Rangers A Fit For Andruw Jones?
SI.com’s Jon Heyman believes the Rangers could become serious suitors for free agent outfielder Andruw Jones.
"If someone wants to resurrect their career, Texas is the perfect place," an American League executive told Heyman, referring to The Ballpark at Arlington’s short outfield walls.
The Rangers currently have outfielders Josh Hamilton, Marlon Byrd, Neslon Cruz and David Murphy on their projected big league roster. GM Jon Daniels said last weekend that he wants Hamilton to move from center to right field eventually, which could potentially open a spot for Jones.
Cardinals Far Apart With Ankiel, Ludwick
As reported by MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said Wednesday that little progress has been made with arbitration-eligible outfielders Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick.
"There’s not a whole lot to comment on," Mozeliak said. "Right now we’re just preparing. I think if there is a settlement before we enter in, it would be a [last-minute] type of thing."
Both players are pretty far apart in negotiations with the club. Ludwick asked for $4.25MM and was offered $2.8MM, while Ankiel asked for $3.3MM and the Cardinals countered with $2.35MM. The Cards haven’t required an arbitration hearing since 1999, but it looks like that’s about to change.
Pirates President Chats With Fans
Pirates president Frank Coonelly hosted a chat with fans over at MLB.com Wednesday afternoon and discussed various hot stove issues. We’ll summarize it here, but it’s also definitely worth checking out.
- Coonelly doesn’t see a scenario in which the Pirates would move Jack Wilson. At least not right now. "I expect Jack to be our Opening Day shortstop this year," Coonelly said.
- The organization has shied away from signing Type A free agents this offseason because the Pirates "value (their) draft choices so highly."
- Coonelly had this to say on the prospect of adding free agent Adam Dunn: "Right now, the salaries that he is expecting do not fit within our budget. If other moves were made and Dunn fit within our budget, he is someone who we would consider."
- There have not been discussions on a long-term contract with Nate McLouth since the two sides exchanged arbitration numbers a few weeks ago. "It looks like those discussions have ended for this year and we will likely have a one-year deal with Nate," said Coonelly.
- And, finally, Coonelly states that his "expectations are high" for this season: "I would never want to make predictions as to the number of games that we will win, but I am confident that we will play better than we did in 2008 and surprise a lot of people with our performance."
Phillies Bullpen Update
MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki notes that the Phillies still have a few holes in their bullpen. The club has expressed interest in Joe Beimel, Will Ohman, and Randy Flores this offseason, but those guys are still seeking relatively expensive (and lengthy) contracts.
"They’re looking for the multiyear deals," GM Ruben Amaro said Wednesday. "It’s more an issue of length than dollars, I think."
Zolecki believes that the Phillies may ultimately decide to solve their bullpen issues from within. Chan Ho Park could make for a useful long reliever if he’s unable to crack the starting rotation. Kyle Kendrick and J.A. Happ might also have to settle for bullpen roles and should provide the Phillies with a couple of serviceable middle relievers until left-hander J.C. Romero returns from suspension.
Blue Jays Claim Brian Burres
According to Roch Kubatko of MASN, the Blue Jays claimed lefty Brian Burres off waivers from the Orioles today. Burres had been designated for assignment when the O’s acquired Rich Hill. Burres, 28 in April, posted a 6.04 ERA in 129.6 innings for the Orioles last year.
Rays Reach Impasse With Dioner Navarro
2:22pm: A quote from Navarro’s agent Kendall Almerico, via Topkin:
"It appears that we have reached an impasse and that we will be going to arbitration on Monday. After that, I hope to resume negotiations on a long-term deal so Navi can play in Tampa for the rest of his career. But that may depend on how the Rays present their case and whether the Rays treat Navi respectfully at the hearing as Navi has instructed us to treat the Rays throughout this entire process."
11:04am: According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays are still in talks with their two remaining arbitration-eligible players, Dioner Navarro and Willy Aybar.
The Rays are only $150K apart with Aybar, and the sides are discussing a possible two-year deal. Aybar, a Super Two player, is under team control through 2012.
Navarro faces a $400K gap with the Rays, and they’re also discussing multiyear possibilities. He’s under team control through 2011.
The Lefty Reliever Market
Looking for a lefty reliever? Here are the available free agents:
- Joe Beimel – Beimel is a Type B free agent, but the Dodgers did not offer him arbitration. His walk and strikeout ratios are not great but he’s somehow managed to allow only one home run in the past two seasons. Lefties hit .278/.330/.311 against him in ’08.
- Randy Flores – Flores was non-tendered by the Cardinals in December. He had surgery in September for a cyst as well as fraying of the labrum. In the Majors in ’08 lefties hit .314/.422/.549 against him.
- Tyler Johnson – The youngest of the group, Johnson was also non-tendered by the Cards. He missed the entire ’08 season with shoulder problems. He held lefties to a .224/.307/.418 line in 2007.
- Will Ohman – Ohman was traded to the Braves in December of ’07 along with Omar Infante. He held lefties to a .200/.257/.314 line. The Braves have had an offer on the table for him since November, and the Phillies recently backed off.
- Dennys Reyes – Reyes is a Type B who was offered arbitration by the Twins. He’s bounced around in his career. Lefties hit .202/.250/.287 against him last year and the Dodgers may be interested.
- Ricardo Rincon – He pitched in the Mexican league for most of ’08 and hasn’t done much in the Majors since ’05.
- Ron Villone – Held lefties to a .176/.311/.318 line for the Cardinals in ’08.
The Tigers, A’s, Phillies, Braves, Dodgers, and Mets are known to be in the market for lefty relief help.
John Parrish, Orioles Agree To Terms
12:55pm: From Roch Kubatko of MASN:
The Orioles have reached agreement on a minor league deal with Parrish that includes a spring training invite and an out-clause that would allow him to leave the organization if he’s not on the major league roster by April 3.
Parrish will get a chance to crack the Orioles’ rotation.
8:53am: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, lefty John Parrish is likely to sign a minor league deal with the Orioles this week. The Tigers had expressed interest in Parrish earlier this winter.
Parrish, 31, posted a 2.97 ERA in 91 Triple A innings last year and a 4.04 mark in 42.3 innings for the Blue Jays. He could be a decent candidate to eat innings at the back of Baltimore’s rotation, and he probably prefers the chance to start.
Parrish came up in the Baltimore system and was traded to the Mariners in August of ’07.
Rockies Acquire Matt Murton
According to a press release, the Rockies acquired outfielder Matt Murton from the A’s for infielder Corey Wimberly.
Murton, 27, has a career line of .288/.354/.438 in 1002 plate appearances. He’s been involved in two big trades – the Nomar Garciaparra deal in ’04 and the Rich Harden trade last year. Murton spent most of ’08 in the minors and did not show much power.
Wimberly, 25, ranked as the Rockies’ 26th-best prospect in the ’09 Baseball America Handbook. He went unclaimed in the Rule 5 draft in December after hitting .291/.370/.345 in Double A. The speedster is said to be in the Bip Roberts mold, according to BA.
Brewers Acquire Chase Wright, Ramiro Mendoza
According to a press release, the Brewers acquired pitcher Chase Wright from the Yankees for outfielder/catcher Eric Fryer.
Wright, who turns 26 in a few days, spent most of 2008 with the Yankees’ Double A and Triple A clubs. He posted strong ERAs and strong groundball rates, but low strikeout rates as well. In their 2007 Handbook, Baseball America said Wright had "solid stuff" and "profiles best at the back of a rotation." He was designated for assignment when Andy Pettitte was signed. Fryer, 23, hit .335/.407/.506 in 104 games at Low A.
According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, the Brewers also added reliever Ramiro Mendoza on a minor league deal. Mendoza’s last useful big league stint was in ’04 with the Red Sox; he racked up a lot of innings for the Yankees in the late 90s/early 2000s.