12:07pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman adds the Mariners and Rangers to the mix, saying Durbin is deciding between those two plus the previously reported Rays, Red Sox, and Phillies (Twitter link).
WEDNESDAY, 9:41am: Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe says the Red Sox have not yet heard back from Durbin, and it appears that the Phillies and Rays are the front-runners at the moment (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 7:11pm: Durbin would accept a minor league contract with the Phillies, reports Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer, "if Durbin's hand is forced because there are no Major League offers on the table." A source tells Gelb that Durbin's agent, Dan Horwits, is negotiating with two teams about Major League contracts but no offers have been made. Gelb also hears that Durbin hopes to make his decision within the next two days.
4:39pm: The Red Sox are interested in Chad Durbin as a starter and have made him an offer, according to Peter Gammons of MLB Network (on Twitter). The Rays and Rangers also have some degree of interest in Durbin, according to Gammons.
One of the top remaining free agents, Durbin has drawn interest from Seattle since exchanging offers with the Phillies last month. It seems unlikely that Durbin will return to Philadelphia, but Gammons says he may head to Clearwater, where the Phillies train, Thursday. He could be intrigued by Boston's offer given his interest in playing for a contender.
The 33-year-old posted a 3.80 ERA with 8.3 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a 42.4% ground ball rate in 68 2/3 innings last year. Durbin has averaged 65 appearances and 75 innings in three seasons out of the Phillies' bullpen.
BoSoxSam
Get er done, Boston.
Green_Monster
Theo better not let this one slip from him.
TartanElk
Apparently the motivational note left in the Red Sox locker-room this offseason read something like: “All your relievers are belong to us.”
went9
as a starter?…very interesting depth move. He and Aceves can both battle for a spot in the rotation or long relief.
start_wearing_purple
Not surprised, Theo tried to pick him up once off the wavier wire then lost him to the Phils when they tried to put him in the minors.
Abraham Zapruder
Except, that isn’t what happened.
December 20, 2007: Signed as a Free Agent with the Philadelphia Phillies.
start_wearing_purple
Never mind, I was thinking of JD Durbin.
jondogg2010
I love these low risk high-ish reward signings. There are so many of them with younger players becoming more and more vital to teams (even large market teams). My only issue here is that We have Dice K as the #5 guy to start the year. I’d say he’s good as insurance, but I’m not getting overly excited about him as far as being an upgrade to Dice K or to anyone else as 1-4 is set in stone.
mrjjbond
If they’re interested in him as a starter, I’d be inclined to think it would be on a minor league deal. In that case, he could certainly be an upgrade over other options for the 6th starter.
grownice
delete
Patricio
The reason why his ERA was higher in the AL was he was mostly used as a starter. Like I said he can’t start, once batters face him a second time around he shows some dent in the armor.
Patricio
My .02 cents…Durbin is no starter as proven earlier in his career. As a bullpen arm he’s good as long as the game isn’t a vital one, tends in choke in big situations. Oh and he isn’t the best against lefties.
soxin10
Wonder if Theo got an exception to have 30 players on his 25 man roster. Bet the Yanks wish they thought of that…
hitdog042
If Boston did sign him it would take some serious stuff to happen for him to get in the rotation at any point in the year. I would think that Wakefield would be first in if there’s an injury.
0bsessions
I imagine Doubront would be first in for spot starts or injury replacements.
JST1331
Good for Durbin he deserves a good payday for what he has done for the Phills the past couple seasons. Who ever gets him will be pleased, that being eating innings for the pen or coming in the clutch he is a solid pitcher to have. Mind you he is a great low risk high reward guy!
Diehard Philsphan
I really want the phillies to re-sign Durbin loved that guy!
soxfan13913
How did this turn into a Yankee thread???
Anthony
It’s baseball-related, isn’t it? Therefore it’s now a Yankees thread.
diesel2410
Those damn Yankees…
hawkny11
And here is the rest of Cameron’s story…………….
Man, get outta my face! I’m making $7,500,000 over 6 months, for doing nothin…
fdisker2000
I guess they need a two or three inning starter???
User 4245925809
What Atchisson did last year in one emergency start..3 innings.. Good enough to not wipe out an entire BP.
myname_989
Is joining Boston really joining a contender, as Durbin sees it? Sure, he’ll be with a contending franchise, but the chances of him ever cracking the Red Sox’s rotation is even simmer than slim to none.
He’ll resign with the Phillies, who will proceed to cut Danys Baez before Spring Training. If he signs a minor league deal with the Phils’, the net-loss will be close to what Durbin was seeking in free agency—about $3 million. It’s actually a pretty shrewd move by Amaro in my book.
myname_989
Whoops. Should say, “… before Opening Day.”
myname_989
Wow, nevermind. Baez makes $2.75 million this season? That’s even worse than I thought it was. Still, wouldn’t be a bad thing seeing him off of the roster and replaced with Durbin.
Karsch
I pray to god they cut Baez.
lefty177
Chad Durbin, Andrew Miller, Alfredo Aceves, Tim Wakefield, I think Tito is going to find an 8-sided die (dice?) and put each one of their faces on it twice and whoever’s face it lands on that’s who gets the spot start that day
Dbeard
Wake’s face should be on it 5 times. everybody else’s once.
yazpik 2
Sign this guy, GO MARINERS!!! OUR BULLPEN WOULD BE AWFUL WITHOUT AARDSMA AND DURBIN!!!!
Green_Monster
Its awful even with Aardsma and Durbin.
yazpik 2
I don´t think so, Aardsma, League, and Durbin are very good relievers, Dan Cortes could be great and with Lueke and Robles, awesome splitfinger and changeup respectively
Liza
Quien eres?
jondogg2010
Haha come back tomorrow and ALL the teams will be interested. Just sign already.
Liza
Les voy a ganar