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Archives for August 2009

Odds And Ends: Royals, Mets, Marquis

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More links for the early afternoon…

  • ESPN.com's Keith Law argues there's no reason for the Royals to consider extending GM Dayton Moore now. It could impede them in the future, and they're in no apparent danger of losing him to a rival club.
  • Author Erin Arvedlund told Ben Klayman of Reuters that the Wilpon family will be forced to sell the Mets.
  • The Mets, however, say the author's claim is "false and irrespopnsible," according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.
  • EPSN.com's Rob Neyer says MLB should change its draft if it makes sense to do so, but not just to make people feel better.  
  • Jason Marquis' team has made the playoffs every year of his decade-long career, as Tim Kurkjian of ESPN.com notes. Marquis is in the midst of a career year and about to hit the free agent market this offseason.

Giants Claimed Hoffman; Trade Unlikely

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The Giants claimed Trevor Hoffman, but it appears that the Brewers will pull the reliever off waivers instead of negotiating a trade, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. The Giants made the claim partly because Hoffman would help their bullpen and partly because they didn't want to give the Rockies or Dodgers a chance to acquire him.

The Brewers seem more likely to hold onto Hoffman than trade him. Speaking in general terms, GM Doug Melvin told Olney that he would "probably not" compromise the club's bullpen in the coming days. 

Odds And Ends: Burnett, Baker, Ichiro

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Some links for the morning…

  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders if A.J. Burnett will be able to cope towards the end of his contract, when his stuff will presumably begin to fade. 
  • Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch believes Dusty Baker's job is safe, partly because the Reds don't want to eat his contract next year.
  • Yahoo's Jeff Passan wonders if Ichiro can reach 4,000 hits, or more than double the amount he has so far. A friend of Ichiro's says the Japanese star wants to play well into his forties.
  • Tom Verducci of SI.com believes the Yankees and Red Sox were smart to add C.C. Sabathia and Billy Wagner, respectively. Verducci notes that salaries negotiated through arbitration are not guaranteed so the Red Sox could cut Wagner if they agree to a contract through arbitration and he underperforms in Spring Training.

Victor Martinez Open To Extension With Red Sox

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Matt Holliday isn't the only hot-hitting deadline acquisition open to signing long-term with his new club. Victor Martinez tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that he'd consider signing an extension with the Red Sox.

"Definitely," Martinez said. "Who wouldn't want to play here in Boston? It's up to them, but from my side, I would want to stay here." 

He's hitting well enough to impress several of his teammates, and presumably the Boston front office. V-Mart's .313/.385/.521 line since joining the Red Sox has not gone unnoticed by David Ortiz, who told Bradford that letting Martinez go is "not even an option."

Before exploring an extension, the Red Sox figure to pick up Martinez's $7MM option for 2010. Jason Varitek may also return next year, after which Boston's catching situation becomes unclear.

Conor Jackson’s Future

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This should have been one of Conor Jackson's best years. He had plate discipline, moderate power and was entering his age 27 season. Now, after an extended bout with valley fever, Jackson's value has tumbled and he doesn't have a guaranteed job next season. He told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that his disappointing season has created uncertainty about the team's offseason plans.

If the D'Backs offer Jackson a contract, they can't offer him less than $2.4MM under baseball's arbitration rules because he makes $3.1MM this year. Last offseason, when Jackson was coming off three straight years with an OPS over .800, the club had an easy call. But Jackson has hit poorly since then, so the team could decide to non-tender him.

Four Brewers Clear Waivers

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Jason Kendall, Craig Counsell, Mike Cameron and Braden Looper all cleared waivers yesterday, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Now, the Brewers can trade those players to any team. Interested clubs will want to complete deals by Monday because players acquired after August 31st aren't eligible to play in the postseason.

Kendall, Cameron and Counsell all hit free agency after the season, while Looper has a $6MM mutual option for next year. According to the latest rankings, Kendall, Cameron and Looper project as Type B free agents and Counsell will likely be unranked. The Brewers could receive draft picks in compensation for departing free agents, but they'd have to be willing to offer arbitration to receive the picks.

The Brewers placed Trevor Hoffman on waivers and he was claimed, but they don't appear likely to trade him.

Brad Penny Rumors: Thursday

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10:24pm: Olney reports that the Rockies will not pursue Penny this season.

4:29pm: Olney notes that Penny can decline any waiver claim. This essentially gives him the chance to assure himself free agency. Becoming a free agent would mean forfeiting the chance to earn the incentives on his contract.

3:37pm: The Yankees claimed Brad Penny earlier in August, only to see the Red Sox pull him back, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.

3:19pm: Troy Renck of the Denver Post notes that it's becoming increasingly unlikely that the Rockies will add Brad Penny. Some people within the organization believe he'd help, but others are concerned that he would not fit it. Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies first reported that the Rockies weren't likely to add Penny this morning.

2:20pm: Joe Christensen of the Mineapolis Star-Tribune hears that the Twins would consider claiming Penny off release waivers and taking on the rest of his salary instead of waiting for him to become a free agent.

2:16pm: George A. King III of the New York Post hears that the Yankees have interest in Penny. The Yanks haven't heard anything to suggest Penny promised the Red Sox he wouldn't sign with an AL contender. Johnny Damon says he'd like the Yankees to add Penny.

1:16pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney confirms that the Rockies, Giants and Marlins are interested in Penny. None of those teams are likely to claim him before Monday, because they would have to take on the remainder of his salary to do so. If they wait until Penny clears waivers, he'll cost less than $100k.

12:01pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears from one GM who believes Brad Penny "absolutely should go back to the National League" once he can sign with the team of his choice on Monday. "He's stupid if he stays in the AL," the GM adds. 

Rosenthal says Penny makes sense for the Rockies, Giants and Marlins. The Dodgers could use him, but Rosenthal doubts Penny would re-join the team. Penny will cost less than $100k, because his incentives are negated once he's released.

And here's a roundup of the rumors we've already heard about Penny today:

Odds And Ends: Lee, Carroll, Bradley

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Because today's acquisition could be tomorrow's trade bait…

  • MLB.com's Todd Zolecki talks to Cliff Lee about his right to demand a trade after the season, as someone traded mid-year during a multi-year contract. Lee says he's focused on 2009. "I'm not even worried about that at all," Lee told Zolecki. "I've given zero thought to it. I'm worried about my next outing against Atlanta [on Saturday]. I really haven't put any thought into that at all." The Phillies hold a $9MM option on Lee for 2010. Also working against Lee demanding a trade: his new team would own his rights for three seasons, meaning Lee couldn't become a free agent until after the 2012 season.
  • Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer believes Jamey Carroll would be an attractive utility target for contending teams. Hoynes writes, "He's hitting .318 (27-for-85) in his past 24 games and .290 (65-for-224) overall with seven doubles, two triples, two homers, 20 RBI and 42 runs. He's played second base, third base, left field and right field."
  • Chicago Tribune columnist Phil Rogers advises the Cubs that they have only one choice with struggling outfielder Milton Bradley: release him. Says Rogers, "As of Wednesday, when Bradley declared he roots for nine-inning games because he can't wait to get home, Hendry no longer can cross his fingers and hope Bradley becomes the player he pictured he would be in right field at Wrigley Field. He has to do something to get him off the roster, the sooner the better."

Hoffman, Harden & Heilman Claimed On Waivers

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7:30pm: According to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com, "An American League source with knowledge of the process indicated the Minnesota Twins may be the team that claimed Harden."

2:47pm: An unknown team claimed Trevor Hoffman off waivers, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi, who notes that Hoffman would like to return to Milwaukee next year, says the chances of a deal are slim. Hoffman projects as a Type A free agent, so the Brewers can receive compensation picks if they offer Hoffman arbitration and he signs elsewhere.

Meanwhile, two players on the division rival Cubs have also been claimed, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. A National League team claimed Aaron Heilman and Rich Harden was claimed by an unknown team.

Harden earns $7MM this year, but, like Hoffman, he projects as a Type A free agent, so his value is high. Teams such as the Giants, Rockies and Dodgers would all figure to have interest in Harden, but the Cubs would be in a position to command a lot for him.

Hoffman Speaks Out On Being Claimed

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All-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman discussed the odd situation he finds himself in: just a year after retaining 10-and-5 rights to veto any trade, he is waiting out a waiver claim from a still-unknown team, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The claim, first reported by Foxsports.com, is unlikely to result in a trade. Hoffman, with a 1.85 ERA and 27 saves in 29 attempts, would net the Brewers two draft picks if Hoffman refused arbitration and signed with another team this offseason. Furthermore, Hoffman has said he'd like to remain in Milwaukee.

The claim comes as no surprise to Hoffman. As he told Haudricourt, “We’re 12 (games) out. I don’t think I’m the only person put through waivers.”

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