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Archives for April 2009

Injury Concern Caused D’Backs To Pull Webb Offer

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FRIDAY: MLB.com's Steve Gilbert learned that Webb met with Dr. James Andrews in December:

For the first time, Webb revealed in an interview with MLB.com that he saw noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews and that Andrews told him as long as he continues his strengthening program he was at no greater risk than any other pitcher of developing a shoulder problem.   

Andrews told Webb that he had just normal pitching wear and tear on his shoulder.  Over at The Arizona Republic, Nick Piecoro weighs in.

THURSDAY: Why did the Diamondbacks pull their three-year, $54MM offer to Brandon Webb in June?  According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:

Webb passed a team physical, sources say, but insurance companies use a higher standard when assessing risk. Multiple companies raised concerns, creating a "red flag" for the Diamondbacks, sources say. The contract was contingent on the club securing an appropriate insurance policy for the pitcher.

Webb is currently fighting through shoulder stiffness.  One source told Rosenthal that "Webb, despite the insurance companies' concerns, might pitch 10 more seasons without injury."

Rosenthal's article does not say it, but this situation seems to be shaping up for a future trade.  The D'Backs have Webb at $6.5MM this year as well as a cheap $8.5MM option for '10.  The contract does not appear to have no-trade restrictions.

Nick Adenhart Killed In Car Accident

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5:07pm: According to Mike DiGiovanna and Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, Adenhart and friends Courtney Stewart and Henry Pearson were killed.  The fourth friend, Jon Wilhite, was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

3:12pm: Yahoo's Tim Brown and Kevin Kaduk have reactions to the Adenhart tragedy.  Baseball America profiles his career, and also has a statement from Angels GM Tony Reagins.  MLB.com's Lyle Spencer also has a nice tribute. 

10:16am: Awful news today.  TMZ reports that Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a felony hit-and-run car accident early this morning.  Two others (one affiliated with the Angels organization) were killed in the crash, and the offender was caught and hospitalized.  The 22 year-old had just tossed six scoreless innings the night before, the best performance of his young career. 

NBC Los Angeles and the L.A. Times have more on the story.

Stark On Olsen, Willingham, Millwood, Peavy

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ESPN's Jayson Stark has a new column up.

  • Stark looks at a few trades that didn't happen.  Aside from the Angels' run at Aaron Harang at the end of Spring Training, they also talked to the Nationals about Scott Olsen.  Stark says Dustin Moseley, Shane Loux, and Jason Bulger were three names kicked around in the Olsen talks.
  • Earlier this spring, the Rays inquired on Washington's Josh Willingham,  apparently dangling Jason Hammel.  Willingham is currently unhappy about being on the Nationals' bench, a situation that probably would not have improved in Tampa Bay.
  • Kevin Millwood could be attractive midseason trade bait, if his Opening Day start was any indication.  Millwood's contract allows the club to decline his $12MM 2010 option unless he pitches 180 innings this year.  He also has a limited no-trade clause.
  • Stark talked to an executive of a team that has Jake Peavy on its radar.  This exec noted that teams did not overpay in deals for Rich Harden and Johan Santana, so the Padres may not be able to demand a ridiculous bounty for Peavy.

Phillies Sign Tyler Walker

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From Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle:

Aaron Rowand just got a text from Tyler Walker saying he's just been signed by the Phillies. Apparently it's a minor-league deal because Walker said he is reporting to Clearwater, Fla. Walker was released by Seattle at the end of spring training.

Walker, 33 in May, posted a 4.56 ERA in 53.3 innings last year with a 8.3 K/9.  He had something of a roller coaster season, alternating between good and bad months for the Giants.  Since Walker has less than five years service time, the Phillies could potentially retain him in 2010 as an arbitration-eligible player.

Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Dodgers

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Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Dodgers.  Here's what we wrote about them on October 22nd. Changes for 2009:

Additions:  Manny Ramirez (re-signed), Rafael Furcal (re-signed), Casey Blake (re-signed), Orlando Hudson, Randy Wolf, Guillermo Mota, Will Ohman, Claudio Vargas, Brad Ausmus, Mark Loretta, Doug Mientkiewicz, Eric Milton, Jeff Weaver, Charlie Haeger, Ronald Belisario, Tanyon Sturtze (re-signed), Shawn Estes, Juan Castro

Subtractions:  Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Chan Ho Park, Joe Beimel, Greg Maddux, Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra, Mark Sweeney, Andruw Jones, Scott Proctor, Takashi Saito, Angel Berroa, Jason Johnson

As expected, it was an eventful offseason for the Dodgers.  All the shuffling actually led to an $18MM reduction in Opening Day payroll.

Last year the Dodgers ranked 13th in the NL with 4.32 runs scored per game.  The '09 lineup will not feature Kent, Jones, Berroa, or Garciaparra.  It will hopefully have full seasons of Ramirez, Furcal, Blake, and Hudson.  The revamped lineup projects to score a healthy 4.98 runs per game, according to CHONE projections and the Baseball Musings lineup analysis tool.  Such production would've ranked 2nd in the NL last year.  GM Ned Colletti gave his offense a huge boost at a total commitment of less than $100MM for the four free agents.

The 2008 rotation ranked 3rd in the NL with a 3.87 ERA in 927.6 innings.  Colletti downgraded by replacing Lowe with Wolf, but he also committed $5MM instead of $60MM.  Clayton Kershaw and James McDonald will pick up the innings Penny, Maddux, Eric Stults, and Park consumed last year.  Using CHONE and my own innings approximations I have the '09 rotation posting a 4.16 ERA – still pretty good.  I don't think they need to worry about adding Pedro Martinez right now.  Maybe Colletti can go after a bigger fish at midseason if someone gets hurt.

The Dodgers had a sterling pen last year, with a 3.34 ERA in 519.6 innings.  The pen has a different look this year, with Mota and Ohman coming in and Park, Beimel, Saito, and Proctor gone.  The new bullpen projects at a 3.96 ERA.

Defensively the Dodgers ranked 10th in the NL last year according to The Fielding Bible II.  Despite more Manny I think they've improved overall given the keystone combo of Hudson and Furcal.

I see the Dodgers currently as a 91-92 win team, which should be enough to hold off the Diamondbacks and perhaps Giants.

Bottom line: Colletti dove headfirst into free agency and, for once, emerged a victor.  The Dodgers' new offense should be among the best in the league, and they'll reach the playoffs with decent pitching.

Odds & Ends: Lackey, Sheffield, Luis Gonzalez

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Links for Thursday…

  • Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald learned that while White Sox GM Ken Williams seeks a leadoff hitter, he does not have interest in Juan Pierre or Gary Matthews Jr.
  • In an article yesterday, MLB.com's Lyle Spencer said all is quiet on the John Lackey extension front.  Angels GM Tony Reagins said Lackey's initial Opening Day deadline was never a factor for the team.
  • Murray Chass says Gary Sheffield's clubhouse presence is a positive.
  • Luis Gonzalez, a free agent, hopes to play in 2009.  But when he retires, he'll do so as a Diamondback according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
  • MLB.com's Joe Frisaro wrote in praise of Florida starter Josh Johnson.
  • MLB.com's Corey Brock says the Padres introduced Tom Garfinkel as the new president and chief operating officer in charge of non-baseball operations.
  • I wrote about Blue Jays starter David Purcey over at RotoAuthority.

Dave Roberts Begins Broadcasting Career

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According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News:

Dave Roberts won’t be in the lineup, but he’ll be in the ballpark. Comcast added him to its broadcast team and you’ll see him on the air soon. (I’m not sure if he’ll be doing studio work, dugout reporting or what.) He’s also doing radio work in San Diego. I don’t think Roberts wants to announce his retirement officially — the Giants released him with a year on his contract, and he still believed he could contribute to another club — but for all intents and purposes, his playing days have passed. Broadcasting is a natural career move and I expect he’ll be terrific at it.

The Giants were unable to trade Roberts during the offseason, leading to his release in March.  They're assuming his $6.5MM salary for '09.  If Roberts is done, he finishes with a .266/.342/.366 line in 3,090 plate appearances for the Indians, Dodgers, Red Sox, Padres, and Giants.  He'll always be remembered for his crucial steal of second base in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS.

Rockies Eyeing Chad Gaudin

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10:04pm: Ringolsby has a source saying Gaudin is leaning toward the Rockies, as he'd like to be a starter.  He may be willing to spend some time in Triple A as part of the process.  Ringolsby says the A's and Padres have interest in Gaudin as a reliever.

WEDNESDAY, 2:54pm: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies' interest level in Gaudin changed when they acquired Jason Hammel.  Still, they'd like to add him to the Triple A club.  Gaudin's agent Larry Reynolds said, "We have a lot of teams calling so we are taking a step back."

TUESDAY: According to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies, pitcher Chad Gaudin cleared waivers.  That means that the Cubs will be on the hook for $1.6MM of Gaudin's $2MM salary.  The Rockies remain interested; Ringolsby says they'd like to sign Gaudin to a minor league deal and send him to Triple A.  Ringolsby adds:

Word is that at least two other teams are talking with Gaudin, offering him a big-league job but it would be as a middle reliever.

The Cubs tendered Gaudin that $2MM contract in December, but changed course this month and released him after seeing him in Spring Training.  Gaudin injured his back last summer after slipping off a curb and smacking into a dumpster.  It seems that the injury has affected him since then.

Dodgers Re-Sign Greg Miller

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WEDNESDAY: MLB.com's Ken Gurnick says the Dodgers re-signed Miller and assigned him to A ball.

MONDAY: According to Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News, the Dodgers released lefty Greg Miller today.  Jackson says the Dodgers may still re-sign him to a minor league deal.

Miller, 24, was drafted 31st overall by the Dodgers in 2002.  He tossed 53.6 relief innings last year, walking 63.  Miller's Baseball America Top 100 Prospect List rankings: 8th in 2004 and 100th in 2005.  He was derailed by two shoulder surgeries.  MLB.com's Ken Gurnick has more on Miller.

Rosenthal On Free Agents, Orioles, Ortiz

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column up.

  • Rosenthal discusses the unprecedented number of decent free agents available, a few games into the season (click here for our free agent list).  He suggests the hitters will have a harder time getting jobs than the pitchers due to the time needed to shake off the rust.  In talking with execs, Rosenthal learned that the trade market for mediocre players (Jarrod Washburn, Nate Robertson, Austin Kearns) may be depressed this summer due to the available free agents.
  • As he wrote in February, Rosenthal says that Braden Looper turned down more money to play for the Orioles due to his preference for the NL.  Tim Redding also preferred the easier league.  The result of those rejections: a very questionable '09 rotation.
  • Rosenthal spoke to an executive who was shocked to discover that Russ Ortiz seems to be back to his peak form.
  • Rosenthal speculates that Paul Bako could help the Twins.

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