A few Friday night links…
- The Brewers and Corey Hart appear headed to an arbitration hearing after negotiations reached an impasse, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Hart filed for $4.8MM, the team $4.15MM.
- Chad Jennings of The Journal News spoke to a Yankees' executive about the possibility of bringing in some players on minor league deals, and was told “I wouldn’t say we’re done, but probably close to done.”
- Four teams – including the Yankees, Rangers, and Mariners – are interested in Rocco Baldelli's services, reports Joe McDonald of The Providence Journal.
- ESPN's Jorge Arangure tweets that Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz is now free to sign after being "unblocked" by the Office of Foreign Asset Control. In a second tweet, Arangure says that Ruiz is expected to command a multi-million dollar contract, and a few months ago we heard that the Red Sox and Tigers had some interest.
- Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reports that Mark Hendrickson passed his physical today, however his deal with the Orioles likely won't be made official until Monday because the league's offices are closed during the weekend.
- MLB.com's Steve Gilbert says that the Diamondbacks and Edwin Jackson are playing close attention to how Wandy Rodriguez's arbitration case unfolds.
- The Rockies and Cardinals are in the mix for Felipe Lopez, tweets SI.com's Jon Heyman. The 29-year-old had a higher OBP (.383) and SLG (.427) than either Orlando Hudson or Orlando Cabrera in 2009.
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson says that the Nationals have spoken to John Smoltz's agent recently, but there is no progress to report and they aren't willing to break the bank for him (both links open in Twitter).
- Meanwhile, Ladson also tweets that the team views the newly signed Miguel Batista as a starter for the back of their rotation, as opposed to an arm for the bullpen.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com says (via Twitter) that Craig Monroe isn't ready to retire to just yet. Over the last three years, Monroe has hit .215/.272/.377 with 23 homers in 693 plate appearances for four teams.
Lopez would be so ideal for stl.. And throw in calero and I’m gonna say were right up their with the philles/Yankees/ red sox
I am clueless as to how Orlando Cabrera, Orlando and yes, Felipe Lopez for crying out loud are still unsigned!
Felipe almost won the silver slugger at 2B. he is 29 years old. and the 3 of these guys are better than a majority of middle infielders around Baseball.
All I can guess is:
Felipe Lopez – Cardinals
Orlando Cabrera – Reds
Orlando Hudson – Nationals
These guys aren’t even half way through their careers. Well Orlando Cabrera is but I just can’t believe that Felipe Lopez expecially is unsigned.
As for the Rockies, Why not give Eric Young Jr. the second base job. The kid deserves a chance and can spark a lineup that already has some spark in Dex and Carlos Gonzalez. They could sacrifice power for speed. Lot’s of speed.
Totally agree with you, considering Lopez absurdly good year last year, he should be signed, and him at 3b would just make me ecstatic along with a Calero.
Eric Young might as well go to 2b, that OF is so crowded with depth, and I am jealous :P
I agree, Floppy was good with us when he came over in a midseason trade a while ago too… Throw him in if Freese is struggling, heck, I’d be fine with him starting for a while too or going to the OF to give one of those guys a rest…
Lineup could be Skip, Floppy, Pujols, Holliday, Ludwick, Rasmus, Molina, P, Ryan. Still have Lugo and Freese to put in there too, that’s as good of a lineup we’ve had in a while.
Lopez is almost just as good of an option as Hudson, I would have no issue with the Rockies signing him instead of Cabrera or Mora, it would be so worth it. The only thing is that I worry is that he goes back to Nationals level….
Coors field can make any average player look like a star.. I don’t think their is any cause for worry
It can make them look like a star if he is a power hitter. I don’t think that Cabrera for example will do any better at Coors than he would at Great American. As for Lopez, the guy is a star. Hec…Hudson, Cab, and Lopez are stars wherever they play. I am just astonished that neither of these fellas have a job yet.
That’s kind of an ignorant statement; Coors is no longer a bandbox because of the humidor, it drowns out some home runs now but it excellent for the hitter who goes for singles and doubles.
I also think that Edwin Jackson has a shot to win 18-20 games this season. They guy has electric stuff and a good fastball. Also the move to the NL. he deserves what ever money he wants I think. Possible top 5 in Cy Young voting maybe.
That’s a big maybe and huge standards for someone who isn’t even the best pitcher on his staff…not even second best to be honest.
So which of these 5 guys is Jackson going to outperform?:
Tim Lincecum
Dan Haren
Adam Wainwright
Roy Halladay
Johan Santana
Obviously I could have gone deeper.
I’m just saying he has a shot. In a Rotation with Haren and Webb the D-Backs have one of top 3 best big three’s in Baseball.
My top 5 in Cy Young voting:
Roy Halladay
Johan Santana
Josh Johnson
Edwin Jackson
Tim Lincecum
thats cool, but i really dont see how lincecum finishes under jackson
mine goes more like this:
wainwright
halladay
lincecum
carpenter
Webb-comeback player of the year
santana
haren
with jackson somewhere in the top 15..definitly not top 5..maybe with a career year he cracks 10. playing in comerica park which is pretty dang pitchers friendly in a weak division definitly helps, now he is going to be in a division with only 1 team expected to have less than 85 wins while playing in a hitters park.
I’d love to see Baldelli and Byrnes compete for that RH OF spot for Seattle. Though I imagine the competition may be a bit of a turn-off to Baldelli.
Arbitration is crazy. Guys get paid double what they would get as free agents. Corey Hart asking for nearly 5 million? I don’t get it. Non-tender that type of player and if they sign for your price keep them- otherwise let them go.
Hart will probably go to arbitration and lose at this point. It’s nice to see players held accountable once in a while.
“… the Red Sox are interested.” That’s becoming a standard phrase. Ever play the ‘in bed’ game with Chinese fortune cookies? To each you add, “in bed” – like “You will have great fortune … in bed”. I think we have a new one, for baseball players. “Bobby Bragan, a weak hitting shortstop and catcher, died yesterday … and the Red Sox are interested.” Six month old Andy Pandy was photographed with a baseball yesterday … and the Red Sox are interested.”
I couldn’t help but add “in bed” to every Red Sox rumor.
Those creepy Red Sox!!!
Does anyone know what kind of contract Lopez is looking for?
Hudson is unsigned because of the fantasyland deal he hopes for.
I think if Lopez was asking for something reasonable, he would have been long gone by now.
Man boras really doesn’t have his head on straight this year
As an Indians fan who was slightly sickened to be tenuously linked with Hudson yesterday can I just say, go for Lopez instead, cheaper, more versatile and BETTER!!! Just a few Million and we could be in with a shout.
If the Mariners sign Baldelli after already getting Byrns. This is more evidence that the M’s are still in the hunt for a trade of another SP. And M. Saunders is most likely part of that deal. A. Harrang has been talked about allot in regards to the M’s..