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Week in Review: 12/28 - 1/3

By Steve Adams [January 4, 2009 at 3:00pm CST]

Happy 2009 to everyone out there! Let's take care of the first Week in Review of the new year...

The Angels found a replacement for the departed Francisco Rodriguez, when they signed Brian Fuentes to a two-year, $17.5MM deal with a $9MM option for a third. The sudden surplus of closers on the market obviously cost Fuentes, who entered the offseason seeking three years, and $30-40MM. The Angels got him at a nice price. Colorado will receive LA's #33 pick in the draft.
It was an insanely busy week for Cubs fans, so let's go through it all: First, they're near a swap of Jason Marquis for Luis Vizcaino with the Rockies. That link also has the scoop on their near-agreement with Milton Bradley (more details for that here). Next, they signed Aaron Miles to a two-year, $4.9MM deal. Speculation that this would allow them to trade Mark DeRosa proved to be spot on, as they sent him to the Indians for three minor league pitchers that same day. This is the second questionable trade Hendry has made this offseason; the Kevin Gregg/Jose Ceda trade awhile back was also highly scrutinized. The Cubs get little in return for DeRosa, who was terrific in 2008. Some were hopeful that this move signaled a rekindling of the Jake Peavy talks, but we heard that deal is still unlikely, and this trade was unrelated. Could they be targeting Brian Roberts again to replace some production?
The Nationals could be competition for the Cubs in the Bradley market, but I highly doubt that. The more interesting piece of info on Washington this week was the report that Lastings Milledge could be trade bait prior to the 2009 season. Milledge was impressive in the second half and is immensely talented; I'd imagine the return would have to be quite nice.
In other NL East news, the Mets made an offer to Derek Lowe for three years, $36MM. Not surprisingly, Lowe was hardly excited about it. Instead, he's still said to be seeking $16MM per year. That number seems reachable, but it's hard to imagine Lowe getting the five years he was initially seeking.
The Red Sox reached one-year deals with Brad Penny and Josh Bard this week. Penny will receive an incentive-laden salary with a base of $5MM. Bard's contract isn't guaranteed, but has a base salary of $1.7MM with another $800K in incentives.
Arizona signed Chris Snyder to a three-year, $14.25MM extension. Nice signing for the D'Backs. Snyder posted an .800 OPS last year and threw out 29% of attempted base stealers.
The Giants have emerged as suitors for Manny Ramirez in the past week. We heard they were willing to spend money on C.C. Sabathia, so why not Manny? They need offense more than pitching anyway. San Francisco is said to alse be taking a look at Joe Crede.
The White Sox and Orioles are discussing a potential swap of Brian Roberts for Gavin Floyd. Not sure I understand this one from Chicago's perspective. They've trying to get younger, and are now looking to deal one of their best young players from 2008 for one year of Roberts?
The Dodgers reworked Andruw Jones' contract to lower his salary for 2009 to $5MM and give him the $15MM he's owed over the next five years. The Dodgers will look to trade Jones, who was downright awful in 2008. I can't imagine much interest given his last two seasons, but if he somehow rebounded, you'd have a massive bargain on your hands and a sure candidate for Comeback Player of the Year.
We learned the terms of Willy Taveras' contract with the Reds: two years, $6.25MM.

Full Story | Comments (11) | Categories: Week In Review

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Comments

According to Bruce Levine in Chicago the Sox are NOT discussing any such trade. And he said any one that can think rationally will see it makes no sense for the Sox anyways.

Posted by: E K | January 04, 2009 at 03:32 PM

Angels also got a good deal because Fuentes actually wanted to play for us! That tends to happen, and is quite the opposite of Mark Teixeira's mercenary deal with the highest bidder with the Yankees.

What do the Cubs hope to get out of trading Marquis for Vizcaino? Should have kept DeRosa. I don't know if Aaron Miles is worth what they paying him.

Milton Bradley will be a Cub in 2009, and I think it will be a great opportunity for him to improve himself.

I hear there isn't much interest in Manny anyways lol.

And I have never seen a player drop off the side of the cliff as fast as Andruw Jones. Watch, he goes back to the Braves and hits 50 HR's LOL.

Brad Penny got a generous deal at $5 million for an incentive-laden contract. Although his troubles aren't nearly as bad as Jack McDowell's were when the most he could get was an incentive-laden contract for no more than $1 million in 1998.

Posted by: XxRyana.k.a.RufusxX | January 04, 2009 at 03:46 PM

But I think that Manny rumor about "little interest" is BS, because there a LOT of teams who are in desperate need of a big bat.

Posted by: XxRyana.k.a.RufusxX | January 04, 2009 at 03:48 PM

If the Giants sign Manny (and as a Giants fan, I don't think it's a great idea), what happens to Fred Lewis? Are there any teams that might be interested in trading for him. I'd prefer to see that Freddy gets to play every day rather than stay on the Giants bench.

Posted by: lrs77 | January 04, 2009 at 04:25 PM

xxryana...xx the yanks werent the highest bidder. tex chose on preference AND money.

Posted by: elmedius | January 04, 2009 at 04:35 PM

I know the Nats were the highest bidder, but they shouldn't count because there is no way Washington could afford to keep him without trading him 3 years down the road for 4 quality players to insert into holes and suddenly become a top contender, like the Seattle Mariners after they traded Junior.

Tex chose the fame and the money and he is being paid at least $5 million more than what he is worth. He made the Angels believe he wanted to stay until dollar signs came pouring in.

Either way, it doesn't change a thing for the Yankees and their roster full of mercenaries.

They have had better teams since their last Championship in 2000 and haven't done anything but lose in October to the Diamondbacks, Angels, Marlins, and Red Sox all in historic fashion.

Posted by: XxRyana.k.a.RufusxX | January 04, 2009 at 05:56 PM

Sorry but I don't think that "The Giants have emerged as suitors for Manny Ramirez" is accurate. They are rumored to be interested in Manny Ramirez. Is that the same as being a serious contender for his services? It's clear that it's more of a "we might be interested in him if we could work something out but it's doubtful" while Boras is trying to add leverage to jack up the price the Dodgers ultimately have to sign him for.

Posted by: Craig Phillips | January 04, 2009 at 06:02 PM

Irs77

if we get Manny we would probably trade winn and move Fred Lew to RF

he would not get traded because his salary is too low

Posted by: Bleacher_bum_SF | January 04, 2009 at 06:14 PM

So Stevens is nothing in return for DeRosa? He struck out 81 batters to only 27 walks, and held opposing hitters to a combined .184 average. Prospects are a risk, but so is counting on a 34 year old coming off his "career" year while hitting in the NL's best lineup (statistically).

Posted by: rockstrongo | January 04, 2009 at 07:26 PM

The post doesn't say the Cubs got "nothing," it says they got "little."

Stevens has a high K:BB ratio, but he also has a high BB/9 ratio at 4.16. Those 27 walks came over the course of just 58 innings. He's already 25 years old as well, and will turn 26 next season. He barely managed an ERA under 4 at AAA.

If the Cubs had gotten another legit prospect instead of a 24-year-old who hasn't passed A-Ball (Gaub) and a 20-year-old who walks 6.5 batters per nine innings, this trade would be more highly regarded.

As it is, they got a couple young arms who K a lot of hitters but walk a lot too, and one higher-end prospect with the same problem that could also be 26 before he ever tastes the big leagues.

I know it's one year of DeRosa, and his numbers will come down, but there's a lot of people in the baseball world who feel the Indians got him quite cheaply, and I'd be inclined to agree with them.

Posted by: MorneauVP | January 04, 2009 at 09:41 PM

I agree with MorneauVP. Although DeRo is on the wrong side of 30, and his numbers pretty much have nowhere to go but down, he is a still productive 2B, which is hard to find nowadays. Not to mention he is a very versatile. He can play all over the diamond and he is a good guy to have in the clubhouse. If the Cubs aren't able to get Roberts from Orioles this trade will look even worse. I think the Tribe got lucky and that trade is looking something close to a steal for Cleveland.

Posted by: Fortunate Bob | January 05, 2009 at 03:32 AM

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Week in Review: 12/28 - 1/3

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