Daily Archives: December 5, 2008
Yesterday, the Phillies made an offer to free-agent RHP Derek Lowe, according to the Boston Globe.
“Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. wouldn’t confirm or deny that an offer had been made, but said, ‘I will tell you that I’ve talked to Derek 
Lowe’s representatives,’” reports Ken Mandel at MLB.com.
However, according to Jayson Stark at ESPN.com, the Phillies have very little chance of signing Lowe.
…i bet, since, from what i can gather, it was a very low-ball offer…plus, it’s pretty clear at this point, based on published reports and the buzz around lowe, that he hopes to re-sign with the Red Sox, for a variety of reasons, from family to redemption…that said, if another team on the East Coast, who trains in Florida, is willing to pay big, big bucks per season, i believe he’ll take the deal…
The Globe also believes a second team made an offer to Lowe, and it was not the Red Sox or Yankees.
…honestly, i’m getting a little nervous for the Mets, with regards to the starting pitcher’s market…i just don’t sense they will end up signing a front-end starting pitcher, like they hope to…it will not be for a lack of trying, but i sense the market will just shuffle out in a way that Omar Minaya is left in the cold…
…and so, the Mets may need to consider signing a player like Jon Garland, who would 
actually be a really good fit for them, while trading for a back-end pitcher like Edwin Jackson to compete with Jon Niese for the fifth starter spot…
…the thing is, i keep reading fans who are saying minaya should trade major prospects to get Jose Valverde or J.J. Putz, instead of a lesser package to Colorado for Huston Street…ok, but, you can’t trade Robert Parnell to three different teams, you know what i mean…so, if a guy like parnell is going to be needed to get a starting pitcher too, you can’t use him now to also get valverde…
…therefore, like it or not, we may be looking at the following game plan as a way to fix the pitching staff:
Trade Aaron Heilman and one prospect for Street; sign Garland and Francisco Rodriguez, which only costs cash; and, lastly, trade an additional prospect or two for a second starting pitcher.
…if the bullpen is strong and traditional, Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Jon Garland and a fifth starter could be more than sufficient…not ideal, but sufficient…
The Star-Ledger reports the Pirates will trade SS Jack Wilson to the Tigers, however Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told MLB.com, “That report is not accurate. I can 100 percent tell you that.”
The Yankees will meet with free-agent RHP CC Sabathia prior to the Winter Meetings, which begin next Monday as will the Brewers, according to ESPN.com.
The Braves are the front-runners for A.J. Burnett, explains Jayson Stark at ESPN.com.
Yesterday, reports indicated the Braves will get Burnett if they guarantee a fifth year to their offer.
Stark also reports the Phillies have very little chance of signing free-agent RHP Derek Lowe.
Lastly, according to Stark, only the Dodgers, A’s and O’s are the only teams showing interest in SS Rafael Furcal.
Tagged Rafael Furcal | Newer posts →
