By Tim Dierkes | at
Designated hitter Mike Sweeney hopes to play again in 2010, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. He'll have to postpone microfracture knee surgery to do so. The 36 year-old is hitting .277/.335/.441 in 236 plate appearances, his best power display since '05. He's on a $500K minor league deal signed in January.
Sweeney told Baker he decided to play next year after receiving support from his wife. His two choices are the Mariners and the Angels.
By Tim Dierkes | at
WEDNESDAY, 8:34am: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has more quotes from Mozeliak, who admits it'd be easier to re-sign DeRosa before free agency than Matt Holliday. Strauss says Mozeliak "minimized the potential impact of DeRosa's left wrist injury."
TUESDAY, 9:42pm: The Cardinals have discussed an extension with impending free agent third baseman Mark DeRosa, according to MLB.com's Matthew Leach. But Leach says GM John Mozeliak "emphasized not to over-sell those discussions." Too late – we dedicated this post to them!
DeRosa, 35 in February, has scuffled to a .244/.313/.425 line for the Cards since coming over in a trade with the Indians on June 27th. A big factor: he tore a tendon sheath in his wrist a few days after the trade; it will eventually require surgery. The versatile DeRosa is earning $5.5MM and sits on the borderline of Type A and B status.
Mozeliak also told Leach that the team plans to go year-to-year with Ryan Ludwick rather than lock him up. Ludwick came back down to Earth this year – his OBP dropped from .375 to .333 and his SLG from .591 to .465.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Royals GM Dayton Moore was not terribly revealing in his MLB.com chat with fans today, but let's take a look anyway. He deserves props for answering a few tough questions, though it would've been nice to have one about Alex Gordon's service time manipulation (Gordon and his agent didn't consider the demotion devious, though).
By Tim Dierkes | at
Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Orioles. Their 2010 commitments:
C – Matt Wieters – $400K
C –
1B –
2B – Brian Roberts – $10MM
SS – Cesar Izturis – $2.6MM
3B – Ty Wigginton – $3.5MM
IF –
IF – Robert Andino – $400K
LF – Nolan Reimold – $400K
CF – Adam Jones – $435K
RF – Nick Markakis – $6.75MM
OF – Felix Pie – $410K
DH – Luke Scott – $2.4MM+
SP – Jeremy Guthrie – $650K+
SP – Koji Uehara – $5MM
SP – Brad Bergesen – $400K
SP – Brian Matusz – $868K
SP – Chris Tillman – $400K
Other rotation candidates: Rich Hill – $445K+, Jason Berken – $400K, David Hernandez – $400K, Jake Arrieta – $400K, Troy Patton – $400K
RP – Chris Ray – $850K+
RP – Cla Meredith – $435K+
RP – Jim Johnson – $420K
RP – Matt Albers – $410K+
RP – Dennis Sarfate – $410K
RP – Brian Bass – $405K
RP – Kam Mickolio – $400K
Other commitments: Melvin Mora – $1MM buyout
The Orioles have about $40MM committed before arbitration raises to Scott, Guthrie, and a few others. They should land in the low 40s after starting 2009 with a $67MM payroll. There is cash to play with for a few reasonably-priced free agents.
Like the Pirates, the O's seem better off making their free agent strike a year from now. With the way this club is stacking up, the AL East could be even more competitive in years to come.
For 2010, Wigginton could take either infield corner and Scott could be an option at first base. Brandon Snyder and Michael Aubrey may also merit consideration. The O's added their third baseman of the future in Josh Bell with the George Sherrill trade. With the corners and DH spot in flux next year, it may make sense for the Orioles to add a free agent. Players such as Carlos Delgado, Nick Johnson, and Adrian Beltre are interesting on one-year deals, if the price is right.
The rotation is suddenly deep enough where Uehara is being considered for a bullpen role. Matusz and Tillman are the team's aces of the future, with both getting a look this year. Arrieta isn't far behind. I wouldn't be looking to spend much on a free agent pitcher this winter.
Certain players could be trade bait if Andy MacPhail doesn't consider them part of the next good Orioles club. Scott and Guthrie, both under team control through 2012, jump out as candidates. Guthrie's seen a dip in his strikeout and groundball rates this season, but he's potentially above-average in the NL.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Reliever Jorge Sosa was designated for assignment by the Nationals today, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Sosa struggled with control, home runs, and hits in his 22.3 innings for the Nats this year. Ladson learned yesterday that the Nationals intend to revamp their bullpen again for 2010.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Links for Tuesday…
By Tim Dierkes | at
Today let's take a look at the free agent market for second basemen.
By Tim Dierkes | at
The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
11:25pm: WEEI's Rob Bradford notes that "the only way the option wouldn’t be triggered is if Beckett finishes the ‘09 season on the disabled list." Bradford also explores the circumstances surrounding Beckett's extension, signed in July of 2006.
1:19pm: When Josh Beckett delivered his first pitch to Scott Podsednik this afternoon, his 2010 option kicked in, as anticipated. The 29-year-old righty will make $12.1MM next season and probably would have seen the Red Sox pick up his option even if he hadn't quite reached the 28 start plateau that triggered the option.
As free agents last year, C.C Sabathia ($161MM) and A.J. Burnett ($82.5MM) signed lucrative long-term deals that Beckett could have used for leverage had he hit the open market this winter. Instead, he'll wait until next offseason at the earliest.
Beckett has been worth $19.2MM so far this year, according to FanGraphs. He's striking out nearly a batter per inning, limiting his walks and allowing a characteristically low number of hits. As a result, he entered today's start as a fringe contender for the Cy Young Award thanks, in part, to his 14-5 record and 3.87 ERA.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Astros closer Jose Valverde told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart today that he plans to test the free agent market after the season. He'd prefer to return to the Astros, but McTaggart finds Houston unlikely to pony up the cash. Valverde will come with the added cost of a draft pick, assuming the Astros offer arbitration to the Type A free agent. The closer noted that aside from the Astros, the Cubs may be in need of a closer. They seem likely to continue with Carlos Marmol, though.
Valverde, 32 in March, will be the top free agent closer on the market (though there are other quality names). He sports a 2.00 ERA, 50 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 45 innings this year, missing a good chunk of the season with a calf injury. Back in January, Valverde and the Astros avoided arbitration and agreed to an $8MM salary for '09.
Valverde surely expects another raise, perhaps a new deal to the tune of Francisco Rodriguez's three-year, $37MM pact. The high-water mark for closers is $46-47MM over four years, but Francisco Cordero and Joe Nathan signed their deals in a different economic climate (late 2007/early 2008). Mariano Rivera, who is on his own plane, also signed that offseason for three years and $45MM.
The Tigers, Braves, Brewers, Nationals, Phillies and Marlins might be hunting for late-inning help this winter. But which of these clubs would open the checkbook for Valverde?
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