We covered some Yankees news in an edition of New York Notes and also noted Boston's interest in Dan Haren earlier today on MLBTR, so let's take a look around the rest of the AL East…
- The Blue Jays are "leaning toward" hiring a manager with Major League experience, reports FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. This would seem to make Jim Riggleman and Don Wakamatsu the favorites among the known contenders, as ex-managers Jim Tracy and Manny Acta reportedly aren't under consideration and candidates such as Sandy Alomar, Tim Wallach and DeMarlo Hale have never managed in the bigs. Rosenthal notes that the Jays could still hire a non-experienced manager if "they are unimpressed by the more seasoned options."
- Darren Oliver is "not sure at all and he's in no rush to make a decision" about playing in 2013, Oliver's agent Jeff Frye tells Sportnet.ca's Shi Davidi. The veteran reliever has hinted about retiring, though the Blue Jays exercised their $3MM option on Oliver yesterday to retain Oliver's rights in case the southpaw does return.
- The Orioles declined Mark Reynolds' $11MM option yesterday, though CSNBaltimore.com's Rich Dubroff thinks the two sides will eventually agree to a new two-year deal for Reynolds given the Orioles' lack of depth at first base.
- The Orioles have selected the contract of right-hander Zach Clark and added him to the 40-man roster, according to a team press release. The 29-year-old Clark has a 3.68 ERA in 171 career minor league games (116 of them starts), including a combined 2.79 ERA in 167 2/3 innings at Double-A and Triple-A last season.
- Red Sox GM Ben Cherington said during an appearance on WEEI Radio's Red Sox Hot Stove Show today that the team would like to add a new pitcher to the rotation without dealing any of their own pitching prospects. The Sox have several internal options for the bullpen but Cherington "would not rule out" adding a new reliever as well. (Both links are via the Twitter account of WEEI.com's Alex Speier.)
- The Red Sox should pursue Nick Swisher, Ryan Madson and Mike Napoli this winter, as well as an innings-eating starting pitcher on a short-term contract suggests Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe as part of his five proposals to upgrade the Sox on the free agent market.
It’s already starting.. One of those off the wall, Globe reporters thinking Boston should sign one of the FA who are of little use to them, or will cost too much for what they would produce. Napoli? yeah.. Sure.. Swisher? Ross will sign for 1/3 of what he wants. Madson? WHY??
Just picked up Bill James 2013 Projections. Has Jackie Bradley with over 600 plate appearances and producing a 0.339 wOBA. Is there any talk about Bradley making the 25-man out of spring training?
Not that have seen anywhere really. Late next year, but not out of ST.
We all want to see him, but realize he only has 1 full year of pro ball and half a season above A ball. Wouldn’t surprise me even to see him start the year back at Portland, though prefer seeing him Pawtucket to start the year, along with Brentz.
*wishful thinking what if time*: Bradley starts out at Pawtucket and thru like June is raking.. Call him up then and let him play CF full time. Move Ellsbury to another team if he isn’t traded anyway over the winter.
It’s interesting because it’s Bill James (who is heavily involved in the Red Sox front office) saying it, but that the first I’ve even heard it hinted at. He’s only had one full pro season, and only has about half a season in the high minors (all at AA, no experience in AAA); my guess would be AAA to start the year, and a possibility of an in-season promotion if the need arises.
Two things about James’ projections:
1) the playing time figures are arbitrary
2) the methodology as a whole is openly unscientific and just for fun
I don’t see Swisher signing with the Sox the same issue you do, I actually see him as a good target for first base in a weak market. He’d be less about being the best player and more about being the right player. Kinda like how Kevin Millar was the right player, someone who will be a team player.
As for Madson, well I more see it as a “why” in terms of why would he join the Sox. Him rejecting his part of the team option clearly means he wants to close and Bailey is logical choice for the Sox with Tazawa being a dark horse. However on the slight chance he’d be willing to sign with the Sox and be a set up man on an incentive deal he’d be a great pick up fo the Sox.
I’m still torn about selecting Swisher for the Red Sox in the Free Agent poll. The biggest reason is that I think he is the type of player that would fit in their clubhouse the same way Millar did, he could play first or one of the outfield corners, and I think both of his swings could do well in Fenway (I just looked it up, and over the last three years at Fenway he has over a 1.000 OPS).
But I don’t know if I can see Swisher signing with the Red Sox – maybe it’s partially what people were saying here about Swisher and the Orioles (too forward and boisterous), or just because I don’t see him going from the Yankees to the Red Sox, regardless of the money. It’ll be an interesting off-season.
Eh there’s a difference between theorizing as an armchair GM and reality. There’s a possibility that Swisher will want nothing to do with the Sox and the possibility that the Sox would prefer LaRoche as a better fit than Swisher and other possibilities.
All I’m saying is eliminating the variables I have no clue about, Swisher might be the right player for the Sox.
I definitely think Swisher would be a good fit, so it’ll be interesting to see how things play out. But LaRoche isn’t a bad idea either…
I think Madson is a great idea. One year deal, what do they have to lose? This is the type of stuff we need. If he’s doing well, they could always flip him at the deadline if they’re out of the playoff hunt.
Wouldn’t mind the white sox signing Reynolds and trading konerko
why a down? because god forbid i say anything about the whitesox captain? Reynolds will be cheaper, offers a ton of power, and actually has a solid glove at first. Trading konerko might give the whitesox some actual prospects in the system and allow them to get out from under some money
The problem is that your proposal doesn’t make much sense, regardless of if Konerko is the captain. Although Konerko is an extremely solid player, he’ll be 37 before the start of next season and is making over $13 million next year. In order to trade Konerko, the Sox would have to eat a good amount of salary if they want decent prospects back… then you have Reynolds’ salary (estimated to be just under $9 million according to MLBTR), and the drop in production between the two. It just makes too much sense to keep the captain of your team for the last year he is under contract, as opposed to downgrading while likely paying more.
13M for Konerko is a bargain for what he brings even at 37. They wouldn’t have to eat much if any to move him.
Rich Dubroff thinks the two sides will eventually agree to a new two-year deal for Reynolds given the Orioles’ lack of depth at first base.
I am not picking on Rich, because most of the media that cover the Oriole have developed this sudden fascination with Mark Reynolds and think he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. He couldn’t hold a candle towards Boog or Eddie.
Not many players hold a candle towards Boog or Eddie.
What do you mean why on madson? Because he is a versatile reliever with a lot to prove who wants a one year contract….That seems pretty ideal to me
Yes, Beltre comes to mind. Obviously Madson is coming off a different injury but pitchers are usually fine coming off tommy john now. It takes then a little while to hit a groove but what does Boston have to lose on a one year deal with a bunch of incentives in it? Nothing. This is a team that needs to take fliers on guys coming off injury. It’s likely going to be cheaper in terms of years and money. Now, taking fliers is one thing, signing them is another. Boston needs everything they can get on the free agent and trade front, so Cherington really has to get creative. For the pen, you gotta think Madson, Soria, maybe even a K-Rod who has struggled a bit and maybe is looking to regain value. For the rotation, Haren probably makes the most sense via trade. Around the diamond they definitely want to bring Ross/Ortiz back then that leaves you with openings at first base and LF. Plenty of guys on the market for those positions. Nick Swisher can play both and I don’t think he would be terribly expensive. Adam LaRoche maybe? Justin Morneau via trade? There are a lot of possibilities out there and I believe Cherington really is going to exhaust all of them to get a competitive team next year, but not hamstring the teams finances going forward.
Reynolds had one of the most interesting years of any player. He spent the off-season working hard to lose weight so he could play better defense at third. It didn’t work and it hurt his power numbers. He also was injured early in the season, which hurt them further. Plus he was focusing too much on his defense at third and not his hitting.
Then he switches to first base and basically mid-season revives his career right before he becomes a free agent, because he is good, but not 11 million good.
I think his power numbers bounce back next year. I really hope the O’s sign him.
Looks like Anthopolous is reading MLBTR and reading my input on the type of manager that should be hired. Get some candidates AA and I will tell you who I think is the best one. I put a list up earlier, but a lot of those guys were long in the tooth (but maybe one of them could be brought in on a one-year and help within the organization after that). Show me what you have and I’ll help you out.
– Safari P.