Pads, Mets, D-Rays Interested In Giles
Marcus Giles, with a career line of .285/.361/.448, has been granted free agency at age 28 after only five seasons of Major League service. While last year was ugly, Giles still may be the best second baseman available.
Most speculation has been centered around the Padres, because Marcus’s brother Brian plays there. The Padres could’ve had Giles for Scott Linebrink, but now they can get him without surrendering players. Kevin Towers will talk to Giles’s agent today, though San Diego does have a capable option in Todd Walker already.
The Mets are also interested; they are looking to acquire a second baseman despite re-signing Jose Valentin.
Finally, the Devil Rays might check in. Jorge Cantu could be moved to first base or traded, opening up a spot. If Cantu were moved to first, he’d be competing with Ty Wigginton for playing time. That assumes the Rays sign Akinori Iwamura, which seems likely.
More non-tenders
Joe Hamrahi at Baseball Digest Daily has a complete list of non-tenders. (While you’re there, check out the first half of their giant prospect list.) Most of the important ones were listed in a couple of posts earlier tonight, but there are a few other guys your team might actually consider:
- Scott Dohmann
- Brandon Duckworth
- Mike Wood
- Willie Eyre
- Jorge Sosa
- Toby Hall
- Jayson Werth
- Victor Zambrano
Not the most inspiring list, but hey, somebody has to pitch for Pawtucket.
By Jeff Sackmann, Brew Crew Ball
Blue Jays Make Offer To Vernon Wells?
According to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, a baseball source indicated that the Blue Jays have proposed a seven year, $126MM contract to Vernon Wells. Wells’s agent indicated that they have not had meaningful discussions, however.
Wells turned 28 a few days ago. He’s part of the all-world center fielder free agent class of 2008, with fine defense and a .900 OPS. Most folks seem to think he’ll end up in Texas because of proximity to his childhood home.
Rich Lederer marches to a different drum – he’d rather trade for Rocco Baldelli.
Non-tender Deadline Events
Several players are officially (or soon-to-be officially) free agents, including:
- Joel Pineiro
- Jon Knott
- Victor Zambrano
- Jason Bulger
- Chin-Hui Tsao
- Aaron Guiel
- Alexis Gomez
- Brandon Duckworth
- Mike Wood
- Toby Hall
- Jayson Werth
- Damon Hollins
That’s in addition to Marcus Giles and Chris Reitsma, who are discussed below. Surely others will follow. One interesting non-non-tender is Brandon Claussen, who was DFAd by the Reds. I’m surprised they’re letting him go–he may never reach his potential, but he would’ve worked for close to the minimum in 2007. And if one thing is abundantly clear, even below-average starting pitching is a very expensive commodity right now.
In other news, the Mets re-signed Dave Williams to a one-year deal, and the Padres brought in Jose Cruz, Jr.
By Jeff Sackmann, Brew Crew Ball
Giles and Reitsma Free Agents
MLB.com reports that the Atlanta Braves have decided to not tender contracts to Marcus Giles and Chris Reitsma. Giles and Reitsma can now be offered contracts by any team in the MLB.
The second base market now consists of Giles, Mark Loretta, and Ron Belliard. As for Reitsma, I think he’s worth a million on the gamble that he can return as a useful starter or reliever.
Jennings To Houston
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Astros have acquired Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio from the Rockies. In return, the Rockies will get Willy Tavares, Jason Hirsh, and Taylor Buchholz.
Apparently Kenny Williams wasn’t lying when he said there was nothing to the rumor that the White Sox were going to acquire Hirsh and company for Jon Garland.
Clearly, the Rockies made out like bandits on this deal. I liken it to the trade that sent Adam Eaton to Texas last year. The main difference is that the Astros did not a get an Otsuka-like player back in the deal.
Rangers Sign Eric Gagne
UPDATE AT BOTTOM.
Don’t hold me to it (my French is rusty) but appears that Eric Gagne may have signed with the Rangers for one year and $8MM, pending a physical. Any expert translators out there?
This may have been in the works for a while, given that Jon Daniels has already begun shopping Akinori Otsuka.
Thanks to Joe Siegler of Rangerfans.com for the tip.
UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal confirms that the Rangers are close with Gagne.
It’s official: one year, $6MM. $5MM possible in performance bonuses.
D’Backs Interested In Mulder, David Wells
Something broken, something old. According to the Arizona Republic, the D’Backs have made an offer to free agent Mark Mulder. Additionally, they may try to coax David Wells out of retirement.
At this point, Wells on a one-year deal for less than $10MM sounds reasonable. This ain’t 2005 anymore. Boomer turns 44 in May, but he might be able to provide 180 league average innings. His pinpoint control isn’t going anywhere.
Mulder could actually prefer a one-year deal, as a way of maximizing his earnings. Whatever the offer was, it did not include incentives. What would it take – $7MM guaranteed? I don’t see a Mulder signing as a potential bargain. He won’t be ready for Opening Day and he may struggle upon his return.
The Diamondbacks have also spoken to Tomo Ohka‘s agent. Brandon Webb, Doug Davis, and Livan Hernandez are locks for their rotation. Juan Cruz, Dana Eveland, and Edgar Gonzalez will compete for openings.
Cardinals Talking To Tomo Ohka
According to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals are talking to free agent hurler Tomo Ohka.
Ohka is slowly but surely being elevated to God-like status as the market thins. The Jason Marquis contract really inflated the lower end of the pitching market.
You can read my full profile of Ohka here.
Yanks, Red Sox After Mike Gonzalez
Dave Littlefield should be able to extract a solid young player or two if he wants to trade the Pirates’ closer, Mike Gonzalez. George King of the New York Post writes that both the Yankees and Red Sox are interested.
King believes Littlefield might ask for Scott Proctor and Melky Cabrera from the Yankees, while the Red Sox have dangled Coco Crisp. Imagine Gonzalez as the lefty out of the Detroit pen. Gonzo would also be a big help to the Indians, Rangers, Phillies, Cubs, or Giants.
Gonzalez, who turns 29 in May, was told by Pirates doctors just before Thanksgiving that he is completely healthy. In 155 career innings, he has a 2.37 ERA, 6.7 H/9, 0.52 HR/9, 4.28 BB/9, and 10.58 K/9. His control has been very shaky in recent years but his unhittable nature has compensated.