Cafardo On Balfour, Hanrahan, Angels, Twins, Myers
Older ballplayers are showing a lot of life so far this season, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Veterans Paul Konerko, Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and Jamie Moyer have all looked sharp in the month of April. Ortiz lost 25 pounds to get himself into shape for this season and plans to keep up the hard work as he hopes to play for another two seasons. Here's more from Cafardo..
- The Angels have inquired on A’s pitcher Grant Balfour and he is becoming one of the more sought-after bullpen pieces. The Halos have also shown interest in Joel Hanrahan of the Pirates and the Mariners' Brandon League, but Balfour seems the most logical.
- If the Twins don’t turn things around by the trade deadline, Carl Pavano will be a highly sought-after pitcher. The right-hander is earning $8.5MM in the final year of his contract and has limited no-trade protection. Jason Marquis, Matt Capps, and Francisco Liriano could also be used as chips to land prospects.
- Teams probably have their eye on Astros right-hander Brett Myers. Many teams, such as the Angels and Red Sox, could use the 31-year-old’s arm right now. He has also shown that he can pitch in a big market with his time in Philadelphia.
- If Tigers outfielder Delmon Young is convicted of a hate crime, it will be interesting to see whether the the club void his contract. They would be within their rights to do so under the collective bargaining agreement. The 26-year-old earns $6.75MM this year and can become a free agent after the season.
- The A's are a good bet to land Brandon Inge.
- Most baseball people feel there’s no way the Red Sox let Aaron Cook hit the open market by not calling him up May 1. The 33-year-old will earn the prorated portion of $1.5MM if he is called up to the majors.
Trade Candidate: Erik Bedard
Few could have foreseen Erik Bedard's relatively disappointing career arc after his brilliant breakout campaign as an Oriole in 2007. The left-hander was worth 5.4 WAR that year, striking out more than a batter per inning, and he finally seemed to have harnessed his nasty raw stuff in a way that would translate to a stretch of dominance.
But the cruel reality of injuries intervened in literally every season since then, reducing Bedard to that frustrating type of player who is effective during his fleeting stretches of relative health. Now with the Pirates after quietly signing a one-year contract with them as a free agent this offseason, Bedard is looking like a strong in-season trade candidate — with that all too familiar caveat: if he can stay healthy.
Such a trade would not be new territory for Bedard. Last season, the Red Sox acquired the southpaw from the Mariners in an interesting three-way swap that netted Seattle a decent prospect in outfielder Trayvon Robinson. Even within the context of that trade, Bedard showed his best and worse: He turned in several strong second-half outings for the Red Sox, but he also missed roughly three starts due to various injuries during the team's brutal September collapse. So, the upside is there, but so is the risk.
Bedard has gotten off to a decent start this season (he struck out nine in five innings during his start today), and more importantly, he's been healthy. If he can continue to take the hill every fifth day over the next month, Bucs GM Neal Huntington would be wise to start phoning starting-needy contenders, especially considering that Bedard's modest $4.5MM salary shouldn't be a deterrent for most suitors. The Yankees, for one, might fit that bill, depending upon how they handle their beleaguered rotation in the coming weeks.
Even if Bedard were to yield a medium or low probability prospect with a high upside — a la Robinson — it might be worth it for the rebuilding Pirates to pull the trigger during another season that surely won't end in a postseason berth.
Quick Hits: Willis, Pudge, Lopez, Alvarez
As if the Phillies didn't already have enough stars on the disabled list, Hunter Pence missed Monday's game due to a shoulder injury suffered diving for a ball Sunday against the Padres. The extent of the injury is yet unknown and Pence is considered day-to-day for the time being.
Some news from Monday in the Major Leagues…
- Dontrelle Willis talks to MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko about the situation that resulted in Willis being placed on the Orioles' restricted list. Willis is "almost dumbfounded" by how things unfolded, as he thought he and the O's had agreed to part ways since he was injured and not adjusting well to relief pitching. "I don't understand what's really going on. I don't know if there's been a miscommunication there," Willis said. "Not with me. I talked to my agent and we talked about it, I talked to the proper representation, I talked to Dan [Duquette] personally….It was face-to-face. I don't know what's going on. And now if I want to sign with another team, I can't."
- Kubatko hears that Willis has drawn interest from a team in South Korea and a team in Japan, but Matt Sosnick, Willis' agent, denies that his client has received any offers.
- The Marlins' signing of Ivan Rodriguez in 2003 was "money well spent," team president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest tells Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Beinfest doesn't regret any of the moves the club made that season (even trading then-prospect Adrian Gonzalez for Ugueth Urbina) because it led to a championship. "You always hate to trade away a talent like Adrian Gonzalez. But you make it every day if you're going to win the World Series," Beinfest said.
- Cubs manager Dale Sveum hopes Rodrigo Lopez will clear waivers and remain with the organization, reports ESPN Chicago's Doug Padilla. The right-hander was designated for assignment earlier today as the Cubs added Michael Bowden to the roster.
- Pedro Alvarez's struggles inspired a discussion of the greatest draft busts in history in this mailbag piece from Baseball America's Jim Callis. Alvarez, taken by the Pirates with the second overall pick of the 2008 draft, could be "the biggest waste of hitting talent in draft history" unless he turns himself around, Callis writes.
- Twins President Dave St. Peter told Jim Memolo and Jeff Nelson on MLB Network Radio that his team needs to pitch better to recover from its 5-11 start. St. Peter suggested the Twins could move Francisco Liriano to the bullpen temporarily. “He’s an asset for this franchise and we need to get him back into a situation where he can go deep into ballgames,” St Peter said. The 28-year-old lefty faces a make or break year and it was announced today that Liriano would skip his next start and not pitch until May 1.
Central Notes: Reds, Votto, Pirates, Indians
A look at items out of the Central divisions..
- Reds first baseman Joey Votto told Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun that he wanted to become the highest-paid Canadian player in baseball. Votto’s ten-year, $225MM extension not only made him the top earning Canadian baseball player, but made him the country’s highest-paid athlete. There was talk about the Blue Jays targeting Votto down the line but the slugger said that it would be difficult to ever settle for a five-year deal as per their policy.
- There’s been a lot of talk about the Braves‘ low-paying television deal but Bob Cohn of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review points out that the Pirates contract is also undervalued. The Bucs are in the third year of a ten-year TV deal and will receive $18MM this year, according to industry sources.
- Even though the Indians are in need of an impact bat, Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer isn’t sure that the club should trade Chris Perez to get that done.
- Drew Stubbs has some level of trade value but the Reds wouldn’t get a whole lot back for him, tweets John Fay of Cincinnati Enquirer.
Pirates Sign Rick VandenHurk
The Pirates signed right-hander Rick VandenHurk, Matt Eddy of Baseball America tweets. VandenHurk had elected free agency last week after declining an outright assignment by the Indians.
Cleveland had designated the out of options 26-year-old for assignment after claiming him off of waivers from the Blue Jays. Toronto had signed him to a Major League contract in February, soon after the Orioles released him.
VandenHurk spent most of the 2011 season as a starter at Triple-A, where he posted a 4.43 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 154 1/3 innings. The native of the Netherlands has MLB experience in five seasons, but he appeared in just four games for last year's Orioles team.
Padres Acquire Brian Tallet From Pirates
The Padres traded for Pirates left-hander Brian Tallet, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter). Pittsburgh will either receive cash considerations or a player to be named later for the reliever, Brock tweets.
Tallet, 34, owns a 4.79 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 across nine seasons in the majors. Last season, the left-hander saw just 13.1 innings of work for the Cardinals and Blue Jays thanks to a broken left hand followed by a right intercostal strain.
Central Notes: Reds, Indians, Pirates, Royals
A look at some items out of the Central divisions..
- The Reds' acquisition of right-hander J.J. Hoover from Atlanta kills any chance the Rangers had of shipping pitchers Mark Lowe or Koji Uehara to Cincinnati, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The Reds sent Juan Francisco to the Braves earlier today to land Hoover.
- The Indians need to see a significant boost in attendance this year in order to allow themselves to spend, writes Sheldon Ocker of the Beacon Journal. One way or another, the Tribe should have some breathing room this offseason with the contracts of Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore coming off of the books.
- Pirates owner Bob Nutting expects his club to contend for the division title, write Bob Cohn and Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Former Nats GM Jim Bowden also weighed in on the club's future and said that he believes they will hit their stride in two years when Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon are ready.
- Royals General Manager Dayton Moore spoke to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times about employing the Rays' strategy of locking up players before they become too pricey. Over the weekend, Moore inked his third extension of the offseason when he signed Alex Gordon to a four-year, $37.5MM deal.
D’Backs Retain Brett Lorin In Trade With Pirates
The Diamondbacks will retain Rule 5 Draft pick Brett Lorin after acquiring his rights from the Pirates for Robby Rowland, the team announced (on Twitter). Lorin has been outrighted off Arizona's 40-man roster.
Lorin, 25, has allowed three runs in nine innings this spring. He pitched to a 2.84 ERA in 117 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh's Single-A affiliate last season, striking out 7.6 batters per nine while walking 1.5 per nine. The D'Backs would have had to place Lorin on waivers and offer him back to the Pirates had he not remained on their 25-man active roster all season.
Rowland, 20, was Arizona's third round pick in 2010. He owns a 7.01 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 122 low-level minor league innings in his brief career. Baseball America ranked Lorin as the D'Backs' 28th best prospect in their 2012 Prospect Handbook, but Rowland did not make the cut. Both pitchers are right-handed.
Minor Moves: Astros, Rivera, Branyan, Igarashi
The latest minor moves from around MLB…
- The Astros released first baseman Jimmy Van Ostrand and right-hander Lance Pendleton, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com tweets.
- The Brewers released catcher Mike Rivera, according to the team (via media relations director Mike Vassallo on Twitter). The 35-year-old appeared in one game with the 2011 Brewers and has experience in nine MLB seasons.
- The Yankees announced that they released Russell Branyan from his minor league contract and re-signed him to a new one. The Yankees appear to save $100K with the maneuver.
- The Blue Jays acquired right-hander Ryota Igarashi from the Pirates for cash considerations or a player to be named later, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports (Twitter links). Davidi suggests the Blue Jays will likely assign Igarashi to Triple-A. The 32-year-old appeared in 45 games for the 2011 Mets, posting a 4.66 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 6.5 BB/9 in 38 2/3 innings.
- The Phillies announced that they traded minor league first baseman Matt Rizzotti to the Twins for cash considerations today. The 26-year-old spent the 2011 season at Double-A Reading and posted a .295/.392/.511 line with 24 home runs, 34 doubles and 79 walks in 587 plate appearances.
Offseason In Review: Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates locked up star center fielder Andrew McCutchen and added some decent veterans to the infield and rotation.
Major League Signings
- Clint Barmes, SS: two years, $10.5MM.
- Erik Bedard, SP: one year, $4.5MM.
- Rod Barajas, C: one year, $4MM. Includes $3.5MM club option for 2013.
- Nate McLouth, OF: one year, $1.75MM.
- Total spend: $20.75MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
- Juan Cruz, Jake Fox, Ryota Igarashi, Jose Morales, Jo-Jo Reyes, Doug Slaten, Brian Tallet, Tim Wood, Shairon Martis, Brandon Boggs, Nick Evans, Jeff Clement, Anderson Hernandez, Logan Kensing, Daniel Cabrera
Extensions
- Andrew McCutchen, CF: six years, $51.5MM. Includes a $14.5MM club option for 2018 with a $1MM buyout.
Trades and Claims
- Acquired IF Yamaico Navarro from Red Sox for RP Brooks Pounders and IF Diego Goris
- Claimed SS Gustavo Nunez from Tigers in Rule 5 draft
- Acquired 1B/3B Casey McGehee from Brewers for RP Jose Veras
- Acquired SP A.J. Burnett and $20MM from Yankees for OF Exicardo Cayones and RP Diego Moreno
Notable Losses
- Paul Maholm, Ronny Cedeno, Ryan Doumit, Ryan Ludwick, Derek Lee, Chris Snyder, Ross Ohlendorf, Joe Beimel, Steve Pearce, Jason Jaramillo, Jose Veras, Brandon Wood, Xavier Paul, Brooks Pounders, Diego Goris, Brett Lorin, Exicardo Cayones, Diego Moreno
Pirates GM Neal Huntington did his usual tinkering during the offseason, but he accomplished his biggest goal in March by locking up McCutchen potentially through 2018. The Pirates acquired two of McCutchen's free agent years with an option for a third, also saving money on his arbitration years. They gave McCutchen the same guarantee Justin Upton and Jay Bruce received, and the only contract of the three with a pair of club options, despite McCutchen's superior bulk credentials. The team's timing was excellent, as McCutchen improved defensively last year and would have required more money had they waited. I know there were intangible benefits to McCutchen's contract, but I'm mostly concerned with the value side, and the Pirates did well.
At 5.63 strikeouts per nine innings in 2011, the Pirates' rotation ranked last in the National League. To remedy that deficiency, Huntington imported a pair of starters who were hot commodities four or five years ago in Bedard and Burnett. The Pirates essentially gave Maholm's money to Bedard, likely trading innings for performance. Bedard's shoulder surgeries have made him a comeback favorite for many years, but he actually didn't have to spend this offseason rehabbing an injury. If the 33-year-old can find a way to provide 180 innings for the first time since '07, the Pirates will have found a huge bargain without risking much.
Before the Burnett trade pursuit began in earnest, Huntington placed multiple bids on free agent starter and Scott Boras client Edwin Jackson. Jackson reportedly spurned a three-year offer from the Pirates in the $30MM range, as well as a one-year proposal worth less than $11MM. Like many Boras clients, Jackson became focused on the idea of taking a one-year deal and re-entering the market after a year. Three years wasn't his goal, and the Pirates didn't offer the largest one-year pact. The Pirates don't have confederate money — they simply didn't make Jackson the best offer.
By late February, Huntington found a suitable alternative in Burnett. The Yankees were probably desperate to unload him, especially with private knowledge that Andy Pettitte would join the crowded rotation. In a reversal of roles the Yankees dumped two years and $13MM worth of Burnett's contract on the Pirates for a couple of non-prospects. Burnett's Pirates debut will unfortunately be delayed due to a freak Spring Training injury, but the logic behind the acquisition was sound. Burnett can provide innings and strikeouts with a touch of upside, at the reasonable cost of two years and $13MM.
Low-strikeout Pirates starters such as Charlie Morton, Jeff Karstens, and Kevin Correia will benefit from the addition of Barmes, one of the game's best defensive shortstops. Barmes replaces Cedeno, who is something of a defensive enigma. Barmes anchors a Pirates infield that will otherwise be populated by average or below-average defenders.
After throwing to eight different catchers in 2011, Pirates pitchers will also enjoy the consistency of having Barajas and Mike McKenry behind the plate. Barajas will provide his usual blend of average defense, poor on-base skills, and some power. Huntington hopes McLouth will rediscover some of the 2007-08 magic with a return to his original team.
The Bucs traded a quality reliever in Veras, but McGehee's right-handed stick pairs well with Garrett Jones and Pedro Alvarez at the infield corners. Veras was a hard-throwing minor league signee with control problems a year ago, just as Juan Cruz is now. The Pirates pen retains plenty of strikeout artists and could be a solid in 2012, especially if Evan Meek is fully recovered from last year's shoulder injury.
The Pirates had a decent offseason, though I'm not sure the 2012 team will be above-average at anything. Rather than expecting to finish what they started over the first four months of 2011, a more realistic plan is to tread water until the farm system produces star-caliber players to surround McCutchen.