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Pedro Martinez Rumors: Friday

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10:52pm: According to MLB.com’s Marty Noble, or perhaps the AP, Pedro said he’s received offers but not from the Mets.

9:13am: According to Mark Hale of the New York Post, Pedro Martinez plans to use the World Baseball Classic as an audition for MLB teams.  Hale notes that Omar Minaya’s presence in the Dominican Republic was for a prearranged scouting trip but a meeting with Pedro was planned for yesterday.  Arthur Staple of Newsday said that meeting was "more of a courtesy," and Minaya himself said he was "just keeping in touch."

On Wednesday, Jon Heyman wrote that Minaya loves Pedro and some baseball people expect a Mets reunion after the Oliver Perez situation is resolved.

Pedro Remains On Mets’ Radar

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Matthew Cerrone discusses an AP report stating that the Mets remain interested in Pedro Martinez.  Omar Minaya met with Pedro in the Dominican Republic but did not make an offer.  Pedro has yet to receive any offers, though the Pirates are known to have had exploratory conversations.

Cerrone also notes this Jon Heyman report, suggesting that some baseball people expect Minaya to attempt to re-sign Pedro after the Oliver Perez situation is resolved.

Randy Wolf Rumors: Wednesday

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11:36pm: MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick believes the Dodgers and Wolf "will remain apart until the Mets sign a pitcher," perhaps because the Mets have more money to spend than the Dodgers.  Braden Looper is the Dodgers’ fallback plan.

4:42pm: Ken Rosenthal addresses Randy Wolf’s situation now that Jon Garland is no longer an option for the Mets and Dodgers.

Wolf’s agents are still talking to both teams; the Mets are currently focused on Oliver Perez though.  The Mets are also talking to Ben Sheets’ agent.  One Rosenthal source said the Mets "could sign Wolf quickly if they made him a pre-emptive offer."  That won’t happen unless Perez is ruled out.

Rosenthal says the Dodgers "reassessed their positions with Wolf and Garland after the Yankees re-signed free-agent lefty Andy Pettitte for $5.5 million with the chance to earn $6.5 million in incentives."  We’re left to read between the lines; does it mean the Dodgers are now offering less to Wolf?

Oliver Perez Rumors: Tuesday

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4:57pm: Just to hammer the point home, Brewers GM Doug Melvin responded "absolutely not" when asked if he’s in on Perez.

4:02pm: Anthony Rieber’s source says the Mets are "a little bit closer" to signing Perez, but they’re maintaining dialogue with Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf, and Jon Garland.  Rieber says the Mets have shown a willingness to go to four years for Perez.

1:34pm: Heyman says the Mets remain the favorite for Perez, even though talks slowed in the last day or two.  The Mets’ offer exceeds three years and $30MM.

9:02am: Tom Haudricourt finds the Brewers-Perez connection to be Scott Boras propaganda – the Brewers don’t like his price and don’t want to give up a draft pick.

8:14am: Matthew Cerrone passes along a Jon Heyman MLB Network report of rumblings that the Rangers and Brewers may be in on Oliver Perez.  The Mets remain the favorite.

At 27, Perez is the youngest free agent starter this year.  However, I imagine a four-year deal would still be a tough sell for the Rangers or Brewers.

Rosenthal On Manny, Garcia, Greinke

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column…

  • Rosenthal speculates that the Giants may not be the right fit for Manny Ramirez, given a challenging ballpark and questionable supporting cast of hitters.  Rosenthal suggests a contract that might work for Manny and the Dodgers: two years with a third-year player option, with no-trade protection covering only the first two years.
  • Many remaining free agents – Adam Dunn for example – may prefer a one-year deal because it will increase their options and allow them to re-enter the market after the season.
  • The White Sox found the price for Freddy Garcia to be too high ($1.5MM plus $6.5MM in incentives).  Rosenthal deems Oliver Perez a bad fit for the Sox in part because he’s a flyball pitcher.  Also there’s the whole Scott Boras thing.
  • Among the right-handed hitters the Phillies are mulling, Rosenthal feels that Nomar Garciaparra and Rich Aurilia make the most sense.
  • The Angels may go to Spring Training with their current club.
  • Zack Greinke received "very minor" no-trade protection in the first two years of his new deal, with seemingly no protection when his salary shoots up to $13.5MM in 2011.

Astros Pulled Offer To Wolf

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Many people have felt that Randy Wolf grossly misread the market this offseason, by rejecting a three-year, $28.5MM offer from the Astros early on. According to Ken Rosenthal, however, Wolf didn’t even have time to reject that offer before Houston pulled it off the table, citing the economy as a reason:

"Wolf told me Saturday night that he was close to re-signing with the Astros in late November when the team abruptly pulled its offer, citing a changing economic climate.

Astros general manager Ed Wade confirmed Wolf’s account, saying the team was ’fully engaged in negotiations and had to stop. It had nothing to do with a lack of interest on our part or Randy’s part.’"

Rosenthal reiterates that the Dodgers are currently the leading suitor for Wolf’s services, but they’re still talking with Jon Garland and Braden Looper as well. The Mets could be another fit, but are focused on Oliver Perez.

Wolf may have to settle for a one-year deal, and if he does, it will almost certainly be at a lower rate than the $9.5MM the Astros initially offered. Rosenthal points out that would mean the downturn in the economy could cost Wolf upwards of $20MM. That could be ok for Wolf, though, who explicitly states that signing for him isn’t about who offers the most money – his goal is to pitch in October.

Mets Offer Perez Revised Contract

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According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Mets have offered another contract to Oliver Perez. They already offered a deal that appeared to be for three years and about $30MM, but the Mets are "believed to have improved" their first offer. Earlier today we heard that the Mets might be willing to add a fourth year to their offer.

The Mets are still talking with representatives for Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Ben Sheets, but Perez remains their top target.

Mets Willing To Go Four Years For Oliver Perez?

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According to ESPN Radio’s Andrew Marchand:

The Mets will eventually be willing to go to four years for Oliver Perez. Meanwhile, the Mets have growing interest in Ben Sheets. A source says that the Mets don’t think Sheets’ arm is perfect, but it is not terrible either.

Marchand’s source expects the Mets’ negotiations for Perez to continue to drag.  If there’s another club willing to go to four years for Perez, that info has been kept away from the media thus far.  Sheets, as you know, met with Rangers brass yesterday.  Dan Graziano provides his take on the Mets’ plans over at his blog.

Mets To Sign Freddy Garcia

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FRIDAY, 8:50am: Jon Heyman explains that Garcia felt the Mets gave him a better opportunity to pitch/start as compared to the Yankees.  Garcia apparently had some concern that the Yankees will re-sign Andy Pettitte.

THURSDAY, 7:32pm: According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets have agreed to a minor league deal with Freddy Garcia. Rubin heard that the deal could be worth $8-9MM if Garcia makes the team and reaches all his incentives.

Newsday’s Anthony Rieber confirms that Garcia has agreed to a minor league deal. Like Danielle Sessa, Rieber writes that the Mets still have the money to sign a starter like Randy Wolf, Ben Sheets or Oliver Perez.  Ken Rosenthal says they still intend to sign another starter and Perez remains atop the list.

Dodgers Are Lead Suitors For Wolf

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According to Ken Rosenthal, major league sources say the Dodgers have the "inside track" on signing Randy Wolf. Such a deal would likely be for one or two years.

The Dodgers are talking with Jon Garland and Braden Looper as well as Wolf.

The Mets, who consider Wolf an alternative to Oliver Perez, are still talking with Ben Sheets and Pedro Martinez as well as Garland and Perez.

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