Links for Friday…
- Chad Jennings of The Journal News reports that Marcus Thames can opt out of his contract with the Yankees if he doesn't make the team out of Spring Training. Thames signed a minor league deal earlier this month that would pay him $900K in the big leagues.
- Alyson Footer, the Astros' Sr. Director of Social Media, tweets that the team has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with infielder Tommy Manzella worth $400K. He's expected to be the team's regular shortstop in 2010, and he has less than a month's worth of service time.
- Mike Aviles and Anthony Lerew agreed to terms with the Royals according to a team press release. Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star tweets that both deals are expected to be worth less than $500K. Both players are not yet eligible for arbitration.
- Meanwhile, the Marlins also agreed to terms with six of their pre-arbitration eligible players, reports MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
- Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun reports that Orioles' lefty Brian Matusz has changed agents, and is now represented by CAA Sports. He had a 4.63 ERA in 44.2 innings last year, and is widely considered to be one of the two or three best pitching prospects in the game.
- Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo spoke about the Livan Hernandez signing to MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling, and said that the righty isn't guaranteed a rotation spot.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports polled nearly 20 baseball people about Carl Crawford's next contract. Many of the agents and executives expect Crawford to command a five-year deal worth $12-16MM per season, but some think the left fielder could make as much as $18MM per year when he hits the open market, probably after 2010.
- Scott Rolen was happy to restructure his contract so the Reds could "free up some money to go out and be more competitive," according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
- Nationals pitcher Rafael Martin tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson that he agreed to his deal on February 8th (Twitter link).
- Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd told Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports that he wants his players to be driven by "more than money." O'Dowd also told Ringolsby that he did not shop Brad Hawpe this winter.
- The Mets are still looking at lefty and righty relievers, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff (via Twitter).
- Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt tells Scott Lauber of the News Journal that he expects Placido Polanco to make a smooth transition to third base.
- Marlon Byrd tells USA Today's Bob Nightengale that he's uncomfortable being compared to friend and former teammate Milton Bradley.
- Big market clubs sent $433MM to small market clubs last year, according to Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball.
- The Red Sox don't generally use insurance on their long-term deals. Principal owner John Henry tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that "it isn't always easy to get paid," even once players are injured.
- Jose Julio Ruiz may be close to signing, but it won't be with the Nationals, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
- Astros owner Drayton McLane, who has "a huge amount of confidence" in GM Ed Wade, would consider selling his team for $600MM or more, according to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle.
Mike Schmidt knows all about going from 2nd to 3rd! He’ll be fine…
The Mets probably should look at some more catchers while they are at it too.
Collect ’em all!
Collect ’em all!
Byrd needs to shut his mouth and play ball. I hope he doesnt have to learn the hard way that the fish bowl, that is chicago, lets nothing slide. Nobody cares about milton bradley. please tell me that you are smart enough to realize that anyone that knows anything about cubs baseball completely understands that you are very different ball players. Just put your head down and get to work.
Who is comparing Byrd to Bradley? Byrd isn’t a total tool and he has nowhere near the natural ability of Bradley. They really are totally different players.
“Marlon Byrd tells USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that he’s uncomfortable being compared to friend and former teammate Milton Bradley.”
Hello? What exactly did you expect would happen? Just wait till you’re hitting .280/.330/.400 with questionable Defense in center and the inability to play every day! Let me tell ya, boy did you pick the wrong club to sign with if youre already bothered by this…
Side note, can we get an age check on aisle MB? Maybe its the light or angle in the photo, but he looks like he might be pushing 50 in the picture attached to that article.
Why shouldn’t he be bothered by it? He’s in Chicago to play baseball, not to answer questions about Bradley. If you were Byrd, and Bradley were your friend, I’m sure you would share the same sentiment. I know I would. It’s absolutely ridiculous that Bradley’s name is STILL brought up, even though he’s in Seattle now. The sensitive members of the Chicago media need to focus on the guys that are with the Cubs, and not worry about Milton Bradley anymore. That goes for the fans, too. Blaming the season’s failures on guys like Bradley and Aaron Miles, two guys who aren’t anything to write home about. If anybody should get blame, it’s the guy in your avatar…
“Why shouldn’t he be bothered by it?”
It’s not like I said he has no right to be bothered by it. But it doesnt change the fact he picked the wrong place to sign if it is going to bother him, especially so quickly.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous that Bradley’s name is STILL brought up, even though he’s in Seattle now.”
I dont disagree there either, but its not like it wasn’t predictable. And that’s the point.
Why shouldn’t he be bothered by it? He’s in Chicago to play baseball, not to answer questions about Bradley. If you were Byrd, and Bradley were your friend, I’m sure you would share the same sentiment. I know I would. It’s absolutely ridiculous that Bradley’s name is STILL brought up, even though he’s in Seattle now. The sensitive members of the Chicago media need to focus on the guys that are with the Cubs, and not worry about Milton Bradley anymore. That goes for the fans, too. Blaming the season’s failures on guys like Bradley and Aaron Miles, two guys who aren’t anything to write home about. If anybody should get blame, it’s the guy in your avatar…
“Marlon Byrd tells USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that he’s uncomfortable being compared to friend and former teammate Milton Bradley.”
Hello? What exactly did you expect would happen? Just wait till you’re hitting .280/.330/.400 with questionable Defense in center and the inability to play every day! Let me tell ya, boy did you pick the wrong club to sign with if youre already bothered by this…
Side note, can we get an age check on aisle MB? Maybe its the light or angle in the photo, but he looks like he might be pushing 50 in the picture attached to that article.
if polonco can make the transition from 3rd to second when being traded to detroit he can handle being put back at thrid
I wish the Cubs could go after Crawford, but they’d most likely have to trade Fukudome(I’m sure Sori could gain some AL interest, but his albatross contract hinders most trade possibilities). I’m not sure who would want Fuk, unless the Cubs were willing to eat a good portion of his salary. I’m not thrilled at all about Byrd in centerfield, either. And he’s supposed to be the 5th in the lineup, too? Oy vey…
If I were Marlon, I wouldnt want Cubs nation comparing me to MB either.
His shoulder is an issue though. How about Joe Beimel and Russ Springer?
As for Drayton McLane, he doesn’t think about winning. He just want players who are good people and do good for the community. It just doesn’t seem like he ever puts winning first, which is what 29 other owners do do.
And they both had their numbers artificially inflated in a contract year by the Bandbox of Arlington.
Span, let’s investigate your comment about McLane right quick, because usually your comments are a bit better than that. 29 other owners, although I get that you are exaggerating a bit, makes no sense and saying that he does nto put winning first, is unfounded.
Facts.
Houston: 8th highest payroll in all of MLB in 2009.
Since McLane purchased in 1993 (I do not count purchase year), Houston has been to the playoffs 6x, won a pennant for the first time ever, went to the WS for the first time ever, and compiled a win percentage of .531 under McLane, and the organizational lifetime win pct is .498 since 1962. So, how much of that .498 is due to McLane?
Houston had only been to the playoffs 3x total since 1962 when the team was formed. He has spent money on the payroll, unlike a ton of other owners, and has been “too loyal” ,I agree, to some of his players however, he, McLane has brought winning to Houston during his ownership and some elite players. Bagwell, Biggio, Clemens, Pettite, Beltran, Berkman, Oswalt, etc.
Let’s look at those other teams and their playoffs all since 1994: (WS means they won)
ARI – 4, 1WS (since 98)
ATL – 12, 1WS
BAL – 2x
BOS – 9, 2WS
CHC – 4x
CHW – 3x. 1WS.
CIN – 1x
CLE – 7
COL – 3x
DET – 1
KC – 0
FLA – 2, yes 2WS
LAA – 6, 1WS
LAD – 6
MIL – 1
MIN – 5
NYM – 3
NYY – 14, 5WS
OAK – 5
PHI – 4, 1WS
PIT – 0
SD – 4
SFG – 4
SEA – 4
STL – 8, 2WS
TB – 1 (since 98)
TEX – 3
TOR – 2WS in 92 and 93, never went back to the playoffs.
WAS/MON – 0
So if I am reading this correctly, under McLane, we have more playoff appearances than 21 other organizations and equal to 2 additional organizations. Add Houston’s name to that hat and: Only 5 teams with more playoff appearances: ATL, BOS, CLE, NYY, and STL since he took over and 2 teams equal in playoff apearances: LAA, and LAD.
Whether we as disgruntled fans want to admit it or not, McLane has been good to Houston.
Ya Ya, you’re going to make the argument that our farm sucks, and it does now, but it hasn’t always been that way.
I am an Astros fan, always will be, and let’s give some credit where credit is due to McLane.
Beltran doesn’t really count, but McLane opened his pocketbook and made a true effort to keep him and if I remember correctly, was only outbid by the Mets by about 1-200k p/y. And I am trying to locate how much Astros offered Randy Johnson before he signed with Arizona for 4/52.
the astros franchise has so much potential with an owner that actually SPENDS…but only if they had a decent GM…
contracts like brandon lyon at 3/15 are just disgusting. I can’t believe Wade was re-hired after that deal. as much as the astro fans hate to admit it, their taking a steady phase into re-build mode.
Alright, I’ll give that to you and I understand what you are coming from, but there were certain years under McLane’s helm where the Astros were in really good shape and set for the future. Like any team, if they are not in good shape, that team has to rebuild. Drayton McLane however, loves the presence of Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman and would rather have them and pay them $40MM+ than have some good young players and tons of payroll flexibility. The Minor league system is pretty much empty with the exception of like 5 players, They can’t trade Lee, Bourn or Pence wouldn’t make sense to trade, therefore Oswalt and Berkman are the obvious trade candidates. I understand how much Berkman means to Houston, I understand that, but the Astros are not good heading in to the future and need to rebuild. They have not.
Just like anything else in life, only time will tell. Yes, it appears to be disgusting, but… And I agree, we should be focused on rebuilding right now, but we are not.
I agree about the rebuild 110 percent, but it does not appear to be headed that direction yet. Houston has a rough road ahead of them this season with teams like STL getting better by the minute. CHC could be good if they can piece it together, and MIL is always a threat.
I agree, switch to rebuild mode.
Wade built such a ridiculous Philly farm, but his MLB level FA pickups reall make one scratch your head.