Links for Monday…
- Troy Renck of The Denver Post has the details of Todd Helton's new contract extension. He can void the deal if two of three general partners sell their controlling interest in the team, and it contains $13.1MM in deferred money at three percent interest.
- The Yankees could look to move Chad Gaudin soon, according to Rosenthal (via Twitter). In another tweet, he mentions that Clay Hensley can opt out of his contract with the Marlins if he's not on the roster by April 1st.
- Jim Bowden shows off his post-trade fist pump in his latest GM's Corner video for FOX Sports. Bowden asked a slew of GMs about their processes for making deals; Frank Wren estimated that less than ten percent of discussions lead to trades.
- In considering Jonathan Papelbon's future, WEEI's Alex Speier demonstrates just how risky large multiyear deals for relievers have been.
- FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal says the Blue Jays "will not settle for fringe prospects in return" for relievers Scott Downs and Jason Frasor, and they could use them to continue the rebuilding effort.
- Rosenthal adds that Gary Sheffield is talking to a NL club, though it's not clear which one.
- Meanwhile, Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com notes that both Jamey Wright and Austin Kearns have out clauses in their contracts, but a club official said the provisions will not impact the makeup of the team. A source added that there are "no trades on the horizon" for Cleveland.
Sheff talking to an NL, and not AL, club is a bit surprising.
wow yankees, you might as well say, “hey marcus thames, you suck!” this news can’t be good for his ego.
I think that the Blue Jays should trade both of the two, but really try as they can to get players close to the Majors. If they are willing to eat much of Lyle Overbay’s salary, they should include him in a Downs or Frasor package. Brett Wallace is almost there and Hill and the rest of their core won’t be around forever.
I suspect that AA would prefer to pick up a high upside player at the low end of the minors than a AAAA player. He’s willing to wait and gamble on getting someone exceptional.
AA wont trade them for the sakes of trading them. IMO he would rather get draft picks than some treadmill prospect.
Reds and mets kinda jump out at me for getting him because if i remember right the reds were close to a=getting him when the tigers put him on waviers
Ortiz would have to have a MONSTER year for the bosox to even consider picking up that 12 mill option. I don’t see it happening. I think they go after a free agent replacement at 1/4 the price.
Also, if they want to resign Beckett, they probably need the money.
Yes exactly. Plus with the way, DH’s are being valued these days, I’m sure a veteren like Derrek Lee or Carlos Pena could come a much more resonable price and with these guys you at least know what you’re getting. I’m not too sure there are many teams out there that would gamble on Ortiz with a huge contract next season. He’s probably looking at an incentive-laded deal with very little guaranteed money.
I think that they will decline the option, but eventually give him a decent deal for about 4-5 million and incentives. This mostly depends on Beckett however.
Did anyone else here laugh a hearty laugh at Ken Rosenthal saying reporting standards are lower today?
I just assumed that was a given…
Clay Hensley is having a really good Spring Training.
To be completely honest I don’t even think Frasor is ‘that’ good of a reliever. He had a great year, throws hard for his size, but his track record isn’t great. Downs is the better pitcher overall, and both might fetch greater returns in comp picks then I realistically see teams offering up.