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Trade Market For Right Fielders

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The free agent market for right fielders offers a few solid options, such as Jayson Werth and Magglio Ordonez.  With the Tigers, Angels, Phillies, Nationals, Pirates, Cardinals, and Giants potentially looking for help at the position, let's survey the trade landscape.

Are They Available?

Jose Bautista, David DeJesus, and Carlos Quentin are three names to watch this winter.  Though there were a few rumors in the summer, it's difficult to picture the Blue Jays trading Bautista coming off a 54 home run campaign.  With DeJesus, we mentioned earlier that it may be wise to let him establish good health after his season ended in July with a torn thumb ligament.  Though it's pure speculation, Quentin seems the most likely of the three to be dealt this winter.  The Daily Herald's Scot Gregor examined his stock four days ago.  At one point, the Nationals showed interest.

Three Under Contract

Bobby Abreu, Kosuke Fukudome, and Milton Bradley are three well-paid right fielders who could be on the move if their teams assume salary.  Abreu is owed $9MM next year and another $9MM in 2012 if he reaches 433 plate appearances in '11.  Abreu or Juan Rivera could be dealt if the Angels add a free agent outfielder.  Fukudome was useful given his .263/.371/.439 line, but at $13.5MM next year the Cubs might prefer to trade their first-ever Japanese player and recoup some payroll space.  Bradley at $12MM is nearly immovable, but I like listing him anyway.

Deemed Expendable?

The Giants' Nate Schierholtz, 27 in February, could be sent packing after failing to produce in the bigs the last few years.  The non-tender candidates, discussed here, are so heavily favored to be cut loose that it doesn't make sense to trade for any of them.

Summary

There are several useful bats potentially joining the right field trade market.  Players like DeJesus and Quentin require injury risk tolerance, while most of the others require a willingness to assume part of an oversized contract.  Also consider that some clubs may be open to tolerating a left field type in right field for a year, adding names like Josh Willingham, Raul Ibanez, and Luke Scott to the mix.

Cliff Lee’s Wife Offended By Yankees Fans

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3:02pm: Lee's agent Darek Braunecker told ESPN's Andrew Marchand, "The story is not an issue to us.  Her experience in New York is certainly a non-issue. She enjoys New York as much as anyone enjoys New York."

10:01am: Two years ago, C.C. Sabathia's wife Amber was said to prefer the Giants.  Yankees GM Brian Cashman was able to pitch the couple on New York and close the deal on a seven-year, $161MM contract.  He may have a tougher task with Cliff Lee's wife Kristen, who did not have a good time at Yankee Stadium during the playoffs.  From USA Today's Bob Nightengale:

Perhaps the Rangers' greatest sales pitch simply was having Kristen sit in the visiting family section at Yankee Stadium during the playoffs. She says there were ugly taunts. Obscenities. Cups of beer thrown. Even fans spitting from the section above.  "The fans did not do good things in my heart," Kristen says. "When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it's hard not to take it personal."

It's impossible to say how Kristen Lee's experience will factor into the lefty's decision.  As Nightengale notes, Sabathia and A.J. Burnett (and perhaps their wives) are ready to recruit Lee this offseason.  Plus, it's unlikely Yankees fans would taunt their own star pitcher's wife.

The Yankees' main selling point, of course, will have to be money and contract years.  The Rangers have all the intangibles in their favor, especially the team's World Series appearance and proximity to the Lee family's Little Rock, Arkansas home.  We've seen players leave millions on the table before, though the Rangers plan to be aggressive in the bidding.

Amateur Signing Bonuses: Angels

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Next up in our series looking at each club's five largest amateur signing bonuses, the Angels…

  1. Jered Weaver, $4MM (2004)
  2. Kendry Morales, $3MM (2004)
  3. Kaleb Cowart, $2.3MM (2010)
  4. Troy Glaus, $2.25MM (1997)
  5. Joe Torres, $2.08MM (2000)

Coming off a junior season at Long Beach State in which he posted a 1.62 ERA with 213 strikeouts and just 21 walks in 144 innings (13.3 K/9, 1.3 BB/9), Weaver was the best pitching prospect in the 2004 draft but fell to the 12th overall pick due to bonus demands. The Scott Boras client held out until the following May (this was before the days of the signing deadline), pitching in an independent league to stay sharp in case he re-entered the draft in 2005. The Angels eventually got him to sign, and just about a year later he was in the big leagues. Weaver has a 3.55 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 144 career big league starts. He earned his first trip to the All Star Game in 2010, leading the AL with 233 strikeouts.

Morales defected from Cuba as a 21-year-old during the summer of 2004, signing with the Angels that December after establishing residency in the Dominican Republic. The $3MM bonus was paid up front as part of his six-year, $4.5MM major league contract. That deal just expired this season, but the Halos still control him as an arbitration eligible player for the next three years. The switch-hitting first baseman is a .284/.336/.502 career hitter in 1,240 big league plate appearances, coming into his own with a 43 double, 34 homer season in 2009.

The third overall pick in 1997, Glaus zoomed through the minors and made his major league debut in July 1998. A three-time All Star with the Angels, Glaus hit 40+ homers twice with the team, leading the AL with 47 big flies in 2000. He was named the World Series MVP during the team's 2002 title run, and overall hit .253/.357/.497 in six-plus years with the Angels before signing with the Diamondbacks as a free agent after the 2003 season. That $2.25MM bonus, a staggering amount at the time, was a tremendous investment. The Angels got their money's worth and then some.

Cowart was the the team's first round pick this year, the 18th overall selection. He hit .192/.214/.308 in just 28 plate appearances down in rookie ball after signing, but his career will begin in earnest next season. Torres flamed out after being the tenth overall pick in 2000, never getting out of Single-A. He missed part of 2003 and all of 2004 after having Tommy John surgery, and left the team as a minor league free agent after the 2006 season. Torres threw 375 innings in the Angels' system with a 5.40 ERA.

Casey Kotchman is right behind Torres at $2.075MM. He was the 13th overall pick in 2001. Mike Trout, the best prospect in baseball and the 25th overall pick in the 2009 draft, was originally asking for $2.5MM to sign last year, but he settled for $1.215MM. Through 807 minor league plate appearances, he's a .344/.426/.489 hitter.

White Sox Exercise Options On Thornton, Castro

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The White Sox exercised their 2011 options on reliever Matt Thornton and catcher Ramon Castro, tweets MLB.com's Scott Merkin.  The Sox also requested release waivers on righty Carlos Torres so he can pursue a job in Asia.

Thornton's $3MM option, which had a $250K buyout, was a given after his dominant 2010 season.  The hard-throwing southpaw posted a 2.67 ERA, 12.0 K/9, and 3.0 BB/9 in 60.6 innings, the only blemish being an August forearm injury.  After Thornton's strong '06 campaign for the Sox, GM Kenny Williams wisely signed him to a three-year deal with club options for 2010 and '11.  Talking to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Thornton said he's confident he can close in 2011 if needed.  Many consider Bobby Jenks a non-tender candidate.

Castro had a $1.2MM option with a $200K buyout, so his option was also an easy choice.  In his second season as A.J. Pierzynski's backup he hit .278/.328/.504 with eight home runs in only 128 plate appearances.

Torres, 28, was ranked 16th among White Sox prospects by Baseball America heading into the season.  He repeated Triple A, posting a 3.42 ERA, 7.9 K/9, and 4.0 BB/9 in 160.3 innings.  BA wrote that Torres "profiles as a long reliever/sixth starter."  His repertoire: "a heavy 90-92 fastball and a plus cutter that frustrates lefthanders."  They described him as an organizational favorite for his fearlessness and durability.

Yankees Sign Wilmer Romero

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The Yankees signed July 2nd prospect Wilmer Romero out of the Dominican Republic, tweets SI's Melissa Segura.  Romero, a 16-year-old center fielder, was ranked fifth among Dominican prospects on the list Blake Bentley compiled for MLBTR back in May.  Bentley wrote that Romero has the toolset to demand seven figures – the 6'2" center fielder has good speed, a strong arm, and plus power.  ESPN's Keith Law also praised Romero's tools and noted that he signed later because he had to go through MLB's age verification process.

Olney On Offseason, Athletics, Red Sox

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ESPN's Buster Olney dishes hot stove opinions and rumors…

Free Agent Market For Right Fielders

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The Tigers, Angels, Phillies, Nationals, Pirates, Cardinals, and Giants may be in the market for a right fielder this winter.  Let's examine the free agent options.

The Big Name

Though his agent Scott Boras keeps talking about center field, Jayson Werth has mainly played right in the Majors.  Werth, 31, is the marquee right-handed bat on the free agent market and plays strong defense as well.  In the opinion of CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury, "it’s clear that the starting price will be something in the range of the seven-year, $120 million deal that Boras client Matt Holliday received from St. Louis last winter."  Werth will also cost a draft pick if a team other than the Phillies signs him.  The Tigers, Angels, and Nationals could be contenders for his services, and despite full outfields most expect the Red Sox and Yankees to check in.

Solid Regulars

Magglio Ordonez and Brad Hawpe might be solid regulars next year, but there are concerns.  Ordonez, 37 in January, is represented by Boras and was limited to 84 games this year due to ankle surgery.  Will he take one year and a sizeable pay cut despite a solid offensive performance?  Hawpe, 31, slipped to .245/.338/.419 and was cut by the Rockies in August.  If UZR is any indication, he's better suited for a DH role.

Jason Kubel was pressed into right field duty this year; like Hawpe, he's better off at DH.  Kubel's off-year still looks pretty good compared to other free agents, but the Twins may pick up his option at a $4.9MM net price.  Xavier Nady played right field fairly regularly in 2008, but may not have the arm for an everyday gig after a second Tommy John procedure in July of '09.

Part-Time Players

Jose Guillen, Andruw Jones, Gabe Kapler, Randy Winn, Austin Kearns, Willie Bloomquist, and Jeremy Hermida all tallied 100+ innings in right field this year.  Jones and Kearns flashed decent OBPs, while Jones and Guillen showed some pop.

Non-Tender Candidates

The non-tender candidates don't add much to the discussion.  Jeff Francoeur is the main name, but he hasn't hit much since 2007.  He'll have to take a part-time role or minor league deal, as will Gabe Gross, Jason Repko, Ryan Church, Delwyn Young, Brett Carroll, and Travis Buck.

Summary

For clubs that don't have $100MM+ to spend on Werth, Ordonez and Hawpe are decent offensive-minded alternatives.

Boras Defends Werth

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At yesterday's press conference, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. was asked how the team's offense could be good or better without Jayson Werth.  Part of Amaro's response:

Jayson had a good year. It wasn't an extraordinary year. He had kind of a tough time with men in scoring position, so he didn't have as productive a year as he had in the past. But I think if he's not with us, there are players that we can acquire or we have in our own organization that can help us be as consistent.

It was odd to see a GM point out a player's shortcoming, although Amaro was correct in that Werth hit .186/.353/.314 in 190 plate appearances with runners in scoring position.  Of course, the sample is small and Werth was just fine with runners in scoring position in previous seasons.  Werth described the 2010 RISP numbers as an anomaly, talking to CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury.

Werth's new agent Scott Boras sidestepped the runners in scoring position angle, but still defended his client in a discussion with Salisbury.  Boras explained, "Compared to '09, he was up 30 points in batting average, 15 in on-base percentage, 30 in slugging, 40 in OPS. He had fewer home runs, but he had 20 more doubles."  Valid points.  Boras also said Werth's defense was "better than it has ever been," a point that is more difficult to prove.  The agent once again praised Werth's "center field acumen," though he's never played there regularly in the Majors.

As he typically does, Boras added that the Phillies have the money to retain Werth.

De La Rosa Will Test Free Agent Market

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Lefty Jorge de la Rosa will test the free agent market, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.  Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd still plans to make an aggressive multiyear offer, saying, "We continue to have a strong desire to bring him back. The conversations have been great."

In Renck's estimation, De La Rosa is seeking a four or five-year contract.  The southpaw, 30 in April, is one of the better free agent starters available despite never reaching 200 innings and a career walk rate of 4.5 per nine.  De La Rosa's case was strengthened when the Dodgers re-signed Ted Lilly at three years and $33MM earlier this month.  De La Rosa is represented by TWC Sports.

Our reverse-engineered Elias rankings suggest De La Rosa barely made the Type A cutoff.  He'll likely turn down an arbitration offer from the Rockies on November 30th, allowing Colorado to snag two draft picks if another team signs him.  Only one of those picks would come from the signing team.  Note that at 74.092 points, De La Rosa is the sixth-lowest rated of the 29 Type A free agents.  If a team signs De La Rosa and another higher-rated Type A who also turned down arbitration, one of the Rockies' picks could be pushed to the second or third round of the draft.  Renck expects the Rockies to pursue another free agent starter if De La Rosa departs.

Renck adds that the Rockies' decision on catcher Miguel Olivo's $2.5MM mutual option is due three days after the World Series.  He says they're leaning against exercising their side due to Carney Lansford's success working with Chris Iannetta.

Alderson Favored For Mets GM Job

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Sandy Alderson is "the overwhelming favorite" to become the next Mets GM, writes Mike Puma of the New York Post.  A source with knowledge of the hiring process told Puma Alderson is "close to a slam dunk" for the position.  His source adds that Alderson has the votes of Jeff and Fred Wilpon and only needs the approval of team president Saul Katz.  Puma speculates that Alderson's hiring could be announced on Friday, a World Series travel day.

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News agrees that Alderson is the favorite and also speculates on a Friday announcement.  Martino says Rangers GM Jon Daniels is no longer being considered for the Mets job.

Alderson, 63 next month, served as GM of the Athletics from 1983 through the 1997.  He later worked in the commissioner's office and for the Padres.

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