The Corner Outfield-DH Market
There are still many jobless players who could contribute as a corner outfielder or a DH, so it’s a good time to take stock of the market. Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu are the big names, but Garret Anderson, Andruw Jones, Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds and Ken Griffey Jr. want jobs and Jermaine Dye, Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher could be available through trades.
Here’s a look at the teams who have reportedly had interest in this type of player, starting in the AL:
- White Sox: They thought about Abreu and Dye’s been involved in rumors all offseason, much to the frustration of Kenny Williams. Dye will earn $11.5MM in 2009.
- Angels: They aren’t interested in Dye, but they could be interested in Abreu or Dunn at the right price. Don’t look for them to make a play for Manny though; GM Tony Reagins said it won’t happen. Garret Anderson won’t be back.
- Mariners: The Ms could sign Griffey, but they prefer Abreu and Anderson.
- Braves: They are the top suitor for Swisher and they have some interest in bringing back Jones. Atlanta has about $5-9MM to spend, so they could change plans and pursue Dunn or Abreu if they’re willing to accept a deal worth under $10MM. Don’t rule out a Nady trade, either.
- Nationals: The Nats have offered Dunn a contract, which he’s been sitting on for a while. They’re also monitoring the Manny market.
- Mets: Abreu and Ramirez won’t sign with the Mets this offseason. If Griffey’s willing to sign at a major discount, he could sign with the Mets, but indications are he wants $5-6MM.
- Dodgers: The Dodgers have targeted Manny Ramirez all offseason, and he’s rejected two contract offers from them. The first was for $45MM over two years with a club option; the second was for $25MM over one year. Dunn appears to like the Dodgers, and Abreu’s an option, too.
- Giants: The Giants are also courting Manny, but some have said they just want to prevent the Dodgers from getting a deal. Abreu could also fit in San Francisco.
- Reds: Yet another team that could pursue Abreu, the Reds spoke with Luis Gonzalez’s agent ealier in the winter. Adam Dunn won’t return to Cincinnati this offseason.
Odds And Ends: Anderson, Griffey, Varitek
Links for Saturday…
- According to Bill Dwyre of the LA Times Garret Anderson has no ill will towards the Angels.
- Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times thinks the Mariners need to sign Ken Griffey Jr. He adds that the Mariners may be "warming to the idea."
- The Kyodo News reports that the Blue Jays have finalized Ken Takahashi‘s contract.
- According to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, Jason Varitek passed his physical.
- Jay Jaffe, Kevin Goldstein and Christina Kahrl of BP fill in the remaining holes on National League teams.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes that players should "go the extra mile" to please fans in the weakened economy, as they did in 1995 after the strike.
Durham Without Offers, Could Retire
According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, Ray Durham hasn’t received a single offer this offseason and he’s considering retirement. Durham says there’s a 50-50 chance he’ll retire, but he’d like to play in 2009.
The Cardinals phoned to see if Durham would consider backing up Adam Kennedy, but other teams haven’t expressed interest.
Durham, 37, had a .380 OBP last year with the Giants. Check out the article for comments by Durham about his experience in this year’s unusual market.
Phillies Rumors: Nomar, Howard, Andruw
Kevin Roberts of the Philadelphia Inquirer has a few Phillies rumors:
- GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says it’s "very likely" the Phillies will not make any more additions.
- The Phillies have inquired on "almost every righthanded bat on the market." They’ve considerd Rich Aurilia, Nomar Garciaparra, Moises Alou and Mark Grudzielanek.
- Amaro’s targeting Nomar.
- Roberts agrees with Jon Heyman that the Phillies gave Andruw Jones a "tepid look."
- However, they’re in no hurry to bring in a righty bench bat and could take their time adding one.
- The $4MM gap between the Phillies’ arbitration offer to Ryan Howard and his demand will influence how much the Phillies can spend. Amaro called Howard’s case "the elephant in the middle of the room."
A-Rod’s Contract Stands, Steroids Or Not
According to Selena Roberts and David Epstein of Sports Illustrated, "Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids" in 2003. Rodriguez did not comment, but Roberts and Epstein say they confirmed his alleged steroid use with four independent sources. Rodriguez was reportedly one of 104 players to test positive for PEDs in 2003.
However, steroid use doesn’t impact A-Rod’s contract.
"Two sources familiar with Rodriguez’s contract told SI there is no language about steroids in the contract that would put Rodriguez at risk of losing money."
Blue Jays Avoid Arb With Shawn Camp
According to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian, the Blue Jays have agreed to $750K deal with Shawn Camp for 2009. The agreement gives the Blue Jays 12 straight years without an arbitration hearing.
Camp had originally requested $950K; the Blue Jays countered with $700K. He pitched to a 4.12 ERA in 40 appearances last year.
Angels Interested In Abreu, Dunn
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, major league sources say the Angels have spoken to Bobby Abreu‘s agent and have expressed interest in Adam Dunn. When Rosenthal asked Angels GM Tony Reagins about the club’s interest in the two players, Reagins said "If something makes sense for us, we’d look at it."
After losing Mark Teixeira to the Yankees, the Angels could use high OBP players like Dunn and Abreu, especially on one year deals. Vladimir Guerrero, Juan Rivera and Torii Hunter are the current Angels outfielders, and Gary Matthews Jr. is slotted in as DH.
Reagins has said the Angels will not be in on Manny Ramirez.
Rangers Sign Jason Jennings
10:54pm: Renck says Jennings can make $1.45MM in incentives for innings pitched, on top of his $800K base salary.
9:07am: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rangers signed pitcher Jason Jennings to a minor league deal.
Jennings was a bust after the Astros acquired him for the ’07 season; he had surgery for a torn flexor tendon in his elbow in August of that year. Sound familiar? It’s the same injury Ben Sheets has. Jennings was still able to get $4MM guaranteed from the Rangers before the ’08 season, reminding us how drastically the market has changed in one year. Jennings had another flexor tendon surgery in May of ’08 (the first surgery "didn’t take.") MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan notes that the Rangers had interest in Odalis Perez before he re-signed with the Nationals. In a blog post, Sullivan looks at some other flexor tendon cases, with Andy Pettitte being the best one.
Diamondbacks Sign Tom Gordon
10:51pm: As he often does, Troy Renck of the Denver Post comes through with contract details. Gordon’s incentives are based on the number of days he spends on the active roster.
3:19pm: According to John Gambadoro of KTAR Radio, the Diamondbacks signed reliever Tom Gordon to a one-year deal worth $500K guaranteed. With incentives, Flash could earn up to $2.5MM. Gordon, 41, had ulnar nerve decompression surgery in October. A solid, low-risk acquisition by Arizona.
Braves Offer Contract To Glavine
10:11pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman writes that both "sides are expected to keep talking through the weekend." GM Frank Wren had lunch recently with Glavine, who’s expected to be ready for the start of the season after undergoing elbow and shoulder surgeries in August.
7:22pm: According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves have offered Tom Glavine a one-year contract worth between $1MM and $2MM.
GM Frank Wren apparently made the offer earlier this week. But, as Bowman writes, "with no incentive clauses included, it currently stands as an offer Glavine is hesitant to accept." The 42-year-old left-hander hasn’t said yet whether he’d be willing to pitch in a place other than Atlanta.