Odds & Ends: Weathers, Towers, Span
Links for Tuesday…
- I'm excited to be joining an online league in Fanball's National Fantasy Baseball Championship; take a look at all the events they have planned. My NFBC league drafts on March 28th.
- David Weathers hasn't ruled out pitching in 2010, according to Gregg Dewalt of The Times Daily. Weathers would consider pitching for a contender, but said, "If no one calls in June or July, it's been a good ride."
- Tom Krasovic examines Kevin Towers' strengths and weaknesses as a GM, and says he could see Towers with the Cubs down the line. Click here to download Brendan Bianowicz's Excel spreadsheet chronicling Towers' moves.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Yankees made a series of attempts to acquire Twins center fielder Denard Span in July of last year.
- Rich Harden scoffs at negative reports about his early Spring Training velocity, reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He apparently looked better Monday.
Offseason In Review: Cincinnati Reds
Next in our Offseason In Review series, the Reds.
Major League Signings
- Aroldis Chapman, SP: six years, $30.25MM.
- Orlando Cabrera, SS: one year, $3.02MM. Includes $4MM mutual option for 2011 with a $1MM buyout if club declines, $500K buyout if player declines.
- Ramon Hernandez, C: one year, $3MM. Includes $3.25MM vesting option for 2011.
- Jonny Gomes, OF: one year, $800K. Includes $1.75MM club option for 2011 with up to $200K buyout.
- Total spend: $37.07MM. Spend on non-Chapman free agents: $6.82MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
- Laynce Nix, Jose Arredondo, Justin Lehr, Kip Wells, Chris Burke, Miguel Cairo, Josh Anderson, Jon Adkins, Corky Miller
Extensions
- Scott Rolen, 3B: two years, $13MM. Converted $11MM 2010 salary to $6MM salary and $5MM signing bonus paid over three years with no interest.
- Nick Masset, RP: two years, $2.58MM.
Trades and Claims
- Acquired 2B Aaron Miles from Athletics for 3B Adam Rosales and OF Willy Taveras
Notable Losses
Summary
The Reds' surprising signing of flamethrowing Cuban defector Chapman was a long-term move. Though Chapman could have some big league impact in 2010, I don't think that was the main intent. Regardless, this was a praiseworthy investment.
Reds GM Walt Jocketty apparently had little cash to work with on short-term improvements, as he spent less than $7MM on other free agents. Credit Jocketty for non-tendering and then waiting out Gomes. As for the $6.02MM spent on Cabrera and Hernandez, I'm not sure those players are clear upgrades over Paul Janish and Ryan Hanigan. Still, there is something to be said for a veteran track record. Aside from Gomes, Jocketty also made a smart minor move in getting Arredondo on a minor league deal. Arredondo, 26 later this month, will miss the 2010 season recovering from Tommy John surgery but can help the Reds in future years.
Where did Jocketty find the $6.82MM for his three veteran free agent signings? Most of the money came from redistributing Rolen's 2010 salary and giving him a two-year extension. It was a risky gambit, as Rolen turns 35 soon and hasn't played 130 games in a season since '06. Jocketty also saved $1.3MM by swapping Taveras for Miles, at the cost of Rosales. Dumping Taveras was addition by subtraction, since he ate up 437 plate appearances with a .285 OBP in last year (mostly in the first two spots in the batting order).
The 2010 Reds are the darling sleeper pick in some circles. They'll need to succeed on the strength of their run prevention. Their defense looks strong, but Johnny Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, and Homer Bailey will need to beat their 4.50 ERA CHONE projections.
Brewers Release John Halama
The Brewers released pitcher John Halama, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Halama allowed ten hits in six spring innings. The 38-year-old southpaw signed with the Brewers in November after tossing 159.3 innings in '09 between the Braves' Triple A club and the independent Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
Indians Acquire Aguilar, Brewers Keep Lofgren
The Indians acquired pitcher Omar Aguilar from the Brewers, allowing Milwaukee to retain Rule 5 lefty Chuck Lofgren and send him to Triple A, reports Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Lofgren cleared waivers.
Aguilar, 25 later this month, posted a 4.72 ERA, 11.4 K/9, and 4.4 BB/9 in 55.3 relief innings split between High A and Double A in 2009 (he was demoted in June). He failed to crack Baseball America's top 30 Brewers prospects list this year, but ranked #21 heading into '09. A Tommy John survivor, Aguilar is a power arm with a mid-90s fastball and a setup man projection. Nice pickup by the Indians.
Lofgren, 24, last appeared in a Baseball America handbook when he ranked second among Indians prospects heading into '08. The lefty projected as a #3 starter at the time. Last year he posted a 4.15 ERA, 5.9 K/9, and 3.1 BB/9 in 141 innings split between Double A and Triple A. He was left unprotected in the '08 Rule 5 and went unclaimed, but the Brewers snagged him in the '09 draft.
With Bobby Cassevah sent back to the Angels yesterday and Armando Zerpa returned to the Red Sox, 14 of the 17 Rule 5 picks from the Major League phase still face unresolved situations.
Olney On Howard, Pujols, Adrian, Chris Young
The latest from ESPN's Buster Olney (Insider required)…
- Olney explains why the Phillies' internal discussions about offering Ryan Howard for Albert Pujols were accurate and newsworthy: "When you have confirmed information that the Phillies have discussed internally an avenue through which how they might pursue the best player in baseball — and you know exactly who said what to whom, and how sturdy the intent was — that is news." Olney's information should be trusted despite the Phillies' denials, but keep in mind that this was simply one club's internal discussion.
- Certain talent evaluators believe Adrian Gonzalez is so valuable given his contract that the Padres may not find a comparable return. Some of Olney's sources believe the Padres should keep Gonzalez into 2011.
- Olney's hearing Chris Young's velocity is back in its customary 87-88 mph range. As the best-paid Padre and an impending free agent, Young has to be considered a midseason trade candidate. He is earning $6.25MM this year with an $8.5MM club option for '11.
David Purcey Drawing Attention
Blue Jays lefty David Purcey is "drawing attention from clubs," tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal also notes that the Cubs had a scout on hand Sunday for Jason Frasor's ugly Sunday stint (four hits and four earned runs in a third of an inning). Rosenthal says Frasor was under the weather during the appearance.
Purcey, 28 in April, was J.P. Ricciardi's first-round pick in 2004. He posted respectable strikeout rates at most minor league stops, but was plagued by control problems. He seemed to figure it out by his third Double A stint in '07, trimming his walks per nine to 2.3. However, surgery to remove cysts in his forearm and triceps cut that season short. Purcey kept the walks down the next year at Triple A, and showed flashes of brilliance in his '08 MLB debut season. The '09 season was a step back, with Purcey losing his rotation spot by May due to his walk problem.
Now MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says the Blue Jays have trimmed Purcey's repertoire and are leaning toward making him a reliever. Once the Blue Jays' #3 prospect, Purcey's outlook has been downgraded over the years by Baseball America from a potential #2 starter to a mid-rotation guy to a reliever. He still brings the power stuff that made him a first-round pick in '04, and there might be another club out there with ideas on fixing his command.
Marlins Interested In Mike Lowell?
The Florida Marlins had scouts on hand to watch Mike Lowell's Grapefruit League debut at first base today, writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Although the club's level of interest in the 36-year-old is unclear, Spencer entertains the notion of a possible reunion between the Marlins and their all-time home run leader.
Considering how minuscule their payroll is, it's hard to imagine the Marlins making a play for Lowell unless Boston is willing to take on virtually the entire $12MM that he'll make in 2010. As Spencer points out though, the corner infield situation in Florida is still in flux. Jorge Cantu is capable of manning either side of the diamond and is penciled in at third base for now, while unproven youngsters Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez compete for the first base job.
Lowell looked solid in his debut, collecting a hit in two at-bats and playing three innings in the field. Of course, it'll take more than a single game to show that he's back to full health after battling thumb and hip issues. It was Lowell's thumb injury that resulted in a trade to Texas being called off earlier in the winter.
In that proposed deal, the Red Sox showed a willingness to pay a significant chunk ($9MM) of Lowell's salary. If Lowell displays good health this spring, and the Sox will still pay that price to move him, the Marlins and Twins could be among the teams interested.
Two New Teams Interested In Joe Beimel
Two new teams expressed interest in Joe Beimel late last week, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Beimel's agent, Joe Sroba, doesn't reveal which two clubs spoke to him about his client, but Kilgore says that the Nationals are not one of them.
Last we heard, Beimel still had a contract offer on the table from the New York Mets, who were hoping to add a left-handed arm to their bullpen for $1MM or less. Beimel, on the other hand, was looking for a salary closer to the $2MM he earned in 2009. He may yet get there, given the possibility of two new potential suitors. Perhaps one of those suitors is the Phillies, who could use another lefty in their pen, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Paul Hagen.
With teams constantly searching for reliable left-handed throwers, it wouldn't be surprising to see Beimel sign a deal worth in excess of $1MM within the next week or two. Waiting out the market didn't necessarily hurt the 32-year-old last winter either, when he signed with the Nationals on March 18.
Odds & Ends: Mateo, Kelvim Escobar, Mariners
Links to kick off the work week…
- Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo is scheduled to work out for the Diamondbacks today, writes Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Mateo's reps don't share the Cardinals' concerns about Mateo's vision.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Rays came second in the Kelvim Escobar bidding, offering $600K. Unlike the Mets, the Rays saw Escobar as a second half contributor.
- Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post thinks stat lovers themselves "may be the new inefficiency in the market," making Adam Dunn a bargain at three years and $40MM even if his defense doesn't improve.
- FanGraphs' Dave Cameron explains why the Astros and Royals sit at the bottom of his organizational rankings.
- SI's Jon Heyman names his "bests" for 2010, with the Angels getting the nod for the best rotation top to bottom. Heyman also talks about Jarrod Washburn, considered a person of interest for Seattle.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets that the Ms are "still pondering backup catching options from outside." There aren't too many available backstops who can be considered clear improvements.
- In his latest GM's Corner video for FOX Sports, Jim Bowden gathers all the GMs involved in the Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee deals. Alex Anthopoulos mentioned that Ruben Amaro Jr. would not include Kyle Drabek or Domonic Brown when Halladay was discussed at the GM Meetings, but relented on Drabek a few weeks later.
- Dustin Parkes of Drunk Jays Fans says "the team has put its money where its mouth is" by signing Adeiny Hechevarria.
Discussion: Andy Sonnanstine
No teams have formally inquired about trading for Andy Sonnanstine, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. However, the right-hander could become the topic of a few trade rumors before the season begins, given Tampa Bay's surplus of starting pitching.
Morosi tweets a few teams that could use another starting pitcher: the Diamondbacks, Mariners, Mets, Twins, Dodgers and Nationals. That list could easily double by Opening Day, with spring performances and injuries potentially raising depth concerns for a few more clubs.
The Rays shouldn't feel any pressure to deal Sonnanstine though. Even if there's no room for him in their rotation, their starting pitching depth is a luxury. As the FOX report suggests, the Rays could use Sonnanstine out of the bullpen as a long reliever, or even send him to Triple-A to start the year, since he has options remaining.
If you were running the Rays, what's your move here? Would you start shopping Sonnanstine, hoping to get some value in return? Or would you keep the right-hander around, providing insurance in case youngsters like Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson struggle?