Nationals Sign Adam Dunn
THURSDAY: Dunn’s two-year, $20MM deal is official according to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post has quotes from Dunn from the press conference.
WEDNESDAY: According to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, the Nationals agreed to a preliminary two-year deal with Adam Dunn. MLB.com’s Bill Ladson confirms it, adding that a news conference is expected Thursday. According to SI.com’s Tom Verducci, it’s a two-year, $20MM deal.
Nationals GM Jim Bowden drafted Dunn when he helmed the Reds back in 1998. It seems likely that Dunn will play first base for the Nationals. The 29 year-old hit .236/.386/.513 with 40 home runs in 651 plate appearances for the Reds and Diamondbacks in ’08.
With Dunn and Abreu off the market, the Braves’ only option for an outfield addition is probably to make a trade. Also, if you’re curious, WEEI’s Alex Speier explains why the Red Sox were not in on Dunn and Abreu.
Heyman On Manny, Pudge, Cabrera, Howard
The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…
- Heyman says "most in the know seem to still believe [Dodgers owner Frank] McCourt will bend on Manny Ramirez and go to three years."
- The Nationals’ offer to Adam Dunn was on the table for weeks until he realized no team was going to beat or approach it. There were rumors months ago that Dunn sought a $100MM deal heading into free agency.
- The Astros and Marlins are looking at Ivan Rodriguez. There’s even an El Nuevo Dia report suggesting the Astros offered $2.5MM+ to Pudge, but that seems out of their price range to me. In today’s mailbag, MLB.com’s Alyson Footer opines that the Astros wouldn’t go to $3MM for a catcher.
- The A’s "want to spend no more than $5MM, and probably closer to $3MM" for Orlando Cabrera. He should take that if it’s offered.
- The Angels had been eyeing Joe Crede but may be done after signing Bobby Abreu. The Giants and Twins remain the likeliest suitors for Crede.
- The Phillies hoped to lock up Ryan Howard beyond his arbitration years, and Ruben Amaro Jr. disputed the notion that he is after Teixeira money.
Chat With Matthew Cerrone
Click here to listen to my recent chat with SNY’s Matthew Cerrone.
Brewers Acquire Nick Green
According to MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer, the Angels removed pitcher Nick Green from the 40-man roster to make room for Bobby Abreu and Green was "promptly snapped up from waivers by the Brewers." The Brewers designated reliever Luis Pena for assignment to make room, says MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy.
Green, 24, posted a 5.32 ERA in 159 Triple A innings last year. He had issues with hits and home runs allowed. In their ’09 Handbook, Baseball America said Green has a strong changeup but "lacks a swing-and-miss pitch" and "projects as a #4 starter at best."
Braves Rumors: Glavine, Outfielders
1:29pm: David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers thoughts on the Glavine situation.
10:42am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has the latest on the Braves.
Rosenthal believes the Braves have $6-8MM to work with, as they try to re-sign Tom Glavine and add an outfielder. The outfield situation is of greater priority.
The Braves had a positive meeting with Glavine on Wednesday; Rosenthal says their offer gives the lefty "the chance to make $3MM — a $1MM guarantee, $1MM if he made the Opening Day roster and $1MM if he was on the roster 60 days." Glavine is said to be seeking $3MM guaranteed plus incentives. He wants to retire a Brave, and is intent on pitching in 2009.
As for the outfield, Rosenthal says the Braves are "checking into" free agents such as Garret Anderson, Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds, and Ken Griffey Jr. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick wrote earlier today that the Mariners are making progress with Griffey. Rosenthal says a Nick Swisher trade "also remains possible, but the Braves almost certainly could land one of the free agents for less than the $5.3MM that Swisher will earn in 2009." Swisher is guaranteed an additional $16.75MM for 2010-11, if his 2012 option for $10.25MM is declined.
Cardinals Sign Rick Ankiel At Midpoint
According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, Rick Ankiel and the Cardinals settled at $2.825MM for ’09 (the midpoint of their submissions). The hearing had been scheduled for today.
Ryan Ludwick‘s hearing is set for Tuesday, if they can’t reach an agreement beforehand.
Dan Uggla Wins Arbitration Case
According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, Dan Uggla won his arbitration case. He’ll be paid $5.35MM in ’09 instead of the Marlins’ $4.4MM submission. 2009 is Uggla’s first arb year, so the decision will have a ripple effect on his ’10 and ’11 salaries.
Will Ohman May Sign Soon
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that Will Ohman "has received three offers in the past 48 hours and four overall, according to a major-league source, and is expected to reach a decision Wednesday or Thursday."
Cameron Smith of the Washington Post has additional information today. He says Ohman received four offers from NL clubs in the past two days, the Phillies and Mets not among them. Cameron speculates that NL Central clubs may be involved.
Nationals Have Six Players For Four Spots
As Chico Harlan of the Washington Post explains, the Nationals now have six players for four spots following the Adam Dunn signing. Harlan says the Nats prefer Dunn in left field if Nick Johnson is healthy, leaving Josh Willingham‘s role in question. Here’s a look at the six players:
- Adam Dunn: Agreed to play first base or left field. Two-year, $20MM deal to become official today.
- Nick Johnson: Has never played anywhere but first base. Wants to play every day, but spent most of 2007-08 on the DL for leg and wrist injuries. He’s fine with a trade. Set to earn $5.5MM in ’09 in last year before free agency. OBP machine.
- Josh Willingham: Acquired along with Scott Olsen in November. Missed 50 games in ’08 with back issues. 2009 is his first arb year; he submitted $3.6MM vs. $2.55MM from the Nats. Free agent-eligible after 2011 season. Has mainly played LF in big league career (68 innings at catcher, 3 at first base).
- Austin Kearns: Friend of Dunn from Cincinnati days. Owed $9MM for ’09 (includes $1MM buyout for ’10). Has experience as CF and RF. Dealt with elbow, foot injuries in ’08.
- Lastings Milledge: Experience at all three OF positions. Turns 24 in April. Under team control through 2012. Didn’t hit much outside of August. Manny Acta committed to him as the center fielder.
- Elijah Dukes: Experience at all three OF positions. Turns 25 in June. Under team control through 2013. .972 OPS after All-Star break in 29 games (dealt with calf/knee injuries). Paid back child support; will not face prison time.
Two more, not mentioned by Harlan as those considered potential everyday players:
- Willie Harris: Signed two-year, $3MM extension in December. Has played all three OF positions and 2B in his career, plus a small amount of SS and 3B. FanGraphs valued his ’08 defense so highly that they calculated him to be worth $14.6MM overall.
- Wily Mo Pena: Exercised $2MM player option in October after Nationals declined $5MM club option. Shoulder surgery in July. Recently turned 27; had .472 career SLG prior to ’08.
The Nats also have Corey Patterson in camp on a minor league deal. Seems like he chose the wrong team.
Dodgers Sign Randy Wolf
THURSDAY, 8:50am: The Wolf signing is official. Ramona Shelburne of the L.A. Daily News talked to Wolf, who said:
"I had offers pulled, offers reduced, it was really weird. I was like, ‘Wow, I must’ve had a bad game in the offseason.’"
FRIDAY, 8:06pm: Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News has heard that the deal is worth $5MM. Wolf can also earn up to $3MM in incentives if he reaches 200 innings.
5:54pm: FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal writes that the "deal is expected to be in the $5.5MM range and also will include incentives."
5:15pm: Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Dodgers have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with left-hander Randy Wolf.
The exact financial terms are not yet available. Wolf, 32, went 12-12 for the Padres and Astros last season. He posted a 4.30 and struck out 162 batters over 190 1/3 innings. Wolf, a Type B free agent who was denied arbitration by the Astros, is joining a Dodgers rotation that already boasts Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, Clayton Kershaw and Jason Schmidt. Shawn Estes, Claudio Vargas or Eric Stults could slide in if Schmidt isn’t able to work through his shoulder issues.
Ken Rosenthal published a run-down of Wolf’s offseason in late January. The Astros offered but quickly pulled a three-year, $28.5MM offer in November.