UPDATE, 12-20-07 at 3:18pm: The bar is raised higher than we thought – four years, $48MM according to Rosenthal. This is the new price of a big league innings eater. The Mariners remain interested in Erik Bedard and Johan Santana.
UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 7:03pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street is reporting via a source that the Silva deal is done. He agrees with Rosenthal’s original figure of four years, $44MM. Remember a year ago, when the Twins weren’t sure whether to exercise his $4MM option?
UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 3:08pm: John Hickey of the Seattle PI expects Silva to be introduced to Seattle on Thursday.
UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 11:11am: The AP is reporting that the Ms are "closing in on a deal" with Silva.
FROM 12-18-07 at 1:59pm:
A scoop from Ken Rosenthal – the Mariners are in "serious negotiations" with Carlos Silva for a deal worth at least four years, $44MM. It appears that talks for Erik Bedard would not be affected by this signing.
Rosenthal notes that $44MM or more would represent the bar for Silva’s tier of starters being moved slightly up. That is to be expected; some have speculated it might take more like $12MM annually to get Silva. Silva may not be anything special, but he’s shown the ability to eat American League innings. Those guys don’t grow on trees.
By the way, Charley Walters says the Royals put out a three-year, $30MM offer to Silva.
