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Archives for January 2011

Olney On Padres, Young, Manny, Branyan

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The Padres like that Brad Hawpe posted a .903 OPS two years ago and is still just 31 years old, writes ESPN.com's Buster Olney. The team's front office is confident in Hawpe's ability to play first, but club execs don't know what they'll get from the longtime Rockie at the plate. Here are the rest of Olney's rumors:

  • Olney suggests a player’s inability to play the field seriously compromises his value, since teams would prefer to have roster flexibility. Though Michael Young may become the Rangers’ regular DH, his ability to play all over the infield is a plus that players like Jim Thome and Vladimir Guerrero cannot offer.
  • Executives wonder “where the heck [Manny] Ramirez is going to land – if anywhere.” As Olney notes, Ramirez has the potential to become a distraction.
  • Russell Branyan can still play first base when healthy, which is why one GM believes he’ll find a job. “He’ll get a shot someplace," the GM said.

Mariners, Brendan Ryan Working To Reach Deal

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WEDNESDAY, 8:14am: The Mariners and Ryan are working to reach a two-year deal, according to MLB.com's Greg Johns.

TUESDAY, 6:33pm: Jeff Evans, the team's manager of baseball information, confirms via email that the Mariners have not reached an agreement with Ryan.

5:14pm: The Mariners have signed infielder Brendan Ryan to a two-year contract worth $2.75MM according to Stephen Hawkins of the AP. Ryan was arbitration-eligible for the first time heading into 2011. He'll earn $1MM in 2011 and $1.75MM in 2012.

Ryan, 29 in March, was acquired from the Cardinals last month. He's just a .256/.314/.344 career hitter, but his value lies in his top-of-the-line defense at short. His +18.7 UZR at the position is the best in baseball since the start of the 2009 season, close to four runs better than the runner-up.

AL East Links: Orioles, Hayhurst, Andruw, Crawford

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The Orioles agreed to sign Kevin Gregg today, but that's far from the only news to emerge from what's arguably baseball's toughest division. Here's the latest:

  • Brian Cashman told MLB.com's Bryan Hoch that he's "monitoring what the necessary requests are, financially or player wise. If some drop, then maybe we'll get a little more serious [about making a move]." Earlier tonight we heard that the Yankees were interested in Jeremy Bonderman.
  • The Orioles would still like to add a left-handed reliever, according to MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli (all Twitter links). Will Ohman is an option, but not the leading option or the only one, according to Ghiroli.
  • The Orioles would like to add a veteran starter and the feeling in the front office is that a trade is more likely than a free agent signing. Kenshin Kawakami and Joe Blanton come to mind as possible trade targets, but that's just my speculation.
  • Dirk Hayhurst will not be back in the Blue Jays organization next year, the pitcher (and best-selling author) announced on his blog.
  • The Yankees will consider Andruw Jones, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link). He bats right-handed and can play all three outfield positions, so he could provide the Yankees with some pop as a fourth outfielder and spell Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner.
  • Heyman suggests the Yankees will go for a lockdown bullpen with Rafael Soriano and Mariano Rivera if Andy Pettitte retires (Twitter link). Click here for more Yankees rumors.
  • Carl Crawford's trainer explained the left fielder's offseason workout program to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.

Padres Looking To Add Catching Depth

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The Padres are looking for catching help according to MLB.com's Corey Brock (Twitter links), specifically seeking a backup for Nick Hundley. The team will not hand the newly acquired Rob Johnson the job, according to Brock.

The free agent catching pool is rather light at the moment, especially now that former Padre Josh Bard is returning to the Mariners. This is just speculation on my part, but the Angels could be a potential trade match. They have Mike Napoli, Jeff Mathis, Bobby Wilson (who's out of options), and top prospect Hank Conger (debuted in 2010) on the 40-man roster, and could look to move one in exchange for help elsewhere. The recently designated for assignment Max Ramirez could also be an option. Again, that's just my speculation.

Hundley, 27, hit .249/.308/.418 in what was essentially a platoon with Yorvit Torrealba last summer. He's never played more than 85 games in any of three big league seasons, but he's also never played fewer than 60. It'll be tough for San Diego to replace Torrealba's .271/.343/.378 batting line, but upgrades at second base, shortstop, and in center field will help mitigate the loss.

NL Notes: Pavano, Young, Cubs, Brewers

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Some notes from the senior circuit…

  • Carl Pavano is still "entertaining interest" from a handful of teams according to MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling. The Nationals remain very much in that mix, and Goessling's source indicates that there is no timetable for Pavano's decision.
  • Meanwhile, Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post gets the sense from team officials that the Nats are "lukewarm" on Pavano (Twitter link). He says not to expect a deal until Pavano's asking price comes down.
  • ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that the Mets' offer to Chris Young "likely includes guaranteed money over $1 million." A team offical said that yesterday's Chris Capuano pickup will not take the team out of the running for other free agent starters.
  • The Cubs are not planning to upgrade at second base, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). That makes it unlikely that they'll pursue Michael Young.
  • The Brewers have signed right-hander Jesus Sanchez to a minor league deal, reports Baseball America's Matt Eddy (on Twitter). The 23-year-old posted a 2.99 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 129 1/3 Single-A innings for the Phillies last season. They originally acquired him from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu trade, back when Sanchez was a catcher.
  • Eddy tweets that the Brewers also signed outfielder Brandon Jones to a minor league deal. The 27-year-old hit .231/.333/.325 in the minors last year, bouncing from the Braves to the Pirates to the Tigers.

Yankees Interested In Jeremy Bonderman

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The Yankees have been on the lookout for pitching since losing out on Cliff Lee, and that search has led them to Jeremy Bonderman. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports that they have interest in the right-hander according to a Major League source.

Bonderman, still just 28, posted a 5.53 ERA with a 5.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 171 innings for the Tigers last season. He's battled significant shoulder issues in recent years, derailing a once promising career. The Rockies, Cubs, and Pirates have shown varying levels of interest in Bonderman this offseason. 

MLBTR's Luke Adams identified Bonderman as a pitcher that could benefit from a move to the National League.  He appears in line for a one-year deal.

Reds Notes: Hermida, Nix, Renteria

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The Reds officially added Jeremy Hermida today, and now John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer brings us some more rumors from the Queen City…

  • The Hermida signing does not mean the team is done looking for a lefty hitting outfielder to platoon with Jonny Gomes. "We’re still looking at other guys," said GM Walt Jocketty. "But we’re going to give him a good opportunity. Hopefully, we can bring in some other guys to compete. Competition is a good thing."
  • "Possibly," replied Jocketty when asked about the possibility of bringing Laynce Nix back. "We haven’t talked about it lately. We've been concentrating on other guys." The Mariners offered Nix a contract last month.
  • Jocketty confirmed that there is nothing new with Edgar Renteria. The club spoke to the shortstop's representatives recently, though he is talking with the Giants again.

Mariners Re-Sign Josh Bard

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The Mariners have re-signed catcher Josh Bard, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. MLB.com's Greg Johns says it's a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, and that Bard will compete with Adam Moore for the backup catcher job (Twitter links).

The 32-year-old hit .214/.276/.357 in 126 plate appearances with Seattle in 2010, though he did throw out six of 18 would-be base stealers. He also missed some time with a calf strain. Bard is a .256/.323/.387 career hitter, but the last three years haven't been pretty: .218/.285/.332 in 625 plate appearances split between the M's, Nationals, and Padres. 

Indians Acquire Joe Martinez

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The Indians acquired Joe Martinez from the Pirates for a played to be named or cash considerations, the teams announced today. The Pirates acquired Martinez and John Bowker from the Giants for Javier Lopez at last year's trade deadline, and went on to designate Martinez for assignment late last month.

The right-hander posted a 4.12 ERA in 19 2/3 innings for the Giants and Pirates last year, walking as many hitters as he struck out (9). He also spent time at Triple-A as starter and reliever, posting a 3.94 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 109 2/3 minor league innings. Martinez, a 2005 12th round pick by the Giants, turns 28 next month.

Martinez has two options remaining, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (on Twitter). That enables the Indians to demote him to the minors without exposing him to other teams.

Blue Jays Sign Chad Cordero

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The Blue Jays have signed Chad Cordero, according to Reynolds Sports, the pitcher's agency, and the team (Twitter links). Cordero is just 28, but he has already experienced his share of highs and lows as a major leaguer.

He made the All-Star team and led the National League with 47 saves in 2005, when he finished fifth in Cy Young balloting and even picked up votes in the MVP race. But Cordero underwent right shoulder surgery in 2008 and has only appeared in nine big league games since.

Cordero posted a 3.03 ERA in 35 2/3 innings for the Mets' and Mariners' Triple-A affiliates last year. His strikeout (9.1 K/9) and walk (2.3 BB/9) numbers were strong in the minor leagues, but they didn't translate in his brief return to the majors.

Cordero will likely compete with pitchers such as Carlos Villanueva, Josh Roenicke, David Purcey, Jesse Carlson and Rommie Lewis for jobs in the Jays' 'pen this spring.

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