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Archives for August 2009

Odds And Ends: Manny, Marlins, Wagner

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Some links to start the week off…

  • Manny Ramirez, who has a $20MM player option for next year, shouted "I'm going to be here next year" to his Dodgers teammates, according to T.J. Simers of the LA Times. You never know with Manny, but it's hard to imagine someone offering him a better deal.
  • If you've ever wondered about some of the more lucrative performance incentives around baseball, check out Jorge Says No!.
  • The Marlins have a tiny payroll, but call them a surprise and Larry Beinfest starts to bristle, says Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
  • Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the feeling is the Red Sox will send a marginal player to the Mets for Billy Wagner if they can work out a deal with the former closer and his agent.

Drama Brewing Over Wagner Claim

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9:15pm: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, "the Red Sox's chances of landing Mets reliever Billy Wagner are in serious jeopardy." 

There are two main problems: Wagner wants to have the option of leaving after the 2009 season, and the Sox are not willing to guarantee that his 2010 club option will go unexercised.  Boston management also wants to have the choice of offering the veteran salary arbitration, an idea to which Wagner's agent is adamantly opposed.  The two sides have about 40 hours to come to an agreement.

6:14pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman is keeping tabs, via Twitter, on a war of words that has sprung up between Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon and recently-claimed reliever Billy Wagner.  As Heyman "tweeted" a few hours ago, "wagner said he 'loves boston.' also said he doesn't expect to go. why? "inside intuition.''

Papelbon seemed to take exception to the comments and said Sunday afternoon that he doesn't feel the Red Sox necessarily need to add the 38-year-old veteran.  Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal passes along the quote:  "We have a good dynamic down there in the bullpen and guys who work well together," Papelbon said. "Is Billy Wagner a good pitcher? Will he bring more depth to our bullpen and make our bullpen better? There's no question about it. But you still have to think about what we have now and what we've been able to accomplish to this point in the season."

And here's Heyman, back on Twitter, with Wagner's response: "i dont have anything to say about somebody like that … when he walks in my shoes then i'll say something. let him be 38 and have tommy john surgery."

We'll keep you updated as the situation progresses.  Keep in mind that the Red Sox and Mets have until 1 p.m. EST Tuesday to work out a deal.

Discussion: Orlando Hudson

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We'll have a whole lot more on the subject this offseason, when free agency picks back up and rumors begin swirling like crazy, but it's probably a fine time to start throwing around names in the 2010 free agent class.  One of the more intriguing players from that group, because of a youngster behind him and the season he's having, is Orlando Hudson.

The "O-Dog," 32 in December, is batting .291/.358/.425 this season with eight home runs and 57 RBI in 461 at-bats.  He's outperforming a good amount of his career offensive averages and plays a decent second base.

But, with 24-year-old serviceable infielder Blake DeWitt waiting in the wings, it's doubtful the Dodgers will get into any sort of bidding war or offer Hudson big money to stay in Los Angeles.  So, who's going to make a play?  The Nationals have publicly acknowledged that they're seeking a long-term second baseman, and ESPN's Buster Olney suggested in June that Hudson could fairly demand a three or four-year deal.  Is that the right fit?  Who else needs a new two-sacker?  Get after it in the comments.

Odds & Ends: Cardinals, Perez, Pedro

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A few items to peruse as the Red Sox and Yankees grind it out on Sunday Night Baseball…

  • Matthew Pouliot of NBCSports.com continues his "Restoring the Rosters" series with a look at the Cardinals. "Producing the game's best player and one of the top five pitchers only goes so far," writes Pouliot. "The Cardinals' lack of pitching depth leaves them right in the middle of these rankings."
  • As Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports, reliever Chris Perez has now thrown 15 consecutive scoreless innings out of the Tribe's bullpen.  He was acquired from the Cardinals in early July (along with Jess Todd) for third baseman Mark DeRosa, who is batting .234/.303/.445 with eight home runs and 15 RBI in 128 at-bats for St. Louis.
  • Pedro Martinez allowed four earned runs over six innings Sunday in his return to Flushing, New York, but escaped with his second victory in three starts with the Phillies.  Interestingly, he was given a standing ovation when he first took the mound.  “The ovation, that’s exactly the response I expected because of the mutual bond I have here,” Martinez said. “I respect them and I love them."  (Quote courtesy of the Associated Press).

Week In Review: 8/16/09 – 8/22/09

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On the day that Eric Bruntlett turned the 15th unassisted triple play in MLB history (second to end a game), here's your look back at the past week here on MLBTR:

  • The deadline to sign draft picks was this past Monday, and as expected, several negotiations went down to the wire. Stephen Strasburg signed a record-setting deal just seconds before the deadline; he'll receive up to $15.67MM, with $15.1MM guaranteed. Here's the list of the rest of the first-round picks and their dollar amounts.
  • It may be getting into late August, but we've still got trades going through; the Rangers acquired Ivan Rodriguez from Houston for prospects Jose Vallejo, Matt Nevarez, and possibly a third player, depending on whether or not the Rangers make the playoffs. It seems a steep price for Pudge and his .662 OPS, but Pudge will benefit the Rangers' young catchers, boost attendance, and hey – he went 3-4 in his first game back in Arlington. Pudge will serve as the backup to Taylor Teagarden.
  • After being released by the Red Sox, John Smoltz cleared waivers and agreed to a deal with the Cardinals. Smoltz will serve as the fifth starter for now for the Cards, and it's hard to argue with the early results: Smoltz threw five scoreless, three-hit innings today and notched nine strikeouts, including seven in a row at one point.
  • A few more veteran faces changed teams this week, as the Mariners acquired Bill Hall from the Brewers for minor leaguer Ruben Flores, and the Dodgers signed Vicente Padilla to fill out the back end of their rotation, following his release from the Rangers. Expensive subtractions for both Milwaukee and Texas; Hall is owed $8.4MM next year, while the Rangers are still on the hook for Padilla's $12MM salary this season.
  • Just days after hearing that the Nationals were set to fire Mike Rizzo and name Jerry DiPoto their new general manager, we learned that the opposite was true. The Nats named Rizzo their new general manager, much to the delight of many Washington fans. Rizzo's done a nice job changing the culture in Washington, and the club has showed improvement since he took over. Does Rizzo have what it takes to save this team?
  • The Red Sox made a gamble, placing a waiver claim on recently-returned Billy Wagner. It's been said that the Sox would like to trade for Wagner, who is still owed $3.5MM this year and holds an $8MM option for 2010. Not everyone in the Boston bullpen is happy about the situation, as Jonathan Papelbon and Manny Delcarmen have likened the potential deal to the Eric Gagne acquisition of 2007. Is this a good move by Boston, or an unnecessary risk?
  • A few weeks ago, we heard that David Eckstein turned down a chance to play for the Twins in order to remain with the Padres. It was reported that Eckstein liked serving the mentor role, and that general manager Kevin Towers was hopeful Eckstein would remain in San Diego beyond 2009. Towers and Eckstein got their wish; the two sides agreed on a one-year, $1MM extension for 2010.

Discussion: The Draft, Dominican Age Investigations

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There's been a lot made of this year's draft bonuses and the age investigations of international players such as Miguel Angel Sano over the past few months. Is it time for a change? Ed Price from Fanhouse.com and Charles S. Farrell from the Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy Informer offer their takes on both of these controversial issues:

  • As Price points out, Chipper Jones signed as the #1 overall pick in 1990 for a bonus of $275K. Not only that, but the bonus was agreed upon the night prior to the actual draft. Nineteen years later, Stephen Strasburg signed for a deal that could be worth over $15MM more than Chipper's. Jones says that he feels you should earn your money at the big league level, and his former teammate, Jeff Francoeur wants something to be done to stop escalating bonuses. This raises the question, should MLB move towards an NBA-style slotting system, where bonuses are locked in depending on where a player is drafted? Price uses Rick Porcello as an example – a pitcher thought to be a top-10 pick who fell to the Tigers at 27th, because of reports that he was seeking a $7MM deal out of high school. MLB Executive VP of Labor Relations and Human Resources says they've worked to prevent slips like Porcello's in the future; Scott Boras, not surprisingly, agrees. Craig Counsell, a member of the executive board of the players' union says that changing the draft goes against what they've been working for – the free market. What do readers think?
  • Another issue in MLB is the questionable ages of some International prospects. Farrell suggests implementing a fingerprinting system in the Dominican Republic for when children reach fifth grade, the last mandatory grade of education in the Dominican. Farrell says this idea was suggested to him by a baseball executive, who pointed out that Venezualan children are fingerprinted when applying for their national ID cards. Farrell explains that baseball brings in roughly $350MM annually in the Dominican Republic, and that the country cannot continue to tarnish the reputation of its players through age investigations. He says that while fingerprinting is not a flawless plan, it's a step in the right direction – protecting the industry of baseball in the Dominican Republic.

Odds & Ends: Wagner, Yankees, Pirates, Astros

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A few links on a slow Sunday afternoon:

  • Buster Olney says (Insider required) that the Red Sox made a "worthwhile gamble" placing a claim on Billy Wagner. Olney feels that with no obvious fixes to their starting rotation, trying to make their bullpen overpowering is a good strategy. As we learned last night, Jonathan Papelbon and Manny Delcarmen don't necessarily agree. Olney says the Mets "are crazy" if they pass the opportunity to move Wagner's salary.
  • Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger says that the Yankees need to address the communication problems between A.J. Burnett and Jorge Posada. Both players have said they "couldn't get on the same page" during the recent blowout the Yankees suffered at the hands of the Red Sox.
  • Dejan Kovacevic has a letter from Jack Wilson to the fans of Pittsburgh, thanking them for their support during his time as a Pirate. It's a good read; Wilson's a class act. Kovacevic's article also has Neal Huntington's thoughts on the extensions offered to Wilson and Freddy Sanchez, as well as a report on the Pirates' draft spending.
  • MLB.com's Jen Langosch has Huntington's thoughts on September call-ups for the Pirates this season.
  • Meanwhile, MLB.com's Alyson Footer tells fans what she would like to see the Astros do with the little money they have to spend this offseason. Her suggestions begin with picking up Brian Moehler's option and signing Randy Wolf. Moehler's option will be worth either $2.3MM or $3MM, depending on whether or not he exceeds 150 innings this season. Footer's rotation would consist of Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, Wolf, Bud Norris, and Moehler. Is Moehler worth that money, or should the Astros pursue a cheaper free agent option?

Olney’s Latest: Jamey Carroll

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Earlier this month, MLBTR listed Jamey Carroll as a potential August trade candidate. Today, Buster Olney wonders why a contender hasn't pried the utility infielder away from the Cleveland Indians. He's owed $600,000 for the rest of the season and stands to become a free agent. Olney writes, 

"The utility infielder is hitting .298 with a .386 on-base percentage, but he has done much of his damage at the plate since the All-Star break: He's batting .348 with an .875 OPS in the second half, and he has been crushing lefties, against whom he has a .484 on-base percentage."

Odds & Ends: Harang, Ichiro, Cubs, Mets, The Draft

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Some odds and ends from around the league:

  • Aaron Harang had to have an emergency appendectomy and will miss the remainder of the season as a result, says Ed Price. Harang will make $10.5MM in 2010 and will pitch for a $12.75MM club option that increases to $13MM if he reaches 210 IP. It's worth noting, if the Reds trade Harang next season, the option increases to $14MM and becomes mutual. Earlier this month, John Fay suggested the Reds don't think their fans will embrace a rebuilding effort, but that the team is hamstrung by too many large contracts that have not worked out.
  • Jon Paul Morosi asks whether or not Ichiro Suzuki is a Hall of Fame lock?
  • Gordon Wittenmyer notes Cubs players feel Lou Piniella, who recently announced his intention to return in 2010, is the right man for the job.
  • Joel Sherman doubts any decisions about bringing back Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel have been finalized.
  • The New York Times Dan Rosenheck suggests ending the draft, and perhaps an expansion and reform of revenue sharing. The article refers to the current system as a "bargain [that] has distorted the game's economics. Minor leaguers and players with less than three years of service time remain pseudoslaves." Rosenheck writes:

"A study by Erik Manning of Fangraphs.com found that the production of an average No. 1 draft pick during the 1990s was worth $51.5 million on the free-agent market, while the commissioner’s recommendation for their bonuses is $3.6 million. As a result, clubs jealously hoard their prospects, often refusing to trade them even for superstars. The massive profits extracted from these players are divided among overpaid veterans and the owners."

The piece also recommends players from the U.S. be granted the right to choose their employer, "a freedom enjoyed by their Latin American counterparts. This would not necessarily raise salaries over all but would distribute them more evenly, benefiting both the players… and the game."

Rockies To Sign Russ Ortiz

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Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports the Rockies will announce the signing of veteran Russ Ortiz. Along with the signing of Jason Giambi, the Rockies have significantly increased their veteran presence for the stretch run.

Ortiz was released by the Astros after posting a 5.57 ERA in 23 games, 13 starts. After signing with the Yankees and going 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in Triple A, he opted out when he wasn't promoted. Ortiz wanted to pitch for a contender and signing with the Rox gives him that chance.

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