Nationals Fail To Sign Aaron Crow
FRIDAY: Baseball America’s Jim Callis says the Nationals failed to sign Crow. The Nats were at $3.3MM and Crow’s agents at $4MM. So, the Nats missed out on a quality pitching prospect over a matter of $700K.
The Nationals signed 15th rounder J.P. Ramirez to an above-slot deal as a consolation prize.
THURSDAY: According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Nationals top draft pick Aaron Crow signed a contract with the Fort Worth Cats yesterday. Crow’s agent says he and Jim Bowden don’t have anything more to discuss.
As Ricky Treon points out, this could still go either way. As of right now it seems like Crow still wants a Major League contract and the Nats won’t do it.
Rangers Sign Justin Smoak
11:15pm: Smoak gets $3.5MM, per Jim Callis.
11:07pm: According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, Smoak has been signed to a minor league deal. Terms are not yet known.
10:33pm: MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo heard an agreement between the Rangers and top pick Justin Smoak might be close, a big league deal worth more than $3MM. The Rangers will not confirm it though. Mayo considers Smoak and Yonder Alonso‘s fates linked.
Yankees Fail To Sign Gerrit Cole
FRIDAY: It’s official – Cole did not sign with the Yankees, according to Baseball America’s Jim Callis. No matter how you spin it, this is an unfortunate development for the Yanks.
THURSDAY: According to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times, draft pick Gerrit Cole has chosen to attend U.C.L.A. rather than sign with the Yankees. The 17 year-old did not make the decision because of money or Scott Boras. He simply talked it over with his family and decided he prefers college.
Cole was drafted 28th overall, so the Yankees will receive an additional pick in that range in ’09 (depending on which other first-rounders do not sign). The Yanks will have less leverage with that pick, as it will not carry over to 2010 if he does not sign.
Padres Sign Allan Dykstra
11:10pm: Baseball America’s Jim Callis says Dykstra signed for $1.15MM.
11:07pm: Padres draft pick Allan Dykstra was widely considered the first rounder least likely to sign, due to representation by Scott Boras and a hip issue that came up in his physical. However, the deal was completed this evening before the buzzer for at least $1MM.
Juan Cruz Headed For Free Agency
Hard-throwing Diamondbacks reliever Juan Cruz will be eligible for free agency for the first time after this season, and he’s been looking forward to it. The 29 year-old boasts a massive strikeout rate, but problems with the free pass persist. This year he’s missed time with oblique and neck injuries. In ’06 and ’07, it was his shoulder.
Cruz is younger than most other free agent relievers, so he might be able to snag a multiyear deal at $3-4MM per year. Nick Piecoro says Cruz hasn’t had any talks with the D’Backs about an extension; look for him to sign elsewhere.
Dodgers Win Claim On Ron Belliard?
9:15pm: MLB.com’s Bill Ladson thinks the Nats will keep Belliard, because they’re in a bind at shortstop due to injuries.
FRIDAY, 7:57am: MLB.com’s Bill Ladson says Jim Bowden and Ned Colletti have not spoken this week. Ken Rosenthal believes the Dodgers are interested in Belliard, and says he did not clear waivers. Dylan Hernandez says the Dodgers made the claim on Belliard to block the D’Backs, but Rosenthal does not agree.
THURSDAY, 11:26pm: According to Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News, the Dodgers won a waiver claim on Nationals infielder Ron Belliard. The two teams are discussing a trade.
Belliard, 33, is hitting .237/.340/.442 in 259 plate appearances. He’s played first, second, and third base this year for the Nats. Belliard is owed another $395K this year plus $1.9MM in ’09. With Casey Blake in the fold and Nomar Garciaparra off the DL, Belliard makes less sense for the Dodgers than he did in July. Still, he could be a cheap second baseman for ’09 if Jeff Kent retires.
Rays Not Interested In Bonds
Just to hammer the point home, Barry Bonds‘ agent Jeff Borris told Ken Rosenthal today that Rays GM Andrew Friedman failed to respond to his text message. The Rays would like to add a hitter, but they’ve never had serious interest in Bonds. Borris believes his client has been "blackballed" by MLB.
Rosenthal says the Rays would only consider Gary Sheffield if the Tigers picked up the majority of his contract, understandably. They’re not interested in Kenny Lofton or Jose Vidro.
Bonser Not Discussed In Washburn Talks
8:42pm: Hold the phone – John Hickey says Bonser’s name never came up in the Washburn talks. Jim Street and Larry Stone agree. The criticism of the Mariners may be somewhat unjustified. Hickey says Nick Blackburn was on the table for a very brief period of time. Lee Pelekoudas was tight-lipped on the topic.
4:52pm: Even Washburn can’t believe the Mariners wouldn’t trade him for Bonser. He’s disappointed the trade didn’t go through. Perhaps a new GM will deal him this winter.
FRIDAY, 12:19pm: Joe Christensen has details on the Twins’ uncharacteristic claim of Washburn. He heard they offered the Mariners Boof Bonser (plus apparently the salary relief), but the Ms wanted someone like Nick Blackburn or Kevin Slowey. It is hard to see this as anything but a blunder for the Mariners’ front office.
On a related note, Scott Miller says Lee Pelekoudas will not become the Mariners’ permanent GM, while Jon Heyman says Kevin Towers is unlikely. Pat Gillick is still rumored as a possibility for the next team president.
THURSDAY
11:48pm: Baker says the Twins put in claims on both Washburn and Ibanez, but only won the Washburn one. With Washburn, the Twins would’ve put him in the rotation and moved a starter to the setup man role. Baker notes that a deal still could happen.
4:58pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Twins won the Washburn claim and the Tigers won the Ibanez claim. The Red Sox and Mets also put in claims on Ibanez. Interesting on both fronts, but no deals were struck so both players will remain with the Mariners.
Heyman says that while the Twins’ Washburn claim had the flavor of a blocking move, the two teams did have trade discussions. There wasn’t really anyone to block, unless the White Sox were lying about their lack of interest.
4:56pm: The Cardinals did not put in a claim on Washburn, according to Derrick Goold.
3:00pm: Geoff Baker expects that the Mariners will hold onto Ibanez, given the compensatory picks they’ll receive this winter. He further speculates that Washburn’s next start will not be for Seattle.
10:54am: The Twins didn’t win the claim on Ibanez, according to Joe Christensen. Ibanez doesn’t expect a trade, though the Mariners have not discussed an extension with him.
9:57am: Geoff Baker confirms both players have been informed they’ve been placed on waivers. He sees the Jays, Red Sox, and Rays as possible AL claimants for Ibanez. Buster Olney considers the Twins a possibility as well. There seems little chance Ibanez would slip to the NL. Baker and Olney also heard an unconfirmed rumor that the Cardinals claimed Washburn.
WEDNESDAY
According to Ken Rosenthal, Mariners players Jarrod Washburn and Raul Ibanez were claimed on waivers yesterday. The Ms have until tomorrow afternoon to work out a deal with the claiming teams. Rosenthal says the Yankees did not claim Washburn.
At the least, the Mariners have a chance to unload Washburn’s contract. Ibanez is inexpensive, so they’ll want quality prospects in return. The Mariners can also elect to keep both players if they don’t like the offers.
The American League received first crack at the two Mariners, in the following order (omitting non-contenders):
- Tigers
- Rangers
- Blue Jays
- Yankees
- Twins
- White Sox
- Red Sox
- Rays
- Angels
Orioles Sign Brian Matusz
FRIDAY: The Orioles reached an agreement with Matusz on a Major League deal worth $3.47MM.
THURSDAY, 12:51pm: MLB.com’s Spencer Fordin says the O’s and Matusz inched closer to a deal, perhaps for a Major League contract worth $3.1MM. However, no agreement is confirmed.
11:16am: Roch Kubatko confirms Matusz’s presence in Baltimore for a physical, but stresses that the pitcher has not signed yet. All signs point to a deal getting done though.
9:43am: According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, Orioles top draft pick Brian Matusz is expected in Baltimore today for a physical and a deal is close. Zrebiec believes Matusz sought a big league contract for $5MM.
Nationals fans have to hope the Matusz deal is wrapped up early and can be used as a benchmark to sign Aaron Crow.
Heyman On Top Free Agents
SI.com’s Jon Heyman names his top seven free agents for this winter, complete with projected contracts. He sees Mark Teixeira getting the largest total deal at $168MM.
Here is the free agent list. After Heyman’s seven, Orlando Hudson, Milton Bradley, Raul Ibanez, Bobby Abreu, A.J. Burnett, Ryan Dempster, Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, and Brian Fuentes should make good money. Feel free to leave some contract predictions in the comments; we can look back at this thread in March.