According to Ken Rosenthal, the A’s, Twins, and Dodgers are pursuing Russ Springer. Rosenthal adds that the Twins prefer Springer to Eric Gagne. The Twins’ interest in Springer was first reported by Seth Stohs, while Buster Olney mentioned the A’s a few days ago. Ken Gurnick had the Springer-Dodgers connection back in December.
Archives for January 2009
Phillies Unlikely To Add A Starter
Chuck Hixson of PhillyBaseballNews.com recently asked Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. about free agent starters Braden Looper, Jon Garland, and Randy Wolf. Amaro responded:
"I’d like to think that we’re at the point on our payroll, where those guys wouldn’t fit. We’re really kind of looking more for bullpen help. We are looking at some guys from outside the organization to add some depth and experience for us in the bullpen."
Braves’ Non-Roster Invitees
David O’Brien has the Braves’ non-roster Spring Training invitees:
RHPs Rafael Cruz, Emiliano Fruto, Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen; LHPs Francisley Bueno, Mariano Gomez and Juan Perez); catchers J.C. Boscan, Phillip Britton, Alvin Colina and Matt Kennelly; INFs Brooks Conrad, Freddie Freeman and Brandon Hicks, and OFs Jason Heyward and Jordan Schafer.
MacPhail On Roberts, Bargains
A few notes from Andy MacPhail from the Nick Markakis press conference today, by way of MASN’s Roch Kubatko.
- MacPhail indicates a willingness to "swoop in" and acquire a free agent at a bargain price if the right opportunity presents itself.
- Talks on a Brian Roberts extension continue. MacPhail said, "The market really hasn’t played itself out," which could be a reference to Orlando Hudson.
Heyman On Manny, Varitek, Madson, Swisher
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up…
- Heyman says half the teams in baseball may still have a big deal left in them, with roughly 100 free agents remaining.
- Manny Ramirez continues to wait patiently; Heyman guesses the Dodgers go to three years for him. They’d be bidding against themselves, unless Manny has an offer we don’t know about.
- When John Henry asked Jason Varitek why he didn’t accept their offer of arbitration, Varitek responded that he didn’t believe it would’ve guaranteed him a spot on the team.
- Heyman finds it odd that first-year arb closers are getting more money than starters.
- Scott Boras was in favor of Ryan Madson taking the Phillies’ three-year, $12MM offer based on Madson’s personal/familial circumstances.
- The Yankees are finding more interest in Nick Swisher than Xavier Nady.
- Heyman has the Ricketts family as the favorite to buy the Cubs.
- Heyman suggests Bobby Abreu’s defense gets a bad rap. The plus/minus system, however, says the right fielder is among the worst in the game.
- The Nationals and Marlins share the Rays’ policy of not negotiating once arbitration figures are submitted. The Nats are apparently willing to bend and may keep talking with Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham (each about a million bucks apart).
Tigers To Sign Scott Williamson
According to Danny Knobler, reliever Scott Williamson is close to a minor league deal with the Tigers. Knobler says the Brewers also had interest in Williamson, who pitched in Triple A for the Braves and Mariners last year. You have to look back to a 28.6 inning stint with Boston in ’04 to find his last big league success.
Odds and Ends: Prospects, Schilling, Elarton
Links for Thursday…
- Jon Paul Morosi estimates the Tigers’ 2009 payroll at $126.6MM. They were at $137.7 on Opening Day 2008.
- ESPN’s Keith Law ranks the top 100 prospects, with Matt Wieters, David Price, and Jason Heyward topping the list.
- Jack Curry emailed Curt Schilling, learning that the pitcher has been working out for three weeks but hasn’t decided whether to play in ’09.
- Free agent hurler Scott Elarton is also undecided (hat tip to BBTF).
- RotoAuthority wonders if Kenshin Kawakami is a fantasy baseball sleeper.
- Patrick Newman profiles new Cub Ken Kadokura.
- As expected, Oscar Salazar was designated to make room for Gregg Zaun.
Varitek Negotiations Dragging
According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have a proposal on the table for Jason Varitek. However, the two sides have not made recent progress on a deal. Varitek "has not given up hope of securing a two-year deal," according to Massarotti’s source.
More realistically, I am guessing Tek can accept around $4MM on a one-year deal. If he’s really stubborn he can wait until after the June draft, but it’d take a desperate team to give him more than a few million for a half-season.
Twins Rumors: Crede, Gagne, Springer
La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune checks in with the latest on the Twins.
- Free agent third baseman Joe Crede will work out for scouts next week, and the Twins are expected to attend. Neal’s source says Crede believes he’s finally overcome his back problems with a minor surgery this winter. He’s willing to sign for one year to re-establish himself.
- Brandon Lyon and Eric Gagne remain in the Twins’ sights, with the Twins "swapping offers" with Scott Boras for Gagne.
- Neal was able to confirm a rumor first reported by Seth Stohs: the Twins have interest in Russ Springer.
Reds Reach Payroll Limit
C. Trent Rosecrans spoke to Reds brass Bob Castellini, Walt Jocketty, and Dusty Baker today (Jocketty transcript here). All three told him the team has reached its payroll budget. It may be a slight increase from the ’08 payroll.
The Reds’ 2009 additions/re-signings include Ramon Hernandez ($6MM), David Weathers ($4.6MM or $3MM), Willy Taveras ($2.25MM), Jerry Hairston Jr. ($2MM), Mike Lincoln ($1.5MM), Arthur Rhodes ($2MM), and Jonny Gomes (minor league deal). Many of the team’s veterans have significant raises for ’09: Francisco Cordero ($3.5MM), Aaron Harang ($4.25MM), Bronson Arroyo ($1.5MM), Brandon Phillips ($2MM), and Edwin Encarnacion ($2MM+).
On the flip side, the Reds will not have to pay Adam Dunn ($13MM in ’08), Ken Griffey Jr. ($12.5MM, partially deferred), Dave Ross ($2.525MM), Ryan Freel ($3MM), Javier Valentin ($1.3MM), Jeremy Affeldt ($3MM), Corey Patterson ($3MM) and Josh Fogg ($1MM).
