Updates on Jorge Posada, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, & J.J. Putz

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

I have gathered a bunch of headlines coming out of the Winter Meetings that you might be interested in:

…on Posada

from the Hardball Blog:

"

Jorge Posada started his throwing program at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa today. The team continues to be encouraged that he’ll be able to catch starting in spring training. Posada had season-ending surgery on his right shoulder on July 30.

"

…..on Sabathia

from the Bombers Beat:

"

5:18 PM ET: What do you make of this? Sabathia didn’t even attend his sitdown with the Brewers, leaving it to his three agents. With the Giants only loosely involved, the Yankees may be Sabathia’s only serious choice. It’s like the whole market is waiting for CC to sign so things can get moving, and why not?

A.J. Burnett would be nuts to sign before he knows what the market values Sabathia at.

"

rotoworld reports:

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said it’s “a possibility” the Dodgers could make an offer to free agent CC Sabathia. Sabathia reportedly told Colletti he “wants to be a Dodger” in a chance meeting Sunday night. The speculation has long been that he’d prefer to join the Dodgers or Giants if the money is there.

…on Burnett

from Fox Sports (Ken Rosenthal):

12:31 pm — Burnett shows interest in Yanks

A.J. Burnett seems more interested in pitching in New York than CC Sabathia, the Yankees’ other top free-agent target. While Sabathia sits on the Yankees’ offer of the richest-ever pitching contract and reportedly met with GM Brian Cashman, Burnett has reached out to former Yankee Carl Pavano, who did not steer him away from the Yankees.

Pavano, who did not enjoy his New York experience, told Burnett “he has the stuff to pitch there,” according to a major-league source. –Ed Price

rotoworld reports:

ESPN.com says the Yankees are sending out signals that they’d like to meet with A.J. Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker, and might be willing to top the Braves’ offer. Half of ESPN thinks the Braves and Burnett are close, but Jerry Crasnick and Jayson Stark have other ideas. If the Yanks don’t like their chances of landing Sabathia, they need to make their best bid for Burnett now. It looks like Burnett will make his decision before Sabathia does.

….on J.J. Putz

rotoworld.com (J.J. Putz):

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times believes a J.J. Putz-to-Detroit deal could get done.

The Tigers are pretty short on talent to trade for someone who would be as sought after as Putz would be if put on the open market Baker believes the Mariners would have interest in Jeff Larish, but he’s more of a No. 2 player in a Putz-type deal.

Seattle would need to get a bigger talent along with Larish. The Indians have more to offer, and at $5.5 million for 2009, Putz is cheap enough that a team like the Red Sox or Yankees could potentially target him as a setup man.

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