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Archives for December 2006

Nontender Candidates

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Here’s a running list of players who could become free agents this afternoon.  The list was informed in part by a fine Derrick Goold post and Marc Topkin’s article today for the St. Petersburg Times.  And then some more added from RotoWorld.  Did we miss anyone?

Josh Fogg
Shawn Chacon
Rodrigo Lopez
Joel Pineiro
Marcus Giles
Chris Reitsma
Ben Broussard
Toby Hall
Mark Hendrickson
Yorvit Torrealba
David Newhan
Todd Williams
Jorge Sosa
Brendan Donnelly
Brandon Duckworth
Kyle Snyder
Chin-Hui Tsao
Javier Lopez
Humberto Cota
Antonio Perez
Eric Bruntlett
Brad Wilkerson
Jason Lane
Jody Gerut
Jayson Werth
Aaron Guiel

Red Sox To Make Record Offer To Matsuzaka

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The Red Sox plan on making a record offer to Daisuke Matsuzaka, at least for a player who’s never pitched in the Majors. 

Based on this info from Gordon Edes, I wonder if it’s a six-year, $100MM offer.  It’s tough to picture the Red Sox going far beyond that dollar amount, though Scott Boras might want that amount for five seasons.  Or perhaps he’s angling for $60MM over three seasons instead.  We should have an idea soon.  Baseball Prospectus’s Nate Silver has a system that says Matsuzaka is worth roughly $80MM over six seasons.

Mariners Sign Miguel Batista

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UPDATE:  The Mariners have signed Batista for three years and $24MM+, pending a physical.

Ken Rosenthal has cranked out another column chock full of good rumors.

He expects Miguel Batista to sign with the Mariners, for a contract exceeding three years and $24MM.

Also, a couple of former teams of Jeff Suppan’s want him back.  The Pirates and Royals are both showing interest, with a four-year contract expected.  Of course, we expected Gil Meche to get four years.  Rosenthal also names the Giants, Astros, and Mets as teams on the fringes for the righty.

The Rangers could ship out Akinori Otsuka, an idea made more possible if they sign Eric Gagne.  Young pitching is the target. 

The Astros could acquire Jason Jennings or Rodrigo Lopez; Luke Scott appears available.

Thoughts On Horacio Ramirez, Jason Schmidt

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There are a couple of opinions I’m forming that I’m kind of afraid to admit.  They don’t seem to be on bound with most of what I’ve read, though a few might agree.  Might as well ’fess up.

The first one is that the Mariners didn’t get ripped off on the Horacio Ramirez for Rafael Soriano trade.  This opinion began forming before I read about Soriano looking like a lost puppy on the mound and topping out at 91.

There’s been a lot of Horacio-bashing, and obviously the thought of a soft-tossing bottom-rotation guy doesn’t excite the way a flamethrowing setup man does.  But some points on Ramirez first.  He’s left-handed and he just turned 27.  He gets groundballs 54% of the time.  A concussion, hamstring strain, and torn finger ligament marred his ’06 season.  He’ll give up a ton of hits, but could be good for 32-33 starts, tons of grounders for Lopez and Betancourt, and decent control.  I could see a 4.50 ERA from him in 200 innings next season.  He’s got three years before free agency; league average pitchers make a lot more than $3MM these days.  League average guys could cost $10MM in 2008.

I can see how this trade still favors the Braves but it doesn’t seem like a huge rip-off to me.  The bummer is that Bavasi could’ve gotten more for Soriano.

On the other hand, I’m not impressed by the Jason Schmidt signing.  At least here I have some good backup.  I ran my own projection for Schmidt the other day, and arrived at a 3.95 ERA in 198 innings.  The ZiPS projection system at Baseball Think Factory came to a very similar conclusion.  Schmidt’s not an ace anymore, and paying $16MM for the 36 year-old version could be ugly.  I don’t think the Dodgers made a mistake here; they can afford Schmidt and he makes them a better club next year.  I’m just not calling this a bargain or the deal of the winter or something.

Braves To Nontender Giles, Reitsma?

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In large part because of salary concerns, the Braves are likely to nontender second baseman Marcus Giles and reliever Chris Reitsma according to David O’Brien.

There are still some second basemen on the free agent market, but Giles should intrigue several clubs.  He’ll turn 29 in May and aside from 2006 hits well above average for a second baseman.  The Devil Rays, Red Sox, and Mets would be smart to consider him.

Reitsma turns 29 in December.  The former Braves closer had Tommy John surgery in July, so he could still recover in time to help a team during the 2007 season.  He had three fairly respectable seasons prior to 2006 and even made 21 starts in ’02.  For a few million bucks he’d be a good play in either role.  I’d try him as a fifth starter option; he has strong groundball tendencies.  Overall, the free agent market is up 47% this winter.

Rangers Sign Lofton

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Ken Rosenthal reports that the Rangers are close to signing the one legitimate center fielder remaining on the free agent market – Kenny Lofton.  All that would be left: Darin Erstad and Steve Finley.

Lofton will turn 40 in May.  He’s above average offensively for his position, though his range is obviously slipping.  The Rangers will sort out the corners and DH spot with Frank Catalanotto, Brad Wilkerson, Nelson Cruz, and Jason Botts.

The Cubs may have to get creative for their CF vacancy until Felix Pie is ready.

UPDATE: The deal is said to be for one year and $6MM.

Angels Sign Darren Oliver

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ESPN reports that the Angels have signed free agent southpaw Darren Oliver to a one-year deal with an option for ’08 worth around $3.5MM in total. That’s one less lefty for the Tigers to consider.

Oliver, who turned 36 this year, wasn’t on anyone’s wish list before his 2006 with the Mets.  He stepped up with 81 innings of 3.44 ball after switching to relief full-time.  Like many before him, Oliver has found new life out of the ’pen.  Perhaps failed starters like Matt Clement or Russ Ortiz could become bullpen weapons as well.

Angels fans are still waiting for the major move they’ve been promised, as a Todd Helton deal could not be reached.

Pirates To Sign Kuwata; LaRoche Deal Not Dead

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John Perrotto of the Beaver County Allegheny Times reports that the Pirates are close to signing Japanese pitcher Masumi Kuwata.  Kuwata could join the starting rotation.  It was previously thought that the Red Sox would snag him on a minor league deal.

He also reports that potential for a multi-player deal between the Bucs and Braves still exists, with Mike Gonzalez, Humberto Cota, Jose Castillo, Nate McLouth, Kyle Davies, and Adam LaRoche involved.

The Nats are getting demanding for Ryan Church, causing the Pirates to back off.

Tigers Sign Jose Mesa

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ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that the Tigers have signed Jose Mesa to a one-year deal for about $2.5MM.  He turns 41 next May.

Joe Table switched to relief in ’94 and then had some glory years as the Tribe’s closer.  After that he bounced around to about eight million teams with varying success. 

With an awful K/BB of 1.08 last year, you have to think Mesa is on the brink of collapse.  No one is sure how he helps the Tigers, unless Omar Vizquel is traded to the White Sox.

Yankees Sign Cuban Defector Juan Miranda

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The Yankees signed another Cuban defector, this time a position player.  Juan Miranda, who is 23ish, signed for four years and $2MM.  A small price to pay if there’s any decent chance he becomes an average regular.

Miranda plays first base and the outfield, presumably left.  There isn’t much scouting info on him floating about; ESPN quoted a guy saying he can hit .280 with 20 HR eventually.  Let’s see him do something in Double A first.

This shouldn’t affect the Yanks’ pursuit of a first baseman; Doug Mientkiewicz still appears to be on the radar.  The A’s could also sign Mientkiewicz.

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