Molina Hopes For Extension With Giants
According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, Giants catcher Bengie Molina hopes to sit down with team officials to discuss a contract extension. Molina is set to earn $6MM in ’09 before reaching free agency. The 34 year-old is hitting .287/.316/.429 in 522 plate appearances, mainly as the Giants’ cleanup hitter.
Molina knows the Giants can afford to let him go, given the presence of Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey. If the Giants decide to use Sandoval at third base, perhaps they’ll add one more year to Molina’s contract.
D’Backs Face Decisions On Lyon, Rauch
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic wrote Saturday about the tough decisions the D’Backs face on relievers Brandon Lyon and Jon Rauch.
With Lyon, the D’Backs have to decide whether to risk an arbitration offer. Would they want him back for ’09 on a $4-5MM contract? Lyon may make the decision easier for Arizona by falling out of Type B status. Then, there’d be no draft pick to gain. Lyon has a 7.52 ERA since June 1st.
Meanwhile Rauch’s contract requires the D’Backs decide on his 2010 option five days after this year’s World Series. The option is for $2.9MM; an easy call if you ignore Rauch’s last 20 innings or so.
The D’Backs also have Juan Cruz hitting free agency; he’s expected to sign elsewhere.
Mets Likely To Pass On K-Rod?
Newsday’s Ken Davidoff spoke to a "person informed of the Mets’ thinking," and learned that they will not be signing free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez. This is not because of the $10.5MM owed to Billy Wagner next year – that’s a sunk cost. It’s just that the Mets would rather try internal options than hand out another record-breaking contract. Davidoff does not expect the Mets to pursue Brian Fuentes either. He sees the Mets re-signing Luis Ayala and then focusing on starting pitching.
Davidoff examines the likelihood of the Angels, Cardinals, or Tigers signing Rodriguez. He seems to consider the Cards the favorite. The Cardinals may entertain re-signing Jason Isringhausen, but that wouldn’t take them out of the market for a closer.
A closer vacancy and a ton of money…not many teams fit that description. Will K-Rod have a disappointing winter?
Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Floyd, Winn
Here’s a look at the latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.
- Heyman heard recent "scuttlebutt" that C.C. Sabathia does not want to play for the Yankees. They’re still expected to make a large offer, and Heyman also expects a big play from the Angels. Sabathia reportedly prefers California but has become more open-minded to other locations.
- Cliff Floyd plans to play next year, hopefully for the Rays. The team has a $2.75MM option with a $250K buyout. He’s worth it.
- Heyman notes that Randy Winn would’ve made a fine acquisition for another club. The 34 year-old is hitting .315/.372/.438 in 611 plate appearances. He’s set to earn $8.25MM in ’09 and can block deals to ten teams.
Odds and Ends: LaRoche, Bradley, Burnett
Digging into today’s random links…
- Joel Sherman looks at what went wrong for the Yankees this year. Did they fall too in love with their farm system?
- At least six teams have called the Pirates about third baseman Andy LaRoche in recent weeks. If LaRoche pans out and Pedro Alvarez comes aboard, the Bucs could have a surplus at some point.
- Craig Harris examines the rise of D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes.
- Eddie Bajek updated the Elias rankings for the AL 1B/OF/DH category. They’re fluctuating wildly. Eddie also did catchers for both leagues; Ivan Rodriguez is headed into Type B territory. Gregg Zaun lost Type B status.
- Mike Hindman conducted a roundtable asking what kind of contract the Rangers should offer Milton Bradley.
- 29 teams passed on Rays reliever Grant Balfour last spring. Now he has a 1.62 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 50 innings. Balfour’s been through a lot.
- Joe McDonald and Sean McAdam don’t see the Red Sox signing A.J. Burnett (or any big-name free agent starter).
- Padres CEO Sandy Alderson scoffed at the idea of a $40MM payroll for ’09. I never heard that figure tossed around; Buster Olney suggested the $50MM range.
- Maury Brown heard a rumor that Thomas Ricketts won the bid for the Cubs.
Cafardo’s Latest: Salty, Renteria, Pudge
Let’s take a look at the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
- The Red Sox are "intrigued" by Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (I believe they have been for some time). Jamey Newberg would like to see Clay Buchholz in a Rangers uniform, but admits the deal would have to be expanded.
- The Red Sox will not have to pay the $3MM buyout on Edgar Renteria if the Tigers decline his $11MM option for ’09. The free agent market for shorstops is weak, but the Tigers will probably look elsewhere given Renteria’s .269/.318/.375 showing.
- Cafardo wonders if Jason Bay or Matt Holliday will be on the Braves’ radar this winter (both are signed through ’09). You’d have to think the Sox will want to keep Bay. The Braves will have $30-40MM to spend, and Bobby Cox expects two starting pitchers to be added.
- Cafardo talked to a scout who feels Ivan Rodriguez still has something left to offer despite his poor performance for the Yankees. Ideally he’d sign a one-year deal. It won’t be with the Yankees; Jorge Posada noted that Pudge is "going to have to go somewhere else."
Brewers Fire Ned Yost
The Brewers fired manager Ned Yost today, replacing him with third base coach Dale Sveum for the rest of the season. The timing is bizarre – the Brewers have not been playing well lately, but they are currently tied for the wild card with 12 games left to play. Tom Haudricourt thinks the decision to fire Yost came from the top.
Crede’s White Sox Career Likely Over
According to Timothy Wolfmeyer of the Northwest Herald, the White Sox have cleaned out Joe Crede‘s locker (hat tip to South Side Sox). Wolfmeyer heard the Sox are fed up with Crede’s Boras-influenced drawn-out rehab from another back injury. It seems the Sox will either use Josh Fields at third base next year or explore the market. Fields had a disappointing year at Triple A. Another option would be to re-sign Juan Uribe.
Crede, 30, played very little in August and September due to his back injury. He had surgery in June of last year. The White Sox were unable to trade him during spring training after agreeing to a $5.1MM salary for ’08. Boras could recommend a one-year deal to allow Crede to establish his health and re-enter the market.
Pirates To Increase Budget Slightly
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via team president Frank Coonelly, the Pirates will slightly increase their payroll beyond $54MM next year.
Coonelly says the Bucs will not get involved with high-end free agents, but the money will be there if they see good baseball investments in the mid or lower tiers (free agent list here).
I did an Offseason Outlook for the Pirates on Friday. Even with arbitration raises to eight players, the Pirates should still come in around $40MM (less if Jack Wilson and/or Adam LaRoche are traded). That could mean $10-15MM to spend on free agents. I could see them signing a veteran shortstop as well as a starting pitcher.
Eyre Hopes To Return To Phillies
According to Scott Lauber of The News Journal, lefty Scott Eyre would like to return to the Phillies next year. Eyre is a free agent after the season. He told Lauber he’d be up for a one-year deal to stay.
Eyre, 36, has tossed 11 strong innings for the Phillies since coming over in a trade with the Cubs. Eyre has shown he can still be effective when healthy. He’s earning $3.8MM this year. If he’ll take a one-year deal, the Phils might as well do it. It beats giving three years to Damaso Marte.