By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Ed Price of Fanhouse, the Astros placed pitcher Fernando Nieve on waivers this week. Nieve is out of options, so the only way the Astros can send him to the minors is if no one claims him.
Nieve, 26, spent most of ’08 at Triple A. He posted a 5.72 ERA in 72.3 innings there but did average 92.5 on this fastball in his Major League stint. He had Tommy John surgery in May of 2007.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to a press release from the team, the Cubs signed infielder Esteban German to a minor league deal. He was released by the Royals last week after clearing waivers.
German, 31, hit .245/.303/.338 in 242 plate appearances last year while playing in left field as well as all around the infield. Presumably the Cubs consider German a possible third base backup; he played 281 innings at the hot corner in ’07 and 43 in ’08. The Cubs will have the option of keeping German for 2010, as he’ll be arbitration-eligible after ’09.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Rockies. Here’s what we wrote about the team on September 22nd. Changes for 2009:
Additions: Huston Street, Greg Smith, Carlos Gonzalez, Alan Embree, Jason Marquis, Matt Murton, Matt Belisle, Randy Flores, Josh Fogg, Glendon Rusch (re-signed), Sal Fasano, Dan Ortmeier, Scott Podsednik (re-signed)
Subtractions: Matt Holliday, Brian Fuentes, Willy Taveras, Luis Vizcaino, Matt Herges, Mark Redman, Livan Hernandez. Midseason: Kip Wells
The Rockies are not a rebuilding club, and I would’ve liked to see them retain Holliday for an ’09 run or at least swap him for something better. GM Dan O’Dowd did not bring back star-level talent in return. The Fuentes loss I understand, and the others were negligible.
The ’08 Rockies ranked 8th of 16 NL clubs with 4.61 runs per game. As crazy as it sounds, though, it’s possible the Rockies improve to 4.86 runs per game in ’09 despite the loss of Holliday (using the trusty lineup analysis tool and CHONE projections). Here’s why: Atkins and Tulo bouncing back, no more Taveras, and more Iannetta/Helton/Stewart/Spilborghs/Smith. Even 4.81 runs per game would’ve ranked fourth in the NL last year.
The Rockies’ defense was poor last year – 14th in the NL according to The Fielding Bible II. The hope is that a healthy Tulo recreates his ’07 wizardry and Hawpe is less brutal in right.
Ah, pitching. Obviously Rockies pitchers are in a rough situation with Coors Field, but they did have strong showings from Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez. Jeff Francis went under the knife, so it’ll be up to guys like Marquis, Jorge de la Rosa, Smith, Jason Hirsh, and Franklin Morales to post ERAs under 5.00 from the #3-5 slots. The bullpen will need Street to fill Fuentes’ void, a healthy Taylor Buchholz, and a resurgent Manny Corpas.
If the Rockies pitch and play defense like they did last year, I have them around 77 wins for ’09. Even if they prevent runs like they did in ’07 (their best effort of the decade) it’s still an 83 win team.
Bottom line: O’Dowd may have been right in assuming that the Rockies’ offense can withstand the loss of Holliday, but he failed to obtain the quality starting pitching the team requires.
By Tim Dierkes | at
What’s up with free agent lefty Will Ohman? According to Dan Hayes of the North County Times, the Padres are hoping Ohman drops down to the $1MM range. You may recall that the Cardinals recently signed Dennys Reyes for $3MM over two years. The Padres see Ohman as more than a lefty specialist though.
At any rate, Padres GM Kevin Towers told Hayes, "There could be new faces coming in over the next couple of weeks."
By Tim Dierkes | at
Links for Friday…
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins released outfielder Jay Gibbons today.
Gibbons and Jose Guillen were the first players to be suspended without failing a drug test. Gibbons was slapped with a 15-day penalty in December of ’07 after SI.com learned that he’d received shipments of steroids and hGH. He was released by the Orioles in March of ’08 (they ate $11.9MM), and shortly thereafter the Gibbons and Guillen suspensions were rescinded. Gibbons wrote an impassioned letter to all 30 teams, and then spent ’08 with the Long Island Ducks before signing a minor league deal with the Brewers.
By Cork Gaines | at
On this date 72 years ago, Lou Gehrig signed a one-year deal for $38K and a $750 signing bonus. This contract came on the heels of a season in which Gehrig hit .354-49-152 with a strikeout to walk ratio of 130-to-46 and a 190 OPS+. The following season, Gehrig would hit .351-37-159 (177 OPS+) in what would turn out to be his last full healthy season. With only a few weeks left until the ’09 regular season begins, let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.
By Cork Gaines | at
Marc Topkin and Joe Smith are reporting that the Rays still think ’07 first-overall pick David Price is “in need of minor-league development,” and could be headed to triple-A Durham to start the season. Price is hoping to force the Rays’ hand and make the opening day roster.
“It’s not very fun if I’m not here competing for a job,” Price said Monday. “That’s what I came here for, to compete for that fifth spot, and that’s what I want to do. … I want them to not be able to look me in the eyes at the end of spring training and tell me I’m going to (Triple-A) Durham.”
If Price can win the final spot in the rotation, the Rays would likely only have room for one of Jeff Niemann and Jason Hammel as a long reliever in the bullpen. Both players are out of minor league options and both would certainly be claimed if the Rays try to sneak them through waivers. If Price impresses in spring training, the Rays may be forced to deal prior to opening day.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Marc Topkin and Joe Smith are reporting that the Rays still think ’07 first-overall pick David Price is "in need of minor-league development," and could be headed to triple-A Durham to start the season. Price is hoping to force the Rays’ hand and make the opening day roster.
"It’s not very fun if I’m not here competing for a job," Price said Monday. "That’s what I came here for, to compete for that fifth spot, and that’s what I want to do. … I want them to not be able to look me in the eyes at the end of spring training and tell me I’m going to (Triple-A) Durham."
If Price can win the final spot in the rotation, the Rays would likely only have room for one of Jeff Niemann and Jason Hammel as a long reliever in the bullpen. Both players are out of minor league options and both would certainly be claimed if the Rays try to sneak them through waivers. If Price impresses in spring training, the Rays may be forced to deal prior to opening day.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
By Cork Gaines | at
Here are a few more random notes from the MLBiverse…
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
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