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Archives for September 2008

Sheets’ Elbow Likely To Affect Payday

By Tim Dierkes | September 18, 2008 at 9:44am CDT

Brewers starter Ben Sheets dealt with a triceps strain in April but managed to avoid the DL.  After that, he made all his starts and was set to reach 200 innings last night for the first time since 2004.  However, Sheets was removed from last night’s start after two innings due to elbow pain.  He’s quietly been pitching through the pain since late August.

A healthy Sheets seemed primed for a payday north of $70MM this winter.  He says the MRI showed no structural damage, but the injury seems likely to cost Sheets millions this winter.

The Brewers pledged not to negotiate with Sheets until after the season due to the health concerns.  Sheets was eyeing the open market back in June.

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Milwaukee Brewers Ben Sheets

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Giants Leaning Toward Sabean For ’09

By Tim Dierkes | September 18, 2008 at 9:09am CDT

According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants’ new managing general partner Bill Neukom is expected to retain GM Brian Sabean for 2009.  The decision hasn’t been finalized though.  Andrew Baggarly expects Neukom to take his time to assess Sabean.

Craig Calcaterra weighs in on Schulman’s article over at AOL Fanhouse. Click here to download a spreadsheet of Sabean’s trade history.

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San Francisco Giants Brian Sabean

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Bedard A Non-Tender Candidate?

By Tim Dierkes | September 18, 2008 at 8:49am CDT

THURSDAY: Bedard speaks!  He pitched hurt for most of the season, apparently.  Bedard said today he has a labrum tear and a cyst in his shoulder.

WEDNESDAY: Erik Bedard hasn’t pitched since July, and he’s elected to have exploratory surgery on his pitching shoulder.  GM Lee Pelekoudas expects Bedard to be able to pitch next year, but admits it’s an unknown until Dr. Yocum gets in there and pokes around.  John Hickey says trading Bedard this winter is no longer an option, and the situation may increase the chance of a Jarrod Washburn trade.  The Mariners would like to clear spots in the rotation for two young pitchers.

ESPN’s Buster Olney tosses out an interesting idea: he thinks the Mariners should consider non-tendering Bedard.  Bedard is arbitration-eligible, and should receive a raise on his current $7MM salary.  If the Mariners were to truly treat the players dealt for Bedard as a sunk cost, they’d only ask themselves whether he is worth a one-year, $9-10MM contract.  Depending on the results of the September 26th surgery, cutting Bedard might be the right move.  The Mariners’ new GM probably will not have ties to the Bill Bavasi acquisition.

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Seattle Mariners Erik Bedard

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Schilling Blasts Manny

By Tim Dierkes | September 18, 2008 at 8:44am CDT

Pitcher Curt Schilling sounded off on former teammate Manny Ramirez yesterday on WEEI.  His comments can be found here and here.  Schilling says management ultimately took a players’ vote, and they elected to have Manny traded.  The public is aware of just 10-20% of Ramirez’s antics, according to Schilling.

Meanwhile, Joe Posnanski takes a look at the genius of Manny in a column at SI.com.

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Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling Manny Ramirez

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Offseason Outlook: Atlanta Braves

By Tim Dierkes | September 17, 2008 at 10:43pm CDT

Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Braves.  Here’s how they set up for ’09 using internal options only:

C – Brian McCann – $3.5MM
C – Clint Sammons – $400K
1B – Casey Kotchman – $1.45MM+
2B – Kelly Johnson – $430K+
SS – Yunel Escobar – $403K
3B – Chipper Jones – $11MM
IF – Martin Prado -$400K
IF/OF – Omar Infante – $1.4MM+
LF – Matt Diaz – $1.225MM+
CF – Josh Anderson – $400K
RF – Jeff Francoeur – $460K+
OF – Gregor Blanco – $400K
OF – Brandon Jones – $400K

SP – Jair Jurrjens – $400K
SP – Jorge Campillo – $400K
SP – Jo-Jo Reyes – $400K
SP – Charlie Morton – $400K
SP – James Parr – $400K

RP – Rafael Soriano – $6.1MM
RP – Mike Gonzalez – $2.3625MM+
RP – Blaine Boyer – $400K
RP – Jeff Bennett – $400K
RP – Manny Acosta – $400K
RP – Buddy Carlyle – $400K
RP – Jeff Ridgway – $400K

Injured players: Tim Hudson – $13MM, Peter Moylan – $410K, Chuck James – $428K+

Non-tender candidates: Vladimir Nunez, Ruben Gotay

The result: about $48MM committed, plus arbitration raises to Kotchman, Johnson, Infante, Diaz, Francoeur, and Gonzalez.  Those will add up, but the Braves should still come in under $60MM for the current players.  The team had an opening day payroll of $102.4MM.  The Braves are primed to do some serious spending.

The Braves are taking the right approach toward free agents/legends Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.  They could help, but the team won’t count on them.  I can see incentive-based deals for both. 

Manager Bobby Cox expects to add two quality starters, whether via free agency or trade.  I would target Derek Lowe due to his strong health record.  He might cost $14-15MM per year.  After that I’d ink a more affordable veteran like Paul Byrd, Freddy Garcia, or Randy Wolf.  That bargain starter may come from Japan, with Koji Uehara and Kenshin Kawakami considered the top names.

That strategy would leave money for a quality left field bat – perhaps Adam Dunn, Pat Burrell, Raul Ibanez, Brian Giles, or Juan Rivera.  It would also be wise to add a stopgap center fielder in the Mark Kotsay/Randy Winn mold.

On the trade side, the Braves may be willing to move Johnson and/or Francoeur.  The trade market for starters may include Tim Redding, Andy Sonnanstine, Edwin Jackson, Ian Snell, Nate Robertson, Jarrod Washburn, Justin Duchscherer, and Boof Bonser.  See any matches there?  The Braves would be selling low on Francoeur.  Would swapping him for Brian Bannister make sense?

Frank Wren has a challenging offseason ahead of him; he’ll attempt to revamp the rotation and outfield.

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Atlanta Braves Offseason Outlook

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Heyman’s Latest: Epstein, Cano, Hudson

By Tim Dierkes | September 17, 2008 at 5:03pm CDT

Highlights from Jon Heyman’s latest column at SI.com:

  • Brewers owner Mark Attanasio reportedly made the decision to fire Ned Yost, but GM Doug Melvin’s power is not diminished.
  • Theo Epstein’s new agreement is for three years.
  • Heyman notes "talk lately that the Yankees might consider trading Robinson Cano."  Apparently Cano still has good trade value and the Yankees could fill multiple needs in a deal.  Heyman says the Dodgers are interested.  Cano was subject of an odd Dodgers rumor back in July.  The Yanks would be interested in Orlando Hudson if they were to trade Cano.
  • Alex Rodriguez patched things up with Scott Boras, who he considers "a good guy."
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Boston Red Sox Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez Orlando Hudson Robinson Cano Theo Epstein

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Odds and Ends: Lee, Rogers, Beltre, Darvish

By Tim Dierkes | September 17, 2008 at 1:27pm CDT

Today’s random linkage…

  • The Indians signed 21 year-old pitcher Chen-Chang Lee out of Taiwan.  Anthony Castrovince has the scouting report.  East Windup Chronicle says the bonus is in the $350-400K range.
  • Kenny Rogers suggested Jim Leyland remove him from the rotation.  Rogers still thinks he can pitch effectively next year at 44, however.
  • Geoff Baker notes an extra benefit to delaying Adrian Beltre’s surgery – the playing time could nudge him toward Type A status when he reaches free agency after the ’09 season.
  • Ken Davidoff of Newsday says Yu Darvish will probably not be posted this winter but could be after the ’09 season.  Davidoff says the Giants, Orioles, and D’Backs have been heavily scouting Japan this year.
  • The Cubs are looking at contract extensions for Lou Piniella and Jim Hendry, according to Gordon Wittenmeyer.
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Arizona Diamondbacks Baltimore Orioles Chicago Cubs Cleveland Guardians Detroit Tigers San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners Adrian Beltre Kenny Rogers Yu Darvish

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Blake Leads Third Base Market

By Tim Dierkes | September 17, 2008 at 1:12pm CDT

Here’s a look at the free agent market for third basemen:

Rich Aurilia (37)
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) – $6.2MM club option for ’09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Aaron Boone (36)
Russell Branyan (33)
Craig Counsell (38)
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) – $3.75MM club option for ’09
Chipper Jones (37) – $8-11MM vesting option for ’09
Mark Loretta (37)
Fernando Tatis (34)
Ramon Vazquez (32)

Jones won’t hit the market.  Blalock and Crede have health issues, while the others would be stretched as starters.  Except for Casey Blake.  He’s the best free agent option at third base.

Blake, 35, is hitting .282/.351/.480 in 560 plate appearances this year.  He’s not much defensively, making eight fewer plays than the average third baseman this year.  He’s about average at fielding bunts.

Blake is earning $6.1MM this year.  Perhaps he will receive a two-year deal in the $15MM range.  The Indians told Blake to keep them in mind, but he hasn’t made any decisions yet.  He should have plenty of suitors, possibly including the Twins, A’s, Brewers, Dodgers, and Giants.  Blake can also play first base and right field, expanding his options.

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Cleveland Guardians Los Angeles Dodgers Casey Blake

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Gregg Expects A Trade

By Tim Dierkes | September 17, 2008 at 12:50pm CDT

Marlins reliever Kevin Gregg has recovered from knee tendinitis, but he’s still not getting his closer job back from Matt Lindstrom as promised.  Gregg sees this as a sign he’ll be traded this winter, and many writers have speculated the same.

Gregg, 30, has a 3.66 ERA in 64 innings this year.  He saved 61 games for the Marlins over the past two seasons despite shaky control (4.56 walks per nine innings).  He’s throwing harder than ever this year (93.2 mph on average).  Gregg will receive a raise upon his $2.5MM salary via arbitration this winter.  After ’09 he’ll be a free agent.

Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes are the top free agents with a closer pedigree.  Brandon Lyon and Eddie Guardado are other possibilities.  Gregg may join Huston Street on the trade market.  The Indians intend to add a closer, while the Tigers, Mets, and Cardinals could also be in the market.

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Miami Marlins Kevin Gregg

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Mets To Unload Castillo?

By Tim Dierkes | September 17, 2008 at 12:36pm CDT

A common question in MLBTR chats: will the Mets attempt to unload Luis Castillo’s contract this winter? According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Mets and Castillo are "heading for a divorce when this season is over."  Castillo was upset to see rookie Argenis Reyes starting at second base.

Omar Minaya signed Castillo to a four-year, $25MM contract in November of last year.  The Mets flirted with David Eckstein that winter, but balked at his demands.  Eckstein eventually signed with the Blue Jays for one year and $4.5MM.

Castillo, 33, is hitting .252/.351/.316 in 335 plate appearances this year.  His production is about what the Mets should’ve expected.  Castillo has dealt with knee soreness, a strained quad, and a strained hip flexor this year, limiting his availability.

The Mets are willing to eat some of the $18MM Castillo has coming over the next three years.  Even if they eat half, though, the term remains a problem.  The free agent market includes comparable players in Ray Durham and Mark Grudzielanek, who will probably land one-year deals in the $3-4MM range.

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New York Mets Luis Castillo

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Hayden Wesneski To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

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Major League Baseball Rules That Permanent Ineligibility Ends At Death

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A.J. Minter To Undergo Season-Ending Lat Surgery

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