The first few items of this post concern Alfonso Soriano, Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez. Are we sure it's 2012? As we wrap up a busy Friday the 13th, here are a few items to take us into the weekend…
- Alfonso Soriano reiterated that he is willing to waive his no-trade clause, but only if the Cubs deal him to a contender, reports ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine. Soriano is owed $54MM through 2014 and the Cubs are reportedly willing to pay most of that salary in a possible deal.
- Pedro Martinez tells Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal that a few teams contacted him about a possible comeback last season, but the future Hall-of-Famer firmly stated he isn't making a comeback.
- Indians GM Chris Antonetti told a group of reporters (including MLB.com's Jordan Bastian) that the Tribe wasn't interested in bringing back Manny Ramirez, saying Ramirez was "not a positional fit." While it could be argued Ramirez would be a nice right-handed complement to current Cleveland DH Travis Hafner, it's easy to see why a team would want to steer clear of Ramirez's baggage.
- From the same media session, Antonetti said it isn't "imperative" that the Indians acquire a first baseman. "I think we feel good about the foundation of players that we have," Antonetti said. "We're in a good spot, but certainly we'd like to improve upon that." Yesterday, we heard the Tribe was interested in free agent Carlos Pena.
- The Dodgers never spoke to free agent outfielder Coco Crisp, GM Ned Colletti tells Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Times. It's hard to imagine the Dodgers matching the two-year, $14MM contract Crisp received from the Athletics, but then again, the A's are one of the few teams under even tighter budget restraints than the Dodgers.
- The Tigers have been so quiet this offseason that MLive.com's Ian Casselberry figures the club may be better off waiting until the season begins to make upgrades.
- Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune discusses the latest Padres news and answers questions from fans in his weekly online chat.
- On a one-year, $8MM contract, Roy Oswalt could be "the biggest bargain of the winter," opines Fangraphs' Dave Cameron.
- Tyler Kepner of the New York Times unveils his "Unsigned All-Star Team" of the offseason's most notable remaining free agents.
Soriano could be an interesting option for a contender if the Cubs pick up say, 40 of the 54 million.
I guess if he went to an AL team, he’d be a DH. Watch an AJ Burnett/Soriano trade happen lol
They just got rid of a head case in Zambrano, why on Earth would they want another?
I wasn’t really being serious.
2 different headcases though, 1 does it on the field, 1 does it in the dugout and clubhouse.
Headcases are headcases, after awhile they all just sorta blend together. But in the end, they are two pitchers that have long passed their heyday and will never see a mega contract again…
No doubt about that. Now the question is, who’s the next head case to sign a mega contract?
Wasn’t Lastings Milledge a Headcase? lol
Speaking from experience, my friend…speaking from experience…
I wonder if he could be the Red Sox RH bat. I know he hasn’t been spectacular, but hitting in the Boston lineup can help him. Of course this would only be logical if the Cubs eat up his contract. He could be compensation and possibly be traded alongside Garza in a deal to the Sox. His defense is questionable though.
Soriano for Lackey and the Cubs eat part of Soriano’s contract sounds fair. This would have upside for the Cubs if Lackey comes back strong from surgery and benefits from the change out of the AL East into the NL and would give the Sox a decent RH bat in the outfield. Put Soriano in LF where his lack of defense won’t be as noticeable in Fenway and Crawford’s athleticism will help more in RF.
If Oswalt goes for 8m and Henry/Cherrington refuse to spring for it, even with the 3-4m in luxury fees.. The fans in Boston should storm the stadium and demand legitimate answers Because as sure as July rolls around, another junk pile refugee, exactly like Bedard wqill be acquired costing people like Chaing, Fife and Fed-X that could have been used far more wisely in other trades.
the sox should stay under the luxury tax number this year. reverting the tax back to the begining will help them MUCH more than Oswalt in the rotation. I would hope the fans are smart enough to realize this and accept that staing under this year could mean keeping ellsberry and picking up one of the good-great pitchers on the free agent market next year.
The fans are smart enough to realize that WC banners fly forever. Forget next year. DiceK will be off the books and Papi will be able to be cut lose to free up a ton more money if necessary. The Sox are built to compete NOW. If you always plan for tomorrow, you never win TODAY.
I agree. The Red Sox underperformed last year but they still have a good team. There is no sense in waiting when they could still compete now — especially for the WC. (although, the division title isn’t a foregone conclusion either as all it takes are a few injuries on the opposing team and some luck to put yourself on top)
Oswalt, even with his back issues, is a good deal at 1 year for 8 mil. It’s definitely a risk but only a one year gamble.
The Sox were the favorites to win the world series the last 2 years, after the collapse they need to make the playoffs this year.
I think Oswalt is going to pick the team he will play for and I don’t think it will be in the East. Maybe the Cards.
Antonetti’s is a poor excuse for sitting on his hands and not allocating the limited resources he possesses. Bringing back Manny makes more sense for the Indians than it would for any other team to sign him. The fans in Cleveland would throw a parade in the square and there is zero risk involved. If last year is any indication, most of our team will see time on the DL in the second half when Manny’s suspension is over and we’ll have more than enough room on the roster to get him at bats. If he wants to be, Manny could be a decent hitter, even now – certainly no worse than Matt LaPorta has been.
I’ve been saying this ever since Manny announced he was coming back. Manny would be a phenomenal choice. Platoon DH with Hafner, Manny, and Duncan for the sake of experience. Manny would sell tickets like crazy in Cleveland and he would make probably league minimum, one million tops. Risky, I know, but a small market team has to get creative if you want to succeed. I’ll be happy with almost any signing that they’ve been linked to, though, to be perfectly honest. I’m hoping the reason we haven’t signed a first baseman yet is that the market is waiting on Fielder, and not an indication that Antonetti isn’t going to do it at all, because there is no way that LaPorta is a serviceable full time first baseman, and I’d much rather Santana just keep catching.
why do they even put #dodgers on these rumors tweets … its always the same … “the dodgers have stated they will not be persuing ____ ”
The Tigers, in my opinion, DON’T really need to change much at this point. Yeah another starter would be great, but they’re still pretty good … I wish they’d sign Oswalt and maybe get a third basement, but I think they’ll be fine.
how about to the Red Sox? Alfonso and Garza to the Red Sox for a bunch of prospects and as part of the Theo compensation. Cubs can pay less of Soriano’s deal then they would to other teams and boom the redsox have a right handed hitting out fielder a starting pitcher and have the Theo B.S. cleaned up.
That’s exactly what I said before I saw this. I agree it could work if Cubs eat his contract. The only thing to question is his defense.
The Red Sox couldn’t sign Kuroda for $10MM because they didn’t have space in their payroll. Garza alone would cost $9MM. Him and Soriano? They couldn’t find room.
Plus, Soriano does not exactly have the kind of tools Boston covets.
If they were to package Soriano and Garza, the tremendous downside of Soriano would basically negate all of Garza’s value. If the Red Sox could afford it, they really wouldn’t need to give anything of value in return for taking the awful Soriano contract.
If the Cubs would eat most of Soriano’s contract, I still don’t see that making sense for the Sox because they have Oritz to DH and Crawford in LF. I don’t think they could move Crawford to RF and Soriano DEFINITELY couldn’t play there.
If I’m the Sox I’m not trading with Theo, he has too much experience and knowledge of the Sox to get a fair deal.
The Red Sox have no prospects to deal in the first place. And the Cubs already got white washed for dealing so much for Garza, they would want to recoup that and more for both.
I see Soriano going to the Yankees . He said he wants to go to a contender . Cashman said that they are done looking for pitching after tonight and will be looking for another bat . So there you go .
No way, Cashman is not taking on Soriano’s contract, not even a portion. They will get a lefty bat like Pena or trade for a player like Wright or Either. The Yanks could then extend one of those players next year. Wright goes to third, and A-Rod to DH. If they trade for Either than he could platoon in the outfield and DH and next year become the rightfielder.
Soriano is only fit in the AL and very few teams need a DH that makes most of his production when the game is over.
Hendry must have worked out a few million bucks for himself out of Soriano’s contract. How could anybody sign this bum for that many years???? Still can’t believe it.
the video artist?
Soriano only wants to strike out at pitches outside and in the dirt for a “contender”?
Maybe the Cubs would have been a contender if he wasn’t so horrific.
I think that the Tigers should get Roy Oswalt. We need a bridge for Turner and he needs a good year for a new contract. It’s a win-win.
Soriano started his career with the Yankees as an infielder, I believe second base or shortstop.Taking him back would bring him full circle, but why would the Yankees bother with him at this point.
Soriano is a horrible ball player period. No one team should have to take him just release him let him go play in Japan and tell him to take Carlos Lee with him.
I’m a Braves fan , so no to either one . But I could see the Yankees making a play for Soriano .
I could see a bad contract swap with Soriano going to NY to DH for them and AJ Burnett going to Chicago with the Cubs still likely having to kick in a few mil since Sorianos contract is for one more yr than Burnett.
With Montero gone there is an opening at DH and while his defense is non-existent Sorianos bat is still solid.
With the additions of Kuroda and Pineda that give NY a top 4 of CC, Kuroda, Pineda, and Nova. Why pay 16.5M to a 5th starter at best plus however much itll cost them to add a DH when they can bring in a guy at the same or even less cost who can be a solid DH for them.
The Cubs wouldnt benefit by adding a bunch of money right away but get Burnett out of NY and i think he can be a 3rd starter for a lot of teams. Its never been a question of pure stuff. Its always been mental and certain guys just cant handle NY. Randy Johnson, HOF pitcher, couldnt handle NY. Classic change of scenery type. Maybe you can get a solid first half and then move him at the deadline? Either way you get Soriano out of left which is the point.
So… the Cubs send Soriano and money to the Yankees purely for the privilege of acquiring a useless AJ Burnett?
Genius!
As long as he plays DH, Soriano is still a pretty good player. The Cubs pay… say $36 million of his contract and they should get a decent prospect. Why would the Cubs want to send him (AND MONEY?) to NY for AJ freaking Burnett? The Cubs rotation is set and Burnett is useless.
And… WOW! You’re actually a Cubs fan? At first I thought I was replying to some deranged Yankee fan who thinks they have the right to rob any other team in a trade.
Both players are pretty worthless at this point – but for different reasons. Soriano is an aging slugger, at best a one tool player, without any hope of really getting better than what he is now. He really has no value to an NL team because he can’t DH.
AJ Burnett is a headcase who has underperformed, but it’s conceivable he could have some sort of revival if he gets his head back, because his physical attributes are still there. Also, as crazy as this may sound, he could have value as a reliever where control isn’t as important (albeit, a very expensive reliever). The Yankees also need that DH spot to give their aging starts a break every few days.I just don’t see this trade making any sense for the Yankees. I feel the Cubs would need to eat almost the entire salary differential over the life of Soriano’s contract (~16-19m of 21), in a straight up trade, for it to make any sense for the Yankees.
First. I didnt say that they would have to kick in much. I didnt give a number at all.
Secondly I wouldnt say that Burnett is useless. I think he is useless in MY. I think that getting him out of NY is the key. His career ERA+ is 105 and thats with the last 2 yrs being in the 80s. But Prior to that he was a solid starter in a tough division for a mediocre at best team in albeit an injury prone one. Which i dont think is much of a concern with him making 32 or more starts in each of the last 4 seasons. I think getting him out of NY would help him revert back to the pitcher he was.
Now to the second part of your post.
First no NL team is going to trade for him because he is a DH playing LF. So that eliminates half the teams right there. Now cross off teams with DHs or lack of funding even with the cubs eating 36 of the 54 mil left owed. Boston, Chicago, Oakland, Anaheim, KC, Detroit, Tampa, Minnesota and Texas.
So youre left with NY, Baltimore, Toronto, Cleveland, and Seattle.
He has one of Hendrys ever present NTCs and only wants to go to a contender. So cross off Baltimore and Seattle. Cleveland and Toronto are fringe at best so that really only leaves NY. They dont want to take on payroll so a Soriano for Burnett deal may be the best the Cubs can get.
And like i said if they can get a solid first half out of him then they could feasibly flip him at the deadline and still end up with the same level of prospects in return but with a lot more teams as potential trade partners. And if he flames out then they would be out from under the contract in 2 yrs not 3 and they still will likely have saved a decent chunk of money as well.
Even at DH, Soriano would be a poor option. Yes, he will probably hit 20+ HR but at the expense of every other offensive category. The Yankees have enough guys that just shoot for the fences.
He hit below .250 BA and got on base at .289 last year. He will post a OPS south of .800.
And it is because he is just a DH that limits his value. (because it uses a slot that the manager can use to rest players and it is much easier to find a good hitting DH)
Burnett hasn’t been good either but if he could get back to his 2009 numbers, then it would be worth it. Plus, you have to consider the fact that Burnett pitches in the AL East. Take away the DH for him and you’ll probably see a marked improvement.
Soriano could play LF in Boston and put Crawford in RF where his speed would be a big plus.
Soriano “playing” LF is a joke. His highest value would be at DH which is already occupied in Boston.
Unless TheoJed can convince him to go to a fringe or noncontender the Yankees are the best fit.
Beyond that Crawford has NEVER played RF in his 10 yr career. You dont take a plus defender and just move him around especially to bring in a guy who would make Red Sox fans plead for Manny to be back in LF
According to FanGraphs, Soriano is a better LFer than Manny was. Playing LF in Fenway might help improve Soriano’s defense (or at least hide the weakness) especially playing next to Ellsbury.
I never said you “just move a plust defender”. According to UZR, Crawford was actually a negative defender in 2011. I think he might benefit from being able to actually use his athleticism by shifting him to right field. What is most important is… what would make the team better.
Seeing the likes of Darnell McDonald starting in right field will definitely make Red Sox fans plead for the days of Manny to return.