According to the AP, the Players Association claims it has evidence that teams colluded against signing Barry Bonds this year. They’ve reached an agreement with MLB regarding the timing of their grievance. The grievance will probably be delayed beyond Bonds’ trial, due to begin in March of 2009. I am curious to see the nature of this evidence – comments made by execs to Jeff Borris, maybe? The ’07 GM Meetings, where each GM took the floor and explained his offseason plans?
Archives for October 2008
Pierre Willing To Waive No-Trade Clause
MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick talked to Juan Pierre’s agent Mark Pieper, who said Pierre would prefer a trade to a team where he can play more often. He’s willing to waive his no-trade clause. Pierre is singing the same tune as Andruw Jones, but both players have negative trade value.
Pierre’s biggest asset is staying healthy; that’s been true for many years. He doesn’t help much on offense or defense. His stolen bases don’t really add value. Pierre has three years and $28.5MM left on his deal. Perhaps he can be swapped for another bad contract. Any suggestions?
Offseason Outlook: Milwaukee Brewers
Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Brewers. Their likely 2009 commitments:
C – Jason Kendall – $4.6MM
C – Mike Rivera – $400K
1B – Prince Fielder – $670K+
2B – Rickie Weeks – $1.057MM+
SS – J.J. Hardy – $2.65MM+
3B – Bill Hall – $6.8MM
IF – Joe Dillon – $400K
IF – Alcides Escobar – $400K
LF – Ryan Braun – $745K
CF – Mike Cameron – $10MM (club option)
RF – Corey Hart – $444K+
OF – Tony Gwynn Jr. – $400K
OF –
SP – Yovani Gallardo – $404K
SP – Dave Bush – $2.55MM+
SP – Manny Parra – $400K
SP – Jeff Suppan – $12.5MM
SP – Seth McClung – $750K+
RP – David Riske – $4.25MM
RP – Salomon Torres – $3.75MM (club option)
RP – Carlos Villanueva – $413K
RP – Mitch Stetter – $400K
RP – Mark DiFelice – $400K
RP – Tim Dillard – $400K
RP – Todd Coffey – $925K+
Other commitments: Craig Counsell – $400K buyout, Chris Capuano – $3.75MM+
That’s about $60MM committed before arbitration raises to Fielder, Weeks, Hardy, Hart, Bush, McClung, Coffey, and Capuano. The last two could be non-tendered (and maybe re-signed after that). Those raises will still add up, so I’ll say roughly $75MM committed. The Brewers entered the season at $80.9MM and added several million more for C.C. Sabathia and Ray Durham midseason. The Brewers set a team record with more than three million fans in ’08, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see payroll reach $100MM.
Another reason I say that is the Brewers are seriously entertaining re-signing Sabathia. He and Gallardo would make a fine 1-2 punch next year; otherwise GM Doug Melvin will probably explore other free agent options. The cost-effective alternative would be to shop Fielder.
Fielder seems more expendable than Hardy for a couple of reasons. One, the Brewers have a powerful prospect in Mat Gamel. Two, Hardy is strong both offensively and defensively at a key position. If Escobar is ready, Hardy could move to third. If he’s not ready, a one-year offer to Joe Crede could make sense.
The Brewers could also use a late-inning reliever. Perhaps the failure of last year’s free agent signings will prompt Melvin to focus on the trade market. Huston Street, B.J. Ryan, and Kevin Gregg may be available.
Busy offseason for Melvin – he has to address the rotation, find a closer, decide on Cameron, figure out third base, and decide whether to trade Fielder or Hardy.
Pirates May Re-Sign Michaels, Mientkiewicz
According to MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch, the Pirates would like to re-sign veteran role players Jason Michaels and Doug Mientkiewicz (Dejan Kovacevic reported this a few weeks ago).
Langosch says Michaels’ $2.6MM option will be declined, but he could re-sign for less to stay on as the team’s fourth outfielder. Michaels, 32, hit .224/.292/.360 in 321 plate appearances this year. There are better ways to spend a million bucks.
Mientkiewicz, 34, hit .277/.374/.379 in 334 plate appearances. He’s a fine defensive first baseman and even pitched in at third. He also provided spark to the Pirates’ clubhouse. Bringing him back makes sense at the right price.
Final Interviews For Mariners GM Job
12:05pm: Baker and Stone learned of a fourth final candidate for the Mariners GM job: Jack Zduriencik of the Brewers.
10:19am: According to Geoff Baker and Larry Stone of the Seattle Times, the Mariners are bringing back Jerry DiPoto, Tony LaCava, and Kim Ng for second interviews for their GM position. Peter Woodfork, Tony Bernazard, and Lee Pelekoudas did not make the cut. Furthermore, Baker believes DiPoto and LaCava have a leg up on Ng.
Tigers assistant GM Al Avila talked to the Tigers about his future before the Ms asked for permission to interview him, and now has an extension through 2011.
Odds and Ends: Iguchi, Varitek, Bonds
Linkage for Thursday…
- Tadahito Iguchi will consider playing in the U.S. or Japan, but he wants a starting job. He hit just .232/.292/.306 in 337 plate appearances, hobbled by a shoulder injury.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman said he does not have any side agreements with any of their free agents to decline arbitration if offered. That would’ve been nice for Ivan Rodriguez. River Ave. Blues thinks the Yanks should offer arb to Rodriguez, Bobby Abreu, Mike Mussina, and Damaso Marte.
- Sox Machine would like to see the White Sox add a defensive player like Mark Ellis.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders if Larry Bowa would campaign for the Yankees to sign Manny Ramirez, if Bowa joins the Yankees first.
- Tonight could be Jason Varitek’s last game as a member of the Red Sox.
- What might’ve been: the Rockies seriously considered drafting Evan Longoria.
- Murray Chass talked to Barry Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris.
Colletti Will Return As Dodgers GM
After the Dodgers were eliminated last night, owner Frank McCourt said GM Ned Colletti will be back for the final year of his contract. McCourt would not say whether he plans to discuss an extension with Colletti.
Colletti has a huge offseason ahead of him. He has 14 potential free agents and important first-time arbitration cases for Russell Martin, Jonathan Broxton, and Andre Ethier.
Olney On Pettitte, Mussina
THURSDAY: Olney says Pettitte’s agent Randy Hendricks informed the Yankees that his client wants to pitch for them in 2009. Olney says the interest is mutual.
WEDNESDAY: Lots of good stuff from ESPN’s Buster Olney today. His scoop on the Yankees’ free agent starters:
A longtime friend of Andy Pettitte reiterated that the left-hander intends to pitch in 2009 — and there is a growing sense that Mike Mussina may return for another season, as well, although Mussina has not indicated a final decision, one way or another.
Intriguing news on Mussina, since he’s suggested it’ll be either three more seasons or retirement. The general vibe among the media as well as Yankees GM Brian Cashman had been that Mussina is leaning toward retirement.
I imagine the Yankees will scrap the plan to sign two of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Derek Lowe if both Mussina and Pettitte return. Or perhaps they’d turn Pettitte away?
Manny Quotes
Manny Ramirez gave a few quotes last night after the Dodgers were eliminated:
"I just want to go home and spend some time with my family. I want to see who is the highest bidder. Gas is up and so am I."
Manny on whether he wants to be in L.A.: "We’ll see." Manny asked what he’s worth: "I guess you got to talk to my agent now. I’m a five-tool player. That’s me now." Hmmm…even Boras can’t convince anyone Manny brings speed or defense to the table.
On the high end, a six-year, $150MM deal has been suggested for Ramirez. T.J. Simers suspects owner Frank McCourt would prefer to make a valiant effort and finish second in the bidding. Buster Olney believes the Dodgers are better suited signing C.C. Sabathia.
Both Sides Want Furcal Return
According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers were not disillusioned by Rafael Furcal’s errors last night. GM Ned Colletti said he’d like to have Furcal back. Furcal said he wants to come back. So if all goes according to plan, the best free agent-eligible shortstop will never hit the open market.
Back in December of 2005, Furcal received a four-year offers but chose the Dodgers’ three-year offer at more money per year. He missed most of ’08 with a back injury, so maybe he’ll take a similar approach this winter and sign for one year to re-establish himself. The Dodgers would probably prefer one year with a 2010 option and plenty of incentive-based money.
On the other hand, we could have a Magglio Ordonez situation. When Maggs signed in January of ’05, he was coming off a 222 plate appearance season due to knee problems. Ordonez had shock wave treatment in Austria on the knee and hired Scott Boras that winter. Boras started out asking for seven years for the 31 year-old, and ended up getting five guaranteed with reasonable vesting options for two more seasons. The Tigers would’ve been able to void the contract after one year if Ordonez spent 25+ days on the DL for recurrence of the knee injury.
