Offseason Outlook: Philadelphia Phillies
Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Philles. Their likely commitments for 2010:
C – Carlos Ruiz – $475K+
C – Paul Hoover – $400K
1B – Ryan Howard – $19MM
2B – Chase Utley – $15MM
SS – Jimmy Rollins – $7.5MM
3B –
IF – Juan Castro – $800K (estimated)
LF – Raul Ibanez – $11.5MM
CF – Shane Victorino – $3.125MM+
RF – Jayson Werth – $7MM
OF – Ben Francisco – $421K
OF – John Mayberry Jr. – $400K
1B/3B/OF – Greg Dobbs – $1.35MM
SP – Cliff Lee – $9MM
SP – Cole Hamels – $6.65MM
SP – Joe Blanton – $5.475MM+
SP – J.A. Happ – $405K
SP – Jamie Moyer – $8MM
RP – Brad Lidge – $11.5MM
RP – J.C. Romero – $4MM
RP – Ryan Madson – $4.5MM
RP – Chad Durbin – $1.635MM+
RP – Clay Condrey – $650K+
RP – Sergio Escalona – $400K
RP – Kyle Kendrick – $475K
Non-tender candidates: Durbin, Condrey
Other commitments: Adam Eaton – $500K, Pedro Feliz – $500K, Geoff Jenkins – $1.25MM
The Phillies have about $121.5MM committed before arbitration raises to Ruiz, Victorino, Blanton, Durbin, and Condrey. Those raises should put the Phils in the $130MM range after beginning 2009 at $132.5MM. The Phillies would have about $10MM to spend with a $140MM payroll, although Scott Lauber of The News Journal believes they have closer to $120MM committed (and $20MM to spend).
The Phillies' needs are clear: a starting third baseman, a late-inning reliever or two, and perhaps a backup catcher and cheap starting pitcher. With Romero recovering from a flexor tendon surgery, one of the relievers will probably be a lefty.
At third base, Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa, and Placido Polanco are the free agent targets. Beltre, 31 in April, would likely be an improvement on Pedro Feliz both offensively and defensively. Will Ruben Amaro Jr. tangle with Scott Boras? He extended Madson in January and signed Rodrigo Lopez in March, so relations seem fine.
Re-signing relievers Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre appears unlikely, based on recent reports. We have seen the Phils named as speculative suitors for Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon, with the latter a better fit since the team isn't quite ready to hand over Lidge's ninth-inning role. Guys like Kevin Gregg, Rafael Betancourt, Octavio Dotel, LaTroy Hawkins, and J.J. Putz may also be willing to accept uncertainty between an eighth or ninth-inning role. The Phillies could also take the Mets-Putz approach – if you trade for someone, he has no say in his role. If the Phils were willing to offer up the closer job, they could look at free agents Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Jose Valverde, Billy Wagner.
A significant starting pitching acquisition seems unlikely, as the Phillies will be right up against that $140MM limit after filling the third base and bullpen needs. Barring unforeseen injuries, the Phillies should be one of the NL's top teams again next year. Their biggest move was acquiring Lee on July 29th; they'll enjoy him for all of 2010.
Heyman On Lowell, Tejada, White Sox
The latest from SI's Jon Heyman…
- The Phillies had a "brief talk" with the Red Sox about Mike Lowell, but Heyman finds a free agent signing more likely.
- A competing agent believes Fern Cuza might be able to get a three-year deal for Miguel Tejada, which seems unlikely to me. Heyman says Tejada is drawing interest from the Cardinals, Astros, Giants, Phillies, and Rangers. The Rangers keep getting linked to starting infielders, but they're really only looking for a backup.
- Heyman notes that the White Sox signing Andruw Jones represents a rare Kenny Williams-Scott Boras matchup. He says Boras tried to sell the Sox on bringing back Joe Crede, prior to their Mark Teahen acquisition.
- Kendry Morales apparently advised Aroldis Chapman to switch from API to the Hendricks brothers.
Cardinals Sign Ruben Gotay
The Cardinals signed minor league free agent infielder Ruben Gotay, tweets MLB.com's Matthew Leach. Gotay, 27 next month, has big league experience with the Royals, Mets, and Braves. This year he hit .272/.429/.450 for the D'Backs' Triple A club, playing second and third base. Gotay's 102 walks in 479 plate appearances (21.3%) make him an intriguing pickup.
Do Red Sox Prefer Holliday Over Bay?
3:34pm: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says Bay is still a top priority for the Red Sox, who are "trying to build on" their rejected $60MM offer. Cafardo says that offer was over five years, though most have reported it to be over four.
8:30am: How much do you trust the information of "one rival executive?" Such a source makes for the basis of the latest blog post from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. This exec told the FOX writers that the Red Sox prefer Matt Holliday over Jason Bay, and do not intend to re-sign Bay despite ongoing negotiations.
The writers go on to explain that the Red Sox would stand to gain a draft pick by signing Holliday instead of Bay. They'd lose their #29 pick to the Cardinals by signing Holliday, but would get a pick back from the team that signs Bay and would also receive a supplemental pick. Furthermore, the writers believe Bay will not be signed by a team with a protected first-round pick (such as the Mets).
Robinzon Diaz Becomes A Free Agent
The Pirates designated catcher Robinzon Diaz for assignment on Friday, and now according to a team press release he has cleared waivers and been unconditionally released. The 26-year-old catcher hit .279/.307/.357 in 138 plate appearances for the Pirates this year, catching 283 innings.
The press release also notes that recently-designated players Jeff Karstens and Justin Thomas cleared waivers and have been outrighted to Triple A.
Odds & Ends: Matsui, Cardinals, Arb Offers
Links for Monday…
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan wonders if Bobby Crosby could be a match for the Rangers as a utility infielder.
- MLB.com's Mychael Urban has an update on free agent lefty Mark Mulder.
- Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball analyzes Tim Lincecum's possible 2010 salary, and predicts the pitcher might submit $16.8MM against the Giants' $8MM figure.
- ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that Hideki Matsui's marketability is not a factor for the Yankees.
- Alex Speier of WEEI examines the chances of Roy Halladay remaining a workhorse over the next several seasons.
- Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch doesn't see geography as a big factor for Matt Holliday. Meanwhile, Bernie Miklasz of the P-D doesn't understand Albert Pujols' reasoning as to why he needs to wait to discuss an extension.
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart asks readers to predict the Astros' arbitration decisions for free agents. Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins are tough calls in that it makes sense but we're not sure if the Astros will. We'll have predictions on all Type A/B free agents later today.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel explains why he feels only Felipe Lopez will get an arbitration offer from the Brewers.
- MLB.com's Joe Frisaro says the Marlins are leaning against offering arbitration to Type B free agents Kiko Calero and Nick Johnson. Calero might be worth it.
- Jon Weisman of Dodgers Thoughts says the Dodgers' arbitration decisions won't necessarily be influenced by the McCourts' divorce.
- Staying with this theme, FanGraphs' Dave Cameron looks at the factors that should influence a team's arbitration-offer decision.
- Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports look at the market for Miguel Tejada.
- Morosi suggests ten teams that should talk to the Tigers about Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, and Edwin Jackson.
- Jacob Jackson of Athletics Nation has a detailed offseason plan for the A's.
- Righty Miguel Batista told Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times that he has a few contenders interested in his services.
- Notes from NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman: the Orioles are eyeing pitcher Hisanori Takahashi, and Hideki Okajima would like a contract extension (he's under team control through 2012 as an arbitration-eligible player).
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the fates of Jeff Karstens, Robinzon Diaz, and Justin Thomas will be decided today.
- Elmer Dessens doesn't have a contract with the Mets quite yet, writes Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News.
Heyman On Tigers’ Edwin Jackson Demands
SI's Jon Heyman tweets a rumor of the Tigers' demands from the Mariners in an Edwin Jackson trade:
"Hearing Tigers sought young pitchers Brandon Morrow and Shawn Kelley for Jackson. Mariners apparently said no."
So the Tigers offered two years of Jackson for four years of Morrow and five of Kelley. Were the Mariners right to turn it down?
Pirates Sign Wil Ledezma
The Pirates signed lefty Wil Ledezma to a minor league deal, according to a team press release. Ledezma, 29 in January, bounced around in the Nationals and Blue Jays organizations this year. He compiled a 3.49 ERA in 38.6 innings at three minor league stops, whiffing over a batter per inning but walking 4.2 per nine innings.
Cardinals To Re-Sign Jason LaRue
The Cardinals will re-sign backup catcher Jason LaRue, according to the team's Twitter feed. In his second year as Yadier Molina's backup, LaRue hit .240/.288/.327 in 112 plate appearances and caught 254 innings. He earned $950K for his efforts.
Rangers Rumors: Marlins Talks, Dye, Millwood
The latest Rangers hot stove buzz, courtesy of MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan…
- The Rangers were told by the Marlins that Josh Johnson is not available, which jives with Michael Hill's recent comments. Texas also inquired on other Marlins pitchers, and Sullivan says "there doesn't appear to be a match."
- Sullivan says the teams had "absolutely no discussions" about Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla. On November 19th, ESPN's Jayson Stark had written that talks with the Giants and Rangers for Uggla had gotten hot and heavy at the GM Meetings.
- The Rangers will need to add a utility infielder, with Omar Vizquel signing with the White Sox.
- Jermaine Dye remains a top Rangers target as they search for a right-handed middle of the order bat. Dye's willingness to play first base appeals to the Rangers. Despite the nice fit, Sullivan believes Dye will land in San Francisco.
- The Rangers "are not trying to move" veteran starter Kevin Millwood. Millwood under contract for 2010 after recording "The $12 Million Out" on September 21st.