Roundup: Add New York to Crawford’s suitors

The Yankees were again the hot stove headliners on Friday,
but not because of Derek Jeter. Not for talks with Cliff Lee, either.

According to an ESPN report, the Yankees have given “serious
signals” that they’re going to bid on Carl Crawford, the free agent Rays
outfielder who’s a reported favorite to land in Anaheim or Boston.

It’s possible that New York simply wants to drive up the
price for its competitors, namely Boston, who reportedly put in an offer for
closer Mariano Rivera before he agreed to a two-year deal to stay in
pinstripes. The Yanks, too, could be looking to improve their outfield, but to
sign all three of Jeter, Lee and Crawford would seem a tall task.

Whatever the motive, the timing of the Yankees’ interest in
Crawford entering the public realm
– right before the Winter Meetings kick off Monday in Florida — is worth
noting.

As for Rivera, another ESPN report on Friday indicated that
the Red Sox had a plan in place had he elected to jump ship and join the Red
Sox: Jonathan Papelbon could have been non-tendered.

The rest of the league was busy too on Friday, when a pair
of trades went down, some signings seemed close, and some signings were
reached:

The Reds and Bronson Arroyo agreed to an extension
that will keep him in Cincinnati through 2013. He’s owed a total of $35 million
including a club option the Reds had already picked up for next season.
The White Sox traded veteran reliever Scott
Linebrink to the Braves for a Minor League arm, right-hander Kyle Cofield.
Linebrink, 34, is a free agent after the 2011 season.
The Brewers traded right-hander Carlos Villanueva
to the Blue Jays for a player to be named later.
Josh Byrnes,
the former D-backs general manager, has joined the Padres as a senior vice
president for baseball operations. He’s reunited with Jed Hoyer, whom he worked
with in the Red Sox front office. The Padres may also be close to signing Aaron
Harang, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. MLB.com’s Corey Brock
reported the Padres’ interest in Harang on Thursday.
General manager Sandy Alderson said Friday the Mets
have not yet extended contract offers to free agent pitchers Chris Young or
Jeff Francis, but the team remains in talks with both.
Russell Martin has six suitors, according to
his agent Matt Colleran, including among them still, the Dodgers. Martin was
non-tendered by Los Angeles on Thursday, and the two sides are about $800,000
apart.
Detroit agreed
to a minor-league deal with former Royal John Bale, who pitched this year with
the Hiroshima Carp in the Japanese Central League.
On the day Adam Dunn officially joined the White
Sox, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo wished the slugger well in a
statement: “The Washington Nationals wish Adam Dunn and his family the best of
luck and good will in Chicago. Adam contributed much to the Nationals and
to the Washington, D.C. community. He will be missed, but will remain an
important figure in the early history of this franchise and will always be a
part of the Nationals baseball family.”