Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Padres Rumors

Cubs Re-Sign Dempster

By | at

3:45pm: ESPN is reporting details of the contract. Dempster gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8MM in 2009, $12.5MM in 2010, $13.5MM in 2011, and a $14MM player option for 2012.  He can make additional money based on awards.  Looks like the Cubs backloaded the deal to leave payroll room.

11:51am: Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times also says there’s a four-year, $52MM agreement and Dempster will sign the deal today.  I consider this an acceptable price.  There’s a health risk, but Dempster already had Tommy John surgery.  He can probably maintain an ERA below 4.00.

11:47am: Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger has a source saying the Cubs and Dempster have agreed on a four-year, $52MM deal.

11:24am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Cubs are "making progress" on a deal with Dempster.

10:50am: Rosenthal says the deal would be worth "slightly more than $50 million."

9:53am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are close to re-signing Ryan Dempster to a four-year contract.  Depending on their ownership situation, the Cubs may still pursue Jake Peavy or Randy Johnson.  They could also be in the mix for Rafael Furcal.

Yankees Rumors: Abreu, Burnett, Teixeira

By | at

George King of the New York Post and Kat O’Brien of Newsday have the latest on the Yankees, who are in hot pursuit of free agent starting pitching.

  • The Yankees will offer arbitration to Bobby Abreu, according to Jon Heyman.  No surprise there.
  • King says the Yankees are preparing an offer for A.J. Burnett, "perhaps a five-year deal worth about $80 million."  Burnett’s agent says they’re just discussing parameters.  It would be a strong offer, dwarfing the Blue Jays’ four years, $54MM.  ESPN’s Buster Olney believes a fifth guaranteed year will ultimately result in the winning bid for Burnett.
  • The Yankees may make an offer to Derek Lowe soon; they’ve reached out to Scott Boras regarding him.  Other Lowe suitors: the Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets, and Rangers.  O’Brien adds that the Yanks expressed interest in Mark Teixeira to Boras (despite the Nick Swisher acquisition).  The Orioles are also in on in Tex.
  • King talked to a "baseball exec" who sees the Cubs re-signing Ryan Dempster at four years, $52MM.
  • Andy Pettitte’s agent doesn’t want a pay cut from this year’s $16MM.
  • The expectation is still for Mike Mussina to retire; we may know this week.
  • The Yankees aren’t in on Jake Peavy, as evidenced by Kevin Towers’ comments last night.  Rick Sutcliffe and Mark Grace have been pitching the Cubs to Peavy, though the hangup seems more about which players the Chicago would send to San Diego.
  • The Yanks have an offer of about six years, $140MM on the table for C.C. Sabathia, and he’s mulling it over (somewhere).

Jake Peavy Rumors: Monday

By | at

MLB.com’s Corey Brock has the latest on Jake Peavy, after speaking to Padres GM Kevin Towers.

It doesn’t sound like much is going on with the Yankees, despite Ken Rosenthal’s report of numerous discussions.  Towers says he’s had "no direct conversations with Cashman about Peavy over a period of time."  Towers is currently focused on the Cubs, but admits that a third or even fourth team would need to be involved.  He hasn’t talked to the Angels about Peavy.

Yankees Pursuing Peavy

By | at

A quick update on Jake Peavy. On Thursday, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune said it was clear that neither the Braves nor Cubs would be acquiring Peavy. The Braves are moving on, looking at A.J. Burnett, despite Buster Olney’s suggestion that both sides need this deal. Krasovic wondered if Kevin Towers might approach the Yankees and Angels.

Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal reports Brian Cashman and Towers have been discussing a Peavy deal since the GM meetings earlier this month. Towers apparently wanted to engage NL clubs – a "strong preference" for Peavy – before touching base again with the Yankees again but talks have now officially recommenced.

This continues to be mentioned as it makes good news, and who knows, but it remains a longshot. Peavy would need to be given financial reason to waive his no-trade clause to play for a high-profile AL club on the east coast, and the Yankees would need to trade more prospects (despite already dealing five young pitchers away for Nick Swisher, Damaso Marte, and Xavier Nady) rather than solve their rotation needs through free agent signings.

Olney On Braves, Peavy, Burnett

By | at

Buster Olney writes that the Braves are still the best fit for Jake Peavy, even if they are apparently moving on for the time being. Olney argues that “both sides need this trade.”

The Braves will not bid on C.C. Sabathia, and Olney thinks they’ll have a tough time signing A.J. Burnett.

If the Braves can’t sign Burnett, Olney suggests Jon Garland, Oliver Perez and Ryan Dempster as alternatives.

The Braves have already had preliminary discussions with Burnett’s agent, Darek Brauneker.

Braves Moving On From Peavy

By | at

4:26pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs remain interested in Peavy; they intend to add one starting pitcher.  Ryan Dempster is another possibility, and Randy Johnson is also on the radar.

4:14pm: Much ink has been spilled on the possibility of the Braves acquiring Jake Peavy, but GM Frank Wren tabled that idea today.  Wren has notified the Padres he’s moving on to other pitchers to fill his rotation.  A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Ryan Dempster are known to be targets.

Burnett, Braves Have Mutual Interest

By | at

According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves and A.J. Burnett have mutual interest.  Preliminary talks have taken place.  Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker, downplayed the idea that Burnett strongly desires to play closer to home.  The Braves also like Derek Lowe and Ryan Dempster.  They could try to sign two of the three if a Jake Peavy deal cannot be hammered out.

Burnett has a four-year, $54MM offer from the Blue Jays to shop around.  The Yankees should make an offer soon.

Odds and Ends: Perez, Torres, Beimel

By | at

Links for Friday, with an unplanned emphasis on relievers…

Jake Peavy Rumors: Thursday

By | at

9:41pm: Kevin Towers told Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune that despite advanced discussions with the Braves and Cubs, he does not see a potential deal with either club.  Krasovic wonders if Towers will now try to engage the Yankees and Angels.

4:26pm: Rosenthal says trade talks between the Padres and Braves remain at an impasse, but the Braves would pursue Rafael Furcal next if they do acquire Peavy.

4:14pm: Brown has a quote from Kevin Towers:  "Nothing is close.  I wouldn’t say we are even remotely close to pulling the trigger on anything with Jake."  But the question remains – are the Padres nearing a deal with the Braves?

4:02pm: Click here to listen to an mp3 of Scott Miller on XX Sports Radio.  Miller didn’t say anything new, but explained that the denials are a matter of semantics since he said the Padres are "expected to" approach Peavy soon, and not that a deal was done.

1:34pm: No agreement, says Yahoo’s Tim Brown, but "some movement" in talks with the Braves.  Brown’s source also says the Cubs’ offer was much better than reported.

12:55pm: Ken Rosenthal talked to a Padres source who called Miller’s report "totally inaccurate."  The source says the Padres are not close on a Peavy deal. 

10:29am: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says the Braves haven’t gotten the sense they’re any closer to a deal with the Padres.

9:18am: CBSSports.com’s Scott Miller, using careful language, suggested the Padres and Braves neared a Jake Peavy trade last night.  Ken Rosenthal, however, says the Padres have not communicated acceptance of the Braves’ offer at this time.  The Cubs remain uncertain but interested, despite Lou Piniella’s remarks.  Rosenthal wonders if the Padres agreed internally to make a deal with Atlanta, and will take the next steps today.

Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports "no clear sign of a deal."  He notes that old friends Kevin Towers and Barry Axelrod do not have the same goals. 

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top