Rangers Make Offer To Mark Loretta
According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers have made an offer to free agent infielder Mark Loretta but have been told he’s likely to sign elsewhere. Apparently the Rangers aren’t offering enough playing time. They’re looking for someone to back up Teixeira, Kinsler, Young, and Blalock in the dog days of summer. Mark DeRosa filled the role nicely last year.
Two free agent second basemen are still standing: Loretta and Ron Belliard. The Braves could sign one of the two but are more likely to go the low-cost route and try Kelly Johnson, Martin Prado, or Willy Aybar. There aren’t any other open 2B spots that I can find, though the Mets might want some Jose Valentin insurance.
Minor Happenings
Here are some smaller signings and rumors around baseball today.
According to RotoWorld, the Twins have signed Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract. He gets $1MM for making the team and can earn another $2MM. Neither the Cards nor Yankees could get anything useful out of him in 16 starts. Logic dictates that Ponson won’t make the Twins’ rotation, but you never know.
Joel Pineiro will likely join the Red Sox for $4MM guaranteed. It seems like a lot of money for someone with Pineiro’s history, but I guess Jason Marquis set the bar. The 28 year-old righty posted a 4.81 ERA in 24 relief innings in 2006, so hopefully he can recapture that, er, magic.
David Newhan may become a Met, but I don’t see how he would make the team. He seems to be living off a couple of solid months from 2004.
The Denver Post tells us that the Rockies are doing some curious things: entertaining signings of Darin Erstad, Jon Mabry, and/or various washed up catchers, considering a Rodrigo Lopez trade, and working on an extension for Jamey Carroll. I see. Well then.
The Pirates are in on this Brian Lawrence character. [Insert requisite mention of Opening Day starts here]. I think the question we’re all thinking right now is: where would this leave Shawn Chacon?
Latest On Randy Johnson
The New York Times reports that as of Tuesday night the Diamondbacks have not yet been granted a 72-hour window to negotiate with Randy Johnson, though Peter Abraham reported yesterday that Arizona requested it.
The New York Post doesn’t have new information, indicating that dialogue continues over the financial details. Newsday says Johnson’s agents are now in the loop and the odds of a deal are good. Finally, USA Today expects the deal completed by the end of the week.
UPDATE: Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees will not grant the D’Backs a 72-hour window to talk contract with Johnson. It won’t kill the deal however.
Mets Could Add Tomo Ohka
According to Ken Davidoff of Newsday, the Mets are likely negotiating with free agent righty Tomo Ohka. Omar Minaya is familiar with Ohka from his time in Montreal.
Three teams have looked at Ohka’s medical records, and one NL East team besides the Mets is in the mix. The Marlins and Phillies don’t make sense, leaving the Braves or Nats as possibilities. Washington made Ohka an offer a month ago but it wasn’t enough.
UPDATE: The Washington Post confirms that the Nationals are still in the mix.
Click here to view my full profile on Ohka.
Foulke To Take Physical Today
The long-rumored Keith Foulke signing is passing a hurdle today – Foulke is in Cleveland to take his physical. It appears to be a one-year deal with a mutual option for ’08. Foulke will join a cast of shaky veteran additions in the Tribe pen.
Foulke, 34, was hurt mostly by the longball in the last couple of seasons. Jacobs Field should help in that it suppresses HRs by about 15%.
UPDATE: The News-Herald says Foulke’s 2007 salary would be $3-4MM.
Justin Verlander Projection
I’ve posted my thoughts concerning Justin Verlander for 2007 from a fantasy baseball point of view at RotoAuthority. I wouldn’t call him a bust, but I don’t think he’ll provide good value.
While I’ve got you – Phils fans should check out a new website from a loyal MLBTR visitor, James. It’s all Phillies prospects, all the time at Phuture Phillies.
Also, check out Jeff Sackmann’s take on the Jeff Suppan signing over at BrewCrew Ball.
Another good read: Nate Silver writes why the Mets should definitely not trade Lastings Milledge for a mere Joe Blanton.
Unit Trade Still On Hold Over Money
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post writes that while Randy Johnson, the Diamondbacks, and the Yankees all want to make this trade work, they’ve yet to agree upon how much Johnson will make for 2007-08 and how it will be paid. Ed Price at the Newark Star-Ledger agrees – negotiations continue but the dollars are still the issue.
Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune chips in to mention that the teams have not entered the formal 72-hour negotiating window and offering Johnson partial ownership of the team is not under consideration. He adds that the D’Backs still have to review Johnson’s medical records, as is the custom in any trade. Johnson’s back surgery is not expected to hold up the deal.
UPDATE: Peter Abraham of the Journal News reports that the D’Backs have now requested the 72-hour window and it could be granted today.
John Gambadoro of the Arizona Republic has a source indicating that the Yankees want two of Micah Owings, Ross Ohlendorf, and Dana Eveland. Earlier we’d been hearing Dustin Nippert mentioned and not Eveland. Gambadoro confirms the involvement of Brandon Medders but indicates an unknown infield prospect could be included – another new rumor.
I have to respectfully disagree with a few of the points made in Gambadoro’s column. Gambadoro’s main argument seems to be that Arizona shouldn’t trade Micah Owings because he went 10-0 at Triple A despite admittedly mediocre stuff. While Owings is a mildly interesting prospect, his record shouldn’t be a factor here. You’d be surprised who can go 10-0 when Lady Luck comes calling.
Additionally, labeling the Unit a "five to six inning pitcher" is a stretch given that Johnson averaged 6.21 innings per start in 2006. While that’s a significant drop from 6.64 per start in ’05, it still ranked 21st in the AL. Not to mention above Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte.
Rockies Still High On Lawrence
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post runs down the reasons the Rockies are the favorite for free agent pitcher Brian Lawrence: he wants to pitch in the NL West, and he grew up in Colorado. Conversations are ongoing between Colorado and the soft-tossing righty. The Giants and D’Backs could be interested as well. While Lawrence is a year older and right-handed, is he otherwise much different than Mark Mulder right now?
Additionally, Rodrigo Lopez is a possibility for the Rockies’ rotation. It’s also been revealed that the Rockies are one of the six teams in on Chris Reitsma, along with the Reds. And talks with Javy Lopez will be reignited this week.
Nats Demand Red Sox Pitchers For Chad Cordero
According to the Boston Herald, the Red Sox remain interested in Nationals closer Chad Cordero. The info may be in contrast to an article in the Boston Globe yesterday, which indicated that the price was too high on "name" closers.
The Nats are fond of pitchers Craig Hansen and Michael Bowden, but favor 22 year-old righty Clay Buchholz. Baseball Prospectus’s Kevin Goldstein ranks Buchholz a touch above Bowden, mentioning "three plus pitches at times." Buchholz finished 2006 in High Class A. All three pitchers are quality arms with a lot of upside.
Cordero turns 25 in March. He’s got three full seasons under his belt. He features fine command and has been unhittable throughout his career. He was bitten by the longball in 2006, but it looks like a fluke to me.
Reds Talking To Chris Reitsma
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that 29 year-old reliever Chris Reitsma will not be returning to the Braves on a lesser contract. Yesterday we learned that the Marlins are not involved either. Six teams have made offers to Reitsma, and he’s well into negotiations with the Reds.
Reitsma formerly pitched in Cincinnati before he was traded to the Braves in March of 2004. He had elbow surgery in July and hopes to be ready by spring training. I’m no doctor, but I know that is different than Tommy John. Even in the midst of recent struggles, Reitsma has always gotten groundballs. He could be a setup candidate for the Reds or even force his way into an unstable closer situation.