Rangers To Reduce Payroll Next Year
According to Jim Reeves of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Rangers owner Tom Hicks would like to subtract $20MM from the payroll for 2010. That'd presumably put the Rangers in the $50MM range.
Reeves' column has a negative tone to it, but why wouldn't the Rangers want to replace Hank Blalock, Frank Catalanotto, and Vicente Padilla with Max Ramirez, Brandon Boggs, and Derek Holland? When you have the best farm system in baseball it's not hard to trim payroll. Hicks even mentioned he'd still be interested in making a Ben Sheets type addition via the free agent market.
Reeves also touches on Kevin Millwood. Hicks claims he wants Millwood to reach 180 innings this year, causing the pitcher's $12MM 2010 option to vest. As for Catalanotto, Reeves takes Hicks' financial caution as a sign the team will not be cutting him and eating his $6MM.
Odds & Ends: Gregerson, Hanley, Strasburg
Links for Monday…
- Matt Eddy of Baseball America has the minor league transactions, including the Dodgers' signing of J.D Durbin.
- Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune says Rays Rule 5 pick Derek Rodriguez, a reliever, has been returned to the White Sox.
- Yahoo's David Brown talked to Carlos Pena about many topics, including his agent Scott Boras.
- According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Padres received pitcher Luke Gregerson as the player to be named later in the Khalil Greene deal. The other player the Padres received, the now-injured Mark Worrell, was also a minor league closer. Given the state of the Padres' pen, Gregerson could reach the Majors this year. UPDATE: Here is Paul DePodesta's take on Gregerson.
- MLB.com's Ken Gurnick noted yesterday that the Dodgers cut pitcher Shawn Estes, and he's yet to decide whether to accept a Triple A assignment. UPDATE: Estes will head to the minors and attempt to reinvent himself as a lefthanded specialist.
- Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald quizzed Hanley Ramirez about Boston's attempt to reacquire him in November.
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan wonders about Frank Catalanotto's future. Useful player, but the Rangers would have to eat most of his $6MM to move him.
- Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post talked to Nationals president Stan Kasten about the six-year, $50MM Stephen Strasburg rumor. We all know how Boras works…if he wants $25MM for Strasburg, he starts at $50MM.
- South Side Sox and Sox Machine comment on the Gavin Floyd extension, as well as the offers to John Danks and Carlos Quentin.
- Talking to David Lennon of Newsday, Tom Glavine responded to Pedro Martinez's distaste for signing a "Glavine-like" contract.
- Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun spoke to Aubrey Huff, who "doesn't even understand the concept of a contract push."
- Ivan Rodriguez explained to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez why he didn't sign with the Marlins.
Rosenthal On Jeter, Jenkins, Keppinger
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports posted a new column last night.
- Rosenthal wonders if the eventual emergence of Yankees shortstop prospects Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez will prompt the team to ask Derek Jeter to change positions in the future. Neither player ranked among the Yankees' top 30 prospects in the Baseball America 2009 Handbook, however. Jeter's current contract runs through 2010.
- Rosenthal says Boston's talks for catchers Miguel Montero and Jarrod Saltalamacchia "remain stalled because of those clubs' respective asking prices."
- Rosenthal believes the Phillies are unlikely to trade Geoff Jenkins or Matt Stairs.
- The Reds are considering trading infielder Jeff Keppinger, and Rosenthal wonders if the Astros would be a fit. He also speculates on Juan Uribe for Houston. John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer talked about the Keppinger possibility on Friday.
Andruw Jones Likely To Stay In Texas
2:17pm: Sullivan now states that Jones is likely to stay with the Rangers. Jones will accept a limited role, and says that he expected this situation when he came to camp on a minor-league deal:
"I never came into camp expecting to be a regular everyday player or to play center field," Jones said. "That was not my goal. My goal was to work with [hitting coach] Rudy [Jaramillo], get my swing together and be the player I once was. I never said I have to play."
General Manager Jon Daniels said that they have not asked Jones about the possibility of beginning the season in the minor leagues.
1:38pm: MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan writes that the Rangers have asked Andruw Jones to stay in camp, and that Jones wishes to stay as well. Apparently, they feel that Jones can serve as a backup outfielder and a right-handed option at DH. Texas will not add him to the 25-man roster at this point, however.
The problem for the Rangers is that they need to make room for Jones by doing something with Frank Catalanotto and the $4MM owed to him for 2009, plus the $2MM buyout on his option for 2010. That contract hardly looks appealing on the trade market at this time.
Jones has until midnight on Monday to make a decision on his future.
Rangers Working On Extending Hamilton
According to Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram, the Rangers are expected to begin moving toward a long-term contract extension for Josh Hamilton and could have something done by the end of spring training. The Rangers have been discussing this for over a month.
For how much or how long remains to be seen. Hamilton has 3 years of arbitration remaining after this year before becoming eligible for free agency in 2012. Wilson thinks Texas will want to cover 2 years of free agency. The Rangers signed Ian Kinsler to a 5-year, $22MM deal in February 2008 so a five-to-six year deal similar to the Kinsler deal, or recent deals signed by Dustin Pedroia (6 years), Troy Tulowitzki (6 years), Evan Longoria (6 years), or Ryan Braun (8 years), could be expected for Hamilton.
T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com says the Rangers are expected to make a proposal to Hamilton's agent, Michael Moye, early this week.
Rangers Sign Jimmy Gobble
According to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers signed lefty Jimmy Gobble to a minor league deal. Sullivan notes that the Rangers hoped to acquire Gobble back in '03 in a failed Juan Gonzalez trade.
Gobble, 27, was released by the Royals a few days ago. He held lefties to a .200/.246/.323 line last year. Gobble won't have six years service time after the season, so the Rangers can keep him for 2010 if they want.
Heyman On Bargains, Andruw, Buchholz
The latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman…
- Heyman runs through his top 13 free agent bargains, beginning with Orlando Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, and Jon Garland.
- Andruw Jones will decide next week whether to opt out and become a free agent again. Heyman reminds us that the Yankees, Braves, and Phillies were previously interested. He says a Yankees person "hedged" when asked if they'd rejoin the Jones pursuit.
- The Twins sent a scout to watch Ivan Rodriguez before he signed with Houston, but Heyman figures they must be confident about Joe Mauer's back after standing pat.
- The Red Sox "remain uninterested in the Rangers' proposal from a few months ago of Jarrod Saltalamacchia for Clay Buchholz." Buchholz has allowed one run, nine Ks, and two walks in 8.6 innings this spring.
Andruw Decision Pushed To Monday
1:35pm: The decision has been pushed to Monday, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. He adds that Jones does not appear interested in going to Triple A.
10:56am: According to Evan Grant of DMagazine.com, Rangers outfielder Andruw Jones is not expected to opt out of his contract today. Grant says Jones "will give the Rangers at least several more days to evaluate him" and has not cleared out his locker. Jones is hitting .258/.324/.419 in 34 plate appearances this spring.
Odds & Ends: Wade, Baker, Catalanotto
Links for Friday…
- RotoAuthority advises how to manage information during your fantasy draft.
- Something's not right with Corey Koskie, and the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan says he'll decide about his future by Saturday.
- Former Blue Jays assistant GM Bart Given has a blog, and it's pretty good from what I've read (hat tip: Drunk Jays Fans).
- Sidearmer Mark Worrell, acquired by the Padres for Khalil Greene, needs Tommy John surgery according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union Tribune.
- Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says the White Sox "traded infielder Sergio Santos to San Francisco for future considerations." Santos was picked 27th overall by the D'Backs in the 2002 draft.
- Chico Harlan of the Washington Post wonders whether $5MM first baseman Dmitri Young will be willing to accept an assignment to Triple A.
- MLB.com's Alyson Footer says Astros GM Ed Wade never lied to her and doesn't owe her an apology about Ivan Rodriguez. Wade just changed his mind after talking to Footer.
- Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune doesn't see the Cubs releasing $4MM reliever Luis Vizcaino.
- Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies believes Jeff Baker is the team's most likely infielder to be dealt. ESPN's Jayson Stark mentioned Baker yesterday as a trade candidate, and the Denver Post's Troy E. Renck has wondered if he'd fit for the Yankees or Astros.
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers have discussed Frank Catalanotto with other clubs but found no takers. Catalanotto has $6MM coming to him.
- Rany Jazayerli discusses the Royals' signing of Sidney Ponson and release of Jimmy Gobble.
Andruw Won’t Be On 40-Man Roster
According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News Rangers GM Jon Daniels confirmed that Andruw Jones won't be added to the Rangers' 40-man roster by tomorrow. This decision gives Jones the chance to opt out of the minor league deal he signed with the Rangers.
Jones has said throughout the week that he'd discuss his options with agent Scott Boras if he doesn't make the roster. He can either re-enter the free agent pool or accept a minor league assignment from the Rangers. Jones is six for his last 17 after a very slow start, but he has 14 strikeouts in 31 spring at bats. It'll be fun to see how Boras handles this.