Cliff Lee update: Jerry Crasnick Tweeted that Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, has left the winter meetings, so there won't be any deal in Orlando and the wait for baseball’s version of “The Decision” (actually, let’s hope not) will continue.
Earlier today it was reported the Yankees were to make a "very strong" offer to the left-hander. Now it appears they like everyone will have to wait. And for a double-whammy, Ken Davidoff Tweets that Andy Pettitte will probably stay undecided until Lee decides.
UPDATE 4:44 p.m. Jack Curry Tweets that it doesn't appear Yankees made an offer to Lee and that Braunecker knows teams would go in the six-year $140 million range.
UPDATE 7:04 p.m. Brian Cashman confirmed to reporters that the Yankees have in fact made an offer to Lee for six years, believed to be in the $140-$150 million range. Cashman may have to wait for some time, but someone like Lee he says is "worth waiting for."
Some ex-Yankees are making the rounds at the winter meetings generating interest from various teams. The first report that stood out to me was from the St. Petersburg Times, which states Johnny Damon and Gary Sheffield each expressing a desire to play for the Rays. The franchise is about to lose Carl Crawford after nine seasons, saw Carlos Pena sign with the Cubs, and is bracing for the departures of closer Rafael Soriano and set-up men Joaquin Benoit, Grant Balfour and Dan Wheeler.
Damon and Sheffield are names, and alone would maintain interest in a depleted team amongst Yankees fans, but their best years are behind them. Damon’s window of opportunity to continue with the Yankees closed and he signed with the Tigers, where his numbers (.271-8-51, 81 runs scored) dropped from the .282-24-82-107 he put up in 2009, his final season in New York. Sheffield, 42, sat out last season after appearing in 100 games for the Mets the year before (10 homers, 43 RBIs) and his only use is as a DH.
In case you missed it, displaced Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland was hired by the Rays to work in an executive capacity.
The A’s are targeting Hideki Matsui, who batted .274 with 21 homers and 84 RBIs in what appears to be his first and only season in Anaheim. Oakland general manager Billy Beane has had a tough run, striking out on Lance Berkman, rescinding an offer to Adrian Beltre and failing in a bid to add Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma. Matsui’s interest is believed to be mutual, but the Mariners are also interested.
Berkman inked a one-year deal with the Cardinals. He gives them a lefty power bat for the economical price of $8 million, but the big question is if his knees will allow him to play left field. Berkman is a great guy and great for a clubhouse. His condition, though, is something to monitor in St. Louis.
I for one hope Kerry Wood returns. Wood made it difficult at times, but for the most part was lights out since coming over from Cleveland in a trade-deadline deal. He’s the best option to set up Mariano Rivera and it’d be ironic to see both Wood and Mark Prior – dubbed Chicago Heat on the 2003 Cubs – in the same clubhouse at Steinbrenner Field. Alas, Wood could command closer’s money and teams are looking for closers. And who knows if Wood, 33, can replace the irreplaceable Rivera in a minimum of two years? If he has his heart set on closing, he’s pitching elsewhere in 2011.
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