Fredi Gonzalez Named Braves Manager
The Braves held a farewell press conference on Wednesday for Bobby Cox and they didn't waste much time in naming his successor. Atlanta named Fredi Gonzalez as their new manager in a press conference earlier today. The former Marlins skipper has been given a contract that runs through 2013 with a club option for 2014.
Gonzalez, a former third base coach for the Braves, managed the Marlins from 2007 until earlier this season. He led the club to a 276-279 record during his time in Florida, and since his firing has been widely considered the logical successor for Cox in Atlanta. Cox publicly criticized Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria following Gonzalez's dismissal, saying that Florida "lost a good one" in Gonzalez.
Ken Rodriguez of FOX 5 Sports first reported that the Braves reached agreement with Gonzalez to become the team's next manager while MLB.com's Mark Bowman was first to learn that he would be formally introduced following Cox's farewell address. Contract details were first reported by Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
Free Agent Market For Third Basemen
The Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Indians, Tigers, Angels, Athletics, Mariners, Marlins, Cardinals, and Giants may be looking for third base help this winter. Here's a look at the hot corner free agent market.
The Best Choice By Far
By signing a one-year deal last offseason, Adrian Beltre positioned himself for another big contract. He hit .321/.365/.553 with his usual stellar defense, so don't be surprised if Scott Boras seeks more than the five years and $64MM Beltre received in 2004. On top of the contract, signing Beltre will require giving up a draft pick. The Red Sox hope to re-sign him, but don't expect a discount.
May Not Hit The Open Market
Even coming off a bad year, Aramis Ramirez would be an appealing free agent. However, the Cubs' third baseman is expected to exercise his $14.6MM player option for 2011. The Tigers may not pick up Jhonny Peralta's $7MM option, but they expect to retain him and play him at shortstop.
Less-Than-Ideal Starters
Most clubs won't be thrilled to pencil in Jorge Cantu, Pedro Feliz, Brandon Inge, Miguel Tejada, Juan Uribe, Melvin Mora, Nick Punto, or Ty Wigginton as their starter at third base, though many of them played regularly this year. Inge is looking to re-sign with the Tigers at a fair price, and GM Dave Dombrowski would like to reach an agreement before he hits the open market according to Tom Gage of the Detroit News. Inge shows pop from time to time, but most of his value is in his defense.
Non-Tender Candidates
Kevin Kouzmanoff, Edwin Encarnacion, and Jose Lopez are the most notable non-tender candidates at third base. The A's may keep Kouzmanoff for lack of a better option, but Encarnacion and Lopez are likely to join the free agent ranks. Andy Marte, Andy LaRoche, and Kevin Frandsen could also be cut loose.
Summary
It's Beltre or bust this year if you're looking to sign a free agent third baseman. Whoever you'd rank behind Beltre, it's a distant second. Teams that find him too expensive may turn to the trade market.
2011 MLB Free Agent List
MLBTR maintains a constantly-updated, information-packed free agent list. The list can always be found on the sidebar under 2011 MLB Free Agent List, or you can just bookmark this link:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/09/2011-mlb-free-agents.html
Our free agent list contains everything you need for your hot stove discussions. Players are grouped by position. The player's 2011 age is included. Contract options are noted. Scott Boras clients are bolded. New free agents are added right away, and signed players are removed. And exclusively on MLB Trade Rumors, projected Elias Type A and B rankings are included.
Arbitration Eligibles: Arizona Diamondbacks
Next in our arbitration eligibles series, the Diamondbacks.
- First time: None
- Second time: Joe Saunders, Stephen Drew, Miguel Montero, D.J. Carrasco, Blaine Boyer
- Third time: Kelly Johnson, Ryan Church
- Fourth time: Augie Ojeda
The Diamondbacks will be spending significant money on arbitration raises for 2011. Saunders, Drew, Montero, and Johnson are locks to be tendered contracts. They're all coming off respectable seasons, though Saunders led MLB with 17 losses and Montero's season was shortened by knee surgery. Having made $3.7MM in his first arbitration year, Saunders is operating from a high base salary and could land around $5.5MM. Drew should manage a similar salary. Johnson, with close to six years service time, could attempt to draw a comparison to Orlando Hudson, who signed for $5MM last winter.
Carrasco pitched decently since coming over via trade from the Pirates. Given the state of their bullpen I expect him to be tendered a contract, although the White Sox did cut him loose last year coming off a good season. He has a $950K base salary. Boyer's best traits are throwing hard and getting groundballs, but he could be non-tendered. He was designated for assignment in May by former GM Josh Byrnes.
Church turned around his season after coming to Arizona, but I have to think they non-tender him rather than pay him around $1.5MM in 2011. Ojeda is not an expensive player, but his ugly offensive stats may get him cut too.
Manager/GM Notes: Pirates, Jays, Cubs, Mets, Listach
Let's check out the latest updates from a handful of manager and GM searches….
- The Pirates interviewed Ken Macha and Jeff Banister today for their managerial opening, according to the team's official Twitter feed. As Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes, both men have local ties.
- Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun tweets that Bobby Valentine interviewed with the Blue Jays for Cito Gaston's old job.
- According to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts has interviewed four managerial candidates: Mike Quade, Ryne Sandberg, Bob Melvin, and, as we heard earlier today, Eric Wedge.
- ESPN New York's Adam Rubin says (via Twitter) the Mets are awaiting permission to interview "a couple more" GM candidates, besides the five we already know, though it doesn't sound like Jerry Dipoto is one of them (Twitter link). At least one figures to be a minority candidate, according to Rubin.
- Pat Listach tells Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he hasn't heard from the Brewers or any other teams looking for managers.
Odds & Ends: Choo, Nationals, Lee, Pujols
Links for Tuesday night, as Cliff Lee and the Rangers look to advance to the ALCS….
- A story by Yoon Chul of the Korea Times quotes Shin-Soo Choo as saying he'd like to play for a team that wins more than Indians. However, GM Chris Antonetti tells Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he has spoken to Choo and the outfielder "expressed his passion for winning in Cleveland."
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson fields readers' questions about whether the Nationals will pursue Lee, Ted Lilly, Javier Vazquez, and others this offseason.
- Speaking of Lee, when the Yankees really want a player, they usually get him, writes Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.
- Fangraphs' Jack Moore says that if Albert Pujols hits free agency after the 2011 season, it would be the MLB equivalent of LeBron James' summer of 2010 in terms of impact.
Ordonez Optimistic About Returning To Tigers
An ankle injury prevented Magglio Ordonez from earning enough playing time to trigger his 2011 vesting option, and when it became a club option, the team turned it down. However, Ordonez is still hoping he'll be back in Detroit next season. Jason Beck of MLB.com passes on comments the 36-year-old made to Augusto Cardenas of Diario Panorama (Spanish link), suggesting a return to the Tigers could be likely.
"I want to stay in Detroit, obviously," Ordonez said. "I know the organization has been very good to me and the fans have treated me great…. I think there is a great chance to stay in Detroit, but let's see what happens."
Earlier this year, when MLBTR's Mark Polishuk previewed Ordonez's offseason, he opined that an incentive-laden one-year deal with an option may appeal to both the Tigers and the 14-year veteran. As Beck notes, Ordonez could still test the open market, especially if Detroit doesn't offer him arbitration. The Tigers will have plenty of money coming off the books this winter though; if they're as interested in bringing Ordonez back as he is in returning, the two sides should be able to work something out.
Minor League Transactions: Free Agents, Herges, Ramirez
Matt Eddy of Baseball America brings us minor league transactions for October 3rd to 9th, the first full week of the offseason for most clubs. Here are a few notes of interest from the latest series of minor league moves across the league:
- Many familiar names have been granted free agency, including Ian Snell, Cla Meredith, Micah Owings, Fernando Nieve, Dan Meyer, Ryan Garko, Mike Jacobs, and Jason Bergmann.
- The Royals released reliever Matt Herges. Herges didn't reach the majors this season, but had a solid year in 2009, recording a 3.38 ERA in 30 games between Cleveland and Colorado.
- Yordany Ramirez, a long-time minor league outfielder, was re-signed by the Astros. After struggling as a hitter in three Triple-A seasons, the 26-year-old is being converted to pitching.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Takashi Saito
Reliever Takashi Saito told reporters today he's uncertain about his future, but still believes he can pitch, according to Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Free agent stock watch time!
The Pros
- Back in the National League, Saito's numbers this year were reminiscent of his Dodgers days: 2.83 ERA, 11.5 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and four home runs allowed in 54 innings. Unlike last year with the Red Sox, Saito was particularly tough on right-handed hitters.
- Saito is likely to sign a one-year deal.
- He could handle a closing job, and that strict usage would effectively limit his workload.
The Cons
- Saito turns 41 in February. Back in 2008 he became the first pitcher known to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection into his elbow, which allowed for a quick recovery from a torn ulnar collateral ligament. With the Braves this year he dealt with hamstring and shoulder ailments. At this point in his career Saito cannot be counted on for 50 innings. I'm no doctor, but you'd have to worry about that ligament fully tearing.
- 2009 may have been a fluke, but Saito's periperhals suffered in the American League.
The Verdict
Saito signed with the Braves for a $3.2MM base salary and another $2.3MM in incentives. If his shoulder and elbow check out, there's no reason he should sign for less this time around. In fact, he'd have a case for a raise. He'll be appealing to most teams looking for a tough late-game reliever, but clubs will attempt to keep the base salary low and sign him to an incentive-laden deal given his age and recent injury history.
Nationals Face Decision On Chien-Ming Wang
Chien-Ming Wang pitched again in the instructional league today, and Bob Klapisch tweets word from a scout that he looked "filthy." Wang hit 89 mph and got four groundballs in 17 pitches, reports MASN's Ben Goessling.
If the Nationals want to retain Wang, they could simply tender him a contract for no less than $1.6MM, or work out a new agreement before the non-tender deadline. If the Nats non-tendered Wang and still wanted to bring him back, they'd have to either wait until May to sign him to a major league deal or sign him to a minor league contract and keep him in the minors until May 1st.
On October 6th, Goessling wrote that Nationals GM Mike Rizzo expects to work out a new deal with Wang before the December 2nd non-tender deadline; Wang's agent Alan Nero also told Goessling he expects to reach some kind of agreement with the team. The Nationals signed Wang in February to a $2MM deal with $3MM in performance bonuses, but his recovery from July '09 shoulder surgery became drawn out and prevented him from facing hitters until recently.