Jason Bay Comments
WEEI's Alex Speier talked extensively with Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay, who is eligible for free agency for the first time after this season. Speier learned that the models for Bay's four-year, $18.25MM deal signed in '05 were the Brewers' deals with Geoff Jenkins and Richie Sexson. In hindsight, Bay could've earned more going year-to-year, but he has no regrets. Bay noted that one benefit of that deal is that it did not include option years.
Bay's agent hasn't had substantive extension talks with the Red Sox, but he remains unconcerned. Bay's stance:
"My agents and the company put together a big fancy package and all that stuff. I’ve seen the numbers. But I understand that it’s a completely different economic time, and that there are some concessions. That being said, I’ve played the game for six years. I’m not looking to set any records. I’m basically looking for what’s fair. Whether it’s here or not remains to be seen. I’m not trying to set a precedent."
Paul Byrd “Ready To Make A Move”
Yahoo's Tim Brown talked to free agent pitcher Paul Byrd, who appears ready to sign soon instead of waiting until the All-Star break. Good news for the Red Sox, who will receive a supplemental pick if Byrd signs before the June draft. Byrd said, "I'm ready to make a move." He's been training for months and estimates he'd need two weeks in the minors. A handful of teams have been in contract with Byrd's agent (the Angels reportedly among them).
Just speculating, Byrd could be a nice match for the Blue Jays, Royals, White Sox, Indians, the entire AL West, the Mets, Cardinals, Astros, Brewers, and Dodgers. Byrd told Ken Rosenthal in January he'd ideally pitch close to his Georgia home, however.
Luis Vizcaino Designated For Assignment
9:41am: Vizcaino has been designated for assignment, according to ESPN's Bruce Levine. Levine says Cubs GM Jim Hendry "tried to be creative with other teams, including the Washington Nationals, and tried to save some money before having to release Vizcaino."
Assuming Vizcaino signs elsewhere at the minimum salary, that'll be $3.6MM lost for the Cubs. They also sent $875K to Colorado in the January Jason Marquis deal. So the Cubs will end up paying $4.475MM rather than Marquis' $9.875MM salary.
THURSDAY, 9:04am: Sullivan seems a little more sure, writing today that Vizcaino "is expected to be released to make room for Samardzija."
WEDNESDAY, 4:56pm: According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs will call up pitcher Jeff Samardzija on Thursday to join the bullpen. Sullivan adds that Milton Bradley is back in the lineup (ie not headed for the DL), and lefties Neal Cotts and Sean Marshall won't be sent down. For Sullivan, it all adds up to the possibility that reliever Luis Vizcaino may be released. To do so, the Cubs would have to assume the $4MM owed to him.
Odds & Ends: Valuations, Figueroa, Thome
Links for Thursday…
- Forbes' MLB team valuations are out. The Yankees top the list at $1.5 billion, while the Marlins are 30th at $277 million.
- Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News says Nelson Figueroa will refuse the Mets' assignment to Triple A and become a free agent.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports talked to Jim Thome about many topics, including his future and the Cleveland discussion with Manny.
- Peter Gammons spoke to Yankees GM Brian Cashman yesterday at Southern Connecticut State University. This AP article has a few tidbits, but let me know if you find a transcript. Dom Amore of the Hartford Courant has a few quotes.
- MLB.com's David Singh has the story of Darren O'Day's interesting day.
Tigers Acquire Jason Tyner
According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers acquired Jason Tyner from the Brewers today. Tyner, 32, will report to the Tigers' AAA club in Toledo to fill the spot of Ryan Raburn, who was promoted to the big league club today.
Strangely, Morosi writes that there were no other players or cash involved in the deal; Tigers Director of Minor League Operations Dan Lunetta says the Brewers simply assigned his contract to the Tigers organization.
Tyner has appeared with four Major League clubs, including two others in the AL Central – the Twins and Indians.
2010 Options: New York Yankees
It turns out the Yankees do not have any players with options for 2010 (unless you count Sergio Mitre, who will be arbitration-eligible even if his option is declined). Instead, they'll be finished with the contracts of Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Xavier Nady, Andy Pettitte, and Jose Molina. The Yanks figure to be in the market for an outfielder. Matt Holliday is just one of many options; click here to see the 2009-10 free agent list.
Rangers Claim Darren O’Day
According to Ken Davidoff of Newsday, the Rangers claimed reliever Darren O'Day off waivers from the Mets. O'Day's Rule 5 situation remains – the Rangers have to keep him in the Majors or offer him back to the Angels.
O'Day, 26, posted fine numbers at Triple A last year with a 3.27 ERA, 8.2 K/9, and 1.9 BB/9.
On the Mets front, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News notes that pitcher Nelson Figueroa cleared waivers.
Crasnick On Remaining Free Agents
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has a new article up looking at a bunch of free agents.
- Crasnick talked to one American League exec who views Pedro Martinez as "strictly a National League pitcher." Coupled with his price tag and long layoff, the market isn't big for Pedro.
- Ben Sheets is weeks away from a throwing program. He's probably a ten-start guy this year, but interest figures to be strong.
- Jim Edmonds hopes to sign by May. He'll need two to three weeks to get ready. Mark Grudzielanek also wants to play, and tells friends he only needs a week. He'll look for a contender, and the Royals will hope he signs before June so they get that supplemental draft pick. Jacque Jones is another guy who still hopes to play.
- Geoff Jenkins is taking grounders at first base to increase his versatility.
- Jay Payton suffered a shoulder injury lifting weights last month, but once he's healthy a few months from now he still wants to play.
- Nothing appears to be cooking for Frank Thomas and Luis Gonzalez, who could be forced to retire. Dave Roberts hasn't officially retired, but a comeback appears unlikely.
- Paul Byrd's plan remains unchanged: sign with a contender around July.
- Jon Lieber's agent says the pitcher has retired. 131 wins, including 20 in '01. Lieber finishes with a 4.27 ERA in 2,198 innings for the Pirates, Cubs, Yankees, and Phillies. He earned over $46MM, according to Baseball Reference.
Odds & Ends: Zimmerman, Devine, Wolf
Links for Wednesday…
- WEEI's Alex Speier points out that Ryan Zimmerman's deal mirrors the Kevin Youkilis extension, despite the difference in performance. Tyler Hissey of Around The Majors likes the Zimmerman contract nonetheless.
- Speier also reports that the Red Sox placed pitcher Devern Hansack on unconditional release waivers, not long after he dislocated his shoulder. UPDATE: Hansack will be re-signed to a minor league deal.
- Athletics reliever Joey Devine had Tommy John surgery, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star talked to Royals GM Dayton Moore, who said the decision to recall Brian Bannister over Luke Hochevar was not financially motivated.
- Randy Wolf doesn't have hard feelings toward the Astros, according to MLB.com's Michael Murphy. The 'Stros wisely yanked their three-year, $28.5MM offer to Wolf in November.
- Josh Levitt names the worst contract extensions in the game.
Dodgers Interested In Mark Mulder
Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times has more information on free agent starter Mark Mulder, after talking to his agent Gregg Clifton:
Mulder is working out and, according to Clifton, could sign in one week and throw 100 pitches in a major league game in another two weeks. The Dodgers, with one starter on the disabled list, are among the "six to eight" teams interested, Clifton said. And how much contact has Clifton had with the Angels about Mulder? "Literally none," Clifton said.
Classic agent-speak – he is somehow not sure whether six, seven, or eight teams are interested in his client. But so much for the report yesterday that Angels GM Tony Reagins contacted Clifton regarding Mulder. Shaikin says Reagins is doing fact-finding on free agent pitchers, with the search even extending to the independent leagues.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote Sunday that in addition to the Dodgers, the A's and Nationals are extremely interested in Mulder.