed preliminary interest in Jon Garland and Ryan Dempster, according to Ken Davidoff.  Dempster’s agent made it clear that he won’t be re-signing with the Cubs soon.

1:23pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote in his blog this morning that the Mets are probably not willing to go past three years for Francisco Rodriguez or any reliever.

10:03am: More Mets chatter from Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He says the Mets and Rays have had preliminary discussions about Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine.  The Rays have some interest in Aaron Heilman, though the Mets would need to give more.

Sherman believes the Mets’ interest in Ibanez is minor, and Carlos Delgado or Ryan Church would have to be dealt first.

9:45am: The Mets are prioritizing pitching this winter, based on articles by Mike Puma of the New York Post, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, and Ken Davidoff of Newsday.  Let’s dig in!

  • Puma says the Mets have Scott Boras clients Oliver Perez and Derek Lowe on the radar.  Perez offers the benefit of familiarity, though he’s not likely to sign quickly.  Ken Rosenthal says the Mets would probably do $12MM a year for Perez, but Boras will want more.  Rubin notes that Lowe is doubly attractive to the Mets for his closing experience.
  • Rubin lists the Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs, and D’Backs as potential trade destinations for Aaron Heilman.  The Rays have also been connected to Heilman.
  • Davidoff mentions Omar Minaya’s Javier Vazquez connection.  ESPN’s Keith Law says the Vazquez to the Mets rumor "appears to have originated in the Chicago camp, and the White Sox are keen to move him." 
  • ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Mets inquired on Rays pitcher Edwin Jackson.
  • Davidoff also points out the Mets’ interest in Raul Ibanez despite their emphasis on pitching.  The Royals and Cubs are also in on Ibanez so far.

Dodgers Make Offer To Manny, Will Pass On Varitek

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8:29pm: Some info on Manny’s offer is coming in.  Ken Davidoff believes it’s for two years with an option.  Peter Abraham suggests two years, $50MM.

6:50pm: Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said this evening he will "probably not" pursue free agent catcher Jason Varitek.  It never made sense to move Russell Martin off catcher, and Scott Boras’ early demands for Varitek are steep anyway.

Colletti also said the Dodgers made an offer to Manny Ramirez that would be the highest average annual salary in club history and second highest in MLB history.  Ken Rosenthal says this means it’s between $22.9MM and $27.5MM per year.  My guess: two years, $52MM. 

Red Sox Rumors: Bay, Tazawa, Kawakami, Lugo

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Collecting today’s Red Sox rumors and links…

  • Nick Cafardo says the Red Sox did not meet with C.C. Sabathia’s agent and he doesn’t appear to be in their plans.
  • The Sox are eyeing southpaw reliever Billy Traber, according to WEEI’s Alex Speier.
  • Scott Boras believes Derek Lowe would be a good fit in Boston or New York.  Nick Cafardo says Lowe would like to return to Boston, maybe even at a slight discount.
  • Jason Bay’s agents say he’s loving Boston and is open to a contract extension.
  • When asked about the possibility of Manny Ramirez signing with the Yankees, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein basically said it’s not his concern.
  • Otherwise, the theme of Epstein’s comments was flexibility.  Justin Masterson could be a starter or reliever, and Epstein won’t get hung up on acquiring any one player.
  • Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the Red Sox are heavily involved on Junichi Tazawa, though the Braves and Mariners are after him as well.  The Sox also like Kenshin Kawakami and may have interest in Paul Byrd and Javier Vazquez.
  • Cafardo believes the Mets and White Sox have interest in Julio Lugo.  It would have to be a bad contract swap.  Cafardo adds that the Red Sox view Jacoby Ellsbury as their starting center fielder, and there has been trade interest in Coco Crisp.
  • Boston’s luxury tax threshold for 2009 is $160.5MM.
  • By tomorrow the Red Sox should receive the Jason Varitek book compiled by the Boras corporation.  Boras gave a ridiculous Varitek pitch to the media; click the link for quotes.  Epstein will meet with Boras today to discuss his clients.
  • The Red Sox plan to talk to the Rangers, with Taylor Teagarden, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Gerald Laird as possibilities.  For Teagarden, the Red Sox would probably have to give up Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden.

Brown’s Latest: Teixeira, Crede, Friedman

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Yahoo’s Tim Brown filed a column late last night; let’s take a look.

  • Scott Boras doesn’t know of any kind of contingency where the Dodgers would have to unload Andruw Jones’ contract before signing Manny Ramirez.
  • The Angels have not yet made an offer to Mark Teixeira, but they’ll deal with that situation before moving on to other needs.  Boras is suggesting Teixeira pays for himself.
  • Boras compared Joe Crede to Magglio Ordonez.  I think he is implying that he may seek big money for Crede but allow a team to opt out after a year if he hits the DL for back problems.
  • Ken Williams spoke up manufacturing runs, while Billy Beane still prefers walks and homers.
  • Rays GM Andrew Friedman doesn’t have a contract, but he isn’t concerned.

LaRue’s Latest: Manny, Ibanez, Putz

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Larry LaRue of The News Tribune has several new rumors…

  • Scott Boras has floated an asking price for Manny Ramirez that begins at $27MM per year.  It seems that the Dodgers may be willing to offer that salary for two years, but Boras wants a significantly longer term.
  • The Cubs and Mets expressed interest to Raul Ibanez’s agent.  Does this mean the Cubs are comfortable with the idea of Ibanez in right field?
  • The Tigers crave a closer, and J.J. Putz may be a target.  Putz will earn $5MM in ’09 with an $8.6MM option for ’10.

Latest Dodgers Info

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Alex Speier of WEEI has the latest Dodgers chatter, as GM Ned Colletti held court this evening.  Ned wasn’t in a very revealing mood.

  • Colletti reiterated that no offer has been made to Manny Ramirez.  He hasn’t met with Scott Boras yet.  Since the Dodgers have so many needs, Colletti would like to resolve the Manny situation quickly.  In Jerry Crasnick’s survey of 15 executives, 10 chose the Dodgers as Manny’s destination.  It’s unlikely that the Dodgers are able to sign Ramirez and C.C. Sabathia.
  • Those other needs include shortstop, third base, the bullpen, and the rotation.
  • Colletti was not sure whether Jeff Kent and/or Nomar Garciaparra will retire.
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