A source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com that free agent right-hander Chien-Ming Wang will decide on a new team in the next 7 to 10 days.
While the Mets and the Dodgers are lagging behind, Wang has received offers from a pair of unnamed clubs, according to Rosenthal. Various teams, including the Orioles, have expressed interest in the 29-year-old, although he is expected to miss the early part of the season as he rehabs from shoulder surgery.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com hears that the Reds aren't in on free agent outfielder Johnny Damon.
Damon's agent Scott Boras would love it if they were, if for no other reason than to drive up his asking price, however the Reds probably reached their budgetary limit after signing Orlando Cabrera earlier this month. Damon's contributions on offense are too good for him to end up without a dance partner, even though Boras hasn't done him any favors.
Yankees signed OF Randy Winn to a one-year, $1.1 million contract.
The two sides agreed to terms in late January, but the signing wasn't made official until Monday afternoon. Winn, 35, batted .262/.318/.353 last season with two home runs and 51 RBI in 597 plate appearances for the Giants. He was awful against left-handed pitching last year and is likely to serve in a left field platoon this season with Brett Gardner.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Monday that he has not begun contract extension negotiations with Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera.
Both players are eligible for free agency at the conclusion of the 2010 season, but the Yankees don't seem worried. As long as Jeter and Mo continue to produce at an elite level, deals will almost certainly get done. Jeter, 35, batted .334 last season with 18 homers while Rivera, 40, posted a 1.76 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP and converted 44 saves in 46 chances.
Johnny Damon's agent, Scott Boras, told the Detroit Free Press on Monday that his client loves the NHL's Detroit Red Wings.
"When he and I go to a Greek restaurant, he always orders octopus," Boras said Monday. Red Wings fans celebrate hat tricks by throwing octopus carcasses on the ice at Joe Louis Arena and Boras is clearly trying to sell Damon to the city of Detroit. A marriage would make some sense, but the Tigers have yet to show serious interest in the 36-year-old defensively-inept outfielder. He batted .282/.365/.489 with 24 home runs last season.
Yankees signed outfielder Marcus Thames to a minor league contract.
Thames receives $900,000 if he makes the major league roster out of spring training, which he will be invited to. He will compete with Randy Winn and Brett Gardner for playing time, as well as provide an extra right-handed bat in the outfield. Thames is a poor defensive outfielder, but he rocks left-handed pitching to the tune of an .845 career OPS. Originally drafted by the Yankees in 1996, Thames batted .252/.323/.453 with 13 home runs in 258 at-bats last season for the Tigers. Detroit released him in early November.
An American League executive told MLive.com Thursday that free agent outfielder Johnny Damon will be "lucky to get whatever he gets."
"I can't believe anybody is going to offer Damon more than the $14 million and $6 million the Yankees did," said the unnamed executive. "If you turn them down for that, you deserve one year for $3 million or whatever he is going to get. In February, teams have got guys in place. My feeling is that now he is going to be lucky to get whatever he gets." Damon hit .282/.365/.489 with 24 homers and 107 runs scored last year but has drawn little interest from teams at his current asking price, whatever it may be.
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