Sox close to signing ex-braves closer Farnsworth

[ManyOrtiz]

Looper is a FA but we definitely dont want him on the Sox. He would be a terrible fit. I wouldnt mind Gordon, but I dont see that working out well. Mota, Foulke(if healthy) and Timlin arent the worse choices either though. Perhaps we should pick up some better middle arms instead of a closer.

[Soxfan1]

i meanthere could be a possibility of Gordon on the mets.

[jimmycarter05]

Everything i am seeing is pointing to Farnsworth headed to the bronx. One name that i don't think is being kicked around enough is Julian Taveras. Maybe the sox chase him down if they lose out on farnsworth.

 

 

or another option would be al reyes

[ksushi]

Yeah, I didn't know he was an FA, but that is an option. I like Taveras alittle more than Reyes. I don't know i haven't checked but Reyes is the 35ish year old guy throws hard usually an ERA low 2's? Wouldn't it seem like he would command a better market then he is?

[jimmycarter05]

Yeah, I didn't know he was an FA, but that is an option. I like Taveras alittle more than Reyes. I don't know i haven't checked but Reyes is the 35ish year old guy throws hard usually an ERA low 2's? Wouldn't it seem like he would command a better market then he is?

 

i think he had tommy john surgury or something like that at the end of 2005 and won't be able to pitch until next year or something

[ksushi]

erm, so why would he be an option?

[jimmycarter05]

erm, so why would he be an option?

 

if we want to take a risk on him..he's a great reliever...same thing can be said for durazo(.396 OBP is 2004 with 22 HRs and 88 RBIs) who's also a FA this season, but won't be able to play until the all star break of this year..takes guts though to sign these guys

[schillingouttheks]

It's similar to our signing of Wade Miller last year. Although I don't want a Wade Miller part 2.

[RedRuffing15]

MLB.com says that the Tigers are looking at Gordan and Hoffman, and Farnsworth is reported close to signing with Yankees

 

DETROIT -- How will the Tigers spell relief in 2006? A week before the Winter Meetings, it's anyone's guess.

 

When the Tigers pounced early last offseason and signed closer Troy Percival, critics wondered whether the team overpaid, but the addition gave Detroit what was supposed to be a formidable veteran presence in the late innings. Now, the Tigers are watching unbelievable deals unfold and wonder who will take the mound with a ninth-inning lead.

 

Spurned in their pursuit of B.J. Ryan and set to be disappointed in their quest to bring back former closer Kyle Farnsworth, the Tigers are shifting focus to the remaining closers on the market. As the list of available relievers shortens, it's possible that incumbent Fernando Rodney will hold onto the closer's role for next year.

 

While the Tigers were never more than secondary participants in the bidding for Billy Wagner, believed to be the top closer on the market, they had hopes of signing either Ryan or Farnsworth, two younger arms entering the prime of their careers.

 

Ryan came to town for a visit two weeks ago and was high on Detroit's list when he and the Blue Jays shocked baseball with a five-year, $47 million deal. Soon after that, former Guardians setup man Bobby Howry spurned Detroit, signing a three-year contract to join the Cubs and passing up a reported three-year, $13.5 million offer from the Tigers.

 

Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski denied published reports that the Tigers made Ryan a five-year offer.

 

"We were willing to offer him a deal," Dombrowski said.

 

Talks never advanced to that point, and the Tigers weren't going to match what Toronto was offering in terms of years or money.

 

The Tigers and Farnsworth had mutual interest in a reunion. Dombrowski said all along that he hadn't shut the door on Farnsworth returning, and agent Barry Meister said Farnsworth would be interested in coming back to the team that gave him a shot at closing. Once Ryan signed, however, the interest level in Farnsworth picked up dramatically. One industry source cited a half-dozen clubs that had Ryan and Farnsworth ranked 1-2 on their wish list for free agent relievers, the Tigers among them.

 

As of Wednesday, Farnsworth was close to a three-year deal to join the Yankees as setup man to Mariano Rivera. Meanwhile, the Tigers have jumped into discussions with the agents for Tom Gordon and Trevor Hoffman, two relievers with whom they had not had contact until recently.

 

Unlike Ryan and Farnsworth, two hard throwers under 30 years old, both Hoffman and Gordon are in their late 30s. Though they have greater, deeper track records -- especially Hoffman -- their age makes a long-term deal more of a risk. By all accounts, the Tigers were more than willing to talk about at least a three-year contract with Ryan and Farnsworth. That becomes a trickier proposition with older closers such as Gordon and Hoffman after Troy Percival lasted barely half a season as the Tigers' closer before injuries put his career in question.

 

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Gordon reportedly wants a three-year offer from the Phillies, who are aggressively pursuing him along with the Tigers and four other teams. Hoffman's side reportedly asked for a three-year deal from the Padres in October before he hit the open market.

 

After Gordon and Hoffman, the market becomes much more of a question. The Tigers have not shown interest in Bob Wickman, who posted a career-best 45 saves for Cleveland this past season, but who has topped 35 innings only once in the last four years. Nor is it believed they have interest in a lengthy deal with former Tiger Todd Jones, who saved 40 games for the Marlins last year after struggling as a setup man each of the previous three years.

 

At some point, the Tigers could turn their attention back to Rodney, who saved nine games in 13 opportunities after Detroit dealt Farnsworth to Atlanta. He's under contract for next year and just missed being eligible for arbitration, so it wouldn't take a financial leap. However, his fatigue and occasional control problems down the stretch were cause for concern, though part of that stemmed from the downtime following his Tommy John surgery in 2004.

 

The Tigers have been cautious in their assessment of Rodney. While Dombrowski stated their hope to add a veteran closer earlier this offseason, he added that they still believe he can close games.

 

"We like Fernando Rodney," Dombrowski said last month. "We think he can pitch at the end of the game. This year [was] probably a tough year, when you talk about coming back from Tommy John surgery. We've always felt he could close, but he can pitch in the eighth inning and seventh inning."

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051130&content_id=1274301&vkey=hotstove2005&fext=.jsp

[ksushi]

No thanks, on reyes. I didn't know he needed TJ. Hes 35, thats a huuuuge difference then the wade miller thing. Wade Miller was what, high twenties? No way on the 35 year old guy. His stats don't matter if he can't pitch.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

From what I heard Gordon is looking for a 3 year deal and he wants to be a closer. IMO I wouldnt give him any 3 year deal. I've watched this guy for 2 years now and he was dominate in 2004 but he took a step back in 2005. His velocity dipped and he also complained of arm problems throughout the year. That said if he would take a 2 year deal I would give it too him, but 3 years? I'll pass.

[ksushi]

I agree, his velocity has dipped alittle bit and torre did come out and say recently that he isn't concerned about the guys health but how valid is that? I mean even if he was he wouldn't try to ruin the guys pay day by saying "well to be honest I did work with flash all year and yeah hes getting old alright" So its respectable of torre to say that for a former player of his and probably a friend of his, but I don't think flash is healthy, and I dont think he will be dominant again.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yea, i totally agree on Gordon, and if Foulke goes down, Idk if I would choose Gordon over Mota, Timlin, and possibley Hansen.

[riverside sluggers]

Farnsworth has given his answer, he will be wearing pinstripes

 

Updated: Dec. 1, 2005, 12:53 AM ET

Sources: Farnsworth to sign with YankeesBy Len Pasquarelli

ESPN.com

 

ATLANTA -- While there was no announcement from New York, the representative for free agent relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth informed Atlanta Braves officials Wednesday night that his client will sign with the Yankees, two sources told ESPN.com. In making the move to the Yankees, Farnsworth, who played at Milton High School in Atlanta, rejected the Braves' offer to remain as their closer, the role in which he finished the 2005 season. Instead, he will serve as setup man to Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera, and replace Tom Gordon in that role.

 

The Yankees have been attempting to retain Gordon as their primary setup reliever, but he is seeking an opportunity to be a closer elsewhere. Aware they could not offer Gordon the closer's job, the Yankees resigned themselves in recent days to losing him and began to explore alternatives, with Farnsworth at the top of their wish list. Contract details on the deal Farnsworth will sign with the Yankees were not available. The Braves had offered him a three-year contract. Atlanta can still gain a first-round pick as compensation for Farnsworth if the Braves offer him arbitration by Dec. 7 or New York signs him before that date.

 

Farnsworth earned $1.975 million in 2005 and it was rumored in recent days that the Yankees were set to offer him a deal worth at least $4 million annually. A seven-year major league veteran, Farnsworth, 29, has spent most of his career with the Chicago Cubs, who selected him in the 47th round of the 1994 draft. He pitched for the Cubs 1999-2004, and with Detroit for the first part of 2005 before Atlanta acquired him from the Tigers in a July 31 trade.

 

In 26 relief appearances with the Braves, he had no decisions, but provided stability in the closer's role, saving 10 games and posting an ERA of 1.98 in 27 1/3 innings. In his stints with the Tigers and Braves last season, Farnsworth appeared in 72 games, had 16 saves and an ERA of 2.19.

[ACL BoSox]

Ever since the Arod incident, I don't read too much into rumors and negotiations. Sometimes the best trades or FA signings come out of no where like the Beckett deal. So yeah, it would appear Farnsworth is headed to NY, but don't read too much into it.