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Archives for August 2008

Breaking Down The Rangers Offseason

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The Rangers figure to be very active this offseason. With the only pitching staff in baseball with a negative VORP (-46.7), that would likely be the area that sees the most change.

We have already seen that Tom Hicks is not willing to throw free agency dollars at starting pitchers over 30. The Rangers have several good prospects that could be used as trade bait, including Engel Beltre and Elvis Andrus. And many feel that Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be moved this winter as the Rangers are deep at catcher.

Jamey Newberg breaks down what the Rangers need to do this off-season and reasons that Roy Halladay is a pitcher the Rangers could target…

  • The Rangers would like to add one or two front-of-the-rotation pitchers.
  • Newberg says it sounds like "free agency is not the first answer when the question is how to improve the rotation," but Tom Hicks will be open-minded if a unique case presents itself (CC Sabathia?)
  • Newberg discuses the package that might be required for the Jays to part with Halladay.

So let’s hear it in the comments…Who should the Rangers target this offseason?

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Odds And Ends: Mets, Embree, Olsen, Hoffman, Izzy, Phillies

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A few notes from around the MLBiverse…

  • Bill Madden says the Mets may be out of luck for a closer, even if Huston Street and Brian Fuentes have cleared waivers and are available. Madden says the price tags are just too high for the Mets.
  • Alan Embree hopes that not being traded is a sign the A’s are going to pick up his $3MM option for next season.
  • Scott Olsen said he prefers to be back with the Marlins in ’09 but conceded that the Marlins may prefer to move him due to his arbitration eligibility.
  • Kevin Towers would not answer questions when asked if the Padres would bring free agent-to-be, Trevor Hoffman, back in ’09. We had heard previously that Towers wants Hoffman to end his career with the Padres.
  • Jason Isringhausen’s agent said that his client’s "desire is to play [next season]," and they will wait to see if he needs surgery before deciding how to make that happen. Isringhausen is a free agent following this season.
  • Jimmy Rollins made comments to reporters that suggested free agents may avoid signing with the Phillies because of the fans.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Red Sox Sign Dave Ross

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THURSDAY: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox signed Ross to a minor league deal.

WEDNESDAY:  Ross became a free agent today, and the Phillies made contact to express their interest. 

MONDAY, 8:13pm: Rosenthal has added the Red Sox to the mix for Ross.

3:27pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Phillies are interested in recently-released catcher Dave Ross.  Rosenthal says they could send him to the minors and bring him up when rosters expand.  The Marlins seemingly chose Paul Lo Duca over Ross earlier this year.

The 31 year-old backstop hit .231/.381/.366 in 173 plate appearances this year.  He flashed prodigious power in ’06, but not much since then.  Ross threw out 29% of attempted basestealers this year and 41% in ’07.

Astros Sign Jose Castillo

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According to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros claimed infielder Jose Castillo off waivers today.  Castillo will be Astros property for ’09 as well, if they want him (he’s still arbitration-eligible).

The 27 year-old hit .244/.290/.381 in 420 plate appearances for the Giants while seeing time at second base, shortstop, and third base.

Mets Sign Al Reyes

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According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets have signed reliever Al Reyes.  He’s earning $2.3MM this year, most of which the Rays are covering.

Reyes, 38, posted a 4.37 ERA in 22.2 innings this year along with decent peripheral stats.  Reyes missed time this year with biceps tendinitis and a shoulder impingement, and also made the news for an April bar fight.   Solid signing for the Mets; it’s not hard to envision Reyes picking up a few saves.

Odds and Ends: Elias, Izzy, Silva, Colletti

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Linkage for Wednesday…

  • Eddie Bajek over at Detroit Tigers Thoughts has successfully reverse-engineered the Elias Type A/Type B formula.  Today he assigns statuses to the American League catchers.  Jason Varitek clings to Type A, while Ivan Rodriguez has slipped to Type B.  Read more about how free agent compensation works here.
  • Jason Isringhausen’s season, and maybe his career, is over due to a torn flexor tendon in his elbow.
  • J.C. Bradbury puts on his GM hat for the Braves.  Rather than plug in free agent signings, he’d sell off most of the infield.
  • MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone extinguishes a Carlos Silva rumor.
  • ESPN’s Buster Olney grades the deadline deals.  He has Ken Griffey Jr., Kyle Farnsworth, and Damaso Marte bringing up the rear.
  • Tim Brown explains that Ned Colletti’s job is safe.
  • Johnny Damon hopes A.J. Burnett opts out of his deal.  Does he just want Burnett out of the league, or is he hoping the righty joins the Yanks’ rotation next year?
  • Twins reliever Brian Bass may become a free agent, if he refuses a Triple A assignment.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Dempster, Mora, Cameron

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up; let’s take a look.

  • Rosenthal agrees with those who considered C.C. Sabathia pitching the ninth inning Monday a needless risk.  Sabathia already had thrown 112 pitches and the Brewers had a seven run lead, but he pitched the ninth to bring the total to 130.  The innings shouldn’t affect Sabathia’s payday, but hopefully he remains healthy.
  • Rosenthal sees a minimal chance of Ryan Dempster signing elsewhere, given his strong relationship with Cubs GM Jim Hendry.  Dempster will be the Cubs’ top offseason priority.  I also consider Kerry Wood unlikely to leave.
  • Add Melvin Mora to the list of players who have cleared waivers.  He, Aubrey Huff, and Ramon Hernandez will be shopped this winter.  Mora has raised his numbers and stock significantly by hitting .378/.421/.652 since the beginning of July.  He has a full no-trade clause and is owed $9MM next year.
  • The Indians are almost certain to sign a closer this winter, with Brandon Lyon and Brian Fuentes perhaps the best available aside from Francisco Rodriguez and Wood.
  • The Rockies will place Fuentes on waivers soon and may also shop Willy Taveras.  Manny Corpas has already hit the wire.
  • Rosenthal figures Mike Cameron’s $10MM option for ’09 will be exercised.  Cameron is hitting .245/.333/.509 in 372 plate appearances while playing strong defense.
  • Gary Matthews Jr.’s knee injury may prevent the Angels from trading him this winter.  That, and the $33MM owed to him through 2011.

Milton Bradley Hopes To Return To Rangers

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According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Rangers DH Milton Bradley would like to return in ’09.  Both sides are interested, but negotiations will wait until after the season. 

Bradley feels comfortable in Texas, and that’s led to a massive .314/.441/.579 line in 407 plate appearances.  He hasn’t been this healthy since ’04.  His OBP ranks first in the AL by a wide margin, and he’s third in SLG.

The 30 year-old Bradley is earning roughly $6MM this year if you include incentives.  I imagine he’d want to double that salary in free agency, though he’s pretty hard to value.

Gagne, Riske, Weathers Clear Waivers

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According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Eric Gagne, David Riske, and David Weathers have cleared waivers.  Three more for the list.  Since they’ve cleared, these relievers can now be traded to any team.

Gagne is the least surprising; he’s been awful and is still owed more than $2MM.  Riske is owed almost $10MM more through 2010, so that’s understandable.  Weathers is a big surprise though – he’s owed only $610K and has a 2.52 ERA since the beginning of June.  All the contenders, including the Mets, Twins, Phillies, and Cardinals, decided not to make a claim on Weathers?  Can’t explain it.

Sherman brings up these names in the context of the Mets’ tattered bullpen.  He says the Mets are "claiming relievers like mad" but no one good is likely to fall to them. 

Manny Corpas Placed On Waivers

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According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, Rockies reliever Manny Corpas has been placed on waivers.  Bear in mind that it’s likely just a procedural move and does not mean Corpas is going to be traded.

Corpas struggled in April and May and lost the closer job.  The 25 year-old has a 2.50 ERA and 8.67 K/BB since the beginning of June though.  He’s signed cheaply through 2011 with club options on ’12 and ’13, so he would not clear waivers.

Corpas probably wouldn’t make it far through the NL before a team claims him.  Even the Reds, fourth in line, could take him with an eye on the future.  Most likely the Rockies will pull him back and not make a deal.

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