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Archives for April 2009

Odds & Ends: Closers, Holliday, Kent

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Links for Wednesday…

Mets Have Payroll Flexibility

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Mark Hale of the New York Post talked to Mets GM Omar Minaya, who said he has permission from ownership to increase payroll if necessary.  According to Minaya:

"We've been told that whatever we need to do to get to help us win, we're going to try to do it.  [The payroll is] not unlimited. But there is the ability to increase if we need areas that need to be addressed."

Hale tosses out trade suggestions for starting pitchers and corner outfielders, two possible areas of need later this summer.

Rosenthal On Penny, Bay, Brandon Wood

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • Rosenthal suggests Cecil Cooper of the Astros may be the first manager fired; he says the team's veterans "do not care for Cooper."  He's in the last year of his contract.
  • With a comeback season for the Red Sox, Brad Penny could be in line for a lucrative free agent deal after the season.  One executive told Rosenthal Penny had the least amount of structural issues in his arm compared to similar free agents last winter.
  • The Red Sox are said to be "maintaining a quiet dialogue" with Jason Bay, who is eligible for free agency after the season.  Rosenthal says there's no acrimony or deadline; the sides are just trying to determine Bay's value.  It's a tricky calculation for corner outfielders, and the market will be flush after the season.
  • Angels infielder Brandon Wood appears big league ready.  Will the Angels trade Chone Figgins this summer to make room, or at least let Figgins leave as a free agent after the season?  There are plenty of ways to sort out the situation, but Wood deserves to play.
  • Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario, signed out of the Venezuelan winter league, drew strong praise from one scout.
  • One scout had this to say regarding Emilio Bonifacio: "He's just a guy."

Red Sox Claim Travis Denker

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According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Red Sox claimed second baseman Travis Denker off waivers from the Padres today.  Denker had been designated for assignment to clear a spot for Luis Perdomo.

Denker, 23, hit .282/.373/.468 at Triple A last year as a member of the Giants organization.  Baseball America envisioned him as an offense-first second baseman in their '08 Handbook, writing, "his value lies in his bat and his tenacity."

Discussion: Best Free Agent Signing

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Today's discussion topic: what was the best free agent signing of the 2008-09 offseason?  Here's ESPN's list ranked by total dollars.  A few contenders for the title might include Orlando Hudson at $3.8MM, Bobby Abreu at $5MM, and Orlando Cabrera at $4MM.  Or maybe it's a stealth minor league signing like Carlos Pena in February of '07?  Pick one free agent signing and make your case!  (Note: we are not asking you to use the week of '09 regular season data to make your prediction).

White Sox Agree To Deal With Scott Podsednik

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According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the White Sox agreed to a minor league deal with Scott Podsednik.

Podsednik, of course, played for the Sox from 2005 to 2007.  They designated him for assignment after '07 and he landed with the Rockies, hitting .253/.322/.333 in 181 plate appearances.  The Rox re-signed him in January but released him in April.  Rosenthal explains why the Sox brought Pods back:

The move became necessary when center fielder Dewayne Wise left Monday's game with a separated right shoulder. Wise will be placed on the disabled list and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Odds & Ends: Milledge, Draft Order, Cubs

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Links for Tuesday…

Angels Reject Pedro’s Overtures

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According to Bill Plunkett of the O.C. Register, Pedro Martinez's agent reached out to the Angels.  However, GM Tony Reagins said, "We haven't made any offer or had any discussions about bringing him in.  We're still in this pattern where we're waiting for guys – Ervin Santana, John Lackey – to get back."

Reagins believes his own rehabbing starters will be ready in the same amount of time it'd take a free agent to get into shape.  Plunkett notes that a trade could make more sense but Reagins doesn't believe it's necessary.

There's a handful of mildly interesting starting pitchers without jobs.  Martinez and Odalis Perez lead the group, with Mark Mulder more of a question mark and Paul Byrd sitting out until the second half.  Ben Sheets could be another interesting second half free agent.  As for Orlando Hernandez, no one knows what he's up to and his agent isn't returning calls.

Free Agent Lineup

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An attempt at crafting a lineup out of current free agents…

C – Javier Valentin
1B – Frank Catalanotto
2B – Ray Durham
SS – Damion Easley
3B – Mike Lamb
LF – Wily Mo Pena
CF – Jim Edmonds
RF – Geoff Jenkins 
DH – Frank Thomas

Baseball Musings' lineup analysis tool says the batting order should be:

1. Frank Catalanotto
2. Frank Thomas
3. Ray Durham
4. Wily Mo Pena
5. Mike Lamb
6. Geoff Jenkins
7. Jim Edmonds
8. Damion Easley
9. Javier Valentin

That tool plus CHONE project this American League lineup at 4.562 runs per game.  That would've ranked 11th in the AL last year, ahead of the Blue Jays, Royals, Mariners, and A's.  One problem…this may be the worst defensive fake team ever assembled.

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