Here's a look at the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- A.J. Pierzynski is in a slump but all in all, he's having a strong year at the age of 35 and could be an interesting name on the open market. The Yankees could have interest if they look to replace Russell Martin, the Marlins could look to reunite him with Ozzie Guillen and Mark Buehrle, and the Dodgers were close to signing him after the 2010 season. As for the White Sox, no one knows what direction they'll head in, but price could be a major factor. The catcher is making $6MM this year.
- David Ortiz accepted arbitration from the Red Sox last season to take himself off of the open market, but this year could be a different story. This would be a smart time for him to reject a one-year deal and pursue a multi-year contract with leverage on his side. Both the Yankees and Blue Jays could have interest in him as a DH.
- The Cardinals are unlikely to re-sign Kyle Lohse, who should be one of the top starters available this winter. They also are unlikely to overpay on an extension for Adam Wainwright, who has one year left on his contract. St. Louis has a glut of talented starters both in the majors and waiting in the wings and is against locking up too much money in the rotation long-term.
- The Marlins' top front office execs are signed through 2015 but other clubs say owner Jeffrey Loria is considering a major shakeup. Team president David Samson told Rosenthal that they'll go through their usual evaluations after the season and take a hard look at everyone, but he added that it is only September 1st and they'll won't get into it until after the season.
“Both the Yankees and Blue Jays could have interest in him as a DH”. Right… because what the Yankees clearly need, is an aging, power hitting first baseman.
Have you seen Ortiz’s numbers the last 2 years? he’s definitely a 10 power hitter in the game still.
We have A-Rod to fill in at DH in about a year or two. Ortiz’ll probably want 2+ years even though he isn’t worth it.
The one thing the Yankees don’t need is another power hitter. I honestly don’t care if he hits 40 a year. I want the Yankees to get younger and faster, not older and more powerful. Not to mention, the guy can’t play the field anymore.
Ortiz is a very good hitter still. He can still get a .900+ ops easily. Their 2 most common Dh Ibanez and Jones have played 54 games, Ortiz would easily be an upgrade over them and pretty much everyone else they have in the lineup.
Lineup Yesterday: Jeter, Swish, Cano, Grandy, Chavez, Iban, Martin, Suzuki, Nix(as DH) Tell me again their lineup doesn’t have room.
Oritz is exclusively a DH
Cards will re-sign Wainwright- 5 years – $85 million.
The Yankees cannot have a guy like Russell Martin hitting .190 in their lineup. Technically, they could have it as they have this season but what I mean is, they should not stand for something like that. If they have the opportunity to acquire Pierzynski or make a trade for an improvement at catcher, it needs to be done. Martin was not thinking correctly when he turned downed the Yankees contract extension offer. He should have accepted it. Now the Yankees are fortunate enough to pass on him after the season and bring in a new guy who will produce with both average and some power. It really makes me realize how valuable Jorge Posada was throughout the years. I love the job Martin did last year and I think he has done well calling games this year, but its time to move on from guys like Martin and Andruw Jones if you are the Yankees and get better/younger in the process.
I really don’t want AJ. One of the mlb players that I really dislike. If he can rebound to last year I would really like him back. He is the type of player that is really patient and takes alot of walks. I wouldn’t want to take on a 35 yr old catcher on a multiyear deal, and I don’t think they will do a big trade for one with all the catchers they have coming up through the system.
Funny to think that Montero who they traded has a worse obp and he hasn’t even been an everyday catcher.
Iannetta, Martin, McCann, Napoli are all free agents this year. I’ve never been convinced that Romine will hit enough to be the starting catcher, although his defense should get him a job as a backup at least.
To be fair, no one can have a guy like Russel Martin hitting .190 in their lineup,
I would wait to see if the Braves allow Brian McCann (29) to walk. They have a $12MM club option with a $500K buyout.
Pierzynski’s defense is not that great but he could be enough till Gary Sanchez if ready.
AJ has the arm of Varitek, as in David Ortiz could steal a base off of him and some teams run wild when he catches. He is a Chisox icon, but it’s not for what he does behind the plate.
Don’t forget Pierzynski’s deal was backloaded. He made $6M this year, but only $2M in 2011. If he’s still $4M or thereabouts, I think Williams would be smart to give him a one-year deal.
Ortiz should get a 2 year deal on the open market, but he won’t if he has draft pick compensation attached to him.
Draft picks are worth more under the new CBA, and when the Red Sox offer him a competing offer, he’ll become tied to compensation if he declines.
No NL team should sign him, and only a limited number of AL teams have
the budget and the open DH space to sign him to a 2+ year deal. If he
costs a draft pick as well, that decimates his market.
Unless the Sox for some reason don’t make a competing offer, Ortiz is getting a 1 year deal.
Sure, Ortiz could turn down a one-year deal to look for a two-year deal on the open market for less total money.
He’s missing half the season after suffering an injury running the bases. Doubt he gets better than 2 years at 5m per year. Just my opinion – not a fact.
The White Sox should be giving AJ another 2 year deal with a $4-5M AAV. He loves this team and is the most reliable option at catcher in FA (Napoli isn’t a fulltime catcher and frankly isn’t worth what he’ll probably sign for). He’s a fan favorite, he’s having a career year, and most important of all he is familiar with the team’s very young pitching staff. Ken Williams, make it so.
If you think AJ is signing for 4-5 million dollars than you are not intact with the Free agency market at all.
In the past he has taken a hometown discount, although you are right that with the season he’s had he’s worth more. Hopefully it’s the White Sox that give it to him. But he’s not going to be getting any $20M contracts at 35… that is unless there is any tread to the Yankees eyeing his services.
Jeffrey Loria is considering a major shakeup.
The other question should be will Jeffrey Loria offer a painting as parting gift to the recently “Canned” employee?
The Yankees don’t need a DH. They use a revolving door of them.
samson has already hinted around on miami radio that hill and bienfest might be gone. hard to make a good argument for them staying with all the draft busts they have had, and the way the free agents worked out for them this year.
If Lohse was smart, he’d stay in St. Louis. Ask Jeff Weaver, Joel Piniero, and Jeff Suppan how cashing in and leaving STL worked for them.
I think he’s looking for one last substantial contract, which he’s not going to find in St. Louis. My guess is he goes to Boston for 3 year/35 million. A contract Boston regrets in roughly mid-May when he’s got a 4.8 ERA
But that won’t be Lohse’s fault – ESPN will just chalk it up to how much harder it is in the AL east
I could see the Dodgers doing the same thing, but with a slightly better ERA.
Shouldn’t Rosenthal know that the new CBA did away with Arbitration offers for free agent players? Instead the Sox have to offer a one year contract worth at least as much as the average of the top 125 players in the league, and they get compensation if Ortiz leaves. If Ortiz accepts that offer that’s what he plays for in 2013. But if the Sox do make an offer like that and teams will lose a draft pick for signing him that cuts down the chances of another team signing him anyway. And given his production this year and the money the team freed up in the LA trade a one year qualifying offer isn’t all that risky on their part.