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Archives for November 2010

Regular MLBTR Features

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If you're a regular MLBTR reader, you'll be familiar with our chats, our Week In Review posts and Mike Axisa's Baseball Blogs Weigh In feature. Here's some more detail on when you'll see our weekly features and exactly what to expect from them:

  • MLBTR Chats – Come by every Wednesday at 2pm CDT to chat about the latest trades, signings and rumblings around the major leagues.
  • Baseball Blogs Weigh In – Every Friday morning, Mike Axisa directs you to some of the best writing on baseball blogs around the web. Whether it's opinion, stats or something else entirely, you can connect to the best of the blogosphere once a week on MLBTR. If you want to send Mike a post of yours, reach him at: mike@riveraveblues.com.
  • Week In Review – It's amazing how much happens in seven days. Every Sunday night, we summarize the week's biggest stories in our Week In Review posts.
  • MLBTR Originals – We gather all our original analysis and reporting in one place every Sunday night.

Brian Bannister Becomes A Free Agent

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Brian Bannister is officially a free agent, according to the Royals. Kansas City reinstated Jason Kendall and David DeJesus from the 60-day DL and made room by outrighting Bannister to Triple-A and designating right-hander Brian Anderson for assignment. Bannister refused his assignment and became a free agent.

Bannister, 29, pitched to a 6.34 ERA in 127 2/3 innings last year. His walk rate rose to 3.5 BB/9 and his strikeout rate dropped to 5.4 K/9, so it's not surprising that the Royals let him go. If they had offered arbitration, Bannister would have made something like $2.3MM, his 2010 salary. When Mike Axisa identified Bannister as a non-tender candidate last month, 71% of MLBTR readers correctly predicted that the Royals would cut him loose.

Anderson, a longtime outfielder in the major leagues, started making the transition to the mound this year. He logged 17 1/3 innings across three levels in the Royals system, striking out 17 and walking 5.

Reds Re-Sign Corky Miller

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The Reds announced that they re-signed Corky Miller to a minor league deal after the catcher cleared waivers, refused an outright assignment and elected free agency. The 34-year-old batted .243/.282/.392 in 79 plate appearances for the Reds in 2010.

Miller threw out 27% of would be base stealers while backing up Ramon Hernandez and Ryan Hanigan. The ten-year MLB veteran figures to take on a similar role for the Reds in 2011.

Jeff Francoeur Becomes A Free Agent

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Jeff Francoeur has hit free agency after clearing waivers and declining an outright assignment to the minors, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The 26-year-old split the 2010 season between the Mets and Rangers, batting .249/.300/.383 in 503 plate appearances. 

Francoeur earned $5MM last year and would have been eligible for arbitration again, so the Rangers were expected to non-tender him. This move is essentially an early non-tender, as it allows Francoeur to explore the free agent market a month early. He has said he'd like to play every day, but a part-time role may be more likely given his struggles against righties (.699 career OPS) and success against lefties (.824 career OPS).

Dodgers Eyeing Brandon Webb

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The Nationals and Dodgers have some interest in free agent right-hander Brandon Webb, tweets Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.  We'd heard about the Nationals, but the Dodgers part is news.  Webb hasn't pitched professionally since he made one appearance in April of 2009, as he was sidelined by shoulder surgery.  Prior to '09, Webb was among the best pitchers in all of baseball.

The Dodgers signed Ted Lilly early, so he's penciled into their rotation along with Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley.  One more veteran arm would make sense.  The Dodgers are also known to be seeking a left fielder and bench players, with another question mark being Russell Martin's standing as the starting catcher.

This is purely my speculation, but I wonder if the Cardinals will take a look at Webb as their annual rotation wild card.  Perhaps it will depend on whether they sign Jake Westbrook.

Rizzo Talks Nationals First Base Outlook

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For a six minute segment, Nationals Mike Rizzo provided a lot of good hot stove insight to Kevin Kennedy and Jim Duquette on MLB Network/Sirius XM Radio today.  We've got Rizzo's full thoughts on Cliff Lee here, but here's what else he had to say:

  • Asked about Adam Dunn, Rizzo began his answer by talking about how the Nationals believe "championship teams are built on pitching, defense, speed, and athleticism" – none of which Dunn is known for.  The extended comments about the team's philosophy seemed to be prepping fans for Dunn's departure, but then Rizzo added, "We love Adam Dunn.  We've certainly had interest throughout the year, and he's a guy that we continue to have communications with."
  • Asked about other first base options, Rizzo replied that it's a good year to be looking, with several viable options out there.  He added, "As always, we're looking for a guy that plays both sides of the ball, that can produce offensively and play good defense for us also."
  • Fittingly, Kennedy then recommended Carlos Pena.  Rizzo commented, "We've been Carlos Pena guys here.  He fits what we're doing. He's one of a handful of guys that would give us what we're looking for."  However, Rizzo then reiterated the the team remains in communication with Dunn, adding "He's been our first choice all along."  Pena certainly fits Rizzo's description, while James Loney and Derrek Lee might too. 
  • Rizzo spoke again about his desire to improve the depth and quality of his rotation, whether via free agency or trade.  He noted that he'd like to improve the bullpen as well.

Heyman On Cliff Lee, Mets, Penny

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SI's Jon Heyman dishes the latest on the hot stove…

  • Heyman provides reasons why he sees the Yankees as the favorite to sign Cliff Lee: their revenue, rotation question marks, and lack of a backup plan chief among them.  He also talked to Lee's agent Darek Braunecker about the story about Lee's wife being harassed by Yankees fans at a game.  Braunecker said, "That story was blown out of proportion.  It's not like she's hypersensitive. She's been with him in Philadelphia and all over, been with him from the get-go. It really was that one time, just a couple clowns…probably intoxicated. I don't know if that will have any bearing on (the decision)."
  • Heyman predicts destinations for 15 of the top free agents; nothing crazy.
  • Padres GM Jed Hoyer draws praise for being upfront about not being able to sign Adrian Gonzalez.
  • New Mets GM Sandy Alderson will be paid close to $3MM, while Paul DePodesta will get close to $1MM.  With J.P. Ricciardi, Wayne Krivsky, and Omar Minaya also on the ledger, Heyman figures this is baseball's most expensive front office.
  • Heyman feels that the Mets "would likely avoid" allowing Francisco Rodriguez to finish 55 games in 2011, which would trigger his $17.5MM option for '12.  He also notes that the Mets "will wait to see Jose Reyes play a large chunk of this coming season before getting serious about a long-term deal."  That approach might work, but from Reyes' point of view if he's having a great year and is months away from free agency he might as well go to the open market.
  • It's a little early for "best shape of his life" reports, but that's the word on free agent righty Brad Penny.  The 32-year-old was limited to nine starts this year due to a lat muscle injury.

Mike Rizzo Comments On Cliff Lee

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Nationals GM Mike Rizzo was asked about the Cliff Lee possibility on MLB Network/Sirius XM Radio today with Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy.  Rizzo's full comments:

Well, Jim, I'd be a fool if I didn't like Cliff Lee or want Cliff Lee on our club.  He's the prize pitching guy in this year's free agent market.  But again, I'm certainly not going to delude myself to the fact that we have a great chance of landing Cliff Lee.  He's going to have enough takers and enough competition for us to pick and choose whatever ballclub he wants to go to.  Suffice it to say that I love Cliff Lee, I'd love to have him on our club.  He is a No. 1 starter in the Major Leagues. 

We have contacted his agent and begun discussions with him, but I'm certainly not going to put all my eggs in the Cliff Lee basket because I think the chances of Cliff wanting to come to the Washington Nationals at this time in our franchise is small.

The Yankees and Rangers are considered the favorites for Lee; Yanks GM Brian Cashman is having a meet-and-greet with Lee in Arkansas today.  The Nationals are one other club with both the need and the money for the lefty, however.  Would Lee turn down the Nationals' offer if it's the highest?  That happened with Mark Teixeira two years ago, but the Nats may be closer to contending now.

Free Agent Stock Watch: J.J. Putz

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Adding right-handed reliever J.J. Putz last December for a $3MM guarantee was a brilliant move by White Sox GM Kenny Williams.  Putz's stock is back up after a lost 2009; let's take a look.

The Good

  • In four of the last five seasons, including last year, Putz struck out more than ten batters per nine innings.  His control with the Sox this year returned to an acceptable level, at 2.5 walks per nine.  Putz posted a solid 48.5% groundball rate, his best since '06.  He had no problems getting left-handed hitters out.  His 2.83 ERA was well-deserved.
  • Putz has closing experience from 2006-08 with the Mariners.  With an average fastball velocity of 94.0, he can be intimidating in the ninth inning.
  • He's a Type B free agent, so he won't cost a draft pick to sign regardless of whether the White Sox offer arbitration.

The Bad

  • Putz, 34 in February, hasn't reached 55 innings in a season since '07.  His only ailment this year was a knee injury, but he had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow in June of '09.
  • It may have been related to the elbow injury, but Putz walked 5.6 per nine innings from 2008-09.  He walked 4.8 per nine over the last two months of this season.
  • Potentially, Putz could seek a multiyear deal or a salary matching his '09 base of $5MM.

The Verdict

Closing jobs are hard to come by, but my guess is that Putz will instruct his agent at LSW Baseball to seek such an opportunity first.  That could mean the Rays, Blue Jays, Angels, Braves, Marlins, or Diamondbacks.  He could also stay close to home and sign with the Tigers, or set up for teams such as the Red Sox, Yankees, Rangers, Cubs, or Cardinals.  Two years and $10MM seems plausible.

Rockies Rumors: Vazquez, Catching

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Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has the latest Rockies buzz…

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