Monday News

post from A DIE HARD YANKEES FAN on 09 December 2008 12:55:00 PM. © A DIE HARD YANKEES FAN

Burnett Talks Yankees with Pavano (via Ken Rosenthal)
Second baseman for Yankees, Indians picked by committee (via MLB.COM)
Peavy Has No Interest in Yankees, AL (via Peter Abraham)
Yanks, Dodgers talk Trade (via Ken Rosenthal)
According to (Joel Sherman), Posada has started his throwing program in Tampa. He also mentioned the team "continues to be encouraged that he'll be able to catch starting in spring training."
According to (Jason Stark), Sunday's Meeting lasted 2 1/2 hours.
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti even revealed Monday that he ran into Sabathia in the hotel Sunday night and that Sabathia had told him he wants to be a Dodger though the Yanks are still on C.C's list.
UPDATE: According to (Ken Gurnick) Colletti didn't reveal any more of the conversation but allowed there's "a possibility" that the Dodgers could enter the mix for the native Californian. C.C. didn't exactly say he wanted to be a dodger.
NY Yankees Meet With Ben Sheets At Meeting (via Joel Sherman)
Yankees Eye Nick Punto (via Ken Rosenthal)
Yankees ready to top Braves Offer for Burnett (via Jon Heyman)

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http://adiehardyankeesfan.blogspot.com/2008/12/monday-news.html

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If Gordon, Then Why Not Grich

post from Baseball Analysts on 09 December 2008 12:54:00 PM. © Baseball Analysts

If you're reading about baseball and come across the abbreviation "GG," what do you think of? Gold Glove, right? I mean, that's what would occur to me.That said, there are two comparable second basemen in terms of hitting and fielding whose last names[...]

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http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2008/12/if_gordon_then.php

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Yankees/Phillies Highest On Lowe

post from The Bronx Stop: A Yankees Blog on 09 December 2008 12:46:00 PM. © The Bronx Stop: A Yankees Blog

Bryan Hoch/MLB.com:

The Yankees and Phillies have emerged as the two most prominent contenders for free-agent right-hander Derek Lowe, according to a report Tuesday on SI.com.

The 35-year-old Lowe is seeking a five-year deal in the area of $80 million, and has drawn interest from multiple suitors. However, it is New York and Philadelphia who have been most aggressive, according to the report.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said that his club's priority is acquiring starting pitching, and Lowe has been listed among its top three choices to help bolster the rotation. CC Sabathia is sitting on a six-year, $140 million offer and the Yankees plan to meet with representatives for right-hander A.J. Burnett this week.

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBronxStop/~3/479976462/yankeesphillies-highest-
on-lowe.html

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With Sabathia putting the Yankees on hold, they
look to Sheets

post from Dom D's Mets Fan Blog on 09 December 2008 12:23:59 PM. © Dom D's Mets Fan Blog

According to the Daily News, in a Yankees' universe that is focused on CC Sabathia, the Bombers are preparing to make an offer to another free agent pitcher from Milwaukee in the next 72 hours.

According to a source, the Yankees will offer Ben Sheets a multiyear deal - most likely for two years in the $26 million range - before the winter meetings conclude on Thursday.

Sheets, a 30-year-old righthander who was one of the heroes of Team USA in the 2000 Olympics, declined arbitration this weekend, so he'll cost the team that signs him a first-round pick in next year's draft.
Sheets earned $11 million last year, going 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA in the final season of his four-year, $38.5 million contract.

He is 86-83 with a 3.73 ERA in eight seasons, all with the Brewers, but has only made 30-plus starts in four of those seasons due to injuries.

The Yankees are getting desperate for starting pitching. I think Sabathia is waiting for a offer from the Dodgers and he don't want to play on the east coast. It might look like a Yankees' mash unit, instead of a pitching rotation, if the Yankees sign Burnett and Sheets.

My heart is pumping purple piss for them......

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http://www.ddmetsfanblog.com/2008/12/with-sabathia-putting-yankees-on-hold.html

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Player Collection Updates

post from 30-year old Cardboard on 09 December 2008 12:21:41 PM. © 30-year old Cardboard

After taking advantage of their $3 shipping offer, I received my purchase from www.checkoutmycards.com the other day. I am pleased to say that I have added 3 more cards to my Fergie Jenkins Collection, 3 to my Dave Winfield Collection, and 6 more to my Rickey Henderson collection.Here is a snap shot as to how these [...]

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http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/player-collection-updates/

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Inside the 3 way Peavy trade proposal..

post from Dom D's Mets Fan Blog on 09 December 2008 12:11:50 PM. © Dom D's Mets Fan Blog

According to the Philly Inquirer, the Phillies officials were working on a complex trade late last night that could bring them a player who would provide insurance for second baseman Chase Utley and a righthanded bat in left field.

The player is Mark DeRosa and if his name sounds familiar, it should. He once quarterbacked the football team at Penn.

In a proposed multi-team trade, DeRosa would go from the Chicago Cubs to the Phillies. The Phillies would send the Cubs a prospect or two, which in turn could be sent to San Diego in a package for pitcher Jake Peavy. Pitcher J.A. Happ is one of the prospects the Phils could part with.

There were rumblings that the proposed deal could include a fourth team, most likely the Baltimore Orioles.
"Three teams, possible," a Phillies source said late last night. "Four, doubtful."

DeRosa, who turns 34 in February, hit .285 with 21 homers and 87 RBIs in 149 games for the Cubs last season. He played six positions during the season, including 95 games at second base and 27 in left field. DeRosa is signed for 2009 at a reasonable $5.5 million.

In addition to DeRosa, the Phils still had free-agent leftfielder Raul Ibanez in their sights as the winter meetings opened yesterday.

The Phils need to add a leftfielder to take the place of free agent Pat Burrell, who is unlikely to be re-signed.

I guess the Phillies will not be interested in Nick Punto, who the Mets like.. and I hope they get!

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http://www.ddmetsfanblog.com/2008/12/inside-3-way-peavy-trade-proposal.html

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Enemy Alert: Braves looking to trade Francoeur
for Greinke

post from Dom D's Mets Fan Blog on 09 December 2008 12:02:48 PM. © Dom D's Mets Fan Blog

According to the Boston Globe, one National League executive, the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves have had serious discussions about a trade that would send outfielder Jeff Francoeur to the Royals for pitcher Zack Greinke.

The same source said he believed the teams were close to executing the deal, but that Atlanta was holding up trade discussions until the Braves had a resolution of their pursuit of free agent righthander A.J. Burnett.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore (who interviewed for the Red Sox job during Theo Epstein's walkabout in 2005-06) is a former member of the Braves organization and is eager to bring the outfielder to Kansas City.

Braves look to push the all the buttons after a dismal season last year and make the Mets lives, a little bit harder. Now with the acquisition of Javier Vazquez and the possibility of landing Greinke and Burnett, the Mets will have competition in the NL East. Omar better step it up a notch!

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http://www.ddmetsfanblog.com/2008/12/enemy-alert-braves-looking-to-trade.html

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Winter Meetings Day Two Open Thread

post from Royals Review on 09 December 2008 11:53:00 AM. © Royals Review

Vegas baby, Vegas.

ESPN's Winter Meetings blog.

MLB.com's Hot Stove blog.

Rosenthal blog.

The scary Greinke rumors.

Dutton: Royals still searching for an impact free agent.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.royalsreview.com/2008/12/9/687511/winter-meetings-day-two-op

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A fella and Ruiz

With the exception of the final game of the season, when Lou Marson caught Kyle Kendrick, Chris Coste and Carlos Ruiz handled all of the duties behind the plate for the Phillies in 2008. For the five Phillies pitchers that made the most starts in ‘08, here’s the percentage of their batters caught by [...]

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http://www.philliesflow.com/2008/12/09/a-fella-and-ruiz/

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The Francoeur rumor that just won't go away

We've touched on it before, but is this a new discussion or just re-rumoring the same old thing? From the Boston Globe:

According to one National League executive, the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves have had serious discussions about a trade that would send outfielder Jeff Francouer to the Royals for pitcher Zack Greinke. The same source said he believed the teams were close to executing the deal, but that Atlanta was holding up any and all trade discussions until the Braves had a resolution of their pujrsuit of right-hander A.J. Burnett. Current Royals GM Dayton Moore (who interviewed for the Red Sox' job during Theo Epstein's walkabout in 2005-06) is a former member of the Braves organization who is eager to bring Francouer to Kansas City.

I still don't see this making sense for the Royals, as they already have a very crowded outfield, but if Moore really does covet Francoeur, then he might do whatever it takes to get him. I could see us giving up another top prospect, probably a pitcher, along with Francoeur. D-Fab agrees with me:

Francoeur for Greinke rumor, huh? No way. Not straight-up. Dayton Moore likes Francoeur, but no way. If he did that deal … no way.
I’ll ask, but would be absolutely stunned if Royals did that without getting at least a top Braves prospect in addition to the RF. And I mean a top prospect.

Hopefully we get some clarification soon. Of course, I can also see us getting another outfielder along with Greinke in return. And becuase of the Royals possibly wanting to rid themselves of some monetary responsibility, I can see that outfielder being Jose Guillen, though I'm certainly not one to say that too loud.

[Update: 12/9/08 @ 2:25pm]

D-Fab echo's what I said earlier about Jose Guillen:

While Greinke-for-Francoeur straight up seems highly unlikely to me, if you add a component to that trade it suddenly seems quite possible.
Could be a top Braves prospect and Francoeur for Greinke, but more likely, to me, is the possibility of the Royals doing the deal to get a guy they want (Francoeur) while shedding some payroll via Jose Guillen.
Guillen makes $12 mill each of the next two years. . Royals would love to shed some salary, and Guillen hasn’t performed nearly up to his contract.

That's the way I've envisioned this all along. It allows the Royals payroll flexibility and gets them one if not two promising young players in return. I can see a Francoeur/Morton for Greinke/Guillen.

[Update: 12/9/08 @ 2:55pm]

Steve Phillips at ESPN.com says "There's nothing to a Jeff Francoeur-for-Zack Greinke swap between the Braves and Royals."

Read The Full Article:
http://www.talkingchop.com/2008/12/9/687483/the-francoeur-rumor-that-j

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