Non-Tendered Players

Remember when people thought they could get Ian Kennedy for Tavares?

Meh. Kennedy won't develop into anything.

I say the twins sign willy tavares, let gomez learn how to hit better in AAA, let willy be the 4th OF, then sign wiggy to play 3rd, then maybe hoffman if he's willing to be a setup man for nathan...I would say that would be a successful offseason for the small-market twins....

Drumzalicious: Wiggy can play 1B, 2B, 3B and LF. When Arroyo took out Carlos Lee's pinky finger in the 2nd half, it was Wiggy who carried the club...it was almost like Carlos was still in the lineup...he was that good in the 2nd half for the Stros.

Boy oh Boy, Whomever it was that signed Blake (Dodgers?) for that 3 year and 18 million dollar contract got a royal screwing over. Wiggy is lots better and now he's on the loose for free.. Looks like the Twinkies just lucked into a 3rd base answer. How does this type of situation always seem to happen to them? Anyway, Great news for twins fans.

helloelan if your crazy than so am I... seeing Wiggington be non tendered i thought a reunion with the NY Mets would do wonders as he can play 2B for them and allow Castillo to collect his money then get the heck out, but his physical shape limits him only to 3B probably and therefore he is likely to sign with the Minnesota Twins.

Maaaaaaaaaan forget Cora. Wiggy was BAWLING when he was traded out of New York. That's the type of heart needed in the Mets clubhouse and off the bench. Can't forget that he was brought up as a middle infielder before making the move to third before Wright...

If he can play all of those positions the Braves NEED him lol

He can play LF on the regular and if Chipper needs a day off i feel more comfortable with him there than someone like Omar Infante or Martin Prado especially in the line up

if Frank Wren gets Wiggington i believe all will be forgiven in regards to any fans that look down on him about the Peavy/AJ situations

heck if he wanted he could trade Kelly Johnson after he got Wigginton and use KJ to get Ankiel and put Ankiel in center. 2 new power bats.

"get Willy Taveras to be the leadoff hitter and Center Fielder"

Taveras is second only to Bourn as the worst leadoff hitter in baseball... don't you think the Pads are already bad enough?

Helloelan- its not a crazy idea, Wiggington is a very solid player. The only problem is that he is white.

I don't think the Astros can justify non-tendering him. Even if they didnt want the salary, they could tender him a contract and get something of decent value in return.

"I say the twins sign willy tavares, let gomez learn how to hit better in AAA, let willy be the 4th OF, then sign wiggy to play 3rd, then maybe hoffman if he's willing to be a setup man for nathan...I would say that would be a successful offseason for the small-market twins...."

Are you serious? I HATE the Twins and this is just stupid. The Wigginton part is perfectly normal, Hoffman part won't happen. The Taveras part is where you screwed up big time. The Twins would have Span, Young, Gomez, Kubel, Cudyer, and Taveras? Why would you send Gomez to AAA he is alot better then Taveras.

Fans quit coming up with ideas just because you see a guys name! He's a third baseman primarily and I guarantee you NO ONE would sign him unless they need a 3B.

In the Mets case: Omar's already said he's ready to go into 09 with L-Cast as his 2B

And for the Braves: What's wrong with Matt Diaz coming back? Even if he doesn't pan out, they still have a lot of cap space for a FA like Dunn or Burrell

We're booked for outfielders. The Padres have a perfectly adequate center fielder in Jody Gerut. You could argue otherwise, but we definitely aren't contending in 2009.

dmok

Have you seen Castillo lately? He couldn't possibly be any worse. But like I said he's got character and heart something a lot of the Mets don't have. I still have my bright orange Wigginton jersey shirt that I will continue to rock at Citifield...

I no that Jody Gerut is our center fielder but we can trade Brian Giles to get prospects and one pitcher and then put Jody Gerut in right fielder so we are rebuilting

I guess you sort of have a point, however we're in no place to be picking up contracts. We just got rid of Greene, Hoffman, and still attempting with Peavy. Taveras' speed aspect is sort of worthless when most of our team is in disarray. What Taveras brings to the table would be "icing on the cake" for a team trying to contend, I suppose.

I think the Twins should pick up Wiggy.

"Maybe Saito to the Rays? God knows they're going to need a closer."

that would be a great fit for the rays but I rather wamt the rays to get Trevor Hoffman

fine willy taveras should be a number 2 hitter or a 8 or a leadoff

So, who needs a 3B?
Cleveland. They love to sign spare parts cheap and turn them into something. Wiggy fits perfectly, as they can basically hand him the starting job and give him the chance to keep it... He becomes the new Blake, and 3 years from now gets his own 17 Mil deal.

Willy Taveras sucks big time. If you want a guy who can't hit the ball out of the infield then he is your guy. If you can't get extra base hits at Coors field, you know you are really bad.
Ty Wig would be a steal for any team.

Also the Rockies tendered their other 6 guys for contract arbitration.
Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, Jorge De La Rosa, Taylor Buchholz, Huston Street and Jason Grilli.

"I'm hoping to see the Yankees make some moves for some bullpen help. They need a setup guy. Mabey Saito, but i'm not too sure how good he is. mabey they can get proctor back too."

The Yankees have one of the better setup guys in baseball (Chamberlain) but for some misguided reason, prefer to waste his 98-100mph 1 inning FB and spread it out to a 5 inning 94-95 mph FB instead.

Met fans seem to feel (myself included), that a hard nosed, kick your Fu**ing ass if you **ck with us type of player, to complement Wright, Reyes, Delgado and Beltran is needed. I am not one for grittiness, or heart, but you do need at least one guy on your team who will bury a catcher or charge the mound. Paging Ty Wigginton? He played 2B for the Mets in his first stint, and from what I remember wasn't horrible. He may in fact have been horrible, I'm not really sure because I was about 14 or 15 when he left and wasn't really into the fielding metrics at that point, so I don't know. If he can play a passable 2B, go for it, it would be perfect. You guys realize he produced like Dan Uggla last year, don't you? Albeit in 150 less at bats. It is almost unfathomable that this guy could have been non-tendered. Even bringing Ty in as a super utility guy would be nice, and if Castillo doesn't produce he (Ty) would get a chance at taking 2B. Jerry Manuel didn't care about Luis' contract situation last year, he went down the stretch with Easley/Argenis Reyes/Ramon Martinez. This would be a wonderful pickup.

well john the guy does have 4 plus plus pitches. I'll take 5 or 6 innings of Joba over 1 any day of the week. Plus like I said the Yanks bullpen was very strong last year. We have some good power arms and a kid in AAA by the name of Melancon who was drafted in 06, just had tj in 07 and put up great numbers last year. He's being groomed as the set up guy and potential replacement for Rivera in 2 or 3 years hopefully.

Miles, Johnson, Flores all non-tendered by the Cardinals

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/34363B660E9113C98625751E0017D3D4?OpenDocument

johns: I am NOT saying he WILL go to the Brewers - he won't. I AM saying that it is a pipe dream to think he he going to come at a bargain basement price. (He will probably cost more than Blake's 3/18) He will be 7-8 million because so many teams will be interested and that is about what he was due.

Plus I KNOW he would beat out Bill Hall at 3rd so he would start unless the Brewers want to bring up Gamel in whcih case they wouldn't be as ionterested which is why I said that they'd be interested based on that type of decision. (Or if they want someone better than Weeks or if they trade Fielder).

Make it happen Bill Smith, unless you already spent all that money that was burning a hole in your pocket on bleeping Nick Punto.

Well it's a matter of opinion but like I said he has 4 plus plus pitches. How many starters do you know can hit 95+ consistantly and then have 3 great off speed pitches as well. He's always been a SP and was for 90% of the time prior to coming up in Sept. of 07. It's not like he's being converted from his original position or anything. We just have to see if he can hold up over 150 this year.

SWP, they did this last year with Miles as well....they'll probably re-sign him for cheap again.

If he can play all of those positions the Braves NEED him lol

He can play LF on the regular and if Chipper needs a day off i feel more comfortable with him there than someone like Omar Infante or Martin Prado especially in the line up

if Frank Wren gets Wiggington i believe all will be forgiven in regards to any fans that look down on him about the Peavy/AJ situations

heck if he wanted he could trade Kelly Johnson after he got Wigginton and use KJ to get Ankiel and put Ankiel in center. 2 new power bats.

Ive been saying we need to go get wiggy for awhile. Although Ankiel is terrible, you're right about wiggy.

Plus they were both rookies last year too...

Plus for what it's worth we have 2 guys, one in AA/AAA last year and one who pitched in the bigs this year who were both drafted as closers. Both guys throw in the mid 90's and could set up Mariano (along with Bruney) in the future and possible gradutate to closers.

Mark Melancon:

Scouting report:
http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com/2007/11/22/top-30-prospects-12-mark-melancon/

2008/Career Stats:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/M/Mark-Melancon.shtml

Dave Roberts:

Scoting report:
http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com/2007/11/22/top-30-prospects-17-david-robertson/

2008/Career stats:

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/David-Robertson.shtml

Nobody should be looking down at Wren for anything. He has done very well since he took over, and the countdown is on for Kevin Towers to come crawling back to Wren, tail between his legs and trade him Peavy and not get any of Atlanta's untouchable guys. When you hear a trade is dead, it isn't dead. Not always at least.

"He played 2B for the Mets in his first stint, and from what I remember wasn't horrible. He may in fact have been horrible, I'm not really sure because I was about 14 or 15 when he left and wasn't really into the fielding metrics at that point, so I don't know. If he can play a passable 2B, go for it, it would be perfect."

Defensively, 2B is Wiggy's position. He's marginally below average at 2B defensively.

Wiggington is not as bad at 2B than he is at 3B. Career UZR/150 of -1.1, which, isn't that bad, as opposed to butcheresque stats at 3B. Yes, he'd be an improvement over Luis Castillo, albeit not defensively (unless Castillo puts up 2008 fielding numbers, Wiggy is), the bat more than makes up for it. If the Mets sign Wiggy, he should be the starting 2B, not Castillo. Yes, Castillo has a big contract. That shouldn't mean he should be out there pulling the team down if a better qualified player is on the team.

nrmax: well if Joba can only get to inning 5 or 6 with reduced velocity then THAT is a problem. Yovanni is a horse and has made it all the way through to 7 consistenly AND he can hit pretty well for a pitcher. Maybe Joba just needed more time stretch out last season and will be more successful as a starter. We will find out. Either way, it is a GREAT "problem" to worry about for the Yankees. Most teams aren't so blessed.

I agree with you on Wren. He would have been ripped off the first time around with Peavy. He also couldn't compete against Burnett's desire to be a Yankee and be a #2 pitcher, and he is probably lucky he didn't get Burnett based on his history. I hardly see anything that he has done wrong unless people want to get on him for not picking anyone up yet but there is plenty of time.

Also Milwatt keep in mind that even in the 6th and 7th innings Joba is still bringing it at 95 mph. That's still better than most guys. Plus he has 3 other pitches he can use at any point in the count so guys can't sit on the fastball. My only concern is if he can stay healthy and complete 150 innings this year.

"nrmax: well if Joba can only get to inning 5 or 6 with reduced velocity then THAT is a problem. Yovanni is a horse and has made it all the way through to 7 consistenly AND he can hit pretty well for a pitcher. Maybe Joba just needed more time stretch out last season and will be more successful as a starter. We will find out. Either way, it is a GREAT "problem" to worry about for the Yankees. Most teams aren't so blessed."

For sure, I just mean talent wise, I hate seeing Joba throw 60-70 innings instead of 160 plus. I understand he didn't go deep into games, but he was babied by the Yankees in his first season of ML starting duties. If he is 26 and still unable to pitch past the 6th, then maybe you are on too something. But even at that point, it isn't too late to put him back into the pen. His upside is just enormous as a starter, and the bullpen should be a fall back option for him. I agree, Gallardo is more advanced, but I just mean stuff-wise, you want that (or at least I do) 95+ heat with 2 nasty breaking balls and an improving change starting games.

as a mets fan having ty return would be great. he is a tough, hard-nosed guy that can play many positions. but it is more likely that he goes to a place where he can start. so how about signing aaron miles? he was good for the cardinals last year. he batted .317 in 134 games (379 ABs). he plays both second and short (but mainly second) and is a pretty solid fielder at both positions. he would probably be cheaper than wigginton too. thoughts?

Yovanni is AWESOME and most people don't realize that yet. He is VERY intelligent for a pitcher his age and really knows how to pitch rather than just throw. He'll be wasted if the Brewers can't find some help in the rotation. Jeffrees is at least a year off although he hits 100 he needs work on control. Our only other starting prospect in the farm that is even close is Mark Rodgers and he will probably end up a bust. We have to wait a several years for the good ones we just drafted like Odorizzi. We have a potential closer type in Aguilar too but we need 2 starters really bad.

My mind is just blown that a player as good as Wigginton who did as much for his team as he did last year can get non-tendered.

Bill Smith, if you're not already on the phone with his agent hammering out the terms of a deal, you're an idiot.

Bring in Wigginton and I just might forgive you for signing Nick Punto.

Willy Taveras is a great player but the padres need speed like him and I think that Willy hasa glove, speed, no power at all it will be perfect because of pecto park and will improve his on base percentage from last year and will bring veteran help for the Padres! Padres should get a player like that then the padres have a chance to trade Brian Giles for Prospects and a pitcher then trade Peavy for a five tools center fielder, pitchers and a shortstop major league player which is in the 20-26.

It will be interesting to see if the Brews use that $100 mil to pick up 2 or 3 good players that could help.

Sheets: 2/28 (if we don't get him 1st

Randy Johnson: 1/8

Oliver Perez: 3/40

Jon Garland: 2/20

Two or three of those guys would be less total dollars but about 20-25 per and would keep them competitve for the next 2 years or so giving them a chanec to make a run before they have to start paying out big money to some of their other stars and start over from scratch.

Now if they take the $100 mil and stick back in their pockets and maybe trade a guy like Fielder or Hardy then what signal does that send to their fans?

SO what message would it send, in your opinion, if the Brews made no attempts to replace or resign Sheets and one other pitcher with the $100 mil they were ready to give CC?

Yankees non tendered reliever Chris Britton and outfielder Justin Christian tonight.

Mario Alvarez was also let go by the Los Angeles Dodgers

K C Royals also non tendered two other players: infielder Jason Smith, who they DFA'd to make a roster spot, and pitcher Jairo Cuevas, who they also non tendered in 2007 and resigned at a discount.

nrmax

"...Melvin restocks the farm he has with the numerous picks he will have at his disposal going into the draft, and the Crew is competing again, people will realize that he knows what he is doing and spending money for spending sake is not always the way to go, especially in a small market."

Very well said. I think Melvin is an excellent GM and in a few years will have that team in great shape. I do see him moving Fielder for a plethora of young talent, and in 2010-2011 they should be very good.

"Nobody should be looking down at Wren for anything. He has done very well since he took over, and the countdown is on for Kevin Towers to come crawling back to Wren, tail between his legs and trade him Peavy and not get any of Atlanta's untouchable guys. When you hear a trade is dead, it isn't dead. Not always at least"

I would moreso expect Peavy to realize that Towers is NOT going to give him away and finally realize the grass (major pieces Padres need) is greener in the AL at Anaheim, Texas and Boston and draw those teams into discussions at least.

"Garland and Perez would not really help the Brewers"

That's certainly a news flash, especially for walkaholoc Perez. Neither of those guys, along with Randy Wolf can be expected to anchor down much of anything better than current Cubbies #5 jason Marquis, whom is already untradeable at 10 million dollars a year.

Jon Garland is worse than Dave Bush...

Garland will be the worst free agent starting pitcher deal of the off season...

"Either you are Willy T's father or you're smoking some strong stuff. Look at his stats, he is terrible.
In 2008 he had only 18 extra base hits, his slugging %was .296, his OBP was .308, his average was .251. He could not hit the ball out of the infield if his life depended on it. He had those terrible stats at Coors field, imagine how bad he will be at a pitchers park like Petco lol."

First of all I am not Willy Tavaras father and second of all I am a big fan of Willy Tavaras and I think the Padres should make this gamble and Willy Tavaras should put up a lot of steal number and better on base percentage