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Archives for June 2009

Odds And Ends: Brewers, Magglio, White Sox

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More links for Tuesday… 

  • ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. hears the Royals are a likely destination for Cheslor Cuthbert, a Nicaraguan prospect who would command a bonus of about $1MM.
  • Jon Heyman of SI.com hears from a Mets official that the team "will not mortgage [their] future" this summer in any trades.
  • Bud Shaw of the Cleveland Plain Dealer continues to argue that firing Eric Wedge won't solve the Indians' problems even though Mike Hargrove, who some would like to see back in Cleveland, is a skilled manager.
  • Tom Verducci of SI.com says Donald Fehr did his job well- too well, in fact. Check the story out for some anecdotes from years ago.
  • The Detroit Free Press reports that Magglio Ordonez returns to the Tigers' lineup tonight.
  • ESPN.com's Rob Neyer suggests the Mariners should choose talent over sentiment if they're serious about winning this year.
  • Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports that the White Sox signed second round pick David Holmberg.
  • I'll be talking rumors with the Benchwarmers on 590 KFNS in St. Louis at 11pm CST tonight so tune in if you're in the area or online.

Indians DFA Luis Vizcaino

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The Indians designated Luis Vizcaino for assignment, according to the team's Twitter. Vizcaino was acquired by the Indians earlier in the year to help their struggling bullpen, but walked more than a batter per inning in his 11 games with the club. 

The Cubs DFA'd Vizcaino exactly two months ago, after just four appearances in their 'pen. So who's next for Vizcaino? The Rangers were interested before the Indians acquired him.

Vesting Options For 2010

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Magglio Ordonez's 2010 vesting option has created a small stir in the last week or so, but there's a group of players with less-publicized vesting options. Here are updates on a few of them, and please add anyone I missed in the comments below:

  • Freddy Sanchez will earn $8MM in 2010 if he makes 635 plate appearances this year. The option will also kicks in if he makes the All Star team and bats 600 times. With 290 plate appearance already, it looks like Sanchez will make $8MM next year.
  • Kevin Millwood has a $12MM option that kicks in after 180 innings pitched. He hasn't pitched that much since 2006, but with a league-leading 106.2 innings logged already, Millwood will likely see his option vest.
  • It's no surprise that we've heard little about Dmitri Young's $6MM option for next year. It only vests if he bats 500 times, but he hasn't hit yet in 2009. It's safe to say the Nats won't be stuck paying him that much next year.
  • Josh Beckett's $12MM 2010 option will kick in if he starts 28 games this year. He's already at 14, so that number seems attainable. 
  • Milton Bradley's 2011 option will vest if he plays 75 games in 2009. In other words, Bradley will earn $12MM in 2011 if he plays 22 more games this year.

Odds And Ends: Phillips, Mets, Pirates

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Links for Tuesday morning…

Sabean Wants Bats, Won’t Deal Yet

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According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News Giants GM Brian Sabean knows what he wants to trade for, he just doesn't expect to acquire anybody until the days leading up to the July 31st trade deadline. Few teams are completely out of the race, so Sabean said he expects a late-developing market.

"You can't definitely know [which players are] available. And those who are have so many suitors," he said. "Whoever makes a trade early is going to really have to pay the price."

Sabean has created a "narrow list" of players he'd like to acquire, but said he doesn't plan on giving up top young talent for a two or three month rental. The Giants can take on salary, so Baggarly asked if Matt Holliday, who makes $13.5MM this year, is a target. Sabean didn't comment on the A's left fielder, but said his list "is more right-handed than left-handed."

Donald Fehr’s Legacy

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Donald Fehr retired as the leader of the MLB Players' association yesterday. Here's what some are saying about his impact on the game:

  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that Fehr leaves a strong legacy of serving players that's tarnished only by their use of steroids.
  • Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer says Fehr's legacy is best explained by Alex Rodriguez, who signed massive contracts but used PEDs.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Fehr, like Scott Boras, gets a hard time just for doing his job. However, Fehr pursued bigger contracts so aggressively that players' health and reputations suffered.
  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney says Fehr "effectively wielded the sentiment of baseball fans as a weapon" to represent his players' best ineterests. 
  • Yahoo's Gordon Edes says Fehr has a "steroid-stiched badge of dishonor" attached to his legacy. Still, Edes predicts the union will never be as strong as it was in Fehr's heyday.
  • This Jerry Crasnick article on ESPN.com portrays Michael Weiner, who will replace Fehr, as humble and well liked.

Phillies Still Want Pitching; Few Arms Available

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David Murphy and Rich Hoffman, both of the Philadelphia Daily News, believe the Phillies need pitching. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. seems to agree with them. But, as Scott Lauber of the News Journal reports, there's very little pitching available. 

"No one's out there dealing anybody or wanting to part with anybody because the pitchers who are available are one, hurt, and two, pitching for teams that don't think they're out of the race yet," Amaro said. "I know because I've asked about every one of them."

Starting pitching remains Amaro's "main focus" even though pitchers who were expected to be available like Jake Peavy, Erik Bedard, Jason Marquis, Brad Penny, Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo are either contributing to pennant races or injured.

Rosenthal On Giants, Dye, Lopez, Kennedy

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Diamond Leung passes along a clip in which Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports suggests potential trade targets for the Giants. Here are a few possibilities:

  • The Astros, now 5.0 games back in the NL Central, aren't about to trade Miguel Tejada away, so don't expect him to end up on the Giants.
  • Rosenthal says Jermaine Dye is a potential fit for the Giants, even though they aren't desperate for outfielders. If the Giants are willing to take on his $11.5MM salary, they wouldn't have to give up as much in return for Dye. The White Sox are just 5.0 games back themselves, however. 
  • Rosenthal also mentions Felipe Lopez and Adam Kennedy as cheaper options that could help the Giants out.  

Glaus Could Appeal To Teams At First Or DH

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that Troy Glaus could appeal to teams looking for a first baseman or DH. The Cardinals may not have room for Glaus when he returns from his injury, since his hitting is progressing better than his throwing. With Albert Pujols at first and no DH, the Cardinals may decide to trade Glaus if he can't play third.

If the Cardinals deal him, they'd likely have to pay a portion of his $11.25MM salary. Rosenthal names the Rangers, Mets, Giants, Braves, Tigers and Mariners as teams that could have interest in Glaus at first or as a DH.

Discussion: Which Contract Would You Get Rid Of?

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In his Hardball column yesterday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post says that MLB should allow a "one-time, one-contract reprieve for all 30 teams." Similar to what the NBA did in 2005, Sherman basically says each team should be allowed to rid themselves of one contract, with MLB's central fund absorbing the money owed to the players. Those 30 players would then become free agents.

My question to you is this: which contract would you like to see your favorite team get rid of? Some are fairly obvious (coughTravisHafnerBarryZitocough), but others not so much. Let's see what you got.

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