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Cliff Lee Rumors: Monday

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Cliff Lee's agent Darek Braunecker held court today at the Winter Meetings, but didn't say much.  The latest on the lefty:

  • The Rangers are waiting on Lee before moving on to other top free agent targets, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com, who suggests (on Twitter) that the market for Lee is heating up tonight.
  • Seven years is a "dealbreaker" for the Yankees, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who suggests the team would offer six years (Twitter link). Newsday's Ken Davidoff says the Yankees will likely offer a six-year deal.
  • The Yankees don't plan to offer Lee a seven-year deal, according to Rosenthal (on Twitter). 
  • Lee will receive a seven-year offer, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. At least one club has suggested they’re willing to offer a seven-year deal. 
  • MLB "bigwigs" tell Newsday's Ken Davidoff that they expect Lee to sign a six-year deal (Twitter link)
  • Braunecker met with the Yankees today, but the sides did not discuss money, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
  • The Rangers were planning to offer Lee a four-year deal, but may have to change their plans, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
  • Nats GM Mike Rizzo told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that he spoke to agent Darek Braunecker recently (Twitter link).
  • The Phillies are considering bringing back Lee, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
  • Asked about the Red Sox, Braunecker told WEEI's Rob Bradford, "We've talked."
  • The Yankees are expected to meet with Braunecker again today, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.
  • Braunecker says they have visited with "significantly more clubs" than just the Yankees and Rangers, tweets MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.  Braunecker is in the process of setting up meetings.

Nationals, Rangers Interested In Jeff Francis

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The Nationals and Rangers have checked in on Jeff Francis, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Previous reports have linked the lefty to the Rockies, Pirates, Mariners, Brewers, Astros and Mets. However, the Mets appear to be more serious about Chris Young than Francis.

A number of the clubs above have been linked to another pitcher who has dealt with shoulder injuries, Brandon Webb. Francis, 30 in January, posted a 5.00 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 104 1/3 innings for the Rockies in 2010.

Carl Pavano Rumors: Monday

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Carl Pavano is arguably the best available right-handed free agent starter.  The latest:

  • Pavano's agent told Kelsie Smith of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he's still talking with the Twins and they have a realistic shot at signing the right-hander (Twitter link).
  • The Nationals, Twins and two others are in the mix for Pavano, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  He suggests a deal could happen this week.

Josh Willingham Likely To Be Moved

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4:38pm: The Orioles have had internal discussions about Willingham, potentially as a first baseman, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. The O's haven't ruled out bringing Ty Wigginton back.

1:56am: The Nationals added one huge piece to their outfield today, but could subtract another key contributor before Opening Day. MLB.com's Bill Ladson hears that Josh Willingham will "most likely" be traded by the Nationals sometime this offseason. The 31-year-old isn't the only National on the trade block either; earlier today, we heard that the club would listen to offers for everyone on its roster besides Werth and Ryan Zimmerman.

There would be room in the Nationals' outfield for both Willingham, a left fielder, and Werth, who is expected to play right. However, Ladson writes that Washington would like to get something back for Willingham rather than letting him leave via free agency after the 2011 season.

Last month, it appeared Willingham and the Nationals would be unable to work out an extension to keep the outfielder in Washington. GM Mike Rizzo indicated that the team would go year to year on Willingham, with Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post suggesting that a trade was also a possibility.

According to Ladson, the Nats are also eyeing first base options, and Carlos Pena remains their top choice. If they can't lock up Pena, the team might like Adam LaRoche as an alternative.

Brandon Webb Rumors: Monday

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Given the guarantees required to sign Cliff Lee or Carl Pavano, Brandon Webb must appeal to many teams even after missing almost all of the last two seasons.  The latest on the sinkerballer:

  • The Cubs, Nationals, and Rangers remain in the mix for Webb, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The righty's surgeon issued a positive report for 2011, according to Crasnick (Twitter link).  The Mets appear to think Webb is too risky, tweets SI's Jon Heyman. 
  • The Pirates' pursuit of Webb appears to have gone cold, writes Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Kovacevic says the Bucs have not been in touch with him since November 22nd.

Nationals, Cubs, Brewers Inquired On James Loney

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12:22pm: A Dodgers source tells Yahoo's Steve Henson Loney will not be traded because he'd be too expensive to replace on the open market (Twitter link).  Rosenthal now agrees that Loney will not be traded.

11:39am: The Nationals, Cubs, and Brewers have inquired on Dodgers first baseman James Loney, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  Loney is available, says Rosenthal.  Rosenthal notes that the Brewers would only want him in the unlikely event of a Prince Fielder trade.  The Cubs and Nationals appear to be focused on Carlos Pena, says Rosenthal.

Loney was tendered a contract on December 2nd, so he'll earn $4.5-5MM in 2011 after a disappointing '10 season.  The Dodgers' asking price doesn't appear to be reasonable, as MLB.com's Bill Ladson tweets that they wanted Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmermann from Washington.

Nationals Rumors: Closer, Adam LaRoche

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The latest on the Nationals, who have plenty of work left after signing Jayson Werth…

Jayson Werth Signing Reactions

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Yesterday Jayson Werth signed the third-largest contract ever for an outfielder, as the Nationals locked him up for seven years and $126MM.  He and Vernon Wells figure to be bumped soon by Carl Crawford, though.  Many thought Werth would get five years, a few thought six, but I didn't see anyone predicting seven.  Reactions:

  • ESPN's Keith Law calls the contract "irresponsible" and takes on the "losing teams have to overpay" argument.
  • Dave Cameron of FanGraphs says this is "not the drastic overpay that it appears to be on the surface."
  • Yahoo's Jeff Passan says that from Scott Boras' point of view, "This deal wasn’t as much about need as it was capitalizing on eagerness."
  • Talking to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, Mets GM Sandy Alderson remarked, "It makes some of our contracts look pretty good.  I thought they were trying to reduce the deficit in Washington."
  • One GM, upon hearing the length of Werth's contract, told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports it was "absolutely bat—- crazy."  CBS Sports' Danny Knobler says one American League GM "nearly fell over when I told him the terms."
  • The Phillies' offer, which GM Ruben Amaro Jr. deemed "significant," was for three years and about $48MM according to CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury.  MLB.com's Todd Zolecki notes that a fourth-year vesting option would have increased the value to $60MM.

Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Werth, Padilla, D’Backs

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A grab bag of overnight links, as we look forward to updates out of Orlando….

Chien-Ming Wang Seeks Major League Deal

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It's been more than 17 months since Chien-Ming Wang pitched in a major league game, but that won't stop him from searching for a major league contract this winter. Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that Wang is seeking a big league deal; if he can't find one, the 30-year-old figures to accept a minor league offer from the Nationals.

The Nationals had hoped to work out an agreement with Wang before last week's non-tender deadline, but couldn't get anything done. Still, agent Alan Nero says the right-hander would like to return to Washington, who signed Wang to a one-year, $2MM deal last winter.

While it remains to be seen if any team will take a major league flier on Wang, the righty received some good reviews this fall following his recovery from shoulder surgery. One scout who watched the ex-Yankee pitch in instructional league action said he looked "filthy."

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