Sherman’s Latest: Lowe, Saito, Teixeira
The latest from Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- Mets GM Omar Minaya recently admitted he did not expect to pursue A.J. Burnett or Derek Lowe, saying, "I’m probably not going to be in there right now, financially. Not after spending all the money that I did on K-Rod." Sherman isn’t sold, though – he thinks Lowe’s price could drop and give the Mets a shot.
- The Dodgers haven’t received a counter-offer to their two-year, $45MM proposal, so they won’t be making another bid. Sherman adds that they are planning to non-tender Takashi Saito.
- The A’s remain the frontrunners for Rafael Furcal.
- Sherman says the Nationals have bid seven years and $140MM for Mark Teixeira. That offer was reported on Wednesday to be eight years, $160MM. Sherman says the backup plans are Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson. I believe the Hudson link is new.
- The Mariners had tried to pry Jonathan Niese from the Mets for J.J. Putz. Sherman also notes strong interest in Aaron Heilman. He says the Mets and Cubs did not discuss Jason Marquis, contrary to reports.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Thursday
9:56:
2:38pm: Tim Brown and Gordon Edes talked to involved execs (not with the Angels) who believe the Boras camp is "using the media to ratchet up the price beyond what any team had actually offered."
Brown and Edes say the Angels were told the Red Sox and Nationals offered eight years at about $20MM per. The Angels don’t want to do an eighth year, so they’ll look into trades for Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, and possibly Adrian Beltre. Raul Ibanez is the top free agent backup plan.
Brown and Edes believe Boras could insist on an opt-out clause in a deal with the Nationals.
8:59am: Mike DiGiovanna says the Angels "are believed to be willing to offer at least seven years for something in the $160-million range" for Tex.
8:51am: Jon Heyman says the Yankees have re-entered the Teixeira sweepstakes.
2:40am: Summing up the reported offers made to Mark Teixeira:
- Orioles: seven years, $140-150MM
- Nationals: eight years, $160MM
- Angels: reluctant to exceed seven years; no offer yet? (Boras implied there was)
- Red Sox: making progress; no offer yet? (Boras implied there was?)
By the way, Joe Haggerty transcribed the full Scott Boras talk from yesterday at his site.
Rockies Rumors: Redding, Taveras, Penny
2:47am: MLB.com’s Thomas Harding digs further. He says Taveras did not fail a physical, and the other player in the trade was hard-throwing righty Juan Morillo (who is out of options).
12:50am: Troy Renck says the Tim Redding–Willy Taveras deal is on life support. An upgrade from dead, I suppose. He says:
A potential deal died late Tuesday over apparent concerns about Willy Taveras’ left leg stress fracture. However, a Natonals’ source said that the bigger issue was a medical issue with a pitcher Washington was to receive as part of the deal. That leaves the lingering possibility that something could get done Thursday following the Rule 5 draft.
Both players remain non-tender candidates for Friday. Thomas Harding says the Rockies have slim hope of a deal for Taveras.
Other notes from Harding: The Rockies decided against making an offer to Brad Penny and they’re waiting to hear back on a minor league offer to Glendon Rusch. Renck says they do have interest in Luis Ayala.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Wednesday
11:40pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Red Sox made progress today in their Teixeira talks.
8:45pm: Dave Sheinin says the Nationals offered eight years and $160MM, and Ladson now agrees.
5:38pm: Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun says the Orioles met with Boras last night and apparently made an offer. However, Peter Schmuck says the nine-year, $180MM report was "met with incredulity from O’s officials."
5:33pm: According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals offered Tex an eight-year, $180MM contract. Dave Sheinin talked to a Nationals exec who said in general about the rumors, "Ninety percent of this stuff is pure fabrication."
2:35pm: Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times has the Nats willing to offer ten years at more than $20MM per and the Orioles willing to do nine years also at at least $20MM per year.
1:27pm: Ken Rosenthal and Ed Price heard Teixeira would prefer to be on the East Coast for family reasons. It could be an issue for the Angels.
1:14pm: Yahoo’s Jose Mota (new guy) says the Nationals made an offer to Tex for at least seven years and $150MM.
12:44pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to two high-ranking baseball officials who predicted Teixeira will get a $200MM deal. Heyman believes two teams already bid $160MM.
11:17am: Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post has heard the Yankees’ signing of C.C. Sabathia takes them out of the running for Tex. The Angels, Red Sox, Nationals, and Orioles will battle for the Boras client.
9:36am: Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times talks about Mark Teixeira:
The Boston Red Sox have emerged as front-runners, and the Washington Nationals, who appear willing to offer eight years and $160 million, could make the most lucrative bid. The Baltimore Orioles are in hot pursuit, the Yankees are lurking, and the Angels are growing more concerned that Teixeira might be slipping away, primarily because they’d like to sign him for six or seven years, not the eight or nine it might take.
Redding For Taveras Trade Is Off
5:14pm: Troy Renck says a source close to Redding said he did not fail his physical. So if his report and Rojas’ report are both true, Taveras failed his.
WEDNESDAY, 4:08pm: ESPN’s Enrique Rojas says a Taveras for Redding swap fell apart when one of the players failed a physical.
TUESDAY, 10:28pm: Bill Ladson talked to a source who said Taveras was not part of the talks with the Rockies today.
10:21pm: Sheinin says the Nats are apparently the ones who balked at the Redding-Taveras swap.
9:45pm: Troy Renck says this trade is dead for now. Joe Koshansky was discussed at one point, he notes.
9:28pm: Tracy Ringolsby says (story has been removed) a Tim Redding for Willy Taveras swap is close but some details still need to be worked out. Dave Sheinin considers it an exchange of non-tender candidates.
Nationals Release Jesus Colome
According to the AP, the Nationals released reliever Jesus Colome today. After earning $1.25MM in ’08, Colome was a non-tender candidate anyway.
Brian Fuentes Rumors: Tuesday
10:59pm: Rosenthal says the Nationals are also in the mix for Fuentes. His source says they want to sign Mark Teixeira or Manny Ramirez, plus Fuentes. Nationals GM Jim Bowden said on November 12th, "We are not pursuing Manny Ramirez."
9:49pm: Rosenthal says the Cardinals, Angels, and Tigers are showing interest in Fuentes.
8:29pm: Doug Melvin said he met with the agents for Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman, and Kerry Wood today.
8:05pm: John Perrotto expects the Brewers to move to the front for Fuentes. I imagine they might try to sort out the Sabathia situation first.
5:46pm: According to Derrick Goold and Joe Strauss, the Cardinals have engaged in conversation with Brian Fuentes‘ agents. With K-Rod setting a lower-than-expected ceiling to the closer market, Fuentes could enter the Cards’ price range. GM John Mozeliak said on 1380AM today that he’s yet to dig his heels in on Fuentes though. You have to wonder if the Tigers will take a serious look.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Tuesday
10:09pm: Angels owner Arte Moreno to Jon Heyman: "Teixeira’s my guy. There are obviously other people we like. But he’s our main target." Currently, the Angels aren’t planning to set a deadline when they make an offer to Tex.
9:11pm: Brian Sabean ruled out Teixeira for the Giants.
4:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Angels are "beginning to recognize they will not be the high bidder" for Tex. Some of Rosenthal’s sources believe the Nationals will come in the highest.
3:48pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown says Angels owner Arte Moreno "has been deeply involved in negotiations with Scott Boras regarding Teixeira, as well as with agent Greg Genske on Sabathia." Brown says the Angels may be willing to give Tex seven years if necessary. The Halos are weighing the idea of going after Manny Ramirez if they miss out on Tex and C.C.
11:39am: Jon Heyman says the Red Sox have been one of Tex’s most aggressive pursuers.
1:47am: Yahoo’s Gordon Edes surveyed several club officials, and they believe the Red Sox will sign Mark Teixeira. They have the money and a strong relationship with Scott Boras. However, the Yankees are heavily interested even if they’ve yet to make an offer. And the Angels are said to be "desperate" to retain Tex. As far as we know, no one’s made an offer. Edes sees the Orioles and Nationals on the periphery, though both clubs are serious about Teixeira.
Rockies Rumors: Redding, Gonzalez, Turnbow, Blanco
8:40pm: Rosenthal says the Rockies and Nats are discussing a Redding for Taveras swap.
4:06pm: Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says the Rockies have had internal discussions about Henry Blanco. I imagine they’d have to ship out Yorvit Torrealba first.
3:17pm: Troy Renck learned from team sources that the Rockies will not trade Gonzalez this winter.
1:25pm: MLB.com’s Bill Ladson says the Nats and Rockies met for a half hour yesterday, talking about Redding and Carlos Gonzalez. At the trade deadline, the Nationals wanted Dexter Fowler for Redding. Really?
1:57am: Rockies rumors for Tuesday…
- According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have discussed trading for Nationals starter Tim Redding. Redding is under team control for two more years. On one hand the last thing the Nationals can spare is pitching, but on the other Redding is getting pricey and is a back-end guy anyway.
- Renck contends that the Nationals maintain some interest in Willy Taveras. Ken Rosenthal wrote recently that the Nats "aren’t terribly enamored" of the speedy outfielder.
- The Rockies are one of three teams confirmed to be in on Derrick Turnbow, who will work out for teams in January. The Pirates and Giants have also expressed interest.
- Sometime in January, the Rockies will look into a long-term extension for starter Ubaldo Jimenez.
Raul Ibanez Rumors: Tuesday
8:09pm: Rosenthal says Mets officials met with Ibanez at a Bellagio restaurant today. He says the Angels, Phillies, Braves and Nationals are also in on Ibanez, though the Braves’ interest is mild.
11:25am: ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the Phillies, Mets, and Cubs are in the lead for Raul Ibanez, with the Braves and Angels on the periphery.