New Medical Report Reassures Sheets’ Suitors?
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has heard from MLB executives that a new record of Ben Sheets‘ medical history "may have sparked some renewed interest in the talented pitcher."
Sheets provided teams with updated information about his health. Heyman learned that previous health reports were not "debilitating," but they had issues. The Rangers, Mets and Brewers are presumably among the teams currently looking over the new information.
Odds and Ends: Fogg, Jays, Red Sox, White Sox
Links for Friday…
- Corey Brock talked to agent Barry Axelrod about the slow-moving free agent market.
- The D’Backs still have Will Ohman and Joe Beimel on the radar, but Nick Piecoro believes they’d like to add a starter first.
- Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino doesn’t want the team’s dealings with Scott Boras for Mark Teixeira to affect other negotiations.
- Josh Fogg hopes to sign soon; possibilities may include the Rockies, Orioles, and Nationals.
- The Blue Jays are currently in talks with a Japanese pitcher.
- Nolan Ryan comments on the free agent market.
- Ed Wade explains his approach to waivers.
- Tony Massarotti projects an Opening Day payroll around $135MM for the Red Sox. Michael Silverman examines Boston’s options behind the plate.
- South Side Sox have the White Sox around $100MM for their Opening Day payroll.
- RotoAuthority lists the hitters projected to earn at least $10 in fantasy value in 2009.
Ben Sheets Visits With Rangers
According to Ken Rosenthal, Ben Sheets and his agent spent yesterday visiting with the Rangers in Arlington. Nolan Ryan, Jon Daniels, Ron Washington, and Mike Maddux were in attendance. Daniels would not comment on whether the Rangers made an offer. The Sheets market has been surprisingly slow this winter, with the Mets dabbling and the Brewers not ruling him out.
The Brewers were hoping to receive a first-round pick as part of the compensation for Sheets, but the Rangers’ #14 pick is protected and the Mets’ first-rounder will stay with the Angels for Francisco Rodriguez. Theoretically the Dodgers could jump in (they have the #17 pick) but they are said to have the "inside track" on signing Randy Wolf and haven’t been linked to Sheets.
Rosenthal On Perez, Manny, Pirates
Another new column from the hard-working Ken Rosenthal.
- Rosenthal doesn’t believe that the market for Oliver Perez is limited to the Mets; it’s more that they’re the only interested team we know about. Two teams we can cross off are the Rangers and Cubs. The Mets want to do three years for Perez while Scott Boras wants five. The Mets’ plan is to sign one of Perez, Randy Wolf, or Ben Sheets and then add a cheaper arm like Freddy Garcia.
- Rosenthal believes the Giants could justify signing Manny Ramirez as an attempt to "max out" while they still have Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum (they have Cain through 2011, Lincecum through 2013).
- Rosenthal notes that free agents who accept offers of arbitration do not have guaranteed contracts. However, players such as Orlando Cabrera and Jason Varitek would’ve had to be released for clear baseball reasons, not to save money. Otherwise the teams would be in hot water with the Players Association.
- Rosenthal notes that Scott Boras has worked out two-year deals covering arbitration years for past clients such as Matt Holliday and Mark Teixeira, so the current Prince Fielder talks don’t signify a change.
- The Pirates have no need to shed payroll.
Vizquel, Melhuse Sign With Rangers
8:29pm: T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com is reporting that the Rangers have also signed catcher Adam Melhuse to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
6:19pm: Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that the Rangers have signed Omar Vizquel to a minor league contract.
Vizquel, 41, hit .222/.283/.267 with 23 RBI in 92 games for the Giants last season. He will be invited to spring training and given a chance to make the roster as a utility infielder and backup to rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Diamondbacks, Rangers Interested In Jennings
According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Diamondbacks have interest in free agent right-hander Jason Jennings.
The D-Backs have an offer out to Braden Looper, but if that falls through Jennings could be next on the list. Jennings last pitched effectively in 2006, when he finished 9-13 with a 3.78 ERA. He lasted just 27 1/3 innings last season. Renck claims the Rangers have also expressed serious interest.
Rosenthal On Sheets, Cruz, Cabrera, Reyes
The latest from Ken Rosenthal…
- Rosenthal recommends the Yankees sign Ben Sheets and Juan Cruz, partially because they’d pay less of a cost in draft picks than any other team. One exec predicted Sheets would require a $6-8MM base with the potential to earn at least $14MM, and possibly a "lucrative club option." Despite Rosenthal’s recommendation, the Yanks remain focused on Andy Pettitte (who is not weighing an offer from the Astros).
- Industry sources tell Rosenthal that the Red Sox have kept their payroll flexible in case mid and low-revenue teams need to dump contracts.
- The A’s probably cannot afford both Nick Johnson and Orlando Cabrera, so they’ll wait to see what happens with Cabrera before pursuing the trade with Washington.
- Prince Fielder filed for $8MM against the Brewers’ $6MM; Rosenthal indicates the team feared he’d file higher.
- One chatter mentioned yesterday that Cory Sullivan and Jeremy Reed are the exact same player; one GM said the same to Rosenthal.
- Dennys Reyes has backed off his demand for Jeremy Affeldt money (two years, $8MM). Affeldt seemed like a bargain at the time.
- Expected to be in attendance at Kris Benson‘s upcoming throwing session: the Dodgers, Rangers, Padres, Rockies, and D’Backs. Looks like an NL West affair.
Rangers Avoid Arb With C.J. Wilson
According to Richard Durrett, the Rangers avoided arbitration with reliever C.J. Wilson by signing him at $1.85MM plus incentives for ’09. Marlon Byrd is the team’s remaining case.
Rangers Sign Francisco, Close With Vizquel
11:37pm: An agreement has been reached with Francisco, according to the AP. He gets $1.615MM.
9:56pm: According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers will avoid an arbitration hearing with reliever Frank Francisco. He is expected to sign a one-year contract on Tuesday.
Sullivan is also reporting that free agent shortstop Omar Vizquel is close to signing with the club and that a deal could be done as soon as Tuesday. Vizquel will be invited to spring training as a utility infielder and backup to rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Freddy Garcia Close To Finding A Team
Scot Gregor of the Arlington Daily Herald expects free agent pitcher Freddy Garcia to make a decision sometime this week.
The White Sox, Mets and Rangers appear to be the only serious suitors. Gregor provides some analysis on the White Sox’ interest:
"There has been some speculation that the White Sox are no longer interested in Garcia after they signed another injury-prone veteran Bartolo Colon last week. That’s not necessarily true. Given Colon’s physical troubles over the past three seasons, there is still plenty of interest in Garcia on the South Side. And even if Colon does manage to stay off the disabled list, they still need a No. 5 starter… If they get Garcia, that buys more time to develop promising left-hander Aaron Poreda."