Odds & Ends: White Sox, Feliz, Baylor
A few tidbits while everyone is watching the Twins-Yankees game…
- ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine reports that the White Sox may look to the trade market moreso than free agents given that the Pale Hose aren't planning to spend any extra money in 2010. Levine singles out Jermaine Dye, Bobby Jenks and Octavio Dotel as the most likely departures from Chicago roster, noting that Dotel mentioned the Cubs as a preferred next destination (along with either New York team).
- It "wouldn't surprise" Rangers president Nolan Ryan if second-year right-hander Neftali Feliz goes into spring training preparing to be a starter, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Feliz posted a 1.74 ERA and a 4.88:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 20 relief appearances in his rookie season.
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tweets that Don Baylor is a possibility for the Houston manager's job.
Rangers Talk: Payroll, Byrd, Pudge
Rangers president Nolan Ryan talked to reporters today. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan and has the story.
- Ryan said to expect payroll to remain in the same range next season, meaning around $68MM. By my calculations the Rangers have about $44MM committed before arbitration raises to Josh Hamilton, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Feldman, C.J. Wilson, and Frank Francisco. GM Jon Daniels should have around $15MM with which to work.
- Ryan doesn't plan on the Rangers signing a big-name free agent to a long-term deal. The team wants to re-sign Marlon Byrd and Ivan Rodriguez while adding a right-handed bat and multiple pitchers (veteran starter, left-handed reliever according to manager Ron Washington).
- Ryan doesn't believe the team's unsettled ownership situation "impacts us at all."
Odds & Ends: Fredi Gonzalez, Giants, Beane
Links for Tuesday…
- Chat today, 2pm CST.
- The Marlins will retain manager Fredi Gonzalez, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets will look to take on overpriced players via trade this winter.
- A must-read from Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: his ten steps to re-boot the Pirates for 2010. Kovacevic again notes that closer Matt Capps will be on the trading block.
- RotoWorld's Matthew Pouliot looks at the performance of a couple of Alex Anthopoulos fantasy teams from ten years ago. My best pick from '99 was definitely Mike Sweeney.
- Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has a transcript of yesterday's Brian Sabean/Bruce Bochy sit-down. Lots of good stuff in there.
- Tyler Bleszinski of Athletics Nation has part two of his Billy Beane chat. Beane seems interested in retaining free agent infielder Adam Kennedy.
- ESPN's Buster Olney wrote yesterday that "rival executives are already speculating about Kevin Towers' possible connection to the Texas Rangers if — and it's a big if — Dennis Gilbert's group wins the bidding for the team."
Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Dye, Varitek
Links for Monday…
- Yakyu Baka translated a recent Yusei Kikuchi press conference. Kikuchi has yet to decide between the U.S. and Japan. The Mets and Tigers attended the conference.
- Baseball America's Jim Callis has the 2010 draft order, and he also explains which picks are protected from Type A free agent signings.
- Jermaine Dye talking to Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald on possibly finishing his White Sox career: "I don't really have a feeling."
- Talking to WEEI's Alex Speier, Jason Varitek would not address next season (he has a $5MM team option and $3MM player option). Manager Terry Francona made sure Varitek received an ovation yesterday.
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan gives one-liners on 35 Rangers players.
- Tyler Bleszinski of Athletics Nation talked to A's GM Billy Beane. Beane chatted about Matt Holliday, stolen bases, and the first base depth chart, among other things.
- Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star tells us about new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
- Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times explains how advanced defensive metrics influenced the team's acquisition of Franklin Gutierrez.
- Outfielder So Taguchi hopes to play in 2010, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Rangers’ Rumors: Pudge, Andruw, Vizquel
The Rangers fell just short in their pursuit of the franchise's first playoff berth since 1999 this season, but with oodles of young talent the future certainly looks bright. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan brings us some news on three of the more veteran members of the ballclub in Arlington…
- GM Jon Daniels has told catcher Ivan Rodriguez that the team has interest in bringing him back next year. With Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden on board, Pudge knows he'd play a reduced role, and would be okay playing once or twice a week while mentoring the kids.
- Club officials have made it clear to Andruw Jones that he's not expected to be back in 2010. Jones, who has been playing some first base lately, said he expects to keep playing for someone, but admits his days as a centerfielder are probably over. Seems like just yesterday that this guy was hitting homers in the World Series and running down everything from gap to gap, doesn't it?
- Omar Vizquel may no longer be a starting shortstop, but he still has value as a utility infielder and the team is interested in bringing him back. The 42-year old said he would be interested in returning, but wants to see what other opportunities are out there for him.
Odds & Ends: Church, Macha, Farrell
Some more reading for the last Friday night of the 2009 regular season….
- Mark Bowman of MLB.com wonders if Ryan Church has played his last game for the Braves. Bowman thinks, because of Church's back injuries, the Braves may not want to pay for a salary bump through arbitration.
- Brewers GM Doug Melvin has not yet met with Ken Macha to discuss his future in Milwaukee, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. It looks as if Macha will be back in the Brewers' dugout in 2010, but Melvin probably won't make it official until after Sunday's finale.
- Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell attempts to dispel rumors that he'll be the next manager in Cleveland, via Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer looks at the AL Rookie of the Year race and concludes that the candidate he'd most like to have for the next few seasons is Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter) is surprised the Orioles picked up Dave Trembley's 2010 option.
- If Bobby Jenks is back in Chicago in 2010, White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper expects a better season out of the closer, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
- Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal writes that the Indians are still feeling the "punch to the gut" of losing Victor Martinez.
- T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com notes that it's not certain whether Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo will be back in Texas in 2010.
Odds & Ends: Church, Macha, Farrell
Some more reading for the last Friday night of the 2009 regular season….
- Mark Bowman of MLB.com wonders if Ryan Church has played his last game for the Braves. Bowman thinks, because of Church's back injuries, the Braves may not want to pay for a salary bump through arbitration.
- Brewers GM Doug Melvin has not yet met with Ken Macha to discuss his future in Milwaukee, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. It looks as if Macha will be back in the Brewers' dugout in 2010, but Melvin probably won't make it official until after Sunday's finale.
- Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell attempts to dispel rumors that he'll be the next manager in Cleveland, via Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer looks at the AL Rookie of the Year race and concludes that the candidate he'd most like to have for the next few seasons is Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter) is surprised the Orioles picked up Dave Trembley's 2010 option.
- If Bobby Jenks is back in Chicago in 2010, White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper expects a better season out of the closer, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
- Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal writes that the Indians are still feeling the "punch to the gut" of losing Victor Martinez.
- T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com notes that it's not certain whether Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo will be back in Texas in 2010.
Odds & Ends: Braves, Blue Jays, Reds, Mets
Time for another round of links…
- David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wouldn't be surprised if the Braves could get a team to pick up Derek Lowe's contract. The righty has $45MM remaining on the four-year deal he signed last offseason.
- Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star says there's "significant discontent" towards Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston. It's just not as bad as Ken Rosenthal says it is.
- MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says the discontent has been building in the clubhouse all season long.
- From Jeff Blair's Twitter: "Poor Chicago: first they get screwed by [Alex] Rios, then they get screwed by Rio."
- As MLB.com's Mark Sheldon notes, the Reds fired pitching coach Dick Pole.
- Matthew Cerrone and Michael Baron of MetsBlog are divided on whether Carlos Zambrano would be a good addition for the Mets.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that it will cost about $500MM to buy the Rangers.
Odds & Ends: Braves, Blue Jays, Reds, Mets
Time for another round of links…
- David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wouldn't be surprised if the Braves could get a team to pick up Derek Lowe's contract. The righty has $45MM remaining on the four-year deal he signed last offseason.
- Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star says there's "significant discontent" towards Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston. It's just not as bad as Ken Rosenthal says it is.
- MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says the discontent has been building in the clubhouse all season long.
- From Jeff Blair's Twitter: "Poor Chicago: first they get screwed by [Alex] Rios, then they get screwed by Rio."
- As MLB.com's Mark Sheldon notes, the Reds fired pitching coach Dick Pole.
- Matthew Cerrone and Michael Baron of MetsBlog are divided on whether Carlos Zambrano would be a good addition for the Mets.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that it will cost about $500MM to buy the Rangers.
Blalock Knows He Won’t Return To Rangers
Hank Blalock knows he won't return to the Rangers in 2010, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. GM Jon Daniels hinted that the club could have interest in free agents-to-be Marlon Byrd and Ivan Rodriguez, but hasn't made any such overtures to Blalock.
"Nothing has been said to me, but I know I won't be playing here next year," he said. "It is what it is. I'll just move on."
Because Michael Young, Chris Davis and Justin Smoak have the corner infield positions covered and Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, David Murphy and Julio Borbon give the Rangers four players to DH and patrol the outfield, there's little room for Blalock in the team's plans. Manager Ron Washington says it's best for Blalock to move on if he wants playing time next season.
Though Blalock's production has fallen off in the second half, many teams could still have interest in the corner infielder.