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Archives for September 2008

Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Steinbrenner, Heilman

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Let’s take a look at Jon Heyman’s latest column at SI.com.

  • Heyman talked to "several baseball people" who believe the Angels will be a player for C.C. Sabathia this winter.  Possibly, but I think re-signing Mark Teixeira will be their top priority.  Heyman spoke to a competing owner who can’t see the Angels doing two $100MM+ deals.
  • Heyman considers Hank Steinbrenner’s recent comments a slap at GM Brian Cashman, but notes that Hal is running the team.
  • The Rockies and D’Backs have inquired about Aaron Heilman in the past; they may view him as a starting candidate.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Rasmus, Tazawa, Manny

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Let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

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

2010 MLB Free Agents: Key Players

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I’m not going to roll out a comprehensive list quite yet, but let’s take a look at some of the bigger names who will be eligible for free agency after the 2009 season.  Some of these players may be trade candidates this winter.  Reminder: these players can be free agents after the 2009 season, not this winter.

Catchers
Ramon Hernandez – $8.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Victor Martinez – $7MM club option with a $250K buyout
Bengie Molina

First basemen
Carlos Delgado
Adam LaRoche

Second basemen
Mark DeRosa
Placido Polanco
Brian Roberts
Freddy Sanchez – $8MM club option with a $600K buyout

Shortstops
Bobby Crosby
Khalil Greene
Miguel Tejada
Jack Wilson

Third basemen
Adrian Beltre
Chone Figgins
Chipper Jones
Melvin Mora
Ty Wigginton

Left fielders
Jason Bay
Carl Crawford – $10MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout
Johnny Damon
Matt Holliday
Hideki Matsui

Center fielders
Rick Ankiel
Coco Crisp – $8MM club option with a $500K buyout

Right fielders
Jermaine Dye – $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Brian Giles
Ken Griffey Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero
Xavier Nady
Magglio Ordonez – $15MM club/vesting option with a $3MM buyout

DHs
Jason Giambi
Aubrey Huff
Gary Sheffield

Starting pitchers
Josh Beckett – $12MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Erik Bedard
Justin Duchscherer
Rich Harden
Tim Hudson – $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
John Lackey
Cliff Lee – $8MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Brett Myers
Brandon Webb – $8.5MM club option with a $500K+ buyout
Todd Wellemeyer

Closers
Mike Gonzalez
Kevin Gregg
Troy Percival
J.J. Putz – $8.6MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Fernando Rodney
Rafael Soriano
Salomon Torres
Jose Valverde
Billy Wagner – $8MM club option with a $1MM buyout

Obviously it’s tough to say who will hit the market.  Sluggers like Bay, Holliday, and Ankiel stand a good chance.  Among starters, Bedard, Myers, and Harden are possibilities.

Odds and Ends: Ellis, Patterson, Sweeney

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Rounding up today’s links…

Rockies May Consider Trading Holliday, Atkins

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Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News thinks the Rockies are primed for a major shakeup this winter.  Specifically, GM Dan O’Dowd could move two star players in Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins.

Ringolsby figures the Phillies, Angels, Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox will be the main suitors for Holliday.  The 28 year-old is hitting .311/.403/.492 on the road this year, suggesting he could be a .900 OPS masher in any park. I’m not seeing the fit for the Red Sox, while the Yanks could work Holliday in if they let Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu leave.  The other three teams also make sense in certain scenarios.  But do the Phillies have the top-level pitching needed to acquire Holliday?  It’s been suggested in the past that dark horses such as the Royals or Nationals could enter the mix for the slugger.

Atkins, 28, is hitting .235/.281/.386 away from Coors.  His road OPS was under .800 last year as well, so suitors will be wary.  Ringolsby suggests the Angels, Twins, Red Sox, and Yankees here.  Again I don’t see the fit for Boston.  The Twins would need faith in Atkins’ ability to play third base.  Unlike Holliday, Atkins is under team control through 2010.

Offseason Outlook: Kansas City Royals

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Next up in our offseason outlook series, the Royals.  Here’s how they set up for 2009:

C – John Buck – $2.2MM+
C – Brayan Pena – $400K
1B – Kila Ka’aihue – $400K
2B – Alberto Callaspo – $400K
SS – Mike Aviles – $400K
3B – Alex Gordon – $406K
IF – Ross Gload – $1.9MM
IF – Esteban German – $1MM+
LF – Mark Teahen – $2.3375MM+
CF – David DeJesus – $3.6MM
RF – Jose Guillen – $12MM
OF – Joey Gathright – $427K+
DH – Billy Butler – $400K

SP – Gil Meche – $11MM
SP – Zack Greinke – $1.4MM+
SP – Brian Bannister – $421K+
SP – Luke Hochevar – $1.325MM
SP – Kyle Davies – $427K+

RP – Ron Mahay – $4MM
RP – Jimmy Gobble – $1.3125MM+
RP – Joel Peralta – $450K+
RP – Robinson Tejeda – $400K
RP – Joakim Soria – $1MM
RP – Leo Nunez – $405K
RP – Ramon Ramirez – $400K

Other commitments: Yasuhiko Yabuta – $3MM, Luke Hudson – $475K+, Miguel Olivo – $2.7MM club option with $100K buyout; can be voided by Olivo

Non-tender candidates: John Bale, Mark Teahen, Brandon Duckworth, Jason Smith, Ryan Shealy, Tony Pena Jr.

This setup has the Royals committed for $52MM plus arbitration raises to Buck, German, Teahen, Gathright, Greinke, Bannister, Davies, Gobble, and Peralta.  Some of these players may be non-tendered.  The Royals should come in under $60MM, regardless.  They began ’08 with a $58MM payroll and peaked at $67MM to start ’07.

Rany Jazayerli has already provided an intelligent take on the ’09 lineup.  Shifting Aviles to second base and signing Rafael Furcal or Orlando Cabrera seems a distinct possibility.  Plus, the free agent market is loaded with interesting left fielders.  A few things would have to click, but the Royals could have a solid offense next year.  I also agree with Jazayerli that Dayton Moore may target a young catcher this winter.  I’m sure the Rangers would love to get Greinke, but I don’t see him going anywhere.

Two situations to monitor in ’09: Ka’aihue’s playing time and Teahen’s contract.  Ka’aihue, 24, posted a .314/.456/.628 line between Double and Triple A, and deserves a 300 plate appearance audition at first.  Teahen has a .692 OPS this year – does his versatility make him worth $3MM in ’09?

The Royals have a fantastic front two in the rotation, and question marks beyond that.  Given Moore’s success digging up relievers on the cheap, I’d like to see Soria moved to the rotation.  Or, the Royals could sign Brian Fuentes to fill the void. 

The Royals have been awful this year, but they could be a sleeper in ’09 with the right additions and a couple of breakout seasons.  Stranger things have happened.

Tazawa Headed To MLB

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As expected, amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa has decided to forego Japanese baseball and sign with an MLB team.  The Braves, Tigers, Red Sox, Pirates, Mets, and Yankees are thought to be in on him.  Patrick Newman has a slew of links and videos on Tazawa here.

I am curious what NPB fans think of this development.

K-Rod May Not Require Five Years

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This was discussed on Saturday, but I wanted to take another look at Francisco Rodriguez’s comments to the L.A. Times.  First, he notes that the Angels are definitely still in the mix:

"I want to clarify something.  Just because I want to explore the market, it doesn’t mean I don’t want to be here."

What’s more, K-Rod may not require the five year, $75MM contract we’ve seen bandied about.  Rodriguez told Mike DiGiovanna he’d consider a four-year deal with a fifth-year option.  DiGiovanna says that’s more in line with the Angels’ thinking.

Odds and Ends: Sabathia, Pavano, Penny, Burnett

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Random links to start the morning…

  • Ben Shpigel says Billy Wagner’s $10.5MM for ’09 is not covered by insurance, making the Mets unlikely suitors for K-Rod (hat tip to MetsBlog).
  • The Padres claimed knuckleballer Charlie Haeger.  You have to like the move; he’s only 24.
  • Ken Davidoff writes about Nationals pitcher Tim Redding, who dreams about returning to the Yankees one day.
  • Davidoff also says that contrary to popular belief, C.C. Sabathia did not buy a home in Southern California.
  • In another post, Davidoff lists the worst trades of ’08.
  • Nats GM Jim Bowden will probably bring in a veteran first baseman next year due to health concerns with Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young.
  • Not much cooking on the Pedro Alvarez front…Bud Selig testified yesterday, and the next part of the hearing isn’t until September 23rd.
  • Andrew Baggarly explains Bengie Molina’s contentious relationship with the Giants.
  • From Saturday: Carl Pavano’s side of the story.  Can Pavano be a useful pitcher next year?
  • Larry Borowsky would like to see the Cardinals enterain an extension for Todd Wellemeyer.  He’s eligible for free agency after the ’09 season.
  • Joel Sherman isn’t sure the Yankees will invite Andy Pettitte back next year.
  • Brad Penny says he pitched through a shoulder injury because of uncertainty around his ’09 option.
  • Interesting fact…A.J. Burnett is second in MLB with 3286 pitches thrown (Sabathia jumped into the lead last night).  Many of the ’07 leaders in pitches thrown came down with injuries this year.
  • Michael O’Keefe sits down with agent Scott Boras.
  • ESPN’s Buster Olney notes that the Blue Jays will pursue a shortstop this winter.
  • All you ever wanted to know about Dr. James Andrews.
  • Jed Hoyer explains where Curt Schilling learned his negotiating tactics.

Offseason Outlook: Washington Nationals

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Check out our previous offseason outlooks here.  Today let’s take a look at the 2009 Washington Nationals:

C – Jesus Flores – $400K
C – Wil Nieves – $400K
1B – Nick Johnson – $5.5MM (wrist surgery June ’08)
2B – Emilio Bonifacio – $400K
SS – Cristian Guzman – $8MM
3B – Ryan Zimmerman – $465K+
IF – Dmitri Young – $5MM
IF – Ronnie Belliard – $1.9MM
IF/OF – Willie Harris – $800K+
LF – Elijah Dukes – $400K
CF – Lastings Milledge – $403K
RF – Austin Kearns – $8MM
OF – Wily Mo Pena – $5MM club option or $2MM player option (shoulder surgery July ’08)

SP – Tim Redding – $1MM+
SP – John Lannan – $400K
SP – Jason Bergmann – $404K
SP – Collin Balester – $400K
SP – Shawn Hill – $402K (arthroscopic elbow surgery September ’08)

RP – Joel Hanrahan – $400K
RP – Garrett Mock – $400K
RP – Saul Rivera – $436K
RP – Jesus Colome – $1.25MM+
RP – Ryan Wagner – $450K+
RP – Charlie Manning – $400K
RP – Steven Shell – $400K

Non-tender candidates: Chad Cordero – $6.2MM, Ryan Langerhans – $500K+

The Nats have about $40MM committed for ’09 before arbitration raises.  After that they could be around $45MM (mainly due to Zimmerman and Redding).  The Nats entered the ’08 season at $55MM, so they can add a few free agents without increasing payroll.

Odalis Perez was a nice signing for around a million bucks; the Nats should re-sign him at a small increase or attempt to find a similar veteran to stabilize the rotation (they pursued Bartolo Colon last year).  Beyond that, they can just let guys fight it out.  Hill will try to stay healthy, Bergmann has potential (he was recently removed from the rotation).  Prospect Jordan Zimmermann looks interesting and nearly ready.  Redding could have value on the trade market, but there’s no rush to deal him.

Young and Kearns are the team’s worst contracts, and they’ll be near-impossible to move.  If everyone’s healthy next year, hopefully Manny Acta will ensure regular playing time for Dukes and Milledge.  Pena may choose to stick around for $2MM.

The bullpen is questionable, but it’d be best not to spend significant money there for a team not expected to compete.  Big-name free agents in general would be a mistake.  Last year the Nationals pursued Torii Hunter and Andruw Jones; neither would’ve been a good signing for them.  Hopefully Jim Bowden won’t become too obsessed with Adam Dunn this winter (assuming Bowden keeps his job).  Dunn doesn’t fit on this team. They’re in the beginning of a long rebuilding process.

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