Odds and Ends: Yankees, Lowe, D’Backs
Links for Thursday…
- Peter Abraham takes a look at the Yankees’ first base options. The Royals could match up on a trade, if the Yanks are willing to try an unproven player.
- A pair of free agent bargains from Dave Cameron: Randy Johnson and Derek Lowe. What kind of salary will Lowe command?
- Free agent reliever Will Ohman hopes to remain in Atlanta.
- Braves GM Frank Wren has already talked to every team about his needs in left field and the rotation.
- Nick Piecoro looks at the D’Backs’ offseason needs. Will there be room in the budget to make the necessary improvements?
- The A’s have five days to decide on Alan Embree‘s $3MM option, according to Susan Slusser. Embree profiles as a Type B free agent.
- The Padres have ten days to decide between Brian Giles‘ $9MM option and his $3MM buyout. It’s an easy call to exercise the option.
Tigers Decline Renteria’s Option
The announcement was made a month ago, but today the Tigers officially declined Edgar Renteria‘s $12MM option for 2009 (or $11MM – I’ve seen conflicting reports). It’s possible the Tigers re-sign Renteria at a lower salary. Will they offer him arbitration, since he profiles as a Type A free agent? Eddie Bajek notes that Renteria would prefer the Tigers decline to offer, making him more attractive to other teams.
Royals Acquire Jacobs For Nunez
THURSDAY: It’s official: the Royals have acquired Jacobs for Nunez, according to Dutton. It now seems that the Royals have a surplus of 1B/DH types.
WEDNESDAY, 10:38pm: Joe Frisaro of MLB.com says the deal would be Jacobs for Nunez, and it could be announced this week. Nunez, 25, posted a 2.98 ERA in 48.1 innings. His strikeout rate was weak, but he managed to keep the ball in the yard despite flyball tendencies. He threw quite hard, averaging 94.4 mph on his heater. He missed some time with a strained lat.
Rany Jazayerli considers the Royals acquiring Jacobs a terrible idea, and worries that it could lead to a Billy Butler trade.
8:31pm: Dutton says this evening that the Royals are moving closer to a deal for Jacobs. The Marlins apparently rejected a trade for Rosa, and current discussions involve a ready-now reliever. Dutton believes it could be Leo Nunez or Ramon Ramirez.
9:02am: According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, first baseman Mike Jacobs remains a possible acquisition for the Royals. Jacobs, 28, hit .247/.299/.514 in 519 plate appearances this year. He struggled mightily against lefties this year and in ’06, but handled them in ’07. Trade talks with the Marlins stalled over the health of pitching prospect Carlos Rosa. The Mariners, Blue Jays, and Giants are also in on Jacobs.
It’s surprising to see the Royals apparently willing to give up a prospect for a first baseman – they have a couple of palatable (and cheaper) options in Kila Ka’aihue and Ryan Shealy. Ka’aihue’s minor league equivalent says he could hit .243/.390/.442 in the bigs.
Dutton was the original author of Sunday’s Mark Teahen/Indians rumor, and he wrote today that sources from both clubs gave it to him. Royals GM Dayton Moore says "somebody lied" along the way.
Macha To Be Named Brewers Manager
2:40pm: Macha’s two-year contract is official.
11:46am: The press conference is scheduled for 2pm CST.
11:02am: ESPN is reporting that Ken Macha will be hired as the next manager of the Brewers. Macha previously managed the A’s for four years.
Reds Will Consider Mulder
John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer spoke to Reds GM Walt Jocketty recently. A few nuggets from the conversation:
- The Reds will "at least explore" signing free agent lefty Mark Mulder. Jocketty, of course, has a history with Mulder from the Cardinals. Mulder recently told MLB.com’s Mychael Urban he won’t consider signing until he’s healthy and throwing well.
- Jocketty has spoken to the agents for free agents David Weathers, Mike Lincoln, Jeremy Affeldt, Jerry Hairston Jr., and Javier Valentin. Weathers doesn’t seem interested in taking a discount, while Valentin said last month he’d love to return.
- The Reds aren’t interested in signing Ken Griffey Jr. The White Sox are expected to pass as well, but Mark Gonzales believes he could be considered in a lesser role if healthy. At any rate, the two teams will split Junior’s $4MM buyout.
Orioles Focused On Markakis, Roberts
According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles are focused on signing Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts to contract extensions. Markakis is under team control for three more years, while Roberts is under contract for 2009 at $8MM.
Zrebiec talked to Orioles president Andy MacPhail, who says the team has talked generalities with both players’ agents. Roberts does not want to talk about a contract once spring training begins. It makes sense for MacPhail to figure out his situation soon, to allow time for trade talks if Roberts cannot be extended.
My guess at possible Roberts suitors if he hits the market: the White Sox, Indians, Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Brewers.
Tazawa Not Selected In Japanese Draft
According to an AP/ESPN report, the 12 Nippon Professional Baseball teams adhered to Junichi Tazawa‘s request not to draft him. Tazawa, a 22 year-old righty, has reportedly been scouted by the Red Sox, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, Tigers, Pirates, Cubs, and Mariners.
Dodgers Rumors: Manny, Furcal, Peavy
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti talked to the media yesterday; here’s the latest.
- Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News believes Colletti will pursue a competent backup catcher to allow more rest for Russell Martin. A decision is due on Gary Bennett‘s $900K option within seven days.
- So far this offseason, Colletti and Scott Boras have exchanged two voicemails. They’ll meet in person to discuss Manny Ramirez and other Boras clients (Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux, Andruw Jones, maybe Joe Crede) at next week’s GM meetings. Colletti will not put the other team needs on hold to deal with Manny.
- Colletti has had preliminary talks with the agents for Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake, and Nomar Garciaparra, while Jeff Kent is expected to retire.
- Colletti intends to acquire a top of the line starting pitcher, but Jake Peavy is unlikely (the Dodgers would have to pay extra due to the same-division factor). Free agents Lowe and C.C. Sabathia may be considered. The Dodgers have seven days to decide on Brad Penny‘s $9.25MM option versus the $2MM buyout.
- The Dodgers would love to have Takashi Saito back, but the situation with his elbow injury is unclear.
- Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones have expressed a desire to be traded through the media, but not formally to the Dodgers.
Will Yankees Consider Manny?
From George King and Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post:
Several industry sources believe the Yankees will make a serious push for Manny Ramirez to play right field next year.
Those sources sound pretty vague, and keep in mind that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti called a previous King/Hubbuch report about a Manny offer "fiction." On the other hand, Colletti said Saturday that the Dodgers hadn’t even had internal conversations about the length or amount of a possible Manny offer. That seems like an odd topic to avoid for ten days.
Additionally, the Yankees have three corner outfielders and the idea of Manny in right field is dubious.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Sabathia, Teixeira, Peavy
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports posted a new column yesterday; let’s take a look.
- Rosenthal says the "expectation in some baseball circles" is that the Brewers will offer a four-year, $100MM contract to C.C. Sabathia. However, between the Yankees, Angels, and Dodgers he could probably do significantly better.
- Mark Teixeira should draw interest from the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels. Rosenthal adds that Mike Lowell does not have a no-trade clause (I believe I wrote earlier that he did).
- The Padres and Braves are at an impasse in the Jake Peavy talks, with the Padres seeking five players. The Braves don’t want to surrender Tommy Hanson, as Tom Krasovic reported Saturday.
- Scott Boras is reportedly pitching Jason Varitek as the Tigers’ next catcher.
- Rosenthal suggests that Manny Ramirez‘s defense may keep NL teams away.