According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Rockies avoided arbitration with reliever Huston Street by signing him for $4.5MM for ’09. This is Street’s second arb year, so he’ll be a free agent after the 2010 season. His future contracts will be greatly affected by whether he can re-establish himself as a closer.
Archives for January 2009
Nationals Still Targeting Strasburg
In a Saturday article, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune explained how the Padres would like to bring righty Stephen Strasburg home with the #3 pick in the June draft. He wonders if the Padres could flash enough cash for Scott Boras to "steer Strasburg past the Nationals and Mariners."
Not to worry, Nationals fans. Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post says Strasburg remains atop the Nats’ list by a wide margin. Barring a major injury, the Nationals will draft Strasburg. As it usually is with Boras and most early draft picks, signability is a concern. However, Sheinin says the Nationals’ relationship with Boras improved with the Mark Teixeira negotiations.
Saturday Evening Writer Wanted
MLBTR is looking to add a Saturday evening writer to the staff. The position is paid on an hourly basis. Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Availability for the next six Saturday evenings, 5pm-midnight CST. The specific dates are Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 14, Feb. 21, and Feb. 28. If that goes well you can remain in the mix for random shifts, if you’d like.
- Knowledge of all 30 baseball teams, no discernible bias toward your favorite.
- Ability to analyze articles and craft intelligent, well-written posts summing the news up in a few paragraphs. I want the best of both worlds, as you have to be able to do this very quickly after the source article is published. It’s preferred that you add value to the article with your own insight, numbers, or links to other relevant articles.
- Attention to detail – absolutely no spelling errors, especially for player and journalist names. Ability to follow the MLBTR style and tone. Also it is important to avoid duplicating content previously covered on the site.
- Ability to use an RSS feed reader such as Google Reader. This is crucial.
- Blogging experience is preferred. We use TypePad, which is easy to use if you have blogged before.
- You have to be able to put up with me, responding to constructive criticism and digesting the MLBTR instruction document quickly.
- If you’re interested, email mlbtrweekend@gmail.com and explain your qualifications. Please don’t send anything to my other email address. Usually we receive a few hundred inquiries, so unfortunately I cannot reply to all or even most. Thanks.
Mariners Avoid Arb With Felix Hernandez
According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Mariners avoided arbitration with pitcher Felix Hernandez by signing him for $3.8MM for ’09. Chien-Ming Wang received $4MM in his first arb year, though he is a Super Two player so he goes to arbitration four times rather than three. Cole Hamels, also a Super Two, will receive $4.35MM for his first arb year in his newly-signed deal.
When the 2011 season comes to a close and Hernandez can file for free agency, he’ll be just 25 years old.
Pirates Notes: Maholm, Mientkiewicz, Alvarez
The latest on the Pirates, from Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Extension talks with Nate McLouth are dormant, but talks with Paul Maholm are not. Maholm is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, so he’s under team control through 2011.
- Doug Mientkiewicz was overwhelmed by the support he’s getting from Pirates fans.
- Scott Boras apparently told the Pirates Pedro Alvarez was working very hard to stay in shape while their negotiations dragged, but team president Frank Coonelly says Alvarez "was not in good condition" when he showed up for the Florida Instructional League in September.
Cardinals Outfielders Speak
A few Cardinals notes this evening coming out of the team’s Winter Warmup.
- Before Matt Holliday was traded to the A’s, Cards outfielder Skip Schumaker thought he’d wind up in Colorado as part of the rumored Holliday-Ryan Ludwick deal. Schumaker said, "I thought that was a done deal, and from everything I heard and from pretty good sources I thought I was definitely out of here."
- Ludwick and Rick Ankiel are two of the team’s prominent arbitration cases. Ludwick said the Cards have not opened up extension talks. Ankiel, a Scott Boras client, is eligible for free agency after the season. Ankiel’s quote about the future: "Absolutely, I’ve told [Boras] I want to work in St. Louis. But for me, it’s just focusing on having a healthy year. If you don’t play, nobody’s going to want you."
- The cheapest autograph at the Warmup: $5 for Adam Kennedy. Kennedy drew Tony La Russa’s ire for not attending last year.
Orioles Trade Olson For Pie
5:20pm: Tom Krasovic notes the Padres’ previous interest in Olson. He examines the possibility of the Cubs and Padres making a Jake Peavy deal. Click here to read Jim Hendry’s thoughts on Pie. Bruce Miles also notes that the Cubs are close to deals for arb-eligible relievers Kevin Gregg and Mike Wuertz.
3:11pm: Roch Kubatko spoke with Andy MacPhail about the Pie/Olson trade. MacPhail says that this trade is not a precursor to any other move, and that it’s likely the Orioles will go with Huff at first base, Pie in left, and Scott at DH.
Earlier we’d heard the O’s being in on some possible first base candidates, including Richie Sexson, Adam Dunn, and Ty Wigginton, but it seems they’re comfortable with this lineup.
1:10pm: Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Orioles have traded Garrett Olson and Class-A righthander Henry Williamson to the Cubs in exchange for Felix Pie.
Olson figures to slot in as a middle-reliever for the Cubs or as a fifth starter, depending on what role they have planned for Sean Marshall.
Pie could start off the 2009 season as a backup for all three outfield spots, according to Rosenthal. Rosenthal also suggests Pie playing left field, with Aubrey Huff manning first base and Luke Scott becoming a full-time DH. That idea seems to make more sense to me.
If Pie can realize any of his potential in a new setting, the Orioles will have one of the more talented young outfields in baseball.
Week In Review: 1/11 – 1/17
We heard a lot about some deals that are close on the horizon this past week, which could suggest we’re in for a busy one ahead. Let’s take a look back at all the news from the past seven days:
- The Braves continue to be busy this offseason. They swooped in and signed Derek Lowe to a four-year, $60MM contract. Not only do the Braves get to have Lowe for themselves, they also don’t have to face him with the Mets. Paying $15MM for Lowe by the time he’s 38-39 years old is a risk, but the move looks good for right now. They also signed super-utilityman Omar Infante to a two-year, $4.325MM contract, and we learned that the Kenshin Kawakami signing was for a nice value of three years, $23MM.
- There was a lot of drama surrounding Michael Young this week, as we learned that the All-Star shortstop demanded a trade from the Rangers after being asked to move to third base. After a lot of speculation about where Young could potentially end up, and who could afford to take on his contract, he came out and publicly stated that he would play third base in 2009, making room for top prospect Elvis Andrus.
- The Phillies made a great signing this week, when they gave World Series MVP Cole Hamels a three-year, $20.5MM extension. Hamels has solidified himself as a top-tier starter in the game, and keeping him around at roughly $7MM per year is a tremendous bargain. I absolutely love this move for Philadelphia.
- Red Sox fans have reason to celebrate, too. Kevin Youkilis signed a four-year, $41MM extension with the BoSox this week. Great value for a guy who finished third in the AL MVP voting, plays Gold Glove caliber defense, and is one of the leaders of that clubhouse. Nice move by Boston.
- The Red Sox may not stop with Youk, however. We heard this week that they want to discuss an extension for Jason Bay prior to the 2009 season, but after the other free agent outfielders sign. Bay would be one of the better hitters on the market if he elected free agency; will he test the market or stay in the Boston spotlight? The Red Sox also signed Mark Kotsay to a one-year, $1.5MM deal this week.
- The Red Sox were one of several teams looking to extend core players this week. The Orioles and Nick Markakis are reportedly nearing a six-year, $64-$66MM extension. This would be a tremendous signing for a great, young, five-tool player in my opinion. The O’s also inked veteran catcher Gregg Zaun to a one-year, $1.5MM deal with a $2MM option for 2010. Zaun should be a nice mentor for Matt Wieters. Andy MacPhail says Zaun will get the bulk of the playing time, but I find that hard to believe. You have to imagine Wieters will force himself into the everyday role.
- Continuing on the extension theme, the Twins would like to give Jason Kubel a two-year extension to buy out his arbitration years. Kubel had a nice season as the Twins’ DH last year, and is one of the only power sources in the Twins’ lineup. I think they’d be wise to keep him around. Minnesota is also looking at Eric Gagne and Brandon Lyon for the eighth inning. Gagne could be a huge bargain; he quietly had a nice finish to 2008 and has only been bad for roughly one calendar year.
- Apparently Russell Martin has taken note of this current trend. He’d like to discuss an extension with the Dodgers over the winter.
- One person NOT getting an extension with the Dodgers is Andruw Jones. They released him this week, cutting ties with what has proved to be a disastrous signing for Los Angeles.
- Lastly, Tim had a chance to ask Ken Rosenthal some questions earlier this week. Here’s a look at the interview.
Mets Sign Fossum
James P. McCoy of the Buffalo News is reporting the Mets have signed Casey Fossum to a minor-league deal. Fossum, 31, was 3-1 with a 5.66 ERA for the Tigers in 2008.
The Mets also gave a minor-league deal to outfielder Jason Cooper, Buffalo’s modern-era leader in games played.
Orioles Rumors: Brian Roberts
In light of the imminent Nick Markakis extension, Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun is making a prediction: Brian Roberts will not receive an extension, and will start the season on the Orioles. The Orioles had reportedly offered a multiyear extension at about $10MM per, but the two sides had not made progress as of early January. Schmuck reasons,
"…the market for him right now is pretty soft. The proof in that is free agent Orlando Hudson, who is basically Brian without all the stolen bases and is still waiting to be signed. Why would anyone give up a package of young players for Brian, who has to be signed beyond this season? The same team could sign Hudson for less than Roberts wants without having to give up more than draft choice compensation."
Dan Connolly posited the same reasoning last week. For the record, Schmuck thinks the Orioles should extend Roberts to "mollify the fanbase" and support their young pitching staff by maintaining solid infield defense up-the-middle.
