Archives for March 2009

Manny Ramirez Contract Details

By | March 6, 2009 at 7:54pm CDT

SI.com’s Jon Heyman has Manny Ramirez’s full contract information:

Ramirez’s new $45-million, two-year Dodgers deal is worth $42,005,723 according to the union filing obtained by SI.com. Ramirez is to be paid $25 million for 2009 and $20 million for 2010. But the actual payouts are as follows: $10 million in ’09, $10 million in ’10, $8.33 million in ’11, $8.33 million in ’12 and $8.33 million in ’13. He is to receive no interest on the deferred payments, bringing the value down nearly $3 million from $45 million to $42 million.

For Ramirez, the key is the ability to void the contract after 2009, at which point he can become a free agent. A full no-trade provision is also in the contract.

Red Sox Ink Ramirez, Delcarmen For ’09

By | March 6, 2009 at 7:21pm CDT

According to Alex Speier of WEEI, the Red Sox have agreed to terms on 2009 contracts with relievers Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen.

Ramirez, who is 9-7 with a 3.62 ERA over about two MLB seasons, received $441K. Delcarmen, who missed arbitration eligibility by just seven days, received $476K.

Reliever Matt Wise Retires

By | March 6, 2009 at 6:22pm CDT

More retirement news. According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Matt Wise, who pitched last season for the Mets, has also decided to end his baseball career.

The 33-year-old threw for several clubs this winter, but none offered a contract. He played in the majors for eight seasons and will finish with a 4.23 career ERA.

Mark Sweeney Announces Retirement

By | March 6, 2009 at 6:11pm CDT

According to Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News, pinch-hitting extraordinaire Mark Sweeney has announced his retirement from baseball.

Sweeney was hoping to land a contract this offseason, but didn’t draw much interest. He’ll instead work as an assistant coach for the Dodgers.

"We are excited to be able to keep Mark Sweeney in the Dodger organization and we congratulate him on his retirement from his playing career," GM Ned Colletti said Friday. "With 14 years of big league experience, he will bring some very valuable baseball knowledge to our staff."

Vladimir Guerrero A Year Older

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2009 at 4:59pm CDT

According to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero is actually 34 instead of his listed age of 33. Vlad accidentally let it slip when talking to a reporter, but the Halos were already aware of his true birth date. Guerrero is eligible for free agency after the season, but this shouldn’t change much.

The Guerrero age discrepancy was first noted by Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times back in August.

Brewers Rumors: Gagne, Roberts

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2009 at 3:48pm CDT

3:48pm: McCalvy has more on the outfield topic. The Brewers have heard from Roberts’ agent, but not Edmonds’.

2:15pm: MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy talked to Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash, who said it’d be "impossible" for reliever Eric Gagne to make the big league roster. Gagne is getting a second opinion on his shoulder; he’s in camp on a minor league invite. Ash added that the Brewers don’t have interest in Gagne rehabbing in the minor leagues for them.

In other Brewers news, Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the team is "keeping a casual eye on the market for outfielders since Tony Gwynn Jr. is out until further notice and Ryan Braun is gone at the World Baseball Classic." Remaining free agents include Luis Gonzalez, Jay Payton, Dave Roberts, and Jim Edmonds.

Offseason In Review: Kansas City Royals

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2009 at 3:41pm CDT

Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Royals. Here’s what I wrote about the team on September 11th. The changes for 2009:

Additions: Coco Crisp, Mike Jacobs, Juan Cruz, Kyle Farnsworth, Willie Bloomquist, Miguel Olivo (re-signed), Jamey Wright, Horacio Ramirez, Bruce Chen, Tug Hulett, Doug Waechter, Franquelis Osoria, J.R. House

Subtractions: Mark Grudzielanek, Joey Gathright, Esteban German, Ramon Ramirez, Brett Tomko (midseason), Leo Nunez

For all of Dayton Moore’s tinkering, are the Royals any better this year? His best move was signing Zack Greinke to an extension, but several of the other transactions were questionable. You can say the market dropped out after the Farnsworth signing, but no one liked that commitment at the time. Jacobs is OBP-challenged and terrible with the glove, and it’s a shame that Kila Ka’aihue won’t get a shot. On the plus side, the acquisitions of Cruz and Crisp were solid.

Another GM might have passed on Farnsworth, Ramirez, Olivo, and Jacobs and non-tendered Mark Teahen. That would’ve left about $15MM to spend on some combination of a middle infielder, an on-base/power bat, or a starting pitcher. Those remain the team’s needs, if they are to sneak into contention this year.

The improvements will mainly have to come internally, which is possible. Guillen could play like he did in ’07, and Gordon and Butler could continue to grow. DeJesus and Aviles could mostly hold the line and the team should get more than last year’s .277/.324/.396 line at first base. The outfield defense should be better, with DeJesus moving to left and Crisp ranging over to help Guillen.

The retooled bullpen should be fine, and maybe Brian Bannister, Luke Hochevar, and Kyle Davies can provide league average innings behind Greinke and Gil Meche. Admittedly, that’s a lot of maybes and ifs.

Bottom line: Moore didn’t do much to augment the Royals’ OBP or rotation, so improvements will have to come from young holdovers.

Heyman On Bradley, A-Rod, Manny

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2009 at 1:01pm CDT

New info from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…

Milton Bradley’s two-year, $20MM deal becomes a three-year, $30MM deal only if he plays at least 75 games in 2009. Bradley’s games played totals over the past four years: 126 (mostly DHing), 61, 96, 75. The structure of the deal seems dangerous – does it give Bradley incentive to play hurt?
Heyman talks about the A-Rod injury situation, running through the various replacement names we’ve discussed.
Heyman believes the Giants would’ve gotten to the low-$40MM range over two years for Manny Ramirez, and they had not agreed to an opt-out.

Chipper Jones Flexible With Extension Talks

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2009 at 12:23pm CDT

Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talked to Chipper Jones’ agent, B.B. Abbott. From Rogers:

Abbott said Chipper has decided to loosen any expectation that he might have an extension worked out with the Braves by the end of spring training. Abbott said he’s willing to continue negotiating after the season starts.

Placing an appropriate dollar value on Jones will not be easy. Factors include his amazing bat, ability to continue playing a credible third base, injury profile, and popularity.

Odds & Ends: Gload, Pierre, Beimel

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2009 at 11:09am CDT

Links for Friday…

The Dodgers designated Justin Orenduff for assignment to make room for Manny Ramirez, according to Tony Jackson.
The A's contracts with Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra are official.
WEEI's Alex Speier talked to Marlins prospect Mike Stanton and manager Fredi Gonzalez about the near-acquisition of Manny last summer.
In another column, Speier looks at the players the Red Sox and Yankees have battled for in recent years.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a bunch of relievers are vying for one bullpen spot for the Cardinals, now that they've signed Dennys Reyes.
Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star suggests there's a chance the Royals release first baseman Ross Gload and eat the $1.9MM owed to him in 2009. Rany Jazayerli talks about Gload as well as the chances of the Royals competing this year.
Tom Tango says Juan Pierre would have to defer his contract for 50 years to be worth acquiring.
Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies says the Rox offered Joe Beimel more than $1MM but so far he's passed. Beimel's home run prevention trend might be challenged at Coors Field. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says the A's are in on Beimel but "have not yet have substantive talks" with his agent.
Check out a Giants Spring Training preview from the guys behind El Lefty Malo and McCovey Chronicles.

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