Links for a snowy Thursday…
- MLB.com's Lyle Spencer tweets of the Dodgers' interest in Robb Quinlan for a fourth outfielder role. The Rockies and Twins are other known suitors.
- Red Sox GM Theo Epstein appeared on the Toucher and Rich show this morning. He spoke about the team's offense, Adrian Gonzalez, Mike Lowell, and the "bridge period" comment; MLB.com's Ian Browne provides the transcript.
- MASN's Steve Melewski says the Red Sox rescinded the contract given to reliever Bob McCrory after he failed his physical.
- Tommy Rancel of DRays Bay looks at the team-friendly deals signed by Paul Cohen clients.
- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told Cam Inman of The Contra Costa Times there's a non-zero chance the team adds Mark McGwire to the player roster on August 31st.
- There is currently no timetable for the Cardinals to sit down with Albert Pujols' agents, GM John Mozeliak told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cards are ready to talk when Pujols is.
- Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball is beta-testing an MLB salary database. Also of note: Cot's Baseball Contracts has joined the Baseball Prospectus family.
- ESPN's Buster Olney wrote yesterday that Khalil Greene is working hard and seeks a big league deal. Greene can play shortstop or third base, and Olney sees Oakland as a potential match.
- The Pirates aren't far apart with Zach Duke on his 2010 salary, writes Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Kovacevic believes Duke's $2.2MM salary could double in his second arbitration year. A multiyear deal is not in the works.
- Murray Chass chronicles the blank contract Andre Dawson gave to the Cubs in the spring of '87.
- Joe Pawlikowski of River Ave. Blues looks at Nick Johnson's injury history in detail.
- A December 30th tweet from SI's Melissa Segura notes that Dominican lefty Victor Payano signed with the Rangers. Payano had a deal with the Red Sox in July for $900K that was voided due to shoulder concerns. Here's a video of the 16-year-old courtesy of Kiley McDaniel.
I guess I don’t get the McGwire thing. Was it supposed to be funny?
Would love to see McGwire get some pinch hitting opportunities. This is exactly why if i’m an MLB GM, I would have had B. Bonds on my team each of the last 2 years. He’s been willing to play for the minimum. I keep him on my bench and each game there is always one big spot where some no-chance player is coming up, where any manager would love to have Bonds come in and hit. Not sure why teams consistantly decline to have offensive threats come off the bench when there are so many available for so cheap.
The Cards have no need for him. Does TLR remember that they have Albert manning first base?
I’d be a pinch-hitting role once rosters expand.
Pinch Hit.
Thereby resetting his HOF clock until a time that more writers will vote for him?
That Payano kids seems a bit wild haha
lol i think its pretty safe to say that he WONT be on the active roster as a player… he’s like what 44 years old?
he’s 46
Not happening.
would love to have Heath bell to the cardinals..would fit perfectly in pretty much the last “hole” the cardinals have; setup/closer.
but if the deffered money from holliday is gonna be spent, id go for valverde. so what we give up a draft pick..were getting like #25 this year anyways, might as well be a 2nd rounder. not to mention this year’s draft is sort of lackluster.
say 1 year 4.5 million with 5 million player option
Can the cards now give a shot to Freese and go ahead and focus on the pin? We know we need work there and Id rather give young talent a shot at 3rd than “see” what would happen with a guy like Tejeda who is turning 76 next month. I like the idea.. but just think the guy would do too good in STL.
whats up with this fettish with Freese..craig is a plus defender like Freese, has more pop, and a higher average. not to mention he is a year or 2 younger than mr.26 year old prospect freese.
Well Freese does have a higher career minor league OPS – .915 to .879, but I’m sure if Freese can’t cut it, Craig would be next in line.
Khahil Greene wants to play this year? He should try to sign with the A’s, Reds or the Royals. Each of those teams had a high profile player with mental health issues-the players involved had all the support they needed to get back on the field. He’s probably going to have to settle for a split contract, though. I’m pulling for him.
LaRussa wants McGwire as a pinch hitter… in other news, in search of more power the Royals announced the signing of Babe Ruth’s corpse. And of course Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
Can K. Greene play the outfield? It might extend his career and the Yankees might have interest!
khalil greene cant handle the mental pressures of playing in St.louis..he might have a heart attack in new york.
From the Epstein interview… “If these moves that we’re working on this week work out…”
What could he still be working on regarding position players? The opening roster seems mostly set, does it not?