Rumors: Blue Jays out of Burnett bidding - Fan Zone- nbcsports.msnbc.com

By Mark J. Miller

updated 9:27 a.m. ET Dec. 5, 2008

Blue Jays likely out of Burnett bidding

It's looking like the Braves are making a pretty good run at A.J. Burnett and the Yankees are supposedly about to jump in on the bidding. This is likely to leave Toronto in the dust as far as retaining their own pitcher, mostly because the team doesn't have the bucks. The Canadian dollar is weakening and the Jays have lost some sponsorships this off-season so the team will likely be looking for pitching via trade rather than free agency when the winter meetings kick off next week. Word is that Burnett wants five years and that the Braves are currently offering four with a n option for a fifth, all at $16 million per season. (MLB.com)

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Wilson restructuring contract in order to go to L.A.?

While some believe the Dodgers and Pirates haven't talked for months about shortstop Jack Wilson, others are seeing reasons to think the two teams have been yapping about him since last Saturday. Word is that Wilson wants to get to L.A. and will go so far as to restructure his current deal in order to make it happen. The Tigers also supposedly want Wilson and have been in talks with Pittsburgh for about a month. Rumor has it Detroit made a new offer Wednesday that raised some eyebrows in the Pittsburgh front office. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Yanks go after Derek Lowe

The Yanks are finally sick of waiting for CC Sabathia to make up his mind. While his offer sits on the table, the team is apparently going ahead and making runs at other pitchers, most notably Derek Lowe. GM Brian Cashman apparently hasn't made an offer yet but is planning to do so soon. He meets with Sabathia and his agent, Scott Boras, this weekend to get the lowdown on what's up there before baseball's winter meetings start near week. The Brewers are meeting Boras on Monday or Tuesday to do the same. The Yanks hope they can lock up CC before then, though Sabathia is likely to wait to see what the Giants offer. That is believed to be around $110 million, $30 million below the offer from the Bronx. (New York Daily News)