Archives for 2010

Manager/GM Notes: Pirates, Jays, Cubs, Mets, Listach

By Luke Adams 2 | October 12, 2010 at 9:33pm CDT

Let's check out the latest updates from a handful of manager and GM searches….

The Pirates interviewed Ken Macha and Jeff Banister today for their managerial opening, according to the team's official Twitter feed. As Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes, both men have local ties.
Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun tweets that Bobby Valentine interviewed with the Blue Jays for Cito Gaston's old job.
According to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts has interviewed four managerial candidates: Mike Quade, Ryne Sandberg, Bob Melvin, and, as we heard earlier today, Eric Wedge.
ESPN New York's Adam Rubin says (via Twitter) the Mets are awaiting permission to interview "a couple more" GM candidates, besides the five we already know, though it doesn't sound like Jerry Dipoto is one of them (Twitter link). At least one figures to be a minority candidate, according to Rubin.
Pat Listach tells Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he hasn't heard from the Brewers or any other teams looking for managers.

Odds & Ends: Choo, Nationals, Lee, Pujols

By Luke Adams 2 | October 12, 2010 at 9:05pm CDT

Links for Tuesday night, as Cliff Lee and the Rangers look to advance to the ALCS….

A story by Yoon Chul of the Korea Times quotes Shin-Soo Choo as saying he'd like to play for a team that wins more than Indians. However, GM Chris Antonetti tells Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he has spoken to Choo and the outfielder "expressed his passion for winning in Cleveland."
MLB.com's Bill Ladson fields readers' questions about whether the Nationals will pursue Lee, Ted Lilly, Javier Vazquez, and others this offseason.
Speaking of Lee, when the Yankees really want a player, they usually get him, writes Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.
Fangraphs' Jack Moore says that if Albert Pujols hits free agency after the 2011 season, it would be the MLB equivalent of LeBron James' summer of 2010 in terms of impact.

Ordonez Optimistic About Returning To Tigers

By Luke Adams 2 | October 12, 2010 at 6:00pm CDT

An ankle injury prevented Magglio Ordonez from earning enough playing time to trigger his 2011 vesting option, and when it became a club option, the team turned it down. However, Ordonez is still hoping he'll be back in Detroit next season. Jason Beck of MLB.com passes on comments the 36-year-old made to Augusto Cardenas of Diario Panorama (Spanish link), suggesting a return to the Tigers could be likely.

"I want to stay in Detroit, obviously," Ordonez said. "I know the organization has been very good to me and the fans have treated me great…. I think there is a great chance to stay in Detroit, but let's see what happens."

Earlier this year, when MLBTR's Mark Polishuk previewed Ordonez's offseason, he opined that an incentive-laden one-year deal with an option may appeal to both the Tigers and the 14-year veteran. As Beck notes, Ordonez could still test the open market, especially if Detroit doesn't offer him arbitration. The Tigers will have plenty of money coming off the books this winter though; if they're as interested in bringing Ordonez back as he is in returning, the two sides should be able to work something out.

Minor League Transactions: Free Agents, Herges, Ramirez

By Luke Adams 2 | October 12, 2010 at 5:24pm CDT

Matt Eddy of Baseball America brings us minor league transactions for October 3rd to 9th, the first full week of the offseason for most clubs. Here are a few notes of interest from the latest series of minor league moves across the league:

Many familiar names have been granted free agency, including Ian Snell, Cla Meredith, Micah Owings, Fernando Nieve, Dan Meyer, Ryan Garko, Mike Jacobs, and Jason Bergmann.
The Royals released reliever Matt Herges. Herges didn't reach the majors this season, but had a solid year in 2009, recording a 3.38 ERA in 30 games between Cleveland and Colorado.
Yordany Ramirez, a long-time minor league outfielder, was re-signed by the Astros. After struggling as a hitter in three Triple-A seasons, the 26-year-old is being converted to pitching.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Takashi Saito

By Tim Dierkes | October 12, 2010 at 4:33pm CDT

Reliever Takashi Saito told reporters today he's uncertain about his future, but still believes he can pitch, according to Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Free agent stock watch time!

The Pros

Back in the National League, Saito's numbers this year were reminiscent of his Dodgers days: 2.83 ERA, 11.5 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and four home runs allowed in 54 innings. Unlike last year with the Red Sox, Saito was particularly tough on right-handed hitters.
Saito is likely to sign a one-year deal.
He could handle a closing job, and that strict usage would effectively limit his workload.

The Cons

Saito turns 41 in February. Back in 2008 he became the first pitcher known to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection into his elbow, which allowed for a quick recovery from a torn ulnar collateral ligament. With the Braves this year he dealt with hamstring and shoulder ailments. At this point in his career Saito cannot be counted on for 50 innings. I'm no doctor, but you'd have to worry about that ligament fully tearing.
2009 may have been a fluke, but Saito's periperhals suffered in the American League.

The Verdict

Saito signed with the Braves for a $3.2MM base salary and another $2.3MM in incentives. If his shoulder and elbow check out, there's no reason he should sign for less this time around. In fact, he'd have a case for a raise. He'll be appealing to most teams looking for a tough late-game reliever, but clubs will attempt to keep the base salary low and sign him to an incentive-laden deal given his age and recent injury history.

Nationals Face Decision On Chien-Ming Wang

By Tim Dierkes | October 12, 2010 at 3:55pm CDT

Chien-Ming Wang pitched again in the instructional league today, and Bob Klapisch tweets word from a scout that he looked "filthy." Wang hit 89 mph and got four groundballs in 17 pitches, reports MASN's Ben Goessling.

If the Nationals want to retain Wang, they could simply tender him a contract for no less than $1.6MM, or work out a new agreement before the non-tender deadline. If the Nats non-tendered Wang and still wanted to bring him back, they'd have to either wait until May to sign him to a major league deal or sign him to a minor league contract and keep him in the minors until May 1st.

On October 6th, Goessling wrote that Nationals GM Mike Rizzo expects to work out a new deal with Wang before the December 2nd non-tender deadline; Wang's agent Alan Nero also told Goessling he expects to reach some kind of agreement with the team. The Nationals signed Wang in February to a $2MM deal with $3MM in performance bonuses, but his recovery from July '09 shoulder surgery became drawn out and prevented him from facing hitters until recently.

Odds & Ends: Nakajima, Butler, Managers

By Tim Dierkes | October 12, 2010 at 3:03pm CDT

On this date six years ago, the Dodgers released a 20-year-old righty named Joakim Soria, who was recovering from Tommy John surgery. Soria was later signed by the Padres out of the Mexican League and then snagged by the Royals in the 2006 Rule 5 draft. He's now one of the game's best closers. On to today's links…

The Astros signed Dominican righty Luis Abad for a low six figures bonus, tweets SI's Melissa Segura. Back in May, Blake Bentley ranked the new Dominican prospects for MLBTR, placing Abad in a tenth-place tie and calling him "one of the most projectable pitchers you'll see."
I took a look at Neil Walker's fantasy baseball prospects for 2011 over at RotoAuthority.
The Mariners are interested in Japanese middle infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima, says U.S.S. Mariner's Dave Cameron. Nakajima may be posted by the Seibu Lions and could be a bargain this winter. Patrick Newman of FanGraphs has more on Nakajima.
Royals first baseman Billy Butler changed agents, going from Doug Rogalski to Greg Genske of Legacy Sports, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Rogalski has to feel burned, as Butler is heading to arbitration for the first time this winter.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts interviewed Eric Wedge for the team's managerial opening yesterday, reports ESPN's Bruce Levine. Larry Stone of the Seattle Times reports that the Mariners interviewed Bobby Valentine yesterday and have Lloyd McClendon on the docket this week.
Billy Wagner talked to MLB.com's Mark Bowman about his retirement.

Hardest-Throwing Free Agent Relievers

By Tim Dierkes | October 12, 2010 at 2:09pm CDT

Thanks to the average fastball velocity data available at FanGraphs, we can make all kinds of fun lists. Today we'll compile the hardest-throwing free agent relievers (minimum 20 innings in 2010).

1. Kyle Farnsworth – 94.9
2. Jesse Crain – 94.8
3. Kerry Wood – 94.4
4. J.J. Putz – 94.0
5. Jose Contreras – 94.0
6. Joaquin Benoit – 94.0
7. Guillermo Mota – 93.9
8. Frank Francisco – 93.4
9. Rafael Soriano – 92.9
10. Jason Frasor – 92.8

Bobby Jenks gets an honorable mention, as he'll top the list at 95.0 if he's non-tendered. The White Sox had a ridiculously hard-throwing bullpen this year; Matt Thornton is at 96.1 but we assume his option will be picked up. Also of note: the Cardinals' Mike MacDougal (94.7) just missed our innings cutoff.

Trade Market For Shortstops

By Tim Dierkes | October 12, 2010 at 1:16pm CDT

As many as seven teams could be looking for help at shortstop, but the options aren't very interesting beyond Juan Uribe and Hiroyuki Nakajima. Let's see if the trade market offers anyone useful.

Non-Tender Candidates

As we mentioned earlier, Jason Bartlett, J.J. Hardy, and Ryan Theriot are getting expensive through arbitration and could be shopped around. Theriot will probably be non-tendered and Hardy may get another shot with the Twins because their alternatives aren't much better. The Rays, though, could trim several million dollars by trading Bartlett. Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez could be in-house alternatives.

Probably Off-Limits

We've heard the odd Stephen Drew rumor here and there over the years, but new Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers probably won't trade him this winter. Drew had a strong year, and the D'Backs need him at short.

Potential Surpluses

A few teams might feel they've captured a rare surplus of shortstops. The Rays are one, with Bartlett, Brignac, and Rodriguez. The Red Sox could be another, given the strong play of Jed Lowrie this year. Generally we'd expect the older, more expensive player to be shopped. In this case that's Marco Scutaro, who's set to earn $5MM next season.

Chris Nelson will never supplant Troy Tulowitzki as the Rockies' shortstop, but they'll probably prefer to keep Nelson around in the second base mix. The Cubs have strong organizational shortstop depth with Starlin Castro and Hak-Ju Lee, perhaps making Darwin Barney expendable.

The Padres' Everth Cabrera, Dodgers' Chin-lung Hu, and the Angels' Brandon Wood may have fallen out of favor. Cabrera's offense took a dive this year, though the Padres don't have better options. Hu has spent time at Triple A in each of the last four seasons and is behind Dee Gordon and Ivan DeJesus Jr. on the team's depth chart. Wood had his longest big league trial this year, but he still hasn't figured it out.

Veterans Under Contract

Jack Wilson ($5MM) and Jamey Carroll ($1.8MM) are a couple of veterans who may be available. Wilson is a much pricier Adam Everett, so he'd be tough to move. Carroll logged a surprising 573 innings at shortstop this year with a career-best .379 OBP.

Logan White To Interview For Mets GM Job

By Tim Dierkes | October 12, 2010 at 12:55pm CDT

12:55pm: White is interviewing for the Mets GM job, confirms Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times. Hernandez adds that White has a new deal in place to remain with the Dodgers in his current role if he does not get the Mets gig.

9:45am: A potential new candidate has entered the mix for the Mets GM vacancy in Dodgers assistant GM of amateur and international scouting Logan White. ESPN's Tony Jackson reported early Tuesday that White will interview for the Mets GM job on Friday. The implication is that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti granted White permission to do so. However, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News talked to non-Mets league sources who said White is not a candidate for the GM job. Instead, they're interested in hiring him in a scouting role to work with the team's new GM.

Red Sox assistant GM Allard Baird interviewed for the Mets GM position yesterday. ESPN's Adam Rubin reports that Baird spoke to Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, acting GM John Ricco, and other team executives. The Mets will interview White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn today and former Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes tomorrow. Sandy Alderson, the reported favorite, interviews Thursday or Friday.

Meanwhile, Dan Martin of the New York Post spoke to Athletics GM Billy Beane, who unsurprisingly supported the idea of the Mets hiring Alderson. Martin's colleague Joel Sherman explains why he feels Alderson is best qualified for the job.

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