Adding to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports, MLB.com says Joe Smith, Luis Valbuena and Jeremy Reed are all likely involved in a three-team J.J. Putz deal. The particulars still aren't known, but MLB.com believes the Indians will get Smith from the Mets and Valbuena from the Mariners and give up Gutierrez to Seattle. That suggests that Aaron Heilman could also be Seattle bound, probably with Mike Carp. MLB.com believes the deal is on the verge of being done. Source: Hot Stove Blog Related: Aaron Heilman, Luis Valbuena, Joe Smith, Indians, Mets Come on Omar, get it done.
A source told FOXSports.com that the Rays are set to trade Edwin Jackson to the Tigers for Matt Joyce. Looks like a win for the Rays. Joyce is the player the Rays would really like Gabe Gross to be. Now Gross is completely expendable and could end up being non-tendered. The Rays still should go get themselves a legitimate DH, however. We imagine the Tigers are looking at Jackson as a starter, though there's always been plenty of speculation about how he might fare better as a closer. Source: FOXSports.com Related: Matt Joyce, Tigers
I think the Red Sox are going to sign Teixeira & Varitek now, as soon as next week. I have no inside information but it's just a feeling. I think Boras will package them together in his sales pitch much like he did with Matsuzaka and Drew. Looks like Burnett is deciding between the Yankees and Braves contracts, he rejected the Jays and Sox offers, so I'd guess he'll make up his mind by this weekend.
Update, 11:26 PM: The Mets just announced that Omar Minaya will address reporters from the podium at the Bellagio in the next hour. Update, 11:12 PM: The deal is done, according to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com, “J.J. Putz is headed to New York in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians,” according to major-league sources. The Mets will get J.J. Putz, OF Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green; The Mariners will get Aaron Heilman, OF Endy Chavez, 1B Mike Carp and OF Franklin Gutierrez, plus minor leaguers from the Indians; The Indians will get RHP Joe Smith and infielder Luis Valbuena.
Still seems odd to me that the Yanks overpay by 50 mill or CC without batting an eye. They definitely needed him, but I guess I can understand why the Brewers were a bit annoyed that NY blew the market away.
Like the Mets won't have enough AL West closers at this point. First K-Rod, then Putz. They might as well add Ziegler and C.J. Wilson/Frank Francisco while they're at it.
Rumors on Cameron for Cabrera: 1) Yanks are said to want some cash to cover the $10M for 1 year owed Cameron 2) Brewers would then seek a Minor League arm in return 3) Yanks would then want Bill Hall added to the mix (Depending on arm value, etc). So all in all, this is close but not definate at this point.
Personally, I think Sean is the best or brightest part of the deal for Mets. Anywhere from innings 6th &7th he can be the guy you go to. Down right Nasty sink at times.
No doubt, but they were desperate, and at the end of the day all it does is equal the Santana deal from last season when you throw in Santana's 7th year option it also equals the $160M #. P.S. CC also cleared up any confusion about the 3yr opt out. He stated and his agent confirmed, he demanded that in any deal he was going to sign. Its a financial guarantee that he can stay market competitive. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081210&content_id=3710546&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp Some nice charts in this article showing $$$
Gems can be unearthed in Rule 5 Draft | MLB.com: News Of course the greatest rule 5 guy ever - Johan Santana!
Sox and D-Backs talking about a Lugo for Byrnes swap. Byrnes is far from a typical Red Sox type player, I wonder what other offers are out there for Lugo. I wonder how much salary we will end up paying.
I am not exactly a huge Byrnes fan, but damn, the Dbacks must really wanna get rid of him if they are talking about getting Julio Lugo. I guess Lugo would play 2nd for them? The money is pretty much a wash I think. EDIT: Dbacks just signed Felipe Lopez to one year deal. Im guessing he will play 2nd. I guess Lugo coming to AZ wouldnt make sense now. link
Interesting: In fact, a published report said that the Orioles offered Teixeira a seven-year, $150 million contract. 7/$150 ($21.43/yr) O's 8/$160 (($20/yr) Nats
"Jose Reyes, though, probably won't have Pierre for company in New York". I misread that to imply it was a swap....sorry. Phew, glad to know they arent that dumb...or as dumb as I was for thinking they were doing this.
Talks on Cameron-Cabrera deal stall | MLB.com: News it may have stalled, but since it was talked about and started 6 weeks ago, I think it will happen even if its after the winter meetings.
While it certainly fills a need for the Sox, I'm not sure I'd be able to root for Byrnes as I keep getting flash backs to his shove of Varitek and forgetting to touch home plate in Game 3 of the 2003 ALDS.
Thats like asking whether you want to lose 100 games making 150m or lose 105 making 160m. I mean cant these journalists phrase anything right?
It is impossible for me to express, without excessive profanity, exactly how bad a baseball player Pierre is. Let's just hope this was a false rumor or just a brain fart by Omar, and he's since come to his senses. The lack of any follow up from that initial rumor leads me to believe this is a dead letter. And thank God for that.
I will never understand why Melky Cabrera continues to have trade value. He's been a regular for three years now and has managed to regress offensively in every single one. Last year, he managed a stellar 642 OPS...and he plays a premium offensive position! And please don't tell me about his sterling glove work. Willie Mays in his prime didn't play defense well enough to make up for that lack of offensive production.
You Mets fans really know how to paint a player you dislike. I have laughed out loud at least a few times at descriptions of potential pickups..
You should listen to (read?) Boik and I go at it over Mike Cameron and Adam Dunn. ESPN reports that Peavy to the Cubs is a dead letter. Don't know if that means the Mets will trade for Marquis or not.
You and me both brother. I've never understood why Yankee fans think he's any good, I remember getting into huge debates at the old site over this and laughing my stones off when I told Melky would be an All-Star. He has no power, no speed, is a hacker at the plate, and plays a subpar OF. Yes he makes diving catches and web gems but it's because he ends up taking bad routes to the ball where a good defensive OFer would make it standing up. And don't get me started on the whole 'his youth and energy rubs off on the players' crap either. He's been completely overrated, he's nothing more than a 4th OFer at best and I can never understand how in the world a team like the New York Yankees would have him as their everyday CFer. And I'm getting nervous that Brett Garner is slowly becoming the next Melky Cabrera in terms of being overrated and just not being good. Bottom line is the Yankees should have signed Beltran when they had the chance, just like they should sign Teixeira this year while they have the chance. I figured if the Yankees were in the hunt for Cameron, the Brewers would want Melky as he's cheap and controlled for 4 years and that's important to a small market team but really this is a pure salary dump on the Brewers part.
LAS VEGAS -- Padres star pitcher Jake Peavy is "frustrated'' by the team's inability to trade him after threatening to do so for months and "shaken'' over the Padres' latest failure to deal him to the Cubs after weeks of talks, Peavy's agent Barry Axelrod said. - jon heyman Peavy open to anything (go get him omar!): Agent: Peavy 'frustrated' with Padres | FanNation If they come to us with a trade now, we'll consider it. But there won't be any more lists,'' Axelrod said. "No, we're done with that.''
Its Peavys call not NY and word is he doesn't want to go to the AL or a big market team, of course that could all change now.
Ibanez signs with the Phils ESPN - Raul Ibanez, Phillies agree to 3-year, $30 million deal Well hes an upgrade on D but I don't like giving a 3 year 30 mil deal to a 37 year old.
Actually, statistically, Ibanez is rated as the worst defensive OF in baseball. Scary as it seems he might have a worse arm then Johnny Damon. The small confines of CBP may help a little and I dont question his bat but defensively hes just bad at best.
Some new names for the rumor mill: According to the Rocky Mountain News, the Rockies will cut ties with Willy Taveras before Friday night's contract tender deadline. Things are opening up for Carlos Gonzalez to claim a full time role in the Rockies' outfield. He'll at least get a legitimate shot. Ryan Spilborghs could also see time in center field. A slew of teams are expected to go after Taveras once he officially becomes a free agent. Source: Rocky Mountain News Related: Carlos Gonzalez, Ryan Spilborghs Pat Burrell-OF-Phillies Dec. 12 - 11:49 am et The Reds are planning to contact the agent for outfielder Pat Burrell. The team's No. 1 priority right now is adding a right-handed bat and Burrell fits the bill. They have also spoken with representatives for Rocco Baldelli, Juan Rivera, and have made efforts to trade for Jermaine Dye. The Reds are thought to have $10 million available to spend. Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
This could be a great scenario for the Mets. Hopefully his price falls back in to the Dempster range. I would much rather have Lowe then Ollie even though Ollie is younger and more talented..... "Lowe's market didn't exactly collapse this week. It just seemed that way -- but only because it was obviously overblown by Boras' leak squad in the first place. It's now apparent that neither the Phillies nor the Red Sox made an offer at all. And they no longer seem any more than mildly interested. The Yankees are still an option -- but maybe not for long. If Burnett and Andy Pettitte say yes to offers already on the table, the Yankees are out. And although the Mets maintain interest, it appears they want no part of the four-year, $72 million price tag Boras was tossing out there early on. But there's a scenario in the making in which they become the last serious bidder standing. So maybe this will turn out to be Omar Minaya's lucky winter." ESPN - Jayson Stark: Plenty of loose ends after winter meetings _________________
I'm a touch surprised the Mets aren't in on Burrell. They want a righthanded corner OF who can hit for power. Well, isn't that Burrell to a tee? And isn't his value falling off right now? And most importantly, hasn't he absolutely crushed the Mets over the years? Only Chipper Jones has been more of a Met-killer over the last several years. Sure his defense sucks, but they've got Beltran in center, Wright at 3rd and Reyes at SS. You can live with a lousy defensive LF with those guys around. Plus, they just got Jeremy Reed, who seems like the guy they'd have as a late-inning defensive replacement.
I can virtually assure you Burrell will be even more harmful to the Mets as a Met then he could ever be as a Phillie. His slow, plodding behind is destined for DH eventually. His streakiness would drive me up a wall. Hes a decent hitter numbers wise, but no thanks. If we're going to spend on a LF it better be Manny. I would even take Dunn over Burrell and even that isnt really close.
