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Archives for May 2009

2010 Options: Philadelphia Phillies

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The Phillies have just one 2010 option to worry about: third baseman Pedro Feliz has a $5MM club option with a $500K buyout.  So far this year Feliz has raised his batting average, resulting in a .291/.364/.408 line in 118 plate appearances.  The 34 year-old is known for his defense, though he's begun to slip according to UZR.  Perhaps the Phillies will decide Jason Donald can match him in 2010, and save the $4MM difference.

Brett Myers represents the team's most notable impending free agent.  In seven starts this year, Myers' numbers have all moved in the wrong direction.  Back in March, the 28 year-old righty expressed a desire to stay in Philadelphia.

Odds & Ends: Oliver, Amaro, Scheppers

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Links for Thursday…

  • ESPN's Keith Law has the latest on the battle between Andy Oliver and the NCAA over whether players can have agents and still be eligible for the draft.
  • Yahoo's Gordon Edes writes about the ascension of Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr.  Edes notes that the Phils still do not have a full-time statistical analyst.
  • Former D'Backs pitching coach Bryan Price landed a minor league consulting gig with the Phillies, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
  • Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says it's "believed though not confirmed" that Tanner Scheppers has granted the Pirates permission to draft him again if they choose.  The Pirates did not sign him last year due to health concerns, but now he's looking like a top-ten pick.
  • A couple of powerful prospects got the call: Nolan Reimold with the Orioles and Mat Gamel with the Brewers.  For the Brewers, Brad Nelson now has to decide whether to accept a Triple A assignment.  The Orioles and Brewers are risking Super Two status with these call-ups, but only if the players are not sent back down.

Diamondbacks Trade Candidates

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The Diamondbacks are 13-21, already 9 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.  They may be willing to trade several veteran players in the coming months; let's take a look.

  • Eric Byrnes, OF - $8.7MM remaining in '09, $11MM in '10, no-trade protection.  The 33 year-old outfielder is hitting .207/.257/.413 in 102 plate appearances on the season.  Most teams probably view this as a $20MM commitment to a fourth outfielder, so the D'Backs would have to accept another bad contract in return to move Byrnes.
  • Doug Davis, SP – $6.9MM remaining in '09.  If you're wondering what type of pitchers might be available in July, Davis is a great example.  The 33 year-old southpaw has a 3.25 ERA in 44.3 innings.  He's improved his control, but is fortunate to have a .263 batting average on balls in play.
  • Jon Garland, SP – $4.94MM remaining in '09, $10MM mutual option for '10 with a $2.5MM buyout if club declines or a $1MM buyout if Garland declines.  If Garland is traded, his new club cannot offer him arbitration if he's a Type A free agent.  The 29 year-old righty has a 5.18 ERA in 41.6 innings.  His walk and strikeout rates have surprisingly moved in the wrong directions upon switching to the NL.  He may be tougher to trade than Davis.
  • Felipe Lopez, 2B – $2.77MM remaining in '09.  Lopez picked up where he left off with the Cardinals – .328/.390/.504 in 146 plate appearances this year.  He's even been above average defensively, according to UZR.  Lopez is represented by Scott Boras and is only 29, so he's primed for a big free agent contract.  He could be a useful addition for the White Sox or Twins.
  • Chad Tracy, 1B – $3.75MM remaining in '09, $7MM option with a $1MM buyout for '10.  Tracy is off to a slow start at .207/.239/.366 in 88 plate appearances.
  • Scott Schoeneweis, RP - Mets paying $1.6MM of his $3.6MM '09 salary.  He's done his job, holding lefties to a .182/.217/.318 line.  He might make sense for the Cubs.
  • Jon Rauch, RP – $1.58MM remaining in '09, $2.9MM club option for '10.  Rauch has been terrible since joining the D'Backs last year – a 6.76 ERA in 37.3 innings.
  • Tom Gordon, RP – $500K salary plus incentives.  Flash, 41, is back on the DL with a hamstring injury.
  • Role players Tony Clark and Augie Ojeda could also be made available. 

Heyman On Teixeira, Melvin

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A couple of hot stove highlights from Jon Heyman's latest…

  • Heyman gives props to Rangers GM Jon Daniels for his Mark Teixeira haul from 2007: Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, Neftali Feliz, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Beau Jones (the Rangers also gave up Ron Mahay).  The Braves ended up acquiring Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek from the Angels for Tex and drafting lefty Brett DeVall as a compensation pick for Mahay.  Heyman says Daniels also talked to the Red Sox, Angels, Yankees, Dodgers, and Diamondbacks about Teixeira at the '07 trade deadline.
  • Bob Melvin knew for two days he was going to be fired before the D'Backs announced the move publicly.  He handled the situation with class.  Arizona brass considered John Farrell and Brett Butler before going with A.J. Hinch.

Odds & Ends: Bonds, Armas, Strasburg

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Links for Wednesday…

The Magglio Ordonez Situation

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Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press has a new column about the Magglio Ordonez situation.  It's bad enough that the 35 year-old right fielder is off to a .241/.331/.304 start in 127 plate appearances.  The other issue is that his 2010 option for $18MM vests if Ordonez reaches 457 total plate appearances this year.  He's got just 330 to go, with a current pace of 4.2 per game.

It'd take serious manipulation by Jim Leyland to prevent Ordonez from getting those 330 additional plate appearances.  Rosenberg figures that'd result in a grievance by the players union and Scott Boras.  Ordonez also has a $15MM vesting option for 2011 based on playing time in 2009 and/or 2010.

How about releasing him?  Ignoring deferred money, Ordonez is guaranteed another $14.5MM this year plus a $3MM buyout for 2010.  Eating $17.5MM now beats paying Ordonez the remaining $14.5MM for this year and the $18MM for '10.  Would that result in a grievance, or are the Tigers free to release him and only be on the hook for this year plus the 2010 buyout?

2010 Options: New York Mets

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Let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the Mets.

  • Billy Wagner – $8MM club option with a $1MM buyout.  Wagner had Tommy John surgery in September of last year.  According to former teammate Scott Schoeneweis via Adam Rubin, the Mets told Wagner that month the option won't be picked up.  Wagner reportedly wants to close in 2010 anyway.  He may get a few innings in September '09 for the Mets as an audition for his next team.
  • J.J. Putz – $8.6MM club option with a $1MM buyout.  Based on the contract details at Cot's, it seems that it might be an $8.9MM option for '10 because Putz finished 65 games in 2007.  For Putz to be worth $7.6MM+ net next year, he'd have to be one of the game's top setup men.  That has not been the case so far, as his K/9 is down to 5.7 and his BB/9 still high at 4.7.  His average fastball velocity is down a full 2 mph from last year.

Pirates Not Influenced By Sanchez Vesting Option

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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked Pirates president Frank Coonelly whether recent days off for second baseman Freddy Sanchez were related to the player's 2010 vesting option, which is based on plate appearances.  Coonelly was offended by the suggestion, saying contractual clauses do not have a bearing on the manager's lineup decisions.  Kovacevic explains Sanchez's option:

If he makes 635 or more plate appearances this season, or if he makes 600 plate appearances and is chosen for the All-Star Game, his $8.5 million option is automatic. If he does not break those thresholds, the Pirates still can pick up the option if they choose.

Despite Coonelly's annoyance, it's not out of line to wonder if a last place, cost-conscious team would have an eye on an $8.5MM vesting option.  Sanchez is off to a fine .317/.361/.528 start in 133 plate appearances.  Assuming he doesn't make the All-Star team, he needs 502 more PAs in the team's 130 remaining games.  Since Sanchez is averaging more than 4.15 per game as the team's #2 hitter, he's on track to trigger the option.

Juan Rincon Designated For Assignment

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According to John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers designated reliever Juan Rincon for assignment to make room for Dontrelle Willis.  Rincon, 30, posted a 5.23 ERA in 10.3 innings for the Tigers this year.  The Tigers had signed Rincon to a minor league deal back on January 20th.

Willis made four minor league starts at various levels, posting a 3.86 ERA and 3.16 BB/9.  Under the contract extension signed in December of '07, Willis will earn $10MM this year and $12MM in '10.

2010 Options: Florida Marlins

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The Marlins' only 2010 option is Ross Gload, who will presumably not be retained at $2.6MM.  The more interesting story with the Marlins is their arbitration-eligible players.  Hopefully future trades will make more baseball than financial sense.

There's second baseman Dan Uggla, who is earning $5.35MM in '09 (his first arb year).  He's off to a terrible start: .189/.304/.358 in 125 plate appearances.  He'll need to get back on track for another team to consider him worth $6-7MM.  Otherwise, will the Marlins consider non-tendering him?

First baseman Jorge Cantu has taken it to another level, hitting .294/.360/.608 with 8 HR and 32 RBI in 114 plate appearances.  Anyone want a 30 HR, 110 RBI corner bat for $5-6MM?

Outfielder Jeremy Hermida is drawing walks again (in almost 19% of his plate appearances) but he's slugging .375.  He's just 25, and should pass $3MM next year.  Hermida's not a sure thing but remains intriguing.

Ricky Nolasco and Josh Johnson will also get raises through arbitration, but are probably off-limits.  In addition, the Fish have multiple quality relievers entering arbitration for the first time.

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