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Archives for June 2008

Will Any Team Gamble On Ponson?

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Sidney Ponson won’t be missed in Texas, despite a 3.88 ERA in nine starts.  Ponson coupled good control with a 57.3% groundball rate, compensating for a lack of strikeouts and tons of hits.  The Rangers decided after a couple of incidents that it wasn’t worth it.

Nonetheless, a few Astros players asked Houston Chronicle beat writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz to encourage the team to sign Ponson.  Ponson sounds like a decent-sized (pun intended) clubhouse distraction, but he keeps getting chances.  Barry Bonds must really destroy a clubhouse.  

Rosenthal’s Latest: Roberts, Bonds, Dunn

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column; let’s discuss.

  • Rosenthal notes that many contenders will need relief help come July.  We’ve got a list of available relievers here.
  • The Brewers are interested in second baseman Brian Roberts.  Rosenthal suggests they offer Rickie Weeks for Roberts and another player.  Rosenthal notes that the various rumored springtime Cubs offers are now off the table.
  • Barry Bonds is not a consideration for Boston even if David Ortiz’s injury becomes long-term.  Rosenthal believes Adam Dunn could be on the radar under that scenario.

Percival Return Will Cause Roster Crunch

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MLB.com’s Bill Chastain writes of an impending Rays roster crunch.  Closer Troy Percival can come off the DL Friday.  Percival’s replacement, Grant Balfour, doesn’t deserve a demotion.  He’s out of options, and the Rays would have to sneak him through waivers to get him back to Triple A.  Balfour did clear waivers in April.  Given his situation and success this year, perhaps we can add Balfour to our Reliever Market list. 

The Rays acquired Balfour from the Brewers for Seth McClung last July.  He’s endured all kinds of injury problems but seems on track in ’08.  DRays Bay suggests keeping Balfour and either cutting Gary Glover or trading Jason Hammel.

Ellis Still Wants To Stay

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More from John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle:  Mark Ellis still wants to re-sign with the Athletics in the offseason rather than test free agency, which could be lucrative for him.  This remains even after the A’s drafted second baseman Jemile Weeks with their first pick in the draft.  Says Ellis,

"You never know what’ll happen in the draft. You need players. Baseball drafts aren’t like football or basketball drafts where you see these guys right away."

True.  If Jemile Weeks comes up in 2-3 years, Ellis could be a trade piece for Beane but that’s very conditional and Ellis is happy in Oakland.  Solidifying reports that he’ll stay in Oakland, Ellis says,

"I would think if something got done, it would be before the season’s over. I’m not saying (free agency) wouldn’t be fun to do, but I’m happy here. The organization has been good to me, and it’s an organization (in which) you always have a chance to win. You never know what’s out there (on the open market). You don’t know if everyone will like you or if nobody will like you."

Nothing new there, but it’s always refreshing to see a player take a hometown discount, as Ellis seemingly will, instead of the big payday in free agency.  I’m sure Orlando Hudson agrees.

By Nat Boyle

Rincon On His Way Out?

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Long time Twin reliever Juan Rincon may be the odd man out when the Twins reduce their pitching staff from 13 to 12 – this from Kelsie Smith of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.  Rincon is sporting a 5.19 ERA through 23 games, comparable to last years 5.13 ERA and a far cry from his career 3.63. 

Rincon could still finish strong and hit his PECOTA projected ERA of 3.92.  After being busted for steroids in 2006, Rincon went on to post a 2.91 ERA; however, he became hittable in 2007 and that trend continues.  His H/9, BB/9, and K/9 have all been declining.  Still, Rincon is only 29 so he may just need a change of scenery, not uncommon for relievers and setup men.

Says Manager Ron Gardenhire,  "All we can do is keep running them out there until some other decision is made where we can’t."  If they can’t, Rincon will most likely be designated for assignment.  The righty is making $2.475MM on a 1-year contract this season and his stock is at an all time low. There should be interest abound.

By Nat Boyle

Odds & Ends: Beckham, Bedard, Bonds, Mulder

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Lots of high profile players in today’s Odds & Ends:

  • The Rays have opened contract discussions with first overall pick Tim Beckham, says Marc Topkin.
  • Phil Rogers of the Chicago Sports Tribune suggests we add Erik Bedard to the list of starting pitchers who may be available at the trade deadline.  More appropriately, Rogers also notes the M’s will most likely hold on to Bedard through 2009, a far more likely outcome.
  • Also in the longshot rumor department, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle speculates on Barry Bonds playing for the Red Sox.  Personally, I would predict there’s a 0.0% chance Bonds plays in Boston.
  • In that same piece by John Shea, Mark Mulder could be done.  He’s rejecting the idea of a third surgery and attempting to alter his delivery to remain effective and pain free.
  • Will Carroll reports Jeremy Bonderman has undergone surgery to overcome Thoracic Outlet Syndrome – as I understand it, a pinched vein causing a blood clot – and will need a minimum of 6 months to a year of recovery time.  This should keep Armando Gallaraga and Dontrelle Willis in the rotation.

By Nat Boyle

Dayan Viciedo Defects From Cuba

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12:45pm  Baseball America’s John Manuel has a solid write up on Viciedo and his free agent status.  Agent Jamie Torres says, "He was processed at the end of May. To me, he was not drafted and should be an undrafted free agent. We’ll see if the union agrees with me." The catch here is whether or not Viciedo is subject to the rules of the draft now that he’s in the U.S.  Had he gone to the Dominican Republic, for example, he could be a free agent. Since teams weren’t informed of his eligibility to be signed or drafted, his status remains to be determined.  Manuel also presents mixed reviews of Viciedo’s potential, but his hitting ability is not in question.

According to Jorge Ebro and Wilfredo Cancio Isla of the Miami Herald, Dayan Viciedo, a 19 year old Cuban ballplayer, has defected from his home country and arrived in Miami with renewed motivation.  This is a new name for me, but Ebro and Cancio shed some light on the arrival of a promising new talent: 

"Born March 10, 1989… Viciedo is regarded as the best Cuban baseball player in the past eight years after Kendry Morales, who defected in 2004 and now plays in the Los Angeles Angels’ system.

’Dayán is going to spark a lot of talk in the majors,” said his agent, Puerto Rican lawyer Jaime Torres, ’He has arrived with youth, he is very versatile and his conditioning is exceptional. We will soon see him wearing the uniform of a major league team.’"

Viciedo is 6’2", 202 lbs capable of playing SS, 3B, and OF.  According to the Havana Journal, at 16 he was the youngest Cuban All Star in history.  At 18, he was chosen to play in the World Baseball Classic in the U.S. and is often compared to Omar Linares, one of the greatest Cuban players of all time.  Baseball in Cuba has been on continued decline without motivated players.

No word on interested teams yet.  Anyone have any more insight on Viciedo?

By Nat Boyle

Odds And Ends: Flurry of DFAs And GM Contract Talks

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Tying lose ends on a very slow Saturday indeed.

  • In a series of moves, the Jay’s have activated Vernon Wells with less than a month after he broke his wrist in Cleveland and DFA’d Armando Benitez. I guess they’re not going after Bonds.
  • Steinbrenner: "There are no plans to sit down and talk with general manager Brian Cashman about his contract status." The G.M.’s contract expires after the 2008 season.
  • By activating Jayson Werth from the DL, the Phillies were forced to DFA Chris Snelling, but the young outfielder is out of options. He has three days to accept the assignment or become a free agent.
  • In order to make room for the newly-acquired Berroa, the Dodgers DFA’d Terry Tiffee. Dodgers beat writer Tony Jackson thinks he could be more expendable this way if he gets claimed off waivers.
  • Bengie Molina is upset by comments made by Giant’s G.M. Brian Sabean after this week’s draft. Sabean said Buster Posey "is on the fast track and Bengie’s clock is winding down."

Alejandro "the intern" Leal writes for UmpBump.com. You can reach him here.

Have Injuries Knocked Tigers, Indians Out Of Contention?

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Frustration continues to mount as both the Indians and Tigers lost a key starter to injury this week. Jeremy Bonderman is out with a blood clot, and Jake Westbrook will undergo Tommy John surgery; both pitchers are likely out for the season.

Since these two teams where once considered favorites to contend for the AL Central crown, it seems highly implausible that they would forfeit the season in early June. So, dear readers, what options do these two teams have? Do they trade for pitching and hope their offenses carry them through? Do they try to spark their offense via free agency? Do they give up and hope for a better 2009?

For one, as an AL exec told Jayson Stark, the Tigers seem to be out of prospects good enough to trade for big league talent.

And the Indians’ pitching has been good enough, but it’s been their inconsistent offense (with a punch-less Travis Hafner in particular) that has them six games out of first.

Arguably, the Indians seem to be the team with the best shot at a comeback, so what’s the plan? Do the Tribe get another bat to replace Hafner? Do the Tigers trade a couple of big names for an arm?

Alejandro Leal writes for UmpBump.com. You can reach him here.

Olney’s Latest: Bonderman, Perez, Wolf, Bonds

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Buster Olney makes some noise on a quiet Saturday:

  • There is concern Jeremy Bonderman has a circulation problem in his shoulder or arm which would quiet Jayson Stark’s inquiry as to whether or not the Tigers would deal him for (more) offense.
  • Willie Randolph keeps the faith with starter Oliver Perez but, as Olney points out, "if [Perez] were to be dropped from the rotation, it would be an enormous hit for a pitcher expected to be among the better free agents in the fall." I’ll say.
  • Randy Wolf ups his trade value (and likelihood) with every good start.  He’s 3-1 at Petco with a 2.38 ERA compared to 1-3 with a 5.38 ERA on the road.  Maybe the Padres should try to get him a few extra starts at home to up his value.
  • Barry Bonds’ trial was set for next March; however, this doesn’t change his odds of playing, says Olney, because everyone already expected the date to be set after the season.

By Nat Boyle

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