Daily Archives: November 24, 2008
According to Enrique Rojas from ESPN.com, free-agent SS Rafael Furcal traveled to the West Coast, ‘where he could complete an agreement with either the A’s or Giants.’
Furcal’s agent told Rojas that a third team is in the mix, but it is not the Mets, despite what his client told El Caribe.
Regardless, Furcal does not want to play second base, Furcal’s agent told Tim Brown at Yahoo! Sports.
That said, the Giants have signed free-agent SS Edgar Renteria to a two-year, $18 million deal, says Sweeny Murti of WFAN, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
…so, if the Giants signed renteria, then i’m guessing the A’s will end up with furcal…
…Update…5:20 pm…
MLB Trade Rumors now links to a story from the San Francisco Chronicle that states Renteria has not signed with the Giants.
…jeez…at this rate, i’m starting to think a more appropriate name would be the Not Stove Season…
Tagged Rafael Furcal |As noted in an earlier post, free-agent SS Rafael Furcal told El Caribe that the A’s and Mets have each offered him a contract.
However, in an update to his blog for SI.com, Jon Heyman writes, “I wouldn’t doubt that the A’s 
have made him a big offer…I do doubt that the Mets have shown any serious interest.”
In fact, Heyman quotes a person familiar with the Mets dealings as saying, “No offer has been made.”
Meanwhile, at the San Francisco Chronicle, Susan Slusser calls the El Caribe report ‘untrue.’
…hmm, ok, well, some one probably should tell furcal that…
…i mean, it’s not like some anonymous source said the Mets and A’s made an offer…the actual player in question is the guy who made the statement…so, so crazy…
Speaking of second base, according to Andrew Marchand, on his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Orlando Hudson‘s first choice is to play for the Mets.
Tagged Orlando Hudson, Rafael Furcal |According Ben Shpigel in the New York Times, ‘The Mets have yet to show interest in Joe Beimel; and they are not keen on Juan Cruz, whom they consider unproven.’
Nevertheless, ‘The Mets are in the market for versatile relievers who can pitch multiple innings and retire left-handed and right-handed hitters,’ says Shpigel.
…way to narrow it down, guys…
Meanwhile, in the New York Post, Joel 
Sherman says the Brewers will be Omar Minaya’s only competition for Francisco Rodriguez.
What’s more, according to Sherman, “The Brewers have a willingness to pay for (a closer). They made a four-year, $40 million-range offer to retain Francisco Cordero last offseason. When Cordero accepted a four-year, $45.5 million package from Cincinnati instead, the Brewers reacted by giving a one-year, $10 million hope-and-prayer pact to Eric Gagne.”
…i am not sure what that has to do with 2008…the difference in this scenario is that if the Brewers make an offer, K-Rod’s agent will certainly give the Mets a final chance to beat it…
…i think the Mets are playing this smart…there is no need to rush, and sign K-Rod to a five-year deal when there is a very good chance he can be had for just three years and an option…
Free-agent SS Rafael Furcal told El Caribe the A’s offered him a four-year, $48 million contract.
According to Furcal, the Mets also made a ‘tempting offer,’ which would require him to play second base.
The Giants and A’s have shown the most interest in Furcal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.
In early November, Furcal’s agent, Paul Kinzer, who also represents Francisco Rodriguez, told WFAN that almost 10 teams have shown interest in the shortstop.
El Caribe reports Furcal will leave the Dominican Republic today to sign a contract in the United States.
“The offers from the A’s and Mets are tempting, but I need to meet with my agent first,” Furcal told the Dominican newspaper, “because there are several factors that we have to evaluate, and the decision needs to be well thought out.”
The 31–year-old, switch-hitting Furcal hit .357 in just 36 games for the Dodgers in 2008, during which he missed more than 100 games with a back injury.
“Due to concerns about the condition of Furcal’s surgically repaired back, the Dodgers have been hesitant to extend him an offer of four years,” writes the Los Angeles Times.
Furcal hit .270 with 25 stole bases and a .333 OBP in 2007, and he hit .300 with 37 stolen bases and a .369 OBP in 2006.
Furcal is an unranked free agent, due to a lack of playing time, and will not cost his new team any compensatory draft picks.
Tagged Rafael Furcal |In yesterday’s Daily News, John Harper writes, “The Mets aren’t conceding anything yet, but privately they admit 
they didn’t expect Derek Lowe to be in such high demand, and they worry that with the Yankees and Red Sox in the hunt, they may have to lower their sights for a starting pitcher.”
…wait, what…why…i can accept not wanting to give lowe a five-year deal, assuming that is what it will take to get him…but to be bullied out of the bidding, because the big, bad Red Sox and Yankees are in the mix, well that’s just sad…and i hope it is not true…
…as i wrote last week, the way i understand it, lowe is more concerned with the dollar amount than the years…he is far more likely to accept a four-year, $70 million deal, than he is to accept a five– or six-year deal worth less per season…the buzz around lowe suggests he would like to retire at or around his 40th birthday, and would prefer to sign with a team who has a spring training facility near his home in Florida…
According to Harper, the Mets do not expect to out-bid the Sox and Yankees for Lowe, ‘and they think Scott Boras will price Oliver Perez too high as well.
Harper reports the Mets have interest in free-agent Jon Garland, ‘and they would 
consider trading for Javier Vazquez.’
…i like the idea of garland and vazquez being teamed up with John Maine, Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey…that is more than fine by me, especially if the Mets can trade for a set-up man and sign Francisco Rodriguez…however, while that rotation is stable, and will limit how much the bullpen will be needed, the team’s offense will need an upgrade at that point as well…
…however, the buzz around garland is that he too is seeking the standard four-year, $50 million deal, so at that point i am not sure why the Mets wouldn’t just pay more per season and get lowe, regardless of who is interested in Boston and the Bronx…
Lastly, Harper believes the Mets would need to trade Ryan Church, not Aaron Heilman, to get Edwin Jackson from Tampa.
