Diamondbacks Continue to Strike Out
As Nick Piecoro reports, Randy Wolf is the latest free agent starting pitcher to decline an offer from the D’backs this off-season. Brad Penny, Randy Johnson, and Jon Garland are some of the others who have already indicated their desire to pursue other options.
Not much is known about the offer made to Penny, but Johnson was apparently offered a one-year deal in the $2-3MM range, and Garland is rumored to have been offered both a one-year deal that included two option years and a guaranteed two-year deal worth at least $13 million.
Piecoro notes that the rapidity with which Arizona appears to be cycling through its options could turn out to be an effective strategy for getting the right player at the right price. Pedro Martinez, perhaps? Of course, this is all assuming that they can get someone to actually say yes.
Mets, Oliver Perez Not Close To Deal
According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Mets realize now they won’t be locking up Oliver Perez quickly. Their reported three-year, $30MM offer is not on the table and Perez is still seeking about $60MM over five years. It’s the same old story regarding their backup plans: Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf, and Jon Garland.
Wolf Rejects D’Backs Offer
According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, free agent lefty Randy Wolf rejected an offer from the Diamondbacks. Jon Garland did the same last week; Garland’s offer apparently had two option years. Piecoro says the D’Backs have about $4-5MM left to spend this winter. Braden Looper is said to be next on the list.
Piecoro adds that the D’Backs have two arbitration-eligible players, Chad Qualls and Conor Jackson. They’re closer to an agreement with Qualls than Jackson.
Mets Rumors: Andruw, Manny, Perez
Peter Botte of the New York Daily News has a handful of Mets rumors to pass along:
- One Mets official says the team is "probably not" interested in Andruw Jones, even if he comes cheaply.
- Botte did hear from one person familiar with the team’s thinking who believes the Mets could check in with Jones if he’s still available when Spring Training begins.
- One baseball official said the Mets "are not even in on" Manny Ramirez.
- The Mets don’t expect to come to any sort of agreement with Oliver Perez in the next few days.
- They’ve been in regular contact with the representatives for Randy Wolf and Jon Garland, who are considered fallback options if they don’t sign Perez.
- The Mets have talked with Freddy Garcia.
Russell Martin Hopes To Discuss Extension
According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, Dodgers catcher Russell Martin hopes to discuss a long-term extension with the team this winter. Martin changed agents this offseason. He’s arbitration-eligible for the first time, so his salary will jump up from $500K to several million. Said Martin:
"I just want to get treated fairly. I’m not trying to steal the bank."
Martin had a private lunch with the McCourts yesterday at the Dodgers’ new spring home, but they did not discuss a contract. Brian McCann will be paid $15.5MM for his three arb years, $8.5MM for his first free agent year, and has a $12MM club option for another. That deal was signed almost two years ago, however. Also, Martin is a Super Two player and under team control through 2012.
In other Dodgers’ notes, Shaikin adds that they’ve backed off on Juan Cruz. Jon Garland, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Andy Pettitte, Luis Ayala, and Dennys Reyes remain on the radar to varying degrees.
Cards Could Pursue Free Agent Pitchers
According to MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, the Cardinals would love to upgrade their rotation and could do so via free agency. Ideally they would trade an outfielder for pitching, but the Cards are interested in pitchers with limited health risks willing to sign a short-term contract.
Leach confirmed with Jon Garland‘s agent that the Cardinals "have called," but nothing has happened beyond that. Leach breaks down the chances that Andy Pettitte, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Odalis Perez, Ben Sheets or even Oliver Perez ends up in St. Louis.
The Cardinals appear unlikely to add a reliver or a second baseman.
Cubs Rumors: Wolf, Bako, Hill, Pie
A few Cubs notes from Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald…
- Randy Wolf "remains a possibility" for the Cubs. Wolf should generate decent interest if he’s willing to sign for one year. He probably expected more after making 33 starts for the second time in his career. A Jake Peavy deal appears unlikely by Opening Day, says Gordon Wittenmyer.
- The Cubs are unlikely to re-sign Henry Blanco, but Paul Bako remains on the radar. So far it’s Koyie Hill for the Cubs’ backup catcher job.
- Out of options: Rich Hill, Felix Pie, and Ronny Cedeno. Hill and Pie are good candidates to be dealt before Opening Day. Angel Guzman is also out of options, but he has a shot at cracking the team’s bullpen.
Rosenthal On Lackey, Dunn, Young, Isringhausen
Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal.
- John Lackey is due up for extension talks with the Angels, as he’ll be eligible for free agency after the ’09 season. He’d easily be the best available starter. Rosenthal says talks with the Angels should occur before the beginning of the season, but the Halos may not be willing to offer A.J. Burnett money (five years, $82.5MM). In November, Jayson Stark said Lackey had been telling friends he expects to have an extension by Opening Day. That came after Lackey’s confirmation he’d wait to see the Angels’ offensive plans before re-signing.
- The Braves paid $60MM for Derek Lowe, though no one else made a comparable offer. This is a testament to Scott Boras (and perhaps the Braves’ desperation), though Boras has more challenging work ahead in Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek.
- The Red Sox have shown interest in Adam Dunn, one rival exec tells Rosenthal. Rosenthal considers the possibility a longshot – "a square peg in a round hole." The Sox could always make a midseason deal if their offense isn’t cutting it.
- A Rangers official put Michael Young‘s chances of being with the team on Opening Day at at least 90%. The Rangers aren’t interested in moving Ian Kinsler to left field and Young to second base.
- Rosenthal believes Xavier Nady is likely to garner Type A status when he becomes a free agent after the ’09 season, but half of the equation (his 2009 stats) is missing.
- Jason Isringhausen is considering four teams, and he’d have a shot to close for those clubs. The Dodgers aren’t terribly interested, while the Cardinals and Tigers are possibilities.
- Should the Mets sign Andy Pettitte as well as Randy Wolf or Oliver Perez? One rival exec suggested the idea.
- The Astros apparently made a three-year, $28.5MM offer to Wolf before pulling it back. Looks like he’ll be settling for less.
- Rosenthal says a Rangers trade for Jermaine Dye is "not happening." They’ll go with Hank Blalock‘s left-handed offense rather than sign an aging veteran. Blalock is headed into a contract year.
- If Todd Helton has a healthy spring, the Rockies could shop Garrett Atkins.
- The Red Sox and D’Backs are not close to a deal involving catcher Miguel Montero. Arizona will need to add a capable backup catcher if they do find a deal for Montero.
Mets Lose Lowe; What’s Next?
Ben Shpigel of the New York Times looks at the Mets’ plans now that Derek Lowe has signed with the division-rival Braves.
Contrary to Jon Heyman’s report yesterday, Shpigel says the Mets have not yet made an offer to Oliver Perez. He expects that to happen within a day or two. The Mets are also "weighing a run at Ben Sheets, but are wary of his injury history." This Sheets-Mets idea is picking up steam. Sheets is also a "person of interest" for the Rangers, but they have not made an offer. Randy Wolf seems to be Mets’ fallback plan. David Lennon says the Mets are also involved with Jon Garland.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the Wolfs of the world – do those guys all end up with one-year, $8MM deals?
Dodgers Rumors: Wolf, Garland, Looper
Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News has a variety of Dodgers rumors for us:
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said he would like to add "a starter, a reliever or both" as well as a versatile bench player.
- Jackson writes that the club’s believed to have refined its search for a starter to three pitchers: Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Braden Looper. Yahoo’s Tim Brown wrote that the Dodgers had interest in these three earlier in the week.
- The Dodgers are also believed to be looking at Juan Cruz, a Type A free agent. Signing Cruz would require giving up a draft pick, so Jackson says he’s less likely to join the Dodgers. Ken Rosenthal suggested the Dodgers had interest earlier in the week.
- The club could bring Nomar Garciaparra back, but he has another suitor now that the Phillies are also interested.