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Archives for December 2006

White Sox Acquire Sisco For Gload

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Baseball Digest Daily reports that the White Sox have acquired reliever Andy Sisco for first baseman/outfielder Ross Gload.

Seems like a big win for the Sox.  Sisco, a big lefty, turns 24 in January.  Since jumping from A ball to the Majors in ’05 as a Rule 5 pick from the Cubs, Sisco has been in over his head.  The White Sox could fix him up as a lights out reliever like they did with Matt Thornton, or else switch him back to starting.

How does Gload help the Royals?  He’ll turn 31 next season and the club has absolutely no room for another 1B/OF.  Shouldn’t Dayton Moore be stockpiling young arms instead of guys like Gload?

Early Retirement For A-Rod?

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Alex Rodriguez, in an interview with Bob Costas from way back in September, talked about retiring after the 2010 season when his current contract is up.  He backpedaled a little bit, but his words are causing a stir.  Kind of like a delayed steal since he said it in September.  Does this mean A-Rod is less likely to opt out after 2007 to try to get more security?

Bill James gives Rodriguez a 31% chance to reach 756 home runs and a 5% chance to reach 4,000 hits.

Melky Cabrera To Braves?

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Ken Davidoff of Newsday has amended yesterday’s Melky for Mike Gonzalez rumor.  The latest one is Melky Cabrera to Atlanta, Mike Gonzalez to the Yankees, and Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh.  See, everyone’s happy.  Melky could handle LF for the Braves in 2007 and then switch to center after that.

Davidoff mentions that such a deal could pave the way for one more year of Bernie Williams.  Not sure if the Bucs could get more, but I think snagging LaRoche and his 35 HR potential would be a fine return.  LaRoche would still have three years of service time under the Pirates’ control.  The team could return to contention in 2008 if the young pitchers come along.

Marlins Interested In Benitez, Reitsma

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Another year, another phoenix closer for the Fish.  This time they’re considering going back to one of their best, Armando Benitez.  The Marlins and Giants are still moving along on that one, though the players and money involved aren’t clear yet.  Benitez seems to like the idea.

The Marlins may go after new free agents Chris Reitsma and Jorge Sosa as well.  Might as well round ’em up and try to piece together a bullpen.  The team is still hunting for the right center fielder, but the rotation is set with Willis-Johnson-Olsen-Sanchez-Nolasco.

Melky Cabrera For Mike Gonzalez?

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John Perrotto of the Beaver County Times reports that the Yankees is the most likely destination for southpaw reliever Mike Gonzalez.  Apparently Brian Cashman is willing to part with 22 year-old outfielder Melky Cabrera straight up.

Cabrera held his own as a rookie, batting .280/.360/.391 in 460 ABs and playing the fourth best defensive LF in baseball, according to Bill James’s panel of experts.  What’s more, Baseball Between The Numbers indicates that a typical player can be expected to improve his offensive output by about 15% from his age 22 to age 23 season.  Even in dealing Cabrera, the Yanks would retain the real prize among their position-player prospects: Jose Tabata.  Tabata could be patrolling right field in New York by the second half of ’08.

Gonzalez could be groomed as a possible successor to Mariano Rivera; he has three years of service time left before free agency.  However, Perrotto indicates that the Pirates want more than just Cabrera for Gonzalez. 

Meanwhile, Bucco Blog thinks the entire rumor is bunk.  Jake makes a fine point – that Dave Littlefield is in no rush to trade Gonzalez and will simply sit back and wait until the unbeatable offer comes along.

Cliff Floyd To Cubs Soon?

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According to Jerry Crasnick in today’s chat for ESPN, he remarked on the status of the Cubs’ negotations with free agent outfielder Cliff Floyd:

"I’m hearing that the Cliff Floyd signing will come soon. He has some health issues, but he’s a good on base percentage guy and a great clubhouse guy. He should be a nice fit for the Cubs."

Floyd’s power plummetted in 2006, another injury-plagued year.  Cornelius Clifford Floyd, born in Chicago, recently turned 34.  He’s been connected to the Cubs and Jim Hendry for years. 

I’m guessing he’d be the part of a left field platoon that faces righties.  I don’t like the idea.  It seems like a great way to stunt Matt Murton’s growth and waste a year of cheap service time.  Floyd hit .266/.342/.423 against righties in ’06.  Murton managed a .295/.356/.426 line against them in his first full season.  The Big Murt also hit .319/.390/.522 after the break.  And he has red hair.

If a Floyd signing precedes a Jacque Jones trade, who plays right?  Floyd hasn’t done it since ’02.  And when Floyd gets hurt, the Cubs will miss the reliably mediocre Jones.  If Soriano goes to right, the Cubs are forced to rush Felix Pie.

Devil Rays Sign Akinori Iwamura

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UPDATE: It’s official: three years for $7.7MM, club option at $4.25MM for 2010.

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times tells us that third baseman Akinori Iwamura is "on the verge" of being signed to a three-year deal by the Devil Rays.  The deal will be something like three years, $7.5MM  guaranteed, I’ve heard.  Add in the $4.55MM posting fee if you like and they’re getting him for roughly $4MM annually.  Not bad at all.

The Devil Rays have a bit of a crowded infield – Iwamura, Greg Norton, Ty Wigginton, Jorge Cantu, Ben Zobrist, and B.J. Upton could all fight for PT.  Norton, Iwamura, and Upton can play the outfield as well, and some space could be freed if Cantu and/or Rocco Baldelli are traded.

Relief Moves

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The Red Sox picked up 35 year-old right-handed reliever Brendan Donnelly from the Angels for Phil Seibel.  Donnelly’s control slipped significantly last season, but he’s had an excellent career despite a late start.  He can help.  Seibel, a southpaw, turns 28 in January.  He was unhittable across three minor league levels for the Red Sox this year.  The Red Sox also added J.C. Romero as a LOOGY option.

The D-Rays signed Al Reyes to a one-year deal.  You may recall he was a fantastic reliever for the Cards in ’05 before succumbing to TJ surgery.  He already threw a few Triple A innings in August so he should be 100% for spring training.  I could see him as the closer at some point.

The Mets probably won’t land Akinori Otsuka, but the Diamondbacks could trade for him.  On one hand, it’s scary to rely on Eric Gagne for anything.  On the other hand, Otsuka’s value will never be higher.  I agree with RotoWorld that Scott Hairston could be a huge sleeper in Texas.  More on Hairston here.

Making Progress With Kei Igawa

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It seems very likely that the Yankees will sign Kei Igawa to serve as their fifth starter.  According to Igawa’s agent Arn Tellem:

"We are making good progress.  However, I do not anticipate reaching a deal this week."

The two parties still have nearly two weeks left to negotiate.  Igawa cost a hefty $26MM posting fee.  The AL East has recruited all the major Japanese talent this year, with Matsuzaka, Igawa, Iwamura, and Okajima all ending up in the division.  The inevitable Matsuzaka/Igawa pitching matchup should be a fun one.

Ken Rosenthal’s Latest

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Ken Rosenthal has a new article up; below is a brief summary.

Rosenthal speculates that San Francisco would be a fine fit for Ichiro Suzuki when he reaches free agency after the 2007 season.

He also verifies the Brewers’ interest in Jeff Suppan, also reported in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel this morning.  One team mentioned by Rosenthal but not named in the MJS is the Mariners.

Mark Mulder will probably choose between the D’Backs, Rangers, Padres, and Cards.  However, the Indians are trying to lure him by talking up their superb medical staff.

The Giants and the Marlins are still discussing an Armando Benitez trade.

Joel Pineiro has already been contacted by five teams.  The Pirates, D-Rays, Cards, and Yanks could be among them.

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