From the Detroit Free Press’ Gene Guidi :
The sides continued to talk Monday, but the Tigers haven’t reached a deal with free agent Magglio Ordonez. While the Tigers negotiate, other teams are trying to decide if they want to get involved.
The Orioles, once thought to be a potential suitor for the outfielder, instead have traded for Sammy Sosa, which would seem to eliminate them from the chase. Texas general manager John Hart told the Ft. Worth Star Telegram on Saturday that he considered the Rangers “extreme longshots in the Magglio Ordonez sweepstakes.”
That would appear to leave the Cubs as the Tigers’ main rival, with the New York Mets a possibility — especially if they can free up some salary through a trade. “I think the Mets are about to get knee-deep in this thing now,” a source familiar with the situation said Monday.
As stated earlier, the Cubs appear to have chosen the less expensive/somewhat healthier Jeromy Burnitz, leaving the Mets (presuming Guidi’s source is solid) as a competitor for yet another of Scott Boras’ clients.