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This Date In Transactions History: November 28th

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Not one, but two trades involving big-name starting pitchers have taken place on November 28th in the not-too-distant past. Let's review…

  • The Rays and Twins completed a six-player swap on this date in 2007. Tampa received Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Eddie Morlan while Minnesota received Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie. The move looked like a steal for the Rays initially, especially after Garza and Barlett helped their new team to its first World Series in 2008, but Young started to even things out with a big season in 2010.
  • While that was going on, the Reds signed Francisco Cordero to a four-year, $46MM contract on the same day. He's pitched to a 3.13 ERA with 113 saves in his three seasons in Cincinnati, helping get the team back to the playoffs this year.
  • Four years earlier, the Red Sox acquired Curt Schilling from the Diamondbacks for Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, Jorge de la Rosa, and minor leaguer Michael Gross. Schilling helped Boston to World Championships in 2004 and 2007, and other than Lyon (4.03 ERA in 232 IP), Arizona didn't get much out of this trade.
  • The Astros dealt Pete Harnisch to the Mets for two players to be named later on this date back in 1994. Harnish pitched to a 4.33 ERA in two-plus seasons in New York while neither of the players Houston received, righties Juan Castillo and Todd Beckerman, played in the big leagues after the trade. 
  • The Mariners signed a young slugger out of the Dominican Republic by name of David Arias in 1992, and eventually traded him to the Twins four years later. Seattle had incorrectly listed his name after signing him, but everyone knows him by his nickname now: Big Papi.
  • Some other players involved in transactions on this date: Chad Bradford, Adam Kennedy, Randy Wolf, Gregg Zaun, Rickey Henderson, and Dennis Eckersley.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Kevin Gregg

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The Blue Jays declined their option(s) for closer Kevin Gregg earlier this month, making the right-hander a free agent for the second time in as many offseasons. Let's review his stock…

The Good

  • Gregg has always been a strikeout pitcher, posting at least an 8.8 K/9 in three of the last four years. His ground ball rate has settled in close to 42% over the last three seasons.
  • With at least 23 saves in each of the last four seasons, Gregg has experience late in games and would be able to step right into the ninth inning for an interested team.
  • He's never been on the disabled list.
  • Gregg is a Type B free agent, so it doesn't matter that the Jays offered him arbitration. A team will not have to surrender a draft pick to sign him.

The Bad

  • All of those strikeouts come with a healthy amount of walks. Gregg has walked 4.2 batters per nine innings over the last three season, and that doesn't include intentional free passes.
  • He can be prone to the long ball, surrendering one homer for every nine innings pitched over the last three seasons.
  • Gregg is 32 (33 in June), so the prime of his career could be in the rear-view mirror.

The Verdict

Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has kept in touch with Gregg this offseason, and the Rockies are expected to have some interest as well. Although he's obviously a notch below Rafael Soriano, Gregg is a solid free agent option for a team looking to shore up its late-game bullpen at a reasonable cost. 

Frank Francisco Likely To Accept Arbitration

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Free agent right-hander Frank Francisco is likely to accept the Rangers' offer of arbitration according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. As a Type-A free agent, a team would need to surrender a high draft pick to sign him, something many clubs won't be willing to do for a reliever.

To make matters worse, the 31-year-old Francisco missed the last month of the season (as well as Texas' playoff run) due to a strained rib cage. He's certainly a quality reliever, striking out 10.9 and walking just 2.9 batters unintentionally for every nine innings pitched over the last three seasons. He saved 25 games for the Rangers last season, but was usurped as closer by Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz early in 2010.

I examined Francisco's free agent stock late last month, noting that he could accept arbitration and receive a $4MM or so salary in 2011 (he earned $3.265MM in 2010). Earlier today we learned that the Rangers have explored the idea of signing a closer and moving Feliz into the rotation, a move Francisco could help facilitate.

Dodgers Interested In Juan Uribe

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With the starting rotation solidified, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said his focus has turned to among other things, a bat. MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports that the Dodgers are now targeting infielder Juan Uribe, a pickup that would serve the double-purpose of helping LA and hurting the rival Giants.

Uribe, 31, hit .248/.310/.440 with 24 home runs this season, then hit a pair of huge homers in the playoffs to help the Giants to their first World Championship in San Francisco. He's spent considerable time at second, third, and short during his career, and UZR has nice things to say about his defense at all three spots. Uribe earned $3.25MM in 2010, his third straight one-year deal. As a Type-B free agent, he would give the Giants an extra draft pick if he signed elsewhere, though his new team would not have to give one up.

Earlier today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports explained why Uribe would make sense for the Dodgers.

Rockies Interested In Brandon Webb

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Let's add the Rockies to the ever-growing number of teams interested in free agent right-hander Brandon Webb. Troy Renck of The Denver Post tweets that Colorado has expressed interest in the sinkerballer, who would be a nice fit in Coors Field if healthy.

The Cubs, Pirates, Twins, Rangers, and Nationals are already in on Webb, who is a big unknown at this point. He hasn't been on a big league mound in close to 21 months because of shoulder problems.  Two weeks ago, Webb's agent Jonathan Maurer gave MLBTR his take on Webb's September/October instructional games.  Maurer said Webb is expected to prepare at a normal pace and is ready to make 30-plus starts in 2011.

Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.

Nine Teams Interested In Jesse Crain

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Joaquin Benoit was the top right-handed setup man available on the free agent market, but with him off the board teams now appear to be turning their attention to Jesse Crain. MLB.com's Peter Gammons tweets that a total of nine teams – the Rays, Rockies, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Mariners, Orioles, Cubs, Nationals, and Blue Jays – are "already in" on the former Twin.

Crain, 29, has returned from a 2007 shoulder surgery to post a 3.70 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 182.1 innings over the last three seasons. In 68 innings this year, he posted a career-high 8.2 K/9 and a career-low .215 batting average against. Minnesota offered the Type-B free agent arbitration, so the club will receive a draft pick if he signs elsewhere even though the signing team will not have to give one up.

Cubs Interested In Carlos Pena

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The Cubs enjoyed Derrek Lee's stellar defense for more than six seasons, and now they're showing interest in another strong defender at first. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears from a source that the Cubbies are interested in Carlos Pena, whose power could fit in well with Wrigley Field. 

Pena, 32, hit just .196/.325/.407 in 582 plate appearances this season, though he still hit 28 homers and walked 87 times. His left-handed pop would be a welcome addition to a righty heavy lineup, and Morosi notes that Pena might be looking to re-establish his value on a one-year contract similar to what fellow Scott Boras client Adrian Beltre did in 2010.

The Cubs expressed some interest in Lance Berkman earlier this week.

Nationals To Talk With Webb At Winter Meetings

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A source tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson that the Nationals are still "strong candidates" to land Brandon Webb this offseason, though talks between the two sides are not expected to heat up until the Winter Meetings begin eight days from now. Washington GM Mike Rizzo was the Diamondbacks scouting director when the team drafted Webb in 2000, so the two long, prior relationship. 

The Dodgers, Pirates, Twins, Rangers, and Cubs have all expressed interest in the 31-year-old righty, though we could probably cross the Dodgers off the list after the Jon Garland signing. The Nats have made it clear that they have money to spend on pitching, and Webb is just the latest free agent hurler on their radar. The former Cy Young Award winner has made just one start over the last two seasons due to shoulder trouble, and initial reports out of Instructional League had his fastball velocity in the low-80's. Tim Dierkes broke down his free agent stock earlier this month.

Yankees Notes: Burnett, Jeter, Albaladejo

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When Javier Vazquez's deal with the Marlins becomes official, the Yankees will have earned a sandwich pick in next year's draft in exchange for losing the right-hander. Here are a few other items of interest out of the Bronx….

  • Brian Cashman flew to Maryland this week to meet with A.J. Burnett, writes ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider required). While it's not the first time Cashman has met with one of his veteran players during the offseason, the visit was more noteworthy because of Burnett's disappointing 2010 campaign. The Yanks' GM "made it clear" to the 33-year-old that the team still believes in him going forward.
  • Former Yankee Tino Martinez tells George A. King III of the New York Post that he's bothered by the way Derek Jeter is being perceived this offseason: "It's making it seem like he is greedy. He is not being greedy. He is going through a baseball negotiation like everybody else. It's made him look like he doesn't know what's happening in the real world, and he is not like that."
  • Within the same piece, King says the Yomiuri Giants sent the Yankees $1.2MM for Jonathan Albaladejo, who finalized a one-year deal with the Japanese club yesterday.
  • Chad Jennings of the Journal News considers some potential landing spots for Jeter and shortstop alternatives for the Yankees in the unlikely event that the two sides can't reach an agreement.

Dodgers Closing In On Deal With Juan Uribe

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12:29pm: Uribe's contract with the Dodgers will be for three years and $21MM, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

11:38am: The Dodgers are closing in on a three-year deal with free agent infielder Juan Uribe, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.  After a couple of solid seasons for the Giants, Uribe is about to snag his first multiyear free agent deal with their division rival.

Uribe, 31, hit .248/.310/.440 with 24 home runs in 575 plate appearances for the Giants this year, adding a pair of postseason home runs.  He mainly played shortstop, but also logged time at third base and second base.  Uribe would presumably serve as the Dodgers' second baseman with Rafael Furcal in the fold.  The contract may seal Ryan Theriot's fate, with Thursday's non-tender deadline looming.  Another effect may be a heightened sense of urgency for the Giants as they search for a shortstop.  Uribe is a Type B free agent who was offered arbitration by the Giants, so they'll receive a supplemental draft pick for their loss.

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