April 2009

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Free Agent Hot Starts

Which free agents are off to solid starts? Let's take a look. Derek Lowe, Braves: 3.10 ERA in 29 innings. Just what the doctor ordered. Manny Ramirez, Dodgers: .360/.489/.600 in 94 plate appearances. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: 2.08 ERA in 8.6 innings, 4 saves in 4 tries. Raul Ibanez, Phillies: .359/.433/.718 in 90 plate appearances. The signing received a healthy amount of criticism, but Ibanez has been incredible so far. Adam Dunn, Nationals: .324/.477/.632 in 88 plate appearances. As a team, the Nationals have a .358 OBP. Juan Rivera, Angels: .311/.364/.410 in 66 plate appearances. More power would be nice, but...   Continue Reading

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Stark On Holliday, Relievers, Relocation

The latest from ESPN's Jayson Stark... Stark compared 2009 April attendance to 2008, excluding the New York teams given their new stadiums. He found virtually no change, overall. One anonymous agent complained that Bud Selig "overdramatized the potential financial losses so as to limit and to artificially control spending on free agency." The Royals may need a bat, but Stark says they're unwilling to discuss any of their best or most advanced prospects in trades. Stark talked to one exec about Billy Beane's Matt Holliday situation. If Holliday's power outage continues, could he become a July salary-dump candidate? If the...   Continue Reading

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2010 Options: Cleveland Indians

Today let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the Indians. Cliff Lee - $9MM club option with a $1MM buyout. Lee's 2010 option received a $1MM bump when he won the Cy Young last year. He doesn't have to repeat that performance to make this an easy decision to exercise. He could be trade bait this summer, but maybe the Indians will prefer to have him for 2010. Victor Martinez - $7MM club option with a $250K buyout. This is a near-lock to be exercised. Perhaps they will broach an extension before next season. Rafael Betancourt - $5.4MM...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Bowden, Owens, Flores

Links for Thursday... MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo and ESPN's Jason Churchill say high school catcher Luke Bailey is having Tommy John surgery. He might fall out of the top 20 in the draft, says Churchill. Thom Loverro of The Washington Times transcribes all kinds of amusing comments made by former Nationals GM Jim Bowden earlier this month. Bowden touched upon Stephen Strasburg, Mark Teixeira, and Aaron Crow. Alex Speier of WEEI notes that free agency hasn't done much for the Red Sox recently, outside of the Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz bargain signings. ESPN's Jim Caple talked to pitcher Jeff Zimmerman,...   Continue Reading

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Manuel Stuck With Ramon Castro?

Back in February, the Mets were reportedly trying to trade backup catcher Ramon Castro. Today, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News says it's obvious Mets manager Jerry Manuel would prefer to keep Omir Santos over Castro when Brian Schneider returns from the DL. However, "the front office keeps saying the plan is to option Santos to the minors." If the Mets do eventually designate or release Castro, they'll have to assume most of the $2.5MM owed to him this year.   Continue Reading

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Jeff Moorad Chat At MLB.com

New Padres CEO Jeff Moorad did an online chat with fans for MLB.com today. A few highlights: When asked about the idea of signing Adrian Gonzalez to an extension in 2010, Moorad replied, "Why wait until 2010?" Moorad reiterated that he is willing to keep Jake Peavy, but tossed in the caveat that "no one player is untouchable." In reference to the July 31st trade deadline, Moorad would be "open to adding an appropriate player or two" if the team is within striking range. At this writing, the Padres are 11-10, three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West....   Continue Reading

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2010 Options: Chicago White Sox

Today let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the White Sox after the season. Jermaine Dye - $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout. The 2010 option was a big factor for Dye when he signed his current extension in August of 2007. It seems possible that he could stay if the White Sox exercise their side. However, with the recent market trend for corner outfielders, a one-year, $11MM deal may seem steep despite Dye's production. Matt Thornton - $2.25MM club option with a $250K buyout. There's a good chance this is exercised, and if not Thornton will...   Continue Reading

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White Sox Release Mike MacDougal

According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, the White Sox released reliever Mike MacDougal today. He'd been designated for assignment a week ago. The White Sox will assume the $3MM remaining on his contract, less his salary for his new team. The White Sox acquired MacDougal for pitchers Tyler Lumsden and Daniel Cortes back in July of 2006. That swap and MacDougal's extension were a couple of rare missteps for Sox GM Ken Williams.   Continue Reading

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Nationals Acquire Logan Kensing

According to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro, the Nationals acquired recently-designated reliever Logan Kensing from the Marlins for minor league reliever Kyle Gunderson. Gunderson was drafted out of Rice in '07. Kensing, 26, was designated for assignment by Florida after just 7.3 innings this year. Last year, he logged 55.3 innings with a 4.23 ERA, struggling with his control. He had Tommy John surgery in August of 2006.   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal On Figgins' Future

Ken Rosenthal has a new column up, discussing the future of Angels third baseman Chone Figgins. The versatile leadoff man is eligible for free agency after the season (perhaps a Type B). Rosenthal says the Halos, who have bigger issues in the free agency of John Lackey and Vladimir Guerrero, "will balk at retaining Figgins for $10 million a season." Will Figgins find a Brian Roberts-like four-year, $40MM deal elsewhere? Here's what Figgins had to say regarding free agency: "I'm excited. I've talked to (Garret) Anderson about it before. I've talked to (Juan) Pierre. I've talked to Orlando Cabrera. They...   Continue Reading

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