According to MLB.com’s Corey Brock, reliever Chris Britton has been told he won’t make the Padres. He’s in camp on a minor league deal. Brock says the Padres are talking to Britton’s agent about whether he’ll head to Triple A or be allowed to talk to other teams. The Padres crave hard-throwing bullpen arms, and Britton fits their previous mold of soft-tossers with good control.
Archives for March 2009
Offseason In Review: Cincinnati Reds
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Reds. Here's what we wrote about them on September 26th. Changes for 2009:
Additions: Ramon Hernandez, Willy Taveras, Arthur Rhodes, Jonny Gomes, Aaron Fultz, Humberto Cota, Daryle Ward, Jacque Jones, Laynce Nix, Mike Lincoln (re-signed), Jerry Hairston Jr. (re-signed), David Weathers (accepted arb). Midseason: Nick Masset, Danny Richar, Micah Owings
Subtractions: Jeremy Affeldt, Josh Fogg, Gary Majewski, Matt Belisle, Ryan Freel, Corey Patterson, Paul Bako, David Ross, Javier Valentin, Jolbert Cabrera. Midseason: Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr., Todd Coffey
In September I mentioned the Reds as a sleeper candidate for '09, given their rotation depth. Last year's front four are returning. Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, and Johnny Cueto combined for a 4.38 ERA in 754.3 innings. Even with regression from Volquez, I expect them to maintain that performance level. Owings and Homer Bailey are strong fifth starter options. The bar is low – Reds' fifth starters combined for a 7.47 ERA in 140 innings last year.
The bullpen was decent last year, and the loss of relief innings leader Affeldt was treated with the Rhodes signing. Subtract out bad performances from Majewski and Coffey and the pen shouldn't be worse.
Defensively the Reds ranked dead last in the NL according to The Fielding Bible II. The worst culprits: third base (Edwin Encarnacion), shortstop (Jeff Keppinger, Hairston), and left field (mainly Dunn). Reports on shortstop Alex Gonzalez have been positive, and the subtraction of Dunn will help in left field. Last September I pushed for Walt Jocketty to make an aggressive offer for Adrian Beltre, but Encarnacion will stay at the hot corner for '09. Taveras has the tools to play a great center field and help the corner outfielders.
The Reds scored 4.35 runs per game in '08, 12th in the NL. How will they fare in the post-Dunn/Griffey era? Keep in mind that it's also the post-Patterson/Bako era, and the Gomes/Chris Dickerson platoon should be effective. CHONE projections and the lineup analysis tool call for 4.42 runs per game which unfortunately still would've ranked 12th last year. This team still falls short offensively, even with strong years from the team's young sluggers.
Even if I generously put the Reds at 750 runs allowed, they project to win 77 games. It's difficult to see this team cracking .500 as it's presently constructed.
Bottom line: The Reds' rotation looks strong, but Jocketty failed to add the needed offense.
Will Randy Johnson Pitch To Age 50?
Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times talked to Giants starter Randy Johnson, who is 45 years old. The Big Unit doesn’t seem ready to hang up his spikes after reaching 300 wins:
"Who’s to say that I can’t pitch just because I’m 50 years old? If I’m 48 years old and I’m still throwing 93 [mph] and still winning 10 or 12 games and still having fun and still being competitive, why would age matter? I’ll retire when I feel like the fire had gone out of my belly. But I still have that fire and that will to compete. That’s why I went through those back surgeries."
If Johnson comes anywhere close to his stellar ’08 performance, he’ll continue to find work easily. Jamie Moyer got a two-year deal at age 46. Johnson does have a minor Spring Training injury, described by Bruce Bochy as "a tiny touch of biceps soreness."
Minor League Signings
Baseball America’s Matt Eddy has the latest minor league signings. A few of note:
- White Sox signed Tim Raines Jr.
- Rockies signed Damian Moss
- Marlins signed Levale Speigner
Offseason In Review: Texas Rangers
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Rangers. Here’s what we wrote about them on September 23rd. Changes for 2009:
Additions: Hank Blalock (exercised option), Omar Vizquel, Andruw Jones, Kris Benson, Brendan Donnelly, Eddie Guardado (re-signed), Jason Jennings, Derrick Turnbow, Greg Golson, Elizardo Ramirez, Guillermo Moscoso, Adam Melhuse
Subtractions: Milton Bradley, Ramon Vazquez, Gerald Laird, Chris Shelton, Franklyn German, Sidney Ponson (midseason), John Mayberry
GM Jon Daniels gave the middle finger to free agency this winter, signing players only on minor league deals (he did come close on Ben Sheets though). The main offseason change was the losses of Bradley and Laird. For Bradley the Rangers received the 44th pick in the June draft, and for Laird they snagged two pitching prospects from Detroit.
The ’08 Rangers led the AL by a wide margin with 5.56 runs scored per game. The ’09 squad won’t match that, but CHONE projections and the lineup analysis tool suggest the team could score 5.07 per game with good health. That would’ve ranked fourth in the league.
The problem, of course, is the pitching staff. It was the worst in the league in ’08 and doesn’t look much better for ’09. The Rangers have the best farm system in baseball, but advanced pitching prospects Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland can’t be expected to lead the staff as rookies. The bullpen will have a somewhat different look in ’09, but it’s a crapshoot.
The Rangers did not profile well defensively last year, ranking 11th in the AL according to The Fielding Bible II. There are gains to be made by switching Young to third base and using Andrus or Vizquel at shortstop.
If the Rangers allow runs like they did last year, they’re looking at 68 wins. But just with better defense at a few positions and a couple of halfway decent starting pitching performances they could trim 100 runs allowed and win 77 games. They still seem a long shot for .500 ball though.
Bottom line: Knowing the fruits of his top-ranked farm system won’t be realized in 2009, Jon Daniels held off on spending money this offseason. Veterans such as Blalock, Guardado, Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Frank Catalanotto, and Marlon Byrd may serve as midseason trade bait.
Mets Sign Junior Spivey
According to Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog, the Mets signed infielder Junior Spivey to a minor league deal. Spivey, 34, hasn’t played in the Majors since 2005.
Boras Offseason Tally: $341 Million
By my count, the Scott Boras Corporation brokered eleven Major League deals for free agent clients this offseason. The total in guaranteed money: $341,100,000 (5% of that would be over $17MM). Here's the rundown:
- Mark Teixeira, Yankees: $180MM.
- Derek Lowe, Braves: $60MM.
- Manny Ramirez, Dodgers: $45MM.
- Oliver Perez, Mets: $36MM.
- Jason Varitek, Red Sox: $5MM.
- Felipe Lopez, Diamondbacks: $3.5MM.
- Willie Bloomquist, Royals: $3.1MM.
- Garret Anderson, Braves: $2.5MM.
- Joe Crede, Twins: $2.5MM.
- Alex Cora, Mets: $2MM.
- Ivan Rodriguez, Astros: $1.5MM.
Note that I left Kyle Lohse's $41MM extension off the list because it was signed on September 29th.
Nine Boras clients signed minor league deals: Chris Bootcheck, Andruw Jones, Rodrigo Lopez, David Newhan, Guillermo Quiroz, Julian Tavarez, Ron Villone, Jeff Weaver, and Brad Wilkerson. Eric Gagne signed one with the Brewers but was released. Byung-Hyun Kim remains unsigned.
Boras brokered extensions totaling $30MM for arbitration-eligible players Prince Fielder and Ryan Madson. He also reached agreements totaling over $15MM for his other arb-eligible clients: Xavier Nady, Rick Ankiel, Gerald Laird, Edwin Jackson, and Bobby Seay.
Five Boras clients were traded this offseason: Laird, Jackson, Carlos Gonzalez, Matt Holliday, and Scott Schoeneweis.
This info is accurate to the best of my knowledge but please let me know if you have any corrections.
Astros Agree To Terms With Ivan Rodriguez
1:08pm: ESPN’s Steve Phillips says the Astros reached an agreement with Rodriguez on a one-year, $1.5MM deal with another $1.5MM in performance bonuses. Scott Boras’ offseason is over, aside from Byung-Hyun Kim and Eric Gagne.
12:54pm: A deal with the Astros appears close, according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle. GM Ed Wade admitted he’s re-engaged with Scott Boras on Pudge.
11:28am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, Pudge is in serious talks with the Astros.
10:05am: Free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez may sign soon. A look at his rumored suitors:
- Marlins: Owner Jeffrey Loria talked about his fondness for Pudge, but added that there are a lot of variables to consider. The issue seems to be Rodriguez’s desire to catch the majority of games.
- Giants: Henry Schulman’s source says they’ve explored signing Rodriguez "as a utility catcher and infielder." MLB.com’s Chris Haft doesn’t think it makes sense.
- Astros: Richard Justice thinks the team should try to sign Pudge and Pedro Martinez for less than $5MM total. MLB.com’s Alyson Footer on Friday: "After checking with Ed Wade yet again today, I can assure you the Astros are not pursuing him. And judging from the irritated look on his face, I can also assure you I won’t be asking him about Pudge again anytime soon." SI.com’s Jon Heyman mentioned Houston in his Friday Pudge column.
- Twins: Heyman mentioned the Twins after talking to an NL team involved in the Pudge bidding. La Velle E. Neal III hadn’t heard anything as of Saturday.
- Mets: MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone doesn’t see any evidence that Rodriguez is an option.
Heyman On Pedro, Manny, Crede
The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…
- Heyman sees the Pedro Martinez sweepstakes as between the Dodgers and Mets, but he might have to come down to the $2.5MM range. The Mets don’t seem thrilled with Tim Redding, who "came to camp with a sore shoulder and 20 pounds overweight."
- If Manny Ramirez opts out after the ’09 season, he’ll seek a three-year deal. Heyman suggests Manny may be better off staying in L.A. than signing with a New York team.
- Heyman spoke to one White Sox person who questioned Joe Crede’s ability to play on the Minnesota turf.
Odds & Ends: Hamels, Giants, Yankees
Links for Monday…
- Cole Hamels is flying to Philadelphia to have his sore left elbow examined. Hamels threw 3,914 pitches in total last year, the most in baseball (two more than C.C. Sabathia). Hamels thinks he’s fine and it’s not a big deal.
- Julian Tavarez on why he chose the Nationals.
- MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro says the Marlins returned Rule 5 lefty Zach Kroenke to the Yankees.
- Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball looks at postseason ticket revenue over the last decade.
- Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News talked to John Dewan about the Giants’ defense.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes about the fraternity in the Yankees’ revamped rotation.
- Athletics Nation talked to Jason Giambi, who was very close to re-signing with the A’s before he signed with the Yankees.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker asks if Yankees starter Kei Igawa, owed $12MM over the next three years, is movable.
