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Archives for April 2009

Mets Sign Wily Mo Pena

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According to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, the Mets signed outfielder Wily Mo Pena to a minor league deal and assigned him to extended spring training.  Mario Rojas of Candela Deportiva deserves credit for breaking this story two days ago.

Pena was productive for the Nationals in '07 after they acquired him from Boston for Chris Carter and cash in August.  He signed a two-year, $7MM extension in December but lost his '08 season due to a strained oblique and shoulder surgery.  Perhaps with good health Pena can rediscover the power that led to 26 home runs in 364 plate appearances for the '04 Reds.

Ryan Zimmerman Agrees To Extension

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MONDAY, 5:56pm: Harlan has details on Zimmerman's new contract.  He says one of the final hold-ups was Zimmerman's insistence that there be no club options.  It seems that this deal has been done for a few weeks now.

SUNDAY, 9:26pm: Chico Harlan weighs in with an update. It is indeed a five-year, $45MM extension for Zimmerman, as previously speculated. This contract overrides the one-year, $3.325MM deal that Zimmerman and the Nats agreed on prior to the season. Zimmerman had a refreshing take on the negotiation process:

"It just gets to the point where you think, 'How much [money] do you really need? How much do you need, and do you really want to be here?' I think that's the most important thing…The whole point of being a free agent and having a negotiating power is to play where you want to want to play. And I don't really need to go into that. I'm happy here."

8:43pm: MLB.com's Bill Ladson writes that the Nationals have agreed on an extension with Ryan Zimmerman. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but an official announcement could come tomorrow.

Previously we'd heard that Zimmerman didn't want to negotiate mid-season, but clearly things have changed. Last week, there was speculation that his extension would be five years, $45MM, and would take effect during the 2009 season.

Cardinals Acquire Blaine Boyer For Brian Barton

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According to a press release, the Cardinals acquired reliever Blaine Boyer from the Braves for outfielder Brian Barton.

Boyer, 27, was designated for assignment on Saturday to make room for Jo-Jo Reyes.  When he's right, Boyer is able to get strikeouts and groundballs.  Last year he dealt with a sore knee.

Barton, 26, was taken by the Cardinals from the Indians in the 2007 Rule 5 draft.  He hit .268/.354/.392 in 179 plate appearances last year while playing mostly left field.  Barton, an aerospace engineering major in college, was a well-regarded five-tool player prior to a 2006 knee injury.  Atlanta's less-crowded outfield should present a better opportunity than St. Louis, though Barton will initially head to Triple A.

2010 Options: Baltimore Orioles

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Let's take a look at the options facing the Orioles after the season.

  • Gregg Zaun – $2MM club option with a $500K buyout.  The general feeling is that Matt Wieters will be the starter behind the plate by the All-Star break.  Paying a net of $1.5MM for a quality backup like Zaun is probably still worthwhile.
  • Melvin Mora – $8MM club option with a $1MM buyout.  Prospect Billy Rowell moved to right field in March, and he's not close to the Majors anyway.  The Orioles don't have much in the third base pipeline.  Mora would be worth the net $7MM for another year if he can approach his '08 production.  Currently the 37 year-old is on the DL with a strained hamstring.

The Orioles also have many contracts ending after '09: Aubrey Huff, Danys Baez, Jamie Walker, Ryan Freel, and Mark Hendrickson.  Those five will earn a total of $23.5MM this year.  Ty Wigginton will still be around next year, but the Orioles may be in the market for another corner infielder.

Odds & Ends: Hunter, Keppinger, Swisher

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Links for Monday…

Yankees Issues

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The Yankees' 7-6 record puts them 2.5 games behind the Blue Jays.  With only 8% of the season finished, here are the issues currently facing the Yanks.

  • Chien-Ming Wang has allowed 23 hits and 23 earned runs in six innings spanning three starts.  He'd need to pitch four shutouts to get his ERA under 5.00…that has to affect a guy's confidence.  Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Yankees will skip Wang's next start.  He believes the team attributes the poor start to a lack of arm strength.  Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News says the Yankees found mechanical issues, though Wang says everything's the same as last year.  Tyler Kepner of the New York Times notes that Wang is out of options, so the Yankees won't end up sending him to the minors.  Benjamin Kabak at River Avenue Blues suggests the Yankees saw this coming, given their reluctance to lock Wang up long-term.  Kabak believes a DL stint would make sense. 
  • Is the new stadium a launching pad?  It's early, but many say the ball is flying out to right field.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports looks at the stadium and other issues, including the bullpen.  ESPN's Buster Olney calls the park "a veritable wind tunnel that is rocketing balls over fences."  He notes that the team cannot structurally alter the park this season.
  • Regarding Xavier Nady's elbow injury, Sherman says "the Yanks were privately a lot more optimistic by Sunday that Nady could avoid Tommy John surgery and that he might be able to return in June and form a righty-lefty DH platoon with Hideki Matsui."  Nady had a second MRI on Saturday, and the team doctor will speak with Dr. Lewis Yocum.

Nationals Overhaul Bullpen

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According to Chico Harlan, the Nationals have made some major changes to their 25-man roster. Here's a quick synopsis of the moves:

  • Josh Bard: Optioned to AAA-Syracuse
  • Saul Rivera: Optioned to AAA-Syracuse
  • Wil Ledezma: Designated for assignment
  • Steven Shell: Designated for assignment

The quartet was replaced by pitchers Jordan Zimmermann, Garrett Mock, Jason Bergmann, and veteran Kip Wells.

Following today's loss to the Marlins, which completed the second three-game sweep of the Nationals this season for the Fish already in 2009, Manny Acta was not shy about the bullpen:

I think it's embarrassing. I think it's unacceptable. I think our fans have every right to be mad, like we are right now. And it's not going to be tolerated. We're going to have a brand new bullpen tomorrow… We had a chance to win three games in a row, we couldn't do it, and it's not going to be tolerated… Plenty of moves, and more to come.

Brad Wilkerson Retires

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Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal writes that Brad Wilkerson has decided to retire after an eight-year Major League career.

Wilkerson, 31, signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox this winter to compete for a job as a backup outfielder/first baseman after Mark Kotsay underwent surgery. He struggled through Spring Training, however, hitting below .200 and striking out in nearly fifty percent of his at-bats. He was assigned to AAA to begin the season, and accepted his assignment.

After his second game in AAA-Pawtucket, he informed manager Ron Johnson that he no longer had the fire and that his time in baseball was finished.

Wilkerson originally came up with the Expos in 2001. His best season was in 2004, when he hit 32 home runs and put up a line of .255/.374/.498. He finishes his career with 122 home runs, and a line of .247/.350/.440. Good luck in life after baseball, Brad.

Mets DFA Nelson Figueroa

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Brendan Prunty of the the Star-Ledger reports that less than an hour after Nelson Figueroa threw six innings for the Mets in a spot start for Mike Pelfrey, he was designated for assignment. The Mets purchased the contract of veteran Casey Fossum to replace Figueroa.

Figueroa threw six frames, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out three.

Week in Review: 4/12 – 4/18

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Here's your weekly look back at the happenings of the MLBTR world…

  • More sad news continues to roll in this week, as long-time Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas died at the age of 73. Kalas had been calling Philadelphia games for over 30 years, but had the pleasure of seeing his beloved Phils take home a World Series title in his final season in the booth. RIP Harry.
  • Unfortunately that wasn't the only bad news of the week: Mark Fidrych, perhaps better known as "The Bird," was found dead at his home at just 54 years of age. Fidrych was outstanding in his first season with the Tigers, but his career was derailed by injuries. His antics on the mound and tremendous personality will never be forgotten by baseball fans though. RIP Mark.
  • The Yankees' outfield depth took a hit this week when it was announced that Xavier Nady may have to miss the remainder of the season with an elbow injury. Their decision to hang onto both Nady and Nick Swisher this offseason definitely looks like a good decision right now. Here's a look at some additional options they could pursue to add depth to their bench.
  • Staying within the division, the Red Sox may have lost Jed Lowrie for the season as well. Lowrie had his wrist examined, and if he undergoes surgery, 2009 will essentially be a lost season. The BoSox still have Julio Lugo on his way back from a rehab assignment, but a wrist injury for their shortstop of the future is certainly not good news looking down the road.
  • The Nationals may be closing in on an extension with Ryan Zimmerman. It's believed to be five years, $45MM, and could include the 2009 season.
  • Tim conducted a Q&A session with both Troy E. Renck and Jerry Crasnick.
  • Also, he finished up the Offseason in Review series with the Phillies.

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