Archives for February 2009

Orioles Rumors: Roberts Deal, McCrory

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 21, 2009 at 12:58pm CDT

Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun has the latest on Brian Roberts’ no-trade clause and an Orioles signing:

Roberts isn’t likely to be dealt anytime soon, but there are four teams he can’t be traded to this year. Schmuck is "pretty confident" that the Royals and Blue Jays are two of the four.
Roberts can block trades to eight teams next year and to 12 the year after that.
Roberts has a complete no trade clause the following year, just before his 10-5 rights kick in for spending 10 years in the majors and the last five with the same team.
The Orioles have agreed to terms with reliever Bob McCrory.

The Pudge Rodriguez Market

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 21, 2009 at 12:43pm CDT

Ivan Rodriguez is past his prime by about a decade, but still he caught over 100 games last year and put up an OPS of .713. Let’s take a look at the possible suitors for Pudge and the teams that have said they won’t pursue him:

Astros GM Ed Wade said earlier in the week that he doesn’t intend to sign Pudge, regardless of Toby Hall’s shoulder.
The Mets don’t appear to be interested either.
On Sunday, Pudge said he wants to sign with the Astros, Mets or Marlins. The first two teams don’t seem interested, so could the Marlins offer him a minor league deal? Currently their catchers are John Baker and Mike Rabelo.
DRaysBay suggests the Rays could use Rodriguez to back up Dioner Navarro.
This is pure speculation on my part, but the A’s, whose current backup is Rob Bowen, have been willing to give veterans second chances before. Mike Piazza, Frank Thomas (twice) and now Nomar Garciaparra have all attracted Billy Beane’s attention, so why not Rodriguez?

Lots of teams could use catching depth; which one’s the best fit for Pudge?

A’s Interested In Garciaparra

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 21, 2009 at 12:11pm CDT

According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney the A’s are interested in Nomar Garciaparra. Olney suggests the A’s would like Nomar’s righthanded bat to provide balance in a lineup well-stocked with lefthanded hitters like Jason Giambi and Jack Cust.

Olney adds that the A’s have maintained interest in Orlando Cabrera, who will likely have to sign for Orlando Hudson money (up to $8MM) instead of Edgar Renteria money ($18MM).

Rangers Sign Kris Benson

By Tim Dierkes | February 21, 2009 at 10:56am CDT

SATURDAY, 10:56am: According to Jon Heyman of SI.com Benson signed with the Rangers.

FRIDAY: According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers are expected to sign righty Kris Benson to a minor league deal soon. Benson, 34, had rotator cuff surgery in March of ’07 and wasn’t able to make it back to the bigs last year.

Twins, Joe Crede Agree To Terms

By Brian Shephard | February 21, 2009 at 10:48am CDT

SATURDAY, 10:48am: La Velle E. Neal III heard from a source that the Twins are expected to announce the signing this afternoon. Crede is apparently on a plane to Fort Myers.

Neal adds the terms of the contract. The Star-Tribune’s source suggest the deal guarantees Crede $2.5MM, but could pay him up to $7MM depending on how many plate appearances he makes. The incentives start at 250 PAs and continue until Crede comes to bat for the 525th time.

FRIDAY: Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune cites "a major league source" who says that Joe Crede and the Twins have agreed to terms. No details of the contract were available, but La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote earlier tonight that it appeared Crede "is willing to sign for less than the $7MM base that we believed he was seeking."

Even battling back issues, Crede’s third base defense is among the game’s best. Last year he saved 13 more bases than the average third baseman despite missing a third of the season.

Pirates Exercise Russell’s 2010 Option

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 21, 2009 at 10:12am CDT

According to MLB.com’s Jennifer Langosch the Pirates have picked up manager John Russell’s option for 2010. Last year, his first as a major league manager, Russell led the Pirates to a 67-95 record.

Odds And Ends: Royals, Zimmerman, A-Rod

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 21, 2009 at 10:04am CDT

Links for Saturday…

ESPN.com’s Buster Olney breaks down the 2009 Royals and considers them an improvement over last year’s team.
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Brendan Ryan is not yet out of options because of the time he spent on the DL back in 2006.
Yahoo’s Tim Brown writes that the Nationals lack stability. He wonders "if the organization really is getting anywhere."
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post heard that Ryan Zimmerman thinks the time is right for a long-term deal with the Nats, despite the weakened market and his 2008 injuries.
Wallace Matthews of Newsday thinks Hank Steinbrenner should have let Alex Rodriguez sign elsewhere after 2007 because the slugger’s become a "toxic mortgage" to the team. Say what you will about A-Rod, it’s hard to match his production.
The Tigers don’t have the organizational depth they did when they dealt for Miguel Cabrera, but FanGraphs examines what’s left in the minors.

Lester Wants To Stay In Boston

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 21, 2009 at 9:15am CDT

Joe Haggerty of the Boston Metro has a Jon Lester update on his blog, Hacks with Haggs. Lester says he wants to play for the Red Sox for his entire career.

"If they approach me we can work something out to not only be a Red Sox for the next four or five years, but for my whole career."

Lester’s entering his last pre-arbitration season and isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until after 2012. Two of his teammates, Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, signed long-term deals with the Sox this offseason. Yesterday, Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal suggested Lester could be the next to receive a multi-year deal.

Dodgers, Orlando Hudson Agree To Terms

By Tim Dierkes | February 20, 2009 at 9:40pm CDT

9:36pm: ESPN’s Keith Law calls Hudson’s contract "easily one of the biggest bargains of the offseason." He does say that the Dodgers will miss the draft pick they lost and closes by saying, "the big question here is where the Mets were in all of this."

1:49pm: According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, Hudson gets $3.4MM guaranteed with another $4.6MM in incentives. Nice bargain for the Dodgers, though the draft pick loss hurts. ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the Royals were offering a $4.6MM base salary, so it looks like they were willing to stretch the payroll for Hudson.

1:36pm: Sirius XM’s MLB Home Plate is reporting Orlando Hudson has agreed in principle with the Dodgers, pending a physical.

The Diamondbacks lose their second baseman to a division rival, but also receive L.A.’s #17 pick in the June draft plus a supplemental pick.

Rangers Sign 16 Players

By Brian Shephard | February 20, 2009 at 7:55pm CDT

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Rangers have signed 16 players to 2009 contracts. These players include Scott Feldman and Matt Harrison, who are both expected to make the Rangers starting rotation.

Position players include catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and right fielder Nelson Cruz.

Here’s a list of the others:

Pitchers – Josh Rupe, John Bannister, Tommy Hunter, Luis Mendoza, Dustin Nippert, Omar Proveda, Kason Gabbard
Position Players – Joaquin Arias, Jose Vallejo, Brandon Boggs, David Murphy, and Greg Golson

The Rangers have yet to sign Josh Hamilton, Taylor Teagarden, and nine others.

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