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Archives for February 2009

Crede Seeking $7MM

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Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports Joe Crede is asking for $7MM, rather than the previously reported $5MM. Christensen reports the $7MM figure makes it less likely Crede will land with the Twins who are reluctant to commit even $5MM to a player who was limited to 97 games in 2008 and 47 in 2007. However, as it stands the Twins opening day payroll will be $60.15MM, down from $74MM last year. It’s safe to assume Crede’s agents know that.

The Giants recently made their offer to Crede for one year. Still no reports of an offer from Minnesota.

Cafardo’s Latest: Manny, Sheets, Glavine

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The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo shares some notes on Manny Ramirez and around the league. Let’s have a look, bullet-point style:

  • He cites an AL Exec who says, "I’ll be honest, I never thought Ramirez would walk away from… one year, $25 million. That’s better than the $20 million option he had torn up… If he has another great year, he gets another $25 million for one year? Or maybe a team then decides, ’OK, this guy has behaved himself for a while, continues to produce at a high level now, let’s commit for another two years to him.’ Unless a team like the Yankees comes in at the last minute and gets it done, I just don’t see where he’s going to make more than $25 million." Cafardo adds that "Brian Cashman insists it won’t happen."
  • A quote from Rich Hill on his being traded to the Orioles: "[Cubs general manager] Jim Hendry really took care of me. He wanted to create an opportunity for me that he told me probably didn’t exist in Chicago, so I’m grateful. I know Baltimore tried to deal for me last year and it didn’t work out, but this time they made it work." Hill also adds that he’s over his back injury and will rediscover his control.
  • Ben Sheets not signing anywhere until June hurts the Brewers two-fold: they may have to foot the bill for the surgery and won’t receive a first round draft pick for losing a Type-A free agent. Sheets has a torn flexor tendon, as revealed by an exam with the Texas Rangers. On the other hand, MLBTR has noted that in June, after his surgery, he won’t cost a draft pick to sign.
  • Andruw Jones on playing in Boston: "It’s too cold there. There’s too much stuff going on."
  • Bobby Abreu may have to settle for a one or two year deal at $3MM. Cafardo lists the Angels, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, and Mariners.
  • Expect an incentive-laden deal for one year between Tom Glavine and the Braves. As MLBTR has noted, their latest offer was between $1-2MM with no incentives.
  • Mark Mulder could be a useful back end starter and he’s almost ready to put himself on display to teams.
  • Shea Hillenbrand is 32 and receiving no interest. Cafardo wonders if he’s "being punished for past transgressions?"
  • Cubs, White Sox, and Dodgers are lined up for Orlando Hudson; however, the transfer of ownership may have temporarily tied the hands of Jim Hendry to do anything until Tom Ricketts takes over.
  • The A’s are continuously interested in Orlando Cabrera, Adam Dunn, and Abreu.

Braves Out On Will Ohman?

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According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves are no longer pursuing lefty reliever Will Ohman.  The Braves made an early offer to Ohman and left it on the table for much of the winter.  There have been varying reports on the Phillies’ interest; it seems they’d like to sign him cheaply.  The Mets also have Ohman on the radar, if he’s a bargain.

Sabean Speaks: Manny, Dunn, Abreu

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Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News posted highlights from a press conference with Giants GM Brian Sabean:

  • Sabean said he does not see Manny Ramirez as a "silver bullet to save the day." He would rather add reinforcements at the trade deadline.
  • The Giants are not interested in Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu, even at deflated prices. Sabean said that signing Abreu would force a logjam in the outfield, and he does not want to create a situation in which he would have to trade a player.
  • Sabean said that he has discussed trades with some clubs this week. The players discussed were entering the final years of their contracts. Sabean argued that it was not a case of the Giants being unwilling to take on a contract saying, "Those players come at a cost of talent."

Rangers Considering Andruw Jones

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8:58pm: Jeff Wilson writes in the Dallas Morning News that Andruw Jones worked out at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington Jan. 26. Rangers GM Jon Daniels confirmed that Jones worked out with Rudy Jaramillo, the Rangers hitting coach.

Wilson writes that Jones would probably be offered a minor-league contract with an invite to Spring Training.

3:32pm: T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com chimes in on the Andruw Jones rumor.

The article suggests we downgrade from "close to agreement" status, as we reported earlier,  to "strongly considering," to quote Sullivan.

1:57pm: Andruw Jones is close to signing a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers, Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown reports.

Brown also states that Jones had earlier declined a non-roster invitation to Spring Training from the New York Yankees.

The signing could potentially help the team move Josh Hamilton to right field, which would likely keep him healthier over the course of an entire season. Of course, Jones’ most recent major league showings have indicated a need for drastic improvement before he can contribute at a big league level.

Rangers Sign Brendan Donnelly

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8:33pm: T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com confirmed the signing, saying that Donnelly will compete for a roster spot in Spring Training.

7:14pm: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rangers have signed RP Brendan Donnelly to a one-year, $950,000 minor league deal. The contract stipulates that if Donnelly is not on the major league roster between March 27 and April 27, he can ask for his release.

Donnelly underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2007. He came back with the Indians last year, posting an underwhelming 8.56 ERA in 13.2 innings. He has a 3.12 ERA in 319 big league games.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Saturday

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6:28pm: According to Chris Haft of MLB.com, Giants’ GM Brian Sabean maintains that it will take "a special set of circumstances" for the Giants to land Manny Ramirez.

"It’s not going to be a long-term contract like you’re reading about," Sabean said. "It’s not going to be at the dollars that are being speculated. It’s going to have to make business sense and it’s going to have to make baseball sense."

Sabean spoke of Ramirez as "a player that has tremendous upside on the one hand, and some warts that still leave him on the market because of what his lack of all-around play is or what his past has been in previous organizations."

Sabean also maintained that the Giants are in a position to wait for bargains when the July 31 Trade Deadline approaches, saying that the Giants are putting together a "hit list" of players who might become available.

4:21pm: Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times has posted an article following an interview with the man himself, Manny Ramirez.

Hernandez writes that Ramirez continues to wait for a four-year deal. Says Ramirez, "We’re in the seventh inning and I’m waiting for my pitch."

Ramirez was also very frank with Hernandez about his future baseball aspirations. On that subject, Ramirez says, "Understand me, I have goals. I know that if I play six more years, I could get to my 3,000th hit and, who knows, maybe my 700th home run."

2:49pm: Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports that while the Dodgers have not been speaking with Manny’s agent Scott Boras lately, it appears that the San Francisco Giants have been doing so. Actually, it couldn’t be clearer: "We have been talking," says Giants President Larry Baer.

According to Shaikin, the Giants are not likely to beat either the Dodgers’ one or two-year offers to Manny, but have recently been reported as having "not ruled out a three-year contract."

9:40am: Here are some thoughts on Manny Ramirez from around baseball:

  • Scott Miller of CBS Sports thinks "the Giants immediately become NL West favorites if they sign Manny. Adding Bob Howry, Jeremy Affeldt, Edgar Renteria and Randy Johnson certainly helped their team.
  • The Boston Herald’s John Tomase remembers the last time someone other than Manny started the season as the Boston left fielder: Troy O’Leary in 2001. Tomase thinks Jason Bay will continue to play well as Manny’s successor in left.
  • Mark Kreigel of Fox Sports writes that clubs "are scared of Manny being Manny."

Marlins Interested In Ivan Rodriguez, Chris Coste

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SATURDAY, 5:45pm: Joe Frisaro of MLB.com provides an update from the Marlins’ FanFest, reporting that the team would consider signing Rodriguez, but only at the league minimum, plus incentives.

Marlins’ president of baseball operations, Larry Beinfest, said that the Marlins are likely to stand pat at catcher, and that any free agent signing would have to "make perfect sense."

FRIDAY, 9:05am: Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel confirmed the Marlins’ interest in Pudge, while also noting that the Fish discussed Philadelphia’s Chris Coste this week.  He says the Phillies want to evaluate Ronny Paulino before considering a Coste trade.

THURSDAY, 5:12pm: Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports that the Marlins have interest in free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

"Cost, however, is key," writes Frisaro.  The Fish don’t have much money left to work with and are only willing to guarantee about $1 million, plus a few performance-based incentives.  That might not be enough to woo Pudge, who hit .276/.319/.394 with seven homers and 35 RBI in 398 at-bats last season.

Rodriguez might also crave more playing time.  The Marlins seem to like 27-year-old John Baker a whole lot.

Giants Have Minor League Offer Out To Aurilia

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5:19 pm: Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Aurilia is thinking over the Giants’ offer.

In a phone interview, Aurilia acknowledged that many players are settling for minor league offers. "It’s something we’re mulling over," he said. "We’re trying to counter-proposal them a little bit and see what we can come up with."

Aurilia thinks he would be a valuable addition to a young infield like the Giants’ and said that he was "hoping to nail this down."

4:39 In an update to his blog, the San Jose Mercury News’ Andrew Baggarly reports that the San Francisco Giants have made an offer to Rich Aurilia.

The offer is a non-guaranteed, minor-league contract that would pay Aurilia $1MM if he were to make the major league team, with some additional incentives as well.

Baggarly says the Phillies are in on Aurilia as well, but Baggarly says Brian Sabean isn’t sure of the extent of the Phillies’ interest.

Baggarly also writes that Aurilia is interested in a return to the Giants.

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