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Archives for February 2007

Would Mariano Rivera Move On?

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It wasn’t much of a story six days ago, stuck at the bottom of a Bergen Record article from Pete Caldera.  The New York press was much more interested in Alex Rodriguez’s book signing.  But yesterday Mariano Rivera gave eager reporters some scary quotes and the story resulted in six different newspaper articles.  The key quote from the impending free agent:

"I definitely want to finish my career here, but if they don’t give me the respect that I deserve…I’m not going to stay at my house crying. I have to move on."

That led various NY papers to create the possibility that Mo could jump over to the Red Sox in 2008.  Mass pandemonium.  But as many of the articles stated, the Yankees have leverage here and baseball is a business.  Rivera likely wants to stay, but he needs to prove himself for the first time.  The Bernie Williams situation is not exactly a parallel, since Rivera has retained his skills well.  But it’s clear that the Yankees won’t make decisions based on nostalgia.

Brian Cashman and Co. will wait to see if Rivera’s elbow holds up this season.  If they can get him for two years and $24MM after that, as Ken Davidoff suggests, he’ll finish his career as a Yankee.  If he gets injured this year or demands a three-year deal, there’s a good chance the team turns to its numerous internal options.

Zambrano Issues Ultimatum

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In a television interview yesterday, Carlos Zambrano drew a line in the sand.  He’s leaving the Cubs if he doesn’t have a contract extension before the season begins.  He even referred to himself in the third person.  Zambrano expects to be compensated like Barry Zito. 

A review of the Zito contract: seven years, $126MM guaranteed with a full no-trade clause.  Zito’s deal also includes an eighth year option that could be reached based on innings pitched, as well as bonuses for winning the Cy Young.  Zambrano is a full three years younger than Zito.  And fair or not, pitching in the NL has kept his raw ERAs at 3.41 or less in each of his four full seasons.  While that may not make Zambrano the better pitcher, he’ll get credit for it in his contract.

It’s not hard to picture Zambrano as a $20MM player on the open market, all things considered.  And if he really wants to maximize his value he could take a three-year deal a la Rafael Furcal.  Zambrano was formerly represented by Scott Boras but now employs Barry Praver and Scott Shapiro.  Praver is best known for representing Sidney Ponson.

Zambrano Issues Ultimatum

By | at

In a television interview yesterday, Carlos Zambrano drew a line in the sand.  He’s leaving the Cubs if he doesn’t have a contract extension before the season begins.  He even referred to himself in the third person.  Zambrano expects to be compensated like Barry Zito. 

A review of the Zito contract: seven years, $126MM guaranteed with a full no-trade clause.  Zito’s deal also includes an eighth year option that could be reached based on innings pitched, as well as bonuses for winning the Cy Young.  Zambrano is a full three years younger than Zito.  And fair or not, pitching in the NL has kept his raw ERAs at 3.41 or less in each of his four full seasons.  While that may not make Zambrano the better pitcher, he’ll get credit for it in his contract.

It’s not hard to picture Zambrano as a $20MM player on the open market, all things considered.  And if he really wants to maximize his value he could take a three-year deal a la Rafael Furcal.  Zambrano was formerly represented by Scott Boras but now employs Barry Praver and Scott Shapiro.  Praver is best known for representing Sidney Ponson.

Orioles Sign Steve Trachsel

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UPDATE: The O’s wasted no time replacing Benson, signing Steve Trachsel to a one-year $3.1MM deal with a $4.75MM club option for ’08.  PECOTA says the Orioles overpaid by $625,000.  Assuming he can hold together for 180 innings, Trax should be a tolerable replacement.

The big news today courtesy of Ken Rosenthal is that Orioles starter Kris Benson is out for the season because of a rotator cuff tear.  It’s a bummer for Benson, as it may result in his $7.5MM option for ’08 being declined.

The injury leaves the Orioles scrambling to find a starter who can provide 180 innings of 4.90 ball in the AL East.  Rodrigo Lopez might’ve been that guy; Hayden Penn probably isn’t ready to do that yet.  The team will probably bring in a veteran replacement.  Rosenthal mentions Steve Trachsel as the most likely, as well as Mark Redman and Ron Villone.  Villone last started in 2004.

Additionally, there are plenty of trade options, as discussed yesterday.  Mike Maroth would be a nice pickup. 

Orioles Sign Steve Trachsel

By | at

UPDATE: The O’s wasted no time replacing Benson, signing Steve Trachsel to a one-year $3.1MM deal with a $4.75MM club option for ’08.  PECOTA says the Orioles overpaid by $625,000.  Assuming he can hold together for 180 innings, Trax should be a tolerable replacement.

The big news today courtesy of Ken Rosenthal is that Orioles starter Kris Benson is out for the season because of a rotator cuff tear.  It’s a bummer for Benson, as it may result in his $7.5MM option for ’08 being declined.

The injury leaves the Orioles scrambling to find a starter who can provide 180 innings of 4.90 ball in the AL East.  Rodrigo Lopez might’ve been that guy; Hayden Penn probably isn’t ready to do that yet.  The team will probably bring in a veteran replacement.  Rosenthal mentions Steve Trachsel as the most likely, as well as Mark Redman and Ron Villone.  Villone last started in 2004.

Additionally, there are plenty of trade options, as discussed yesterday.  Mike Maroth would be a nice pickup. 

Marlins Not Amused With Cabrera

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Marlins President David Samson went out of his way last weekend to express the team’s displeasure with Miguel Cabrera.  He said the team is "extremely disappointed" that Cabrera missed the team’s FanFest.  In several of Samson’s quotes he stresses how Cabrera was not there with his teammates.

The Palm Beach Post’s Joe Capozzi has a source indicating that Cabrera skipped the event because he isn’t happy being taken to arbitration over $700,000.  He’ll already be accounting for a third of the payroll; you have to wonder if the Marlins are already priming fans for Cabrera’s exit.  There seemed to be the same lack of professionalism prior to Joe Girardi’s departure.

Cabrera is the rare young star player who may reach free agency after his first six seasons.  The Marlins have several years to sit back and wait for the offer they can’t refuse. 

Marlins Not Amused With Cabrera

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Marlins President David Samson went out of his way last weekend to express the team’s displeasure with Miguel Cabrera.  He said the team is "extremely disappointed" that Cabrera missed the team’s FanFest.  In several of Samson’s quotes he stresses how Cabrera was not there with his teammates.

The Palm Beach Post’s Joe Capozzi has a source indicating that Cabrera skipped the event because he isn’t happy being taken to arbitration over $700,000.  He’ll already be accounting for a third of the payroll; you have to wonder if the Marlins are already priming fans for Cabrera’s exit.  There seemed to be the same lack of professionalism prior to Joe Girardi’s departure.

Cabrera is the rare young star player who may reach free agency after his first six seasons.  The Marlins have several years to sit back and wait for the offer they can’t refuse. 

Spring Trade Candidates

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Joel Sherman of the New York Post runs down some trade candidates for this spring.  His list is fairly comprehensive.  A quick rundown:

Starters

Carl Pavano, Jon Lieber, Mark Hendrickson, Brad Penny, Mike Maroth, Dan Haren

Relievers

Akinori Otsuka, Armando Benitez, Chad Cordero, Scott Linebrink

First Basemen

Todd Helton

Outfielders

Jacque Jones, Rocco Baldelli, Ryan Church, Adam Dunn, Chone Figgins, Jay Gibbons, Ryan Langerhans, Brady Clark, Geoff Jenkins, Kevin Mench, Aaron Rowand, Ichiro Suzuki

Excellent list.  How we expand it to summertime to consider some more trade candidates?  I have a hunch Kenny Williams will do his fair share of wheeling and dealing.  It would make sense to cash in Mark Buehrle for something good, as he seems unlikely to stay.  Jermaine Dye will be tougher to part with, but he too is an impending free agent.  Joe Crede will reach free agency after ’08, so there’s less urgency to send him packing.

As far as the whole trading off impending free agents idea, here are some possibilities: Mike Lowell, Michael Barrett, Jason LaRue, Ivan Rodriguez, Eric Byrnes, Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Mike Sweeney, Byung-Hyun Kim, and Jake Westbrook.  Jones and Rodriguez have full no-trade clauses, however.  Sweeney and Hunter have partials. 

Anyone being pushed by a stud prospect?  Orlando Cabrera and Scott Hatteberg may feel the pressure, in addition to the aforementioned Crede and Jacque Jones.  Adam Miller could force his way into the Cleveland rotation, which could result in a trade of Westbrook, Paul Byrd, or Cliff Lee.

When should we expect some deals?  Nothing major happened in February of 2006.  The biggest deal of March ’06 was probably Bronson Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena.  In April of last year, we saw deals for Brandon Phillips and David Dellucci.  All in all, expect just a handful a trades until we hit summertime.

Spring Trade Candidates

By | at

Joel Sherman of the New York Post runs down some trade candidates for this spring.  His list is fairly comprehensive.  A quick rundown:

Starters

Carl Pavano, Jon Lieber, Mark Hendrickson, Brad Penny, Mike Maroth, Dan Haren

Relievers

Akinori Otsuka, Armando Benitez, Chad Cordero, Scott Linebrink

First Basemen

Todd Helton

Outfielders

Jacque Jones, Rocco Baldelli, Ryan Church, Adam Dunn, Chone Figgins, Jay Gibbons, Ryan Langerhans, Brady Clark, Geoff Jenkins, Kevin Mench, Aaron Rowand, Ichiro Suzuki

Excellent list.  How we expand it to summertime to consider some more trade candidates?  I have a hunch Kenny Williams will do his fair share of wheeling and dealing.  It would make sense to cash in Mark Buehrle for something good, as he seems unlikely to stay.  Jermaine Dye will be tougher to part with, but he too is an impending free agent.  Joe Crede will reach free agency after ’08, so there’s less urgency to send him packing.

As far as the whole trading off impending free agents idea, here are some possibilities: Mike Lowell, Michael Barrett, Jason LaRue, Ivan Rodriguez, Eric Byrnes, Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Mike Sweeney, Byung-Hyun Kim, and Jake Westbrook.  Jones and Rodriguez have full no-trade clauses, however.  Sweeney and Hunter have partials. 

Anyone being pushed by a stud prospect?  Orlando Cabrera and Scott Hatteberg may feel the pressure, in addition to the aforementioned Crede and Jacque Jones.  Adam Miller could force his way into the Cleveland rotation, which could result in a trade of Westbrook, Paul Byrd, or Cliff Lee.

When should we expect some deals?  Nothing major happened in February of 2006.  The biggest deal of March ’06 was probably Bronson Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena.  In April of last year, we saw deals for Brandon Phillips and David Dellucci.  All in all, expect just a handful a trades until we hit summertime.

Twins Sign Mauer To Extension

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As you’ve likely heard by now, the Twins signed superstar catcher Joe Mauer to a four-year, $33MM deal today.  With the contract, the Twins bought out what would’ve been Mauer’s first year of free agency, 2010.  These types of deals are becoming all the rage these days.  The supply of star players making it to free agency after six seasons is definitely on the decline. 

Mauer will earn $3.75MM in ’07, $6.25MM in ’08, $10.5MM in ’09, and $12.5MM in ’10. In case you were wondering, PECOTA absolutely adores Mauer and his future.  Guess how much PECOTA thinks Mauer is worth over the life of his new contract?  Just over $140 million for the four seasons.  The projection system values him at almost $37MM in 2010 alone.  I guess that’s because not too many catchers are projected to hit .326/.406/.497 that year.  I should add that his peak projected value is 2009, when he could be worth almost $40 million.   

Miguel Cabrera will be eligible for free agency after the 2009 season.  PECOTA thinks he’ll be worth $29.275MM in 2010 and $30.15MM in 2011.  How’s seven years, $200 million sound?  Should be fun. 

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