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Archives for December 2006

Clemens Moving On From Astros?

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John P. Lopez of the Houston Chronicle says of the Astros:

"The organization, like you and me, would be surprised if Clemens wears Astros pinstripes again."

I hadn’t realized that Clemens’s departure was considered probable.  Right now it appears that the Astros are going with Oswalt, Jennings, Williams, and two question marks.  The front two starters can rack up some innings, but Williams could easily go 100 innings and leave the team with half of a rotation.  Given the money already spent, I think the Astros should go all out and secure one more starter.

If Houston really has little chance for Clemens, Boston and Texas become the frontrunners.

Pirates Back In Mix For Suppan

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According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates, Brewers, and a mystery team are the top suitors for Jeff Suppan.  One team, not the Brewers according to Dejan Kovacevic, has already made an offer to Suppan.  Could be the Bucs with their two-year idea to get negotiations rolling.

The Pirates have the cash, and a homecoming could be enjoyable for the fans.  Suppan has said he probably won’t sign until after Zito does.

Twins Close With Rondell White

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The Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting that the Twins are close to re-signing outfielder/DH Rondell White to a one-year deal with a vesting option for 2008.  He’d make $2.75MM in 2007.

White was one of baseball’s worst regulars in the early part of the season, but he came on strong after returning from a shoulder injury.  The price is right for the Twins, but that’s because they’d be fortunate if he manages to play in 110 games. 

Phillies Close On Barajas

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Excitement…the Phillies are close to signing 31 year-old catcher Rod Barajas.  Rodrigo can’t get on base to save his life, but he’s shown above average power for his position in the past (though not last year).

Barajas was middle-of-the-pack at throwing out attempted thieves this year (33%).  Last year he was seventh in baseball at 34%.  He should be a worthy adversary for Jose Reyes.

Barajas backed out of a verbal agreement with the Blue Jays earlier this winter after switching back to Dan Lozano as his agent.

Giants Sign Ryan Klesko

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According to the AP, the Giants have signed Ryan Klesko to a one-year deal.

Rich Aurilia will be the primary first baseman in San Francisco, but could certainly be needed at second base for 20+ games.  Klesko can squeeze in at first as well as play a little left field, DH during interleague, and pinch-hit. 

Back in October, Klesko said he was feeling the best he has since the first half of 2003.  He hit .262/.361/.520 with 19 HR before the break that year.  He finally has two healthy shoulders and no neck problems.  I like the signing.  It’s like the poor man’s version of last year’s Frank Thomas signing.

Latest On Yankees and Mike Gonzalez

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A baseball source indicated to MLBTradeRumors.com that the Yankees and Pirates are working on a trade that could be Mike Gonzalez and Nate McLouth for Ian Kennedy and Melky Cabrera.  This is backed up by our good friend Jake at Bucco Blog, where Gonzalez, Kennedy, and Cabrera were mentioned in a recent podcast.

Of the four, the player with which I was least familiar was Kennedy.  The right-handed starter celebrates his 22nd birthday today.  Baseball America ranked Kennedy fifth among Yankee prospects.  BA’s John Manuel indicates Kennedy has excellent command with an upper 80s fastball and a sinking changeup.  He manages to keep the ball down.  Kennedy is still a ways off from the bigs and should start ’07 at high Class A.

I should note that as a 2006 draft pick, Kennedy can’t be traded until one year after he signed, which would be approximately July 15, 2007.  Given that a player to be named later must be named six months in advance, the Pirates and Yankees would have to wait about a month to make such a deal official.  After speaking to a couple of baseball guys, I can tell you for a fact that there is precedent for agreeing to trades in December involving June draft picks from the same year.  Kennedy is fair game for discussion.

Mariners In On Zito?

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Larry Stone of the Seattle Times calls the Mariners a "decided longshot" in the Barry Zito sweepstakes, but also writes of rumblings in the baseball world that they could make him an offer.  Given the likely price and commitment, I don’t think a Zito signing would redeem Bill Bavasi’s offseason. 

The rotation as it stands today:

Felix Hernandez
Jarrod Washburn
Miguel Batista
Horacio Ramirez
Jake Woods

Basically, King Felix plus four guys who pitch to contact.  The White Sox made it work in ’05 with great defense, durability, and a little luck.  Will the 2007 Mariner staff have those qualities?

2007 Tampa Bay Devil Rays

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A few of you have reminded me that I’ve ignored the Nats and D-Rays in the 2007 Team Outlooks.  No offense intended.  Check out Rays Index for your D-Rays blog needs.

Andrew Friedman’s contract obligations:

C – Dioner Navarro – $0.38MM
C – Josh Paul – $0.475MM + raise
1B – Ty Wigginton – $0.75MM + raise
2B – Jorge Cantu – $0.38MM
SS – Ben Zobrist – $0.38MM
3B – Akinori Iwamura – $1.8MM + $1.1375MM posting fee = $2.9375MM
IF/OF/DH – Greg Norton – $0.8MM
LF – Carl Crawford – $4MM
CF – Rocco Baldelli – $0.75MM + $0.45MM bonus = $1.2MM + incentives
RF – Delmon Young – $1.16MM
OF – B.J. Upton – $1.3MM
DH – Jonny Gomes – $0.38MM

SP – Scott Kazmir – $0.38MM
SP – Jamie Shields – $0.38MM
SP – Jae Seo – $1.2MM
SP – Casey Fossum – $2.2MM (September shoulder surgery, should be ready for spring training)
SP – Brian Stokes – $0.38MM
SP – Jason Hammel – $0.38MM
SP – J.P. Howell – $0.38MM
SP – Jeff Niemann – $1.68MM

RP – Dan Miceli – $0.65MM
RP – Shinji Mori – $0.7MM (torn labrum rehab, should not be ready for spring training)
RP – Seth McClung – $0.38MM
RP – Edwin Jackson – $0.38MM
RP – Ruddy Lugo – $0.38MM
RP – Chad Orvella – $0.38MM
RP – Tim Corcoran – $0.38MM

Non-roster invitees:
1B – Hee Seop Choi – $0.975MM

This payroll should be under $25MM, even with some raises, incentives, and the possible inclusion of Choi or Neimann.  And that even includes Iwamura’s posting fee broken up over four years, which may not count against payroll.  It’s a great core, and if built up carefully the D-Rays could make the AL East a very interesting division towards the end of the decade.

The catching situation is set, with Navarro the main man.  The Rays only had to give up a couple of unwanted vets to get Navarro and Seo.

As of right now, Wigginton is the favorite to play first.  He could have two challengers in Choi and Elijah Dukes.  I don’t have Dukes listed above because I don’t see how he fits in at the moment.  But given a 12-man pitching staff there is room for one more position player, one of these two.

Despite his clunky defense and lost 2006, some teams should have interest in Cantu.  Moving him would free up some much-needed space in the infield.  Iwamura can bounce to second if needed, but it seems unlikely that the B.J. Upton-at-third experiement would resume.  Right now Zobrist is the only shortstop candidate, but the Rays might try to upgrade via trade.  As long as it’s not an outfielder, I get the impression Friedman will just try to get the best available player(s) in a deal.

Norton will split some time with Gomes at DH, though I could see Gomes running away with it if healthy.

The outfield is set at Crawford/Baldelli/Young.  That leaves no room for Upton or Dukes if they are viewed as outfielders.  Both deserve starting gigs, so something has to give.  I know the team doesn’t want Upton on the bench with the big club but he’s had enough time at Triple A.

Trade rumors have swirled around Upton, Cantu, and even Crawford, but Baldelli is the name everyone’s talking about currently.  If the Marlins really offered Scott Olsen, the Rays should take it.  Looks like Friedman will just sit back until a team bowls him over with a couple of top shelf prospects.  John Schuerholz, for one, has never been afraid to deal his.  Nor has Kenny Williams. 

Kazmir, Seo, and Shields are locks for the rotation.  Same for Fossum, if his shoulder is OK by spring.  That means one vacancy goes to Stokes, Hammel, or Howell.  Niemann probably needs a half season in the high minors before forcing his way in.  The Rays could still sign a vet off the scrap heap to fill a spot, especially if they don’t have faith in Fossum’s recovery.

The bullpen probably needs one veteran signing, but targets Russ Springer and Octavio Dotel are off the market.  David Riske, perhaps?  The team doesn’t want to go into spring training with McClung closing.

Right now the D-Rays are cheap and supremely talented but at least a year off from competing.  Management seems intelligent now, with some decent trades in the books and reasonable veteran signings.  If guys like Norton, Iwamura, or Wigginton are playing well they could be dealt off for more youth in coming years.

Phillies Sign Jayson Werth

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According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies have signed Jayson Werth to a contract, pending a physical.  The outfielder turns 28 in May; he was nontendered by the Dodgers.

Werth played in the Baltimore and Toronto systems before a trade to L.A.  He plays all three outfield positions.  He was actually a catcher with Baltimore and considered a backup at times in L.A.  Perhaps the Phillies would pursue the idea once again. 

He’s had plenty of injury problems: a strain in ’03, an oblique strain, two cracked ribs, and a torn elbow ligament in ’04, a broken wrist from an A.J. Burnett heater in ’05, a sore knee that same year, wrist surgery that winter, and a second wrist surgery last August.  Whew. 

Werth got Major League offers from the Cards and Padres as well this winter.  He’ll join Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, Jeff Conine, and Shane Victorino in the Phillie outfield if healthy.  The signing might add some flexibility for a trade.

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