Bidding On Jason Bay
WEEI.com's Alex Speier hears from multiple sources that the bidding for Jason Bay will reach at least four years at $14-15MM per season. The 31-year-old outfielder has been "pleasantly surprised" by his first contract year. Bay didn't know what to expect at the beginning of the season, but he's produced, as usual.
He has 36 homers and a .266/.385/.538 line that overshadows his 159 strikeouts and below average defense (according to UZR/150). A return to Boston appears to be a "legitimate possibility," but other teams will have interest if the two sides can't agree to a deal.
As Speier notes, the Angels, Cardinals, Giants, Mariners, Mets, White Sox and Yankees could all have interest in Bay and the resources to sign him.
Yahoo's Gordon Edes and MLBTR's Mike Axisa each compared Bay to Matt Holliday last month, so check out their articles to see how Bay fits in to the rest of the free agent market.
Royals Rumors: Jacobs, Buck, Olivo, Teahen
Royals GM Dayton Moore tells Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star that he plans on improving his team's defense this offseason. Moore expects to have about $70MM to work with this winter, but, as Mellinger points out, that doesn't leave the Royals with much flexibility. Here are the details:
- The Royals figure to look for an everyday outfielder, a catcher and relief help.
- They will probably have to non-tender some players to stay within their budget.
- Mellinger assumes the Royals will buy Coco Crisp out for $500k, rather than pick up his $8MM option.
- Mike Jacobs is a prime non-tender candidate. He has a .692 OPS, but he's making $3.275MM this year and would be in line for at least $2.6MM if the Royals offer him arbitration.
- Miguel Olivo is likely to pursue free agency. The Royals may need another catcher if they decide that the $3MM or so John Buck would earn through arbitration is too much.
- Club officials say there's "no chance" they non-tender Mark Teahen.
Odds & Ends: Blue Jays, Wedge, Sweeney
Some more links for the morning…
- Multiple major league sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that many Blue Jays are fed up with manager Cito Gaston and don't want him to return. One source says it's "nearly a mutiny" in the clubhouse.
- Eric Wedge wants to manage again at some point, according to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince.
- Marlins prospect Mike Stanton still projects as a middle-of-the-order 40 homer threat, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. gets high marks from his predecessors, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Former Phillies GMs Ed Wade and Pat Gillick praised Amaro's moves.
- Mike Sweeney is having the most fun he's ever had in the big leagues, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. He wants to return and play one more year for the Mariners or the Angels.
- As Jon Heyman of SI.com notes, players chose Michael Weiner as the next executive director of the MLBPA.
- Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune doesn't expect Jermaine Dye, Josh Fields or Octavio Dotel to return to the White Sox next year.
Cubs Rumors: Johnson, DeRosa, Zambrano
Some rumors on the Cubs as their season comes to an end…
- Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says Cubs GM Jim Hendry had one of his worst offseasons last winter.
- Aramis Ramirez tells Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune it's not Hendry's fault that the Milton Bradley signing didn't work out.
- In the same article we hear that Ted Lilly wants the Cubs to hold onto Reed Johnson and bring back Mark DeRosa.
- And Carlos Zambrano has a prediction: "Like Arnold Schwarzenegger said, 'I'll be back'." Dunno if Schwarzenegger had a no-trade clause, but Zambrano does, so he has a say in the matter.
Blalock Knows He Won’t Return To Rangers
Hank Blalock knows he won't return to the Rangers in 2010, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. GM Jon Daniels hinted that the club could have interest in free agents-to-be Marlon Byrd and Ivan Rodriguez, but hasn't made any such overtures to Blalock.
"Nothing has been said to me, but I know I won't be playing here next year," he said. "It is what it is. I'll just move on."
Because Michael Young, Chris Davis and Justin Smoak have the corner infield positions covered and Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, David Murphy and Julio Borbon give the Rangers four players to DH and patrol the outfield, there's little room for Blalock in the team's plans. Manager Ron Washington says it's best for Blalock to move on if he wants playing time next season.
Though Blalock's production has fallen off in the second half, many teams could still have interest in the corner infielder.
Atkins Doesn’t Expect To Return To Rockies
Garrett Atkins tells Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post that he's enjoying his time in Colorado immensely – he just doesn't expect it to last beyond this year. Atkins knows that his offensive struggles likely mean his tenure with the Rockies will come to an end soon.
"Obviously, I don't think I've got too many more games in a Rockies uniform," Atkins said. "I'm just trying to enjoy it with these guys."
Ian Stewart has emerged as a cheaper alternative at third base, and there's no room for Atkins at first because of Todd Helton. Atkins hit .226/.304/.341 this year with nine homers, while Stewart hit 25 homers and posted a .790 OPS.
Atkins made $7.05MM this year and the Rockies couldn't offer him less than $5.6MM in arbitration, so they'll presumably non-tender or trade him.
Odds & Ends: Sandberg, Yanks, Padres, Upton
Some links to read before the final weekend of the regular season…
- Ryne Sandberg tells Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times that his "ideal job" would be managing the Cubs.
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says C.C. Sabathia and Mike Mussina are the only two Yankee pitchers of the decade to deliver big seasons right after signing big free agent contracts.
- Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune says there's still a lot of uncertainty surrounding Padres GM Kevin Towers.
- USA Today's Bob Nightengale says (via Twitter) that the Giants expect Randy Johnson to retire after the season.
- Nightengale says teams expect the Rays to deal B.J. Upton this winter.
- Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle says the Giants need Bengie Molina and Buster Posey next year.
- Justin Masterson tells John Tomase of the Boston Herald that his former pitching coach, John Farrell, would make a good manager.
Brian Giles Wants To Keep Playing
Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune points out that this could be the final weekend of Brian Giles' professional career. Giles says his body still feels good enough to play, but he realizes he'll have a limited role if he stays with the Padres, so he's open to other clubs.
"I still think I could be a good, productive major league player," Giles said. "If it's not in San Diego, then I have a feeling it's going to be somewhere else. I've got to believe there are teams willing to take a chance as long as you're healthy."
The 38-year-old raves about his time in San Diego, his hometown, but understands the Padres may move on. Giles posted a .191/.277/.271 line in 254 plate appearances this year and played suspect right field defense, posting a -14.5 UZR/150 in 500 innings. If Giles wants to play again he'll probably have to sign a minor league deal.
Rangers Aren’t Interested In Bradley
The Rangers aren't interested in bringing Milton Bradley back to Texas, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Sources make it clear to Sullivan that the club won't look to re-acquire the now-available outfielder. A week ago, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that the Rangers feel Bradley became selfish at the end of last season.
Bradley, who led the American League with a .999 OPS last year, hit .257/.378/.397 in the first year of his multi-year deal with the Cubs. There are two years and $21MM remaining on the 31-year-old's contract.
The Royals aren't interested in Bradley; the Padres are open-minded about him and other teams could get involved, too.
Odds & Ends: Pirates, Mariners, Cubs
Because we know you aren't ready to go to bed just yet…
- With the Pirates looking to end their streak of losing seasons, Manager John Russell described the team's offseason plan this way: "To say what specific area, we'll see what the board holds," Russell said. "I don't know — is it a left fielder? Is it a second baseman? Is it a pitcher? I don't know. We'll just have to look into it and see what's available. Offensively, we've struggled. It would be nice to find a bat that can be productive."
- According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, all the Mariners' coaches should be back next season.
- Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune has his wish list of power hitters for the Cubs. Astonishingly, it includes Gary Sheffield.
- According to Corey Brock of MLB.com, GM Kevin Towers has not been told yet by Padres' management if he will be returning in 2010.
- Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports that Brewers' GM Doug Melvin is expected to ask Ken Macha to return as manager on Friday.
- Apparently, however, Seth McClung does not expect to return to Milwaukee in 2010, and has Twittered his discontent.