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Brian Fuentes

Brian Fuentes Rumors: Tuesday

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10:59pm: Rosenthal says the Nationals are also in the mix for Fuentes.  His source says they want to sign Mark Teixeira or Manny Ramirez, plus Fuentes.  Nationals GM Jim Bowden said on November 12th, "We are not pursuing Manny Ramirez."

9:49pm: Rosenthal says the Cardinals, Angels, and Tigers are showing interest in Fuentes.

8:29pm: Doug Melvin said he met with the agents for Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman, and Kerry Wood today.

8:05pm: John Perrotto expects the Brewers to move to the front for Fuentes.  I imagine they might try to sort out the Sabathia situation first.

5:46pm: According to Derrick Goold and Joe Strauss, the Cardinals have engaged in conversation with Brian Fuentes’ agents. With K-Rod setting a lower-than-expected ceiling to the closer market, Fuentes could enter the Cards’ price range.  GM John Mozeliak said on 1380AM today that he’s yet to dig his heels in on Fuentes though.  You have to wonder if the Tigers will take a serious look.

Indians Closer Rumors

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The Indians may not be a player for J.J. Putz, as they can choose between strong free agent closer options in Kerry Wood and Brian Fuentes.  MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince says the Indians met with Wood’s agent yesterday.  Trevor Hoffman remains on the radar as well.

Mets Bullpen Rumors: Monday

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11:56pm: Rodriguez’s agent Paul Kinzer on whether the rumored two-year, $25MM offer with a third-year option is true: "Absolutely not."  It will require three guaranteed years at least to sign K-Rod.

8:43pm: K-Rod gave some quotes to the media, nothing interesting.

7:14pm: Stark says the Mets finished their meet with Fuentes; Hoffman is up next.  Wood is not in Vegas.  Stark adds that the Mets discussed concepts but did not make a formal offer to K-Rod.

6:45pm: Sherman now says the Mets’ offer was for $25MM over two years plus a third year option.

6:03pm: Rodriguez’s agent Paul Kinzer told Sherman he’ll try to be creative with this contract. Sherman asked whether that could mean an opt-out clause, and Kinzer responded in the affirmative.  Sherman says the Mets’ offer is in the range of three years, $33MM; no talk of the vesting option Heyman mentioned.

5:26pm: Jon Heyman says the Mets offered K-Rod a two-year deal worth about $12MM per with a third-year vesting option.  Doesn’t sound like something he’ll jump at.

2:14pm: Joel Sherman rejects Graziano’s report.  Sherman says the Mets have not talked to the Jays about B.J. Ryan.

1:39pm: Gerry Fraley learned from a team official that the Mets made a three-year offer to K-Rod, but they don’t expect him to take it immediately.

12:06pm: Joel Sherman has details on the Mets’ talks for Huston Street.  Omar Minaya called the Rox a few weeks ago suggesting Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano for Street.  The Rockies took the weekend to think about it, but when they called back Minaya had changed his mind.

In another article, Sherman says Omar Minaya’s approach toward free agent closers is Boras-like.  He believes the Mets’ offer to K-Rod last night was three years with an option.

11:16am: Jon Heyman and Ken Davidoff/David Lennon agree that the Mets are meeting with Fuentes and Hoffman shortly.  And Heyman believes the Mets’ offer to K-Rod last night was for three years.

10:33am: Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger says the Mets and Blue Jays had discussions about B.J. Ryan.  However, the Jays want Fernando Martinez and the Mets don’t want to trade the young outfield prospect.

7:50am: According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Omar Minaya and other Mets officials dined at a steakhouse with Francisco Rodriguez for over four hours Sunday night.  Lennon believes the early presence of Mets COO Jeff Wilpon implies that negotiations with K-Rod may have reached a critical stage. 

SI.com’s Jon Heyman wrote earlier yesterday evening that the Mets were expected to make an offer to Rodriguez at the meeting.  Maybe three years with a vesting option.

The Mets also plan to meet with Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman today, with Kerry Wood also on the radar.  Ken Davidoff looks at the options and says, "It’s gotta be K-Rod."  The Rangers like Wood as well, by the way. 

Rockies Rumors: Taveras, Villone, Marquis

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9:48pm: The Rockies are moving forward on a deal for Rusch, according to Tracy Ringolsby.  Ringolsby adds that the Rox may explore a long-term deal with Ubaldo Jimenez after the holidays, but aren’t quite ready to do so with Chris Iannetta.  Also, the Rockies like Josh Bard but they don’t have room for him.

1:00pm: Joel Sherman adds Eddie Guardado as a lefty of interest for Colorado.

2:07am: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post sums up the latest hot stove buzz around the Rockies.

  • As you know, the Nationals are interested in Rockies outfielder Willy Taveras.  Taveras might be just a step above a non-tender, so the price shouldn’t be too high.  The real question is whether the Nats are planning on starting four players in the outfield.
  • Joe Beimel is dropping out of the picture, but the Rockies still like Alan Embree, Ron Villone, and Glendon Rusch.
  • The Mets’ asking price for Aaron Heilman was too high.  Jason Marquis could be a trade target, he can at least eat innings at a cost of $6MM to the Rockies.  Then again, a lot of guys can do that.
  • No chance of multiyear contract talks between the Rockies and Brian Fuentes.

Indians Hope Mets Sign K-Rod

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8:55pm: Rosenthal says the Indians met with Kerry Wood’s agent today and remain interested in Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman.

1:03pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Indians hope the Mets sign Francisco Rodriguez, as they’d like to get a bargain on Brian Fuentes.  The Tribe could also attempt to acquire J.J. Putz from the Mariners.

Mets To Make Offer To K-Rod Tonight

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9:55pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Mets will meet with K-Rod, Fuentes, and Kerry Wood within the next 24 hours.  They won’t be making simultaneous offers to all three.  Instead, they’ll probably start with an offer to Rodriguez as Heyman mentioned.

8:35pm: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, Mets GM Omar Minaya is meeting with Francisco Rodriguez tonight and is expected to make an offer.  Internally, the Mets have discussed offering a three-year deal, possibly with a fourth year vesting option.

Minaya has face-to-face meetings planned with Trevor Hoffman and Brian Fuentes as well, which could become unnecessary if K-Rod jumps at the first offer.  Seems unlikely he’d do that.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Closers, Castillo, Cantu

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up, let’s take a look at the highlights:

  • Rosenthal doesn’t see Mark Teixeira signing with the Nationals, even for the rumored ten-year, $200MM contract. He’s got better options in the Angels, Red Sox, and Yankees. Scott Boras managed to get Alex Rodriguez a ten-year deal with a losing team in 2000 when he signed with the Rangers, but Rosenthal doesn’t forsee a repeat.
  • The Indians are waiting on the Mets’ closer decision to make a decision of their own. Once New York signs or trades for a closer, the market will likely collapse. The Mets are preparing simultaneous offers to Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, and Kerry Wood.
  • The Brewers could spend big money on a closer once they hear from Ben Sheets and C.C. Sabathia. If the Brewers can somehow retain both, they won’t have money to spend on a closer and would likely have to trade Prince Fielder.
  • The Mets are desperately trying to unload Luis Castillo so they can make a run at Orlando Hudson. They’re having no luck though, even in trying to swap him for another bad contract. The Rangers rejected a swap of Castillo for Vicente Padilla.
  • Nationals GM Jim Bowden is interested in Willy Taveras. Doesn’t make any sense to me. The Nats already have Lastings Milledge, Josh Willingham, Elijah Dukes, and Austin Kearns.
  • The Rockies prefer to keep Garrett Atkins, but the Twins, Dodgers, Giants, and Phillies are all interested. Chase Utley has been a long-time supporter of bringing his former UCLA teammate to the Phils for a reunion.
  • The Marlins are getting several inquiries on Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla. They don’t plan to trade either, though if the Giants were to offer Jonathan Sanchez for Cantu, the Marlins would jump at the chance.
  • Jermaine Dye, Mike Cameron, Marcus Thames, and Marlon Byrd are all available via the trade market, for teams needing a right-handed hitting outfielder. Rosenthal still feels Cameron could still end up in pinstripes.

Heyman’s Latest: Furcal, Sabathia, K-Rod

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Jon Heyman has a few new posts on his Fan-Nation blog:

  • Heyman thinks its peculiar that Rafael Furcal passed up his last offer of 4 years, $35-40MM, especially while the shortstop market is thinning out. The Giants signed Edgar Renteria. The Cubs want a lefty-bat. The Braves need to deal Yunel Escobar before they’ll be interested in Furcal. Again, Buster Olney noted today that Furcal was asking 4 years, $52MM.
  • Can the Giants afford CC Sabathia? They’ve already signed Renteria, Jeremy Affeldt, and Bobby Howry. And he would be the team’s second $100MM contract having already made the mistake of overpaying Barry Zito. They admit they need a bat more than another arm. And while Sabathia would like to play in San Francisco, would he like to make less than Zito’s $18MM on the same team?
  • No surprise that Francisco Rodriguez is sitting atop the Mets closer wish-list. According to Heyman, he’s followed by Brian Fuentes, Kerry Wood, and then a combination of Trevor Hoffman and Huston Street, who would need to be dealt from the Rockies. Heyman doesn’t complete the list beyond those 4 options and notes that the Hoffman/Street option is a popular idea in the organization. For K-Rod, 3-4 years would be the Mets threshold.

Arbitration Decision Rumors

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As you know, 24 free agents were offered arbitration – 15 Type As and 9 Type Bs.  Their decisions will roll in throughout the day, but SI.com’s Jon Heyman spoils the ending – aside from perhaps a couple of middle relievers (Darren Oliver comes to mind), almost everyone will decline.  Nonetheless, let’s gather up some rumors on the topic.

  • Heyman analyzes six players: Jon Garland, Oliver Perez, Paul Byrd, Orlando Cabrera, Jason Varitek, and Ben Sheets.  He doesn’t really see these guys accepting, but their names have at least been raised in baseball circles.
  • Ken Rosenthal has sources saying Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, Sheets, and Garland will decline.  Tracy Ringolsby agrees on Fuentes.
  • Brandon Lyon’s agent Barry Meister admitted that he’ll consider accepting.
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