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Archives for August 2008

Heyman Predicts ’09 Options

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THURSDAY: Reader Christopher G. alerted me to the fact that Smoltz will be a free agent after this season.  According to this MLB.com article, he has a vesting option for ’09 based on pitching 200 innings in ’08.  Obviously Smoltz is unable to reach that total.

WEDNESDAY: SI.com’s Jon Heyman weighs in on 12 players with options for ’09, speculating on whether they will be exercised.  Most of the dozen are easy to predict, except for John Smoltz at $12MM and Brad Penny at $9.25MM with a $2MM buyout.  Heyman sees both of those being picked up.

You can browse all of the options in our 2009 MLB free agents list.  Some players that Heyman did not discuss:

  • Rod Barajas ($2.5MM option, $0.5MM buyout) – He was awful in July, but overall he’s had a solid offensive year.  They’ll exercise it.
  • Hank Blalock ($6.2MM option, $0.25MM buyout) – Another lost year for Blalock, who is not capable of playing third base currently.  He’s only 27, so figure the Rangers will try one more time to get value out of him.  Blalock was almost traded for Josh Beckett back in the day.
  • Cliff Floyd ($2.75MM option, $0.25MM buyout) – There’s been some retirement chatter, but I see both sides wanting one more year.
  • Wily Mo Pena ($5MM club option or $2MM player option) – The club will decline, but Pena should exercise accept his option.  He had shoulder surgery in July and hopes to be ready for spring training.
  • Brian Giles ($9MM option, $3MM buyout) – This seems like an easy call to exercise, but there have been rumblings that the Padres might decline due to payroll concerns.
  • Tim Wakefield (perpetual $4MM option) – Easy call to exercise once again.
  • Salomon Torres ($3.75MM option, $0.3MM buyout) – Torres’ surprising emergence as the Crew’s best relief acquisition means he stays.
  • Tom Gordon ($4.5MM option, $1MM buyout) – If Gordon needs Tommy John surgery, this will be declined and then he may retire.
  • Damaso Marte ($6MM option, $0.25MM buyout) – At one point I might’ve said the Yanks would exercise this, choosing to pay extra for the short commitment.  But now it looks like he’ll become a free agent.

Drama Over Pedro Alvarez Contract

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4:51pm: Jim Callis’ analysis is a must-read at Baseball America.  There is a legitimate chance Alvarez is treated as if he didn’t sign, and will become eligible for the ’09 draft.

2:08pm: Jonathan Mayo, Jenifer Langosch, and Kevin Goldstein dig up more details.  Turns out Hosmer turned down $5.5MM prior to the deadline, but agreed to $6MM during an MLB-approved extension.  The Nats may have had an extension for Aaron Crow as well.

THURSDAY, 8:19am: MLB and the Pirates say the grievance is without merit, while Boras says the Bucs violated MLB’s rules and need to "come clean."  Dejan Kovacevic says the sides have not yet discussed the idea of more money, dismissing the idea that Boras demanded another $200K.  An arbitrator will make a binding decision on this case on September 10th.  Most believe Alvarez will remain a Pirate with a $6MM bonus.

By the way, Royals GM Dayton Moore is not concerned about Hosmer’s contract.

WEDNESDAY, 5:07pm: MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo has been digging all day on this topic.  Many questions remain, but it’s a good read.

2:27pm: Baseball America’s Jim Callis offered thoughts on the situation in a chat today.  He heard Hosmer was granted an extension by MLB, and signed a bit after the deadline.  Alvarez may have been granted one as well.  Alvarez apparently took control of the negotiations toward the end, which may be the cause for Boras’ complaint.  A similar situation happened in ’93 with A-Rod, and the grievance didn’t go anywhere.

Also, it should be noted that the Players Association filed the grievance, not Scott Boras.

2:07pm: MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch talked to a source who said Boras wants another $200K, so that Alvarez’s bonus matches Buster Posey’s.

12:57pm: Turns out Pedro Alvarez has not reported to the Pirates yet for a reason – the Players Association filed a grievance on his behalf today.  They’re saying Alvarez verbally agreed to his $6MM bonus after the midnight deadline on August 15th.  Scott Boras informed the Pirates that Alvarez will not sign the contract unless it is renegotiated at a higher number.  Royals top pick Eric Hosmer may also become tangled up in this mess, since his contract was submitted after Alvarez.

The Pirates issued a statement, showing their displeasure with Boras’ tactics but expressing confidence the grievance will be dropped.  The team also indicates disappointment with Alvarez himself, as he ultimately approved this grievance.  In a way, it seems like Boras is taking a stand in general against the idea of the midnight deadline.

Fuentes, Taveras Placed On Waivers

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3:25pm: Rosenthal says Fuentes’ trip to the bereavement list pretty much kills the chances of a trade.

WEDNESDAY, 10:55am: Troy E. Renck weighs in, suggesting that Taveras might clear waivers.  The Nationals like him, but don’t want to add payroll.  He expects the Dodgers, Rays, and Cardinals to put in claims on Fuentes (the Dodgers would win).  The price remains a premium young starter, even though now the receiving team would get one less month of Fuentes.

TUESDAY: As expected, the Rockies have placed closer Brian Fuentes and center fielder Willy Taveras on waivers.  Ken Rosenthal does not expect either player to clear.

As Rosenthal says, the Rockies will still require a return superior to two draft picks for Fuentes.  He is certain to sign a multiyear deal elsewhere in the offseason.  The Dodgers have first crack among contenders, though a non-contender could put in a claim just for sport.

Taveras is under team control through 2010, unless he is non-tendered before then.  The speedy 26 year-old is hitting just .264/.316/.312 in 465 plate appearances.

Red Sox Acquire Kotsay

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12:01pm: According to ESPN’s Keith Law, the Braves will receive minor league outfielder Luis Sumoza.

10:23am: Rosenthal says it’s done, though the prospect remains unknown.  He is now saying Kotsay did waive no-trade rights, and received $325K to do so.

9:14am: Rosenthal says it’s close, but the teams have not yet agreed on the mid-level prospect.  He says Kotsay does not have no-trade protection this year.

WEDNESDAY, 8:41am: The latest – The Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin wrote late last night that a deal had not been agreed upon.  Meanwhile, John Tomase of the Boston Herald notes Kotsay’s strong relationship with Red Sox owner John Henry.  Yahoo’s Gordon Edes says the deal is done pending a physical, and the Braves will receive a minor league pitcher.

TUESDAY, 10:38pm: ESPN’s Peter Gammons and Buster Olney are reporting that the Red Sox are on the verge of acquiring Kotsay.  The two sides are discussing Kotsay’s no-trade clause.  He was held out of tonight’s lineup due to the impending trade.

11:00am: On Sunday, Ken Rosenthal reported the Red Sox were interested in Braves outfielder Mark Kotsay, with the Brewers on the fringes.  Rosenthal now says the Brewers’ interest has diminished, since Ryan Braun seems fine.  Instead, the Phillies are now in the mix for Kotsay given the Geoff Jenkins injury.

Kotsay cleared waivers because of the $1.5MM still owed to him this year.  The Braves weren’t planning on offering him arbitration this winter, as they don’t want to be stuck paying him $8MM in ’09.  He doesn’t project as a Type B anyway.  Rosenthal says a mid-level prospect would get a deal done with the Braves, though the teams covered in Kotsay’s limited no-trade clause are unknown.

Odds and Ends: Burnett, Inoa, Minaya, Glavine

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Today’s links…

Will Yanks Make Any Trades?

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Joel Sherman of the New York Post discusses the Yankees’ trade prospects in a blog post today.  The Yankees have a 3-5% chance of making the playoffs this year, according to Baseball Prospectus.

Sherman suggests Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, and Carl Pavano as players with a slight chance of being dealt.  No-trade clauses would present an obstacle for most of these players, however.

As Sherman notes, Abreu is locked in as a Type A free agent.  For the Yankees to receive draft picks for him this winter, they’d have to offer him arbitration and have him decline and sign elsewhere.  Many Yankees fans made a strong case to me yesterday that the team will offer arbitration, because another year of Abreu at $16MM+ would be an acceptable risk.  It’s a good point, since Abreu is having a better season than he did in ’07.

A pitching-starved team could take on Pavano if he approves it, but he is still owed over $4MM.  The Yanks would have to assume pretty much all of that.

Mike Lamb Designated

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TUESDAY: MLB.com’s Jim Molony suggests Lamb could be a fit for the Phillies, Cubs, Mets, or Brewers.

MONDAY: According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, third baseman Mike Lamb was designated for assignment today to make room for Eddie Guardado.   Manager Ron Gardenhire questioned Lamb’s energy level.

Lamb is owed another $690K this year plus $3MM in ’09 and a $100K buyout for ’10.  Several moves and near-moves made by the Twins in recent months have shown a willingness to spend some dough midseason.

Lamb’s move back to the AL didn’t work out; he hit just .233/.276/.322 in 261 plate appearances.  Maybe he can help out in a utility role for a team like the Phillies.

Odds and Ends: Ricciardi, Guardado, Alvarez

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Let’s round ’em up…

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