Daily Archives: December 4, 2008
The Reds are close to re-signing reliever Mike Lincoln to a two-year, $4 million deal, according to the Denver Post.
The Giants signed SS Edgar Renteria to a two-year, $18.5 million deal, with a third-year option, reports the SF Gate.
Tim Dierkes, at MLB Trade Rumors, has a list of players who he believes could be non-tendered, like LHP Erik Bedard and OF Willy Tavares, who would then become free agents.
According to Ken Rosenthal, at FoxSports.com, the A’s would rather trade for Nick Johnson then sign Jason Giambi.
Also, Rosenthal believes the Dodgers and Yankees could once again discuss swapping Robinson Cano and Matt Kemp.
The Rockies could end up trading Huston Street, if they re-sign Brian Fuentes, reports Buster Olney at ESPN.com.
The following is a video mailbag during which I answer questions from readers about Francisco Rodriguez, and why the Hot Stove has been so cold:
Jon Heyman, David Lennon, Jerry Manuel and I will be guests during tonight’s Mets Hot Stove on SNY at 7 pm, hosted by Kevin Burkhardt.
…well, those are four names you don’t typically see in a row…
Call in and share your thoughts at 212-BUZZ-SNY, or submit a question to the show by clicking here.
Tagged SNY |
According to the Boston Globe, the Phillies have made an offer to free-agent RHP Derek Lowe.
The report believes a second team also made an offer, and it is not the Red Sox or Yankees.
Last month, at SI.com, Jon Heyman listed the Mets, Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, Braves, Giants, M’s and Dodgers have interest in Lowe.
In Newsday, Ken Davidoff actually characterizes the Mets and Yankees interest in Lowe as, ‘great.’
However, last week in the Daily News, John Harper said 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.’
…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…
Instead, Harper reports the Mets have interest in free-agent Jon Garland, and trading for a fifth starter to compete for Jon Niese in spring training.
Yesterday, the Daily News and Atlanta Journal-Constitution both reported Atlanta is preparing an offer for free-
agent RHP A.J. Burnett, worth roughly $80 million over five years.
The Blue Jays and Yankees are only willing to give an option on a fifth year for Burnett, reports Davidoff.
The Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Braves, Phillies and Orioles have all been linked in rumor to Burnett.
In a post to ESPN.com, Buster Olney believes the Braves may push hard, now, for Burnett, for fear that the Yankees will over-bid on him in the event do not sign CC Sabathia.
Speaking of Sabathia, the Giants are considering whether to offer him a contract worth more than $100 million, reports the Daily News, “but far less than the six years and $140 million the Yankees have offered.”
…Sabathia in San Francisco would give the Giants a rotation of Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, Sabathia and Matt Cain, which is pretty nasty, to say the least…
…Update…1:10 pm…
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves offer to Burnett is for four years, with a fifth-year option.
The following are my photographs from Tuesday’s tour of Citi Field, feel free to click each photo for a hi-res image.
(Scroll over image for title of picture)
According to two reports from MLB.com, the Tigers and Rockies may be showing interest in free-agent LHP Joe Beimel, who has reportedly been seeking a multi-year deal.
…i sense Mets fans are pretty split on beimel…i like him, some do not…the thing is, it may not matter…
…from what i can gather, in an effort to re-make their bullpen, the Mets are working to trade for a set-up man with experience as a closer, such as Huston Street; then sign an actual closer, like Francisco Rodriguez; and then sign one or two relief pitchers, also with experience as a closer, to round out the pen, while counting on Joe Smith, Brian Stokes and Pedro Feliciano to be part of the group next season…
…actually, more than one person has suggested to me that Omar Minaya will meet with free-agent RHP Chad Cordero sooner than later…there are concerns about cordero’s shoulder, following mid-season surgery, so the team may want to see him in action in advance of any serious talks i guess…
…in the end, i sense the Mets do not want to lock in to any long-term deals with a guy such as beimel, especially if they can trade for some one like street…however, not including the closer, i believe the team is interested in reshaping and building up its bullpen with low-risk, potentially high-reward pitchers on short-term contracts, so cordero is a logical option…
In November, MLB.com reported that the Mets, Angels, Rangers and Tigers had shown early interest in Cordero.
In his latest report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal believes the Braves, Mariners and Nationals are interested in free-agent 
OF Adam Dunn, followed by the Dodgers and Angels., and maybe the Yankees, who could use him at DH and first base.
According to MLB.com, the Braves are not interested in Dunn, because they are seeking a right-handed bat.
Dunn could end up getting a three-year, $36 million contract, according to a few team officials who talked with Jerry Crasnick from ESPN.com.
…reports have suggested the Mets, too, are seeking a right-handed bat, which is probably why dunn’s name has not been mentioned more in queens…
Meanwhile, the Mariners, Angels and Giants are interested in free-agent OF Pat Burrell, reports Rosenthal.
…burrell is a right-handed bat, but i get no sense that the Mets are interested in him…neither am i, for that matter…
…yesterday, i talked with a person aware of Omar Minaya’s game plan, and not once did an outfielder’s name come up…which is not to say minaya is uninterested in upgrading his offense, i just think he is so focused on pitching, it’s all any one connected to the team is talking about…and rightfully so…i suppose he could end up acquiring a bat at the Winter Meetings, but i just don’t think it’s a top priority right now…
Rosenthal also reports on teams interested in Rocco Baldelli; the Giants and CC Sabathia; whether Jason Varitek, Manny Ramirez and Orlando Cabrera will accept arbitration; the Cardinals search for a closer; and the asking price of David Weathers.
Tagged Pat Burrell |Yesterday, at Baseball Prospectus, John Perrotto suggested the Mets and White Sox could be discussing a deal that could send OF Jermaine Dye and RHP Bobby Jenks to the Mets for OF Fernando Martinez and others, according to ‘whispers.’
However, today in Newsday, according to ‘a person familiar with the situation,’ David Lennon writes, ‘There is nothing there,’ with regards to the Dye-Jenks-Mets-Martinez rumor.
In a post to hie blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman describes the rumor as ‘nonesense,’ after having talked with a few of the team’s executives.
…as i said yesterday, a deal between the Mets and Sox involving dye and jenks may have been true once before…however, from what i can gather, the Mets are more focused on Huston Street, since they match up better with the 
Rockies…plus, i believe he will not cost martinez…more like Nick Evans, if a prospect is needed…
Yesterday, MiLB.com ranked Martinez No. 32 on its annual Top 50 Prospects list. In 2007, he was ranked No. 17.
According to Lennon, ‘The Mets are not prepared to deal Martinez,’ whose name will likely be mentioned a lot during next week’s Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.
…from what i can gather, other teams are leery about martinez, because he is being scouted in essentially the exact-same way he was three years ago, i.e., he’s got tons of potential, great swing, etc., but he has yet to prove his talent…plus, he’s been hurt a lot…
…in the end, it feels like other teams are tired of hearing about his ‘potential,’ despite his young age, and are eager to see him hit, stay healthy and actually produce and dominate, before they once again buy in to the hype…
…this may be why he dropped 15 spots on MiLB.com’s list…
The Padres have traded SS Khalil Green to the Cardinals, reports the San Diego Union Tribune, which could help keep Jake Peavy in San Diego.
“The Giants and Marlins have discussed a trade that would 
send LHP Jonathan Sanchez to the Marlins for infielder Jorge Cantu,” according to Jon Heyman’s blog at SI.com.
Free-agent OF Casey Blake is seeking a three-year deal, and is being pursued most heavily by the Twins and Dodgers, according to Jayson Stark at ESPN.com.
…three years…for blake…it’s a shame, because i like him a lot…i think he’d be a great fit for the Mets…but not in 2011…
The Giants are very close to signing free-agent SS Edgar Renteria, to what could be a two-year deal, reports the SF Gate.
The Giants also signed free-agent reliever Bob Howry to a one-year, $2.75 million deal, according to the Associated Press.
…the buzz in baseball continues to suggest the Giants are trying to shore up every hole on the roster, quickly, in advance of making a run at CC Sabathia…time will tell…
The Pirates and Dodgers continue to discuss a deal that could send SS Jack Wilson to Los Angeles, writes the Post Gazette.
The Rockies may end up keeping 3B-OF Garrett Atkins, while signing him to an extension, reports the Denver Post.
Lastly, the Red Sox signed 2B Dustin Pedroia to a six-year, $40 million deal, which extends in to his first two seasons of free agency, as was first reported by Peter Gammons at ESPN.com.
David Wright and Hanley Ramirez were each given $55 million over the same period, while Ryan Braun got $44 million.
