Daily Archives: December 8, 2008
Pat Burrell would like to play for the Giants, reports the San Mercury News, though he is 
not a top priority for San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the Braves are interested in acquiring a power-hitting outfielder, reports MLB.com. According to the report, Cardinals OF Rick Ankiel and Brewers OF Corey Hart are on their radar, followed by Marlins OF Jeremy Hermida.
The Dodgers have offered a three-year, $17 million deal to free-agent OF Casey Blake, reports the Los Angeles Daily News, and could announce a deal as soon as tonight.
…the buzz around baseball had been that if the Twins or Dodgers offer three years, blake will eventually take it…
Lastly, if the the Brewers sign Mike Lamb, they could look to trade OF-3B Bill Hall, according to FoxSports.com.
Tagged Pat Burrell |
According to Ken Rosenthal, of FoxSports.com, the Phillies are working with the Cubs and Padres, in an effort to get Jake Peavy to Chicago.
“The Padres like some of the Phillies young minor-league pitchers,” Rosenthal explains, citing major-league sources, “but the talks are only in the preliminary stages.”
Rosenthal believes the Cubs tried to push Jason Marquis to Philadelphia, ‘but received only lukewarm interest.’
Speaking of starting pitchers…
Rosenthal also reports the Red Sox were simply doing their ‘due diligence,’ when they met today with CC Sabathia.
Lastly, Ben Sheets met with the Yankees and Rangers today, acclording to T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com.
Free-agent RHP Chad Cordero will arrive in Las Vegas tonight, reports Bill Ladsen of MLB.com.
According to the report, Cordero intends to meet with the Mets, Cardinals, Rangers, Tigers and D’Backs.
…last week i noted how more than one person has suggested to me that Omar Minaya will meet with 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…
…in the end, i believe the Mets are interested in reshaping and building up their bullpen with inexpensive, potentially high-reward pitchers on short-term contracts, so cordero is a logical option…
Speaking of relief pitchers…
Astros closer Jose Valverde is not available, reports ESPN.com.
“I don’t like to talk publicly about potential trades,” the team’s GM Ed Wade is quoted as saying, “but I can assure that Valverde is not being traded.”
Also, “The Indians met on Monday with the agents for free-agent closer Kerry Wood,” reports Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.
In a report for the New York Post, Joel Sherman speaks with the agent for Francisco Rodriguez, Paul Kinzer, who says his client is willing to be creative, in terms of working out a contract.
According to Sherman, “When Kinzer was asked if he could formulate a proposal that would allow his client to opt out after a year or two if the economy improved, Kinzer said those types of strategies are what he’s considering.”
This is why I wrote this morning, here, that Rodriguez could agree to a two-year deal, with a third-year player option.
Like I said, he could opt out and become a free agent following the 2010 season, prior to turning 30 years old and just in time for Mariano Rivera’s contract to expire with the Yankees. Or, he could execute the third year and remain in Queens.
Jon Heyman of SI.com recently said the Mets initial offer to Rodriguez was for two years, at roughly $12 million per season.
Sherman reports the total is $25 million with a third-year option.
By the way, Omar Minaya met with Brian Fuentes earlier today, reports Jayson Stark at ESPN.com.
However, from what I can gather, most people in Vegas believe the Mets are meeting with Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman and Kerry Wood, all in an effort to force Rodriguez’s hand – that’s all.
Mets GM Omar Minaya just concluded his briefing with reporters, which was conduced in the team’s suite.
According SNY’s Matt Yalloff, Minaya has yet to meet with representatives for Trevor Hoffman, and he not yet scheduled a meeting with Kerry Wood.
Update, 9:10 PM:
In a update to his live blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman explains, “The Mets talked several weeks ago to the Red Sox about dealing Schneider, and hopefully signing Jason Varitek”
However, when the red Sox offered arbitration to Varitek, ‘the Mets turned away from that scenario because they didn’t want to give up both the money necessary to sign Varitek and the first-round draft pick they would have to surrender in compensation.’
Original Post:
The Mets and Red Sox are in talks regarding Brian Schneider, according to two industry sources, reports the Washington Post.
Last month, in a post to his blog for SI.com, Jon Heyman said there were ‘indications,’ based on conversations with other team executives, that ‘the Mets appear open to trading either Ramon Castro or Schneider.’
Speaking of catchers…
The Rangers could still trade C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, according to ESPN and FoxSports.com, despite already trading Gerald Laird to the Tigers on Sunday.
In a post to the Los Angeles Times, Mike 
DiGiovanna reports three teams are interested in free-agent Jon Garland, according to the player’s agent.
Garland is seeking a two– or three-year deal, says DiGiovanna.
Earlier today, at FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal said Garland is on Omar Minaya’s radar, since the team does not want to spend top dollar for a starting pitcher.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
According to Jon Heyman at SI.com, ‘The Yankees are prepared to top Atlanta’s reported $60 million four-year offer to star free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett.’
As such, ‘the Yankees are sending out signals that they’d like to meet with Burnett’s agent,’ according to ESPN.com.
By the way, Ben Sheets has been seen at the Bellagio.
According to MLB.com, Sheets may meet with the Rangers.
In an appearance tonight on SNY, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets offered Francisco Rodriguez a two-year deal, with a third-year option, at roughly $12 million per season.
Earlier today, on MetsBlog.com, I wrote the following:
“According to people connected to the team, the Mets believe they can sign Rodriguez to a three-year deal before the end of the week. However, there is also a chance Rodriguez could agree to a two-year deal, with a third-year player option.”
Heyman says, due to the economy, the Mets feel maybe they can get a bargain, ‘though I don’t expect him to take it.’
According to Heyman, it should take at least a three-year deal to sign Rodriguez.
…as i said earlier, i still believe the deal will be three years as well, with a fourth-year option, as most people have been suggesting…i mean, if K-Rod ever dropped to that two-year level, i have to think other teams will get involved, like the Tigers and Brewers…unless, of course, the Mets up the per-year salary, which would be creative…
Update, 6:42 PM:
In a post to his blog for Newsday, David Lennon says Rodriguez was recently spotted in the lobby of the Bellagio speaking with Mets VP Tony Bernazard.
According to Lennon, “When approached by reporters, K-Rod said the Mets told him not to talk about their discussions.”
Lennon and Heyman will appear on tonight’s 7 pm edition of Mets Hot Stove on SNY, as will Matt Yalloff’s footage from the lobby of the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
According to Ken Rosenthal, at FOXSports.com, “David Eckstein is drawing interest from five teams, most of which want him as a second baseman.”
Rosenthal does not specifically name the five teams, though he speculates on the Padres, Pirates and Orioles as being involved.
…i have no reason to feel believe this will happen, but, if the Mets are able to trade Luis Castillo, or end up cutting him, and need to solve second base at a discount, i envision eckstein in the mix…if for no other reason, then it’s quite clear Omar Minaya wanted him to be the team’s second baseman last off-season, but eckstein was not yet ready to make a permanent shift from short stop…now he is…
The Mets met today with the Beverly Hills Sports Council, who represent free agent closers Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman.
From what I can gather, Kerry Wood’s agent will be in Las Vegas later tonight, at which point he too will schedule a meeting with the Mets.
According to the New York Post, FoxSports.com and SI.com, the Mets offered Francisco Rodriguez a three-year deal today.
Last week, on ESPN.com, Buster Olney said the Mets might decide to make appropriate offers to each closer, ‘and the first one to jump at their proposal will be signed.’
← Older posts
