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Archives for October 2007

Cubs Targeting A Right Fielder

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According to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald, the Cubs have a lefthanded-hitting right fielder with power atop their offseason wish list.  The name that comes to mind: Kosuke Fukudome.

Is it possible that Fukudome gets lost in the winter shuffle a bit and becomes a mild bargain?  Something like three years, $30MM?  Problem is that if he’s only going to be a 15 HR guy, he needs to compensate for that by playing strong defense and posting a .380 OBP.

In terms of left-handed hitting right fielders with power, the Cubs could also consider Luke Scott, Ken Griffey Jr., and maybe Bobby Abreu if the Yanks cut him loose.  The first two would involve intra-division trades though.  Hopefully the Cubs don’t go for Shawn Green.

The Cubs could double-dip in the Japanese market, as Miles says they’ll look to add starting pitching depth.  Hiroki Kuroda has been the starter connected to the Cubs thus far this offseason.

Miles adds that Jim Hendry is satisfied with Ryan Theriot as a starter.  I liked the idea of Edgar Renteria, but failing that I’d consider giving Ronny Cedeno another shot.

The Cubs also seem to have some notion that they need to add speed, which seems like it could result in a bad decision similar to the Juan Pierre trade (ie, a Kaz Matsui signing or something).

Jays To Retain Stairs, Cut Towers?

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I feel like with two guys named stairs and towers I could craft some sort of amusing play on words.  Oh well.  Here’s the latest on the Blue Jays.

  • They’ll pass on A-Rod, says J.P. Ricciardi.  No surprise there, but now it’s official.  They could still stand an upgrade at shortstop though.  Unless Travis Hafner teaches John McDonald how to hit.  Hafner needs to get himself in order first though.
  • The Jays also hope to re-sign Matt Stairs, who wants a raise from last year’s $850K.  Maybe $3MM would get it done.  Stairs was shielded from southpaws a bit but raked .289/.368/.549 overall in 357 ABs.  As I noted before, signing Stairs could result in Reed Johnson being non-tendered.
  • Speaking of non-tendering, Allan Ryan says "Josh Towers’ time as a Jay has clearly passed."  Doesn’t he at least get a gold watch?  Towers earned $2.9MM this year while posting a 5.38 ERA in 107 innings.  Unless the price gets to the silly Jason Marquis territory Towers could be the bargain of the winter for a team like the Padres.  By the way, he’s from California.  Check out a list of other non-tender candidates here.  The Cubs, by the way, haven’t decided on Mark Prior but could cut him and then offer him a lower deal.
  • The Jays hope to retain Sal Fasano and Joe Kennedy.

Yankees Meet With Rivera

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Mark Feinsand has the scoop: Mariano Rivera, his agent, and Brian Cashman have convened at Legends Field in Tampa.  Feinsand says a three-year, $40MM offer is expected.  Most folks assume there’s no chance the Yanks let Mo walk after A-Rod’s departure.

$13.3MM annually would make Rivera the game’s highest-paid closer.  He was already tied for that honor this year with Billy Wagner at $10.5MM.

Rockies Hope To Lock Up Holliday, Cook

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Their season over, Rockies fans are already worrying about Matt Holliday’s future.  Troy E. Renck notes that the Rockies owner insisted they’ll try to sign him long-term.  As it is, Holliday’s $4.4MM salary will jump to $9-10MM in ’08.  He reaches free agency after the 2009 season, but in 2008 I could see him earning $13-15MM.  Oh, and one more thing – Holliday is represented by Scott Boras.

Holliday has a .364/.425/.662 career line at home and a .273/.333/.448 career line on the road.  Todd Helton at least was a .900 OPS guy even on the road, but Holliday basically turns into Jacque Jones when he’s not at Coors.  Nonetheless Boras is going to be talking $20MM annually for eight years if Holliday reaches free agency at age 30.

Fortunately for the Rockies, Cook is not represented by Boras.  He has a certain $4.5MM option for ’08, and then he’ll be eligible for free agency.  Cook’s agent Joe Bick expects extension conversations within a few weeks.  I could see the two sides settling around the three-year, $33MM pact given to Jake Westbrook.   

Cano Not Interested In 3B

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A few days ago, I wrote a post outlining the Yankees’ options for third base, piggybacking on Peter Abraham’s.  One logical scenario he mentioned was to move Robinson Cano to third base and just acquire a second baseman (Orlando Hudson would’ve been nice).

One problem with this option: Cano is not on board.  He said yesterday that he did not want to move back to his old position.  Of course, it’s not his decision and if he wants to get paid he’ll do what the Yankees tell him to do.  We saw this situation play out most recently with Alfonso Soriano, who didn’t want to play outfield for the Nationals.  Still, you’d rather have the player in agreement with the team.

Multiple articles came out today about the Yankees’ third base options, though there wasn’t much we hadn’t already considered in posts or comments here. 

Mark Gonzales mentioned Joe Crede, as did many others.  But Gonzales also threw Josh Fields’ name into the mix.  That doesn’t seem likely but you never do.  Seems like the Yanks would go with Betemit rather than trade for Fields.  I like the Crede match, but you have to wonder if the Yanks will take a pass on Boras clients this winter.

The New York Times named Mike Lowell, but most expect him to stay in Boston.  They also name Crede, as well as Adrian Beltre and Miguel Cabrera.

Dan Graziano threw in a few fresh names – Brandon Inge, Chone Figgins, and even Derek Jeter.

Mets, Marlins Interested In Torrealba

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According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Mets and Marlins have interest in free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba.  The Rockies would like to bring him back, but otherwise they’ll look at Paul Lo Duca or Michael Barrett.

The 29 year-old Torrealba hit .255/.323/.376 in 396 ABs this year.  Typically he hits for a touch more power.  Meanwhile the average NL catcher hit .257/.318/.394 in 2007, so Torrealba’s bat is tolerable.

Torrealba was lousy at throwing out baserunners this year, checking in at just 19.7% caught stealing.  Only Jason Kendall and Johnny Estrada were worse among qualifiers.  Oddly Torrealba threw out 40.4% of baserunners in 2006 and 35.7% the year before.  The reason for the decline is most likely a strained shoulder that lingered into the season.

Torrealba earned $1.075MM in ’07, and he might be looking for $3MM or more in ’08.  Regarding the Marlins, they’re also interested in Barrett, Kendall, and Ramon Castro if they don’t keep Miguel Olivo.

Sizing Up A-Rod Options

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Alex Rodriguez is going to dominate the hot stove headlines for the next several months.  But I’ll be sure to give fair time to all the other interesting stories going on.  Anyway, a score of articles came out yesterday regarding Rodriguez’s possible suitors.  Let’s discuss.

  • Giants: The storyline being promoted by the media is that the Giants need a superstar to replace Barry Bonds, and keeping the career home run record in house is especially appealing.  Plus, they are able to work with Scott Boras (hopefully there are no hard feelings over Barry Zito).  Ann Killion doesn’t like the idea, equating A-Rod to Barry Bonds in some ways.
  • Tigers: One would guess that Edgar Renteria was their big offseason splash, but they also work well with Boras.  And Rodriguez could replace Brandon Inge at third base, adding 6-7 wins for the Tigers in the process.  However Lynn Henning does not see a match given the salary and also the home run-limiting ballpark. 
  • Mariners: The Ms are being mentioned as a possibility if they can somehow unload Richie Sexson’s contract and trade Adrian Beltre.  This doesn’t seem realistic, though U.S.S. Mariner questions the perception of A-Rod in Seattle.
  • Angels: This is my pick for Rodriguez.  However Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden have sources indicating that owner Arte Moreno has already informed Bud Selig he won’t be involved.  Moreno has also said publicly he doesn’t want to pay anyone $20MM+.  But Bill Shaikin has a source indicating that the Halos have indeed discussed A-Rod internally.  Doug Padilla is confident Rodriguez lands with the Angels or Dodgers.  Padilla spoke to a former NL GM still involved in baseball operations who noted a Rodriguez home purchase in the OC.  The Angels seem to be the favorite of oddsmakers, and GM Tony Reagins did not rule it out.
  • Dodgers: Feinsand and Madden say the Joe Torre signing would be a deterrent for A-Rod.  I’m against spending that $7MM per year on any manager.  Manny Acta makes half a million bucks, he’s just as good.
  • Cubs: Here we have the Lou Piniella connection and a shortstop opening.  We also have an unsettled ownership situation likely to get in the way.  Paul Sullivan doesn’t get the vibe that Jim Hendry will go after Rodriguez.  Piniella says the team hasn’t discussed it, and he "doesn’t think there’s anything there."   
  • White Sox: Kenny Williams pretty much said "forget it."  That doesn’t mean there’s zero chance, but it’s always been highly unlikely that the Sox would change course and break the bank for a Boras client. 
  • Phillies: Pat Gillick said the Phils were out of the A-Rod Sweepstakes a while ago.  He was at the helm when Rodriguez left the Ms.
  • Red Sox: Epstein has already spoken about bringing Mike Lowell back as a top priority, though the team is flush wish cash and Rodriguez could play short for a few years.
  • Mets: Mark Hale thinks it will at least be discussed at organizational meetings, even if it’s a long shot.  Bob Klapisch discusses the situation in greater detail here.  As you know, David Wright has said he’d move to second base for A-Rod.  Fantasy geeks would rejoice.   
  • Marlins: Some have thrown them into this as a team with a low payroll and A-Rod’s hometown.  This just doesn’t seem likely at all.
  • Rangers: Evan Grant thinks that even an unlikely second tour with Texas will be discussed internally.
  • Blue Jays: They’re officially out per J.P. Ricciardi.  He expects a quiet offseason.
  • Nate Silver does a nice job of summing up all the teams’ chances over at BP.

Tigers Acquire Edgar Renteria

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Big news!  The Tigers made an early strike to improve the shortstop position by acquiring Edgar Renteria for youngsters Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez.

The Tigers will owe Renteria roughly $6.3MM in ’08 and have a good chance of exercising his $11MM option for ’09.  They’ve added a five-win shortstop in Renteria.

The price was reasonable.  Jurrjens turns 22 in January and can probably jump into the Braves’ rotation.  He throws in the 90-93 with good control.  Kevin Goldstein projected him as a future middle-rotation guy.  The one concern is that shoulder inflammation surfaced in August of this year.

Hernandez is the potential star in the deal.  He turned 20 in September and should man center field in Atlanta for a long time once he’s ready.  He’s a burner with solid defense, but he’s yet to grow into his power.  He’s still a ways from the bigs though.  Goldstein recently ranked him the game’s 10th best CF prospect, behind the Braves’ own Jordan Schafer and others like Jay Bruce, Colby Rasmus, Andrew McCutchen, and Jacoby Ellsbury.

All in all, I think the Tigers did quite well here.  I’d like the deal a bit more for Atlanta if I felt that Jurrjens could provide 180 solid innings in ’08.  Will Carroll and the aforementioned Goldstein contribute some additional analysis at BP.  Sounds like this one began under John Schuerholz.

Brewers To Decline Jenkins’ Option

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Geoff Jenkins for $9MM?  The Brewers prefer the $1MM buyout.  Tom Haurdricourt says the Brewers never seriously considered exercising it, though Jeff Sackmann has shown it isn’t a no-brainer.

Haurdricourt believes the Brewers will go for a one-year stopgap left fielder rather than move Bill Hall or Ryan Braun there or promote Matt La Porta.  Barry Bonds would be an intriguing if unexpected addition.  Guys like Cliff Floyd, Luis Gonzalez, Shannon Stewart, or Brad Wilkerson could be considered.  Or Doug Melvin could even try to pry Adam Dunn away from the division-rival Reds.

As for Jenkins, the Tigers seem to be the early favorite.   

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