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Archives for March 2008

Odds and Ends: Lowry, Mantei, Inge

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Link time!

Rockies Sign Hawpe Long-Term

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Troy Renck of the Denver Post is reporting that the Rockies and Brad Hawpe have agreed to a three-year deal with a fourth-year option. The contract is worth $17MM with the 2011 option expected to be close to $10MM. The deal will lock up Hawpe for each of his arbitration seasons while the team option could eliminate his first year of free agency. The right fielder hit .291-29-116 with a 129 OPS+ in 2007.

The Rockies who won the NL last year with a payroll close to $52MM have now committed $91MM to four of their core players this off-season. In addition to Hawpe, the Rox have given long-term deals to Aaron Cook, Troy Tulowitzki and Manny Corpas. Colorado will see their payroll rise to $70-75MM in 2008.

By Cork Gaines

Reds Sign Corey Patterson

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According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds have signed 28 year-old center fielder Corey Patterson to a minor league deal.  Patterson, a Boras client, makes for a surprising bargain with a dash of upside.  He happened to reach free agency in an offseason with a center field surplus.  He’s reunited with former Cubs manager Dusty Baker, who some say mishandled Patterson at times.  Fay believes this takes Kenny Lofton off the table for Cincy.

The Reds are calling it a center field competition, but Patterson will probably get the gig.  This will allow the Reds to keep Jay Bruce in the minors until June and delay his future free agency by a year.

The Reds also inked another former Cub, Jerry Hairston Jr.  He may have a hard time making the team, but his versatility could help.

Cubs-Orioles Roberts Talks Getting Serious

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According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Cubs and Orioles are talking Brian Roberts trade again.  A source of Heyman’s "indicated discussions were starting to get serious."

Heyman says one scenario has the O’s sending Jay Payton along with Roberts to Chicago.  Although he’d fill the Cubs’ desire for a right-handed hitting fourth outfielder who can handle center, Payton has to have negative trade value with a $5MM salary for ’08 and a .668 OPS last year.  The Cubs could send Jason Marquis back, but his two years and $19.25MM might be overcompensating for Payton’s bad contract.

Heyman names the usual suspects as possible Orioles targets: Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, and Ronny Cedeno.  Murton could again be stuck as a fourth outfielder in Baltimore; blocked prospect Eric Patterson might make more sense.

Odds and Ends: Ponson, Inge, Papelbon

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Let’s round up some Monday morning links.

  • The Cardinals are taking another look at Sidney Ponson.  Insert your own punchline in the comments.
  • Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun could see the O’s making a minor trade for a veteran second baseman if they acquire Ronny Cedeno but not Eric Patterson in a Brian Roberts deal with the Cubs.
  • Brandon Inge is trying his best to talk his way out of town.  The Dodgers’ recently reported nibble hasn’t been publicly shot down, so that’s a plus.
  • South Side Sox thinks speedy infielder Eugenio Velez is the type of player the White Sox could desire for Joe Crede.
  • Jonathan Papelbon wants $900K in his last year before arbitration eligibility.  Ryan Howard set a scary precedent last year.  If Papelbon doesn’t get offered something close, he’d rather make a statement and be renewed near the minimum.
  • Buster Olney suggests Dan Johnson and Doug Mientkiewicz could be possibilities for the Mets in their quest for a backup first baseman.  Olney speculated on Nick Johnson, Scott Hatteberg, Richie Sexson, Tony Clark, and Kevin Millar the day before.

Kyle Lohse Ready To Settle?

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ESPN’s Buster Olney says Kyle Lohse is currently looking for a one-year deal between $4-10MM.  According to Olney, multiple teams have expressed their disinterest in the Boras-represented Lohse.  Lohse at $5MM seems really solid – how is this guy out of work on March 3rd?  He’s even young enough to have upside, which can’t be said for Livan Hernandez.

On Sunday, Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger said the Mets hadn’t ruled out Lohse.  The Mets would probably need to unload an arm or two first though.  Shouldn’t the Phillies, Astros, and Cardinals be in on Lohse too?

Derek Lowe Enters Contract Year

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Dodgers righty Derek Lowe is entering a contract year again, and he feels much less pressure than he did entering the ’04 season.  Lowe posted a 5.42 ERA but still snagged a four-year, $36MM deal from Paul DePodesta.  I believe the deal was panned by many but it turned out phenomenally for L.A.  There’s a decent chance he makes over 130 starts during the life of the contract.  He’s been first or second in the league in groundball rate during each Dodger season.

Lowe turns 35 in June, and could be primed for $12MM a year if he has a typical ’08.  He may be able to find a team willing to go to three years, if Scott Boras is on his game.  Looking at the 2008-09 free agent class, Lowe may be accompanied by A.J. Burnett, Jon Garland, Pedro Martinez, C.C. Sabathia, and Ben Sheets.

Schoeneweis, Jorge Sosa Available

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In many years, no significant March trades are made.  In March ’05, the most noteworthy deal may have been the Rays sending Jorge Sosa to Atlanta for infielder Nick Green.  It was a fluke, but Sosa did win 13 games for the ’05 Braves with a miraculous 2.55 ERA.  Sosa, now with the Mets, is available again according to Adam Rubin.  He’ll make $2MM in ’08, and is a mildly useful swingman.

Rubin says southpaw reliever Scott Schoeneweis is also being shopped.  His was an odd contract when it was signed a year ago; he’ll make $3.6MM in each of the ’08 and ’09 seasons.  Maybe Scott Boras deserves credit for that one.  If the Mets are to unload the 34 year-old they’ll probably have to eat some salary or accept a bad contract in return.   

Mariners Make Offer To Felix

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3-3-08: John Hickey says the Mariners have made an initial offer to Felix.  On Friday I suggested it might take $15-17MM to buy out his three arbitration years.  The Mariners wouldn’t mind buying out a free agent year while they’re at it.

3-1-08: The Seattle Mariners have approached Felix Hernandez and his agent about signing a long-term contract. According to Hernandez’ agent, Wil Polidor, the club has broached the idea but no formal offers have been made. Polidor went on to say that he will be in Arizona for the next two weeks and has plans to meet with Mariners brass.

Hernandez, who was 14-7 with a 3.92 ERA in ’07 will be eligible for arbitration for the first time following the ’08 season.

By Cork Gaines and Tim Dierkes

Hamels Not Jazzed With $500K

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Players seem to be getting disgruntled earlier and earlier these days.  The Phillies renewed Cole Hamels’ contract at $500K, and he called it a "low blow."  Seems that the perceived slight will stick in Hamels’ craw and make future dealings more difficult.  Jim Salisbury does not agree that Hamels has been disrespected.

Hamels has one more year of slumming it under a million bucks before he’ll shoot up to at least the $4-5MM range.  While Hamels isn’t entitled to more than the $500K he received, some might say the Phils are being penny-wise and pound-foolish.  But would giving Hamels a few extra hundred thousand now really have an effect on future negotiations?

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