Buster Olney Drops Uncommon Trade Thoughts

Buster Olney talks trade in his latest insider-only piece. Let's have a look at the guys he names. Ryan Howard. This is a tough one. Philly is in second place right now, and they should be in contention throughout the year. Howard has started poorly, but you can figure a rebound. While the Phillies might not be eager to pay Howard $25 to $30MM over the next two years, some other team might. I figure they could get a decent haul from, say, the Angels. Still, it's hard to justify trading away your best power hitter (at least in name)...

Odds and Ends: Tejada, Howard, Johnson

Couple more odds and ends this evening... Orioles executive VP Mike Flanagan admitted he wouldn't have signed Miguel Tejada to a six-year deal if he knew the shortstop's proper age. But he still would've signed him (if possible). People are debating whether ESPN ambushed Tejada with his birth certificate...of course they did. Ken Rosenthal believes the optimal course of action for the Phillies is to just let Ryan Howard play out the string and then let him walk as a free agent after the 2011 season. Rays Index says the Dan Johnson acquisition signals a "win-now" attitude for the Rays.

Odds and Ends: Schilling, Piazza, Howard

Tax day roundup... Some mild drama over whether Curt Schilling would consider pitching for the Yankees next year. He reiterated that he won't. It takes two to tango, anyway. Pedro Martinez may be out until June. Nelson Figueroa's chance continues, with Claudio Vargas as the backup plan. The Mets still have a solid rotation without Pedro. Mark Healey has heard rumblings that the Reds and Yankees are looking at Mike Piazza. Phillies Nation on why they would trade Ryan Howard. Bill Barnwell looks at the four trades Randy Johnson trades. I thought the Unit looked respectable last night, though it's...

Stark's Latest: Bonds, Howard, Vargas

ESPN's Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings up; let's take a look. Stark surveyed execs from three teams about why Barry Bonds remains unemployed. They provided the answers you'd expect, and collusion isn't one of them. One of the team officials believes a major injury to one of the 14 DHs could very well result in a Bonds signing. Related note: Gary Sheffield just tore a tendon in his finger. Meanwhile, Joel Sherman speculates that Bonds would be a nice match with the Blue Jays. There are signs that Ryan Howard wants an unprecedented contract - he won't...

Miguel Cabrera Signs Extension

4:08pm: John Lowe has the year by year breakdown and adds that there are ten teams Cabrera can be traded to without his permission. TUESDAY, 12:44pm: Cabrera's seven-year extension is official. $20MM a year is a solid price for 25 year-old superstar who has never been injured. And Cabrera sets himself up for one more massive deal, just like A-Rod did. MONDAY, 8:57am: Though we don't have an official announcement and press conference from the Tigers yet, it's obvious that an agreement has been reached. Sabernomics thinks Cabrera will be worth $268MM over this time period; PECOTA feels differently. Cabrera...

Papelbon Gets $775K

Outspoken Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon signed a one-year deal for $775K for '08. That's significantly more than the Sox had to give him, so it seems they value his happiness. His new salary beats Mariano Rivera's two-year service time closer record of $750K. Papelbon's salary will increase drastically a year from now, as he'll be arbitration-eligible for the first time. He probably won't get the $10MM Ryan Howard did, but something north of $5MM seems possible.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Papelbon, Fielder, Hamels

Last year, in his final year prior to arbitration eligibility, Ryan Howard was renewed for $900K. This was about twice what the Phillies were required to pay Howard, but significantly less than the reigning MVP thought he deserved. Of course, this year that number has been used as a measuring stick by several young stars that have yet to reach arbitration and are subject to automatic renewals from their clubs. It seems that this year, more than years past, players are voicing their displeasure about the automatic renewals. Prince Fielder is displeased at being renewed for $670K, or about 50%...

Fielder Not Happy With Renewal

3:28pm: Fielder gets $670K, to be exact. Doug Melvin was surprised at Prince's public displeasure. 1:46pm: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Prince Fielder is not pleased with his contract renewal, executed this morning. Rumored to be in the $650,000 range, Fielder's agent, Scott Boras, indicated his client's displeasure. Ryan Howard's $900,000 contract for 2007 was cited as the figure the first baseman hoped to fetch for the season. Fielder made $415,000 last season. According to Haudricourt, the Brewers used a formula they go by for players with zero to three years experience, a formula which they also...

Ryan Howard Fallout

Ryan Howard winning a $10MM salary yesterday was kind of a big deal. Let's examine this first-year arbitration record. A source of Jayson Stark's thinks the Phillies would've won had they submitted above Miguel Cabrera's $7.4MM. Seems that even slightly above would've done it, because then Howard losing would've still set a record. Tom Haudricourt talks about how Prince Fielder is now in line for the same $10MM for his '09 salary. And he doesn't see Scott Boras relenting and doing a multiyear deal. Stark adds Ryan Braun, Ryan Zimmerman, and Hanley Ramirez as other young stars who will be...

Ryan Howard Wins Case

THURSDAY, 9:07am: Victory for the players! Howard gets his $10MM. It's a first-year arbitration record salary. As Keith Law has pointed out - "the effect of this loss is cumulative" for the Phillies. Another effect will be on Prince Fielder's 2009 salary. WEDNESDAY, 9:31am:MLB.com's Ken Mandel says Phillies' assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. met with Ryan Howard's agent Casey Close minutes before the player's arbitration hearing. They looked into a last-minute agreement but it could not be done. The hearing began at 8:30am CST; $3MM hangs in the balance. We should know within a day. Players are 0-5 in hearings...

Odds and Ends: Perez, Jones, Howard, Burnett

Let's round up today's linkage. No more long-term discussions with Oliver Perez and the Mets. Andruw Jones already wants to talk extension with the Dodgers. The Cardinals are not likely to make anymore acquisitions. In my view the team has question marks in right field, the middle infield, and the rotation. Here's a look at their MLB.com depth chart. By the way, could Ryan Franklin be a league average starter? They could try it if the current options don't pan out. Jim Salisbury thinks the Ryan Howard contract situation is a nonstory. I think this is partially because (and I...