LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Well, well, look who’s entered the Cliff Lee sweepstakes — those cash-slingin’ Nationals.
OK, general manager Mike Rizzo admits they probably won’t get him. But the fact the Nationals are even talking to Lee’s agent signals a shift at these winter meetings. As in, this session isn’t just for the Yankees, Red Sox and baseball’s other big spenders.
The Diamondbacks kept busy Tuesday, giving free agent reliever J.J. Putz a $10 million, two-year deal, the Pirates signed pitcher Kevin Correia to a $8 million, two-year contract and the Dodgers and outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. agreed on a $675,000, one-year deal.
Carl Crawford and Lee still topped the free-agent market. Carlos Peña could make a decision today and possibly choose the Cubs, while Hideki Matsui attracted interest from Oakland. Former AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke was said to be available for any team willing to meet Kansas City’s steep price.
“It’s kind of like the offseason becomes fantasy baseball for players, too,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “You always look at who is out there and who might be in your lineup. I think we all did it when we played the game. You’d say, ‘Man, if we had this guy or this guy, we could be better.’ “
Two days after the Nationals gave free agent Jayson Werth a $126 million, seven-year contract, they nosed around Lee. Rizzo said he’d talked to the ace left-hander’s agent, but told Washington-area reporters, “I still think we’re a real long shot to acquire the player.”
New Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, meanwhile, was looking forward to writing slugger Prince Fielder’s name on his first lineup card. There has been speculation the Brewers might try to trade their star first baseman, who can be a free agent at this time next year.
“Somebody as a high-quality player that he is, I don’t think those guys move as often as you think they will,” Roenicke said. Or hoped, perhaps.
No need to wonder where Derek Jeter will play. Yankees GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi made the hour- long drive to the team’s complex in Tampa for the formal announcement of Jeter’s three-year, $51 million deal.
Jeter admitted he was miffed when the Yankees publicly suggested his older age and diminished numbers should result in a pay cut. When the negotiations bogged down, Cashman said the 36-year-old shortstop should explore other options if he didn’t like New York’s offer.
“To hear the organization telling me to go shopping and I just told you I wasn’t going to, oh yeah, if I’m going to be honest with you, I was angry about it,” Jeter said.
McCourt pact ruled invalid
LOS ANGELES — A postnuptial agreement giving Frank McCourt sole ownership of the Dodgers was thrown out by a judge, allowing McCourt’s ex-wife, Jamie McCourt, to seek half of one of baseball’s most storied franchises and leaving the team’s future uncertain. The ruling means the Dodgers could eventually be shared under California community property law.
