Non-Tender Candidates

Ankiel was non-tendered and re-signed because he went from a pitcher to an outfielder right?

I bet KW would try to jump in on Taveras if he was non-tendered.

I would like to see capuano in cardinal red, but he has to be non-tendered first.

If Bedard does go non-tendered it will be interesting to see what the market is for him.

Flores is gone for sure.

With the way the Brewers' pitching situation is unfolding-as expected-the Brewers may be forced to give Capuano a shot to redeem himself. The Brewers are missing a top of the rotation starter and Capuano has shown in the past that he can be that guy. Of course, that was before his second TJ surgery.

He may not cost the Brewers any more than $3.5M-$4M through arbitration and if the Brewers end up Sheets-less and CC-less, they may very well have that money to spend.

Keep in mind that if the Brewers don't find another starter, Yovani Gallardo, who is coming off 2 knee surgeries in 2008 and has who has never pitched more than 155 innings (minor league in 2006) in any one season, will then have to become the "ace", the "stopper" on the defending NL Wild Card team. That's an awful lot of the Brewers to expect from a kid and while he has the potential to be that guy, I don't know if it can be expected based on the limited major league success that he has had so far.

Point being, the Brewers need as many starters or guys capable of making starts on this roster as they can find room for.

Nontendering Bedard would be both a PR nightmare and incredibly stupid. Yes, its 8MM++. The M's shouldn't be going out there and signing big-name FAs anyways, and cleared Sexson's salary this year. Keeping him, and hoping that he'll pitch enough to be traded mid-season is the best thing they can do.

Gomes shouldn't be nontendered- although trying to settle with him outside of arbitration is probably an ideal situation. Just look at his career splits against lefties (and the Rays need to hit lefties). If Gomes is nontendered, the Braves would be an awesome fit for him.

MVPujols,

HUH? Backe dominate in the past? Are you talking about Brandon Backe? The 6.05 ERA Brandon Backe? As an Astros fan I want your wish to come true. I would LOVE to see the Cardinals sign Backe.

Backe has mouthed off to STL thats about it. and thats only because Pujols owns him. The Cards would never sign Backe because Pujols would be pissed.

I remember Capuano's pitching duel with Harang in '07. My how the mighty have fallen.

I wouldn't nontender him, he's not going to get a major raise, and if he comes back healthy, that could really bolster a weak Brewers rotation/pen.

I wonder what D Cabrera would accept to start off in the minors and see if they can turn him around?

If Tavaras is non-tendered, there go any chances the Dodgers have of unloading Juan Pierre. I will hope that the Rockies keep Tavaras just to keep the possibility of removing Juan Pierre from the Dodgers alive.

Another not so likely one is Chone Figgins. Though the Angels could get value from him in a trade....at least from the White Sox.

I think there will be a large number of teams that take a look at Bedard and Daniel Cabrera.

The offseason will become alot more interesting if those two are non-tendered.

I know Tim mentioned it, but there's 0% chance of Bedard getting non-tendered.

"ok sorry for being so noobish but how is it determined who can receive non tender offers? Can anyone be offered?"

I believe anyone who is going year to year still (league minimum renewing or arbitration) can be non-tendered as the team simply chooses not to extend the contract by a theoretical year.

You'll see it whenever a player gets a large arbitration award mostly and then goes out and stinks it up that year or the team decides the player isn't worth the arbitration value the year after.

I don't get why White Sox fans are infatuated with Willy Taveras. The guy is fast...and that's it. He had a lower slugging percentage than his already-pathetic obp. That's hard to do. He's one-dimensional and not a difference maker whatsoever.

Scott Podsednik was one-dimensional and not a difference maker and for some reason is credited for winning the WS for the Sox in '05. Now any fast player is immediately placed on a pedestal. I don't get it either.....

Chone Figgins is going to be non-tendered? What world are you from?

Astros fans - and others - what do you of Chris Burke as a super UT type? He has been poor with the bat over the last two years, but is that b/c of inconsistent health/playing time? His minor league stats look solid and he can play IF and OF, right? Thoughts?

I'm confused....The article is credited to Tim and mentions Gaudin then Tim reples and says he doesn't see Gaudin as a candidate?

As a Jays fan, I'd think Gaudin - if he's even in the neighborhood of the non-tender list, would be a guy we should look into.

He can start until McGowan recovers or Cecil and/or Romero force the issue and if someone beats him out he can go to the pen.

I agree with Stoten that Frasor is an obvious candidate, but I'd like to think we could get something for Tallet rather than just cut him lose - lefties should have SOME value.

Backe has dominated before(think playoffs), he is just highly inconsistent and last year he just plain sucked. He has the potential to be a good #3. I want him back if he is willing to be in the BP. I love his fire. It would be funny as hell to see him in St. Louis because of the history between Pujols and him.

elguapo- I wouldn't want him if I were you. He was a terrible 1st round pick for us. It is true he can play just about anywhere, but he just can't hit and never looked good regardless of where he was hitting or how much playing time he was getting. He has some tools, but mostly being on the defensive end. I think he will just end up being a defensive replacement type player and pinch runner.

Correction: Figgins made 4.75 mil this year and would probably make more than 6 mil next year.

Low profile, but I would be very surprised if Jaime Burke isn't non tendered. Seattle has a huge catcher logjam.

Burke is a very good backup. Nothing spectacular, but does everything you want a backup to do. Brings the best out of pitchers, good in the community and clubhouse, hits a bit, plays decent enough defense.

I'd love to have him back, but there is no reason for him to be taking time away from any of the three other capable catchers Seattle has (besides Johjima.. but that's another story.)

blueandteal-----which Burke are you referring to? Chris Burke of the Astros who never played catcher?

ahhh.apparently the comments got messed up.nevermind

magus711 ...

Have you seen any article anywhere that might suggest that the Angels are unhappy with Figgins? Is Figgins hurt and unable to play for at least 75% of the season? Are the Angels so cash poor that they can't afford $6-7m for their starting 3rd baseman and leadoff hitter?

If you are going to list Chone Figgins then you might as well list any player in arbitration as being a potential non-tender candidate. I mean, the criteria you provided was that Chone could make more than $6m this year and that he is in his last arb year. Is that all it takes to be considered a non-tender candidate?

The comparison to Bedard is wildly inappropriate. Bedard is coming off a year in which he was shut down because of injury, he is going through rehab for major surgery and won't be available for a chunk of the year. EVEN THEN, it is unlikely that Seattle will non-tender him.

I didn't mean to insult you. It was just shocking to see you say that.

Scott Hairston has been mentioned as a non tender candidate for the Padres.

Haha this is interesting/sad:

Erik Bedard has gone from a Cy Young Candidate to a non-tender candidate.

Just the fact that it is a possibility is what makes it so amazing.

Bedard, is the one that is really interesting.

What are the odds on the Mariners non-tendering him.

Posted by: Chris | December 04, 2008 at 03:03 PM

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If bedard gets non-tendered, does this go down at the most lopsided trade in history?

God, the Mariners have the worst luck in making trades.

Anyone remember the Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek trade to the Red Sox for Heathcliff Slocuomb.

Posted by: Zig | December 04, 2008 at 03:09 PM
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The chances of Bedard getting non-tendered is 0%. He already had is surgery and is ahead of schedule on rehab. They say he will be back by Spring Training.

One Mariner luck: Most of that wasn't bad luck... it was called Bavasi and Woodward. Two of the stupidest GMs in recent memory.

That Varitek/Lowe for Slocumb was a horrible move but you gotta remember the deal in which they got Moyer from the Sox for Darren Bragg. That was 120+ wins out of Moyer including two 20 win seasons for a scrub. At least when they traded for Slocumb, he was viewed as a pretty good closer. Granted, it was one of the worst deals in history.

The Nathan/Liriano/Bonser for Pierzynski deal may give it some competition a few years down the road.

"Haha this is interesting/sad:

Erik Bedard has gone from a Cy Young Candidate to a non-tender candidate.

Just the fact that it is a possibility is what makes it so amazing."

It's certainly not a talent issue. The only reason Seattle would non-tender Bedard is if he's going to miss a significant portion of the season. When his injury was first analyzed that appeared to be the case, but he should be ready at some point during Spring Training.. the the chances that he is non-tendered are slim.

Unless he has since aggravated the injury or something.. of course.

Esteban German

thered86,

Thanks again to you and H-Town for the Chris Burke reviews. Sounds like he is a poor use of a roster spot - and I doubt he'll bring back a Valverde type after posting back-to-back awful seasons!

Ortiz was a questionable non-tender at the time. But his stats with the Twins were never great. I think he had put up a .839 OPS (which is good) during his 3rd injury plagued season while platooning. The other problem was that Lecroy was a pretty decent hitter (who didn't end up panning out). But keeping Ortiz would have given the Twins 2 - 250lb players that didn't have a defensive position. And both were probably expected to OPS in the low .800's. Now he still had value and should have been kept. And in hindsight it looks terrible now. But in hindsight doesn't it also look terrible to every team that the Twins called that didn't offer to trade for him? I remember talk that the Twins shopped him around and didn't find any takers.

Jack Tashner is the Giants only arbitration eligable player and I at least would consider him a non tender canidate especially after the signing of Affeldt.

Tim, it looks like you started listing the players alphabetically initially. Then you realized after Gomes that most of the players will be role players at best on a 25-man roster. So you decided to just list 3 more names after Gomes. I like your style, but you have to admit I got you on this one.

Great website...I enjoy the posts....I still wonder what the heck is up KW's sleeves. I am starting to think that my Sox are in rebuilding mode and aren't serious contenders in the Central.

Tallet and Frasor are non tender candidates? Uhh, eff no. I strongly doubt that's happening, even if its being rumored.

This same MLB article says that Purcey is a top prospect. Uhh, he's not a top prospect.

kab21,

Thank for the reply. I hadn't figured in Ortiz's injury history at the time of his nontender. Unitl this year, he has been so durable with the Red Sox that I hadn't bothered to see if his low AB totals in MN were a function of durability or platooning. (I assumed the latter.)

I guess I just see those 38 HRs in '01-02 in just 700 ABs and think, man, that's some pretty good power.

But to repeat: the Twins are so, so, so well run and I am guilty of exercising hindsight in even asking what happened. The Twins make many more good decisions than bad. . .and it's not like they traded Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson or something!

From the Jays, Frasor and Tallet are possibilities.

Posted by: stoeten | December 04, 2008 at 03:50 PM

I really don't see Tallet as being non-tendered. They want to put Downs in the rotation, and if that happens Tallet becomes the real lefty specialist in the pen.

Sure they have Carlson, but he's more of a replacement for Downs in the Pen.

Sadly i do agree Frasor could be non-tendered. As mop up men go he's very expensive and not very good. Yah he throws hard, but he really just has a fast ball and a pretty flat slider.

I think the Rockies keep De La Rosa.

He was a servicable 5th starter for them.

If Figgins is non-tendered, I hope the A's are offering him a contract within the next day.

That was stupid to non-tender Willy Taveras

I'd pick him up in an instint

he's got speed and when he's in a hot streak of hitting, he does work

Man why do people say willy tavaras is a sucky player????