Some links for Friday…
- Buster Olney of ESPN tweets that the Nationals have put Josh Willingham on the market once again. If they move the soon-to-be 31-year-old, it could clear the way for Adam Dunn to be moved to the outfield. Willingham recently avoided arbitration with the Nats, agreeing to a one-year, $4.6MM pact.
- Mike Puma of the New York Post hears that the Mets could bring Fernando Tatis back if they don't re-sign Carlos Delgado. However, the Mets have not contacted Tatis' agent.
- The Astros appear unwilling to talk multi-year deals with arbitration-eligible players Wandy Rodriguez, Hunter Pence and Tim Byrdak, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse (via Twitter).
- The Cards and Ryan Ludwick avoided arbitration and agreed on a one-year $5.45MM deal for 2010, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- A's prospect Grant Desme is retiring from baseball to "pursue the priesthood," according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Baseball America ranked Desme the club's eighth-best prospect this offseason.
- Craig Brown of Royals Authority doesn't see why the Royals signed Scott Podsednik if they were going to add Rick Ankiel, too.
- Tyler Hissey ranks the remaining free agents. Check out our comprehensive free agent list right here.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that the Mariners have been working on possible deals involving Jose Lopez.
- Olney says Jim Thome is talking with a few teams.
- Could the Brewers lock Prince Fielder up to a deal that keeps the first baseman in Milwaukee after the 2011 season? MLB.com's Adam McCalvy asked Brewers GM Doug Melvin if the club might extend Fielder soon and Melvin said: "I don't know the answer to that."
- Meanwhile, another big left-handed slugger is just looking for a job. Jim Thome remains available, but White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen tells MLB.com's Scott Merkin that he's happy to rotate players in and out of the DH spot this year.
- The Pirates, who are likely done making major moves this offseason, project to have an Opening Day payroll of $35.65MM, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog tweets that the Mets are close to making a deal.
- Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik says he's going to "tweak and add" before the season starts, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.
The Mets might go for Wang
Why trade Jose Lopez? He’s a solid player who can play multiple positions.
Because the M’s are going for the defense first approach. Lopez isn’t bad but, we could do a lot better. He’s a dead pull RH hitter which that approach at Safeco is just asking for trouble. He hit the majority of his homeruns on the road. He could be a mid-thirties home run threat if he hit at a park more conductive to a dead pull hitter. Many of his home runs barely make it over the fence at Safeco. He’s a good hitter, but could have a much better career in a different park.
Fair enough, but you have to have a better option as a replacement. The Ms have a good 2B prospect being blocked?
Dustin Ackley, first round draft pick last season, 2nd overall. But our GM has had interest in Orlando Hudson as a temporary option.
Plus, Ackely is still at least two seasons away from being MLB ready, realistically.
seriously… how is that prince fielder comment even a rumor?
Jose Lopez can be shipped off for prospects, while opening a position for Orlando Hudson to come aboard – continuing the Jack Z philosophy of guys who can get on base as opposed to Lopez’s hack tastic power swing.
Isn’t Lopez one of their best power bats? Is O-dog that mush better than Lopez playing defense? I don’t think the power drop off is worth it specially when you don’t have many feared hitters in your line-up
You don’t need power to score runs…check out the 85 Cards…ussmariner.com/2009/12/04/the-template/
Look at the 88 Dodgers, but in all seriousness today’s game is all about power.
The 1988 Oakland A`s had McGwire, canseco, Henderson,you can not find a team with more power then the 88 A`s and the dodgers shut them down with timely hitting, but more so with there pitching. Hershiser was a cy young winner, Gibson had his big home run in game one and the Mighty A`s who were the heavy favorites went down in flames. The Texas rangers always have had power hitters, and they have been spinning there wheels for years. The 1982 and 1985 Whitey Herzog Cardinals teams were based on guys with lots of speed who could slap the ball around on the astro turf. Plus they Traded Gerry Templeton to the padres in exchange of shortstops after templeton flipped off the crowd at a home game. Ozzie turned in to an OK hitter, but he is in the hall of fame for his glove. Since I started watching baseball in the early 60`s I have not seen a better defensive shortstop. His glove alone was probably worth a half a run a game.Plus they always had good pitching and a great stopper. And of course the players ran and stole bases like road runners. They were fun to watch. The Cards won the world series in 1982 and the royals won it in 1985.
cardinals should go after lopez and move skip out to the of it would give the team a lot more depth and be a big upgrade and 2nd base
If the Cardinals look for an infielder, they will go for a 3rd baseman. Skip did not do that bad in the 2nd half of the season and his range got better while the season goes through, with the help of Oquendo.
Desme retiring makes trading Cunningham look questionable as hell.
Losing Desme is a big punch in the gut for Oakland, but they’ve still got Michael Taylor, Sean Doolittle and Corey Brown. And Chris Carter might be in the outfield mix as well, depending on how Daric Barton performs in what probably will be his last shot as starting first baseman for the A’s.
Yeah it does but I wonder if Desme gave any kind of indication he was leaning towards retiring. Because decisions like this sometimes happen in a blink of a eye.
WSCR in Chicago is reporting Thome will sign with the Twins by the end of the day.
“Craig Brown of Royals Authority doesn’t see why the Royals signed Scott Podsednik if they were going to add Rick Ankiel, too.”
I thought everyone was aware of the fact that Moore is trying to build the lowest OBP team of all time…
OMG – actually a good week for us Met fans. (1) We didn’t sign Molina – addition by not adding. We didn’t over pay for an aging player (2) We didn’t sign Pineiro – again addition by not adding. Never pay a career bum off a career year. (3) Got a good fielder OF for nothing – Matthews – we need it with beltran down and possibly done.
gary matthews is good? good enough to almost have a 700 OPS the last two years (but not quite)?
i think neyer’s headline says it best, “Mets pick up vital fifth outfielder.”
FYI…I believe Desme’s first name is Greg, not Grant.
Nope, it’s definitely Grant
My bad, Baseball-Reference is wrong, then. 🙂
Baseball-Reference was right. Desme’s first name is Gregory. He goes by his middle name, which is Grant.
It’s all on me, then. Sorry ’bout that, guys.
No worries, i’ve seen it as Greg also but he does go by Grant
Wow. That Pirates payroll is LOW. However, I think it’s for the best…they don’t have any player on the team that is proven enough to be worth giving an extension to, ala Josh Johnson or Shane Victorino, and there wasn’t a great crop of middle-value FA’s this year. Next year should be interesting to watch for them, to see whether they will go out and make some signings that could boost their team, extend if necessary, in general make all the moves towards a competitive team.
Josh Willingham for Jose Lopez?
Man, Desme was promising. He was MVP on the AFL too. That’s a big jump from baseball to priesthood.
He was promising, but he also had some question marks. He had no exceptional tools to speak of and a lot of scouts questioned his ability to hit more advanced pitching, but they praised him on getting the most production out of his abilities. I’m sure the A’s were counting on him to provide some kind of contribution when they let Cunningham go.
Good luck to him.
Adam Dunn back in the outfield? Ew.
Correction: Adam Dunn anywhere on the field? Ew!
Rick Ankiel to Royals… Maybe a precursor to a yankees swap for DeJesus? Just speculation…
Why can’t Desme do both? A’s can trade him to the Padres and he can hang out with the Friar
Good thinking 55. The guy was a machine at Cal Poly SLO where he was Big West MVP. A lot of fun to watch while hanging out at Krukow’s Klubhouse. I wish him the best.
Let’s see, the ‘Stros are unwilling to talk about multi-year deals for Rodriguez and Pence, two pretty good players, but they’ll sign guys like Brandon Lyon to stupid, multi-year deals? Yep, Ed Wade is in charge there.
Tatis would be a good guy to bring back. We need to strengthen our bench. Who knows what Freese is gonna do for us at third. He may not even be the guy to start the season.