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Archives for May 2009

2010 Options: Chicago Cubs

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The Cubs don't have any options to worry about for 2010, aside from manager Lou Piniella.  But here are a few situations they'll face within the next few years:

  • 2010 is the final year of Derrek Lee's contract, which pays $13MM annually.  His heir apparent might be Micah Hoffpauir, who owns a .326/.385/.546 big league line but has just 156 plate appearances.  Maybe Hoffpauir is the next Luke Scott, an older rookie who had a monstrous half-season in '06 and then settled in as a useful bat.
  • Lefty starter Ted Lilly is also signed through 2010.  This was one of the best signings of the 2006-07 offseason, and there were some bad ones.  Lilly made 34 starts in each of his first two seasons for the Cubs and is off to a fine start this year.  Do the Cubs try to extend him, knowing that he'll turn 35 in January of 2011?  It's probably too early to ask.
  • Rich Harden is a free agent after the 2009 season.  The 27 year-old has logged 27 starts in his Cubs career, surpassing expectations.  He's earning $7MM this year and is off to a so-so start due to poor control and a high home run rate.  Will some team throw a silly contract at him if he makes 30 starts this year?
  • Kevin Gregg's contract is up after '09.  As expected, he's walked a ton of guys and been generally uninspiring.  Presumably the Cubs will let him leave and promote Carlos Marmol to closer.

Odds & Ends: Boras, Francoeur, Cubs

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Links for Tuesday…

Rosenthal On Blue Jays, Maddon, Nix

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • Rosenthal praises Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi for all the successful home-grown pitching this year.  Surprisingly, the Jays are second in the AL with a 3.85 ERA despite losing most of last year's rotation.
  • Why no extension for Rays manager Joe Maddon?  He's unsigned beyond this year.
  • Rosenthal gives props to Reds left fielder Laynce Nix, one of the best minor league signees so far.
  • The Around The Horn section of the column is packed with amusing tidbits; be sure to check it out.

Olney On Trade Scenarios

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ESPN's Buster Olney talks about future trade possibilities in his blog today.

  • Olney's Brewers source says the team is not looking outside for Rickie Weeks' replacement at this point.  Manager Ken Macha doesn't view Craig Counsell as a regular, but he can platoon with Casey McGehee.  And Alcides Escobar will start to work at second base in Triple A.
  • The Red Sox might have to do something to replace David Ortiz at DH if he doesn't show signs of life soon.  Olney speculates on the idea of Boston trading starting pitching "for some talented young hitter – like Matt LaPorta of the Indians."  That would stink for LaPorta, getting traded twice within a year.
  • Olney likes Mark DeRosa for the Mets.  Most writers like DeRosa for any team though.  Olney figures the Indians would seek pitching for him. 

Strasburg Unlikely To Skip Minors

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Yahoo's Jeff Passan talked to Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo, who said that he doesn't see any pitchers in the 2009 draft class jumping straight to the Majors.  Knowing that Rizzo plans to draft Stephen Strasburg, the implication is that the righty won't join Washington's rotation right after signing.  If you've been holding your fantasy league's #1 waiver pick for him, it's time to think about Plan B.  Passan and Chico Harlan of the Washington Post both suggest the most we'd see from Strasburg would be a September cameo as part of a contractual obligation.

Rickie Weeks Out For The Season

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Terrible news for the Brewers – Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that second baseman Rickie Weeks is out for the season due to a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist.  It's a 4-6 month recovery period.  Weeks, 26, was off to a nice .272/.340/.517 start in 162 plate appearances.

If GM Doug Melvin decides to hit up the free agent market, he can consider Ray Durham, Mark Grudzielanek, or Damion Easley.

Minor League Steals

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A look at a few of the best minor league free agent deals signed during the offseason, despite the small samples:

  • Andruw Jones, Rangers.  The Dodgers must love to see Jones hitting .297/.439/.594 for pennies for the Rangers.
  • Kiko Calero, Marlins.  He has a 2.84 ERA and huge 12.79 K/9 in 19 innings for the Fish.
  • Matt Palmer, Angels. The 30 year-old rookie stepped into the Angels' rotation and provided four starts with a 3.37 ERA.
  • Jamey Wright, Royals.  Wright has a 1.66 ERA in 21.6 innings, with a 60.7% groundball rate.
  • Laynce Nix, Reds.  An unexpected source of left field power, Nix is hitting .294/.338/.603 in 74 plate appearances.
  • Nick Green, Red Sox.  The Sox have weathered injuries at shortstop with Green, who's hitting .302/.368/.430 in 95 plate appearances.
  • Brandon Medders, Justin Miller, Giants.  Maybe they don't deserve their sub-4.00 ERAs, but both scrap heap pickups have helped the Giants' pen.
  • Omar Vizquel, Rangers.  He's hitting .378/.425/.541 in 42 PAs while logging 61 innings at shortstop and even chipping in at third base.
  • Jeff Weaver, Dodgers.  Weaver's posted a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings, including two acceptable starts.
  • Jason Jennings, Rangers.  Working out of the pen, Jennings has a 3.24 ERA in 16.6 innings.
  • Honorable mentions: Bobby Scales, Omir Santos, Craig Monroe.  Who are we missing?

Ryan Wagner Retires

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According to Pete McElroy of MASN, 26 year-old pitcher Ryan Wagner retired.  He'd been attempting to battle back from a torn labrum in the Nationals organization.  Wagner was drafted 14th overall by the Reds in 2003, after the Blue Jays took Aaron Hill and before the White Sox snagged Brian Anderson.  Wagner did his best work as a rookie the year he was drafted; he finishes his career with a 4.79 ERA in 165.3 innings.

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