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Archives for January 2008

Odds and Ends: Cantu, McPherson, Youkilis

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Some evening odds and ends for your enjoyment…

  • The Marlins are "pretty far along" on a deal with Jorge Cantu.  He’d battle with Jose Castillo for playing time at third base.  Dallas McPherson may be another possibility – he had talks with another club (the Giants?) recently fall through.  The Fish are one of three or four clubs McPherson likes, though he’s not sure whether the interest is mutual.  I hope the Marlins sign ’em both, maybe one of the three works out.
  • Nick Cafardo discusses the slight possibility that the Red Sox and Kevin Youkilis discuss a long-term extension rather than go year-to-year with him.  This is Youk’s first year of arbitration eligibility.  I imagine his salary could jump up from $425K to $2-4MM.

Latest Johan Santana Rumors

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UPDATE, 1-2-08 at 10:45pm: Nothing new with Boston’s pursuit of Santana; Nick Cafardo says the Sox still have two different offers on the table for the Twins.  Cafardo notes that Santana’s agent quoted the starting bid around seven years, $140MM – and the Red Sox are fine with that. 

UPDATE, 1-2-08 at 4:19pm: LEN3 adds that the Mariners are not in the running for Johan.  Coupled with the info below it seems to be between the Mets and Red Sox currently.

FROM 1-2-08 at 1:21pm:

Peter Abraham had a note this morning about Johan Santana.  He says "there are no indications the Yankees will suddenly get back into the mix for Santana."  Abraham notes that the main issue for the Yanks remains the massive extension they’d have to give Santana.

Back on December 28th Joel Sherman said the Yanks had "become more entrenched in their unwillingness to pay the price both in prospects and dollars."  He noted that they were reluctant to hand over Phil Hughes or $130MM to Johan.

On the 27th, Jayson Stark said the Yankees last offer was Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez, and an undetermined fourth player, but the proposal was off the table.  Stark believed that Hank Steinbrenner could still decide to re-engage the Santana talks though.

Royals To Sign Bartolo Colon?

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According to the Dominican site Impacto Deportivo, the Royals are moving toward signing Bartolo Colon.  Here’s the article in its original form, and here it is via Google Translator.  We’ll have to wait for confirmation and details before judging anything.

MLB.com’s Bill Ladson wrote on December 4th that the Nationals believed Colon would not accept a one-year deal.  Aside from the Nats, the Mets, Rangers, Cardinals, Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Mariners have been connected to Colon.

2009 MLB Free Agents: The Under-30 Group

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Today let’s take a look at the players in next winter’s free agent class who will be under 30 years old for the 2009 season.

Mark Teixeira (29) – Teixeira is a Scott Boras client, and he seems primed to mash 40 homers and 120 ribbies in his contract year.  I think we’re talking seven years, $150MM here.  Will the Braves pony it up?  What about big budget teams like the Yankees and Mets?  What about the Red Sox, Angels, or Giants?  The Orioles have made no secret about their desire to bring the Annapolis native aboard.  (Speaking of Baltimore, I just finished season four of The Wire and it was awesome).

Felipe Lopez (29) – He’ll need to get his OPS back up over .700 to become interesting.  And the move to second base doesn’t help.

Cesar Izturis (29) – He’s only had an OPS over .700 once in his career…he’ll be flashing the leather for the Cards this year in an attempt to rebuild value.

Hank Blalock (28) – It’d be pretty surprising if the Rangers passed on his $6.2MM option for ’09.

Adam Dunn (29) – He’s basically Teixeira with worse defense.  I wonder if he’ll get Torii Hunter’s five-year, $90MM deal.

Wily Mo Pena (27) – He’s got a $5MM club option or a $2MM player option for ’09…seems that one of ’em will be exercised.

Rocco Baldelli (27) – The Rays have to make his option decision by April 1st.  He remains an intriguing talent in need of a good medical staff.

Jon Garland (29) – Seems that Garland is primed to push the bar for mediocrity to $13-14MM over four or five years.

Oliver Perez (27) – Think he’s going to get a lot of attention next December?  He just needs to replicate his 2007 season to earn himself a good $16MM per year.  No joke.  Earned only $2.3 mil in ’07, too.  Could be an expensive consolation prize for teams that miss out on Sabathia.

C.C. Sabathia (28) – Johan Santana’s contract may serve as a guidepost…I’d be surprised if Sabathia takes less than $20MM annually.  He’s the top free agent pitcher in this class, unless Santana plays out the string with the Twins.

Francisco Rodriguez (27) – Mariano Rivera got three years, $45MM.  K-Rod is set to coast past that to set a contract record for a closer.  Five years, $80MM maybe?  Seems absurd but could happen.  If he doesn’t fly past Rivera, Joe Nathan will.

Rafael Soriano (29) – Could be a $9-10MM guy if he has a big year and saves 35 for the Braves.  If the Braves lose Soriano and Teixeira, at least they’ll get some sweet draft picks.

Juan Cruz (28) – Intriguing live strikeout arm, needs a healthy ’08.

Brandon Lyon (29) – Could earn one of those big-money setup man deals for $5-6MM over three or four years.

Mailbag: Nioka, Crede, Snell

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Let’s dig through the ol’ mailbag once again.  Feel free to shoot an email to mlbtraderumors@gmail.com.

Do you have any news regarding Japanese shortstop Tomohiro Nioka? Is he a free agent and are any teams pursuing him? – Bob

It seems that Nioka turned out to be ineligible for free agency.  We’ll have to keep an eye out for him next year.

What’s up with Joe Crede? Will the ChiSox be looking to deal him this summer if they are struggling? And if so, you have to believe the Phillies would be top contenders for him. – Dan

I’m almost certain Crede will be dealt, I’m just not sure when.  Maybe after a week or two of proving his health in Spring Training?  Josh Fields needs his reps at third base, so I’d be surprised if the Sox started the season with Crede at the hot corner.  The Phillies seem like the perfect fit, especially since Kenny Williams and Pat Gillick have gotten together for many deals.

Have you heard anything about a package of Snell and Bay from Pittsburgh to the M’s for some prospects? – Aaron

Jake at Bucco Blog heard this rumor just a few days ago.  Both of them going to Seattle would represent a whole lot of talent.  Seems that it would require Adam Jones and then some.  Might make more sense for the Mariners to target just Snell, since they’re in fine shape in the outfield.

Jays Re-Sign Reed Johnson

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Today, the Jays inked arbitration-eligible left fielder Reed Johnson to a one-year, $3.27MM deal.  I had considered Johnson a non-tender candidate a couple of weeks ago after he posted a .625 OPS in an injury-shortened 2007.  He was much better in ’06, posting a career-best .869 OPS as the team’s leadoff hitter.

The Jays have six outfielders on their 40-man roster: Buck Coats, Johnson, Adam Lind, Alex Rios, Matt Stairs, and Vernon Wells.  Since Frank Thomas can only DH, Johnson, Stairs, and Lind will all have to battle for playing time in left field.  Lind could be the odd man out.  The 24 year-old might yet become an above average hitter, even for a left fielder.

Ranger Rumors: Botts, Otsuka, Padilla

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Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News recently did a Q&A, and there were some interesting hot stove-related tidbits to consider.

  • Grant believes one of Nelson Cruz or Jason Botts will depart before Opening Day.  Botts is out of options, so he may be more likely to go.  While acknowledging that he is a 27 year-old DH, Botts’ recent Major League Equivalencies say he may be able to post an .800 OPS in the bigs.
  • Grant answers a question about Akinori Otsuka and his "scary" elbow.  He says Otsuka probably can’t pitch through the pain and if he did his ligament would be at risk of tearing anyway.  That’s why Otsuka is a free agent (not because he recommended San Diego to Kosuke Fukudome). The Padres and Phillies have been linked to Otsuka, while the White Sox passed on him.
  • Grant notes that the Mariners had mild interest in Vicente Padilla but that may be gone with their Carlos Silva signing.  Since Padilla’s value is at a low point it may make sense to hope he has a solid first half and deal him then.

Rockies May Sign Giles, Towers

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According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have several bargain-priced free agents on their radar.

GM Dan O’Dowd has ongoing talks with second baseman Marcus Giles, who prefers Colorado.  Seems like the best place to rebuild value for Giles, who will turn 30 in May.  Coors Field inflates right-handed batting average by 17% and right-handed home runs bt 23%, according to the Bill James Handbook.  Giles made $3.25MM in 2007 but hit just .229/.304/.317.

Giles’ agent says a few other teams are involved on him, and Renck adds that Todd Walker remains an option.

Pitching-wise, the Rockies are targeting Josh Towers, who turns 30 in February.  Victor Zambrano is still a secondary option.  Towers seems a decent bargain, but his home run issues won’t play well in Coors (obviously).  Chad Durbin only required $900K, so maybe Towers will be in that range.  I don’t think Rodrigo Lopez is in play; I’m told he may not be ready until the All-Star break at the earliest.

Odds and Ends: Hillenbrand, Tsao, Uehara

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Here are some random bits and pieces to hold us over until front offices re-open…

  • Shea Hillenbrand has only received one inquiry this winter – from the Giants.  He probably won’t be earning $6MM again.  Hillenbrand posted a .599 OPS in 267 ABs for the Angels and Dodgers this year.  I thought perhaps that was one of the worst performances of the decade for guys with 250+ ABs.  However it’s only the 49th worst since 2000.  Homer Bush’s 2000 takes the cake – a .524 OPS for the Blue Jays in 297 ABs.
  • The Royals inked Chin-Hui Tsao to a minor-league deal.  Tsao was once considered the Rockies’ best prospect, but he’s been decimated by injuries.  Makes sense for the Royals to throw him a bone though.
  • Koji Uehara re-signed with the Yomiuri Giants for 400 million yen – about $3.57MM.  He’ll turn 33 in April.  A hamstring injury knocked Uehara out of the ’07 season’s first month, denying him free agency this winter.  Now he needs to be active for just eight days to be eligible after the season.  The Giants used him in relief in ’07, perhaps to spite him.  Read more about that and his repertoire in my Q&A with Mike Plugh on Uehara.   
  • John Fay runs down the Reds’ veteran free agent starter options.
  • A-Rod still won’t return Scott Boras’ calls.
  • Jason Churchill names some intriguing, possibly available young hurlers who may be on Seattle’s radar: Scott Olsen, Noah Lowry, Daniel Cabrera, Edwin Jackson, Chris Capuano, Ian Snell, and Anthony Reyes.
  • Nothing is cooking with Brandon Inge, and the Tigers won’t be bringing Sean Casey back.

Yu Darvish On Yankees’ Radar?

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Yu Darvish is a 21 year-old Iranian-Japanese starter for the Nippon Ham Fighters.  Darvish backs up his celebrity status as perhaps Japan’s best pitcher.  His Wikipedia page is a good read.

Today, East Windup Chronicle speaks of a thirdhand report indicating the Yankees’ intent to acquire Darvish after the 2008 season.  Apparently the Dodgers, Mets, and Cubs are on his trail as well.  According to the report, Daisuke Matsuzaka’s $8.6MM salary would be the floor with Darvish.  And I’m guessing his posting fee would easily exceed Dice-K’s $51.1MM. 

Two huge questions remain.  Are the Fighters actually considering posting Darvish after the ’08 season?  The loss of such a popular player would be a huge hit for Japanese baseball.  Also, does Darvish even want to play in the U.S.? 

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