Big teams still have moves to make

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Matt Holliday would be headed for his fourth different team in the past three seasons if he leaves the Cardinals as a free agent this offseason. Aaron M. Sprecher/Icon SMI

A flurry of big-ticket activity in the last few days could spark a very interesting next few weeks after the hands and fortunes of several teams changed dramatically in a few-day span.

A lot happened in a very short period of time (most of it on Monday). But there's still plenty more to come. Here's a rundown of the big stories yet to play out through the big teams ...

1. Mets

With no quick deal for Jason Bay at hand, they are back to considering Matt Holliday, as well, and GM Omar Minaya is expected to call Holliday's agent, Scott Boras, as early as today. The Mets were hoping to have a chance to wrap up a quick deal for Bay but now seem slightly concerned that the British Columbia native might favor going to the West Coast to sign with the Angels or perhaps the Mariners (his wife is from Seattle). Some Mets people preferred Holliday from the start, but Mets ownership was hoping to avoid a protracted negotiation with Holliday.

By looking into Holliday now and expanding their middle-of-the-order targets to two, they would enhance their chances to sign the power hitter they crave, and perhaps even put a little pressure on Bay, with whom they've signaled a willingness to go to a fifth year at slightly lower dollars per year (the offers are believed to be about $65 million for four or $75 million for five).

They are simultaneously engaged in talks for catcher Bengie Molina, as well. But while they badly need Molina, it's harder to identify teams in this derby that could outbid the Mets, though the cash-infused, aggressive Mariners can't be ruled out of anything. Right now they are at an impasse with Molina, who seeks three years for about $20 million.

The Mets never loved the idea of importing John Lackey (four years was all they and several other teams considered doing), never had a real shot at Roy Halladay, and will instead try to fill their rotation opening by picking up a pitcher or two late. They have interest in Joel Pineiro, Jason Marquis, John Garland or Doug Davis, but Pineiro seeks four years and Marquis three, making the latter two pitchers more likely. By the time they are done, their winter highlights won't be Henry Blanco, Chris Coste, Alex Cora and Ryota Igarashi. At least suffering Mets fans hope not.

2. Angels

The day they landed international star Hideki Matsui for a bargain $6 million oddly enough turned out to one of the roughest in Arte Moreno's mostly successful tenure as team owner. Because that was also the day their longtime ace, John Lackey, went to the rival Red Sox, true target Roy Halladay went to the Phillies and yet another former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee went to the rival Mariners. Matsui is a worthy replacement for Vladimir Guerrero as a designated hitter but the Angels know they need starting pitching help. One possibility could be to consider Derek Lowe, who's being made available by the Braves. The Angels could consider trading Juan Rivera to the Braves for Lowe, then think about signing Bay to replace Rivera.

3. Cardinals

The Cardinals reportedly offered either an eight-year deal (via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) to Holliday, or five years (which would seem to be an oddly short deal for a 29-year-old free agent). In any case, a Cardinals person expressed some faith the other day that things were progressing for them. There doesn't appear to be a deadline, so there's still time for Holliday to shop. And Holliday has been in contact with several more teams in recent days in hopes of finding what he's looking for. If Holliday goes elsewhere, part of the Cardinals' Plan B appears to be signing infielders Mark DeRosa and Felipe Lopez. They're nice players, but they won't exactly be providing the type of protection Albert Pujols seeks.

4. Giants

Perhaps no team could use a big hitting star more, but even though the organization is doing well financially, they don't appear to be aiming as high as they could. Baseball executives keep wondering whether they'll jump in on one of the big stars, but for now it appears they are more seriously looking at Nick Johnson, Dan Uggla, Jermaine Dye, Scott Podsednik, De Rosa, Adrian Beltre and others.

5. Red Sox

Boston pounced on Lackey for a five-year deal for about $85 million immediately after hearing that Halladay was going elsewhere (to Philadelphia, as it turns out in a deal that's expected to be announced Wednesday), and then took defensively excellent outfielder Mike Cameron for $15 million over two years, but they may just be getting started. Lackey gives them a superb top three along with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester and extra depth since they remain concerned about finally-aging knuckleballer Tim Wakefield's health. Cameron provides cover as a potential left field platoon with Jeremy Hermida in case they don't work things out with Bay or take the bigger plunge for Holliday. Likely targets now would be first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who is still under contract with the Padres, or free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. With Lackey and Cameron in the fold, they could conceivably consider a package of pitcher Clay Buchholz and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury for Gonzalez (though "it's not likely we trade Ellsbury,'' one Red Sox person said). And beyond that, the Padres have told at least a couple teams that Gonzalez is not on the market. More likely, the Red Sox will sign Beltre, who's terrific defensively and would benefit from a move from Safeco Field to Fenway Park.

6. Mariners

They've already signed Chone Figgins, Cliff Lee is coming today in the three-team blockbuster and they have plenty of loot ("we've got money," one Mariners person said). The largesse comes as the result of Erik Bedard, Beltre, Kenji Johjima, Miguel Batista and other coming off the books. They could still be a player for Bay or Holliday, though their more immediate goal may be to lock up Lee. They'll look at Nick Johnson and their own free agent Russell Branyan for first base and generally act like the big-market team they are (their revenues are in the upper third). They seem most likely to play Figgins at third base, so Beltre doesn't seem too likely to stay.

7. Braves

They are shopping Lowe and if they can find a taker they may be willing to pay a few million a year on the $45-million on the four-year contract he signed before last season. If they can shed most of his salary, they may be able to aim higher in their quest for a corner outfielder if they don't get Juan Rivera back for him. Byrd and Dye seem like possibilities now.

8. Yankees

Johnny Damon wants to be a Yankee, and the team want him back. But to this point, it's a slow go. Damon fit perfectly into the No. 2 hole behind Derek Jeter and in front of Mark Teixeira and Alex Roriguez, forming the best 1-through-4 in baseball, and Damon is known to want to return. Curtis Granderson is a terrific player but he strikes out a lot, doesn't have an on-base percentage to match Damon's and doesn't always hit lefties (they could bat switch-hitting Nick Swisher second against lefties as things stand, but Swisher's better side is left-handed). Granderson is better down in the order for the Yankees. The defection of Matsui increases their flexibility but perhaps also raises the urgency to add offense. Dye and Byrd are available but both seem like fallbacks for the Yankees. There's no evidence they're chasing Holliday or Bay yet, but it can't be forgotten the move for Teixiera came mostly late (though not this late).