Burnett was 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA in 35 starts with the Blue Jays this season.

As noted earlier today on MetsBlog, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the Yankees will not pursue Derek Lowe if they sign Burnett.

Cerrone also wrote the following in the above mentioned post:

“The way I understand it, Lowe is more concerned with the dollar amount than the years. Also, the buzz around Lowe continues to suggest that he would like to retire within the next few years or so, and would prefer to sign with a team who has a spring training facility near his home in Florida.”

“They also plan to meet with the agents for Randy Wolf and Jon Garland,” Stark reports.

Speaking of starting pitchers…

Stark also reports the Phillies are not pursuing Lowe, despite reports that suggest otherwise.

The Braves offered Burnett a five-year, $80 million contract, according to Gerry Fraley of FoxSports.com, however a report on MLB.com disagrees.

The Cubs and Padres continue to discuss Jake Peavy, while wrangling in the Phillies, Twins and Orioles, in an effort to get a deal done, explains MLB Trade Rumors. 

The Braves have offered A.J. Burnett a five-year, $80 million contract, according to Gerry Fraley of FoxSports.com.

The Cardinals offered OF Rick Ankiel to the Mariners for closer J.J. Putz, according to Ken Rosenthal on FoxSports.com.

…so, are we to assume the cost of putz for the Mets could have been, say, Ryan Church…

The Blue Jays have shown interest in free-agent RHP Matt Clement, reports the Toronto Star.

The A’s continue to meet with free-agent SS Rafael Furcal, according to ESPN.com, despite the player rejecting a four-year deal earlier in the month.

According to Baggerly, while the Brewers are considered the front runners, “the Giants had discussions with Sabathia’s camp last night, and they expect to have face-to-face meetings with the left-hander in San Francisco after the winter meetings.”

Meanwhile, in a post to the Los Angeles Times, Tony Jackson describes the Giants as ‘supremely confident that they are going to sign Sabathia.’

…the buzz in baseball for quite some time now has been that sabathia was eyeing the Dodgers or Giants the entire time…it appears he may get his wish…

At the same time, suddenly, the Yankees are being more aggressive in their pursuit of Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett, reports Joel Sherman on his blog for the New York Post.

Update, 5:40 PM:

According to ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, the Yankees deny reports that Sabathia rejected their offer.

Speaking of starting pitchers…

Jon Heyman of SI.com believes ‘the Phillies and Yankees are two most prominent contenders for star free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe, who seeks at least a five-year deal for about $80 million.’

In a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal says he would not be surprised to see Burnett get a five-year, $100 million deal from the Yankees.

According to Peter Gammons on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, the Braves are still the front runners to sign Burnett, and could eventually guarantee him the fifth year.

Lastly, some reports suggest the Cubs are close to trading for Jake Peavy, while others suggest they are not – for details, check out MLB Trade Rumors.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the O’s have been in contact with Jon Garland.

The Los Angeles Times wrote yesterday that Garland is seeking a two– or three-year deal, and three teams are showing interest in him.

Yesterday, 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…

Kris Benson is at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and the Blue Jays, Indians and Dodgers have expressed interest in him, writes Roch Kubatko for MASN.

The Cardinals are not interested in A.J. Burnett, despite published reports, explains the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Instead, the report says, “The Cardinals remain interested only in short-term relationships with starting pitchers, including Oliver Perez, Andy Pettitte and Brad Penny, among others.”

Lastly, “If the Cubs obtain Jake Peavy, then Jason Marquis or Rich Harden will become trade bait,” reports the Boston Globe.

Yesterday, ESPN’s Peter Gammons said talks between the Braves and Burnett are progressing well.

However, according to Jon Heyman at SI.com, ‘The Yankees are prepared to top Atlanta’s reported $60 million, four-year offer to Burnett.’

Meanwhile, according to Olney, only the Yankees and Brewers have made an offer to CC Sabathia, i.e., the Dodgers, Giants and Angels have not.

Also, Olney believes Padres GM Kevin Towers is bluffing when he says San Diego will keep Jake Peavy for Opening Day if he’s unable to trade him before the end of this week’s Winter Meetings.

Nevertheless, the Cubs need young starting pitchers from a third team to help acquire Peavy from the Padres, says Olney.

According to Ken Rosenthal, of FoxSports.com, the Phillies are working with the Cubs and Padres as the third team.

By the way, again, ESPN 2 will air a Baseball Tonight Winter Meetings Special today at 5 pm.

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.

Instead, writes Rosenthal, free-agent RHP Jon Garland is on the team’s radar, ‘and would fit the back of their rotation.’

Last week, in the Daily News, John Harper said the Mets had interest in Garland as well, while also trading for a fifth starter to compete with Jon Niese in spring training.

…as i have said, garland would actually be a really good fit for the Mets, while trading for a back-end pitcher like Edwin Jackson to compete with niese…

Speaking of starting pitchers…

ESPN’s Peter Gammons says talks between the Braves and A.J. Burnett are progressing well.

…as i wrote this morning, the buzz from Vegas suggests burnett likes the idea of pitching in Atlanta, and could end up signing only a four-year deal…

Tonight, on Baseball Tonight, ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian said he still believes CC Sabathia will eventually sign with the Yankees, while hoping that the Angels, Dodgers and Giants make an offer.

That said, according to MLB.com, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti recently told reporters it is ‘possible’ his team ‘enters the mix.’

Towers also said he is likely to keep Peavy for 2009, if he’s unable to make a trade by the end of this week.

Towers said he looking for three or four major-league ready prospects, which is why, in a recent on-air report for ESPN News, Peter Gammons said the Cubs and Padres continue to seek a third team to help facilitate a deal.

Meanwhile, according to Jayson Stark, at ESPN.com, there has been little interest in Cubs RHP Jason Marquis.

Last week, the Chicago Sun-Times said the Cubs could look to trade Marquis while eating up to $4 million of his roughly $10 million salary.

Lastly, the Cardinals are very interested in A.J. Burnett, reports Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.

Meanwhile, in a recent on-air report for ESPN News, ESPN.com’s Peter Gammons said representatives for A.J. Burnett will meet with the Braves this week in Las Vegas, in hopes of quickly working on an agreement.

…the buzz from Vegas suggests burnett likes the idea of pitching in Atlanta, and could end up signing a four-year deal, despite rumors that he requires a fifth guaranteed season…that, plus no other teams appears willing to give it to him…

That said, according to FoxSports.com, Burnett reached out to Carl Pavano to get his take on playing for the Yankees.

Also, Gammons reports the Padres and Cubs continue to seek a third team to help facilitate sending Jake Peavy to Chicago.

By the way, ESPN 2 will feature a Baseball Tonight Hot Stove Special today at 5 pm EDT.

According to Buster Olney, per ESPN News, talks between Yankees GM Brian Cashman and CC Sabathia went ‘great.’

Lastly, unlike in years past, free-agent LHP Randy Wolf is open to signing with any team, not just teams on the West Coast, reports Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.