Padres Looking For Pitching
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes about the Padres’ intention to add pitching to the organization. He learned that the Nationals inquired about Padres first base prospect Kyle Blanks, but were not willing to trade their own top prospect Jordan Zimmermann. Would’ve been interesting to see.
Krasovic says the Padres are focused on out of options pitchers, and in particular inquired on Arizona’s Juan Gutierrez. Krasovic tosses out names of other out of options hurlers on the D’Backs and Angels: Jason Bulger, Shane Loux, Dustin Moseley, Yusmeiro Petit, and Travis Blackley. Two more possibilities: Giants Rule 5 pick Luis Perdomo and Rangers veteran Jason Jennings. I don’t know whether the Padres are interested, but a few more out of options pitchers include David Pauley, Hayden Penn, Dustin Nippert, Jeff Niemann, and Jason Hammel.
According to Krasovic, GM Kevin Towers is focused exclusively on pitching this month. Krasovic adds:
Some Padres evaluators have become dismayed, according to other clubs, by a perceived dearth of power arms high in the organization and are wondering if the club’s four-year emphasis on “pitchability” got overdone.
Manny Ramirez Contract Details
The AP obtained details on Manny Ramirez‘s new contract with the Dodgers. Due to significant deferred money, the present-day value of his ’09 salary drops to about $18.4MM.
The AP story adds that Manny’s decision about 2010 is due on the fifth day after the World Series ends or November 10th, whichever is later. ESPN’s Jayson Stark does some more number-crunching at his blog.
Ivan Rodriguez Prefers Marlins
David Quinones of the Miami Herald talked to free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who said, "We have something going on with the Marlins, but I’m not too sure where we are right now." Based on his home in Miami and World Series season with the team, Rodriguez would like to play again for the Marlins. MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro seems to like the Marlins’ chances. He says the holdup is playing time rather than money, though.
Pudge added that two or three other teams are in the mix. SI.com’s Jon Heyman believes the Astros are still in, and Jim Baumbach of Newsday reported that the Mets are scouting him.
Minor League Transactions
The latest minor league signings, courtesy of Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
Offseason In Review: Pittsburgh Pirates
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Pirates. Here’s what I wrote about the team on September 12th. The changes for 2009:
Additions: Pedro Alvarez, Eric Hinske, Ramon Vazquez, Chris Bootcheck, Donald Veal, Craig Monroe, Andy Phillips, Jeff Salazar, Virgil Vasquez, Jason Jaramillo. Midseason: Robinzon Diaz, Craig Hansen, Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf, Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss, Jose Tabata
Subtractions: Doug Mientkiewicz, Jason Michaels, Luis Rivas, Chris Gomez, Ronny Paulino, Franquelis Osoria, Raul Chavez, T.J. Beam, John Van Benschoten. Midseason: Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Jose Bautista, Damaso Marte, Matt Morris
Extensions: Ryan Doumit, Nate McLouth, Paul Maholm
Pirates GM Neal Huntington had two main tasks this winter: test the trade market for his remaining veterans, and sign certain young players to extensions. Adding free agents was never top priority, and the Bucs sensibly kept those commitments low. They still could bring in a cheap veteran free agent starting pitcher like Pedro Martinez or Odalis Perez.
Much of Huntington’s veteran purge was accomplished last summer, with the trades of Bay, Nady, and Marte. He shopped Jack Wilson this winter, but couldn’t find a match. Hindsight being 20/20, perhaps he should’ve been more flexible in the December dealings with Detroit. As for LaRoche, it makes sense to wait given his history of slow starts.
With the new extensions, the Pirates can have Maholm and McLouth through 2012 and Doumit through 2013. The extensions don’t necessarily add trade value in all three cases, so hopefully the Pirates will contend in 2010, ’11, or ’12.
Bottom line: Rather than free agents, the Pirates chose to invest in their own youth this winter. Now Huntington’s focus will be on maximizing the return for Wilson, LaRoche, and John Grabow.
Esteban German Becomes A Free Agent
According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, infielder Esteban German cleared waivers and was then released by the Royals. German is now a free agent.
German, 31, hit .245/.303/.338 in 242 plate appearances last year while playing in left field as well as all around the infield. His best year was 2006, when he was valued at 1.8 wins.
Peavy Was Willing To Pitch In Boston
Rob Bradford of WEEI has a quote from Padres pitcher Jake Peavy:
"Boston was a place that I told the Padres I would certainly be interested in playing. I don’t know if there were any talks. I gave the Padres a list and Boston was on that list. Boston was a place I told the Padres I would be interested in playing at. Set that straight for sure."
At various times during the offseason, Peavy also expressed a willingness to play for the Braves, Astros, Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals, Yankees, and Angels (based on previous WEEI reports). If the Padres do re-engage in trade talks for Peavy this summer, it’ll of course be on his terms given his full no-trade clause.
Sox, Jon Lester Agree On Five-Year Extension?
MONDAY, 2:07pm: WEEI’s Alex Speier spoke to Lester, who said there is currently no contract extension agreement with the Red Sox.
SUNDAY, 12:42pm: Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports is reporting the Red Sox have signed Jon Lester to a five-year, $30MM extension. The contract includes a $13MM team option for 2014.
Along with Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, this makes Lester the third long term contract handed out to homegrown talent in three months. Passan writes,
"The impending deal is the largest given to a pitcher with around two years of service time, doubling the four-year, $15 million deal Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona signed at the beginning of last season. If the Red Sox exercise the option, they will have kept Lester off the free-agent market for two years."
Lester will take a physical on Tuesday to finalize the deal.
Cabrera, Garciaparra Contract Details
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has details on the newly signed contracts for A’s infielders Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra.
Cabrera has a $4MM base salary, and he’ll receive a $250K bonus if traded. Interestingly, the A’s agreed not to offer him arbitration if he’s a Type A free agent after the season. Cabrera is not inclined to let draft pick compensation get in his way the next time around.
Garciaparra gets a $1MM base plus $150K if he gets 300 plate appearances. He can earn additional money for days spent on the 25-man roster.
Heyman On Pudge, Pedro, Catalanotto
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up; let’s take a look.
- Heyman says Oakland’s "win now" mandate this winter came from owner Lewis Wolff.
- The Astros and Marlins are interested in Ivan Rodriguez, "no matter what they say publicly."
- Heyman says Pedro Martinez is "talking up a Dodgers reunion." So far, there’s been no indication the Dodgers are entertaining it.
- Edgar Renteria‘s agent was initially asking for a three or four-year deal.
- It’s no surprise that Frank Catalanotto is available, but the $6MM owed to him is an obvious impediment.
- According to Heyman, Andruw Jones told Rangers brass he’s flexible on the March 20th decision date in his contract.
- Heyman describes the Josh Hamilton extension talks as "just getting going" and believe the John Lackey discussions have only been preliminary.