Pedro Not Expected Back With Mets
When the Mets agreed to terms with Livan Hernandez early Saturday morning, many experts and MLBTR readers suggested that it meant Pedro Martinez would not be back with the club in ’09.
Mets GM Omar Minaya basically confirmed that theory Saturday evening. The Associated Press, via The Newark Star-Ledger, gathered the quote:
"I think we are pretty much set and we’re going to go forward with the guys that we have," Minaya said.
So, MLBTR community, where does Pedro land next?
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Saturday
According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, free agent Manny Ramirez has a locker reserved for him at the Dodgers’ new spring training facility in Glendale, Arizona.
It’s in a corner of the team’s clubhouse, right next to Rafael Furcal. GM Ned Colletti had nothing new to report on the Manny front Saturday, but it’s clear that the club is expecting his arrival at some point this spring.
Braves Interested In Griffey
8:21pm: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times had a conversation with Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln on Saturday and Griffey was obviously a topic of discussion. Lincoln seemed less than enthused about the possibility of getting into a bidding war with the Braves.
"Everybody always wants more money, that’s reality,” he said. "It doesn’t matter whether it’s the baseball business or any other business. But you’ve got to go with what you’ve got.”
6:14pm: David O’Brien took to the comments section of his blog for a little more insight on the Griffey situation:
Atlanta is his first choice. He really wants to play for the Braves. Has a daughter on an Atlanta AAU team and a son who’s playing high school football this year in Orlando, and Griffey doesn’t want to be on the other side of the country at Seattle. Plus, he’s always wanted to play for Bobby Cox.
If I had to bet, I’d say this gets done early next week.
5:28pm: So much for the whole "agent leaking" theory. Braves GM Frank Wren just confirmed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien that his club does indeed have interest in Griffey:
"We have interest in several available outfielders, including Griffey," said Wren.
5:22pm: The Tacoma News Tribune’s Ryan Divish suggests that the Braves’ reported interest in Griffey "could be another case of an agent leaking some info to the media to make it seem like his client is coveted to enhance his positions in negotiations."
It’s just speculation, but it’s definitely a possibility. With Griffey off playing in a Pro-Am tournament at Pebble Beach, his agent might as well stir the pot.
2:33pm: Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com reports that the Atlanta Braves are looking to acquire Ken Griffey, Jr.. According to Crasnick’s sources, "Griffey is Atlanta’s prime target."
Crasnick says there is mutual interest between the two parties. Griffey lives in Orlando, where the Braves’ spring training facilities are located. Also, Griffey may benefit from the ability to split time with Matt Diaz in left field.
If the Braves miss on Griffey, their next likely target would be Garrett Anderson.
Padres Not Looking For Pitching Help
Padres GM Kevin Towers told Corey Brock of MLB.com Saturday that his team is not actively talking to any free agent pitchers.
The Padres are comfortable with Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Cha Seung Baek at the front end of the rotation and are hopeful that the final two spots will be adequately filled by Kevin Correia, Josh Geer, Wade LeBlanc, Chad Reineke or Mark Prior.
Towers assured Brock that he will keep an eye out for any pitchers that might be good fits, but we wouldn’t expect anything major.
Is Lowry Trade Bait?
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports from Spring Training about the fifth starter in San Francisco–and potential moves surrounding the competition.
Baggarly cites GM Brian Sabean as having said that the fifth starter job belongs to Jonathan Sanchez. That leaves Noah Lowry without a spot in the San Francisco rotation. Will he be traded soon?
While that is an option, Baggarly also notes that Lowry has an option remaining, meaning he could pitch at AAA Fresno for a time. Lowry could begin asking for a trade from there, but with the way his contract is set up, such a move seems unlikely at this time.
Nationals Sign 23 To 2009 Contracts
Bill Ladson of MLB.com has a bit of Nationals news for this afternoon.
The team has agreed to terms with 23 of its players, including names like Elijah Dukes and John Lannan.
As for a review of the Nationals’ arbitration-eligible players, Ladson has the list: Jason Bergmann, Mike O’Connor, Alberto Gonzalez, Lastings Milledge, Josh Willingham and Ryan Zimmerman.
Hart, Ethier Likely Headed To Arb Hearing
2:19pm: Adam McCalvy at MLB.com mentions an interesting parallel to the arbitration situation with Corey Hart.
Andre Ethier is expected to go to an arbitration hearing on Tuesday, the day before Hart’s hearing is scheduled. The numbers in Ethier’s case are very similar, the outfielder having asked for $3.75 million while the Dodgers offered $2.65 million.
The outcome of the Ethier case may be indicative of what to expect for Hart.
11:15am: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes the Brewers and Corey Hart will likely be headed to an arbitration hearing. Says assistant general manager Gord Ash, "We’re still where we were, with a case on Wednesday."
Haudricourt’s got the numbers, too: "In his first year of salary arbitration eligibility, Hart filed for $3.8 million. The club offered him $2.7 million. Hart made $444,000 last season."
Astros Rumors: Looper, Wolf, Pudge
MLB.com’s Alyson Footer spoke with Astros GM Ed Wade and has the latest on the club.
- The Astros made "11th-hour" offers to Randy Wolf and Braden Looper before they signed elsewhere.
- They offered Wolf a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2010.
- The offers to Wolf and Looper were both for less than $5MM.
- The Astros haven’t spoken with Ivan Rodriguez in weeks and never made him a formal offer.
- Wade says he isn’t likely to make any moves between now and the regular season.
Royals Considering Orlando Hudson
ESPN.com’s Buster Olney heard the Royals are looking for ways to fit Orlando Hudson into their budget. Olney calls this a "terrific idea" that would likely give the Royals a "greatly improved lineup and a better defense."
Earlier in the week, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reported the Royals’ interest in signing a free agent before the season begins. Hudson would cost the Royals their second-round pick.
Odds And Ends: Griffey, Varitek, Giants
A few links for Saturday morning…
- Russell Branyan wants Ken Griffey Jr. to join him in Seattle according to this AP story found in the Globe and Mail.
- If Griffey ends up in Seattle, Cameron Smith of the Washington Post says it’s nothing but a marketing ploy.
- Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times likes the depth the Bobby Abreu addition gives the Angels.
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle suggests the Giants could make a trade in Spring Training if teams are looking to dump salary. Brian Sabean says he’s keeping his eye on teams who may need to free up money.
- Alex Speier of WEEI in Boston heard from Jason Varitek about his contract negotiations this offseason. Varitek says he never doubted that he would stay in Boston.
- This doesn’t have to do with rumors, but it’s a good read: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan shares anecdotes from 20 years of Spring Training.