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Archives for March 2009

Kevin Slowey Q&A

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Recently MLB Trade Rumors had the chance to ask a few questions of Twins pitcher Kevin Slowey.  Slowey won 12 games with a 3.99 ERA last year in his first full season.

MLB Trade Rumors: Throughout your career, you've had pinpoint control and command.  How did this ability come about for you?  When you were a kid could you put the ball exactly where you wanted?

Kevin Slowey: I'm not sure there is any real explanation for my command, except that I've been blessed with the ability to throw strikes…It would be like trying to explain how Jesse Crain acquired the ability to throw 97, or how Josh Hamilton can hit a ball 600 feet..It is certainly something I work on, but not anything that I can really explain.

MLBTR: There's a rumor your older brother Dan was the more talented one growing up…what happened there?

Slowey: Haha, he really was the more talented one, and probably still is…especially when it came to chemistry experiments.

MLBTR: The Twins locked up your rotation-mate Scott Baker through his arbitration years with an option on his first free agent season.  Are you interested in signing an extension, or do you prefer going year-to-year for now?

Slowey: For now I don't have a whole lot of say in the matter, but if it is ever in my hands I would love to stay with the Twins long term. I like everything about our organization, from my teammates down to the the die-hard fans and hope I can be a part of baseball in Minnesota for a long time.

MLBTR: Did you ever get to meet your favorite player, Andy Van Slyke?  How about Greg Maddux?

Slowey: I did, my first spring training during an exhibition game in Lakeland. I've never met Maddux, but I did have the pleasure of watching him firsthand last year in San Diego.

MLBTR: How deeply do you examine your own stats?  What numbers do you find the most helpful?

Slowey: Not that deeply to be honest. The best indicator of success isn't always in the numbers, but in my ability to give my team a chance to win every time out there. If I can do that, my stats should take care of themselves.

MLBTR: You had to face Nick Swisher and Milton Bradley in your first big league inning in Oakland.  What was going through your head at the time?

Slowey: Haha, a lot. And very quickly too. You don't really have time to enjoy your first game until after it is over and time starts slowing back down again. Those six innings in Oakland felt like they took about 15 minutes…15 minutes I'll never forget.

MLBTR: Do you have an innings target for 2009?  You had to overcome a biceps strain to start '08, but got on track pretty quickly in May.

Slowey: Not really… As I said before, isolated statistics don't mean a whole lot to me. If I was out on the mound thinking about how many innings I needed, or how many pitches I had left, I can't imagine I would have a lot of success. As long as I can continue to improve on a daily basis, I'm sure the secondary statistics will fall into place.

Rangers Release Brendan Donnelly

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According to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers released reliever Brendan Donnelly today.  Donnelly allowed five runs in six spring innings, striking out five and walking one.

Donnelly, 37, was on a $950K minor league deal.  He had Tommy John surgery in '07 and played at various levels in the Indians organization last year.

The Rangers now have seven pitchers fighting for four bullpen slots, including offseason imports Derrick Turnbow and Jimmy Gobble (and possibly Jason Jennings).

Offseason In Review: St. Louis Cardinals

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Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Cardinals.  Here's what we wrote about the team on October 8th.  Changes for 2009:

Additions: Khalil Greene, Dennys Reyes, Trever Miller, Royce Ring, Jason LaRue (re-signed).  Midseason: Charlie Manning, Kyle Lohse extension

Subtractions: Felipe Lopez, Cesar Izturis, Braden Looper, Russ Springer, Ron Villone, Jason Isringhausen, Adam Kennedy, Tyler Johnson, Randy Flores, Aaron Miles, Mark Worrell, Luke Gregerson, Mark Mulder.  Midseason: Josh Phelps, Matt Clement, Anthony Reyes

The Cardinals needed help in the middle infield and bullpen.  GM John Mozeliak's solution was to trade for Greene and sign about $4MM worth of lefty relievers.  Many of the departed played significant roles (good or bad) last year, so the Cards may be hoping for addition by subtraction to a certain extent.

Last year's offense scored 4.81 runs per game, 4th in the NL.  Using CHONE projections and Baseball Musings' lineup analysis tool, the '09 lineup projects at 5.00 runs per game.  This particular simulation doesn't include Colby Rasmus, has the pitcher batting ninth, and doesn't account for time missed by Troy Glaus.  But even if Ludwick takes a step back, the team may score more runs than last year.

The '09 rotation features familiar names Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Lohse, Todd Wellemeyer, and Joel Pineiro.  The difference is that Braden Looper's 199 innings of 4.16 ball are gone, and Wainwright, Carpenter, and Pineiro will hopefully double last year's 292 combined innings.  Last year the Cards had 16 starts from Mitchell Boggs, Brad Thompson, Mike Parisi, Jaime Garcia, and Mark Mulder at a combined 7.31 ERA.  This year's backup crew seems more capable.  The 4.20 collective ERA of last year's rotation was pretty good, and if Carpenter makes a big contribution they should be able to at least match it.  The Lohse extension, signed on September 29th for four years and $41MM, doesn't look good.  On the other hand, the Cardinals are presumably still happy they have Lohse to pencil in for 33 starts.

The bullpen will be better for the losses of Villone, Isringhausen, and Flores, but they didn't do much to replace Springer.  Mozeliak did add two decent lefties, and from the right side it'll be up to youngsters Jason Motte and Chris Perez to step up.

Defensively, the Cardinals ranked 2nd in the NL according to The Fielding Bible II.  The success of the rotation will be closely tied to the team's ability to repeat its stellar defense.  The Cards figure to lose ground defensively in the middle infield, though, replacing Kennedy/Izturis with Schumaker/Greene.

With last year's run prevention the Cardinals look like an 89 win team.  The concern is that a defensive slip or rotation injury could shave 4-5 wins off that projection.

Bottom line: The Cardinals switched up their middle infield and added lefty relievers, and hope a healthy rotation can keep them in contention in '09.

Rangers Make Contract Offer To Hamilton

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THURSDAY, 8:46am: Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a bit more.  He says the Rangers are aiming to buy out at least one year of free agency, and will probably use the contracts given to Ian Kinsler and Hank Blalock as guidelines.

WEDNESDAY, 4:36pm: According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers presented a contract offer to Josh Hamilton and his agent.  Hamilton was "disappointed" with the proposal. 

Sullivan notes that Hamilton is already under team control through 2012, and is believed to be seeking "a deal in the 4-6 year range with possible options."  Hamilton will be arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season.

Padres Acquire Eulogio De La Cruz

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According to MLB.com's Corey Brock, the Padres acquired pitcher Eulogio De La Cruz from the Marlins today for a player to be named later or cash.  Cruz is out of options, so the Padres may have to keep him in the Majors to retain him.

Cruz, 25, posted a 4.34 ERA in 25 starts at Triple A last year.  He came to Florida as part of the Miguel Cabrera deal in December of '07.  Cruz fits the Padres' desire for hard-throwing pitchers.  Here's Paul DePodesta's take on him.

The Marlins subsequently signed lefty Carlos Vasquez to a minor league deal, according to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  Vasquez has been a minor league reliever in the Cubs' and Red Sox systems.

Rosenthal On Melky, Matthews, Pedro, Ohman

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As usual, good stuff from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • Rosenthal says the Yankees are open to moving Melky Cabrera, and opines that the White Sox would be a perfect fit.  Trading Cabrera would open up the Yankees' outfield picture for sure, but leave them shakier in center with Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher.  Rosenthal also says the White Sox have expressed some interest in a deal to acquire Gary Matthews Jr., assuming the Angels pay "the vast majority of the $33MM remaining on the final three years of his contract."
  • Pedro Martinez reached out to the Royals before they signed Sidney Ponson, but KC couldn't afford him.  Would Pedro have been a better signing than Horacio Ramirez and Willie Bloomquist?  Martinez's friends are telling him his $5MM asking price is unrealistic.  Rosenthal says that if Pedro drops it down to $1-2MM, he can probably get the Dodgers and other teams involved.
  • The Marlins are looking for relief help.  They like Will Ohman but not his $2MM asking price.
  • The A's thought they were close to a $1.7MM deal for Joe Beimel before he went to the Nats for $300K more.
  • Catcher Ronny Paulino, acquired by the Phillies from the Pirates in December, is available.  Rosenthal considers the Marlins a possible fit.

Trot Nixon Released

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WEDNESDAY: Nixon has been released, according to Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

MONDAY: Outfielder Trot Nixon, in Brewers camp on a minor league deal, is on the roster bubble according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.  They may not even have a place for him in Triple A.  Nixon, 35 in April, is hitting .108/.233/.216 in 43 spring plate appearances.  He hit .309/.437/.558 in a Triple A stint last year, earning a brief look with the Mets.

Odds & Ends: Beckham, Taschner, Red Sox

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Links for Wednesday…

Rockies Hope To Trade Torrealba, Baker

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Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post writes today about the Rockies desire to trade catcher Yorvit Torrealba and infielder Jeff Baker.

Torrealba was signed in November of '07 after coming close to a deal with the Mets.  The Rockies had reached the World Series with Torrealba behind the dish, and Chris Iannetta had yet to emerge.  Now, though, the Rox would love to move Torrealba and the $4MM owed to him for '09.  Renck says they shopped him hard this winter but came up empty.  The Rockies like Sal Fasano as the backup catcher and don't have much use for Torrealba.

Baker, 27, hit .268/.322/.468 in 333 plate appearances for the Rockies last year, crushing lefties while struggling away from Coors.  Baseball Prospectus likens Baker to former Padre Archi Cianfrocco, circa 1994.  Baker has spent time at first base, second base, third base, left field, and right field in his career.  Yesterday Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports said the Phillies, Astros, and Pirates were interested.  Rosenthal suggested Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick as a possible target for the Rockies, but Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn't see that as a fair trade.  Renck says the Pirates and Astros have interest in Baker while the Yankees, Braves, and Phillies have a need.  Baker is trying to bounce back from elbow soreness this spring.

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