The Mets hired Paul DePodesta as their new vice president of player development and amateur scouting, tweets SNY's Brad Como. DePodesta had been working for the Padres since '06. Before that he was the GM of the Dodgers and assistant GM of the Athletics. DePodesta worked under new Mets GM Sandy Alderson in San Diego and under his protege Billy Beane in Oakland. With J.P. Ricciardi already on board, the new Mets front office has a Moneyball feel to it.
Archives for November 2010
Washburn Undecided About 2011
Veteran lefty Jarrod Washburn sat out the 2010 season, but he told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports he's undecided on 2011. Noting that he's been contacted by a couple of teams this week, Washburn explained, "I will not say I am 100 percent retired because a great opportunity might present itself."
Morosi adds that a great opportunity translates as close to Washburn's Wisconsin home. The Brewers or Twins might be his top choices, and both teams should be in the hunt for starting pitching. One point in Milwaukee's favor is their hiring of Ron Roenicke, who worked with Washburn during his Angels days.
Washburn, 36, is a candidate to provide 175 innings of 4.50 ball in 2011. His asking price is an unknown; he's represented by Scott Boras.
Odds & Ends: Renteria, Huff, Takahashi
Four years ago today, the Padres traded Josh Barfield to the Indians for Andrew Brown and Kevin Kouzmanoff. Only Kouzmanoff panned out to any extent; he was sent to the A's with Eric Sogard in January for Aaron Cunningham and Scott Hairston. With Kouzmanoff and Hairston non-tender candidates, Sogard and Cunningham could be the remaining threads of the deal. Links for Monday…
- Do you have experience in online ad sales, ideally for sports websites? MLBTR is looking to bring someone aboard to sell ad inventory on commission. Email mlbtradrep@gmail.com and explain your qualifications if you're interested.
- Edgar Renteria would prefer to return to the Giants, he told Claudia Aguilar Ramirez of El Tiempo. Thanks to Nick Collias for the translation.
- Aubrey Huff hired Ed Hayes as his agent, reported Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports last night.
- The Tigers re-signed catcher Max St. Pierre to a minor league deal, reports Morosi.
- Sanspo has the Angels in the mix for Hisanori Takahashi, tweets Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. It seems likely that the Halos will add a left-handed reliever this winter; I went with Pedro Feliciano in my Top 50 list.
- Carlos Torres, released by the White Sox last month to pursue a job in Japan, has landed with the Yomiuri Giants according to this Newman tweet.
- Kevin Goldstein's top 11 Pirates prospect list is free to all over at Baseball Prospectus. BP is definitely worth subscribing to for Goldstein's work and much more. We also recommend ESPN Insider, which you'll need to read Keith Law's new starting pitcher buyer's guide.
- Speaking of the Pirates, SI's Jon Heyman says they seem active in early free agent calls and "are believed to be showing interest in some surprising free agent prizes such as [Adrian] Beltre."
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs believes the Padres should trade Adrian Gonzalez now rather than in July.
2011 Top 50 Free Agents
It's time for the fifth annual MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 Free Agents list! The entire list of available free agents can be found here.
A note before we begin – this is a complicated puzzle, and I'll be satisfied if I'm correct on a quarter of these guesses. If your favorite team seems under-represented, keep in mind that the list doesn't account for trades or every single free agent. The linked player names go to our free agent stock watch pieces.
1. Cliff Lee – Yankees. I could be swayed toward the Rangers, but it seems the Yankees are more desperate for Lee. The Nationals make an interesting dark horse. I can see Lee getting a seventh year, as crazy as that sounds.
2. Carl Crawford – Angels. The Tigers and Red Sox should also be in the mix for the speedy left fielder, who is vying to become the first $100MM man without a 20 home run season on his resume.
3. Adrian Beltre – Red Sox. The Angels are a candidate, though I have a hard time seeing them win the bidding on the Boras client if they get Crawford. If the Red Sox are not able to re-sign Beltre, I see them moving Kevin Youkilis to third base and finding a stopgap first baseman.
4. Jayson Werth – Red Sox. The Sox would have a crowded outfield, but they are known to like Werth and could view him as J.D. Drew's long-term replacement. The Red Sox have already contacted Boras about Werth, according to ESPN's Gordon Edes.
5. Adam Dunn – Cubs. The Nationals have held to a three-year offer. Dunn doesn't want to DH, leaving the Cubs as the only other NL team I can see spending big at first base. The question for the Cubs might be whether they can move Kosuke Fukudome's contract before Dunn signs. The White Sox and Orioles may also have first base openings and Dunn on the radar. Perhaps Dunn's unwillingness to DH will be tested by the Tigers, or they'll offer left field time.
6. Victor Martinez – Tigers. They seem committed to Alex Avila behind the plate, but there aren't a ton of viable left-handed middle of the order bats out there. Adding V-Mart might take the Tigers out of the market for a full-time DH type.
7. Rafael Soriano – Angels. As the best available reliever and a Boras client, Soriano should require a three or four-year deal. I don't love the Angels-Soriano prediction, but I can't find a great match for the righty. The Diamondbacks seek a closer, but this kind of expenditure doesn't seem like Kevin Towers' style.
8. Mariano Rivera – Yankees. Mo is still unstoppable as he approaches his 41st birthday, though it is outlandish to pay a reliever north of $15MM for 65 innings.
9. Paul Konerko – White Sox. Another tough one, if the Orioles look elsewhere and the Diamondbacks opt for someone cheaper. The Nationals and Cubs will be seeking first basemen, but Konerko may not accept a pay cut on his $12MM salary after such a fantastic season.
10. Derek Jeter – Yankees. The most interesting part of Jeter's free agency may be the contract details. I'll say four years, $65MM.
11. Hiroki Kuroda – Pirates. The Bucs are not typically big game hunters in free agency, but Kuroda represents a chance to add one of the better available arms with perhaps only a two-year commitment.
12. Jorge De La Rosa – Royals. Though De La Rosa at least gets groundballs, some consider him another Oliver Perez waiting to happen. Much will depend on whether De La Rosa requires more than three years or $10MM annually. The Pirates and Nationals seem like potential suitors as well, if he can't find common ground with the Rockies.
13. Carl Pavano – Twins. It's still strange to call Pavano dependable, but he's tallied 433 1/3 American League innings over the past two seasons. He'd be a big loss for the Twins.
14. Jake Westbrook – Cardinals. There's optimism for a deal, which would really solidify the Cards' rotation.
15. Aubrey Huff – Giants. There is mutual interest for Huff and the Giants to strike a new deal. If the Giants want to quit while they're ahead with him, both sides will have plenty of alternatives.
16. Juan Uribe – Dodgers. Uribe could be the Dodgers' new full-time second baseman assuming they non-tender Ryan Theriot. But his versatility means he could also fit with the Twins, Mariners, Mets, Astros, Cardinals, Padres, Orioles, Reds, and of course back with the Giants.
17. Carlos Pena – Nationals. Quite a first base carousel could develop this winter, but Pena is a fit with Washington as they look to improve their first base defense. Who knows – perhaps his first extended look at National League pitching will allow him to match Adam Dunn's 38 homers.
18. Jim Thome – Rays. Thome, Vlad, and Manny should all find full-time DH jobs. I can see the Rangers, Rays, and Athletics being the most aggressive in seeking a regular at the position. The Tigers are a good fit for Thome if they miss out on V-Mart.
19. Vladimir Guerrero – Rangers. True, the Rangers already declined Vlad's mutual option, but that was a formality. He is comfortable in Texas, and isn't going to find a huge offer elsewhere.
20. Manny Ramirez – Athletics. Manny makes sense for Oakland on a make-good contract. He had one of the better off-years I've seen, with his .409 OBP ranking second only to Thome among free agents. Durability will be the bigger question.
21. Magglio Ordonez – Blue Jays. Maggs belongs in the AL. The Blue Jays can make some room at DH if they move Adam Lind to first base, while still giving Ordonez some time in right field.
22. Orlando Hudson – Cardinals. He'd help the Cards improve on Skip Schumaker without breaking the bank.
23. Derrek Lee – Brewers. I can see the Orioles or Diamondbacks for Lee, who will have to settle for a one-year deal. But Lee could land in Milwaukee as Prince Fielder's replacement and remain close to home.
24. Lance Berkman – Diamondbacks. If Berkman aims for a place he can DH part-time, the Rays, Blue Jays, or Rangers could work.
25. Andy Pettitte – Retirement. If the Yanks miss out on Cliff Lee, they could be scrambling if Pettitte retires.
26. Jon Garland – Rockies. He's best-suited on an NL team looking for bulk innings. The Rockies could be that club if De La Rosa departs.
27. A.J. Pierzynski – Marlins. They fit all of Pierzynski's preferences and are known to be in the catching market. He also mentioned the Padres, Rangers, Rays, and Red Sox as potential fits if he doesn't re-sign with the White Sox.
28. Miguel Olivo – Rangers. The Red Sox, White Sox, Angels, Marlins, Reds, and Dodgers may also be looking for a catcher, so there's plenty of potential combinations.
29. John Buck – Red Sox. Buck has a supporter on the Sox in assistant GM Allard Baird. They seem unlikely to hand the starting gig to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
30. Javier Vazquez – Nationals. Vazquez has already expressed interest in pitching for the Nats. His 2010 season was alarming, but there's still the upside of his fantastic 2009 with the Braves.
31. Scott Downs – Red Sox. Downs has the AL East experience to slot into a late inning role for the Red Sox or Yankees. The Phillies and Angels could also be among his suitors, though a draft pick will have to be surrendered.
32. J.J. Putz – Tigers. Putz is officially back after a very strong season with the White Sox. He may seek another shot at closing, but a chance to pitch for the Tigers close to home could be tempting.
33. Brian Fuentes – Diamondbacks. Fuentes will likely go where he has the opportunity to rack up saves. The Braves could be another match if they don't stay internal for the ninth inning.
34. Adam LaRoche – Orioles. The Orioles are going to find a corner infielder one way or another; LaRoche is just one of many free agents they'll probably consider.
35. Hisanori Takahashi – Phillies. He's strong against southpaws and could spot start if need be, so the Phillies are a reasonable match.
36. Pat Burrell – Padres. Burrell had a nice run with the Giants, aside from the playoffs. He could theoretically draw interest from the Braves, Reds, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers as well.
37. Joaquin Benoit – Rays. His numbers for the Rays this year were so absurd, they might be willing to offer him a chance to close in 2011. He'll probably draw interest from a dozen teams, so that could be the difference-maker.
38. Kevin Millwood – Padres. Perhaps Millwood will get a shot at being the Jon Garland of 2011. The Padres will probably bring in one veteran starter, and it's a coveted place to pitch. Millwood could be a match for the Pirates as well.
39. Kevin Correia – Brewers. I like Correia as a sleeper this year. The Brewers could make a big rotation upgrade by way of trading Prince Fielder, and then add Correia at the back end of the rotation cheaply.
40. Arthur Rhodes – Reds. The Reds and Rhodes have mutual interest in a new deal, but the 41-year-old southpaw will be popular on the open market.
41. Pedro Feliciano – Angels. The Phillies and Angels are two teams that seem highly likely to import free agent lefty relievers.
42. Grant Balfour - Yankees. Balfour would be a solid addition at the back of anyone's bullpen. The Yankees will have options, though Balfour has AL East experience.
43. Kerry Wood - Cubs. He wasn't eager to leave after the '08 season, and now the Cubs can fit him into their budget.
44. Scott Podsednik – Reds. Pods fills the Reds' left field and leadoff needs at what should be an affordable price.
45. Yorvit Torrealba – Dodgers. After five seasons as the Dodgers' primary catcher, it seems likely that they'll move on from Russell Martin.
46. Hideki Matsui – Mariners. His choice will probably come down to playing time, and the Mariners need a few quality bats.
47. Johnny Damon – White Sox. They had interest a year ago, and Damon's price should be lower this time around. He's not an ideal DH but he's still an upgrade for the Sox.
48. Kevin Gregg – Braves. I expect they'll add some kind of late-inning veteran with Billy Wagner retiring, and Gregg may be inclined to chase the save opportunities.
49. Koji Uehara – Mets. Uehara, 36 in April, was fantastic in 44 relief innings this year for the Orioles. His price should be held down by the 200+ DL days he logged over the past two seasons. The market is flush with interesting right-handed relievers, but Uehara may still have a dozen suitors.
50. Brandon Webb - Nationals. Interest appears mutual. Unlike last year's Chien-Ming Wang experiment, Webb may require upward of $5MM.
Honorable mentions: Miguel Tejada, Vicente Padilla, Takashi Saito, Matt Guerrier, Jon Rauch, Brad Penny, Nick Johnson, Bill Hall, Frank Francisco, Jason Frasor, Jose Contreras
Non-tender candidates: click here
Free Agent Stock Watch: Magglio Ordonez
Magglio Ordonez was in line for a $15MM salary next year until a July ankle fracture ended his 2010 season. The Scott Boras client is now a free agent; let's examine his stock.
The Good
- Ordonez hasn't posted an OBP below .376 since '06. His power ticked back up to a .474 SLG after a down '09.
- He can handle an outfield corner, as he was on pace for over 1,000 innings in right field before the injury. Ordonez has never played left field in the Majors, but he'd be wise to consider it.
- If Boras thinks Ordonez has a big 2011 in him, he might consider one-year offers.
- Though Ordonez is a Type A free agent, he won't be offered arbitration and therefore won't cost a draft pick.
The Bad
- Ordonez turns 37 in January and has to be considered a health and/or performance decline risk. In regard to his ankle, Boras told MLB.com's Jason Beck, "I think a lot is being made of a standard fracture." If Boras is correct, Ordonez can point to the fact that he's only had one other DL stint since '06, 18 days for an oblique strain in '08.
- Ordonez's outfield defense might give National League teams pause.
- Boras told Beck "there's going to be very strong demand" for right-handed hitters like Ordonez. That's typical Boras-speak, but it's still possible he's aiming for a $10MM salary or multiple years.
The Verdict
Ordonez could return to the Tigers as a complementary piece. He may also draw interest from the Rays, Blue Jays, Athletics, Mariners, or Rangers for a DH-centric role. If Ordonez is viewed as a corner outfielder, the Phillies, Nationals, Cardinals, Giants, Braves, Reds, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, and Padres could join the mix. Something like two years and $16MM seems possible, unless Boras is more inclined to try to build up value on a one-year deal.
Closing Jobs Hard To Come By
Closer is the ultimate role for a reliever, and many free agents choose based on whether they'll get ninth inning opportunities. For example, SI's Jon Heyman tweeted today that Trevor Hoffman "has interest in pitching another year if someone will let him close." Another example would be Jesse Crain, who last month told MLB.com's Kelly Thesier he'd love an opportunity to close. Looking at our free agent list, J.J. Putz, Frank Francisco, Brian Fuentes, Octavio Dotel, Kevin Gregg, Chad Qualls, Kerry Wood, Jon Rauch, Joaquin Benoit, and Koji Uehara could also be among those battling for closer jobs.
The lack of openings makes the supply of would-be closers greater than the demand. The Orioles, Rays, Blue Jays, White Sox, Angels, Braves, and Diamondbacks aren't locked in with closers, but half those clubs could go internal. Only the D'Backs and Angels appear poised to add an established closer. The trade and non-tender markets will only increase the supply with names like Heath Bell, Leo Nunez, David Aardsma, and Bobby Jenks. The Padres, Marlins, Mariners, and White Sox all have viable replacements on hand.
Tigers Sign Jhonny Peralta
The Tigers officially signed Jhonny Peralta to a two-year, $11.25MM contract today. MLB.com's Jason Beck reports that the contract will include a third-year option worth $6MM with a $500K buyout. ESPNDeportes' Enrique Rojas first reported that the two sides were close to finalizing a deal, while Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports and the AP also contributed.
Although the Tigers turned down Peralta's $7.25MM option less than a week ago, the team was always optimistic about bringing Peralta back at a lesser cost. In October, Detroit signed Brandon Inge to a two-year extension worth $11.5MM, so the Tigers have now made nearly identical commitments to both players on the left side of their infield.
As usual, the free agent market for shortstops is weak, so the Tigers had to pay full sticker price on Peralta.
Non-Tender Candidate: Kyle Davies
Kyle Davies was a well-regarded young pitcher in the summer of 2007, when the Royals acquired him from the Braves for a few months of Octavio Dotel. Since then Davies has had an extended opportunity in Kansas City. Over 469 2/3 innings spread across 86 starts, he sports a 5.15 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 4.1 BB/9, and 1.11 HR/9. He also logged another 104 innings at Triple-A.
Davies, 27, just hasn't made much progress in the bigs. The best that can be said is that he's been healthy and is good for 170-180 innings with an ERA around 5.00. That has value, in that it's better than the production of most fifth starters, but you'd prefer to pay the league minimum for it. Davies, however, could make more than $2MM as a third-time arbitration eligible player.
Davies is still young, and he throws relatively hard with a 92.6 mph average fastball this year. With improved control and a move to the NL, you can picture him as a solid #4 starter. In that sense Davies is more of a trade candidate than a non-tender possibility. Still, you have to wonder if the Royals will give him one more shot given their rotation uncertainty. Zack Greinke could be traded, though he'd likely bring back a Major League ready arm. Brian Bannister is a non-tender candidate, and Bruce Chen is a free agent. If the Royals do give up on Davies and Bannister, they'll probably have to add at least one free agent starter.
Your turn: will Davies be non-tendered? Click here to make your prediction and here to view the results.
Rosenthal On Uggla, Arroyo, Angels
Plenty of intriguing new hot stove info from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla rejected a four-year, $48MM extension offer. Uggla is one season away from free agency, and may prefer to hold off. SI's Jon Heyman wrote on Thursday that the offer was to pay $8MM in 2011 and that Uggla sought five years. Assuming Uggla is in line for $10MM or so in arbitration, he must feel he can top what equates to a three-year, $38MM free agent offer.
- Rosenthal expects the Reds to complete a two-year extension with Bronson Arroyo this week. Arroyo's 2011 option, which apparently is worth $13MM, was already picked up. So this new deal would add the '12 and '13 seasons.
- The Angels may be forced to deal with Scott Boras this offseason, especially if they fail to sign Carl Crawford. Boras represents potential targets Jayson Werth, Adrian Beltre, and Rafael Soriano.
MLBTR Originals: 10/31/10 – 11/7/10
With the 2010 MLB season in the books, hot stove season is officially underway. In addition to this week's rumors and transactions, we also had our share of original content at MLBTR. Here's a recap:
- Free agents have been able to negotiate with any team for nearly 24 hours now, but November 7th isn't the only important offseason date to remember. Check out our offseason calendar for all the upcoming dates you need to know.
- There are even more ways to keep track of the latest updates from MLBTR, as we introduced two new features this week: an iPhone app, and Facebook pages for each of baseball's 30 teams.
- Ben Nicholson-Smith offered a few reasons why teams extend their young starting pitchers, and Tim Dierkes countered with a few reasons why teams may prefer to go year to year.
- Tim shared his full list of potential non-tender candidates, and added a few more "not quite" non-tender candidates. Ben provided some context by breaking down non-tenders from recent seasons, including last year's group.
- Our previews of the free agent and trade markets continued, with a spotlight on pitching. We examined the trade market for right-handed and left-handed starters, while our look at the free agent market zeroed in on right-handed starters and relievers, and left-handed starters and relievers.
- Ben explained why the Mets decided to hire J.P. Ricciardi.
- Steve Adams weighed Scott Podsednik's stock as he heads into free agency, while Tim examined Casey Kotchman as a non-tender candidate.
- Mike Axisa's series on amateur signing bonuses focused on four National League teams this week – the Pirates, Cardinals, Padres, and Giants.
- Mike also provided a super-sized edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
- You voted on which big-name free agent would be the first to sign a contract.
- And finally, the transcript of this week's chat can be found here.
