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Odds & Ends: Orioles, Harper, Hanley

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Links for Wednesday…

Offseason In Review: Arizona Diamondbacks

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Next in our Offseason In Review series, the Diamondbacks.

Major League Signings

  • Brandon Webb, SP: one year, $8.5MM.  Club option exercised.
  • Adam LaRoche, 1B: one year, $6MM.  Includes $7.5MM mutual option for 2011 with a $1.5MM buyout.
  • Kelly Johnson, 2B: one year, $2.35MM.  Arbitration-eligible for 2011.
  • Bob Howry, RP: one year, $2.25MM.  Includes $3MM club option with a $250K buyout.
  • Total spend: $19.1MM.

Notable Minor League Signings

Extensions

Trades and Claims

Notable Losses

Summary

This offseason Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes revamped his rotation and the right side of his infield, acquired a pair of veteran relievers, and added cost certainty with three extensions.  Let's take a closer look.

You already know how I feel about the LaRoche and Johnson signings – they were two of my ten best free agent signings of the offseason.  LaRoche is a clear upgrade over the players the D'Backs used at first base in '09, though Johnson's ceiling is the .298/.372/.448 second base line Arizona got from Felipe Lopez, Ryan Roberts, and Augie Ojeda.  The team has good depth at second base, with Roberts and Ojeda still around and Tony Abreu in the mix.

Webb had August shoulder surgery and may miss all of April.  Still, I feel that choosing the $8MM net price was the right move at the time and Webb will still provide 175 above-average innings.  I'm not enthused by the Howry and Heilman additions; they may combine for a good number of devastating home runs allowed.

The D'Backs have a new-look rotation for 2010.  Davis, Scherzer, Petit, and Jon Garland are gone after providing two-thirds of the team's starts in '09.  The move from Scherzer to Jackson may actually be a more expensive downgrade.  I like the Kennedy pickup, but maybe Byrnes would've been better-served trying to pull off a trade without the Scherzer-Jackson component.  On the other hand, the D'Backs know Scherzer better than anyone.

Byrnes' arbitration buyout extensions have been a mixed bag so far, with Webb and Dan Haren on the positive side and Chad Tracy, Chris Young, and Chris Snyder on the negative.  This winter, the Upton signing was a huge win, while the Reynolds extension didn't appear to bring significant cost savings.

The D'Backs did a solid job in free agency, and have crafted a lineup with few easy outs.  Webb is the key to the season, as they'll open with Kennedy as the #3 starter.

Olney On Carmona, Trades, Heath Bell

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A few notes from ESPN's Buster Olney (Insider required)…

  • Is it hasty to consider the Indians sellers for 2010?  Olney writes of rave reviews for Fausto Carmona, who he believes could transform the team's pennant hopes.  An above-average offense, good years from Jake Westbrook and Justin Masterson…you never know.
  • Olney hears there's "only a trickle of trade talk going on."  One GM believes that's because there's not much money available and there are still a few decent free agents out there.
  • Olney spoke to execs who believe the Padres will wait to trade Heath Bell, to drive up the price and give the team a shot at winning early.  Something to consider about Bell: MLBTR reader Jeff Hainey recently reminded me that while Bell is under team control for two years, his 2011 salary could potentially approach $10MM.  That second year of control wouldn't be terribly appealing to the Twins, who will be paying Joe Nathan $11.25MM.

Twins, Ron Mahay Agree To Terms

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The Twins agreed to terms with lefty Ron Mahay on a minor league deal, according to a team press release.  Mahay, 38, finished the '09 season with the Twins after being released by the Royals.

Aside from four homers allowed, Mahay did a nice job against lefties in 25.6 innings last year: 7.01 K/9, 1.75 BB/9.  The Red Sox, Phillies, and Mets also expressed interest in the southpaw reliever this winter.

Marlins To Keep An Eye On Lowell

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The idea of a reunion between the Marlins and Mike Lowell has been in the air since the Miami Herald reported the team sent scouts to watch the 36-year-old's Grapefruit League debut on March 15. This morning, Jorge Ebro at the Nuevo Herald (link in Spanish) provided a more specific picture of the team's interest level and what situations could bring Lowell back to Florida after talking with a source inside the organization.

"We've talked about that subject, and everyone within the organization is aware of the significance of bringing back Lowell from all points of view," explains Ebro's source. He adds that much remains "unclear" about Lowell for the team's scouts, particularly the status of his hip and "the lateral movement that made him one of the best defenders of his time." Reports on Lowell's mobility haven't been glowing, and he started the spring at first base for the first time since he was in the Yankees minor league system. But even with the potential of changing positions on occasion, Lowell's role would likely be much clearer outside of Boston, where he is currently either the first option off of the Red Sox's bench, especially in the case of another slow start by David Ortiz, or a $12MM odd man out in the race for starts at the infield corners and DH.

If Lowell were to join the Marlins, the source says, he would fill the same corner-to-corner role currently held by Jorge Cantu: a potential starter at third base who occasionally spells the starting first baseman. That starter increasingly looks like Gaby Sanchez, who has hit .387 this spring and looked "more relaxed" at the plate and in the field, according the source. "But having a veteran like Lowell in the bank never hurts," he adds. "It's a long season, injuries happen. If the price is good, a return by Lowell would not be unreasonable." As Ebro notes, the Marlins' idea of a good price—or that of the Twins, or White Sox, or whatever team looks seriously at Lowell—would likely include the Red Sox picking up most of the cost.

Mets Shopping Gary Matthews Jr.

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The Mets are shopping outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  Sherman suggests the Mets might not have much of a role for Matthews, and the Reds are a trade possibility.

Matthews has two years remaining on his contract, and when the Mets acquired him from the Angels in January the Halos agreed to include $21.5MM.  Even on a two-year, $2MM commitment, the Mets will likely find that Matthews has little trade value.  Who wants a 35-year-old malcontent who doesn't hit or play strong defense?  Free agent Alex Romero, for example, is much younger, won't be a distraction, and can be acquired for a smaller commitment.  The Reds, by the way, still have six outfielders in camp (seven if you count Juan Francisco) and no clear need for Matthews.

Rockies, Beimel Agree To Minor League Deal

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The Rockies signed lefty reliever Joe Beimel to a minor league deal, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the deal pays an $850K base salary in the Majors with $300K in incentives.  Beimel believes he can be ready for the season, though he's likely to start the year in the minors.  He was signed to step into the lefty reliever spot left vacant by Franklin Morales, who will fill in for injured closer Huston Street.

Last year Beimel signed on March 18th, so he's comfortable waiting for the right deal.  The southpaw, 33 in April, continued to pitch well against lefties aside from allowing four home runs in 26 innings.  It seems those home runs cost Beimel, as he got a guaranteed $2MM deal coming off an otherwise similar '08 season.  Beimel has seen significant time against righties the last few years, and the results have not been pretty.

Best Minor League Deals Of The Offseason

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Garrett Jones, Kevin Correia, Juan Uribe, Scott Podsednik, Kiko Calero, Brian Sanches, Jonny Gomes, Ronald Belisario – all were signed to minor league deals and had productive 2009 seasons.  Candidates for the best minor league deals of the 2009-10 offseason:

  • D.J. Carrasco, Pirates: Carrasco led all of baseball in relief innings in 2009, so maybe teams think he's worn down.  He's capable of an ERA around 4.00, and could fill a swingman role.
  • Joaquin Benoit, Rays: Benoit had rotator cuff surgery in January of '09.  He'll be a big asset if his '07 skills return.
  • Kiko Calero, Mets: Despite whiffing 10.4 per nine in '09 with a 1.95 ERA, concerns over Calero's shoulder prevented a big league offer from coming in.
  • Shelley Duncan, Indians: Duncan hit 30 home runs in Triple A last year and could hit 20 for the Indians.  The Braves' Mitch Jones and Pirates' Brian Myrow, also signed to minor league deals, are cut from the same cloth.
  • Will Ohman, Orioles: Ohman had a lost 2009 due to a shoulder injury, but he dominated lefties in '08.  Also keep an eye on Brian Shouse, a lefty reliever signed by the Red Sox.
  • Endy Chavez, Rangers: The Rangers didn't risk much to see if Chavez's world-class defense will hold up after surgery to repair a torn ACL.
  • Rich Hill, Cardinals: Hill's walk problems have continued in Spring Training, but the prospect of another '07 makes him intriguing.  The Cards also snagged infielder Ruben Gotay, who posted a .429 OBP in Triple A.
  • Jose Veras, Marlins: Who would be surprised if Veras gives the Marlins 70 productive innings this year?  Jesus Colome (Mariners), Seth McClung (Marlins), and Erick Threets (White Sox) are other relievers signed on minor league deals who work in the 93-94 mph range.
  • Hank Blalock, Rays: He hit 25 home runs last year, and could be useful if he stays healthy.
  • Jose Arredondo, Reds: Arredondo is an investment for 2011, as he'll spend '10 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
  • More decent veteran arms inked to minor league deals: Scott Proctor (Braves), Rodrigo Lopez (Diamondbacks), Jeff Weaver (Dodgers), Guillermo Mota (Giants), Todd Wellemeyer (Giants), and Justin Speier (Rockies).

Odds & Ends: Twins, Fien, Podsednik

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Links for Tuesday…

Brewers Release Scott Schoeneweis

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The Brewers released lefty reliever Scott Schoeneweis, reports Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.  Schoeneweis had signed a minor league deal on February 9th, with hopes of complementing Mitch Stetter as the team's second bullpen lefty.  Schoeneweis was upset by the release, and doesn't feel he should have to prove himself again because his wife died last year from a drug overdose.  He sounded off further to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.

Schoeneweis, 36, handled lefties well for the Mets back in '08.  He joins free agent southpaw relievers Ron Mahay, Glendon Rusch, and Ron Villone.

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