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Wednesday MLB winter meetings blog
<-- Tuesday blog |
11:54 p.m. — BoSox close with Teixeira?
The Red Sox are making progress in their quest to sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, according to a major-league source.
"Headway was being made earlier today," one source said.
A rival general manager whose plans could be affected by the Red Sox's addition of Teixeira also indicated that a deal was getting closer.
Teixeira is the Red Sox's No. 1 offseason target. They view him as the perfect fit for the middle of their order.
Teixeira is seeking a 10-year contract for at least $20 million per season. The Red Sox preference would be to sign him to a deal between six and eight years.
UPDATED 11:25 — Yanks can have one, not both
The Yankees will not sign both A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe, according to a major-league source. They can sign one of the aformentioned pitchers, and Andy Pettitte or another free-agent pitcher. They've also spoken to Ben Sheets.
The Yankees have increased their offer to Burnett to include a fifth year, according to a major-league source. That development was first reported by ESPN.com.
A source told Gerry Fraley earlier Wednesday that Burnett, who is seeking a five-year deal, has an $80 million offer from the Braves. He presumably would want more from the Yankees.
The Yankees are "progressing" in their discussions with Lowe, according to a major-league source. Another source, however, says reports that the team is close with Lowe are overblown.
Lowe is expected to receive a deal for between three and five years with an average of around $17 million per year.
UPDATED 11:12 p.m. — Done deal: Putz to Mets
The Mets have acquired a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez — and that setup man is another closer from the American League West.
J.J. Putz is headed to New York in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians, according to major-league sources.
Under terms of the deal, the Mets get Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green from Seattle. The Mariners receive reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez, first baseman Mike Carp, and minor leaguers Maikel Cleto, Jason Vargas and Ezequiel Carrera from the Mets. They also get Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians and minor leaguers. The Indians get reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from Seattle.
From the Mets' perspective, the deal is Heilman and Smith for Putz. Chavez and Reed are simply an exchange of backup outfielders; Smith and Green are an exchange of right-handed groundball specialists.
10:42 p.m. — Dodgers could give Manny more years
The Dodgers have had internal discussions about extending their contract offer to Manny Ramirez to three years. Los Angeles made Ramirez a two-year offer early in the offseason but it was dismissed by agent Scott Boras.
Ramirez has expanded his offseason workouts at Athletes Performance Institute, from two months last year to three this winter. -- Ed Price
9:32 p.m. — Source: Tigers to aqcuire Edwin Jackson
The Detroit Tigers are set to acquire right-hander Edwin Jackson from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Matt Joyce, according to a major-league source.
Tampa Bay, with David Price on the way, had a surplus of starting pitching. Jackson, 25, was 14-11 this year with a 4.25 ERA.
In exchange the Rays get a 24-year-old, left-handed-hitting corner outfielder who hit 12 homers in 242 at-bats. -- Ed Price
6:56 p.m. — Phils looking to deal Eaton
Philadelphia is trying to give away underachieving right-hander Adam Eaton.\
The Phillies will deal Eaton to any team that will take on $1 million of the $9 million he is due for the final guaranteed season of a three-year contract. The Phillies want nothing in return.
Eaton was 4-8 with a 5.80 ERA this season and spent part of the year in the minors. The Phillies did not include him on the postseason roster. --Gerry Fraley
UPDATED 6:51 p.m. — Latest on Fuentes
Free-agent left-hander Brian Fuentes appears headed for a three-year, $33 million contract, major-league sources say, but the question is which club will give it to him.
The Cardinals might rather trade for someone more inexpensive, and the Brewers and Tigers also would figure to pass on that large of an investment in a closer.
That would leave the Angels, who likely would draw criticism if they paid Fuentes, 33, only $4 million less than the Mets awarded Francisco Rodriguez, 26, over three years.
Fuentes is less accomplished than Rodriguez, and the Angels would forfeit a first-round draft pick if they signed him. They could have kept Rodriguez without losing the pick.
Then again, Angels manager Mike Scioscia has always liked Fuentes, and the Angels tried to acquire him from the Rockies at the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
5:05 p.m. — Mets' trade offer shot down
The Mets, seeking a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez, were rebuffed in their attempt to trade right Aaron Heilman to the Rockies for righty Huston Street.
Heilman has drawn interest from more than a dozen clubs. The Mets turned down the Cubs' offer of righty Jason Marquis. It seems inevitable, however, that the Mets will find a match.
Street, too, has drawn interest from numerous clubs. The Rockies have yet to receive a tempting offer.
5:00 p.m. — Astros shopping Wigginton
While the Astros are having trouble finding a taker for Miguel Tejada, they are also shopping Ty Wigginton as part of their effort to pare salary, and the most interest right now is from Arizona.
Wigginton, who played third base in Houston but played second a fair amount in 2004 and 2006-07, would replace free agent Orlando Hudson at second for the Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers had interest in Wigginton before re-signing Casey Blake, and Cleveland briefly considered him before deciding against it. Teams have told Houston they will consider Tejada if other options fall through. --Ed Price
4:28 p.m. — Source: Braves prepared to lose Smoltz
The Braves are prepared to lose right-hander John Smoltz as a free agent if another team offers him a significant guarantee on a one-year deal, according to a source with knowledge of the team's thinking.
Smoltz, 41, has undergone five arm surgeries — four on his elbow, one on his shoulder last June. The Braves believe that his medical history warrants a contract with a low base salary and the chance to earn more through performance-based incentives.
Smoltz's agents are circulating his medical records and recent video of him throwing off a mound to teams gathered at the winter meetings.
Smoltz was an All-Star in his last full season — in 2007 — in which he went 14-8 with a 3.11 ERA in 205 2/3 innings pitched.
2:55 p.m. — Rangers ask about Sheffield
Texas has contacted Detroit about the availability of outfielder-designated hitter Gary Sheffield.
The Rangers need a middle-of-the-lineup bat to replace Milton Bradley, headed out of town as a free agent. Sheffield carries risks. He is 40 years old and has been troubled by shoulder problems in recent seasons. Sheffield last had a 30-homer, 100-RBI season in 2005. --Gerry Fraley
2:17 p.m. — Angels face obstacle in Teixeira pursuit
Mark Teixeira: 2008 stats
The Angels continue to face an uphill fight in their quest to retain free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Teixeira, according to two major-league sources, would prefer to be on the east coast for family reasons.
Three east-coast teams — the Red Sox, Nationals and Orioles — are pursuing Teixeira. And the Red Sox believe that the Nats and O's are pushing hard to bring Teixeira back to the Maryland area.
Teixeira is a native of Severna Park, Md., a suburb of Baltimore. His wife, Georgia, is from the Atlanta area.
If the Angels lose Teixeira, it could prompt them to make a run at free-agent left fielder Manny Ramirez.
Without Teixeira or Ramirez, the team could face an offensive crisis both short- and long-term.
Right fielder Vladimir Guerrero will be a free agent after next season, and the Angels might not want to award him a long-term contract at age 33. --Ken Rosenthal and Ed Price
UPDATED 1:25 p.m. — Source: Burnett gets new offer
A source told Gerry Fraley that the Braves made an offer to A.J. Burnett late Tuesday of $80 million over five years.
Talks between the Braves and the free-agent right-hander "progressed through the night," with the Yankees still a factor in the discussions, major-league sources told Ken Rosenthal.
The Braves are pushing hard to land Burnett, the second-most desirable starter on the market after lefty CC Sabathia, who has a preliminary agreement with the Yankees.
The Yankees have shown interest in every quality free-agent starting pitcher, and could opt for a three- or four-year deal with right- hander Derek Lowe or a shorter deal with Ben Sheets rather than give Burnett the five-year contract he is seeking. Full Story...
1:23 p.m. — Exec: 'No upside' to opt-out
One rival executive points out there is "no upside" to giving a player an opt-out clause such as the Yankees are doing for CC Sabathia.
If he performs well, Sabathia will likely exercise the opt-out after the third year and become a free agent. If he does not perform well or is injured, the Yankees are on the hook for the rest of his contract.
It is the situation the Blue Jays faced with A.J. Burnett, who opted out of his current deal after three years.
1:11 p.m. — ChiSox, Reds still talking Dye
The Jermaine Dye-to-the-Reds discussions continue at a "moderate" level, but for the moment the White Sox continue to plan on Dye being their Opening Day right fielder, according to a major-league source.
A deal for Dye was indeed close before Thanksgiving, the source said, with the White Sox expected to receive right-hander Homer Bailey and perhaps another prospect in return.
The trade, however, stalled in part due to questions about how much the White Sox would pay of Dye's $11.5 million salary next season. The amount they paid would have affected the quality of the second prospect in the deal.
Now, the Reds simply might wait to determine whether they can sign a free-agent outfielder such as Bobby Abreu or Pat Burrell at a comparable salary without giving up any players in a trade.
Neither Abreu nor Burrell was offered salary arbitration by their former clubs, so neither would cost the Reds a draft pick.
1:00 p.m. — Orioles close with Izturis
The Orioles, who have been seeking a shortstop since trading Miguel Tejada to the Astros last winter, are close to a two-year agreement with free agent Cesar Izturis, according to major-league sources.
The deal is pending a physical, which is set for Thursday.
Izturis, 28, spent last season with the Cardinals, batting .263 with a .319 on-base percentage and one home run in 414 at-bats.
The Orioles, however, value him for his defense. Izturis ranked fourth among all regular shortstops last season in the plus-minus defensive system employed by Bill James Online. --Ken Rosenthal and Ed Price
UPDATED 12:58 p.m. — More Sabathia contract details
Top of the heap
 CC Sabathia would become the highest paid pitcher in MLB if he signs the reported 7-year, $161M deal with the Yanks. |
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--Unofficial figures; deferrals not included |
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Free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia, who reached preliminary agreement on terms with the Yankees on a seven-year contract worth approximately $161 million earlier Wednesday according to a major-league source, will have an out built into the contract.
Sabathia will receive an opt-out clause after three years, which was a prerequisite for him to sign with any team, not just the Yankees, according to a source. The deal is all cash and will include no deferrals.
Such a clause would give Sabathia the chance for another monster payday in free agency at age 31 — and provides him with an escape if he finds the New York experience unappealing.
The contract has an average annual value of $23 million. Johan Santana's previous record deal for a pitcher — six years, $137.5 million — had an average annual value of approximately $20.5 million after accounting for deferrals.
The contract is the fourth-largest overall in major-league history, behind Alex Rodriguez's two free-agent contracts and Manny Ramirez's original deal with the Red Sox.
The deal will be officially completed after Sabathia passes a physical and the remaining language issues are resolved.
12:43 p.m. — Mets eyeing Pierre?
Imagine Jose Reyes and Juan Pierre combining for 140 stolen bases at the top of the Mets' batting order.
The idea is a longshot, but the Mets have shown interest in trading for Pierre, the Dodgers' forgotten outfielder.
To move Pierre, the Dodgers would need to assume a large chunk of his remaining salary — $10 million in 2009, $10 million in 2010 and $8.5 million in '11.
The Mets' preference in left field is for a right-handed hitter, and Pierre hits from the left side. Where he ranks on the team's list of possibilities is not known.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, are reluctant to move Pierre before knowing whether they will keep free-agent left fielder Manny Ramirez.
They also are reluctant to move Pierre because they have no idea what they will get out of Andruw Jones, who appeared in only 75 games last season due to a knee injury and batted .158.
If Jones proves incapable of playing every day, the Dodgers again will use Matt Kemp in center. And if Ramirez does not return under that scenario, Pierre could end up playing left field.
Some teams also have expressed interest in Jones, a move that would require the Dodgers to pay nearly all of his remaining salary — $17.1 million next season with a $5 million deferred payment in 2010.
12:03 p.m. — Brewers not planning fire sale
The Brewers, on the verge of losing free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia, do not plan to tear down their roster and trade players such as first baseman Prince Fielder and shortstop J.J. Hardy, general manager Doug Melvin said Wednesday morning.
"We'll make good baseball deals if they're out there," Melvin told FOXSports.com, "But our players are too talented and too young (to move). If you're trading guys in their first or second year of arbitration, you can't really build like that.
"We've got four players who were All-Stars in their first four years — Fielder, Hardy, (Corey) Hart and (Ryan Braun). They're talented players. We've got two good young pitchers — (Yovani) Gallardo and (Manny) Parra. We'll have to scramble for pitching a bit now." Full story...
11:51 a.m. — Official: Rockies, Embree agree
Colorado has reached an agreement with free-agent left-hander Alan Embree on a two-year deal, a club official said.
Embree, who will pitch next season at age 39, brings a durable arm to the Rockies' bullpen. He has made more than 60 appearances annually since 1999. --Gerry Fraley
3:00 a.m. — Cubs trying to fit Peavy in budget
The Cubs could make the deal for Peavy at any moment and fit him into their 2009 budget as long as they trimmed payroll in other areas, sources say.
One way to do that would be by trading right-hander Jason Marquis and possibly infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa, then acquiring an inexpensive left-handed hitting outfielder.
General manager Jim Hendry, however, is reluctant to absorb the $63 million remaining on Peavy's contract through 2012 without some type of approval from whoever the new owner might be.
Such approval should not be impossible to obtain; the Cubs evidently had it when they awarded Hendry a four-year contract extension in October.
Thus, a trade still could happen before the completion of the sale, or even the identification of the new owner.
Padres general manager Kevin Towers sounded confident Tuesday that the discussions were moving forward.
The Cubs still need to move Marquis and are reluctant to move DeRosa to the Phillies, the third team in the discussions. But they would not allow their affection for DeRosa prevent them from getting Peavy
2:35 a.m. — Pirates looking to trade SS Wilson
Pittsburgh believes it will soon be able to trade veteran shortstop Jack Wilson. Kansas City, Oakland and the Los Angeles Dodgers are among a group of teams looking for a front-line shortstop. The Pirates want prospects in return to stock what is a thin minor-league system. --Gerry Fraley
12:01 a.m. — Source: BoSox meet with Teixeira's agent
According to a major-league source, Red Sox officials Tuesday night met with agent Scott Boras — presumably their first face-to-face talks on free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, whom Boston sees as a very good fit. Discussions with Boras could also include pitcher Derek Lowe. --Ed Price
Complete news and notes: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday |
Ken Rosenthal is FOXSports.com's senior baseball writer. Gerry Fraley writes baseball for FOXSports.com. Ed Price covers the Yankees for the Newark Star-Ledger.
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