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Archives for October 2008

Twins Interested In Orlando Cabrera

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According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins are interested in free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera.  Christensen guesses Cabrera could receive a three-year, $30MM contract this winter.

Cabrera, 34 in November, hit .281/.334/.371 in 730 plate appearances.  He has a reputation as a strong defensive shortstop, though the plus/minus system says he made just one more play than the average shortstop this year.  He’s much better on balls hit to his left than his right.

I like that the Twins seem willing to throw around a little cash, but Cabrera seems a questionable target.  Rafael Furcal is risky too, but at least there’s upside.

Marlins Re-Sign Helms

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5:16pm: Helms will receive $1.9MM over the two years.

3:54pm: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Marlins signed infielder Wes Helms to a two-year extension.  Helms had a $3.75MM option for ’09 with a $750K buyout.  Terms aren’t known yet, but the Fish probably didn’t give him that much for ’09.

Helms, 32, hit .243/.299/.347 in 278 plate appearances while playing the infield corners as needed.

Offseason Outlook: Toronto Blue Jays

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Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Blue Jays.  Here’s the roster:

C – Rod Barajas – $2.5MM (club option)
C – Curtis Thigpen – $400K
1B – Lyle Overbay – $7MM
2B – Aaron Hill – $2.59MM (cleared for physical activity in October?)
SS – Marco Scutaro – $1.1MM
3B – Scott Rolen – $11MM
IF – John McDonald – $1.9MM
IF – Jose Bautista – $1.8MM+
IF/OF – Joe Inglett – $400K
LF – Travis Snider – $400K
CF – Vernon Wells – $10MM
RF – Alex Rios – $5.9MM
DH – Adam Lind – $400K

SP – Roy Halladay – $14.25MM
SP – Jesse Litsch – $400K
SP – Dustin McGowan – $404K (shoulder surgery July ’08)
SP – Casey Janssen – $404K (shoulder surgery March ’08)
SP – David Purcey – $400K

RP – B.J. Ryan – $10MM
RP/SP – Scott Downs – $3.75MM
RP – Jesse Carlson – $400K
RP – Jason Frasor – $1.125MM+
RP – Brian Tallet – $640K+
RP – Jeremy Accardo – $400K
RP – Brandon League – $400K+

Other bullpen candidates: Brian Wolfe – $400K, Shawn Camp – $412K+

Other rotation candidates: Scott Downs, Ricky Romero, Brett Cecil

I have the Jays with about $80MM committed plus arbitration raises to Bautista, Frasor, and League.  After that they’ll still be under $85MM.  The Blue Jays entered ’08 with a $98MM payroll, so they should have over $13MM+ to spend.  ’09 payroll will apparently be "appropriate, but not significantly higher" than in ’08.

Let’s start with the rotation.  Looks shaky, which shows you how quickly starting pitching depth can evaporate.  The Jays will need one of McGowan and Janssen to return successfully from shoulder surgery, or for Downs to convert successfully back to starting.  They’d look a lot better with another veteran starter.  But do the math – if payroll stays the same the Jays will barely be able to squeeze in A.J. Burnett at $15-18MM.  I don’t see Burnett remaining with the Jays.

The Blue Jays had a below-average offense in 2008.  Maybe full seasons of Wells, Lind, Hill, and Snider can remedy that.  The clearest position to upgrade via free agency is shortstop, where Rafael Furcal is tempting.  A DH type like Milton Bradley, Jason Giambi, or Raul Ibanez could work if the Jays don’t mind sitting Snider or Lind.

Toronto seems to have a surplus in the bullpen, though not as much if Downs goes to the rotation.  If he stays in the pen, J.P. Ricciardi should aggressively shop Ryan.  Ryan at two years, $20MM looks decent in a weak closer market.  That’d free up $10MM in ’09 payroll without weakening the team much.  With that the Jays might be able to afford Furcal plus a free agent starter.  Even then they’d need a lot of things to go right to snag a playoff spot in 2009.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Holliday, Teixeira, Mussina

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A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…

  • MetsBlog recognizes that Francisco Rodriguez will improve the team and appease fans, but is not sure he is worth a four or five-year deal.
  • Mets Geek projects the Mets ’09 roster and looks at some options from outside the organization with Pat Burrell and Derek Lowe being the biggest offseason targets.
  • Was Watching says bringing back Brian Cashman was a mistake.
  • River Ave. Blues assesses the Matt Holliday market and feels that Phil Hughes and Robinson Cano for Holliday "doesn’t make much sense."
  • Sox and Pinstripes provides an in-depth preview of the upcoming offseasons for the Yankees and Red Sox and wonders if Theo Epstein can convince the Rockies to take J.D. Drew and a top prospect for Matt Holliday.
  • iYankees notes that Brian Cashman wants to make the Yankees’ OBP a priority this winter and feels Mark Teixeira fits the bill.
  • Oriole Post does not want to see Mike Mussina return to the O’s and would prefer they "stay the course" with young players.
  • C70 At The Bat takes a look at the Cardinals’ decision to sign Kyle Lohse and what it could mean for the offseason ahead.
  • Viva el Birdos projects the Cardinals ’09 roster and payroll.
  • McCovey Chronicles reacts to some quotes from Brian Sabean and what they mean for the Giants’ offseason.
  • Newberg Report thinks the price for the Rangers to acquire Jake Peavy would be too high, even if he’d waive his no-trade clause to go there.
  • Athletics Nation sees no point in signing Jason Giambi.

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

Indians Choose Brantley In Sabathia Deal

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According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Indians have chosen 21 year-old outfielder Michael Brantley to complete the C.C. Sabathia trade.

Heading into the season, Baseball America saw Brantley as a "fourth outfielder who can be a useful pinch-hitter."  Brantley proceeded to hit .319/.395/.398 in Double A.

Available Player Dream Team

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Just for fun – let’s say you’re a GM with a ton of money to spend and a quality farm system.  You want to build the best 2009 team possible.  What would it look like?  Here’s my take:

C – Gerald Laird
1B – Mark Teixeira
2B – Orlando Hudson
SS – Rafael Furcal
3B – Adrian Beltre
LF – Manny Ramirez
CF – Marlon Byrd
RF – Matt Holliday
DH – Aubrey Huff

SP – C.C. Sabathia
SP – Jake Peavy
SP – Derek Lowe
SP – A.J. Burnett
SP – Ryan Dempster

RP – Francisco Rodriguez
RP – Brian Fuentes
RP – Huston Street

I’m hoping the infield defense would make up for the outfield.  I’d have to trade for Laird, Beltre, Byrd, Holliday, Huff, Peavy, and Street.  Does any team have the young players to pull that off?  After that I’d have to spend $180MM on ten free agents…to cover their 2009 salaries alone.

Let’s see your dream teams in the comments…all free agents are fair game, plus players who have been mentioned in legitimate trade rumors.

Will Brewers Try To Sign Sabathia?

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Back in July, most writers assumed the Brewers would not sign C.C. Sabathia after the season.  However, ESPN’s Buster Olney is saying there’s a chance:

Others in the Brewers’ organization say Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio will try to make it very difficult for Sabathia to leave — maybe to the point of risking a colossal mistake.

You have to figure the Brewers will at least make their best offer to Sabathia.  They’ll get a shot at him before he hits the open market – before the bidding war. 

If the Brewers let Ben Sheets and Eric Gagne leave, that’s $21MM right there.  Guillermo Mota clears another $3.35MM.  Non-tendering Chris Capuano would wipe out another $3.75MM.  That is $28MM off the books for C.C. in ’09.  A six or seven-year deal for Sabathia would surely hamper the Brewers down the road, but it cannot be ruled out.

Odds and Ends: Lowe, Redmond, Timlin

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Linkage for Friday…

  • River Ave. Blues discovered that Mike Mussina’s wife may be a bigger factor than we thought in regard to his retirement decision.
  • David O’Brien tosses out some names for the Braves to consider: Derek Lowe, Matt Cain, Roy Oswalt, and Josh Willingham.  Everyone likes Lowe…Anthony McCarron says the Yankees and Mets should consider him.  Those clubs could also enter a bidding war for C.C. Sabathia, says Bob Klapisch.  Will C.C.’s postseason record diminish his contract?  I don’t think so.
  • Greg Couch doesn’t want Javier Vazquez pitching for the White Sox again.  Maybe Ozzie is right, Vazquez is not a big-game pitcher.  But why say that publicly?
  • Joe Christensen seems certain the Twins will exercise Mike Redmond’s $950K option.
  • Chris Carpenter’s shoulder injury is unprecedented among pitchers.  Do the Cardinals need to add veteran rotation insurance?  Speaking of unprecedented procedures…Takashi Saito had platelet-rich plasma injected into his elbow in July.
  • Joe Starkey thinks the Pirates should…non-tender Adam LaRoche?
  • Mike Timlin could retire.
  • Huge E-Ticket Manny Ramirez feature from Bill Simmons, wherein Scott Boras is blamed for his Boston exit.  Good read.

Possible Cano Suitors

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Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano’s name comes up often in MLBTR chats and comment threads.  Ken Rosenthal confirmed multiple clubs have expressed interest in Cano, and the Yankees will probably seek starting pitching in return (though a center fielder could also make sense).  Cano won’t necessarily be traded, but let’s discuss some possible suitors.

  • Orioles: If they move Brian Roberts, whether to the Yankees or another team. But the Orioles don’t have starting pitching to trade for Cano.
  • White Sox: Cano is signed through 2011, and top ’08 draft pick Gordon Beckham should be ready before then (with Alexei Ramirez perhaps moving to short).  Still, GM Kenny Williams is unpredictable.
  • Indians: They have a vacancy at second, but wouldn’t trade Fausto Carmona or Cliff Lee for Cano.
  • Tigers: With Placido Polanco signed through ’09, Cano could be a longer-term solution.  Like most teams, the Tigers do not have good starting pitching to spare.
  • Mets: Many believe the Mets intend to replace Luis Castillo this winter.  But they can’t give up Mike Pelfrey for Cano.
  • Brewers: If Rickie Weeks doesn’t get another shot, the Brewers might have the need.  But again, what starter would they move?
  • Pirates: They might move Freddy Sanchez this winter.  I could almost see Ian Snell being floated for Cano, but not Paul Maholm or Nate McLouth.
  • Cardinals: Adam Kennedy wants out, though Felipe Lopez may be re-signed.  I don’t really see a match with Cano.
  • Dodgers: The Cano for Matt Kemp rumor is popular, mostly with Yankees fans.  But who would replace Kemp? Why would Ned Colletti trade his center fielder for a second baseman?  Blake DeWitt seems capable.
  • Giants: They have viable second base candidates in-house.  I suppose it’s possible Jonathan Sanchez could be pried loose.
  • Rockies: The Rockies seem likely to go with Clint Barmes at second, and are in the market for starting pitching.  Cano wouldn’t be the right return in a Matt Holliday deal.
  • Diamondbacks: Second base is a question mark with Hudson eligible for free agency.  The D’Backs could spare Eric Byrnes, but Cano is obviously more valuable.
  • Twins: Aaron Gleeman mentioned to me that the Twins could move Alexi Casilla to short and pursue Cano.  He added that Cano’s name came up in the Johan Santana talks.  Good points, and the Twins do have a wealth of young starting pitching.

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