Links for Monday…
- MLB.com's Adam McCalvy posts an unofficial list of Brewers' players who are out of options. Joe Inglett and George Kottaras appear to be the players most on the bubble.
- In a mailbag, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat says that the Cubs are still looking for righthanded relief help.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince explains that Grady Sizemore's 2012 club option becomes a player option if traded. He also notes that the Indians are not in on Felipe Lopez.
- Braden Looper will not settle for a low base salary or a minor league deal, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- The Biz of Baseball now has Opening Day and year-end payroll data by team.
- Giants president Larry Baer mentioned MLBTR in a recent KNBR interview with Ralph Barbieri and Tom Tolbert.
- Roch Kubatko of MASN believes it's possible the Orioles will trade Ty Wigginton. Wiggy has $3.5MM coming in 2010.
- Benjamin Kabak of River Ave. Blues ponders the benefits of the Yankees bringing Gary Sheffield back on a minor league deal.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs would like the Mariners to spend a few million on Jarrod Washburn, provided he'd be willing to pitch out of the bullpen when Erik Bedard is ready.
- ESPN's Tim Kurkjian explains why the Reds should sign Johnny Damon.
Wiggy makes his grand return to the mets!!
Poor Biz of Baseball. I think we crashed the website with too much traffic.
I’d like to see Damon as a Red.
Unless Fransisco or Heisey are ready
Tim,
Any idea of what the Reds payroll is currently for the 2010 season. I’m trying to figure out what would have to happen to make the Johnny Damon acquisition possible. Maybe a mid-season trade of Harang or Arroyo when Volquez returns?
The Reds I believe are currently around 73 in payroll. Right around last year’s total even though they were looking to stay at or below last year’s total. The GM has said if they bring in anybody, it will be Gomes on a minor league deal but he could just be saying that as leverage in negotiations with Boras. Walt isn’t the kind of GM that will get bullied by an agent. The Reds are in great shape to negotiate because it’s a successful offseason as is and adding Damon would be icing on the cake but it is not necessary because we do have a bunch of young guys who could fill the spot.
If Damon can be had for 3 mil I could see the owner approving the addition to the payroll to at least get some more seats filled because they will be competitive for at least a good portion of the summer with Damon. If it doesn’t work out then trade him, Harang, Arroyo, and Fransisco and get your money savings then
im pretty sure with the o cab signing there hovering around 75-76 million they saved money from the willy t trade but they counted that as off setting o cab’s signing so i would be guessing they likely have 2-4million to spend. Volquez wont return till mid to late august so trading harang and arroyo wouldnt be in the best interest if there contending , know i think damon would be great on the reds and they should sign him and i think walt could pull it off if bob lets him
I doubt Damon will sign with a non-contender, but if he doesn’t sign with someone quick he might not have a choice or just retire.
It’s likely not wise to label the Reds as a “non-contender” before the season starts. There is no team in the NL Central that is a runaway favorite. The Reds were only a few games back at the All-Star break last year
I disagree, despite my Cardinals bias. The Reds were a few games back, and the Cubs were tied with the division leadand then the Cardinals blew everyone away with a 10 game lead. They have everyone back, and a full year of Holliday can only make things better.
Injuries took a large toll on the Reds in 09… I’m not saying we will win the division, I’m just saying the Cardinals are nowhere a runaway favorite. After Wainwright and Carpenter the rotation drops off. Penny has questions, Lohse has questions and who is the 5 spot? The Cards are a couple injuries away from being middle of the pack just like any team in the central
I’d say that any rotation would “drop off” after 2 Cy Young canidates. Also you’re assuming the Cards get a few players injured, assuming everyone else in the division stays healthy… Because everyone on the Cards roster was healthy last year… Right?
Ha good one. Yeah I’d say the Seattle rotation drops off after Lee and Hernandez, Giants after Lincecum/Cain, etc.
Point was the Cardinals don’t have a solid enough 1-5 to say they will just run away with the division.
Point was the Cardinals don’t have a solid enough 1-5 to say they will just run away with the division.
The Cards did not have near the injuries the Reds had last year. Every starter spent time on the DL except for Phillips and he played through a broken thumb. The Cards had nowhere near the injuries. They got lucky when it came to health and their starting lineup. You lose Pujols and all the sudden your lineup is pretty average. Injuries happen and if they happen to the Cards in a certain way all I’m saying is you aren’t running away with anything. The Cards are the favorite to win the Central but in no way is it handed to you guys from the start. The Cubs could bounce back, if the Brewers finally have a decent pitching staff they will challenge as well.
The Cards did not have near the injuries the Reds had last year. Every starter spent time on the DL except for Phillips and he played through a broken thumb. The Cards had nowhere near the injuries. They got lucky when it came to health and their starting lineup. You lose Pujols and all the sudden your lineup is pretty average. Injuries happen and if they happen to the Cards in a certain way all I’m saying is you aren’t running away with anything. The Cards are the favorite to win the Central but in no way is it handed to you guys from the start. The Cubs could bounce back, if the Brewers finally have a decent pitching staff they will challenge as well.
I’d say that any rotation would “drop off” after 2 Cy Young canidates. Also you’re assuming the Cards get a few players injured, assuming everyone else in the division stays healthy… Because everyone on the Cards roster was healthy last year… Right?
Wiggy to the Mets would make some sense though my guess is they’d want the O’s to pick up some of the money.
honestly i think the O’s would be willing to eat all the money if they got anything half-decent in return. they have a lot of players who could replace his role on the team (pinch hitter / occasional 1B/3B) with similar production and a lot more upside, namely Michael Aubrey and Rhyne Hughes.
At this point I think Damon would play for anyone especially if it was a 1 year deal, or 1 year with an option. Even if he signed with a non contender, he’d likely be on a contender by the time the trade deadline rolls around. While Damon is out of his mind if he thinks he’ll get $13 million, he’s a remarkably consistent performer and is rarely injured. Any team that could use some more offense should be interested.
The Mets could get him, and the reason they’d need the O’s to eat salary is so Omar can give him a 5 year $60 million extension.
The Mets could get him, and the reason they’d need the O’s to eat salary is so Omar can give him a 5 year $60 million extension.
I’d like to see the Cards get Ty Wigginton.
“Poor Biz of Baseball. I think we crashed the website with too much traffic.” For a couple of minutes. Back up and running
great argument from Dave…
If Shef would accept a bench role, that could be a very viable option for the Yanks. They have virtually no threat off the bench right now.
Wigginton traded to STL for a middling prospect, and the Cards eat a couple mil?…………………… Wigginton starts at 3B?
You like??? I like????
Washburn would never pitch out of the pen with the type of season that he had. He would rather pitch for the Royals or retire.
After what kind of season? You mean his one good half of a season that was entirely the result of dumb luck and incredible defense?
Ironically, neither of these will be afforded him by the Royals…
After what kind of season? You mean his one good half of a season that was entirely the result of dumb luck and incredible defense?
Ironically, neither of these will be afforded him by the Royals…
Washburn turned down $5mil from Minnesota, so why would he take “a few million” from Seattle?
Um…perhaps cuz no one else will likely want him. Turning down that offer was his mistake. He won’t get more than that now, because he’s not worth that much. He’s nothing more than an overrated, overhyped BOR starter. He should be happy with what he gets.
Um…perhaps cuz no one else will likely want him. Turning down that offer was his mistake. He won’t get more than that now, because he’s not worth that much. He’s nothing more than an overrated, overhyped BOR starter. He should be happy with what he gets.
I have a terrible, raging, hormonal man-crush on Wiggy. I hope somehow he can wind up in STL.
Why are you telling everyone this?
But yeah, Wigginton could do well in the STL
Its really more of a “bro-mance,” although Wiggy is unaware that he is on the other side of this bro-mantic relationship.
Eh..thanks for sharing. Probably want to use numbers or anything other than “bro-mance” to talk about men in tight pants hitting a ball around.
No problem, I was happy to share…………… I am not really a good source for any insightful baseball commentary or statistical analysis though. I don’t understand complex terms like “WAR,” and “FIP,” and “PAP,” and “VD.”
Eh..thanks for sharing. Probably want to use numbers or anything other than “bro-mance” to talk about men in tight pants hitting a ball around.
Reds need to give as many at-bats as possible to their young guys Bruce, Stubbs, Heisy, Fransisco and maybe even Alonzo if he tears it up in spring training. Damon is not a fit here. Reds are a rising team with many outstanding prospects on the cusp of their big leauge career, but some of these guys will fail and some may shine and the only way to find out who is going to make it is to put them out on the field.
Will the cubs just sign Calero and quit dragging their feet
Happen to know why people are so enamored with Calero? As a Cubs fan, I am really hoping we dont sign him – he is exactly what we dont need. He is an average at best reliever off a fluke ERA season. That is what always gets Hendry all excited; its one of his biggest obsessions so I understand why people think we will sign him.
But what i cant understand is why fans want him! Over the last three seasons he is averaging just short of 5 walks per 9, so he has the same horrible control problems that plagued our pen last year. Sure he is off a sub-2 ERA which is probably what has so many fans excited about him, but it is mainly because of a fluke HR rate of 0.15/9. That just isnt sustainable, at all, and his consistent xFIP (Fielding Independent with normalized HR rates) marks of 3.8-4.0 is much more in tune with his real ability – an ability that is nothing overly special for a short reliever mainly used in low leverage situations.
Add in the injury concerns and you have yourself one non-attractive reliever that fans somehow illogically pegged the best reliever on the free-agent market.
Happen to know why people are so enamored with Calero? As a Cubs fan, I am really hoping we dont sign him – he is exactly what we dont need. He is an average at best reliever off a fluke ERA season. That is what always gets Hendry all excited; its one of his biggest obsessions so I understand why people think we will sign him.
But what i cant understand is why fans want him! Over the last three seasons he is averaging just short of 5 walks per 9, so he has the same horrible control problems that plagued our pen last year. Sure he is off a sub-2 ERA which is probably what has so many fans excited about him, but it is mainly because of a fluke HR rate of 0.15/9. That just isnt sustainable, at all, and his consistent xFIP (Fielding Independent with normalized HR rates) marks of 3.8-4.0 is much more in tune with his real ability – an ability that is nothing overly special for a short reliever mainly used in low leverage situations.
Add in the injury concerns and you have yourself one non-attractive reliever that fans somehow illogically pegged the best reliever on the free-agent market.
a) Indians/Felipe Lopez.
Why are the Indians in the market for a 2B when they have a youngster in Valbuena who ON A NON-CONTENDING TEAM LIKE THE INDIANS should be given as many at bats as possible to improve?
b) Yanks/Sheffield
Sheffield’s demeanor does not lend itself to being a role player. The last thing you want his him glaring out to the OF thinking “I should be playing over that guy”. Also, who exactly would the Yanks need to pinch hit for enough to make Sheffs bat a major need? Other than Gardner…..no one really. Maybe Grandy late in the game and we’re down a run or two vs a tough LFP? Now if he were resigned to being a bench guy and willing to put the team ahead of him inorder to win a WS and go out as a Yankee with good mojo to illuminate his stance as a HOF caliber player then I think he could be a benefit to the team and I think guys like Sabathia, Swisher and Granderson might make his reintroduction to NY smooth. One has to wonder though if the hold overs like Jeter, Petttie, Posada and Rivera might remeber some of the parting shots Sheff took at the team and Torre.
c) Jarrod Washburn/Mariners
Please explain to me who, currently on the M’s staff, aside from Felix and Lee, are good enough to push Washburn to the bullpen? Considering how well he pitched for them in that ballpark and in front of that defense, the M’s should certainly bring him back provided his pay request is in line with the market.
Ryan Roland-Smith is going to surprise you this year my friend, and a healthy Bedard is also what would push him back. I’d personally say he’d be a better No. 5 option than Snell is, but he got LUCKY a LOT last year (it wasn’t all just ground ball rates and defense). Let’s not forget he pitched three pretty average to below-average seasons in Safeco before last year too.
Ryan Roland-Smith is going to surprise you this year my friend, and a healthy Bedard is also what would push him back. I’d personally say he’d be a better No. 5 option than Snell is, but he got LUCKY a LOT last year (it wasn’t all just ground ball rates and defense). Let’s not forget he pitched three pretty average to below-average seasons in Safeco before last year too.
Looper shouldn’t have to take an incentive laden or minor league deal. Anyone who has been following the market realizes there is a huge demand for 35 YO starting pitchers who can’t go 200 innings (despite 34 starts) and give you around a 5 for ERA. All while playing in the very offensive heavy NL Central. Can’t believe he hasn’t been snatched up already.
Looper shouldn’t have to take an incentive laden or minor league deal. Anyone who has been following the market realizes there is a huge demand for 35 YO starting pitchers who can’t go 200 innings (despite 34 starts) and give you around a 5 for ERA. All while playing in the very offensive heavy NL Central. Can’t believe he hasn’t been snatched up already.
It’s rather humorous to hear Braden Looper think he can tell clubs what he will or will not accept. Looper should be thanking whoever he feels the need to thank for earning nearly $25 million playing baseball instead of feeling like he can dicate terms after turning 35 and leading the majors in ER and HR allowed.
It’s rather humorous to hear Braden Looper think he can tell clubs what he will or will not accept. Looper should be thanking whoever he feels the need to thank for earning nearly $25 million playing baseball instead of feeling like he can dicate terms after turning 35 and leading the majors in ER and HR allowed.
“In a mailbag, MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat says that the Cubs are still looking for righthanded relief help.”
Well of course we are. Heaven forbid we use one of the 20 some odd internal options.
I agree. The Cubs have a boatload of average/slightly below average right-handed relievers.
Meanwhile, The Cubs continue to not address their biggest need by far, a 2nd baseman who can get on base.
Somebody is going to get a great deal on Felipe Lopez. Why not the Cubs?
I know he’s not the greatest club-house guy, but who cares? He would be a huge upgrade for not much $$$
Ugh…I was hoping this obsession with other people’s relievers was coming to an end when Hendry said the Nady signing rounded out the offseason acquisitions. What would a Hendry offseason be, however, without acquiring another reliever who’s about due for some serious regression?
I’m thinking the Cubs should take a good look at Caridad, Atkins, Russell and Gaub. The first three have shown good control throughout their career and Gaub, of course, has the best stuff of the four – though Caridad’s fastball became much more effective out of the pen, becoming a legitimate swing and miss pitch. There’s also Stevens who has decent control and good stuff….I just don’t get it. Does the tag “veteran” have that much value to Hendry? I think I’m going to sneak into Hendry’s office and white out the word “veteran” in his notes and replace it with the word “journeyman”.
“In a mailbag, MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat says that the Cubs are still looking for righthanded relief help.”
Well of course we are. Heaven forbid we use one of the 20 some odd internal options.
i wouldnt mind wiggy backing up the fragile glaus. i know we have hinske, but it seems wiggy would be a better option if glaus goes down for an extended stretch. i wouldnt want to give too much up for him, though.