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Odds and Ends: Andruw, Manny, Hudson

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Links for Monday…

Wren Considering Trade For Pitcher

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Braves GM Frank Wren was on 790 The Zone yesterday.  Wren explained that the Braves have other options besides Derek Lowe, and had several things in play prior to John Smoltz leaving:

There’s other guys out there that we like.  I have trade proposals on my desk as we speak that would bring another pitcher to us.  There’s other things we can do…The trade proposal that I have on my desk – that was put in place six weeks ago.

So far this winter the Braves added two starters: Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami (pending a physical).

Other notes: Wren wouldn’t comment on Andruw Jones, and doesn’t see the Braves acquiring Manny Ramirez or Jake Peavy.

Red Sox To Talk Bay Extension Before Season

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According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox plan to discuss a contract extension with outfielder Jason Bay before the season begins but after the remaining big-name free agent outfielders sign.  The depressed free agent market could lead to a reasonably-priced extension for Bay, if he’s willing.  Bay signed a four-year deal in ’05 to cover his arbitration years. 

Bay’s agent may advise his client to test the 2009-10 free agent market; he’d be among the best available hitters.

Evaluating Michael Young Suitors

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Michael Young’s trade request is the hot topic this morning.  Young, 32, is owed $62MM over the next five seasons and controls his fate with his full no-trade clause.  He’s submitted a (small) list of teams to which he’d accept a trade to Rangers GM Jon Daniels, and we don’t know who’s on it.  Ken Rosenthal says the Rangers want a young third baseman in any deal.  Young is willing to consider playing second base if he’s dealt. 

Before we take a look at various possibilities, we have to establish that Young is overpaid at a $12.4MM average salary over the next five seasons.  FanGraphs suggests he was worth that amount only once, in 2006 (the dollar value of a win will increase, but Young will decline).  Even if we’re being generous it’s hard to value Young at more than $10MM a year over the next five.  On to possible suitors, starting with those who have been rumored:

  • Twins: Jon Heyman wrote about a month ago that they inquired, but wondered if Young would waive his no-trade clause to go there.  The Twins re-signed Nick Punto to play shortstop, but could find a place for Young.  Third base is probably considered a bigger need.  Surely the Rangers would love to pry one of their young starters loose though.
  • Mets:  Luis Castillo’s contract is an impediment for the Mets, who are focused on their rotation currently.
  • Angels:  Brandon Wood or Chone Figgins might fit from the Rangers’ point of view, but Rosenthal says the increased price for a division rival makes a deal unlikely.  Plus, the Angels are set with Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar.
  • Dodgers:  The Dodgers were said to be interested before they re-signed Rafael Furcal.  Adding Young as a second baseman would put Blake DeWitt out of a job for no reason, and the Dodgers have pitching to acquire.
  • Royals:  The Royals have Mike Aviles at shortstop with Alberto Callaspo and Willie Bloomquist battling at second.  And Young’s contract would figure to be a problem.
  • White Sox:  Josh Fields could fit for the Rangers, though GM Ken Williams seemed to indicate a recent Jermaine Dye-Young rumor was baseless.
  • Red Sox: Nick Cafardo wrote earlier this month that they do not have interest in Young.

Which young third basemen might be available?  The Reds have Edwin Encarnacion, a third baseman in name only.  The Rockies have Garrett Atkins, but probably lack the payroll room.  The Rays have Willy Aybar, but not the need or payroll room for Young.  Can anyone think of a reasonable match for Young?  Commenters below are suggesting the Cardinals.

Ken Rosenthal Interview

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FOX Sports baseball guru Ken Rosenthal answered questions for MLBTR on Saturday…

MLBTR: I don’t have an official count, but I believe you’ve broken more MLB signings and trades than any other reporter over the past several years.  Is it still a thrill for you to break news?

Rosenthal: Oh, of course. It also hurts to lose. So, you’re motivated both ways. I don’t have much of a temper – at least I don’t think I do – but I will occasionally let loose after getting beat. My wife and kids look at me look I’m nuts. And it’s sort of difficult for me to argue the point!

MLBTR: Hundreds of baseball writers are trying to break news, including perhaps your stiffest competition in SI.com’s Jon Heyman and the ESPN crew.  Do you share information with other writers?  Or is it more of a "every man for himself" situation?

Rosenthal: Everyone for themselves, now more than ever. I don’t share with anyone, and I don’t believe anyone else does, either. Every web site and every newspaper is in competition. And there are so many hard-working baseball reporters, you never know who might come up with something next.

MLBTR: Say you snag a scoop on a signing.  What has to happen before that story hits the FOX website?  What is a typical amount of time between you confirming the info and it hitting the website?

Rosenthal: The turnaround is incredibly quick, especially if I’m able to give our editors a heads-up that something is coming (which isn’t always the case). I’ve never actually timed it, but I would guess that it takes no more than 1-2 minutes for us to post a story. I would imagine this is true for the other web sites and many of the newspapers as well.

MLBTR: If a team source or an agent gives you information that feels like propaganda to you, do you still run with it?

Rosenthal: My job is to inform my readers, not serve the interest of others. I am no one’s stooge, and my sources know it.

MLBTR: A scoop on a signing or trade – do you have to confirm that with multiple sources?  Or is one rock-solid source sufficient?

Rosenthal: Depends. All of us were taught to use multiple sources. However, the business has changed. There are times I will go with a story even if I have only one source. Too often, if you wait for multiple confirmations, you get beat. I do think, however, it is important to be accurate, more important than it is to be first.

MLBTR: These days it seems like every beat writer and national guy has a blog and can publish news instantly.  Does that make your job more difficult?  Have you considered starting up a blog similar to Jon Heyman’s, where you could drop in a few quick paragraphs on a topic?

Rosenthal: Absoutely, the job gets more difficult by the day, with so many writers in competition. I do live updates like Jon’s during the winter meetings, but if I have a news item in other periods, I just turn it into a story. Not much of a difference, really, in my mind.

MLBTR: You have a fairly unique and very interesting job, at least to the average hot stove junkie.  I’ve read that you have three kids – what do they think of their dad’s line of work?  Do they share the same passion for the inside side of the game?   

Rosenthal: My wife and children do not follow baseball. They are not at all caught up in what I do. Which, for me, is fantastic. They keep me very grounded.  My kids are 17, 16 and 13. They’re all busy with their own lives, and my wife is busy keeping them going. C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Scott Boras – not on their radar.

MLBTR: Did you enjoy the Winter Meetings this year?  Do you have any suggestions on how MLB could improve this event?

Rosenthal: I don’t know that any reporter "enjoys" the winter meetings; they’re pretty intense! As for improving ’em, I don’t know. Some believe they’re obsolete. Most people in baseball communicate by phone, e-mail or text message. Still, having everyone in one place creates a certain deal-making dynamic, in some cases. The attention is good for the game.

Cubs Close To Deal With Takahashi?

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Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker is relaying a report from Japanese-based Sports Hochi that states the Cubs are close to inking a one-year deal with left-handed pitcher Ken Takahashi.  However, Newman translates quotes from Takahashi that suggest he has not yet chosen a team.

Newman calls it "very early speculation," but it’s definitely a situation worth eying.  Sports Hochi believes that Takahashi would be used mostly in middle relief by the Cubs and could be in line for some spot starts.  According to the report, the Cubs are looking for emotional support for Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.  Others have drummed up a similar idea in the past.

Odds and Ends: Glavine, Millar, Uehara

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A few links on a slow Sunday night in the world of baseball…

Tigers After Affordable Lefty John Parrish

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According to John Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers are pursuing free agent left-hander John Parrish.

Parrish spent most of his time last season with the Blue Jays’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.  He was just 1-1 with a 4.04 ERA in six starts and seven relief appearances for the big league club in ’08.  The 31-year-old represents a cheaper option than some of the other free agent lefties still on the market, including Joe Beimel, who the Tigers were reportedly courting in early December.  Beimel’s agent said Saturday that he has not heard from the Tigers since the Winter Meetings ended.

Marti, Gomez Open To All Teams

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A couple weeks ago, we covered Cuban stars Yadel Marti and Yasser Gomez defecting to the United States (by way of the Dominican Republic). Laura Albanese at Newsday has an update on the pair, and their hopes to make it to the big leagues.

The two hope to be represented by Jaime Torres, agent of Yuniesky Betancourt and Jose Contreras. Torres says they’re both Major League caliber and are capable of playing in the big leagues immediately. They’re currently working out in Melville, NY.

Marti, 29, is hailed as one of Cuba’s best pitchers. The righty was their ace in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, throwing 12.2 scoreless innings. Gomez, 28, is a speedy outfielder and career .331 hitter in Cuba. He hit .397 over a 66-game span in Cuba’s 2008 national series tournament.

In the video on the right side of the Newsday article, the two say they’re thankful to have a chance to play in the Majors, and are open to any teams because they’re playing to support their families. They do, however, specifically mention the Yankees, White Sox, and Red Sox by name.

Week in Review: 1/4 – 1/10

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Lots of signings this past week, as predicted by Doug Melvin… let’s recap all the action:

  • I’ll start off by offering condolences to the family of Carl Pohlad, owner of the Minnesota Twins. He passed away this week at 93 years old. R.I.P. Mr. Pohlad.
  • Perhaps the best signing of the week, the Rays inked Pat Burrell to a two-year, $16MM contract. For a guy coming off four straight .875 or higher OPS seasons, that’s a great deal, especially when you factor in that he won’t have to play in the field. The Rays biggest problem in 2008 came against LHP, which Burrell absolutely crushes. Great signing for Tampa.
  • From the best signing to the longest: The Angels signed manager Mike Scioscia to an extension through the 2018 season! Talk about the organization putting faith in you…
  • More bargains this week, as the A’s signed Jason Giambi to a one-year deal worth $4.5MM, with an option for 2010 at $5MM. Very affordable signing by Oakland; nice move.
  • The Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30MM contract this week. If Bradley can stay healthy, this move will likely work out just fine. However, given his injury history, it’s a bit uncertain how he’ll be able to handle playing in the outfield every day for the Cubs. Still, if he can come close to matching his ridiculous 2008 production (.999 OPS), he’ll be a very welcome addition to the middle of the Cubs’ order. The Cubs also completed their swap of Jason Marquis for Luis Vizcaino.
  • The Braves continued to improve their starting pitching when they signed Kenshin Kawakami to a three-year deal this week. The terms of the contract are still unknown, but given Kawakami’s success in Japan, he’ll be another big step up for the Braves’ pitching staff.
  • Kawakami wasn’t the only Japanese player to sign this week; the Orioles reached an agreement with Koji Uehara on a two-year, $10MM deal that could reach $16MM total with incentives. The Orioles are also on the verge of signing Gregg Zaun to a one-year contract.
  • Boston may have had the busiest week of all. They signed Rocco Baldelli and John Smoltz (yes, John Smoltz) to one-year deals, and did the same with Takashi Saito. It’s tough to imagine Smoltz outside of Atlanta, but he’ll be calling a different city his home for the first time in 2009. Baldelli will receive a base salary of $500K, while Smoltz’s base is $5MM and Saito’s is believed to be $1.5-$2.5MM. I like all of these signings by Boston.
  • Another icon finding a new home will be Trevor Hoffman; he signed a one-year deal worth $6MM with the Brewers this week.
  • The Mets added to the back-end of their rotation, agreeing to terms with Tim Redding on a one-year, $2.25MM deal for the 2009 season. Nice, affordable signing for the Mets.
  • The Indians also made an inexpensive signing, when they inked Carl Pavano to a one-year, $1.5MM contract. If Pavano can remain healthy and have any sort of rebound, the Indians have a bargain on their hands. Nice low-risk, high-reward type signing.
  • One pitcher not attempting to make a comeback will be John Patterson; he retired this week after struggling with health issues ever since his strong 2005 campaign.
  • The Reds signed Jerry Hairston Jr. to a one-year, $2MM contract with another $2MM in incentives.
  • A couple of Yankees notes: They would like to move one of their corner players, but prefer to keep Nick Swisher over Xavier Nady. Also, Andy Pettitte rejected their offer of one year at $10MM. I’m surprised, because at this point I can’t imagine him finding a better deal than that.
  • The Phillies found themselves with a sudden hole in the bullpen when J.C. Romero was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance. Romero claims he did nothing wrong. Sergio Mitre joined him the next day.

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