By Alex Walsh | at
Yesterday, we did a write-up on a Gammons post that said Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Braden Looper were all receiving similar offers in the $5MM-a-year range. A report this evening conflicts with that notion.
Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News says Garland does not fit the Dodgers’ budget, but Wolf does. In reference to Wolf, Jackson writes: "Sounds to me like this is the guy the Dodgers are going to end up with."
By Steve Adams | at
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.
By Alex Walsh | at
In a blog post that leads off with a discussion of the effect of the WBC on pitching, Peter Gammons offers up a quick update on a few back-end starting pitchers.
According to Gammons, Randy Wolf, Jon Garland, and Braden Looper are all receiving similar offers at this point: roughly $5 million per year, plus options and incentives.
Gammons also mentions that Wolf in particular was not close to a deal with any particular team as of Friday, perhaps adding his two cents to the recently debunked rumor that the pitcher was close to signing with the Dodgers.
By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
Links for Saturday morning…
By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
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.
By Tim Dierkes | at
3:30pm: A bunch of reporters played telephone with Rosenthal’s "inside track" report on Wolf, saying the Dodgers were close to a deal. You can see that Stark rejected that notion below, and Tony Jackson agrees that they are not close.
12:50pm: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Dodgers have intensified their talks with free agent starters Randy Wolf, Jon Garland, and Braden Looper. Stark says that rather than favoring Wolf, the Dodgers have equal interest in all three and hope to sign one within a few days. He adds that the Dodgers haven’t spoken to Wolf’s agent Arn Tellem in several days.
Stark says the Dodgers continue to pursue Dennys Reyes, Luis Ayala, and Russ Springer, and plan to take care of their pitching staff before addressing Manny Ramirez.
By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
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.
By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
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.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Chuck Hixson of PhillyBaseballNews.com recently asked Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. about free agent starters Braden Looper, Jon Garland, and Randy Wolf. Amaro responded:
"I’d like to think that we’re at the point on our payroll, where those guys wouldn’t fit. We’re really kind of looking more for bullpen help. We are looking at some guys from outside the organization to add some depth and experience for us in the bullpen."
By Tim Dierkes | at
Another new column from the hard-working Ken Rosenthal.
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