Odds and Ends: Helms, Bako, Crisp
I am going to toss today’s non-Santana odds and ends into this post.
- Paul Hagen runs through some possibilities for the likely-to-be-traded Wes Helms: Marlins, Rays, Twins, Giants, and A’s. Any teams you’d like to add to his speculation?
- The Pirates have moved on from Johnny Estrada to Paul Bako. He’d battle to back up Ronny Paulino.
- OK this is Santana-related. Gordon Edes says the Red Sox will listen to offers for Coco Crisp, but are fine with keeping him around as perhaps the game’s best fourth outfielder. See any good fits for Crisp?
Padres Eyeing Mike Sweeney
The Padres "have expressed mild interest" in Mike Sweeney, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. The problem would be finding a fit for Sweeney. First base or left field would be the logical choices but between the presence of Adrian Gonzalez and Sweeney’s fragility, both seem a long shot. And there’s no fit at catcher either, if you really want to stretch your imagination.
Crasnick notes that Padres GM Kevin Towers has found the talks for Xavier Nady or Matt Murton to be "slow going," so maybe he’s trying to get creative.
Sweeney, 35, has been a Royal his entire career. He hasn’t topped 100 games or an .800 OPS since ’05. It was said in mid-December that Sweeney’s agent had been in touch with the Royals and two other teams.
Pirates Rumors: Bay, Nady, Capps
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a few new Pirates tidbits today.
- Jason Bay expressed displeasure with the Pirates’ lack of activity, but his comments were respectful. He hopes to stay with the Bucs and win. Bay says he "found a whole different level of being in shape" this winter, which bodes well for a bounceback.
- Kovacevic says Neal Huntington and Kevin Towers have been in touch this week regarding Xavier Nady but nothing is close. Towers admitted publicly that he was looking at Nady and Matt Murton.
- There’s been "little progress" on a multiyear deal for Matt Capps. The Pirates approached Capps earlier this month with three or four-year scenarios in mind.
Pirates Have Multiyear Offer Out To Sanchez
Pirates president Frank Connelly verified tonight that at some point this offseason, the Bucs made a multiyear offer to second baseman Freddy Sanchez. It doesn’t mean anything is close, however. Sanchez and the Pirates are currently $800K apart on their 2008 figures.
Back on January 7th, Dejan Kovacevic reported that Sanchez had not received a multiyear offer. But even at that time the Pirates were keen to the idea of signing Sanchez through his two remaining arbitration years and tacking on an option to buy out his first of free agency. Ultimately I could see a guaranteed third year.
The 30 year-old Sanchez hit .304/.343/.442 as the Pirates’ second baseman in ’07. Meanwhile the average NL second baseman hit .272/.341/.418.
Odds and Ends: Zimmerman, Tulo, Hawpe, Wang
Some bits and pieces from today…
- Damian Miller is leaning toward retirement, leaving Johnny Estrada as the one halfway viable catching option out there.
- Talks continue with Ryan Zimmerman on a long-term deal. The Nationals and Zimmerman reportedly discussed this a year ago.
- Padres GM Kevin Towers is upfront about his inquiries on Matt Murton and Xavier Nady. The Cubs aren’t done, by the way.
- Troy Tulowitzki is able to void his contract if he’d traded.
- The Rockies have had preliminary talks with Brad Hawpe about a multiyear deal. Tracy Ringoslby says they might aim for a four-year deal, buying out one year of free agency. The 28 year-old hit .291/.387/.539 in ’07. He was a lot better at Coors and against righties.
- Anthony McCarron says a long-term deal with Chien-Ming Wang looks unlikely, and the Yankees may have to go to a hearing with him regarding his ’08 salary.
Orioles Discuss Lohse, Villone, Chacon
Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun says the Orioles are looking at various one or two-year stopgap free agents.
- According to Scott Boras, he and Andy MacPhail have discussed six or seven of his clients. Among them are Kyle Lohse, Ron Villone, and Corey Patterson. Lohse would probably not sign for two years, I’m guessing. Or in the American League. Who else might they have discussed? Jeff Weaver? Anyway, it’s nice to see the Orioles getting along with Boras!
- Zrebiec notes that the O’s have had "preliminary talks" with the agents for Shawn Chacon and Steve Trachsel. Looks like MacPhail just wants some warm bodies for the back end of the rotation. Chacon seems to prefer to the Pirates, and a return to Pittsburgh looks "increasingly logical."
- Zbrebiec says Rod Barajas seems to be headed elsewhere despite "significant discussions" with Baltimore.
Pirates Sign Jaret Wright
The Pirates signed 32 year-old righty Jaret Wright today to a minor league deal. Seems crazy that Wright is 32 now, we all remember the baby-faced kid in the ’97 World Series.
Wright gets $800K if he makes the Major League roster and has incentives based on relieving or starting. Obviously Wright needs to get healthy again; he missed most of ’07 with shoulder woes.
Wright is the poster boy for good timing, signing a three-year, $21MM deal with the Yankees in December of ’04 after Leo Mazzone coaxed 15 wins out of him in ’03.
Odds and Ends: Hinske, Doumit, Colon, Greene
It’s up to an impressive 5.7 degrees where I am, but I still don’t think I’ll be going outside much today. Hence, some odds and ends.
- Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald believes Eric Hinske might sign with the Diamondbacks this week. The 30 year-old former ROY has a career line of .255/.336/.434, with much better work against righties.
- John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus says the Red Sox are interested in the Pirates’ Ryan Doumit. However Perrotto says the Bucs are reluctant to trade the versatile Doumit, who turns 27 in April. Only past Doumit rumor I can find was from Will Carroll in May of ’06, saying he and Oliver Perez were being dangled to the Phillies.
- Perrotto believes the Royals could sign Bartolo Colon if he’ll take a one-year deal; that may be true for several clubs. Paul Hoynes reports that the Indians watched Colon pitch, but weren’t impressed with his sub-90 velocity. Hoynes says Kris Benson will have another throwing session and the Tribe will be in attendance.
- According to Marc Topkin, the Rays are talking with lefty reliever Trever Miller. The two sides haven’t agreed on the term yet.
- Padres GM Kevin Towers commented about the team’s rejected long-term overtures toward shortstop Khalil Greene. Towers brought a three or four year proposal to Greene but does not expect anything to get done. He stated Greene’s possible desire to be on the East Coast as a factor.
- Vince Gennaro does an economic analysis of the Johan Santana rumors, indicating that the acquisition makes the most sense for the Mets.
Odds and Ends: Stewart, Shelton, LaRoche
Today’s smattering of random rumors and links. Question for you readers: how do you feel about the Odds and Ends posts in general? Interesting? Lame? Do you skip them, or are they worthwhile?
- Friend of MLBTR Susan Slusser quotes Shannon Stewart as saying the A’s are one of several teams in the running for his services. If you browse the ol’ free agent list, you’ll see that the other available free agent left fielders include Barry Bonds, Luis Gonzalez, Kevin Mench, Reggie Sanders, and Brad Wilkerson.
- Chris Shelton, we hardly knew ye – the Rangers have already DFA’d him. Career OPS of .825, seems the guy deserves a decent shot somewhere. Other Rangers news, Jason Jennings seems like a lock at this point.
- The Pirates and Adam LaRoche agreed at $5MM for ’08. They could still work out an extension that starts with the ’09 season.
- Wondering which service to use for your fantasy league this March? I merely started the discussion at RotoAuthority, and then commenters weighed in with tons of excellent feedback.
Perrotto’s Latest: Sabathia, Varitek, Crede, Villone
John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus checks in with his usual Sunday column. He’s got some new hot stove material to consider.
- Perrotto says the Indians are holding firm at an offer of four years plus an option for C.C. Sabathia. As of a week ago, the Indians were said to have an offer on the table for him. I suggested that the Tribe might top out around four years, $72MM plus an option for 2013.
- Perrotto writes that "Boston is expected to sign catcher Jason Varitek to a two-year extension worth around $20 million." Varitek could retire after that.
- Perrotto suggests that Joe Crede is on the Giants’ radar if they don’t re-sign Pedro Feliz (hat tip South Side Sox). Crede seems like he’ll be involved in one of those late Spring Training deals, given the need to prove his health.
- The Yankees, Mets, and Pirates are interested in free agent lefty reliever Ron Villone.