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« Week in Review: 11/9 - 11/15 | Main | Josh Byrnes - GM Trade History »
Closer Roundup: K-Rod, Fuentes, Wood, Hoffman
Joel Sherman of the New York Post takes a look at the sudden surplus of potentially available closers in major league baseball, a situation that certainly benefits the Mets considering their need to upgrade the bullpen this offseason.
Two free agent closers that seemed destined to retire with their 2008 teams, Trevor Hoffman and Kerry Wood, now appear to be more available than was expected in October. That pair, along with Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, give the Mets and other teams several options in free agency.
Other relief pitchers with experience in the 9th inning have been recently mentioned in trade rumors. The list includes Huston Street, who may move again before the 2009 season begins, along with JJ Putz, Jose Valverde, and Bobby Jenks, mentions Sherman.
Sherman also provides a short list of teams, beyond the Mets, that may need a reliever with closing experience for 2009. The Texas Rangers, seemingly always short on pitching these days, may be a good fit for Kerry Wood; the Detroit Tigers, the St. Louis Cardinals, and most recently the Milwaukee Brewers, faced with the sudden retirement of Salomon Torres, are also in need of 9th inning help.
Sherman suggests Fuentes may be the favorite for the Mets' closing job at this point.
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I will bet my house that K-Rod has a better year than Fuentes with whomever they close games for in 2009...
Posted by: FlushingMets | November 16, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Headline come Jan:
K-Rod's agent sets up meeting with Angels discuss return
Result, K-rod signs for 3/34 that was offered before.
Posted by: WasianCU | November 16, 2008 at 07:02 PM
KRod to the Brew Crew if he doesn't land with the Mets? Might be a reactionary move to losing out on CC.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | November 16, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Cards won't sign a big name closer this offseason, they just need a stopgap closer....the only guy on that list that they might even look at is Trevor Hoffman, and from early reports it seems the Cards aren't even interested in him.
Posted by: Cardsfan387 | November 16, 2008 at 07:08 PM
MetsBlog.com has a post from a Venezuelan newspaper saying K-Rod was in New York for a physical today, before eventually signing a contract with the NY Mets
Posted by: metzfan22 | November 16, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Metsblog has a link to a Venezuelan newspaper that indicates K-Rod flew to NY for a physical. Anyone who remembers last offseason knows how unreliable these foreign reports can be, still its worth noting.
http://www.metsblog.com/2008/11/16/relief-pitcher-k-rod-may-have-been-in-nyc/#comments
Posted by: MEddler | November 16, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Hoffman- Indians
Wood- Rangers
Fuentes- Mets
K-Rod- Angels
Street- staying put
Jenks- staying put
Valverde-staying put
Putz- Tigers
Posted by: BLEEDINGCUBBIEBLUE | November 16, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Well I love Valverde, BUT if the Astros can get good prospects and get rid of his salary to open up some more money to spend this winter( and find a team that MIGHT want Miggy) then go for it.
Posted by: elcaballofan4eva | November 16, 2008 at 07:17 PM
Hoffman- Brewers
Wood- Rangers
Fuentes- Mets
K-Rod- Angels
Street- Staying put
Jenks- Cubs
Valverde-staying put
Putz- Tigers
Posted by: BaseballFanatic40 | November 16, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Tim,
what do you think about the Mariners trading JJ Putz and Adrian Beltre to Milwaukee? Mariners new GM is familiar with the Crew and their prospects/players. How about something with Rickie Weeks, and Jeremy Jeffers?
Posted by: Lidocaine | November 16, 2008 at 07:28 PM
i think a trade between both Chicago teams would be fun but most likely Jenks will stay put
Posted by: BaseballFanatic40 | November 16, 2008 at 07:29 PM
tim, could the dodgers trade loney for beltre straight up? then they sign tex and have beltre, furcal(resigned), dewitt, and tex in the infield, while getting a good bat for left(besides manny) or use jones/pierre if possible
Posted by: lakersdodgersyankees4life | November 16, 2008 at 07:40 PM
What does everyone think about BJ Ryan being available?
The Jays' pen is pretty deep, and I bet they would trade him for a mid-level prospect just to free up cash at this point; that said, JP is probably looking for more value on return than that.
Anyone have opinion/insight?
Posted by: fastfuture | November 16, 2008 at 07:50 PM
does no one have faith in chris perez anymore???
Posted by: golfstar2020 | November 16, 2008 at 08:01 PM
lakers, while I'm not Tim, I will mention that I don't think the Dodgers would be able to sign Teixeira AND Furcal. As you seem to be aware of, most popular sports writers seem to be of the opinion that the Dodgers may sign neither Tex nor Furcal, and instead figure out a deal for Manny Ramirez, despite their recent offer withdrawl.
Posted by: Alex Walsh | November 16, 2008 at 08:09 PM
youngcubs, I think Paul Sullivan of the Tribune reported that Wood was ready to "consider" a one-year deal. I wonder what the salary number would have to be for Kerry and his agent to accept, and I wonder if that number would fit into the Cubs' 2009 budget.
Of course, he hasn't signed with anyone else quite just yet, has he?
Posted by: Alex Walsh | November 16, 2008 at 08:12 PM
lakers, while I'm not Tim, I will mention that I don't think the Dodgers would be able to sign Teixeira AND Furcal. As you seem to be aware of, most popular sports writers seem to be of the opinion that the Dodgers may sign neither Tex nor Furcal, and instead figure out a deal for Manny Ramirez, despite their recent offer withdrawl.
i understand what you are saying, but this is my thoughts. teixeria will prob get around 20m/yr. manny wants 25m/yr. the dodgers were already discussing both manny and furcal, so i think tex and furcal is more do-able, espically if the yanks are out. then it be basically the dodgers and angels with amybe 1 more team for tex(who can really afford him and would actually sign him)
Posted by: lakersdodgersyankees4life | November 16, 2008 at 09:26 PM
"What does everyone think about BJ Ryan being available?"
What an awful off season to try and trade a not so proven healthy BJ Ryan with a no so cheap contract. All these Closers on the FA market, plus several top ones available for trade and here is Ryan with his arm just back from major surgery and finishing up his 1st season back, and ending it up getting hammered the last 1+ month of the season.
If the Jays need to free up salary space, the BP is the obvious place where they are loaded and Ryan's 2 years/20 million left was the obvious place to try and free up the cash, but how they are going to move this guy and not end up eating 1/2 at least of it with all the closers available will be almost impossible. Might as well hang onto him now and hope for the best that the tail end of last season was an apparition, he gets his old stuff back and they can move him for a premium just before the 7/31 trade deadline .
Posted by: johns | November 16, 2008 at 10:41 PM
"tim, could the dodgers trade loney for beltre straight up? then they sign tex and have beltre, furcal(resigned), dewitt, and tex in the infield, while getting a good bat for left(besides manny) or use jones/pierre if possible"
no way the dodgers ever do that.
makes no sense at all.
trade a young up and coming gg caliber first baseman who might put up a line of 320/25/100.. who would be lucky to put up numbers like that
Posted by: 661dodgerblue | November 17, 2008 at 01:21 AM
beltre i mean "who would be lucky to put up numbers like that"
Posted by: 661dodgerblue | November 17, 2008 at 01:22 AM
"does no one have faith in chris perez anymore???"
I think he should be closing for the Cardinals. Sign a solid lefty reliever for the pen (Ohman) and hand Perez the reins.
Posted by: melonis rex | November 17, 2008 at 08:12 AM
Hoffman- Cardinals
Wood- Rangers
Fuentes- Indians
K-Rod- Mets
Street - Brewers
Jenks - staying put
Valverde - staying put
Ryan - Tigers
Putz - If they are going to rebuild then they should trade him but I think he will stay put
Posted by: thunder12k | November 17, 2008 at 09:00 AM
You can throw Lyon, Gagne, Chad Cordero, Guardado, Juan Cruz, Affeldt and Isringhausen into the mix as well. Clearly not the best options, but still possiblities. I can't ever remember seeing a closing FA market this deep.
Posted by: GoTribe | November 17, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Hoffman- Indians
Wood- Rangers
Fuentes- Mets
K-Rod- Angels
Street - if the Rox don't keep him, he will go to the Tigers
Jenks - Why would the White Sox trade him?
Valverde - stays with Astros, Ed Wade thinks they can compete
Ryan - stays with Jays
Putz - as stated before, it depends upon their plans...if he's traded, I believe he goes to the Brewers
Cordero-Tigers
Posted by: MDWhiteSoxFan | November 17, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Loney for Beltre would be an awful trade for the Dodgers.
They lose a controllable player making a few bucks over league minimum for a guy make over $10m and only one year of control. Then you sign Tex and Furcal? Those three moves jump your payroll $45m and represent a minor improvement over your current situation.
Posted by: bjsguess | November 17, 2008 at 10:57 AM
That is an absolutely horrible trade for the brewers Lidocaine.
Posted by: Warboss74 | November 17, 2008 at 02:09 PM
The Cards will not sign Hoffman. Not when we already have Chris Perez and Jason Motte. To sign Hoffman would be a waste of money. We have more pressing needs to spend this money on. We need Hoffmnan as bad as Swiss cheese needs another hole in it, LOL.
Posted by: OzarksCardsFan | November 17, 2008 at 11:36 PM