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Archives for February 2007

Zambrano Close To Five-Year Deal?

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According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, Carlos Zambrano announced yesterday that he’s close to signing a five-year contract with the Cubs.  However, Sullivan’s source says the two sides still have a long way to go and Zambrano has yet to receive a concrete offer.

Based on comments from Zambrano and Cubs GM Jim Hendry, the two parties seem to agree on a five-year length.  Capping at five instead of six or seven years is a huge win for the Cubs, even if they go up to $17MM annually.  Most likely, the sides will settle around five years and $80MM.  That’d be a significant loyalty discount for the Cubs.  On the other hand, Zambrano’s deal would be on par with those of Roy Oswalt and Chris Carpenter. 

Royals Interviews

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Recently I asked some questions of Craig Brown of Royals Authority and Will McDonald of Royals Review.  They kindly supplied some great answers, so check out their blogs.  I’ll do this in a few parts.

Which Royal is most likely to be traded this spring?

Craig: It always sounds stupid to say a team coming off a 100 loss season has a "logjam" at a position.  It reminds me of that Spinal Tap album review:  "They are treading water in a sea of mediocrity."  But the Royals do have a logjam in the corner outfield.  By moving Mark Teahen to make way for Alex Gordon the Royals now have three players for the two corner spots.  The Royals thought enough of Emil Brown that they offered him arbitration for the second year in a row (they settled) and also have Reggie Sanders in the mix.  Sanders was on his way out of town last August before a groin injury put the kibosh on the rumored deal to the Yankees.  New acquisition Ross Gload can also play the corner and that’s also the position of future star Billy Butler. 

I think Moore will try to deal Sanders, but due to his age, declining production and recent injury history, will find the market to be underwhelming.  The prediction here is there will be no trades made while the Royals are in Arizona.

Will: Hopefully Justin Huber, but the Royals have done so much to poor-mouth him, who knows his value. Posnanski wrote today that the team is looking to acquire a veteran 1B backup to Ryan Shealy. This seems utterly nonsensical to me, but alas. I think the Royals are done for the spring, but an in-season trade of Emil Brown, Mark Grudzielanek or Reggie Sanders seems highly likely. A Dotel trade seems like a lock as well. I think the Royals WANT to trade Teahen, they just aren’t sure what he is and may want to let him accrue more value.

Royals Interviews

By | at

Recently I asked some questions of Craig Brown of Royals Authority and Will McDonald of Royals Review.  They kindly supplied some great answers, so check out their blogs.  I’ll do this in a few parts.

Which Royal is most likely to be traded this spring?

Craig: It always sounds stupid to say a team coming off a 100 loss season has a "logjam" at a position.  It reminds me of that Spinal Tap album review:  "They are treading water in a sea of mediocrity."  But the Royals do have a logjam in the corner outfield.  By moving Mark Teahen to make way for Alex Gordon the Royals now have three players for the two corner spots.  The Royals thought enough of Emil Brown that they offered him arbitration for the second year in a row (they settled) and also have Reggie Sanders in the mix.  Sanders was on his way out of town last August before a groin injury put the kibosh on the rumored deal to the Yankees.  New acquisition Ross Gload can also play the corner and that’s also the position of future star Billy Butler. 

I think Moore will try to deal Sanders, but due to his age, declining production and recent injury history, will find the market to be underwhelming.  The prediction here is there will be no trades made while the Royals are in Arizona.

Will: Hopefully Justin Huber, but the Royals have done so much to poor-mouth him, who knows his value. Posnanski wrote today that the team is looking to acquire a veteran 1B backup to Ryan Shealy. This seems utterly nonsensical to me, but alas. I think the Royals are done for the spring, but an in-season trade of Emil Brown, Mark Grudzielanek or Reggie Sanders seems highly likely. A Dotel trade seems like a lock as well. I think the Royals WANT to trade Teahen, they just aren’t sure what he is and may want to let him accrue more value.

Bonds Contract Is Official

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Finally, Barry Bonds has an MLB-approved, signed contract.  It’s for $15.8MM with $4.2MM in "reachable" incentives.  As opposed to Ryan Dempster’s Cy Young clause.  That’s called an unreachable incentive.  RotoWorld says the indictment clause remains in the contract.

Bonds will be in camp on time, on Monday.  At AT&T Park, he’ll be a locker buddy with new acquisition Barry Zito, who requested to be next to him.

Bonds Contract Is Official

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Finally, Barry Bonds has an MLB-approved, signed contract.  It’s for $15.8MM with $4.2MM in "reachable" incentives.  As opposed to Ryan Dempster’s Cy Young clause.  That’s called an unreachable incentive.  RotoWorld says the indictment clause remains in the contract.

Bonds will be in camp on time, on Monday.  At AT&T Park, he’ll be a locker buddy with new acquisition Barry Zito, who requested to be next to him.

Yankees Won’t Have Advantage For Rivera

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New York papers put out at least seven articles concerning Mariano Rivera today, even though almost nothing new was said.  I took the liberty of summing it up for you:

Rivera on free agency:

"Everybody has the same shot. The Yankees will not have an advantage. Everyone will have the same shot."

Jeter on Rivera leaving:

"Mo ain’t going anywhere. Mo will be right here next year. … I’m sure he’d like an extension. I’d love for him to have an extension, too. I’m sure they’ll work it out."

Not much new here.  But it’s spring training and these guys have deadlines.  I apologize for adding any fuel to the fire; I’m going to compensate with some Royals material today or tomorrow.  This website is the last place you’re going to find an East Coast bias, but New York churns out more rumors and articles than anywhere.  My two cents: Jeter is right, he’s not going anywhere.

Yankees Won’t Have Advantage For Rivera

By | at

New York papers put out at least seven articles concerning Mariano Rivera today, even though almost nothing new was said.  I took the liberty of summing it up for you:

Rivera on free agency:

"Everybody has the same shot. The Yankees will not have an advantage. Everyone will have the same shot."

Jeter on Rivera leaving:

"Mo ain’t going anywhere. Mo will be right here next year. … I’m sure he’d like an extension. I’d love for him to have an extension, too. I’m sure they’ll work it out."

Not much new here.  But it’s spring training and these guys have deadlines.  I apologize for adding any fuel to the fire; I’m going to compensate with some Royals material today or tomorrow.  This website is the last place you’re going to find an East Coast bias, but New York churns out more rumors and articles than anywhere.  My two cents: Jeter is right, he’s not going anywhere.

Tigers and A-Rod?

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This is a kind of a non-story, but I feel like writing about it anyway.  Lynn Henning of the Detroit News speculates that the Tigers could have interest in signing Alex Rodriguez should he become a free agent after the 2007 season.

The speculation is based on shortstop Carlos Guillen’s impending free agency.  Henning doesn’t think the Tigers will offer Guillen a contract longer than three years, and that the length could be a dealbreaker.  Additionally, the Tigers have a positive relationship with Scott Boras.  Finally, Henning notes that the Tigers were believed to have acquired about Rodriguez’s availability last July.

There seems to be an assumption that Rodriguez would serve as the shortstop for the 2008 Tigers, since Brandon Inge is under contract through 2010.  To me that seems a questionable assumption.  When was the last time a star player moved in the opposite direction on the defensive spectrum after the age of 30?  (Not a sarcastic question, I’m really curious).  And no, Darin Erstad moving from first back to center doesn’t count.

Tigers and A-Rod?

By | at

This is a kind of a non-story, but I feel like writing about it anyway.  Lynn Henning of the Detroit News speculates that the Tigers could have interest in signing Alex Rodriguez should he become a free agent after the 2007 season.

The speculation is based on shortstop Carlos Guillen’s impending free agency.  Henning doesn’t think the Tigers will offer Guillen a contract longer than three years, and that the length could be a dealbreaker.  Additionally, the Tigers have a positive relationship with Scott Boras.  Finally, Henning notes that the Tigers were believed to have acquired about Rodriguez’s availability last July.

There seems to be an assumption that Rodriguez would serve as the shortstop for the 2008 Tigers, since Brandon Inge is under contract through 2010.  To me that seems a questionable assumption.  When was the last time a star player moved in the opposite direction on the defensive spectrum after the age of 30?  (Not a sarcastic question, I’m really curious).  And no, Darin Erstad moving from first back to center doesn’t count.

One More Minor Move

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The Athletics have claimed lefty swingman Lenny DiNardo off of waivers from the Red Sox.  The Red Sox were going to have to part with somebody, and DiNardo seemed the most likely lefty to go, especially after Boston signed J.C. Romero. 

DiNardo wasn’t going to have any chance of contributing in Boston and won’t be much of a factor in Oakland either, but may have a shot if/when injuries strike the A’s.  Especially with Joe Kennedy in the rotation mix, the A’s don’t have a lot of good lefty options if Alan Embree goes down…and Embree is old. 

By Jeff Sackmann
www.BrewCrewBall.com

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