MLB Hot Stove League

Tigers, Braves interested in Damon

2010-02-08T21:09:00.000-05:00

It’s not clear how many suitors are showing interest in Johnny Damon at the moment. But the Tigers and Braves are definitely among the group, multiple major league sources told FOXSports.com late Friday.

Both clubs hold spring training near Damon’s Orlando home and play their home games in the Eastern time zone — satisfying two criteria that Damon is said to be considering.

Thus far, the Braves have taken a more passive approach than the Tigers. They would be happy to sign Damon if he “falls into their lap,” one source said Friday, but are unlikely to offer him a lucrative deal.

In that sense, Atlanta is one of many clubs that could sign Damon if his price drops far enough. A number of teams — the Rays, Blue Jays or Angels, to name a few — would benefit from Damon’s presence. The issue is whether their respective owners are willing to authorize the additional expense at this late hour of the baseball offseason.

Late last month, one major league executive said agent Scott Boras was seeking at least $9 million for Damon.

Detroit’s pursuit hinges on the willingness of team owner Mike Ilitch to expand the budget for a star player — something he did previously with Boras clients Ivan Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez.

At a Thursday news conference to announce Justin Verlander’s new $80 million contract with the team, Tigers club president/general manager Dave Dombrowski was asked about the perception that the team was slashing payroll with the trades of Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson.

“I guarantee you, if Mike Ilitch owns the team, you’re going to try to win,” Dombrowski said. “There might be some adjustments you need to make. But he is going to try to win at this point. It starts with your owner, and he wants to win.”

Dombrowski declined to answer a specific question about Damon but did say that the Tigers’ 2010 payroll would be “pretty similar” to what it was last year. That could be an important piece of information, considering that the Detroit payroll stood at around $130 million as of last Opening Day.

With every arbitration case settled, the Tigers’ payroll is on course to be a little over $120 million once the regular season begins. According to those estimates, Detroit could offer Damon a one-year deal worth around $6 million and keep the payroll below where it stood at this time last year.

Vladimir Guerrero signs with Rangers

2010-01-10T12:50:00.001-05:00

The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms with Vladimir Guerrero on a one-year deal with a mutual option for a second year, according to sources.

Guerrero is guaranteed $6 million in the deal, which is pending a physical. It includes $5 million plus performance incentives for 2010 and a $1 million buyout if the Rangers don't pick up the option, a source said.

Guerrero fills the Rangers' need for a right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup and will likely be the club's designated hitter.

Guerrero, who turns 35 in February, played in 100 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2009, most of them at DH. He hit .295, his lowest average for any full season in the majors, but also added 15 homers and 50 RBIs. He also had a .334 on-base percentage, well below his career numbers.

The Angels showed little interest this offseason in retaining Guerrero, who had two stints on the disabled list in 2009 and turns 35 in February. Los Angeles signed free-agent slugger Hideki Matsui and kept Bobby Abreu with a $19 million, two-year contract, leaving no room for Guerrero in the lineup.

Guerrero, who spent six seasons with the Angels, is a career .321 hitter with 407 homers and 1,318 RBIs over 14 years in the majors.

Holliday re-signing with Cards

2010-01-05T19:47:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, the free-agent slugger announced on The Doug Gottlieb Show on ESPN Radio that he is re-signing with the Cardinals.

"Well, I think first of all going into free agency I had in the back of my mind that I really liked my time in St. Louis and felt it was a good fit for me and my family," Holliday said on the show.

He added: "At the end of the day we decided that was best for us."

Holliday said that the deal was for seven years and between $119 million and $120 million with a team option at the end of the contract. He also said the deal is pending a physical.

The Cardinals said a formal announcement was likely by Thursday.

Holliday's agreement is much bigger than the other two big free-agent deals of the offseason: pitcher John Lackey's $82.5 million, five-year contract with Boston and outfielder Jason Bay's $66 million, four-year contract with the New York Mets, which was finalized earlier Tuesday.

The three-time All-Star came to St. Louis from the Oakland Athletics in a July deadline trade last season. He batted .313 with 24 home runs and 109 RBIs between the two clubs.

Holliday is a career .318 hitter in six seasons.

Mariners eye Kotchman

2010-01-05T19:46:00.000-05:00

The Seattle Mariners are expected to acquire first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Boston Red Sox in return for at least one minor leaguer, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

If the trade is completed as planned, Kotchman would be penciled in as the Mariners' starting first baseman.

While Boston would part with a backup infielder if the trade goes through, the team is still looking for ways to part with third baseman Mike Lowell and move forward with Adrian Beltre at third base and Kevin Youkilis at first. The Red Sox have reached an agreement with Beltre, who must pass a physical for his one-year, $10 million contract to become official. Beltre is expected in Boston by the end of this week, most likely on Thursday, to take that physical, according to an industry source.

Kotchman, who split 2009 with the Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves, hit .268 with seven home runs and 48 RBIs. He batted .282 in 87 games with the Red Sox, with whom he hit six of his seven homers. The Red Sox obtained Kotchman last season in a trade that sent Adam LaRoche to Atlanta.

He is a career .269 hitter in six seasons with the Red Sox, Braves and Los Angeles Angels.

Mets agree to deal with Jason Bay

2010-01-04T21:47:00.003-05:00

The Mets have reached an agreement with free-agent outfielder Jason Bay, according to a major-league source.

The four-year deal is worth $66 million, with a vesting option for a fifth year, according to the source. If Bay reaches the requirements for the option to vest, the five-year deal would be worth over $80 million. The contract also includes a $17 million option for 2014 with a $3 million buyout.

Bay set career highs with 36 Home runs and 119 RBIs last season for Boston. The 31-year-old outfielder is a lifetime .280 hitter and has averaged 30 homers and 99 RBIs in his six full seasons in the majors.

Bay and left fielder Matt Holliday were the biggest hitters on the market. Holliday, who split last season in Oakland and St. Louis, is seeking an even richer deal than Bay.

Picked by many to be a playoff contender last season, the Mets never got into the race during their first season at Citi Field. Despite the addition of record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez, New York couldn't overcome injuries to the likes of Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. By the end of the year, the Mets were fielding makeshift lineups on a daily basis.

The vast left field at the new ballpark turned into a revolving door, with eight players starting at least seven games there. Gary Sheffield, Cory Sullivan and Daniel Murphy spent the most time at the spot.

Pressure on the Mets to boost their roster heightened even more this winter when their city rivals, the World Series champion Yankees, traded for All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson and pitcher Javier Vazquez and signed free agent Nick Johnson.

The Mets recently signed free agent pitcher Kelvim Escobar, who's been beset by injuries, and added backup catcher Henry Blanco. But finding a major player was their priority and they hope Bay, a star since becoming the 2004 NL Rookie of the Year, will put them on the right track.

Reports: Red Sox agree to deal with Beltre

2010-01-04T21:44:00.001-05:00

The Boston Red Sox have a reached an agreement with free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, according to multiple reports.

Terms of the deal remain unclear.

Beltre, 31, hit .265 with eight home runs in 449 at-bats with the Seattle Mariners last season.

Signing Beltre means the Red Sox likely would use Mike Lowell off the bench or trade him.

Red Sox reach deals with Penny and Bard

2008-12-29T23:31:00.002-05:00

The Boston Red Sox and pitcher Brad Penny reached a preliminary agreement on a $5 million, one-year contract, according to several reports Monday. The team also struck a tentative agreement with catcher Josh Bard and both deals are pending physicals, the reports said.

A two-time All-Star, the 30-year-old Penny struggled with injuries to his shoulder and side last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 17 starts and two relief appearances.

Penny pitched well in that series against the New York Yankees, going 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two starts. He was the NL starter in the 2006 All-Star game and finished that year 16-9 with a 4.33 ERA. The following season, Penny went 16-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 33 starts covering 208 innings and placed third in NL Cy Young Award voting.

According to the reports, Penny could earn an additional $3 million in performance bonuses with the Red Sox. He is 94-75 with a 4.06 ERA in nine big league seasons.

Bard played seven games for Boston in 2006 but struggled to catch Wakefield's knuckler and was traded to San Diego. He batted .202 with a homer and 16 RBIs in 178 at-bats for the Padres last season.

The Red Sox need depth behind the plate becase captain Jason Varitek is a free agent.

Red Sox reach deal with Penny and Bard

2008-12-29T23:31:00.000-05:00

Reds sign CF Taveras

2008-12-27T21:27:00.002-05:00

Willy Taveras and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a two-year contract, filling the team's need for a center fielder and leadoff hitter.

The speedy Taveras is coming off a disappointing season with Colorado. He batted .251 with a paltry .308 on-base percentage, though he did lead the major leagues with 68 stolen bases.

Taveras, who turned 27 on Christmas, became a free agent when the Rockies decided not to offer him a contract by the Dec. 12 deadline. He spent two injury-plagued seasons in Colorado after he was acquired from Houston in December 2006.

Taveras has a .283 career batting average with seven homers, 109 RBIs and 169 stolen bases.

Randy Johnson Signs with Giants

2008-12-26T21:33:00.000-05:00

Randy Johnson has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants, FOXSports.com has learned.

Johnson, 45, needs just five wins to reach 300. He's also chasing 5,000 strikeouts, entering the season with 4,789.

After an injury-plagued 2007, Johnson bounced back last season to throw 184 innings with a 3.91 ERA for the Diamondbacks.

Johnson joins a San Francisco rotation that already includes 2008 Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Barry Zito.

The Dodgers were also interested in Johnson, who preferred to stay on the West Coast while playing for a team that holds spring training in Arizona.

Yankees Land Texeria

2008-12-23T19:57:00.000-05:00

Talk about a stunner. The Yankees have reached an agreement in principle with free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, according to major-league sources. Teixeira's deal is for eight years and $180 million — a sum that would push the Yankees' off-season expenditures past $400 million.

The signing of Teixeira will be a stunning blow to the Red Sox, who had identified the switch-hitting first baseman as their No. 1 target and can not effectively counter the Yankees' move.
The agreement also raises the question of where Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, will place his other free-agent slugger, outfielder Manny Ramirez.

The Angels ruled out signing Ramirez on Wednesday, seemingly leaving him with only the Dodgers as an interested suitor. The addition of Teixeira almost certainly will eliminate Ramirez as a possibility for the Yankees.

The Yankees have now made three high-priced additions; Teixeira, left-hander CC Sabathia, and righty A.J. Burnett, as they prepare for their first season at the new Yankee Stadium. Sabathia and Burnett signed earlier this off-season for a combined $243.5 million.

Teixeira, a switch-hitter and Gold Glove defender, might be the most meaningful prize, simply because of the interest that he drew from the Red Sox, the Yankees' biggest rival.

The Nationals and Orioles also bid for Teixeira, a native of Severna Park, Md., but the Red Sox were considered the favorite, considering their need for a middle-of-the-order slugger.

The Red Sox had a bitter parting with Manny Ramirez last summer and David Ortiz could be on the verge of decline. Without Teixeira, the Sox could attempt to sign another free-agent slugger or bolster their starting pitching with the addition of free-agent right-hander Derek Lowe.

Angels withdraw offer to Teixeira

2008-12-21T20:03:00.000-05:00

The Angels are out of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes. The team has withdrawn its offer to the free-agent slugger, according to a source close to the negotiations.

The Red Sox did not necessarily end their bid for Teixeira when owner John Henry said the team "is not going to be a factor" in the negotiations.

The Angels' decision, however, is more final, the source said.

Keeping Teixeira, 28, was the Angels' top priority. The team now figures to explore other free-agent pursuits, including the possible signing of left-handed closer Brian Fuentes as a replacement for the departed Francisco Rodriguez.

Without Teixeira, the Angels could install Kendry Morales at first base. Their other possible offensive targets include Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn and Milton Bradley.

The Angels are believed to have offered Teixeria an eight-year deal in the range of $160 million. However, Teixeira wants to return east for family reasons, according to major-league sources.

The withdrawal of the Angels, then, does not figure to change the basic dynamics of the negotiations.

The Red Sox remain the favorite, despite their recent posturing. The Nationals could end up the high bidder, and Teixeira's hometown team, the Orioles, also are a factor. The Yankees, meanwhile, lurk on the periphery.

Teixeira helped elevate the Angels' offense after the team acquired him from the Braves on July 30, posting a batting average/on-base/ slugging line of .358/.449/.632 in 54 games. He also went 7-for-15 with an RBI in the Angels' Division Series loss to the Red Sox.

Furcal finally makes up his mind

2008-12-17T19:57:00.001-05:00

Furcal, the top free-agent shortstop on the open market this year, has decided to sign with the Dodgers, major-league sources said. The Associated Press, citing a person familiar with the negotiations, said the deal is for three years and $33 million.

Furcal gets $7.5 million next season, $9.5 million in 2010 and $13 million in 2011, according to AP. The deal includes a $13 million team option for 2012 with a $3 million buyout.

On Monday night, the Braves were under the distinct impression that they had a deal with Furcal. On Tuesday, the Dodgers re-entered the discussions, and by Wednesday afternoon the Dodgers and Furcal were hammering out the terms of an agreement, sources said.

The Braves on Wednesday were informed that Furcal would not accept their deal.

Atlanta, according to sources, offered Furcal a three-year deal worth approximately $30 million, and included a vesting option for a fourth year that would have pushed the potential value of the deal to approximately $40 million.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, had been reluctant to re-sign Furcal long-term due to medical concerns. On Tuesday, however, they suddenly showed interest in extending their offer beyond two guaranteed years.

Furcal's reasons for choosing the Dodgers over the Braves are unclear. But he will remain at shortstop with the Dodgers; the Braves, depending upon the outcome of other moves, might have moved him to second base.

The A's are believed to have made the high offer for Furcal — four years guaranteed in the $40 million range, according to major-league sources.

Furcal, 31, left the Braves for the Dodgers after the 2005 season, signing a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract.

For the Braves, the loss of Furcal represents their third major setback of the offseason.

The first came when they failed to reach a trade agreement for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy after weeks of negotiations.

The second occurred when they were outbid for free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett, who signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Yankees.

Furcal was less important to the Braves than either of those starting pitchers, but his addition would have created opportunities for the team to trade shortstop Yunel Escobar or second baseman Kelly Johnson for either outfield help or pitching.

Orioles sign Izturis

2008-12-16T20:28:00.000-05:00

The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract with free agent shortstop Cesar Izturis on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Izturis batted .263 in 135 games with the St. Louis Cardinals this year. He ranked third in the NL with a .980 fielding percentage.

Izturis won the 2004 Gold Glove for the Los Angeles Dodgers and was an NL All-Star the following year. He fills the void at shortstop left by the trade in 2007 that sent Miguel Tejada to the Houston Astros. The Orioles employed six players at the position this year, including Freddie Bynum, Juan Castro and Alex Cintron. Izturis joins a team that has endured 11 straight losing seasons, but hopes to help turn that around in 2009.

A switch-hitter, Izturis batted .290 right-handed and .245 left-handed in 2008. He also led the Cardinals with 24 stolen bases. A career .260 hitter, Izturis broke into the majors with Toronto in 2001. Besides playing for Los Angeles and St. Louis, he spent time with the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Izturis gets $2.4 million next year and $2.6 million in 2010. He can earn up to $600,000 each year in performance bonuses: $50,000 each for 400 and 450 plate appearances and 100 and 110 games started, and $100,000 each for 500 plate appearances , and 120, 130 and 140 games started.

Furcal spurns A's $40M for Braves' $30M

2008-12-16T13:08:00.000-05:00

The Braves have scored a major offseason upset, luring free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal back to Atlanta. In a stunning turnaround, Furcal spurned the A's for a three-year deal with the Braves worth approximately $30 million, according to major-league sources.

The A's are believed to have made the high offer for Furcal — four years guaranteed in the $40 million range, according to major-league sources. The Braves, however, made a late, rapid push for Furcal, who owns homes in Atlanta and Los Angeles and preferred to rejoin the Braves or stay with the Dodgers.

Furcal, 31, left the Braves for the Dodgers after the 2005 season, signing a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract. His return to Atlanta gives the Braves stunning flexibility in their middle infield, perhaps enabling them to revive their trade talks for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy.

Furcal could switch to second base, a position he has played in winter ball, if the Braves move Kelly Johnson to left field or trade Johnson for an outfielder or pitching help. Or, Furcal could remain at shortstop if the Braves trade Yunel Escobar, either as part of a Peavy package or in a separate deal.

The availability of Peavy, however, is unclear, and Braves officials have not even discussed him in recent weeks, one source said.

The Braves began the offseason intent on landing two quality starting pitchers. They acquired right-hander Javier Vazquez from the White Sox, but failed in attempts to land Peavy and sign free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett.

The addition of Furcal could lead the Braves to continue their pursuits of less prominent free-agent pitchers such as left-hander Randy Wolf and Japanese right-hander Kenshin Kawakami. But it also would give them the option to explore bigger deals.

Kinzer said last week that the A's, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Royals were the four finalists for Furcal. The Blue Jays and Royals, however, fell out of the running due to economic reasons, according to major-league sources. The Dodgers apparently were not willing to offer Furcal more than two years.

Orlando Cabrera would become the top shortstop on the free-agent market if the Braves complete their deal with Furcal, becoming a prime candidate for the Dodgers. Other options for the Dodgers would include re-signing Angel Berroa, a lesser free agent, or trading for the Pirates' Jack Wilson.

A's up offer to Furcal

2008-12-15T13:07:00.000-05:00

From every indication, the A's are the front-runner to sign free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.
MLB Hot Stove. The A's have improved their initial four-year offer to Furcal, according to major-league sources.

Furcal's agent, Paul Kinzer, said last week that the A's, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Royals were the four finalists for his client. Other teams, however, could be in the mix.

The Dodgers will not offer Furcal four years and maybe not even three, sources say. The Jays are unable to compete economically. The Royals might need to trade outfielder Jose Guillen to clear payroll. Guillen, 32, is owed $24 million over the next two seasons, but Royals officials say that moving him would be counter-productive because the team needs his power.

The A's initial four-year offer to Furcal was believed to be for between $35 million and $40 million. The Dodgers and other clubs have been reluctant to offer him four years due to his injury history.

If Furcal signs with the A's, the Dodgers could turn to free-agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera or re-sign free agent Angel Berroa, a lesser player. They also could revive trade talks for the Pirates' Jack Wilson.

Braves still after Pitching

2008-12-12T20:35:00.001-05:00

The Braves, after losing out on Burnett, might trade for a starting pitcher, but not necessarily Padres right-hander Jake Peavy.

The team is less inclined to trade shortstop Yunel Escobar, the centerpiece of their offer for Peavy, after including shortstop Brent Lillibridge in their trade for Javier Vazquez.

Then again, the Braves still could sign free agent Rafael Furcal to play shortstop, allowing them the opportunity to trade Escobar. Or, they could keep Escobar, sign Furcal to play second base and use Kelly Johnson to fill their void in left field.

To address their pitching, they could target Randy Wolf or Derek Lowe.

Yankees sign Burnett to 5-year, $82.5M deal

2008-12-12T19:55:00.001-05:00

Free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett has reached a preliminary agreement with the Yankees on a five-year, $82.5 million contract, joining lefty CC Sabathia in the team's revamped rotation.

The Braves were the other team making a strong run at Burnett. It is not known whether they increased their offer to include a guaranteed fifth year.

The best news for Yankees fans? Burnett is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox.

Burnett signed a five-year, $55 million free-agent contract with the Blue Jays after the 2005 season, then exercised his right to opt out of the deal and become a free agent again after three years. Between the two deals, he will end up earning $113.5 million over an eight-year span.

His contract with the Yankees, unlike Sabathia's, will not include an opt-out clause.
At one point in his career, Burnett would have not been a good candidate to pitch in New York; he was too emotional, too mercurial.

From a physical standpoint, Burnett is also in a better place. After battling elbow and shoulder problems throughout his career, he seems to have gained a greater awareness of what he needs to do to stay healthy — and what it takes to win games.

The signing of Burnett means that the Yankees will drop their pursuit of right-hander Derek Lowe, who could end up with Boston.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have given lefty Andy Pettitte a take-it-or leave-it one-year, $10 million offer to remain with the club, according to the New York Post. If Pettitte declines, the Yankees likely will pursue a pitcher at a comparable price on the open market. They have had discussions with righty Ben Sheets

IF Lopez, Diamondbacks agree to deal

2008-12-12T11:33:00.000-05:00

Free-agent infielder Felipe Lopez and the Arizona Diamondbacks reached a preliminary agreement on a $3.5 million, one-year contract. The deal was pending a physical, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been finalized.

The 28-year-old Lopez, who has spent eight seasons in the majors, split this year between Washington and St. Louis. He batted .283 with six homers and 46 RBIs in 143 games.

A switch-hitter, Lopez was an All-Star shortstop in 2005 with Cincinnati. He broke into the big leagues with Toronto in 2001.

Lopez has spent most of his career at shortstop, but he played 101 games at second base last season.

The Diamondbacks agreed Wednesday with Augie Ojeda on a $712,500, one-year contract to keep the utility infielder around for a third season.

Ibanez reaches deal with Phillies

2008-12-12T11:28:00.000-05:00

The World Series champion Phillies have found their replacement for departing left fielder Pat Burrell. Free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez has reached preliminary agreement with the Phillies on a three-year, $30 million contract, according to major-league sources.

The deal, pending a physical, was reached early Friday morning at the winter meetings in Las Vegas. Phillies executives and Ibanez's agents stayed an extra day to complete the contract.
The Mets, Cubs, Nationals and Angels also were interested in Ibanez, who batted .293 with 23 homers and 110 RBIs last season for the Mariners while playing his home games at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.

The Phillies' preference was for a right-handed hitter to go with their two left-handed sluggers, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Ibanez, 36, is a left-handed hitter, but actually hit left-handers better than righties last season.

His free-agent value seemed to diminish after his previous team, the Mariners, offered him salary arbitration, thus forcing any team that signed him to forfeit a first-round draft pick.

Ibanez's age also figured to be an obstacle in the open market; few players in their late 30s receive three-year contracts. However, Ibanez has averaged 26 homers and 113 RBIs the past three seasons, and teams value his professionalism and character.

Red Sox getting closer to Teixeira deal

2008-12-11T10:56:00.000-05:00

The Red Sox are making progress in their quest to sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, according to a major-league source. A rival general manager whose plans could be affected by the Red Sox's addition of Teixeira also indicated that a deal was getting closer.

Teixeira is the Red Sox's No. 1 offseason target. They view him as the perfect fit for the middle of their order.

Teixeira is seeking a 10-year contract for at least $20 million per season. The Red Sox preference would be to sign him to a deal between six and eight years. He hit 33 home runs and had 121 RBIs as a member of the Braves and Angels last season. Teixeira has never hit less than 26 homers in his six major-league seasons.

Tigers to aqcuire Edwin Jackson

2008-12-11T10:55:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Tigers are set to acquire right-hander Edwin Jackson from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Matt Joyce, according to a major-league source.

Tampa Bay, with David Price on the way, had a surplus of starting pitching. Jackson, 25, was 14-11 this year with a 4.25 ERA.

In exchange the Rays get a 24-year-old, left-handed-hitting corner outfielder who hit 12 homers in 242 at-bats. -- Ed Price

Mets acquire Putz from Seattle

2008-12-11T10:48:00.001-05:00

The Mets have acquired a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez — and that setup man is another closer from the American League West. Though the Mets just acquired J.J. Putz, he may not be happy going from a closer's role to being a setup man, Ken Rosenthal says.

J.J. Putz is headed to New York in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians, according to major-league sources. Under terms of the deal, the Mets get Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green from Seattle.

The Mariners receive reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez, first baseman Mike Carp, and minor leaguers Maikel Cleto, Jason Vargas and Ezequiel Carrera from the Mets. They also get Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians.

The Indians get reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from Seattle.
From the Mets' perspective, the deal is Heilman and Smith for Putz. Chavez and Reed are simply an exchange of backup outfielders, Smith and Green are an exchange of right-handed groundball specialists.

Putz, 31, suffered through an injury plagued season for the M's. He worked 46.3 innings after going 71.2 in 2007 and 78.1 in '06. Putz recorded 15 saves in 2008, but combined for 76 the two seasons prior.

Yankees trade Cabrera for Cameron

2008-12-11T10:42:00.001-05:00

The Yankees are on the brink of getting his pal Mike Cameron, as well. The Yankees would trade at least Melky Cabrera to obtain Cameron, a speedy, defensively elite center fielder who hits homers, but strikes out at a high rate. A source close to the situation described a trade as "close," but not done.

Cameron was due to make $10 million next season and the deal, according to a source, might be contingent on how much the Brewers are willing to pay of that. The source said the more that Milwaukee pays the better the pitcher they could receive in addition to Cabrera. The Post first reported that possibility of a Cameron-Cabrera swap on Nov. 6 from the GM Meetings.

Since the offseason began, Yankees GM Brian Cashman has said he plans on having Brett Gardner play center next season. But he used a similar ploy after the 2005 season by stating that Bubba Crosby would be the center fielder in 2006. However, he waited for the free-agent price to fall and then signed Johnny Damon to a four-year contract.

Cameron could make Sabathia's transition to New York easier. He played with the Mets in 2004-05, so he knows the city. And he quickly became Sabathia's pal in Milwaukee after the Brewers obtained him last July from the Indians. For weeks, there was a belief that Sabathia might shun the Yankees because he did not want to play in New York. But the Yankees gave him $160 million to reconsider and also will probably now give him a friend, as well.

Yankees Increase Offer to Burnett

2008-12-10T23:04:00.000-05:00

The Yankees have increased their offer to A.J. Burnett to include a fifth year, according to a major-league source. That development was first reported by ESPN.com. The offer is for $91 million, according to a major-league executive.

The team is apparently not content to stop at CC Sabathia and is in active discussions with Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Andy Pettitte.

A source told Gerry Fraley earlier Wednesday that Burnett, who is seeking a five-year deal, has an $80 million offer from the Braves. He presumably would want more from the Yankees.

The Yankees are "progressing" in their discussions with Lowe, according to a major-league source. Another source, however, says reports that the team is close with Lowe are overblown.
Lowe is expected to receive a deal for between three and five years with an average of around $17 million per year.

The Yankees could possibly sign two out of those three, though it is unclear what exact direction they will go