Here's a round-up of news tidbits from around the majors today…
- The Royals might as well also trade Joakim Soria if they're going to move Zack Greinke this winter, reasons Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman (Twitter link). Soria will make $4MM next season and then has team options worth $6MM, $8MM and $8.75MM in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Those are big numbers for a closer on a non-contending team, but if Soria is moved to the rotation and keeps producing, those salaries will be bargains. Interestingly, Soria has a limited no-trade clause that gives him the right to veto deals to the Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Red Sox, Tigers and Yankees.
- Heyman also tweets that Colorado wants to sign Jon Garland to a one-year contract with an option for 2012, but Garland will probably find a guaranteed multi-year deal elsewhere.
- Bobby Abreu would be happy to become a full-time DH if the Angels were to sign a left fielder like Carl Crawford, reports MLB.com's Lyle Spencer.
- Manny Ramirez's 2010 season is compared to the most recent walk years of Vladimir Guerrero and Gary Sheffield by Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci. We know that Scott Boras sees Ramirez as this year's Guerrero, but Verducci points out that with the glut of DH-types on the market this winter, there's at least a chance that Ramirez could end up without a contract as Sheffield did last offseason.
- Speaking of Manny, MLB.com's Jane Lee shoots down a reader's query about Ramirez possibly ending up in Oakland. She says Ramirez is too expensive, would cost the A's a draft pick to sign him and Ramirez "wouldn't exactly fit the veteran-leadership mold the club is looking to also get out of their DH next year." Bad news for those of us that thought Ramirez would end up in Oakland green in 2011. Keep in mind that since Manny is highly unlikely to be offered arbitration by the White Sox on Tuesday, draft pick compensation will not be a factor.
- Doug Melvin might be in "a no-win situation" in his attempts to trade or hold onto Prince Fielder, writes The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Anthony Witrado.
- Tribe GM Chris Antonetti tells MLB.com's Jordan Bastian that a third baseman and a starting pitcher are his club's offseason priorities. Antonetti says the Indians are specifically looking for a veteran hurler who can eat innings and provide "certainty" within the otherwise young rotation.
- Now that Zach Duke has been designated for assignment, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets that the odds of the Pirates signing a free agent starter have risen. Biertempfel mentions Jorge de la Rosa, though the Bucs will have to out-negotiate several other clubs to sign him.
- David Waldstein of the New York Times thinks Bob Melvin will be the next Mets manager, though he notes that "if this really were a horse race, I would box Melvin and [Terry] Collins in an exacta."
Sox should jump if soria comes available. He’d be so worth it
You have guys Bard. Sure Soria is a great closer but is it really something that’s a pressing need for the Red Sox? You don’t jump at every good player that becomes available.
you didn’t let me finish! …if Bard is traded for Upton.
They should not trade Soria at all. He is potentially under a cheap team friendly contract until ’14 and is one of the top 5 closers in Baseball and only looks to get better.
What good is a great closer if you only win 60 games a year? If they trade ZG they won’t have as much need for a closer. I would think that you would want to turn him into more prospects for the perpetual rebuilding project that is the Royals.
Would make sense if the Royals weren’t so close to becoming legit AL Central contenders in a few years. And if Soria’s contract was only two years left like Greinke’s.
As bad as the Royals have been they’ve won 60 games every year in franchise history except for twice (2004 and 2005). But I get your point, the Royals suck. If the right offer came along you trade him.
But even on a small market team Soria’s contract is a bargain for the WAR he produces (7.9 in 4 seasons and 255 IP).
I think the Royals will win 75 games next year, 85 the next year, 97 the following year, and 90-100 perenially for the next 5 years after that…So there.
I think you misunderstood. I was talking about the KANSAS CITY Royals. All kidding aside, you really think they win that many even if they trade ZG?
Assuming your talking about next year, I just have a good feeling that Moose and Dyson will make an impact. And I’m being completely serious when I say this, I think Alex Gordon is the Cargo of ’11. Ask Bob Dutton what Alex told him. He said he’s going to dominate. I still believe it. And I think Vin Mazzaro and Louis Coleman have really good seasons.
so if the stars align, the royals will fall 7 games short of .500pathetic….their time is coming but it isn’t next season(or the one after that IMO).
Royals have enough damn prospects… what they need to do is keep Greinke and Soria…I think the Royals should be on the phone with the Rays trying to pick up Shields or Garza for Butler…
It depends on the prospects. He is after all a closer albeit a great one but if you can get something great in return, then take it. Before the deadline, I saw it here saying Yankees offered Montero for Soria but it was rejected.
Soria’s contract goes until 2014. Most of the KC prospects will reach the bigs in 2011. Even if you figure in an adjustment period, the Royals could very well compete during Soria’s stay in KC.Also, Soria has said a few times that he enjoys KC (as recently as this year), so there is a chance he would resign with KC.
Every player says they “enjoy” the city they play but when free agency rolls around and they see the big bucks that could be had, they don’t stick around. If Soria became a free agent, he’d be pursued by all the large market teams and he would leave KC.
But I agree, they won’t trade him, the prospects are to close to being ready to deal a consistent shut down reliever
Not going to say that you are incorrect by saying that because we have seen it time and time again – a local player who loves his city leaves for the big $.
I guess fans in KC feel different about Soria because he has been such a positive guy on the team and in the community. The fanbase loves him too. So, hopefully we don’t have to catagorize him into the group of players that, as you mentioned, jet for brighter lights once their contract is up.
Yea, I’m not saying that he’d definitely wouldn’t resign if he became a free agent but I don’t put it passed anyone.
Who cares if he become one of those guys that leaves for the bright lights?The Royals have him for 3 more years at a resonable salary and some of their prospect are suppose to be nearly ready for the majors.I say keep him, try to make some smart trades and go all out for the world series before Soria becomes a free agent.
What you said doesn’t make any sense. You just repeated things that have already been stated.
You know what Grines my Gears??…Manny!
grind?
“MLB.com’s Jane Lee shoots down a reader’s query about Ramirez possibly ending up in Oakland. She says Ramirez is too expensive, would cost the A’s a draft pick to sign him…”
If the White Sox offer him arbitration. Will they?
No way the White Sox offer arbitration. Manny would take that in a heart beat.
Or the A’s could sign him before next week…which won’t happen.
That’s just an example of really irresponsible reporting. It’s amazing how few writers have a concept of how free agency compensation really works.
sigh.. I might get in trouble for this.. but here goes…
maybe its not surprising the comments came from a woman..
:/
I, like every reader here, shakes their head and says “what” aloud every time a stupid comment like MLB.coms Jane Lee’s ” Manny will cost a draft pick” as if there’s even a 1pct chance the palehose would offer thus dog a contract. “Yeah Manny, here’s 20 million for being a past his prime, fading dh who is the most selfish player in the game who won’t get over 6 mil in the open market”! She actually gets paid to write this crap!
Like others have said, Soria wants to be in KC. He came out and basically said the opposite of what ZG said earlier. He is excited about the youth movement and wants to be a part of a fresh, rebuilding, competitive team. Soria isn’t going anywhere. Heyman is a fool for just tossing his name out “just because” Greinke’s is on the block.
Agreed. It is irresponsible for sports writers to start these kind of rumors with zero specific information. Soria is not going anywhere this year (or likely next). When it gets to 2 years out, then we can talk.
KC is no longer a farm club for the Red Sox and Yankees. Get over it.
Sometimes I wonder how players decide which teams they want in their limited no trade clauses. Maybe they are just cities they don’t like or they want to be within a certain distance of home or whatever. Soria’s 6 teams happen to be some of the biggest market teams in the league (Aside from the Cardinals, the other 5 were in top 6 in opening day payroll last year, only #5 Mets are missing.)
Maybe Soria felt like these teams were the most likely to make a trade for an expensive reliever, and by picking them he was coming as close to eliminating a possible trade as he could. I guess it’s just one of those things about baseball contracts we’ll never really know.
I would guess that many of these players who have NTCs to the big market teams do so because those are the teams that can go after the pricier players. That way the player has leverage to demand an extension in order to waive the clause.
An extention or maybe just demand to have all of his team options picked up.
The most likely reason for the no trade clause is to demand more money if he were to be asked to be traded.
Can the Red Sox pay 80% of Lackeys remaining salaries, add Lowrie for that 3B spot, throw in Anderson and Reddick for Choo?
I really don’t understand how the Indians are going to find a half way decent veteran starter and a 3B, when most of the team makes $500k. Id love to know their plan. They have a roster full of guys going to arbitration year 1 at the same time…how are they going to address these raises when everyone will be getting them at the same time? In a couple years they are going to have to raise payroll or blow the team up.
Year 1 raises aren’t that much unless some guy has an insane year in which it would be well worth the money.
Yeah, just give the Indians 50 mil and 4 good players for Choo! Maybe we should offer them Pedroia, Lester, and Buccholz instead!
I think the reason Greinke is on the block is because he is only around for two more years and ace starters are in high demand at the moment so he would bring in a big haul.
Soria on the other hand is still under contract in 2012 and 2013, both years where guys like Hosmer, Moustakas, Myers and their slew of pitching prospect have a legit shot at making the Royals a contending winning team thus needing a closer like Soria. Also we are in an offseason with quite a few solid closer option both in FA and in be trade market and so the return for Soria may not be equal to his worth long term to KC.
Simply, that’s why Greinke will be traded and Soria won’t.
I could see the Yankees trying to get BOTH Soria and Greinke. Joba, Montero and many more?
If Greinke would go to New York and if Cliff Lee wasn’t a free agent I could see that. I really think Texas trades for him after they lose Lee to the Yanks and Soria stays in KC.
They are going get them both? Lol… I doubt they get either. Both of them have Yankees on their no-trade claus.
By many more do you mean Phil Hughes and Brett Gardiner! Otherwise go back to sleep!
Hughes, Joba, Garnder,Montero, B.Laird probably. buttttttttttttttt Soira hates the Yankees so that’s a no go.
Joba has little value. Montero is good, but the Royals are loaded with 1B/DH types. Maybe Banuelos (sp?), Romine and Gardner might get the conversation started, but to be honest, I just do not think the Yankees match up well with the Royals. They do not have the ammo in their farm system to pull off a big deal with us.
Puke!!!
Glad someone gets my poor poor sarcasm haha
Pitching is at the top of Yanks list of needs, and bullpen help is almost as important as getting another starter. Someday Mariano Rivera will show his age, and I’d love to have Joakim Soria on the Yanks before that happens.
It also makes perfect sense for the Royals to trade Soria (although not necessarily to the Yanks) as closers are way more important to playoff contenders than re-building teams. The Royals should be able to get a good return on him from one of the big players.
Did you read any of the comments? Soria is under contract until 2014, he has stated he likes being in KC, and the Royals have some top prospects that will be making their way to the majors in 2011. They will be contending before long and he wants to be a part of that. Also, Soria has the Yankees on his ntc.
My feeling is, get everything else first, get your closer last. The Royals still have a lot of holes to fill.Since Soria is close to or at his peak value, I think the Royals should move him now.
To which team, who knows? I’d like him on the Yanks, but as I wrote above, a deal to my team isn’t necessarily the best idea.
Seriously, Jane Lee? You think Chicago is going to offer Manny and his $25M salary arbitration? You’re an MLB.com reporter… give me a break.
Does it actually say IF Soria was moved to the rotation he’d be a bargain? Why would he be moved to a rotation? His career numbers make him one of the best closers in the past several years why would you take him out of that element?
As soon as Lee makes his decision you will see movement on Grienke. Cause if Lee goes to NY, Texas will be all over Grienke and would most likely be the favorite to get him based on need and prospects that they could send back to KC. Probably a package with Holland, Scheppers and another piece or 2.
However if be some chance Lee stays in Texas then things become interesting for KC. Cause at that point you dont really have a team that will overpay to get him. Big markets are out so that takes out the usual suspects like Boston, NY, Chicago, LA. That leaves teams like Milwaukee, Colorado, and Washington.
One team that i think could be very interesting is STL. Not sure if its on his NTC but imagine say Rasmus and Garcia with a mid level prospect for Grienke? Carpenter, Wainwright, and Grienke with Dave Duncan. That is scary good.
Soria probably wont go anywhere this year. But i could see him getting moved next year unless a team like Washington really wants him since they could put together a package around Drew Storen.
Would you take that ppackage u offered for Wainwright? Didn’t think so and Greinkes better than wainwright!
first of all, are you high? There is no way that you can argue that Grienke is better than Wainwright. All you have to do is look at the numbers across the board. And if it wasnt for 2 guys named Lincecum and Halladay he could arguably be a back to back defending Cy Young award winner. And this is coming from a Cubs fan.
2nd which package are you referring to? the one from TEX or STL
Most scouts would say Greinkes the more talented pitcher AND you must be high if you think that bogus package of Rasmus and Garcia would get you anything but laughs from KC!
Bogus? I think that would be overpayment for Greinke (this is coming from someone who is both a fan of the Cards and Royals). Garcia has a pretty filthy curve, and should win 15+ every year, and it won’t be long before Rasmus starts becoming a 25/100 guy. I think if the Royals were offered Rasmus and Garcia for Greinke, they should take the deal and run for the hills with it.
I think that if those two guys were offered along with a AA catcher (not sure who STL has in their farm for that) it would get a deal done.
Carpenter, Wainwright, and Grienke in the same rotation would be the 2nd best in the NL if not MLB. Only Philadelphia would be better with Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels.
Yeah the offense would need some help but a full year of David Freese should offset some of the loss of Rasmus. Plus the offense revolves around Pujols and Holliday anyway. It gives STL a WS contending team and it gives KC 2 bright young stars who are immediate contributors to build around.
So that is your argument for Grienke being a better pitcher. “Most scouts would say so”. Lol.
Take some time, put down the beer, and do just a little bit of research then get back to me with something that backs up your statement.
Im not saying that Grienke is a very good pitcher, he is. What im saying is that if I was starting a staff and was given a choice between the 2 i would take Wainwright everytime.
So that is your argument for Grienke being a better pitcher. “Most scouts would say so”. Lol.
Take some time, put down the beer, and do just a little bit of research then get back to me with something that backs up your statement.
Im not saying that Grienke is a very good pitcher, he is. What im saying is that if I was starting a staff and was given a choice between the 2 i would take Wainwright everytime.
Depending on the dollars, I would like to see my Rockies go ahead and offer Garland a second guaranteed year. He is exactly the sort of innings-eating starter that they need for their rotation (200 innings of league-average ERA would be plenty good).
I wonder what he’s after since he turned down about $6.25 million from San Diego for 2011. Maybe two years and $12 million?
I think that Garland is probably looking for closer to what Jason Marquis got last year from Washington.
I dont think he fits in Colorado though. He needs a pitchers park to be successful. Im thinking Seattle or possibly Florida but i think that Floridas priority is Javy Vasquez
If Colorado gives him a 2yr 13-15M deal they will end up looking back on it as a bad move.
I suppose I’m looking at it from the standpoint of the others who are available. I do *not* want them to throw $10 million per season at Jorge De la Rosa or Carl Pavano, and it doesn’t appear that Javier Vazquez wants to pitch west of the Mississippi.
I think Garland could put up a 4.20 or so ERA for the Rockies across 200 or so innings. For me, that would be plenty. Granted, it’s a small sample, but he’s pitched well enough in the few starts that he’s made at Coors.
I’d do two years and $12 million, but that would be it. Maybe one year with a vesting option tied to 2011 innings pitched.
I think that the best option is unfortunatly already off the table and that was Jake Westbrook. Given the options left out on the market there isnt much that you go a ha! that guy will fit.
They would be better off going with a one year deal on a lesser pitcher like a kevin correia than committing to multiple years for Garland.
Or taking a flier on Brandon Webb might be worthwhile.
if soria is moved to the rotation? hes a closer, dont change that. guys like this dont come around that often. if you start to toy with his mechanics, im afraid he will never come back to form
im sorry, but thats what the indians priorities are? i was thinking more along the lines of, i dont know, a whole new roster
Hey Tim and staff, did you guys buy out hotstove . com?