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Odds And Ends: Hudson, Alvarez, Anderson

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Links for Saturday…

Nationals Sign Ron Villone

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According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, the Nationals signed lefty Ron Villone to a minor league deal.  Villone is fourth on the depth chart in terms of southpaw relievers; he'll report to Triple A.  He wasn't able to stick with the Mets earlier this spring.

Ladson adds that the Nats are in on free agent Chad Gaudin, but only for a minor league deal.

Padres Claim Luis Perdomo

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According to MLB.com's Corey Brock and Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Padres claimed pitcher Luis Perdomo off waivers from the Giants today.  Perdomo, a Rule 5 pick from the Cardinals, was designated for assignment by the Giants a few days ago.  Perdomo will turn 25 soon; he'll try to make the jump from Double A to the Majors.

Perdomo was the Cardinals' return from the Indians for Anthony Reyes last summer.  Baseball America says he throws 93-95 with an "average-to-plus slider."

Brewers Not Sweating Hart, Gallardo Contracts

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MLB.com's Adam McCalvy has the latest Brewers buzz, after talking with owner Mark Attanasio and GM Doug Melvin.  Here's what Attanasio had to say regarding extension talks with Corey Hart and Yovani Gallardo:

"We've had conversations with both players and agents and it's a two-way street.  Players are tending to look at being on the upswing of their careers and we're in a downtown of the economy. That's their choice.  I'm not saying we're cutting discussions off, because I think we might have discussions with one of those players even as we speak."

Melvin added that talks for the pair are not on the agenda and if he does get something done it'll probably be quietly.  Speaking in general, Melvin noted that deals with hitters are easier to accomplish.  Hart is under team control through 2011, while Gallardo is Brewers property through 2013.

Ticket sales are up for the Brewers this year, and Attanasio indicated financial flexibility to make midseason "adjustments."  I'd say starting pitching is the most likely need.

Discussion: The Next $200MM Contract

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In Major League Baseball, only Alex Rodriguez has reached the lofty height of a $200MM+ contract.  Mark Teixeira had a shot last winter, perhaps with the Nationals. 

Let's hear your thoughts.  Which player will be the first to join A-Rod in the $200MM club?  Matt Holliday in the 2009-10 offseason?  Albert Pujols, when he signs his next deal?  Jose Reyes, whose contract runs through 2010?  Someone else?

Offseason In Review: Tampa Bay Rays

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Next up in the Offseason In Review series, the Rays.  Here's what we wrote about them on October 30th.  Changes for 2009:

Additions: Pat Burrell, Lance Cormier, Jason Isringhausen, Joe Nelson, Brian Shouse, Matt Joyce, Gabe Kapler, Aneury Rodriguez, Adam Kennedy

Subtractions: Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, Jonny Gomes, Cliff Floyd, Trever Miller, Eric Hinske, Rocco Baldelli, Al Reyes

The Rays rose up last year to win the AL pennant.  The offseason went according to plan – sign a righthanded slugger, tweak the bullpen, and get value for excess starting pitchers.  Let's take a closer look.

Last year the Rays ranked 9th in the AL with 4.78 runs scored per game.  This year's lineup subtracts Hinske and adds Kapler, while also slotting Burrell into the middle of the order.  Burrell's two-year, $16MM deal was widely applauded when he signed on January 5th.  The new lineup projects to score 5.23 runs per game, according to CHONE projections and the Baseball Musings lineup analysis tool. That seems optimistic, but the Rays should score more runs this year.

The Rays' '08 rotation ranked 2nd in the AL last year with a 3.95 ERA in 973.3 innings.  The '09 rotation subtracts Jackson in favor of a probable Jeff Niemann/David Price fifth starter combo.  It should be stellar once again, projecting at 3.98 or so.  And unlike most teams, the Rays have the depth to cover injuries.  Highly regarded prospect Wade Davis awaits his turn.

Andrew Friedman did not rest on his laurels in regard to the bullpen, which was good for a 3.55 ERA in 484.3 innings last year.  He traded Hammel to the Rockies and let Miller go while importing Nelson, Shouse, Cormier, and Isringhausen.  They may not be able to match last year's ERA, but still project well at 3.72.

According to The Fielding Bible II, the Rays' defense ranked 4th in the AL last year.  There's no reason to expect any less in 2009.

Can the Rays win 97 games again?  The projections suggest they can, though as I said 847 runs scored seems optimistic.  Still, if the Rays are behind the Yankees and Red Sox, it's not by much.  It's a shame that one of these three teams won't make the playoffs.

Bottom line: Friedman stretched a limited budget to bring in Burrell, and made other bargain signings as well.  He moved surplus pitching for value and still has plenty to spare.  The Rays look very strong once again.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Opening Day Payrolls

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On this date 33 years ago, Andy Messersmith signed a three-year, $1M contract with the Atlanta Braves after being granted free agency by an arbitrator in the Seitz Decision. This move was historic in that the ruling effectively nullified baseball's reserve clause, seven years after Curt Flood first challenged the clause. This led to the inclusion of free agency after six years of service in the next collective bargaining agreement, a rule still in place today. Since then, payrolls have skyrocketed. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • The Biz of Baseball takes a closer look at opening day payroll, the highest paid players in baseball and which teams have the highest average player salaries.
  • Astros Country breaks down the Astros' 2009 payroll.
  • Bleed Cubbie Blue has details on the Cubs' payroll.
  • Rays Index breaks down the Rays' opening day payroll.
  • YanksBlog tries resolve different reports of the Yankees opening day payroll.
  • Purple Row takes a look at service time and options remaining on the Rockies' roster, among other things.
  • Baseball Analysts takes a look at payroll efficiency for the last three years.
  • On a side note, The Sports Banter put together a list of the best off-season moves, and the worst.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here and followed on Twitter.

Marlon Anderson May Be Released

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According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, Marlon Anderson's final game with the Mets may be tonight.  The team will need the roster spot for Livan Hernandez, who makes his Mets debut tomorrow.  If the Mets release Anderson, they'll have to assume his $1.15MM salary for '09 (minus $400K if he signs elsewhere).

Anderson, 35, hit just .210/.255/.275 in 151 plate appearances last year while appearing at left field and first base.  60 of those PAs came as a pinch-hitter, but Anderson did not fare well.  He did well in a very limited sample in '07, but it's unclear why Omar Minaya gave him a two-year contract that winter.

Cashman Convinced Hal On Teixeira

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Kat O'Brien of Newsday writes today about the Yankees' pursuit of Mark Teixeira.  In talking to Brian Cashman, O'Brien learned that the GM's persistence finally led to the go-ahead from Hal Steinbrenner; for much of the offseason, Tex wasn't an option.  At the time of Cashman's December meeting with Teixeira and Scott Boras, the Yankees were not expecting to sign the slugger.  According to Cashman:

"When I met with him, I was doing it more to get leverage on CC.  We weren't playing possum on purpose. We were actually out of it."

Cashman was able to convince Hal with this pitch regarding the Red Sox:

"I know you're not interested, but they're going to get this guy. He's going to fall in their lap, and he's so perfect for us."

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