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Heyman On Damon, Scutaro, Red Sox

By Tim Dierkes [November 3, 2009 at 1:36pm CST]

The Yankees are interested in re-signing Johnny Damon, and may be willing to offer two years and $16MM. Heyman believes the White Sox and Giants will be among the other suitors.
Heyman says the Reds "could do worse" than Marco Scutaro at shortstop. The Reds first-round pick (#12 overall would be protected), but they probably don't have the payroll space to add Scutaro unless they subtract a big salary.
The Red Sox could look to trade Mike Lowell or David Ortiz, if they acquire two hitters this winter.

Comments

With him making 1.1m last season, does anyone see the Astros trying to grab him around 2 years 5m? unless they are truly sold on using minor leaguers..

Posted by: raider8284 | November 03, 2009 at 01:39 PM

No way Yanks are offering Damon 2 years 18 mil.

Posted by: A. Ryan | November 03, 2009 at 01:40 PM

Why Heyman thinks that the Red Sox will trade Ortiz? They cant trade him because he has no trade clause.

Posted by: terry180 | November 03, 2009 at 01:42 PM

"The Red Sox could look to trade Mike Lowell or David Ortiz, if they acquire two hitters this winter".

good luck dealing two aging sluggers.

Posted by: nick21 | November 03, 2009 at 01:43 PM

"Why Heyman thinks that the Red Sox will trade Ortiz? They cant trade him because he has no trade clause."

They CAN trade him. They would just need his permission.

Posted by: bigpupp | November 03, 2009 at 01:44 PM

After the deadline stuff he pulled, I don't trust Heyman's word.

Ditto-ing what A. Ryan said.

Posted by: Thee4stringking | November 03, 2009 at 01:45 PM

Sure, the Sawx can trade Lowell or Ortiz...if they want either Vernon Wells, Alfonso Soriano, Milton Bradley, or Barry Zito.

Posted by: not sure | November 03, 2009 at 01:48 PM

I know that but there is no way that they will do such thing. Papi is beloved by the Red Sox fans even with his low average. Theo is going to let him finish the year and let him go.

Posted by: terry180 | November 03, 2009 at 01:49 PM

"Sure, the Sawx can trade Lowell or Ortiz...if they want either Vernon Wells, Alfonso Soriano, Milton Bradley, or Barry Zito."

You gotta be joking. An albatross for a one year contract, how the hell is that a fair deal. Both have little value and won't fetch much in return but I think Lowell would get interest, especially if the Sox throw money in the deal. How much money will determine the value of the return.

I think it's crazy to think the Sox can trade Ortiz. They only have 13 other trading partners (assuming no NL GM is stupid enough to use him as a first baseman), eliminate anyone from the AL East, teams with an already established DH, the fact that there are several potential DHs on the market, and what's left... the Royals?

Posted by: start_wearing_purple | November 03, 2009 at 01:59 PM

2 years 18 mil? I'll pass.

Use that money on Holliday/Matsui & create this lineup.

(R)Jeter
(L)Cano
(S)Teix
(R)Rodriguez
(R)Holliday
(L)Matsui
(S)Posada
(S)Swisher
(L)Gardner

Best lineup in MLB IMO.

Posted by: Gleb | November 03, 2009 at 02:00 PM

"I know that but there is no way that they will do such thing. Papi is beloved by the Red Sox fans even with his low average."

If you're a Sox fan, or hell a fan of any team that expects to be in the playoffs every year, then you know how quickly the mindset changes.

Posted by: start_wearing_purple | November 03, 2009 at 02:02 PM

RE: Start Wearing Purple.
That was mostly a sarcastic post on my part. However, it would take at least a somewhat bad one or two year contract to get rid of either. You were right in saying that they only have the AL to work with, which means if they do want to get rid of them, they'd be in no position to get anything of value back for Ortiz. Lowell would be a bit of a different story, but I can't see many teams chomping at the bit to take him on unless it's close to the deadline and there's a glaring hole at third because of injury.

Posted by: not sure | November 03, 2009 at 02:09 PM

And the 2009 winner for dumbest comparison on MLBTR goes to........

Sure, the Sawx can trade Lowell or Ortiz...if they want either Vernon Wells, Alfonso Soriano, Milton Bradley, or Barry Zito.

Posted by: not sure | November 03, 2009 at 01:48 PM

Posted by: brian91388 | November 03, 2009 at 02:09 PM

Both Lowell and Ortiz will be in their final contract years in 2010. As for Lowell, if he is 100% healthy in the spring, he plays, in Boston. If not, he wil retire. Papi, on the other hand, had a disasterous April, May and part of June. Once he got it going, he was quite productive, all be it, from the 6 hole. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect him to come back strong in 2010. He knows he has about played out the string in Boston if he continues to be an unpredictable offensive force for a third consecutive year.

Posted by: dick healy | November 03, 2009 at 02:26 PM

Who said anything about Ortiz or Lowell bringing anything of value back. IF the Sox acquire two hitters, they're looking to move the aforementioned aging veterans in what will likely be a salary dump.

They won't have to trade for an albatross of a contract. They might have to eat a ton of cash, depending on the interested team and the return; but it's a sacrifice they would probably happily make.

Posted by: karlmalone | November 03, 2009 at 02:32 PM

"Best lineup in MLB IMO."

What a huge accomplishment when you outspend the rest of baseball to ink your 3, 4, and 5 hole hitters.

Posted by: fitz | November 03, 2009 at 02:32 PM

Id trade papi for zito. basically the same contract so not much of a money differential. maybe he can turn it around with a change of scenary. i know its the nl west going to the al east. but hes proven he can pitch here. i dont know its just me but id do that if he's giving us not production

Posted by: chanej88 | November 03, 2009 at 02:39 PM

"Lowell would be a bit of a different story, but I can't see many teams chomping at the bit to take him on unless it's close to the deadline and there's a glaring hole at third because of injury."

After Figgins and Beltre the 3B market is fairly weak and Lowell still has the reputation of a defensive wiz. I know people on this site are split on whether or not UZR is a good metric and I tend to use it only when it helps me make a point (what can I say, it's my job to manipulate stats), but I've seen Mikey Lowell make plays, before and after surgery, that only a handful of third basemen can. I think if Lowell went on the market there will be at least two serious suitors especially if the Sox throw in most of his salary, it's not like they can't absorb it.

Posted by: start_wearing_purple | November 03, 2009 at 02:40 PM

Gee, I wonder if the Reds regret paying a closer $12 million a year? Closers are basically useless for a team in their position and now they don't have room to add a marginally useful player. Would Scutaro make that big a difference for the Reds in '10? No, not likely, they aren't going to contend by adding a SS who's due for a regression to his career norms. That said, wouldn't it be nice for them if they had the payroll space to address obvious needs? Cordero is a fine closer but he's not worth what they're paying him, at least not for the Reds specifically. They could address multiple deficiencies with that $12 million dollars. They still have a long way to go either way.

Posted by: pageian | November 03, 2009 at 02:50 PM

Another option for the Yankees and in my opinion a much better one would be to cut Damon and Matsui loose and take their $26 million in salary and use it like so.

Chone Figgins - 4 years at $9 million per for $36 million. To play that spacious Left Field in Yankee Stadium.

Matt Holliday - 7 years $17 million per for $119 million. To play Right Field and yes he can play Right Field.

Then you would have the best lineup and baseball as well as a vastly improved defense in their outfield.

LF - Figgins
SS - Jeter
1B - Teixeira
3B - A-Rod
RF - Holliday
C - Posada
2B - Cano
DH - Swisher
CF - Gardner or Cabrera

Easily the best lineup in baseball with speed at the top and bottom. Defense is vastly improved. Swisher moves to DH. Hey just for fun, how does this look as far as rotation a bullpen go?

Rotation:
LHP - Sabathia
RHP - Burnett
LHP - Pettite
RHP - Hughes
LHP - Chapman

Tender Wang a contract and when he's ready they see what they got in him.

Bullpen:
CL - Rivera
SU - Chamberlain
MR - Coke
MR - Marte
MR - Bruney
MR - Robertson
LR - Aceves

Posted by: Pat Kelly | November 03, 2009 at 03:07 PM

"Gee, I wonder if the Reds regret paying a closer $12 million a year? Closers are basically useless for a team in their position and now they don't have room to add a marginally useful player. Would Scutaro make that big a difference for the Reds in '10? No, not likely, they aren't going to contend by adding a SS who's due for a regression to his career norms. That said, wouldn't it be nice for them if they had the payroll space to address obvious needs? Cordero is a fine closer but he's not worth what they're paying him, at least not for the Reds specifically. They could address multiple deficiencies with that $12 million dollars. They still have a long way to go either way.

Posted by: pageian | November 03, 2009 at 02:50 PM"

I bet the Reds also regret paying Aaron Harang 12.5mil and Bronson Arroyo 11.5mil in 2010.

Posted by: Ethanator99 | November 03, 2009 at 03:07 PM

Maybe the Yankees should just up their payroll again and get Holliday, Bay and Chapman. That way they can just be declared World Series Champs in January.

There's only one way to beat the Yankees anymore, with a large blunt object in a dark alley.

Posted by: Kevin Foley | November 03, 2009 at 03:14 PM

@chanej88

Id trade papi for zito. basically the same contract so not much of a money differential.

1. The contracts are so different that the money isn't even remotely similar.

2. Barry Zito wouldn't make the Red Sox rotation

3. David Ortiz wouldn't be able to be a full time first baseman in the NL

4. David Ortiz is a 10-5 guy and would most likely reject it.

But besides that, great point...

Posted by: brian91388 | November 03, 2009 at 03:19 PM

He'd be a perfect fit on the Giants.

Likely to be overpaid? Check.

Wrong side of 35? Check.

Coming off a career year? Check.

Declining defensively? Yep, that too.

Posted by: vtadave | November 03, 2009 at 03:22 PM

Boras client + Heyman rumor = grain of salt

Posted by: scatterbrian | November 03, 2009 at 03:53 PM

Lowell and Papi have more value to the RS than any other team. They won't be traded with the RS picking up half their salary, and then signing another player. I think they'll just play them to the end of their contract and then adios. It's possible that they could ink a 3B, then rotate Youk, VMart, Lowell, Papi and their new 3B, with mostly Lowell and Papi splitting R/L DH duties. But both have pretty big negative equity at this point.

Posted by: Joey B | November 03, 2009 at 03:59 PM

"After Figgins and Beltre the 3B market is fairly weak and Lowell still has the reputation of a defensive wiz. I know people on this site are split on whether or not UZR is a good metric and I tend to use it only when it helps me make a point (what can I say, it's my job to manipulate stats), but I've seen Mikey Lowell make plays, before and after surgery, that only a handful of third basemen can. I think if Lowell went on the market there will be at least two serious suitors especially if the Sox throw in most of his salary, it's not like they can't absorb it."

I would be a little worried about Lowell's defense.

Yeah, UZR has its flaws, but a drop from a +15.6 UZR/150 to a -9.8 UZR/150 is massive, and that kind of change generally is caused by some sort of decline in actual ability.

Look at it in his other defensive numbers.

2008 RZR: .759
2009 RZR: .701

2008 OOZ: 28
2009 OOZ: 17

I'm certainly not saying that Lowell is now below-average defensively, but I think that you can say pretty confidently that Lowell's defense was worse in 2009 than it had been in years, and whether that was to due to injury or not is unclear, but it still should be acknowledged.

Posted by: scribbletone | November 03, 2009 at 04:06 PM

"Id trade papi for zito. basically the same contract so not much of a money differential."

Let's hypothetically say there are 2 underachieving players. One has 1 yr and $12M left on his contract. Another has 4 yrs and $83M left on their contract... how exactly is that similar? BTW, that wasn't exactly hypothetical. By the same logic an apple is similar to a shark because both exist on the planet Earth. Seriously, do a little research before talking.

Posted by: start_wearing_purple | November 03, 2009 at 04:25 PM

brian,

my bad, i thought for some reason he was making around 12 mill too. i know he wouldnt make the starting rotation, id use him in the bullpen at best to see if he can get his act together and my bad again. i was thinking it was the last year of his contract for some odd reason, i think he has a few years left

Posted by: chanej88 | November 03, 2009 at 04:27 PM

The Sox won't get much for Ortiz. The market is FLOODED with 1B/DH types. Teams would be much better off signing Russ Branyan than David Ortiz. Lowell is expensive and still a big question mark healthwise.

I think Heyman is grasping at invisible straws with that one.

Posted by: Gstill45 | November 03, 2009 at 04:44 PM

"Lowell and Papi have more value to the RS than any other team." - JoelB

Lowell and Ortiz don't have any value to any team other than the RS.

Posted by: A | November 03, 2009 at 04:48 PM

"Chone Figgins - 4 years at $9 million per for $36 million. To play that spacious Left Field in Yankee Stadium.

Matt Holliday - 7 years $17 million per for $119 million. To play Right Field and yes he can play Right Field.

Then you would have the best lineup and baseball as well as a vastly improved defense in their outfield."

if that happened i would stop watching baseball

Posted by: Timmy B | November 03, 2009 at 04:53 PM

Ortiz has ZERO positive value today. You can get similar production out of the DH hole for $5-6m. The Sox would have to eat a ton of cash to make a deal work. And that's just to unload him. If you want anything in return (that has value) then you will need to kick in even more.

Lowell is just fine defensively if you hit the ball right to him. His hands and feet are still solid. It's his range that will kill you. If I'm an opposing manager I lay down 3 or 4 bunts a game and take my chances with Lowell gunning me down.

Posted by: bjsguess | November 03, 2009 at 05:02 PM

"Ortiz has ZERO positive value today. You can get similar production out of the DH hole for $5-6m. The Sox would have to eat a ton of cash to make a deal work. And that's just to unload him. If you want anything in return (that has value) then you will need to kick in even more."

Please provide me with a list of names that you could get similar production out of for $5 - $6M? I would love to hear this one.

Lowell will be the more attractive of the two because with continued rehab and an entire offseason to recover it is very likely that he will regain a semblance of his defensive skills.

Posted by: Blackcourt | November 03, 2009 at 05:38 PM

Okay for 5or6mill I think you could get Huff,Posada and even K Morales

Posted by: Richard | November 03, 2009 at 06:01 PM