Links for Saturday, exactly six years after the Pirates traded Jason Kendall to the Athletics for Mark Redman, Arthur Rhodes, and cash…
- The Rockies offered Jon Garland a similar deal to the one he agreed upon with the Dodgers, tweets Troy Renck of The Denver Post.
- Tigers owner Mike Ilitch is willing to spend in order to make Detroit a winner again, writes Peter Gammons for MLB.com.
- The Yankees have signed right-hander Brian Anderson and left-hander Andy Sisco to minor league contracts with invites to Spring Training, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Anderson was recently cut by the Royals and is new to pitching after playing the outfield his entire career. Sisco threw 66.2 innings for the Giants Double-A affiliate this year after having Tommy John surgery in 2008.
- ESPN's Buster Olney asked several talent evaluators for their opinion of Manny Ramirez (Insider req'd). Most see him as a designated hitter (unsurprisingly) that is good offensively but no longer elite. One compared him to a healthy Nick Johnson, meaning good average, great OBP, some power. Almost everyone Olney polled suggested an incentive-laden deal, which is what Scott Boras is seeking.
- Richard Justice of The Houston Chronicle says the Astros need to make a big move in free agency if Drayton McLane really hopes to sell the team for $800MM. He throws the names of Carl Pavano, Jorge de la Rosa, Jeff Francis, Rafael Soriano, and Dan Wheeler out there as possibilities.
- Jonathan Albaladejo finalized a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants that will pay him $950K according to the AP (via ESPN New York). The Yankees released Albaladejo at his request earlier this month.
If I were Manny I would be insulted to be compared to as a “healthy Nick Johnson”. Manny is soooooo much better when he’s healthy.
I think you are underestimating Johnson based on the fact he spent most of 2010 with an injury, and had trouble hitting when he was healthy. He was an absolute beast in the Yankees farm system, but if he stayed healthy he would have been really special.
He was in the Yankee farm system well over a decade ago. I think when healthy Manny is still good for 25 hrs and a solid .285/.380 line.
Manny’s power is nearly gone. Did you see him (limited playing time, I know) with The White Sox? It took some time for him to get an extra base hit.
I think the comparison with Nick Johnson, when healthy, is fair.
Yeah, Manny managed a measly .162 ISO and .460 SLG in a year in which he was riddled with injuries and had three DL stints. That guy can’t hit for power to save his life anymore.
Wait, what’s that? That’s a better SLG and nearly the same ISO as Johnson’s entire career? Oh… oh, I see…
There is no reason to believe the injuries and DL stints will stop. And he had no power at all with the White Sox. That being said he will still be a very good bargain for whoever signs him.
I think the injuries and DL stints will stop if:
a) he becomes a DH
and
b) Boras convinces him to cut the crap and rebuild his value
On “b)” above, do you really think Boras hasn’t told him that before to no avail?
I’m sure Boras has told him. He just hasn’t convinced him. Perhaps having zero offers this winter will help.
No one is saying the injuries will or will not be an inssue. WHat was said, is that when healthy Ramirez is currently the same as Nick Johnson when healthy. That simplys is not true. Manny may never have another 35-40 hr year in him but I can easily see .285/.390 25 hr.
Did I say they were exactly the same player? What I’m pointing out, if you take time out of the funny guy routine, is that next year with the way Manny’s career is obviously winding down, I’d expect him to be a Nick Johnson type (read- TYPE) player. I never said he couldn’t hit for power to save his life, just that it’s nearly gone. You’re perfectly entitled to your opinion, and I mine.
Haha.. I agree. That’s like saying Mike Phelps can’t swim when he has a broken shoulder….Duh.
a) Nick Johnson had only 1 year with more than 15 hrs.
b) As you said…limited time and he was injured. You can argue that Manny was probably trying to play thru his injuries in hopes of helping himself get a better contract year. If Manny can manage 600 PA then 25 hrs isn’t hard to see.
does Manny end up with the Jays???
Looks like they’re the front-runner.
Axisa are you still fighting a thanksgiving hangover!? Read this back and see if it makes any sense:
•Richard Justice of The Houston Chronicle says that the Astros need to made a big move in free agency if Drayton McLane really hopes to sell the team for $800MM. The throws the names of Carl Pavano, Jorge de la Rosa, Jeff Francis, Rafael Soriano, and Dan Wheeler out there as possibilities.
WOW man.
He wrote “the” instead of “he.” Big friggin’ deal.
hahaha yea makes no sense at all
He might have just been summarizing Justice, who is dumber than a box of rocks. Really.
WOW man, he made a mistake! gosh how dare he…
I’m sick and tired of people correcting the mlbtr writer’s over insignificant grammar mistakes. Honestly, you knew what he meant, either comment on baseball or just shut up.
Yeah people need to cut that crap out. They do a great job as it is and I’m sure we can live with a few mistakes here and there.
This. We have too many 15 year olds who find it necessary to correct people further along in their education than the 15 year olds will ever be.
Brian, you didn’t capitalize Thanksgiving!! Are you tripping on meth?!
WOW man.
I guess anyone can “write” online. I guess most people have incredibly low standards. When something makes no sense at all, I would want someone to point it out so that it can be corrected. Looks like it was corrected, I’ll take credit for that.
wow that ‘t’ must have REALLY thrown you off your bonkers
Start your own baseball rumors website and make sure there are no mistakes. Until then stop whining.
I’m sure it makes you feel so much better to “take credit” for that. Go give yourself a brownie button now.
Boy those are some big names for Houston. Is the writer or the owner nuts? Both?
I can see it now….Astros sign Dan Wheeler and dozens of people are lining up to purchase the team for $800 million. The bidding just keeps going up!!
LOL yeah…thought I was reading this wrong, but even if the Astros signed all of those guys, how is that going to help the value of the franchise?
“Yeah…wow…They have Carl Pavano now. I think I’ll get out my check book now and scratch him off one for $800 mil”.
Mark Cuban
Manny ends up with either Toronto, Tampa, or Texas, but I think it’d be cool to see him in Baltimore. Showalter could keep his personality in check and treat him like a rookie. Might be good for everyone on that team to see that and have his bat in their lineup. Other than Baltimore I hope he ends up in Toronto but I don’t see John Farrel being as disciplinary, and it might lead to some unpleasantness late in the season. Even with an incentive laden contract.
John Farrell is the reason why Manny wants to go to toronto in the first place so I could see him respecting his coach
Yeah no I totally agree to some extent but I think sometimes being “friendly” like that can cause trouble. Rookie manager and high-maintenance former superstar with huge ego, and when that manager is partial to this kind of player, I just feel as though despite whatever initial comradery exists to start the season it might set them up for an awkward August and September especially if they’re out of the playoff chase early and Manny is being Manny.
I don’t think anyone could keep Manny in check. Having someone like Showalter try to discipline him, I think, would only aggravate him and make matters worse.
I love how people think Showalter is some Messiah for Orioles fans; someone who can do no wrong in terms of managing a team. LOL
I’m not a huge Orioles fan but I think his record since taking over the team is a direct reflection of the effectiveness that his managing style has on that particular group of players. I don’t see them all of a sudden winning the division, and I recognize that even Torre had limited success with keeping Manny in line. As a baseball fan I think it would be cool to see how Manny contributed to the Orioles and how Showalter contributed to Manny.
So what happens when the O’s get off to a bad start next year? Does that mean Showalter has turned into a bad manager? You people put much too much emphasis on the importance of the manager. When the players play well, the team will do well, that’s why the O’s had a better second half, the player’s performance. The first half of the O’s season was not an indication of how good the O’s were, their end record is a much better indicator. O’s fans are gonna get a dose of reality next year.
Dave Trembley
Sam Perlozzo
Lee Mazzilli
Are you still wondering why O’s fans are excited to have Buck?
I feel for you guys on Perlozzo. I don’t even like him being our third base coach.
I’ve heard rumors of him going to Oakland as well.
I could see that if Boras decided there were no good offers out there and went for a one year rebuild-value contract.
That seems like quite possibly the WORST place to go to rebuild his value (since he’s going to DH and thus won’t play in PETCO). His numbers would take a huge dive playing everyday in that awful stadium.
Yeah, you’re probably right. I was thinking more from the perspective of what GM would want him. Manny’s high OBP would attract Beane, if he’s cheap for one year.
It is officially a slow day.
I wonder what type of underwear Sisco wears? Could it be a thong thong thong thong thong thong?
If Brian Anderson was ever given a proper shot, he’d have been a great CF. When he did play regularly, he hit .270
Maybe I looked up the wrong Brian Anderson, but when did he ever hit .270 and play regularly?
There was a time in 08 when he played regularly when Paulie went down. Then again in 09 when Wise went down.
…and he was terrible both years. I thought he’d be something too, but the guy just couldn’t make consistent contact. Hope career #2 works out better for him.
heck yeah the Yankee offseason checklist is now complete. World Series here we come!
Manny will end up in oaktown. Unfortunally!
Ya no.
i want to again thank oakland for making that trade,only the pirates would sign a catcher who is a singles machine to a contract that paid him like he were a power hitting outfielder.
that was a pretty good piece by peter gammons.
The Tigers are easily going to get some good players. They have been in talks with Crawford, Dunn, and Jayson Werth!!!!
Once those three dominoes fall, it will be interesting to see who hits the trade block.
Dunn is pretty much out of the running since Martinez is our primary DH, Werth is looking for a Matt Holliday contract which which will be a gross overpayment, and Crawford’s contract will end up being over $100 million…I would almost rather the Tigers swap Guillen and some lower prospects for Carlos Beltran with NY eating some salary, or signing a cheaper alternative. Another nice option would be bringing back Magglio for a reasonable 2 yr contract.
Outside of dropping their pants for the highest priced and therefore the best free agent baseball player each offseason has to offer, the yankees and brian cashman are absolutely clueless when it comes to evaluating young talent. It’s like throwing darts at a dartboard wearing a blindfold after 11 shots of bass imported ale.
Not sure where that came from, but the Yankees actually have a pretty strong farm system. Maybe a bit top-heavy, but Montero, Betances, etc. is a solid group.
Aside from the 2008 threesome the Yanks didn’t sign any new major free agents in 2005, 2007 and 2009 and passed on Lackey, Bay, Holliday, Zito, Soriano and many others.
Oh and as far as not being able to evaluate and develop good talent….
Hughes, Cano, Gardner, Austin Jackson, Tabata, Coke, Wang and Ian Kennedy are all players who’ve made their debuts in the last 6 years who all had good 2010’s and are products of the Yankee system.