Links for Thursday…
- The Giants' Byung-Hyun Kim experiment is over, as the pitcher asked the Giants for his release according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy.
- Multiple teams are interested in free agent outfielder Elijah Dukes, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Murray Chass chatted with agent Ron Shapiro about the Joe Mauer deal. Speaking of Mauer, 620 WTMJ's Dan O'Donnell spoke to MLBTR's Mike Axisa about how the catcher's deal might impact Prince Fielder.
- The Marlins' interest in Mike Lowell is "barely above zero," learned MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. Lowell told Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald today that he's not sure if a move back to the NL would work.
- The Diamondbacks don't expect to sign Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
- Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune spoke to Padres CEO Jeff Moorad, who wouldn't be surprised to see Adrian Gonzalez play two more seasons for his team.
- In reference to Mets rookie Jenrry Mejia, ESPN's Keith Law notes that "promoting prospects who aren't ready is a hallmark of GMs in fear for their jobs."
- Tracy Ringolsby is now on Twitter, give him a follow.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post examines the Mets' reconfiguration of Hisanori Takahashi's contract.
- I'll be participating in an NFBC fantasy league Sunday evening. They've got all kinds of events and prizes, check it out.
OK, it’s official — the Adrian Gonzalez Watch is the new Johnny Damon Watch.
Yup. It’s all about him and Prince Fielder now.
I tried to get this to u guys via contact but had some browser/security error tell me I couldn’t.
MLB Traderumors is featured on the national blogs section of the startribune’s Twins section. Congrats!
There goes Moorad pretendling like a Gonzalez trade isn’t #1 on his priority list. I don’t think anyone is fooled by that.
The Padres should at least attempt to sign Adrian Gonzalez long term. You see, here is what I don’t get. Why doesn’t the Union snap down on the Padres for not spending. The Marlins are at least winning and the Padres really don’t spend money at all. I’m not sure if trading Adrian is the right thing to do.
The Marlins should try and get their hands on Eric Chavez.
Selig makes a little noise about having a minimal payroll but at the end of the day he is a puppet whos strings are pulled by the owners. The only way the union can get involved is collective bargining during the next contract.
Alright but it doesn’t even have to get that complicated. I’m just curious where that little voice at Petco Park is that needs to say, “spend the money”. The Padres are the only team I can think over the past few seasons that hasn’t made a conserative effort to keep their franchise player. The Pirates don’t count but even if Adrian does get traded, the Padres really need to get some young bats. They already have some young pitching with Richard, Poreda, and Latos developing in to front-line starters but I don’t know how satisfied they will be with an offer from a team unwilling to give up their Gordon Beckham, Dee Gordon, or Dustin Ackley for example.
Peavy Dec. 2007, was the last time the Padres made a move to lock up a star player. Then Aug-Nov 2008 happened, Moores divorce. People tend to have short memory, but before this the Padres had a payroll of nearly 74 million in 2008. They were never world beaters in terms of payroll but they were never the bottom of the pack either. Just yesterday Moorad took 50% control of the team, meaning Moores and his troubles are still present. I would love it if the Padres would spend more money, but at the same time I understand the reality of the situation.
Compare of the last decade small/mid markets: (Payroll/metro pop rank/tv market)
Payroll Metro Pop TV
Padres : 542 million 17th 28th
Marlins : 343 million 7th 17th
Pirates : 432 million 22nd 23rd
Royals : 470 million 29th 32nd
Twins: 498 million 16th 15th
Indians: 646 million 26th 18th
Rockies: 609 million 21st 16th
Brewers: 521 million 39th 35th
The Brewers are the ones that should be commended for what they are doing with so much against them. But in contrast the Padres over the course of the last decade have been in line with other small to mid market teams. The Padres have their share of faults, bad drafting, poor player development, but the marlins are really the extreme example of abusing the system.
Okay and Peavy is on the White Sox now.
The MLBPA can’t “snap down” on the Padres for not spending, because the divorce is dictating the payroll. Padres spent $73 million in 2008 before divorce.
Poor Wagner Mateo. I feel bad for the kid. He has a sweet swing; too bad his eyes are doomed to fail him sooner than most. Really sad.
Harsh, but truthful words from Keith Law. It’s a joke that Mejia is going to be the Mets setup man.
The only way the Padres keep Adrian Gonzalez past the trading deadline in 2010 is by winning. Led the West at the break and he stays. Lose, He goes.
I have a feeling Lowell is going to end up getting released and retiring. From the sounds of it after all these injuries to his hip and his thumb he just can’t keep up with ML pitching anymore. I like Lowell and I hope he can still play but it looks like he might be all washed up.
So let me get this straight, the Padres are going to sit on AGon for the next two years, give him a gold watch, a pat on the back and wish him well in FA in after 2011. Oh, OK! Last time I checked the oddsmakers in Vegas were giving 90-1 to 100-1 odds that the Padres win the WS in 2010 (slightly ahead of the Pirates, Nationals, Blue Jays, and Orioles). No reason to think that they will improve on those odds in 2011. What more do they get out of having AGon leave without a pre-FA trade? Sell a few more tickets? More T-shirts?
Mark my words, Agon will be gone from San Diego before Xmas this year.