Pedro Martinez May Sign Soon
6:47pm: Just to clarify, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo says the team maintains mild interest in Pedro.
1:41pm: For what it's worth, Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post would like to see the Nationals ink Pedro. He believes the organization has more than enough money, citing the recent Forbes findings, to match the right-hander's high salary demands.
FRIDAY, 8:53am: MLB.com's Bill Ladson has a source saying the Nationals haven't had interest in Pedro since Spring Training. The door remains just a crack open in the event that Martinez becomes amenable to an inexpensive contract. Otherwise, Ladson's Nationals source says, "We are satisfied with our rotation even though there is going to be some bumps along the way. We wouldn't want to make any changes there."
Meanwhile, here's Dodgers GM Ned Colletti talking about Pedro.
THURSDAY: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Pedro Martinezcould decide on his next team within two weeks. He's set to begin throwing off a mound tomorrow. Rosenthal says Pedro is open to both contending and rebuilding teams, but continues to demand a $5MM salary. ESPN's Jayson Stark suggested today that Martinez's exorbitant asking price may be a way of delaying his return.
A rundown of possible suitors, from Rosenthal:
- Angels GM Tony Reagins recently admitted to contacting Pedro's agent, but Rosenthal says "the two sides have not spoken in more than two weeks."
- Rosenthal learned from Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo that the team has mild interest in Pedro and scouted him in March. Martinez's asking price is the issue.
- The Rangers have some interest.
- Rosenthal's Yankees source denies interest in Pedro, despite the pitcher telling friends the opposite. There is a Dominican newspaper report floating about suggesting a Pedro-Yankees union, but we'll trust Rosenthal's source.
- The Indians don't have the money, the Dodgers don't like the price, and the Mets aren't interested.
- Rosenthal does not mention the Orioles, Cardinals, or Pirates, teams that have been linked to Pedro in the past.
Marlins Claim Dave Davidson
According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the Marlins have claimed minor league left-hander Dave Davidson off waivers from the Pirates. The Marlins immediately optioned him to Triple-A New Orleans. He was designated for assignment by the Pirates on April 15.
Davidson, 25, went 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA as a reliever for Double-A Altoona last season.
2010 Options: Tampa Bay Rays
Let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the Rays.
- Carl Crawford – $10MM+ club option with a $1.25MM buyout. According to Cot's, Crawford's 2010 option may increase to $11.5MM with escalators. His defense may make him worth the money even if his bat doesn't bounce back. He'll turn 28 in August.
- Akinori Iwamura – $4.25MM+ club option with a $250K+ buyout. With a typical Iwamura season, this figures to be exercised. If not, Iwamura can become a free agent despite having only three years service time (a typical arrangement for Japanese players here).
- Brian Shouse – $1.9MM club option with a $200K buyout. So far Shouse has done his job shutting down lefties. He turns 41 in September.
Odds & Ends: Minaya, Bradley, McClain
Links for Friday…
- Yahoo's Gordon Edes on what might've been: Alex Rodriguez in Boston.
- MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone interviewed GM Omar Minaya.
- Milton Bradley is not a fan of the Chicago media. He explained why in an exclusive chat with MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.
- Rob Bradford of WEEI talks about the scarcity of middle-of-the-order bats on the free agent market, as it relates to the Red Sox.
- Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald wonders if Luis Vizcaino could return to the White Sox.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a Sponichi report indicating that the Hiroshima Carp are in contract talks with minor league veteran Scott McClain.
- Mike Thomas of The Herald News caught up with Shea Hillenbrand and got the player's take on the various incidents in his career.
Indians Willing To Trade Cliff Lee?
FRIDAY: Talking to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, here's Indians GM Mark Shapiro on trading Lee:
"I'm not even thinking about that. My focus is on us having a contending season and Cliff having a great season. I think the two go hand-in-hand."
Lee's agent Darek Braunecker says "right now it's just sheer speculation."
THURSDAY: Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com wrote about Indians starter Cliff Lee a few days ago. The article includes speculation from rival executives:
Multiple officials familiar with the Indians said this week that they wouldn't be at all surprised to see Lee get traded if the Indians fall far out of the race, just as C.C. Sabathia was dealt away when Cleveland fell out of it last year. "I think they'd love to trade him," one of the officials said.
The Indians were in last place, 13.5 games out, when they traded Sabathia to the Brewers on July 6th of last year. They finished in third place, 7.5 games out.
Lee, 30, has a 5.25 ERA this year through four starts but pitched well in his last two starts. He has yet to show last year's otherworldly control and 46% groundball rate. At $5.75MM this year with a $9MM club option for 2010, Lee would be attractive on the trade market even if he's pitching like a middle-rotation guy.
Back in March, the Indians decided not to negotiate an extension with the Cy Young winner due to the economy. Said Lee:
"They said they can't do it become of the economy. I'd like to spend the rest of my career here. I would have loved to get that out of the way. But I can't force that to happen."
Matt Holliday Interested In Yankees
FRIDAY: Kevin Kernan of the New York Post asked Holliday specifically about playing for the Yankees. He said:
"I think a little bit as a human being you can't help but to think that if the Yankees are interested I would definitely consider it. I wouldn't be looking around if I were under contract for the four years, but I think I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be interested, especially with the Yankees being such a storied franchise. So yeah, you take a look around; you never know what's going to happen. This is a beautiful place."
WEDNESDAY: Not a big surprise, but Newsday's Ken Davidoff learned that Matt Holliday is willing to play in New York. The Mets or Yankees could consider the Scott Boras client, who is a free agent after the season. For what it's worth, Holliday's father Tom told Tyler Kepner of the New York Times in November that he'd like to see Holliday traded to the Yankees, or at least an East Coast team.
What's your prediction for Holliday's next contract? Will he top the four year, $82MM extension offered by the Rockies? And will the A's trade him in July?
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Mulder, Pedro, Cabrera, Holliday
On this date 32 years ago, Carlos Beltran was born. Beltran is still one of only 19 players to ever sign a contract for at least $100MM (four currently play for the Yankees). With three years left on Beltran's seven-year, $119MM deal signed in 2005, let's take a look a what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Feeling Dodger Blue wonders if Mark Mulder is the Dodgers' best option.
- Never Forget '69 wonders if the Mets should explore adding Pedro Martinez.
- The Detroit Tigers Weblog addresses the recent rumors that the Tigers will look to trade Miguel Cabrera.
- The Baseball Opinion takes a closer look at the Nationals' attempt to remake their roster.
- River Ave. Blues says the Yankees' series against the A's was an audition for Matt Holliday.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Odds & Ends: Robinson, Benitez, Lee
A few links for Thursday…
- According to Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post, former Nationals manager Frank Robinson has been named Special Assistant to the Commisioner. He'll basically work as an advisor to Bud Selig.
- Milton Bradley had a 10-minute meeting with Cubs manager Lou Piniella on Thursday, presumably to discuss his on-field antics and clubhouse demeanor. He was thrown out of a game and suspended last week. He has also blown off the Chicago media a few times, and lazily ran out a grounder during Wednesday's game.
- Peter Gammons of ESPN said in a radio spot Thursday that he doesn't believe the Indians will end up trading Cliff Lee.
- The Newark Bears of the Atlantic League have signed former major leaguer Armando Benitez. He spent part of last year with the Blue Jays, but is best remembered for his time as a closer for the Mets, Marlins and Giants.
Red Sox Acquire Kason Gabbard
According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Rangers have traded left-hander Kason Gabbard to the Red Sox for cash considerations.
The Red Sox immediately assigned him to Triple-A Pawtucket. Gabbard, 27, was 2-3 last season with a 4.82 ERA in 12 starts for Texas. He was converted to a reliever this offseason but didn't make the big club out of spring training.
Interesting side note: Gabbard was a member of the Red Sox just a few years ago, but was traded in 2007 as part of a package for Eric Gagne. The other pieces in that deal? David Murphy and Engel Beltre.
Stark’s Latest: Halladay, Vlad, Magglio
Jayson Stark's most recent column over at ESPN.com is absolutely chock-full of rumors and information…
- Marlins president David Samson doesn't anticipate the Marlins ever implementing a fire sale again. "We've put ourselves in a position, with salaries and the performance we're getting from players at a young age, that we don't have to do that anymore," said Samson. The new stadium should help with attendance, which should in turn help with payroll.
- Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi doesn't see his club trading Roy Halladay this season. "I still don't see us doing it," said Ricciardi. "I know ownership doesn't want to do it. And I don't think, in my gut, that Doc really wants to be anywhere else."
- Some MLB officials believe Vladimir Guerrero's recent pectoral injury could severely affect his free agent value this offseason. "He could be a $1 million player in a year, with $4 million in incentives," said an unnamed official of one team. "He's a tough guy to commit to."
- Pedro Martinez continues to demand a $5 million paycheck. It's doubtful any team, no matter how desperate, would commit to that price.
- Some folks in the baseball world think Magglio Ordonez might be made available near the trade deadline. Magglio has vesting options for 2010 and 2011, however, which could complicate a potential deal.
- Teams are also tracking a few other Tigers players, including Carlos Guillen and Placido Polanco.