Yankee & Dodger Rumors Premature

The Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti denied rumors today that he and the Yankees are discussing a deal which could swap Robinson Cano and Matt Kemp.

The fatal flaw in earlier reports according to Colletti is that the two sides have not even spoken yet.

“It’d be nice to talk first,” Colletti said when questioned about his interest in making a deal with the Yankees.

It is possible that these rumors spark dialogue between the teams given the needs of each ball clup. Still it seems unlikely that the Yankees are actively shopping Cano since they sent their hitting coach, Kevin Long,  down to the Dominican Republic this off-season to work with the second baseman.

Yankees Discussing Cano-Deal with Dodgers

The big news at the winter meetings so far has been Brian Cashman’s meeting with CC Sabathia’s agents yesterday, but today the news doesn’t involve free agents.

Instead they are meeting with the Dodgers to discuss a possible deal involving second baseman Robinson Cano.

It doesn’t seem like the Yankees are actively looking to deal Cano, but instead it appears the Dodgers are looking to add him to their overhauled infield.

They’re also rumored to be interested in Melky Cabrera also. This makes sense as the team doubts the abilities of center fielder Andrew Jones and Juan Pierre may need to be replaced as well as he has requested a trade out of Los Angeles.

It’s unsure of who the Yankees would expect in return. The name Matt Kemp keeps coming up and that makes sense as they don’t have a strong center fielder ready to go next season. It is hard to believe that the Yankees would make that deal though. They would probably insist on acquiring pitchers like Clayton Kershaw or Chad Billingsley.

I don’t think this deal is likely to happen, but it’s hard to tell at this early a stage. If they did the deal it would open a hole at second base. It is possible that they could sign Orlando Hudson who is probably one of the most overrated free agents out there.  Unless they signed him to a very small contract they would have to give up a draft pick for a 31-year-old slightly above average second baseman.

Burnett Reaches Out to Pavano

It’s the first day of the winter meetings and nothing significant has happened so far.

It would be unexpected for something big to happen right away, but it would be shocking if nothing happens by the end of this week.

A few minor things that happened today include two of our favorite emergency room pitchers, AJ Burnett and Carl Pavano. Apparently Burnett reached out to Pavano about his time in New York. Could he be asking about benefits of sitting on the Yankees’ DL or they could just be catching up on their days as teammates with the Florida Marlins.

All jokes aside apparently Pavano told Burnett positive things and commented on the discussion by saying, “he has the stuff to pitch there.”

This is good news for Yankee fans interested in seeing their team sign Burnett because he has interest coming from other teams, but obviously the Yankees are still on his mind.

For those of you who don’t like to see their team paying pitchers to hangout at the beach all summer are cringing.

WTF? Interest in Igawa

Although this does not come from the Atlanta Braves organization it is interesting nonetheless, somebody is interested in the ultimate bust – Kei Igawa.

From Talking Chop,

“Look, I’m not saying he would be the next coming, but at only $4 million per year and a track record in Japan of being a 200+ inning power pitcher, the potential upside is tremendous. The Braves are in a position to spend that kind of money on an uncertain quantity because of their willingness to give similar money to Tazawa and their desperate need for starting pitching. If he doesn’t perform, it’s possible that the Yankees would not want him back. In that case, yes, we would be stuck with the contract, but he’d also be signed for two more years, allowing for more opportunities to improve and succeed.”

Igawa has been a total bust for the Yankees and if there was a team stupid enough to take him off their hands that certainly would be great news. It would also take $12 million more off their books. The Yankees could use that money toward a pitcher with a better potential who might be as equal a long shot. Like Brad Penny or Mark Prior.

Yankees Have Interest in Sheets

It is no secret the Yankees are looking to sign top-of-the-line free agent pitching, but with none of the big fish taking bites they may have started targeting the smaller fish.

This one just happens to have nasty stuff and an even nastier injury history, Ben Sheets.

Sheets declined an arbitration offer by the Brewers and according to SI’s Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees would consider signing Sheets if they don’t get their way with the other free agents.

Signing Sheets could be a disaster, but it also could be a huge deal. He has as good stuff as the top guys and he would absolutely be a major target if he had a better injury past. If the Yankees signed him and he managed, long shot, to stay healthy it could be the best signing of the off-season.

Or it could be Carl Pavano Jr. Stay tuned.

Brewer Problems Between Yankees and Sabathia

It’s offically day 25 of the CC Sabathia watch and no progress has been made and there are still only two teams officially interested in the lefty.

The Yankees have their record breaking $140 million offer on the table and the Brewers have their franchise record setting $100 million offer out there. Sabathia hasn’t budged an inch and now both teams are getting ansy.

The Yankees met with Sabathia’s agent, Greg Genske, yesterday and the Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is supposed to meet with him today. Melvin is reportedly thinking about upping the deal and including an opt-out clause after three years.

That could potentially be a big difference maker for the hefty lefty as he would still be guaranteed a large financial amount with a way to get out from under it if he feels remorse. He would also be just 31 after three years and that is still young enough to net him another record breaking deal.

If that’s what he wants from the Yankees I wonder if they’ll give it to him. They could just to bring him into the Bronx, but they might have soured on opt-out deals after the whole fiasco with Alex Rodriguez last off-season.

If that’s a deal breaker it’s hard to imagine the Yankees balking.

Sabathia’s Agent Met with Yankees

The Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had a meeting with prized free agent starter CC Sabathia’s agent yesterday in a move which that could be a simple delay tactic.

That’s according to the Daily News, who said that the lefty’s agent is stalling for more time to get bigger offers from other teams. That’s because so far other teams have been scarred off by the Yankees massive 6-year $140 million offer and the Brewers are the only other team to have made an offer.

ESPN is reporting that the meeting supposedly went, “great.” Although realistically what do you expect his agent to have said? ‘I blew everything and now Sabathia is going to earn less than Barry Zito.’

The meeting went so well that Sabathia’s agent, Greg Genske, set up a meeting for today with the Red Sox. This is the first BBD is hearing of the Red Sox being involved, but this could be just a tactic to get the Yankees to up their offer.

The Yankees made the offer the first day they could, November 14 and we are now in day 25 of The Sabathia Watch. With an offer that big on the table it looks like he has to be stalling for an excuse to not accept the deal. The rumor out there is that his wife is pressuring him to wait for an offer from his home town team the San Fransisco Giants and so far nothing has come.

Cashman to Meet with Sabathia in Vegas

As the CC Sabathia Watch continues into December the end could be in sight as Brian Cashman and the pitcher will meet next week in Las Vegas.

There still is no date set, but the winter meetings last all week long and it is doubtful that Sabathia is going to make a commitment to the Yankees or any other team before then.

It seems odd that the Yankees haven’t had more face-to-face meetings with the hurler. Especially since they’ve already met with Scott Boras who is the agent of Derek Lowe. With the Yankees main priority being Sabathia and not Lowe this makes little sense.

So far the Brewers are the only team who have made Sabathia an offer besides the Yankees. The Angels were believed to have prepared an offer, but none ever came. It was likely that was just a ploy to get Mark Teixeira to back down from high demands.

It is also possible the Giants make the lefty an offer. If they do it would be more than the $100 million offer the Brewers have already made, but significantly less than the $140 million Yankee offer. Their thinking is that maybe the team can get a home town discount. No official offer has been made yet and it’s possible one will not come since the team already has one $100 million pitcher in Barry Zito.

Torre on Pettitte: I Don’t Think So

All season Andy Pettitte said it was Yankees or retirement in 2009 until reports surfaced that the lefty could take his act to Hollywood.

Joe Torre doesn’t think that’s going to happen.

“I talked to Andy,” Torre said. “His agent had called the Dodgers to find out about interest, and that’s when I called him. I had talked to Andy much earlier, asking him to come to my (Safe at Home) Foundation dinner. He was always married to the Yankees, the excitement playing for the Yankees.

“I called him only because his agent called (Dodgers’ GM) Ned (Colletti). I certainly would’ve kicked myself (if I hadn’t called). He never said no to anything, but just from talking to him, I know the Yankees are his first choice. I wasn’t about to talk him out it, knowing Andy like I do.”

Torre has always been a good recruiter so he probably has a good feel for where players want to end up. That’s probably especially true in this case because Torre managed Pettitte for so many years.

It seems like it was likely a ploy by Pettitte’s agent in order to get the Yankees to offer the lefty arbitration thus keeping him from taking a pay cut. Now that he was not offered arbitration he is a more attractive free agent, but no offers have come his way. Not even from Los Angeles.

Yankees Should Offer Pettitte’s $16 Million to Lowe

The Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and super agent Scott Boras met today to discuss free agents according to the NY Post.

Boras represents at least four free agents the Yankees could be interested in this off-season, Derek Lowe, Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and Oliver Perez.

There are no reports of any offers being made, but rumors are that Lowe has two offers on the table already and neither came from the Yankees.

There are also rumors out there that if offered $15-16 million Lowe will take the deal. If that is the case the Yankees should say goodbye to Andy Pettitte and shift that money over to Lowe.

The only catch is that Pettitte only wants a one-year deal, but Lowe could be interested in as many as five years. If that is not true and he would accept a three-year commitment then the Yankees should seriously consider.