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Archives for September 2008

Mariners President: No Big Signings

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The Seattle Mariners need to go better than 8-15 the rest of the way to avoid being the first 100-loss club to spend over $100 million on payroll. Given this grave disappointment of a season, one might think that the team will go out and add parts to help contend in ’09 and beyond.

Not so fast. Geoff Baker caught up with team president Chuck Armstrong, who said, paraphrased, read my lips: no big name free agents. So if you’re in Seattle and were hoping for a savior in the form of CC Sabathia or Mark Teixeira — or even in the form of Griffey Jr. — you might find yourself a little disappointed this winter. The team already tried that route, and it didn’t pan out so well. So they’re trying a different approach.

The team will hire a new GM soon, and Armstrong wants to see a "comprehensive plan" out of each candidate. This invovles a rigorous rebuilding process that will enable the team to sustain itself without having to pick from high-ticket free agents. Of course, the Ms still have a shot in 2009. As Baker points out, there’s plenty of talent on the roster. If both Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard pitch how they’re capable, if Jeff Clement and Brandon Morrow realize their potential, if Carlos Silva and Jarrod Washburn can be league-avearge, then yeah, maybe they’ve got a shot. But that’s a whole lot of ifs.

It seems as if any new GM in Seattle will have a number of tough decisions to make. Is this an omen of a full-out rebuild?

Wolf Will Consider All Destinations In ’09

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When Astros lefty Randy Wolf reached free agency after the 2006 season, he made his desire to play closer to home, on the West Coast, well known. He signed with the Dodgers, and managed a little over 100 innings amid shoulder issues. His ERA, 4.73, wasn’t too impressive. Yet the Padres, considered before the season to be contenders, decided to take a flier. They signed him to a one-year, $4.75MM deal with a number of incentives.

Back in July, the Astros acquired Wolf in a trade. GM Ed Wade had been fond of the lefty since his days as general manager in Philly. He had even courted Wolf last winter, but the pitcher chose to stay out west. As Wolf once again reaches free agency after this season, he says that geography won’t quite play the role it did over the past two off-seasons.

"It doesn’t matter anymore," Wolf said. "I played on the East Coast for so long, and you’re like, ’I wonder what it would be like [to play closer to home].’ I’ve done it. It didn’t change my world."

Wolf says he’ll consider the Astros, but his foremost concern is signing with a contender. He has been pitching in the majors since 1999, and hasn’t yet made the postseason. Will the Astros sate that desire? Personally, I’m not so sure. Any ’Stros fans out there think that next year could be the one?

Over at ESPN, Rob Neyer writes about how well Wolf has pitched for the Astros, and how he was wrong in his initial judgment of the trade.

Elias Ranking Update: NL Starters

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Once again we turn to Eddie Bajek at Detroit Tigers Thoughts, who has cracked the Elias formula.  Today, National League starters have been added.  Thoughts:

  • Four starters project to have Type A status: C.C. Sabathia, Kyle Lohse, Ben Sheets, and Oliver Perez.  Lohse and Perez are solid pitchers, but they’re less attractive given the loss of a draft pick.  Teams like the Mets, Astros, Cardinals, and Yankees may be searching for starting pitching and may have unprotected first-round picks to lose.
  • Type Bs: Randy Wolf, Randy Johnson, Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Jamie Moyer, John Smoltz, and Greg Maddux.  You have to like Lowe not costing a draft pick.
  • Odalis Perez, Braden Looper, Livan Hernandez, Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez, and others you’d expect are not Type A or B.  No one loses a pick, no one gains a pick.

Offseason Outlook: Baltimore Orioles

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Here’s a look at the 2009 Orioles:

C – Ramon Hernandez – $8MM
C – Guillermo Quiroz – $400K
1B –
2B – Brian Roberts – $8MM
SS – Freddie Bynum – $400K+
3B – Melvin Mora – $9MM
IF – Brandon Fahey – $400K
IF – Luis Hernandez – $400K
LF – Luke Scott – $430K+
CF – Adam Jones – $400K
RF – Nick Markakis – $455K+
OF – Luis Montanez – $400K
DH – Aubrey Huff – $8MM

SP – Jeremy Guthrie – $770K+
SP – Daniel Cabrera – $2.875MM+
SP – Garrett Olson – $400K
SP – Matt Albers – $400K
SP – Hayden Penn – $400K

RP – George Sherrill – $980K+
RP – Jim Johnson – $400K
RP – Jamie Walker – $4.5MM
RP – Chris Ray – $445K+
RP – Dennis Sarfate – $400K
RP – Fernando Cabrera – $575K+
RP – Alberto Castillo – $400K

Other commitments: Brian Matusz – $870K, Adam Loewen –  $816K+, Danys Baez – $7.2MM, Jay Gibbons – $6.2MM

Non-tender candidates: Brian Burres, Lance Cormier

Other pitching staff candidates: Troy Patton, Radhames Liz, Kam Mickolio, James Hoey, Randor Bierd, Rocky Cherry, Brad Bergesen, Chris Waters, David Hernandez

Let’s just say the Orioles’ commitments will be under $75MM, even accounting for arbitration raises. Markakis should get the biggest raise, as he is arb-eligible for the first time.

No one knows what the Opening Day pitching staff will look like; Guthrie seems the only certainty in the rotation.  To me, the best solution is to just let all the kids battle it out in spring training.  No need to throw away $5MM+ on a veteran innings eater.  An exception: I’ve seen A.J. Burnett’s name tossed around by fans, and I see their point. He’d add respectability and could still be a good pitcher when the Orioles are ready to compete. It’s worth exploring.

Expendable veterans abound: Ramon Hernandez, Roberts, Mora, Huff, Walker, and Daniel Cabrera could all be moved this winter.  These guys aren’t part of the next competitive Orioles club.  The goal: acquire quality middle infielders and starting pitching, of course.  Andy MacPhail’s hauls from last winter inspire confidence.  In 2010 or 2011, the Orioles could be a few pieces away from contention and flush with cash.

Mark Teixeira’s name has also been bandied about as a possible offseason target.  While Tex is a very good player, I don’t see him as a once-in-a-lifetime guy who needs to be locked up before the Orioles are contenders.  The price will be astronomical and it just doesn’t seem to fit with the team’s current philosophy.

Stark’s Latest: Cain, Beltre, Burrell, Wigginton

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Let’s take a look at the latest column from ESPN’s Jayson Stark.

  • Stark wonders why no one has questioned MLB’s apparent trade deadline extension for the Manny Ramirez deal.
  • Currently the idea of the Brewers swapping Prince Fielder for Matt Cain is just fun speculation.  However, it is true the Brewers will listen on Fielder (he is about to get expensive).  The Giants are known to like the big first baseman.  The hangup is Brian Sabean’s reported unwillingness to trade Tim Lincecum or Cain.
  • The Giants also have their eye on Adrian Beltre.  The Mariners want starting pitching, but one year of Beltre is not equal to four of Jonathan Sanchez.
  • The Phillies still don’t want to go past two guaranteed years for Pat Burrell.  Stark points out another complication – Burrell would gain 10-and-5 rights early in a Phillies contract.  Any NL team inking Burrell for four years is a risky proposition given his defense.  If Burrell leaves the Phillies, Stark doesn’t expect the team to sign a major free agent as his replacement.
  • The Indians deserve props for acquiring Anthony Reyes.  Let’s not overdo it though – it’s only been five starts, and his strikeout rate is just 4.0 per nine in Cleveland.
  • The Indians talked to multiple teams about Cliff Lee last winter.  Interestingly, they thought the hardest about swapping him for Carlos Quentin.
  • The Astros were quite willing to trade Ty Wigginton, prior to his massive August.

Odds and Ends: Downs, Furcal, Saltalamacchia

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Today’s link collection…

  • Perhaps sparked by successful conversions by Ryan Dempster and Justin Duchscherer, the Blue Jays are considering putting Scott Downs in the rotation next year.  Downs has 50 big league starts under his belt, most recently in 2006.  The Jays might be more inclined to make the switch if A.J. Burnett opts out of his contract.  They also may be less willing to shop B.J. Ryan this winter.
  • Rany Jazayerli takes a look at the ’09 Royals, noting whispers regarding their interest in Rafael Furcal.
  • Jamey Newberg notes that Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia will attempt to prove his health in winter ball, which could make him trade bait.
  • The Mark DeRosa signing has worked out well for the Cubs, says Dave Cameron.  Other good ones from that free agent class: Gil Meche, Ted Lilly, and Jose Guillen.  Take a look – the majority of signings that winter became busts.
  • RotoAuthority offers simple advice for winning your fantasy league next year.

Dodgers, Phillies Interested In Iguchi

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Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times talked to Tadahito Iguchi’s agent, who said the Dodgers and Phillies expressed interest in his client.

Iguchi, 33, hit .231/.292/.304 in 330 plate appearances for the Padres – the worst performance of his MLB career.  A separated shoulder caused him to miss most of June and all of July.  Iguchi earned $4MM for his efforts. 

Iguchi picked it up upon a trade to Philly last year, but he’s not likely to find as many at-bats this time around.  The Dodgers are currently using Blake DeWitt at second base in Jeff Kent’s absence.

Frank Coonelly MLB.com Chat

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Pirates president Frank Coonelly chatted with fans at MLB.com today.  Highlights:

  • The Pedro Alvarez drama will not prevent the Pirates from drafting a Scott Boras client in the future.  Coonelly’s history with Boras was not a factor in the negotiations.
  • Coonelly is confident Alvarez will be a Pirate soon, and doesn’t think the contract can be voided.  He adds, "under no circumstance could Alvarez be granted free agency."
  • The Pirates will not be spending $10MM+ per year on a free agent starting pitcher.
  • Coonelly insists the Pirates were not shopping Ian Snell at the trade deadline.  Jayson Stark and Jon Heyman said Snell was available, with the Bucs asking for Franklin Morales and two other prospects from the Rockies.

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