Monday night linkage..
- Jon Heyman of SI writes that the Dodgers and Rockies have watched Eric Gagne throw and both teams have shown the willingness to take a chance. A few weeks ago we learned that Colorado was thinking about extending a non-roster invite to the 34-year-old.
- The Red Sox might not be close to signing Cuban pitcher Yuniesky Maya, a source familiar with the negotiations tells Rob Bradford of WEEI. There's a good chance that Maya will instead choose a team that offers a better opportunity to immediately enter its starting rotation.
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson writes that Gary Sheffield would not be a good fit for the Nationals as he wants to play every day. Ladson spoke to a major league source who believes that Sheffield will not accept a role as a backup.
- Jason Beck of MLB.com fielded a question from a reader, asking why the Tigers dealt Curtis Granderson, only to pursue Johnny Damon instead. Beck says that the Granderson trade brought Detroit financial flexibility and prospects. He also credits agent Scott Boras for helping to create an opportunity for Damon.
- Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg told 620-AM WDAE that the club's payroll will drop below $60MM in 2011, despite having a payroll north of $70MM this season. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times points out that while the club didn't plan to make any big additions this year, they found room for Rafael Soriano after dealing Scott Kazmir and Akinori Iwamura.
- If Mike Jacobs doesn't make the Mets major league roster, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News doesn't expect him to play for the club's Triple-A affiliate. Even though his minor league deal doesn't have an out-clause, Rubin is "virtually positive" that the Mets would accommodate him with a trade or release.
- In his latest mailbag, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch supports Yankees GM Brian Cashman's decision to wait to negotiate with upcoming free agents Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Hoch believes that both players should be confident that they'll both be taken care of eventually.
How will Tampa be able to lower payroll in ’11 and still re-sign Crawford?
That’s easy, they wont resign him, he’s going to be able to make alot of money, and any player would go for that over less money.
exactly. The Rays also have Desmond Jennings waiting in the wing. No way Crawford is a Ray after this season.
Easy….Carlos Pena, Pat Burrell, and Rafael Soriano gone = $26 million gone. Ok, so that’s a simplistic analysis given there will be raises to other guys and the Rays would need to replace those 3, but with some creativity and perhaps a guy like Jeremy Hellickson replacing the traded Matt Garza, it’s possible.
goood bye crawford, tampa better hope bj upton rememberes how to play
I think the yanks are better off waiting for next year to sign mo and jeter. They could probably save money that way too.
What kind of years would Mo be looking for in a new contract? How old is he? Jeter should basically just throw out what he would like and the Yankees should say ok. Jeter isn’t the type to be greedy from what I have seen
“Jeter isn’t the type to be greedy from what I have seen”
Based on what? Dude makes 20M a year.
Based on the fact we have never heard a thing about him asking for more money in his career. The yankees pay him fairly. Jeter and holding out for more money has never been in the same sentence like A-Rod and some of these other players
I hope so. I hope money is saved. But these are two Yankees we are talking about who have played their whole career in pinstripes. I don’t think they are going to make it hard for the Yankees nor do I think their intention is to break the bank.
Jeter 4/95
Rivera 2/30
To go from $70+ to less than $60mil is really saying something about their financial situation. I feel bad for the Rays fans because if they only had the money to keep that team together it could have been competitive yearly.
Not only does Crawford get away for more money…they won’t even try to allocate what he was making to improve the club elsewhere.
Do they have some big time prospects coming up next year? If I was a Rays fan that is the only reason I could accept what is happening without being mad
The Rays have Desmond Jennings ready to take over as soon as Crawford departs. DJ’s in the top 10 prospects of almost every list that’s been put out, so we’ll be alright. We could use a good 1B prospect for when Pena leaves for FA next year (unless Zobrist takes over there and Sean Rodriguez or Brignac inherit 2B), but we’re pretty set everywhere else.
We do well for a relatively small amount of money. Our farm system is one of the best, and our front office makes very shrewd deals. I, for one, couldn’t be happier.
Desmond Jennings should be more than capable taking over in LF in 2011 (some lists have him top #5-10 overall specs in the MLB). Wade Davis is just another fantastic SP prosect coming though their system. The only hole they may have problem filling is Pena which is why they should go hard after that Cuban firstbasemen.
Or trade Brignac to the Reds for Yonder Alonso if they would do it
Brignac it’s pretty good at defense, but nothing more, everything he can get to, he catches it.
That only happens if they can’t find another position for Alonso.
True and how their young outfield develops. Votto wants to stay at first, I heard they want to try Alonso at catcher but his contract puts him on the big league team by 2012 and who knows how long it would take for him to adjust.
Considering how he’d be 26 by then, he’d better have a position and be on the big league team already.
Translation: Boras must have some dirt on Ilitch.
Or how about they let Burrell and Soriano just walk? That’s 16 mill right there not to mention wheeler at 3 mill, Upton and 4+, Pena at 10.25+ mill and Navarro will be gone at 2+ mill. The Rays have a ton of options here.
Joyce, Jennings, and Rodriguez are all as close to ready as possible. Resign Pena at a more reasonable two year 15 mill. Give an Upton trade careful consideration. An outfield of Lf Joyce, Cf Crawfrod and rf Zobrist is still awesome with Jennings nipping at their heels. Rodriguez can flat out hit at 2b. The rays will look great even when dropping some payroll.
assuming all of those players pan out properly, that is.
Come to the Pirates Maya!
The Yankees should pay Jeter/Rivera there true market rate. Jeter= 6 million for 1 year. Rivera= 10 million for 1 year. At there ages, no need to pay them premium money when the have made plenty over there younger years.
Paying guys like Tex/ Arod 25+ million/year into there late 30’s is stupid.
An Eric Gagne comeback would be one of the best things since sliced bread.
As a Dodger fan, I’m under no illusion that Gagne is even a shell of his former Cy Young self, but I’ll be in Arizona this spring to watch the team and he’s be immensely popular there with the fans. Can’t hurt to give him a shot.
Yeah, minor league deals never hurt. Infact, his comfort with the Dodgers may help him even more. I’d give him a shot if I’m Ned Colletti.
Gotta be better than some of the other wierd MiLB contracts they’ve tendered this winter…bring him in Ned!
Given that Maya is already working out in the Dominican at the Mets facility there and wearing a Mets uniform, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has already signed a deal with the Mets but awaiting the clearance necessary for it to be announced. He has not as yet received clearance. You’re probably looking at the Mets 5th starter.
ive talked to other people about this but i woder if he would take a minor league deal if the
reds offered him one since they want a righty babe he can still he its just his defense is nasty but we dealted with gomes and if gary gives them problems they can cut him i think it would be worth it what do you think?
Thats why the Mets would release him.
The Rays are contenders themselves and with how deep their system is, the smart move would be to hang onto Crawford, try to make a run, and collect the draft picks.
I think Sheff is best suited as a DH. With that said, I think he deserves a shot to prove that he can still play the field. The Indians, Rays, White Sox, and maybe back to the Padres would make sense to me. I’m not sure how many GM’s feel compfortable with a 42 year old outfielder as their starter.
thats what im trying to say he will have the chance today play everyday if he can still show it in spring and win the job and he is not going to get a full time dh job i dont think i would’ve taken thome over him and now thome has a back up role you tell me? so would you take a small major league deal to sit the bench or a minor and prove your self and have the chance to start everyday?