Manny Ramirez Rumors: Sunday
9:36am: Another interesting note from Jonathan Abrams of the San Francisco Chronicle: the Dodgers are saving a locker for Manny.
9:26am: Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times says that talks are intensifying between Ned Colletti and Manny Ramirez. Discussions over the past week have been more frequent than in any other one week period since November.
However, the report should be taken with a grain of salt. Writes Hernandez, "[Colletti] wouldn’t say if the increased dialogue is a sign of progress."
Technically, Roberts Could Be Traded
Following a new contract extension for Brian Roberts, Peter Schmuck and Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun point out an interesting feature of Roberts’ new deal:
The club retains a fairly unfettered right to deal Roberts now, but Orioles officials insist the club has no intention of pursuing any trade talks involving him.
Many sportswriters have questioned the fit of this contract for the Orioles, since it keeps a 31-year old second baseman signed on an otherwise young team. With limited no-trade protection, Roberts may or may not be a continued fit for the Orioles’ long-term plan.
Reds, Jay Bruce, Agree to One-Year Deal
CBSSports.com reports that the Reds have agreed to a one-year deal with outfielder Jay Bruce. Reliever Jared Burton and nine other players were signed to one-year deals as well. The team announced the deals on Saturday.
Fifteen players remain to be signed by the Reds.
Griffey Odds and Ends
A few loose ends on the Griffey signing…
- Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com details the attendance incentives in Junior’s new contract. Ticket sales have picked up since the signing. Knobler also notes that Griffey will once again wear #24 on his Mariners jersey.
- The Chicago Tribune suggests that the chance to play DH tipped the scales in Griffey’s decision between the Mariners and Braves.
- John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer notes that the Mariners released OF Michael Wilson to make room for Griffey. Drafted in the second round in 2001, Wilson has never seen the majors.
- And finally, Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times has video highlights of Griffey’s press conference.
Hudson Passes Physical, Manny Talks Heat Up
Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News reports that Orlando Hudson passed his physical, making his one-year deal official. He also notes that Hudson’s base salary is $3MM, with a $380,000 signing bonus and incentives which max out at $4.62MM.
Jackson also has some tantalizing quotes from Dodgers GM Ned Colletti about the Manny Ramirez negotiations. Colletti said that he has had more conversations with Scott Boras "in the past seven days than in the past few months. The conversations are more frequent and longer."
Jackson writes, "it sure sounds like they are getting closer to a deal — not that ‘closer’ means ‘close.’"
Indians Sign Catcher from Czech Republic
Paul Hoynes of the Clevelend Plain Dealer reports that the Indians have signed 16-year old catching prospect Martin Cervenka to a non-drafted free agent minor league contract.
Cervenka will stay with his club team in the Czech Republic in 2009 and will spend the next two summers at the MLB’s baseball academy in Australia.
This report from CBSSports.com discusses the increasing number of major league teams who are actively scouting in Europe, which Cleveland’s assistant GM John Mirabelli calls, "the new frontier for baseball."
Arbitration Awards Increase By Record Amount in 2009
While the value of most free agents plummeted this offseason, players in salary arbitration did quite well for themselves. Writing for the Associated Press, Ronald Blum reports that the 111 players in salary arbitration received an average pay increase of 172 percent this year.
That figure is up from 120 percent last year. The previous record of 169 percent was set in 1999.
The big winners this year were Nick Markakis and Ervin Santana, whose salaries rose 24-fold and 16-fold, respectively.
Writing for MLB.com, Fred Claire argues that the arbitration process is "a far greater escalator of salaries than free agency." He quotes a veteran baseball executive who says of the arbitration process, "mediocrity is handsomely rewarded and excellence goes out of sight."
Padres Invite Walter Silva to Spring Training
According to Corey Brock of MLB.com, the Padres will give right-handed pitcher Walter Silva a shot to earn a spot in the rotation out of Spring Training. He will be on loan from Monterrey of the Mexican League.
Tom Krasovic of The Sand Diego Union-Tribune reported yesterday that the teams had "reached terms on what basically amounts to a six-week tryout for Silva." Krasovic said that Monterrey stands to get about $400,000 if the Padres keep Silva.
Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, a teammate of Silva’s in the Caribbean World Series, first recommended Silva to the Padres. Silva went 7-8 with a 4.21 ERA for Monterrey last season. He pitched well in the Caribbean World Series, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts for Mazatlan.
Halladay Trade Rumors
Scott Miller of CBSSports.com looks at just how long the Toronto Blue Jays will be able to hold on to ace pitcher Roy Halladay. Writes Miller:
If the Blue Jays veer off course… they could reach a point where the organization might be best served if Ricciardi fields offers for Halladay.
"The only way we’d trade him, I’d say, is if all hell broke loose and the stock market went nuts and (ownership) said we’ve got to take the payroll down to bare bones," Ricciardi says. "And if that was the case, then we’d be trading a lot of people."
The other part of the "all hell breaking loose" scenario, of course, would be the bottom dropping out unexpectedly on the Blue Jays early in ’09, and them sailing toward the July trading deadline hopelessly out of the AL East race.
That happens, Ricciardi is guaranteed to be inundated by contending vultures looking to pick Halladay from the Jays’ carcass.
"At that point, we’d have to reevaluate," the GM says.
In this case, "inundated" might be a bit of an understatement.
The Remaining Free Agent Market
As we anxiously wait for Manny Ramirez, Orlando Cabrera and others to sign, remember to keep an eye on MLBTR’s list of remaining free agents for 2009 (there’s also a link under MLBTR Features, on the right side of the site).
Beyond Manny and Cabrera, there are a few lefty relievers available (guys like Joe Beimel and Dennys Reyes), as well as some older position players that may have some pop left in the bat yet. Do any teams need a centerfielder than can hit righties, like Jim Edmonds? Will the Cardinals go after Mark Grudzielanek to replace Adam Kennedy?
Manny aside, there are still a few other impact players on the market to keep an eye on.