6:54pm: Bean Stringfellow, Cordero's agent, wouldn't comment on whether the Angels were looking at Cordero as a closer or as Jordan Walden's setup man, reports DiGiovanna. Stringfellow called it "a delicate situation."
6:21pm: The Angels, Blue Jays, Orioles and Phillies are all pursuing Cordero, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link). These could well be the four finalists Gonzalez referenced.
5:29pm: Free agent reliever Francisco Cordero expects to sign with a new team by the end of the week, reports MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. Four clubs are finalists for Cordero; Gonzalez's source identifies the Angels as one of the four, but the Rays are not in the mix. One of the unknown teams "is a championship-contending team looking to slot [Cordero] in the eighth inning," and Gonzalez speculates this could be the Phillies, looking at Cordero as Jonathan Papelbon's setup man.
The Angels, Red Sox, Reds and Orioles have all been linked to Cordero this winter, though Boston's acquisitions of Andrew Bailey and Mark Melancon probably eliminate them from the hunt. The Reds are probably also out due to their signing of Ryan Madson, though they fit Gonzalez's description of a title contender and Cordero could be open to remaining in a familiar environment to chase a World Series.
He’s definitely not a great option, but the best of what’s left. Hopefully it’s not a multi-year deal. Get it done JeDi.
I would bet he gets a 2 year deal, but the $ is up in the air. I’m guessing it will be at least $5M/year.
Also, I doubt he comes back to the Reds because the bullpen is set and he is worth a supplamental pick. I’m guessing Angels.
I heard earlier this week that the Angels have a standing offer to Cordero: 1 year, $5 million. Make it happen, JeDi!
Pull the standing offer: we don’t need him.
Yeah, the more I read about him (in the past 2 hours), I’m thinking he’s a bad fit for the Halos.
Hmm,do it or don’t. We could have gotten Madson on a 1 year deal… As 1 year deals go I would have rather had Madson…
That’s like saying the sky is blue. Anybody that prefers Cordero over Madson is out of their minds.
I think anyone that prefers Cordero period is out of their mind.
And a 1.019 WHIP last year?
And a 4.02 FIP and 4.14 xFIP. It isn’t pretty to watch him close a game, trust me.
Good points, for sure.
He may be only a setup man for the Halos, though. Who knows?
He would benefit greatly from moving to a pitchers park. I still think Cordero is trying to find a closing job somewhere, which probably wouldn’t happen with the Angels. I know the Angels already have a young closer that is was slightly inconsistent, so who knows, maybe Cardiac Cordero would be closing for the Angels. Anaheim might be his best shot.
Hey, Topher,
Yeah, I’m thinking a move to a pitchers’ park would benefit him, but I’m not sure about a potential change in roles for him. He doesn’t seem very open to setup or middle relief. I guess we’ll see.
Thanks for the FIP and xFIP numbers, by the way. I was too lazy to look ’em up. : )
He would benefit greatly from moving to a pitchers park. I still think Cordero is trying to find a closing job somewhere, which probably wouldn’t happen with the Angels. I know the Angels already have a young closer that is was slightly inconsistent, so who knows, maybe Cardiac Cordero would be closing for the Angels. Anaheim might be his best shot.
The glorious “Mystery Team” is making their move, again! This Mystery team is stacked.
I wish New Era would start selling a Mystery Team fitted. Obviously it would be a hotter seller than those of the Montgomery Biscuits and Modesto Nuts combined.
Awesome idea, Frank! Make it happen!
What are the Orioles going to do with Cordero? Close out for Eveland? Come on get serious Duquette!
Flip him at the deadline. They probably wouldn’t get a whole lot back though.
If it was Wil Cordero, then I would believe the Jays would have him as a target. They do need a DH after all….
pass!
The Angels seem like the wisest destination for Coco Cordero. He could take over at the Closer role and move Walden to the setup position. Walden looked way to wild, and although he has an electric fastball, he walks to many people
Please, please be under $5m. Would love to have him but it has to be at the right price.
Scott Downs is the set up man. He is unhittable, I don’t understand where this Cordero fellow fits.
unhittable vs lefties you mean
The title is very misleading towards the Phillies. One reporter speculates that the WS contending team could be the Phillies and from that Mark title “Phillies pursuing.” There is NO fact, why title it as if you actually know something. Poor journalism if you can call it that.
Btw Phillies pen is full and would have to options someone who was on the team last year (stutes or Herndon) to make this move. I just don’t see the logic for a team just under the cap and having to move a young arm with at least 1 year of successful MLB experience. I’m sure the contender is the LAA….
Wouldn’t mind Cordero as the set up man for Papelbon, but I’ve got to think Lidge is a better fit at this point.
Brad Lidge? The guy who has been injured for the better part of the last three years?
Compare Cordero’s stats to Lidge’s since 2009, and then I want you to explain to me why you think Lidge is a better fit.
Stop living in 2008, its getting pathetic.
I’m not living in 2008.
2010-2011
Fransisco Cordero
143 games
142.1 innings
3.16 ERA
1.23 WHIP
3.7 BB/9
6.4 k/9
Brad Lidge
75 games
65 innings
2.49 ERA
1.30 WHIP
5.1 bb/9
10.4 k/9
Fransisco Cordero has been a much more durable reliever over the last 2 years obviously but not that much more effective. I don’t like his declining strikeout numbers at all. I don’t like the idea of contact in the late innings of games.
Brad Lidge, durability is obviously a concern but it’s mitigated by the depth behind him. He pitched fairly well after coming back from a major shoulder injury.
I think Brad Lidge would come a lot cheaper than Cordero, leaving flexibility for a deadline move. I also think he profiles as a great mentor for a young guy like Justin DeFratus. I think for the price, you’d be getting more value from paying Lidge $1-2 million than paying Cordero $5-7 million dollars.
I hope the Orioles pass on this one…paying good money for relievers has not panned out in the past. See Gonzales, M and Gregg, K for more information.
The biggest problem I’ve seen with the O’s and relievers is that they only look at saves and era in deciding on big contracts… see Gonzales, M and Gregg, K before they were signed by Baltimore for more information
the jays? really??
if cordero is unsure about setting up for walden, hes definitely not going to close ahead of santos
Bean Stringfellow is still the best name in all of baseball
Deck Mcguire and Rusty Kuntz is up there
Nope, Stringfellow takes the prize.
Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah. Bean Stringfellow?!
No kidding, sounds like a name out of a nursery rhyme!
Ugh he’s coming to Baltimore… the only place that will let him close. Please be cheep (fingers crossed)
MLB needs a rule where all agents are required to have names like Bean Stringfellow…
I can’t believe it took us 54 posts until Bean Stringfellow was mentioned. He’s The Pitcher Formerly Known As Fausto’s agent as well….
Why did they arbitrarily throw in the Rays to this post?
Any agent representing a relief pitcher, who is worth his salt, will make the Phillies the “mystery team” in any pitch. Amaro’s propensity for overpayment, both in terms of money and years, DEMANDS it.
I say the Jays get him, Stringbean was able to get a good deal for his MVP-type client in Joeybats, so AA and him, I’m sure, are quite familiar with each other.
Cant see Cordero picking the Jays with Santos already there and the playoffs still a longshot.
how about now 😉
It appears i was just a little bit 100% wrong
yea I know, but he wasn’t unhittable vs righties.
I think Cordero would take the 8th, and Downs ould have the 7th, or they platoon both innings
Downsy’s earned the 8th. I hope they don’t take it away from him.
Nice point, kinda of stings when you put it like that.
— They won’t be able to move Abreu’s entire deal. Best case scenario is that they save maybe $5m.
— Backloading is not the same as managing their money wonderfully. They are going to have to pay the piper eventually. Things are going to get ugly before all is said and done.
— As for what’s coming off … Hunter is gone and his $18.5m. Presumably Haren is back if his option is picked up. Same goes with Santana – unless he is terrible his option will be picked up. Basically if they let everyone go (to get to your $50m mark) then they will need to replace 2 front-line pitchers and their starting SS. Savings isn’t nearly that substantial when factoring in replacement costs.
— Meanwhile Weaver is due for a $2m raise. Pujols for $4m. Kendrick is another $5m. Before arb raises we are already at $12m or so just to retain the same guys. Arb raises gets tacked on to that and suddenly there isn’t as much room in the budget as you would think.