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Olney’s Latest: Cano, Burnett, Furcal, Giambi

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Good stuff from ESPN’s Buster Olney in today’s blog post.

  • Olney says the Yankees would ask for Chad Billingsley or Clayton Kershaw from the Dodgers for Robinson Cano.  After the Dodgers turn down that request, the Yanks will ask for Matt Kemp.  If the Yankees do move Cano, they could then pursue Orlando Hudson.
  • Rival executives believe the Braves’ offer to A.J. Burnett is worth $75MM over five years, if the fifth year vests.
  • The A’s will leave their offer to Rafael Furcal on the table for perhaps another two or three days before moving on.
  • Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik will reach out to Raul Ibanez to discuss his situation.  Ibanez has been devalued in the eyes of potential suitors by the draft pick cost that comes with him.  Still, most teams must’ve expected the Ms would offer arbitration.
  • Jason Giambi’s agent is suggesting a three-year deal.  Good luck with that.

Stark’s Latest: Burnett, Cantu, Lowe, Furcal

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Jayson Stark’s got a heaping helping of hot stove updates in his most recent blog post at ESPN.com.

  • The Braves’ most recent offer makes them the frontrunners for A.J. Burnett, says Stark.
  • We’re still waiting for another team to come close to the Yankees’ offer for C.C. Sabathia. Stark suggests Sabathia may make up his mind by next week.  He also says there’s "increasing buzz about the Yankees’ interest in Ben Sheets."
  • The White Sox appear to have expressed some interest in Jorge Cantu.
  • Stark doesn’t think the Phillies stand a very good chance of signing Derek Lowe.
  • Only the Dodgers and A’s, and perhaps the Orioles, remain interested in Rafael Furcal.
  • If the Dodgers end up missing on Furcal and Casey Blake, their focus might shift to names like Ty Wigginton and Adrian Beltre.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Johnson, Cano, Peavy

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4:54pm: The Big Unit is open to the Giants or A’s, not a big surprise.  Johnson’s agent says about ten teams have expressed interest, Giants included.

11:49am: Ken Rosenthal is working overtime; here’s his latest.

  • The A’s remain the frontrunners for Rafael Furcal.  Also, they’re targeting starter Randy Johnson to add a veteran presence to their rotation.  Rosenthal adds that the A’s may prefer Nick Johnson over Jason Giambi.
  • The Phillies made an offer to Derek Lowe, who seems to be their backup plan if they can’t sign Jamie Moyer.  Rosenthal speculates that the Dodgers could consider Moyer.  If the Phils sign Lowe, they may have to go cheap in left field.
  • Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf are on the Yankees’ radar.
  • The Braves haven’t ruled out five guaranteed years for A.J. Burnett.  Rosenthal agrees with Mark Bowman that the Braves actually have little interest in Adam Dunn.  He adds that Raul Ibanez might be out of their price range.  Instead, the Braves could choose to trade Kelly Johnson for an outfielder.
  • Rosenthal believes the Dodgers will renew talks for Robinson Cano at the Winter Meetings, and the Yankees will again ask for Matt Kemp.
  • The Cubs are speaking daily to the Padres about Jake Peavy.  Rosenthal says the Orioles do not seem to be the third team at this time.
  • Rosenthal believes the Royals could make a run at Kyle Farnsworth.

Olney’s Latest: Manny, Peavy, Fuentes

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ESPN’s Buster Olney has a bunch of new info in today’s blog.

  • Olney continues to wonder if Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras will "wave the white flag" and accept the Dodgers’ offer of arbitration.  It could result in a huge one-year salary, and the current market for Manny is not robust.  However, Peter Abraham said in July that a condition of Manny’s trade was that he would decline arbitration.  Did anyone else write this?  Hopefully a journalist will ask Boras about it soon.
  • Olney says the Cubs would love to have Adam Dunn in their lineup, but he’s a stretch as a full-time right fielder.  The Cubs are willing to sacrifice some defense in right, but how much?
  • Could Dunn or Pat Burrell wind up with the Rays on an affordable one-year deal?
  • The Cubs and Padres "have a basic framework in place" for a Jake Peavy deal built around third baseman Josh Vitters.  Things may pick up after the Cubs’ ownership situation is resolved.
  • The Astros don’t have a ton of flexibility to move their high-salaried stars, but Jose Valverde is one they can deal without restriction.  He’s due for a nice raise from this year’s $4.7MM.
  • Olney suggests the Rockies were wise to trade Matt Holliday when they did, or they might’ve gotten significantly less.
  • Olney speaks of "a belief within the Rockies’ organization" that Brian Fuentes could come back on a multiyear deal.  The Rockies could trade Huston Street in that case.
  • The Braves may push A.J. Burnett for an answer before C.C. Sabathia signs, in case the Yanks miss out on C.C. and come after Burnett.
  • Apparently there is "serious tension" between Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland.
  • Olney sees Rafael Furcal signing with the A’s.

Stark’s Latest: Sabathia, Furcal, Peavy

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A few notes from Jayson Stark’s latest blog post…

  • Stark believes the possibility of C.C. Sabathia signing with the Giants is alive, and the Giants have talked to the pitcher’s agent.  Such a signing might compel Brian Sabean to remove Matt Cain’s "untouchable" tag, in Stark’s opinion.  Earlier today Ken Rosenthal suggested the Giants were a dark horse for C.C.  Also, Sabathia’s wife Amber prefers the Giants according to George King.
  • The Giants offered three years to Rafael Furcal.  He wants four, so they switched their attention to Edgar Renteria.  The Giants want a shorter-term deal so their own prospects can take over within a few years.
  • Stark notes that the recent Jake Peavy-Cubs rumors do not seem to be coming out of Chicago.  He suggests those talks may not be active, partially because the Cubs are in payroll limbo til their sale goes through.
  • The Twins and Dodgers have two year offers out to Casey Blake.  Whichever team blinks and adds a third year can get him.

Giants Rumors: Renteria, Howry

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8:02pm: MLB.com’s Chris Haft says the Giants accelerated their pursuit of Bob Howry now that the Cubs chose not to offer him arbitration.

6:55pm: The AP has an update on the Giants’ pursuit of free agent shortstop Edgar Renteria, though there’s not much new info.  The Giants and Renteria are discussing the parameters of a deal and he is their top option at short.  It makes sense that things will get moving now that Renteria failed to receive an offer of arbitration from the Tigers.

Odds and Ends: Thorman, Sabathia, Pettitte

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Links for Tuesday…

Tigers Decline To Offer Arb To Renteria

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3:31pm: Andrew Baggarly thinks Renteria and the Giants are "gravitating toward each other" now that he won’t cost a draft pick.  Baggarly believes the Giants might be ready to back off from Furcal over health concerns.

2:42pm: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers declined to offer arbitration to Edgar Renteria today.  The risk of the Type A free agent accepting must’ve been too strong.  Since he will not cost any draft picks, Renteria now becomes more appealing to potential suitors.  Rafael Furcal is neither Type A nor B, so he carries the same appeal.

Only 17.3% of MLBTR readers expected the Tigers to offer arb to Renteria.

Rafael Furcal Rumors: Monday

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark has the latest on free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.  Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer doesn’t see his client signing before the winter meetings, which kick off next week.

Four teams are in on Furcal: the Giants, A’s, Braves, and a mystery team.  Stark talked to execs who guessed the Red Sox or Orioles could be the fourth team.  That team apparently has to make a trade to open up their shortstop position.  In a recent poll of over 6,000 MLBTR readers, the A’s won the vote as the team most likely to sign Furcal.

The Braves’ interest will pick up if they trade shortstop Yunel Escobar first.  We knew about the Padres; Stark says the Cardinals and Royals also expressed interest in Escobar.

Indians Shift Focus To Closer

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According to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Indians decided last week that multiyear deals for Rafael Furcal or Orlando Hudson would be too risky (health concerns).  They’re likely to switch their focus to finding a closer.

Hoynes says the Indians have talked to the agents for Brian Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Isringhausen, and Francisco Rodriguez.  Hoynes believes the Mets have the upper hand on K-Rod.  Still, Fuentes has scheduled a trip to New York to visit with the Mets.

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