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Heyman_jon
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LAS VEGAS -- The Phillies and Yankees appear for the moment to have emerged as the two most prominent contenders for star free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe, who seeks at least a five-year deal for about $80 million.

The 35-yer-old Lowe has been pursued by about 10 teams, but it appears those two have been among the more aggressive for Lowe. The Red Sox and Mets are among interested teams discouraged by the price. An official with one team interested in Lowe said he was "shocked'' how high the bidding appears to be going.

The Phillies are an intriguing team, as they are also pursuing their own free agent starter, Jamie Moyer, as well.  The Yankees are chasing enough starters to fill an entire staff, including top target CC Sabathia, plus A.J. Burnett, Oliver Perez and Ben Sheets.

Big Unit wants to stay out West

Randy Johnson wants to stay out West to reach his milestones. He'll be a Hall of Famer, but like a lot of starters in this market, he's waiting for the three top starters -- CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe -- to sign somewhere before finding his spot.

The A's, Giants and Dodgers are believed to be possibilities for Johnson, who needs five wins for 300 and 211 strikeouts for 5,000. I could see the two Bay Area teams being a litlle more likely, as Dodgers manager Joe Torre couldn't have been all that impressed with the work Johnson did for him as a Yankee in 2005 and 2006.

A's remain interested in Furcal

The A's remain interested in star free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, but it remains uncertain whether the sides can get back together after breaking apart talks last week.

Oakland offered Furcal $36 million over four years, and when the A's asked for an answer, he chose to keep shopping. The Dodgers have an interest in bringing back Furcal, but not for four years (they are thinking more like two).

The Braves, Cubs and Indians are among other teams thought to have some interest.
December 9, 2008  02:22 PM ET

Yankees are trying to get anyone and everyone

will post the **** post as soon as it is done

December 9, 2008  02:30 PM ET

With the CC chase getting away from the Yankees, they are trying to grab 2 of the second tier pitchers.

They include Lowe, Oliver Perez, Burnett and Sheets.

Here is the thinking...granted that CC is the best pitcher on the market, but, who would you rather have, CC and Ian Kennedy or 2 of the above?

I would at least consider taking 2 of the above. If the Yankees sign CC, then the rotation would look as follows - CC, Wang, Joba, Hughes and Pettitte/Kennedy. In my mind, that is too many question marks (ala last year). However, if the Yankees sign 2 of the above, then the rotation would have only 1 spot that is not filled with a really strong pitcher - Wang, Joba and those 2. I would not mind having Hughes as my fifth.

Don't forget this picture:


The fact that CC doesn't want to pitch here and the fact that he may have arm problems caused by last year will cause the Yankees to go elsewhere.

The silver lining is that the Yankees have not won a single championship since they started focusing on getting the biggest free agents. Perhaps signing 2 strong starters instead of the superstar is the way to go.

December 9, 2008  02:41 PM ET

Sheets, Burnett, Lowe, Wang, Chamberlain... Hughes in AAA, trade Kennedy, Melky + Draft pick to Pittsburg for CF Nate McLouth.

December 9, 2008  03:11 PM ET

Excellent idea!!!!

How could the Pirates resist such a tempting package of Melky Cabrera and Ian Kennedy for a guy who hit 26 hrs, scored 113 runs, swiped 23 bags, played virtually error free center field and is 24 years old!

Wow Melky and Kennedy and you're willing to throw in a pick too! ROTFLMAO!
You Yankee fans crack me up! Nobody wants your garbage players and that includes fat Robinson Canoli who Cashman would drive to the airport if he could get someone to take him! LOL.

December 9, 2008  03:22 PM ET

its funny how this exact time last year had Yankee fans treating Melky Cabrera like an all-star ... they wanted the trade for Santana to be around a package with Melky, haha, that was crazy! I have to admit Yankee fans crack me up!

December 9, 2008  03:27 PM ET

Sheets and Burnett are classic yankee free agent signees ... potential but injury proned ... I hope they sign them because I am sure they'll pitch 60% of the time at most ... I like Lowe though, but last time I made my case for Lowe Yankee fans were quick to point out he was old and overated, how is he looking now? As soon as it looks like more of a reality, now Lowe is great ... Yankee fans, you are the best!

December 9, 2008  03:48 PM ET
QUOTE(#2):

With the CC chase getting away from the Yankees, they are trying to grab 2 of the second tier pitchers.They include Lowe, Oliver Perez, Burnett and Sheets. Here is the thinking...granted that CC is the best pitcher on the market, but, who would you rather have, CC and Ian Kennedy or 2 of the above?I would at least consider taking 2 of the above. If the Yankees sign CC, then the rotation would look as follows - CC, Wang, Joba, Hughes and Pettitte/Kennedy. In my mind, that is too many question marks (ala last year). However, if the Yankees sign 2 of the above, then the rotation would have only 1 spot that is not filled with a really strong pitcher - Wang, Joba and those 2. I would not mind having Hughes as my fifth.Don't forget this picture:The fact that CC doesn't want to pitch here and the fact that he may have arm problems caused by last year will cause the Yankees to go elsewhere. The silver lining is that the Yankees have not won a single championship since they started focusing on getting the biggest free agents. Perhaps signing 2 strong starters instead of the superstar is the way to go.

"he may have arm problems caused by last year ???"

Says who? Sounds like Yankee sour grapes

December 9, 2008  03:50 PM ET

The Mets need at least five Pitchers this year. Two starters, and three relievers. They need two #2 starters, along with a big time closer, and two front line setup men.
On the starter front they should sign Oliver Perez, and Jon Garland. Also try to sign Ben Sheets, and injured Brad Penny. For Relivers, sign K Rod for the closer role, sign Kerry Woods, for setup role, and trade Arron Heilman, and another relief pitcher, to get Houston Street as another setup man.

December 9, 2008  03:52 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

Excellent idea!!!!How could the Pirates resist such a tempting package of Melky Cabrera and Ian Kennedy for a guy who hit 26 hrs, scored 113 runs, swiped 23 bags, played virtually error free center field and is 24 years old! Wow Melky and Kennedy and you're willing to throw in a pick too! ROTFLMAO! You Yankee fans crack me up! Nobody wants your garbage players and that includes fat Robinson Canoli who Cashman would drive to the airport if he could get someone to take him! LOL.

Hey Jersey... couldn't have said it better myself.

Sounds like Yanks fans are starting to see the writing on the wall.

December 9, 2008  04:04 PM ET
QUOTE(#3):

Sheets, Burnett, Lowe, Wang, Chamberlain... Hughes in AAA, trade Kennedy, Melky + Draft pick to Pittsburg for CF Nate McLouth.

that won't get it done for McLouth..... throw in cano and MAYBE they would start to listen......

something more along the lines of melky, hughes, and cano might do it......

December 9, 2008  04:05 PM ET

Yankee fans are delusional and stupid. You can't trade draft picks.

December 9, 2008  04:06 PM ET

I like Derek Lowe - decent pitcher. But 5 years $80 million? That's insane.

December 9, 2008  04:33 PM ET

I like how sox fans refer to everyone who likes the yankees as "yankee fans" that they must have already talked to on here.

December 9, 2008  04:39 PM ET

Let me fix that headline for you

"Yanks and Phils are the only ones interested in Lowe on an 80 million dollar contract"

December 9, 2008  04:40 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

Excellent idea!!!!How could the Pirates resist such a tempting package of Melky Cabrera and Ian Kennedy for a guy who hit 26 hrs, scored 113 runs, swiped 23 bags, played virtually error free center field and is 24 years old! Wow Melky and Kennedy and you're willing to throw in a pick too! ROTFLMAO! You Yankee fans crack me up! Nobody wants your garbage players and that includes fat Robinson Canoli who Cashman would drive to the airport if he could get someone to take him! LOL.

Then again, it is the Pirates. If the Yankees throw in 2 low A players and a box of balls with Cabrera and Kennedy, the Pirates might send a limo to NYC to pick them up.

December 9, 2008  05:49 PM ET

yeah it's not like the poorates would trade a top flight talent to an american league east team for a bunch of overrated prospects ... oops ...

December 9, 2008  06:12 PM ET

Now, simply using precedent and reason, what exactly makes anyone believe that anyone from the list of Sheets, Kennedy, Hughes, and Joba would be able to make it through a season without being injured. Every one of those guys, and you could even throw Wang into that category, has a history of injuries. Sheets' is downright ridiculous. Hughes is young but rapidly making quite a name for himself on the frequent-DL list. Wang feel in the draft due to injury, then was injured last year. None of the younger pitchers (Joba/Hughes/Kennedy) will be able to throw more than 150-170 innings next year, even if healthy and successful, simply based on their need to get their innings counts up gradually. That fact, combined with Sheets (and Burnett and his injury history) leads me to believe that the Yanks ought to have about 10 starters ready to go if that is the staff they plan to roll out following spring training.

December 9, 2008  06:13 PM ET

Sorry..meany Joba fell in the draft due to injury.

December 9, 2008  06:21 PM ET

Sheets (eventually on DL come postseason), Burnett (eventually on DL come postseason), Wang (groundball pitcher who pitches to contact- not a good thing in postseason), Lowe (old groundball pitcher who pitches to contact, not a good thing in postseason)....Yanks probs, in yyears they have made postseason, is that they tend to have no true #1 who can get strikeouts and teams fear facing multiple times in a short series. Wang is not that guy, neither is Lowe. Sheets and Burnett have that kind of stuff, but they will both have long since been shelved for the season if the Yanks were somehow fortunate enough to make it to the playoffs. This is why the Yanks have gotten beaten by teams that featured Beckett (Marlins/Red Sox), Schilling, Randy Johnson over the years.

Also, and this bears mentioning...if they sign Lowe, and pair him with Wang, they have 2 pitchers who induce a TON of groundballs. Which is normally a good thing. But the Yanks IF defense is AWFUL. The Yanks range factor rating as an IF is among the worst, if not the worst, RF in baseball. Right now, they have no real 1B to speak of (Swisher may be better than Giambi at first, but that aint saying much), their SS has some of the worst range in baseball, and their 2B is prone to concentration lapses and has probs making routine plays consistently. Add the possibility of Ian Kennedy to the mix, and that is NOT a good combination.

 
December 9, 2008  07:03 PM ET

An official with one team interested in Lowe said he was "shocked'' how high the bidding appears to be going.

He's not the only one. Whoever gives this guy 5 years 80 mill needs to get their head examined

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