Caution: Hot Stove

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Hot Stove season is in full swing! Let's check in on yesterday's action to see how it all shook out. (I just returned back to work yesterday, so updating my blog may be more erratic than usual. Sorry for the inconvenience.)

There were tons of news items that passed my desk yesterday. Funny thing though, there were just as many retractions to those "news" stories. 'Tis the season for unsubstantiated rumors to get printed. As I said, it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Ken "Scoop" Rosentahl was the first to report yesterday that the Yankees were in discussion yesterday for a Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera swap to the LA Dodgers for Matt Kemp and pitching. This rumor sent my little world into a tizzy. Thoughts of pushing Jeter to 2B and getting a no shit defensive SS like Raphael Furcal or even the slightly available Michael Young were soon dashed as the retraction from Dodgers GM Ned Colletti shot down any meetings, discussions, or even sightings of Yankee higher-ups. Nice one, Ken. NO LINK FOR YOU!

And how could they when they were too busy meeting with C.C. Sabathia and giving him a glimpse at big city life. This was primarily an information gathering session as C.C. no doubt was curious as to what 140 million dollars can buy in the Big Apple. Apparently you can buy a lot as this meeting was roughly 2 and a half hours long. The Yankees and Mr. Sabathia met again later that day and notables in attendance were Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, and Reggie "Mr. October" Jackson. The assumption is that C.C. will ultimately decide his fate sometime soon and either inch closer to putting his name on a Yankee contract or make a lot less money someplace else.

Yesterday, George King reported that Milwaukee was thinking of sweetening the pot and adding more money, another year, and an opt out clause a la A.J. Burnett to land Big C.C. Today though, Mark Feisand has got the inside scoop that the Yankees plan to offer a 2-3 year deal for Ben Sheets. It's going to be hard for C.C. to commit to Milwaukee knowing that his deal pushes any all other talented players Milwaukee has out the door. I don't see C.C. wanting to be the Steve Carlton to the Brewers. Big ups again to the boys at riveraveblues.com for this one, but it's kinda easy to break news when you're in Las Vegas! (Yeah, I'm jealous.)

On the lighter side, Carl Pavano spoke with A.J. Burnett about pitching New York. Surprisingly enough he was trying to sell Burnett on pitching in the Boogie Down Bronx. I can only imagine how this conversation went.

Burnett: Tell me about New York, Carl. Is it where I need to be?
Pavano: Yeah man! It's great! If you get hurt, they just keeping paying you!
Burnett: What about city life? Is it a tough adjustment to the hustle and bustle?
Pavano: What city? Tampa Bay? I love it! Amazing! I spent 3 years there and just hung out and drove my Porsche around. The women are outstanding too. You got a Porsche, A.J.?
Burnett: What? No.
Pavano: Don't get one. They don't handle well in the Tampa rain.

The Yanks do plan to offer up a deal for A.J. today and some think that A.J. could even sign somewhere as early as today. So stay tuned.

And finally, it wouldn't be hot stove season if you didn't have to caution yourself from getting burned. Apparently, Brain Cashman has been in communique with the agents of Andy Pettite through e-mail. He's trying to make the case that a 14-14 record with 4.5 ERA isn't worth 16 mill. I concur. Anyway, the Brothers Hendricks seem to be playing hardball here as rumors are swirling in regards to The Boston Red Sox inquiring about Pettite. Tony Masarotti reports that while it's more a case of the Red Sox just being inquisitive, Pettite's postseason resume speaks for itself and he could be very valuable in the back-end of the rotation for a team with postseason aspirations.

No shit. That's why we want him too. I fucking hate the Red Sox. Unoriginal bastards.

Oh, No! A Mexican Standoff!!

Peter Gammons is elusive!

I keep seeing this little blurb on the ESPN news ticker that's accredited to Gammons. I'd like to link it for my readers, but seeing as I have gotten one response since I started this thing, (Thanks whoever you are. You are appreciated and loved.) I'm just going to give a brief rundown.

Gammons is reporting that Sabathia is waiting to see where Mark Texiera goes before he signs. Meanwhile, Derek Lowe isn't doing anything until C.C. sets the market.

Jeez, it's a good thing this isn't getting complicated.

It seems C.C. is specifically waiting to see if the Angels retain Texiera, as that kind of long-term deal would officially push the Angles out of the running to land the big man. The problem is, Mark Texiera is a Scott Boras client. Scott Boras isn't known for the speed and ease in which he conducts business and gets his clients signed.

Blowing Smoke?

ESPN's and Vanderbilt's own Buster Olney checks in today with a few head scratching and eye catching tidbits.

• The Red Sox apparently plan to meet with C.C. Sabathia in the next few days. The general consensus around baseball doesn't see the Red Sox with the ability or desire to attempt to match, meet, or exceed the initial Yankee offer of $140 million. It seems Theo and the boys would just be doing their due diligence by meeting with Sabathia. Still though, screw the Red Sox.

• Despite the great news last week on the new and improved Robinson Cano, the fact Kevin Long sees him as a 3 or 5 for us next year, and his numbers in the Dominican Winter League, the Yankees seem to have Orlando Hudson on the brain. Olney seems to be taking a shot in the dark here, but he sees a scenario in which the Yankees will offer Cano to the Dodgers in a straight up deal for either Claton Kershaw or Chad Billingsley. When those deals are shot down the Yankees will then try to use Cano and land Matt Kemp. Ultimately leaving 2B free for Orlando. This scenario seems highly unlikely, but is a possible route the Yankees make take if they fail to land any of the front line starters they are targeting. The sting of losing Cano would no doubt hurt, but an upgrade via trade protects your draft day options. It's pretty sill still though. Why trade a 2B for an OF like Kemp when everyone with eyes and a brain knows you desperately need pitching.
  

An Amendment

Looks like Newsday's Ken Davidoff was looking a little too far into his crystal ball. David O'Brein of The Atlanta-Journal Constitution actually heard from Braves GM Frank Wren. A pretty good source if you ask me. Anyway, O'Brien confirms that while the Braves did indeed offer a contract for the services of AJ Burnett, they have yet to guarantee a fifth year. The contract may have a fifth year as an option and is believed to average 15 mill per. This amounts to nothing more than the first ticket entered in the A.J. Burnett sweepstakes.

Oh,wow! It's some news!

Holy crap, there's actually news in the paper today! Let's take a peek.

• Newsday scribe Ken Davidoff pens a charming article that describes a good news, bad news scenario involving C.C. Sabbathia and A.J. Burnett. The Braves seemed poised to snag Burnett for 5 as if the name Mike Hampton was never spoken in the ATL. Meanwhile the Yanks seem confident that C.C. won't see a better deal and will soon come a knockin'. Kenny does a little embellishment in this one when he suggests the Yankees will target Derek Lowe once C.C. and Pettite are signed.
  
• In sharp, direct, and pointed contrast, Big Mark Feisand of The Daily News contends that The San Francisco Giants will test the Sabbathia market by trying to find the magic number between 100 and 140 million. Personally I can't think the words "home team discount" will exist this offseason and C.C. will chase the paper. Apparently the hefty lefty's wifey wants to stay closer to home. I think she'd want a bigger paycheck for her husband more. Why not? I know just her as much as anyone else reporting.
  
• Andy Pettitte is in the paper today too. Jack Curry of The New York Times did a phone interview with Mr. Pettite in which he once again expressed his desire to be a part of the '09 team. This one's a no brainer. The agents and the team just need to decide on a number. All we know is that it's not 10 million and it's certainly not 16. I think 12.5 will do.
  
• And finally, Tony Massarotti of The Boston Globe scoops all the New York "journalists" with the interesting, intriguing, and unexpected news that Brian Cashman flew to California today to meet with Scott Boras to discuss clients. (Seriously, how the hell does a Boston sports journalist know this?) More specifically, Cash is there to make an offer on Derek Lowe. Let the Mark Texiera and Manny Ramirez rumors fly!