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Archives for October 2008

Hendry Extension Close

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FRIDAY: Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald and Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times say a Hendry extension is close.

THURSDAY: According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs declined to give the Mariners permission to interview GM Jim Hendry.  Hendry holds an option with the Cubs for 2009.

The sale of the Cubs is not likely to be completed before the 2009 season begins, so the current regime is going to have to figure out the Hendry situation.  Rogers talked to one source who believes a three-year extension is in the works.

Offseason Outlook: Chicago Cubs

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Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Cubs.  Their likely 2009 commitments:

C – Geovany Soto – $401K
C – Henry Blanco – $3MM (club option)
1B – Derrek Lee – $13MM
2B – Mark DeRosa – $5.5MM
SS – Ryan Theriot – $428K
3B – Aramis Ramirez – $15.65MM
IF – Ronny Cedeno – $407K+
IF – Mike Fontenot – $405K
LF – Alfonso Soriano – $16MM
CF – Reed Johnson – $1.3MM+
RF – Kosuke Fukudome – $11.5MM
OF – Felix Pie – $402K
OF – Micah Hoffpauir – $400K

SP – Carlos Zambrano – $17.75MM
SP – Rich Harden – $7MM
SP – Ted Lilly – $12MM
SP – Sean Marshall – $400K
SP – Jason Marquis – $9.875MM

RP – Carlos Marmol – $430K
RP – Chad Gaudin – $1.775MM+
RP – Jeff Samardzija – $1.8MM
RP – Neal Cotts – $800K+
RP – Michael Wuertz – $860K+
RP – Angel Guzman – $401K
RP – Kevin Hart – $400K

That’s about $122MM committed, plus arbitration raises to Cedeno, Johnson, Gaudin, Cotts, and Wuertz.  They will still be under $130MM after that.  A bump in payroll is expected – $140MM?  $150MM?

If the Cubs are able to retain GM Jim Hendry, his first order of business will probably be to re-sign Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood before they hit the open market.  Dempster could cost $14MM a year for four years, while Wood could require a salary in the $10MM range.  Not sure about the term.

Even if Dempster’s deal is backloaded, signing both could put the Cubs at $150MM.  It figures that they will still look to add a left-handed hitting outfielder to play right or center field.  That’d be easier to fit in if some of Marquis’ $9.875MM can be moved.  The Cubs can probably spare him despite Harden’s fragility, since Gaudin and Samardzija are also starting candidates.

The free agent market offers Jim Edmonds, Mark Kotsay, Eric Hinske, Ken Griffey Jr., and Bobby Abreu.  Players such as Adam Dunn, Milton Bradley, and Raul Ibanez could enter the picture if the Cubs convince themselves they can handle right field full-time.  Brian Giles would be an ideal fit, if he will waive his no-trade rights.  Jody Gerut, Jeremy Hermida, Coco Crisp, and Randy Winn could also be trade targets.

The Cubs could also look to add that lefty bat to the infield, pushing DeRosa to right.  Maybe Fontenot is that bat.  External options include Rafael Furcal, Brian Roberts, and Orlando Hudson.

I expect the Cubs to re-sign Dempster and Wood and then bring in one lefthanded hitter from the group mentioned above.  This team had it all in 2008: offense, defense, pitching.  The playoff performance was disappointing, but it makes sense to tweak the roster and just try to get back there.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Bradley, Peavy, Young

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A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…

  • Goat Riders of the Apocalypse looks at Milton Bradley and sees a clubhouse cancer, but can’t ignore his .999 OPS and wonders if he is the answer in right field for the Cubs.
  • Pinstripes Published takes a look at the crop of free agent starting pitchers and speculates on who will sign with the Yankees, with the most likely being C.C. Sabathia, Jon Garland and Ryan Dempster.
  • Chop-n-Change takes a look at which prospects it might take to land Jake Peavy, and wonders if a package built around RHP Tommy Hanson and OF Jordan Schafer could get it done.
  • Talking Chop does not want to the Braves giving up prospects for Peavy and would rather see the Braves acquire pitching through free agency.
  • First And Goal From Second Base warns that it will be a mistake for the Twins to trade Delmon Young.
  • Twinkie Town takes a look at which Twins free agents could return (Nick Punto, Dennys Reyes) and the rest of the Twins offseason.

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

Elias Rankings: AL 1B/OF/DH

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Eddie Bajek at Detroit Tigers Thoughts presents his Elias rankings for American League first baseman/outfielders/DHs, who are all grouped together for this purpose.

  • Type A: Mark Teixeira, Raul Ibanez, Bobby Abreu, Milton Bradley.  All four will probably be offered arbitration and will decline.  Click here to see the unprotected first-round draft picks – teams may be rooting for their Type As to sign with these clubs.
  • Type B: Garret Anderson, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas.  Hard to see an offer of arbitration to any of these three.

Odds and Ends: Pitt, Manny, White Sox

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Links for Friday…

Player-Coach Role For Maddux?

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Interesting note from Mel Antonen and Bob Nightengale at USA Today, found via Shysterball:

The San Diego Padres have talked to Greg Maddux about of becoming a player-coach in the organization, general manager Kevin Towers said Thursday.  Yet Towers anticipates that Maddux might retire instead.

Maddux seems to already serve that type of role, making his 32 starts while tutoring young pitchers.  Might as well make it official if he sticks around in 2009.  The Padres might have a hard time fitting Maddux in the budget, but the Dodgers or Giants could be alternatives if the Professor wants to make a run at fifth all-time in wins. 

He’ll have to get past Pud Galvin.  The game hasn’t changed much since Pud’s day.  Did you know he pitched 656.3 innings in 75 starts as a 26 year-old in 1883?

Randy Johnson’s Future

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Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has an in-depth look at the Randy Johnson situation.  The legendary 45 year-old lefty was effective this year in 30 starts.  It seems highly unlikely that he’ll retire just five wins from 300.  There are concerns he would remain committed after winning those five games.

Piecoro says D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes hinted that he is not willing to go as high as $10MM for Johnson in 2009.  The team seemingly doesn’t have much more than that to spend in total, and they have other needs.  Also, the Diamondbacks are against incentive-based contracts.  Still, Piecoro wonders if ownership could step in and mandate re-signing Johnson.

Johnson is right on the borderline for Type B status, but the D’Backs stand to pick up many draft picks for other players so they may not risk offering arbitration.  Would Johnson pitch elsewhere?  Piecoro feels that he favors the West Coast, making the Dodgers and Angels intriguing possibilities.

Dodgers Rumors: Manny, Nomar, Lowe, Penny, Kent

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Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times discusses the Dodgers’ upcoming busy offseason, while Bill Shaikin focuses on Manny Ramirez.

  • Nomar Garciaparra is undecided about playing next year.  He hit .264/.326/.466 in 181 plate appearances in 2008 while earning $8.5MM.
  • Manager Joe Torre seems to consider pitching the top offseason priority.  Makes sense, with the statuses of Derek Lowe and Brad Penny in question.  Hernandez’s sources say Lowe felt underappreciated during his time in L.A., and he is expected to leave.  It’s unknown whether the Dodgers will choose Penny’s $9.25MM option or the $2MM buyout.
  • Hernandez doesn’t see GM Ned Colletti breaking up his core group of young players to acquire Jake Peavy.
  • The departure of Jeff Kent is near-certain  Blake DeWitt can step in at second or third base.
  • The Manny situation is difficult, because the Dodgers will take a lot of heat if they won’t meet his asking price (perhaps $100MM+).  Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire suggests a more reasonable offer of three years, $60MM.

Latest On Peavy

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9:53pm: More from Olney.  The Padres are aggressively shopping Peavy, with the Braves and Dodgers two possible suitors.  Olney’s sources believe Peavy will be dealt "in the weeks ahead."  The Padres want two young pitchers and a near MLB-ready center fielder in return.  The Braves and Dodgers could both meet that demand.

7:07pm: O’Brien has a new article up; he says the Braves and Padres have discussed Peavy.  Not much is known beyond that.  Paul DePodesta offers his thoughts on the situation, basically explaining that any player should be available for a compelling return.  Thus far, the Padres haven’t received a compelling offer for Peavy.

10:04am: It’s early in the process, but Jake Peavy’s availability has baseball fans all worked up.  As a reminder, Peavy prefers the NL.  He specifically likes Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and St. Louis.  He considers L.A. a particularly good fit and therefore is open to the Angels.  Peavy controls his fate, as he has a full no-trade clause.  On to today’s links:

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