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Archives for September 2009

Discussion: Cubs Leadoff Hitter

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According to Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun Times, Alfonso Soriano's days leading off firmly in the rearview, says Lou Pineilla. Who can fill his shoes? Ginnetti quotes Pineilla:

"It depends on what the club does over the winter,'' Piniella said of the leadoff role. ''I like [Kosuke] Fukudome at the top of the order, but I don't know about leadoff. He and [Ryan] Theriot are our best options the way we are now.

"But if we got someone who is capable of stealing 30 or 40 bases in the mix, that would change things. If you look at our offense, adding a speed guy and another bat [are priorities].''

The glaring free agent solution is Chone Figgins, but let's hear some creative alternatives. Or perhaps an argument in favor of keeping the Fukudome/Theriot tandem?

Figgins, White Sox A Good Fit?

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Chone Figgins seems to be a hot topic this weekend. Mark Saxon of The Orange County Register writes there's a mutual attraction between Figgins and the  White Sox.

"The Chicago White Sox have made little effort to hide their high regard for the Angels' leadoff hitter, who is having a career year and is eligible for free agency in November. Along with the New York Yankees, Chicago could be a formidable suitor if the Angels don't sign Figgins in their exclusive 15-day window after the World Series."

Figgins likened Ozzie Guillen's style to that of Mike Scioscia, noting both would play to his strengths as an aggressive leadoff hitter.

While he has expressed excitement to enter free agency as a man in demand, he maintains a preference to remain in Anaheim. Saxon notes that Mike Scioscia "said Figgins' improved discipline, defense and overall hitting in recent seasons have made him an attractive long-term investment" so a three-year deal for the 31-year old might become an expectation. Figgins could aim around $10MM per year.

Rosenthal Chats With Chone Figgins

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Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com sat down for a chat with Chone Figgins of the Angels, who you surely know is up for free agency after the season. They spoke about plenty of topics, including his offseason workouts with Juan Pierre and his improved defense, but here's a wrap up of the hot stove talk…

  • Figgins gave credit to free agent pickup Bobby Abreu for helping balance out the team's lineup and adding patience. The Halos have scored the second most runs in baseball, 43 more than any team outside of the Bronx.
  • When asked what it's like "being a man in demand," in regards to his upcoming free agency, Figgins said "it's fun" and the best part about it is that it never affects him on the field.
  • He said he's just "going to have fun on the field," and let all that other stuff happen when it happens.
  • Figgins said that no matter where he goes after the season, his game isn't going to change. By no means did he rule out staying with the Anaheim, saying that he loves it there.

Odds & Ends: Soriano, Reds, Diamondbacks

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A couple more links for tonight…

  • Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post Dispatch tweets that the Cardinals and Braves discussed closer Rafael Soriano earlier this year. We heard some rumblings of a Joe Mather for Soriano deal over the summer. 
  • MLB.com's Mark Sheldon wonders who should start in center field for the Reds next year – Chris Dickerson, Drew Stubbs, or Willy Taveras. Taveras is under contract for $4MM next year, plus Dusty loves his veterans, so he might get the job by default.
  • Steve Gilbert of MLB.com notes that the Diamondbacks and manager A.J. Hinch will wait until after the season to make any decisions about the coaching staff.

Rosenthal’s Full Count Video: Pitching, Rays, Padres, DeRosa

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Let's see what Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com has for us in his latest Full Count video…

  • The free agent market for starting pitching doesn't look very enticing, but the trade market could be intriguing. Toronto will almost certainly field offers for Roy Halladay again, the Cubs could trade Carlos Zambrano, and the Braves could deal Javier Vazquez if they decide to keep Tim Hudson.
  • The Astros might finally be ready to move ace Roy Oswalt. While he does have a full no-trade clause, Oswalt has told the club in the past that he'd be willing to consider moves to St. Louis, both Chicago teams, Texas, and Atlanta.
  • Tampa Bay moved Scott Kazmir when his value was high, so perhaps it's unlikely they'd move B.J. Upton when his value is low. Regardless, many teams covet the elder Upton brother because at his best he's a righty slugger with superior defense in center field. In his place, the Rays could go in-house with Fernando Perez or Desmond Jennings.
  • Keep in mind that if Tampa were to trade an outfielder, they might prefer to deal Carl Crawford. Upton is three years away from free agency; Crawford just one.
  • The Padres' recent surge has GM Kevin Towers thinking the team could be a surprise contender next year. The question is this: how low will the team's payroll go? The subtraction of Brian Giles would leave the payroll in the mid-$30MM range, but there are some that believe the team will move either Adrian Gonzalez or Heath Bell and get down into the mid-$20MM range. Ownership has yet to give the front office a firm payroll number for 2010.
  • The Cardinals want to re-sign Mark DeRosa, but his offseason wrist surgery changes the equation. DeRosa is fully expected to be ready by the start of Spring Training, but he'll come with some risk. If he was fully healthy, he would be nearly as coveted as Chone Figgins, but supply and demand will work in DeRosa's favor because there are very few quality third baseman available. Plus, he can also play a ton of other positions.

Odds & Ends: Ryno, Young, Johnson, Rangers

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A fresh batch of links as Saturday afternoon baseball gets underway…

  • Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune believes Ryne Sandberg has "added to his managerial portfolio by guiding Double-A Tennessee into the Southern League playoffs."  Could "Ryno" eventually replace Cubs skipper Lou Piniella?
  • Mark Zuckerman of The Washington Times spoke Friday with Dmitri Young, who isn't sure if he's ready to retire.  "Right now, I'm not even thinking about it," said the 35-year-old Young. "I'm just here right now just to heal up and clear my head on everything. And then [in the] offseason, we'll see."
  • According to Andrew Simon of MLB.com, impending free agent Reed Johnson isn't likely to return this season due to lingering pain in his left foot.  If he's unable to make it back, the outfielder will finish the 2009 season with a .252/.327/.395 batting line, four home runs and 20 RBI in 147 at-bats.
  • As T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com notes, Rangers' owner Tom Hicks continues to downplay his club's financial troubles.  "The Rangers," Hicks said Saturday, "will continue to operate under the normal course of business operations."

Discussion: Justin Duchscherer

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We've already delved into the pool of 2010 free agent starters a few times here on MLBTR, but let's dig deeper and discuss just one of those soon-to-be-available arms: Oakland's Justin Duchscherer.

Duchscherer, a longtime reliever, burst onto the MLB scene in 2008 with a 2.54 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 22 starts.  He doesn't throw hard, and never really has, but his slider and curveball are excellent out pitches and tend to keep batters guessing.  Of course, it's not all roses with the 31-year-old righty.  He didn't throw a pitch this season due to complications with his hip, his throwing arm, and finally a battle with clinical depression.  He's expected to be fully healthy by the start of spring training 2010, but what can "The Duke of Hurl" truly demand on the free agent market?  And who might have interest?

Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle suggested in late August that Duchscherer would fit in well with the Astros' plans for 2010.  And the Brewers have a desperate need for starting pitching.  How about the Nationals?  Would a move to the National League help revitalize Duchscherer's career?  Get after it in the comments.

Odds & Ends: Hudson, Rangers, Cubbies

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The first round of links for today…

  • The Ronnie Belliard pickup is costing Orlando Hudson some major bucks, as Dylan Hernandez of The LA Times points out. Hudson entered the week with 577 plate appearances, and he'll earn $10K for every PA between 576 and 632 according to his contract. However, Hudson has sat in favor of Belliard four times in the last 11 games.
  • Jim Reeves of The Star Telegram writes that the Rangers' financial plight will probably hamstring the team, with no immediate relief in sight. Club president Nolan Ryan said he can't see the team being sold before April or May at the earliest.
  • Toni Ginnetti of The Chicago Sun Times says that acquiring a "true leadoff hitter with speed and base-stealing ability" should be on the shopping list for Cubs GM Jim Hendry this winter.
  • Gordon Edes of Yahoo! Sports posted his All-Overachiever and All-Underachiever teams. Is it fair to consider Pablo Sandoval and Aaron Hill overachievers?
  • Tyler Kepner of The NY Times has an amusing story about Sean Henn and what he went through when he was traded from Minnesota to Baltimore earlier this month.

Astros Unlikely To Be Significant Players in Free Agency

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Richard Justice of The Houston Chronicle writes that the Astros are "unlikely to be significant players in free agency this winter." The team is trying to lower payroll and get younger, something signing free agents generally won't accomplish. Justice does say that the club would like to retain relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde, both of whom will be free agents after this year.

Houston started the season with close to a $103MM payroll according to Cot's, but they could shed $17.75MM by letting Miguel Tejada, Mike Hampton, and Darin Erstad walk as free agents. However, a significant chunk of those savings will probably end up being redistributed to Wandy Rodriguez and Hunter Pence, both of whom should receive big raises in arbitration (Pence will likely qualify as a Super Two).

In their effort to incorporate more youth into their lineup, Justice says we could see third baseman Chris Johnson, shortstop Tommy Manzella, second baseman Edwin Maysonet, and catcher Jason Castro in the Opening Day lineup next year. The team will also probably ask reliever Wesley Wright to come to camp next year prepared to compete for a rotation spot.

Schneider Doesn’t Expect To Return To Mets

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Adam Rubin of The NY Daily News writes that catcher Brian Schneider knows his days with the Mets are numbered.

"I won't be back," Schneider told the Daily News, accepting that the Mets don't plan to re-sign him. "I'm okay with that. I'll easily get a job next year. I'm not worried about it. I'll get a job and just move on. Guys do that. I'm not going to retire. No way."

The 32 year-old Schneider missed part of April and most of May due to injury, and has been riding the bench in favor Omir Santos and Josh Thole recently. He's started just 15 games since August 1st, and has hit a meager .195/.274/.318 on the year. In his two seasons with New York, Schneider's produced a .237/.319/.352 batting line in 590 plate appearances, which isn't far off from his career output.

Schneider projects to be a Type-B free agent after the year, but he's right on the cutoff and could easily become a no-compensation free agent. It probably wouldn't even matter, because it seems extremely unlikely that the team would offer Schneider arbitration after he made $4.9MM this year.

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