In today's Insider-only blog post, ESPN's Buster Olney says Melky Cabrera's decision to withdraw his name from the batting race set a dangerous precedent even though the player's union supported the move. Here are Olney's rumors…
- Commissioner Bud Selig is quietly gathering club votes to help the Athletics as they attempt to move to San Jose. Once they have enough support, MLB will be in a better position to push the Giants to make a deal for their territorial rights.
- Olney would be surprised if the Marlins retain manager Ozzie Guillen. The club feels there is a disconnect between Guillen and his players as well as the community.
- Mike Rutsey of The Toronto Sun suggests that Jake Peavy could be a match for the Blue Jays this offseason, but Olney thinks the right-hander would prefer to sign with a team that gives him a better chance to win.
Peavy would be a great match for the Orioles…..probably end up as a Dodger though.
“The club feels there is a disconnect between Guillen and his players as well as the community.”
No kidding? Wasn’t it apparent that a disconnect existed in March?
Mikey Lowell.. Loved in Miami and knows the game as well as anyone.
I think it would be good for the club. Manager’s role is sometimes overstated, but I think it would be good for the team to bring back an old player that spent alot of his time with the Marlins, and was a part of a WS team. I’m really not a fan of Ozzie, I thought it was a mistake to begin with because I really think it is a waste to trade players for a manager,
Of all the old Marlins? Only Jeff Conine is revered moreso than Lowell.
it is hard to explain how much Mikey and jeff are looked up to in the Miami, even S/florida area to people not there.
Mikey would be the perfect guy in so many ways.
I would think Lowell is the perfect match. He’s Cuban, outgoing, and respected by the players.
Exactly. If Lowell hadn’t been owed so much and had -1- bad season with the Fish? he might have been able to retire as a Marlin and the fans were definately not happy when he was moved.
If Chicago pick up Peavy’s option they could trade him to Toronto for a lesser prospect.
Chicago save $4M and get something for him, Toronto get a reliable pitcher for a year (at a high salary) and then get draft pciks if they choose not to extend him. Doesn’t everybody win here?
Have always liked Peavy, but there is no team willing to pay 22m for someone who has been healthy 1 season in 3 and that 1 healthy season? Put up #3 numbers.
FA Jackson and Sanchez can probably be had on 12-14mAAV deals over 3-4Y and have no injury history, plus both are just as solid as Peavy who hasn’t been a #1 since playing at petco 5 years ago and 22mAAV is what a #1 gets.
Edit:
Should have said Sanchez has no injury history last 3 years. He had a TRAIL of various arm injuries before that.
They’d still be better off declining the option and offering a qualifying offer. Unless they’re dead set on keeping Peavy for 2013, they shouldn’t pick up the option.
The draft pick they’d get if Peavy declines the offer will probably be more valuable than any lesser prospect they get by trading Peavy with a 22MM salary.
If Peavy accepts, a pitcher with a 13MM salary has more trade value than the same pitcher with a 22MM salary which would benefit the White Sox in a trade.
The draft pick is likely more valuable then the prospect they would get from Toronto but they would have to pay the $4M buy-out.
Chicago either pay $4M and get a decent draft pick (say mid 30’s at a cost of $1.5M) or get a lesser prospect for free. Ownership may go the cheap option rather than pay $5.5M to improve the prospect.
The Jays’ draft pick is protected, and is likely to stay that way.
Chicago still get a compensation pick after the first round, I guessed mid 30’s range where the slot bonus is around $1.5M
Ahh I see you said that now in your original comment. My bad bro. I don’t think a mid-30’s pick is as valuable as Peavy though. He can help your team now, where a 30’s pick won’t help you in at least 2 years, if ever.
“reliable” and Jake Peavy are words that should never be seen together. This is the first time he’s pitched 30 or more starts since 07.
Melky did the right thing. If it acts as a catalyst for current or former players to come forward and admit their mistakes, that’s hardly a bad thing for baseball. I dont understand Olney on this one, though I’ll admit I don’t have Insider, so I have no idea his reasoning behind his opinions.
I don’t have Insider either but I can see that Olney is calling this decision a “Pandora’s Box.” Frankly I think that sounds just silly. The fallout of PEDs has already reached its climax and this will just be a footnote.
No, old records will not be restored. No, players who won awards and later admitted using PEDs will not be stripped of their awards. No, teams will not be forced to forfeit games because they had a player on PEDs. And so forth. This is an isolated incident and every incident after this will be treated the same way.
I feel Melky is only doing this to benefit Melky. If Buster Posey wasn’t close to the batting title, I don’t think he would. Melky knows next year that he most likely doesn’t have a job and he is trying everything he can to get in the Giants good graces.