Bucco Blog On Cubs, Pirates Payrolls
Couple of interesting notes just came in via the fine Bucco Blog.
First off, the Cubs may push payroll all the way up to $120MM. The author indicates that Lou Piniella wants Aramis Ramirez, Jason Schmidt, and Gary Sheffield for his 2007 Cubs.
Second, the Pirates are looking at a $65MM payroll for next season. Bucco Blog says that means at least $25MM to spend. With roughly $35MM tied up, the Pirates should be big spenders no matter how the exact math stacks up.
Lot of money flowing out of the NL Central this winter.
Bucco Blog On Luis Gonzalez
Over at the fine Bucco Blog, the author makes a case for the Pirates to sign Luis Gonzalez and move Jason Bay to right field. The argument is that Gonzo would be a perfect fit for PNC Park and would play better defense in left than Bay. He says:
"Littlefield might propose an incentive laden package to Gonzo.. 3 year deal at $10m with base incentives that could get him another $10m or more. Three years is the deal Gonzo wants and the Pirates are probably one of the few who would be willing to give it to him."
Teams Interested In Maholm
Spoke to a scout today who passed along some Pirates info. He mentioned that a couple of teams are expressing interest in 24 year-old southpaw Paul Maholm because of his easy mechanics and ability to keep the ball in the park.
Maholm posted a 0.97 HR per nine innings mark this season in 176 innings. If we are to adjust Maholm’s HR per flyball rate to average (10.7%), his HR/9 falls to 0.83 per nine innings. My own projections have Maholm posting a 4.62 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 195 innings next season. I can see his control progressing a bit, and he’s a good low-risk, low-cost acquisition. Put a decent defense behind the guy and he might surprise you.
Pirates Agree To Deal With Yuslan Herrera
Dave Littlefield is in the process of an interesting move for the Bucs: he has offered Cuban defector Yuslan Herrera a three-year Major League contract. It seems that only formalities remain in completing the deal.
One scout pegged Herrera as a fourth starter in the bigs. He’s 25 years old and could be near Major League ready. However, he probably hasn’t pitched for quite a while competitively so no one really knows how this will go.
One blogger speculates that perhaps the Pirates would pair Herrera with Jose Contreras with a deal centered around Chris Duffy. Such a move could set up a trade of a young starter for a left-handed power hitter.
2007 Pittsburgh Pirates
The next 2007 Team Outlook is the Pirates. Many thanks to Dejan Kovacevic for writing a fine summary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In addition, Bucco Blog always has great inside info.
Dave Littlefield’s contract obligations:
C – Ronny Paulino – $0.38MM
C – Ryan Doumit – $0.38MM
1B –
2B – Freddy Sanchez – $0.38MM
SS – Jack Wilson – $5.25MM
3B – Jose Bautista – $0.38MM
IF – Jose Castillo – $0.38MM
LF – Jason Bay – $3.25MM
CF – Chris Duffy – $0.38MM
RF – Xavier Nady – $0.427MM
OF – Nate McLouth – $0.38MM
OF – Jody Gerut – $0.875MM
SP – Zach Duke – $0.38MM
SP – Ian Snell – $0.38MM
SP – Paul Maholm – $0.38MM
SP – Tom Gorzelanny – $0.38MM
SP – Yuslan Herrera –
RP – Salomon Torres – $2.6MM
RP – Mike Gonzalez – $0.38MM
RP – John Grabow – $0.38MM
RP – Jonah Bayliss – $0.38MM
RP – Matt Capps – $0.38MM
RP – Marty McLeary – $0.38MM
RP – Juan Perez – $0.38MM
RP – Josh Sharpless – $0.38MM
RP – Shane Youman – $0.38MM
Buyouts:
RF – Jeromy Burnitz – $0.7MM
RP – Damaso Marte – $0.25MM
That’s about $20.5MM locked up before raises, which is impressive. The team entered the season with a $46.7MM payroll. I usually don’t factor in more than $5MM for raises, but Kovacevic estimated $10MM in his article. Even throwing in a few mil for Herrera, the Bucs could have over $30MM left to spend.
25 year-old catcher Ronny Paulino hit .310 this year. If he can rediscover the power he had in 2005, the Bucs might really have something here. Plus his defense is sound. Paulino might just be keeping the seat warm, as BP’s Kevin Goldstein calls Neil Walker one of the few minor league catchers with "star potential." Walker’s a ways off, though, and could find his way into another position before long.
Nady will end up at first or in right, depending on who the Pirates acquire. A left-handed power hitter is the target; Kovacevic suggests Aubrey Huff. Though he hasn’t played first since ’97, I could see the Bucs signing Luis Gonzalez and putting him there. Trade options could include Jacque Jones, Adam Dunn, and Geoff Jenkins.
Should the Pirates shift Sanchez back to second, 3B will need some fixin’. Internal options Bautista and Castillo seem to be the favorites. As for the outfield, Gerut will try to squeeze his way in if he is recovered from knee surgery. That assumes the team offers him arbitration after his ’06 medical grievance.
In Gorzelanny, Duke, and Maholm, the Pirates have a trio of promising southpaws. There’s also righty Ian Snell, whose season was much better than it looked. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better young foursome outside of Florida. With Cuban defector Yuslan Herrera in the fold, the Bucs may look to trade Maholm. A couple of teams have come knocking this winter.
The idea is to use some of that free cash to add a veteran righty starter to anchor the staff. Popular names include Jason Schmidt, Gil Meche, Vicente Padilla, and Jeff Suppan according to Kovacevic. Miguel Batista or Jeff Weaver could also qualify. The return of Schmidt may be more than just a pipe dream.
The trade market could include Jason Jennings, Jake Westbrook, Jose Contreras, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia, and Javier Vazquez. There could be a fit with the White Sox, as they’re looking for relievers.
As for the bullpen, it is seen as a surplus for the Pirates. Torres is more expensive, but Gonzalez maybe more effective (and younger). Personally I’d trade one of them in hopes of getting one premium 1B or RF (Austin Kearns would’ve been perfect). Are Torres and Gonzalez really going to be a part of the next Pirates championship team?
It may not seem interesting to some, but I am very curious to see how this offseason unfolds for the Pirates. They usually spend their cash poorly.
Rosenthal: Kip Wells To Texas
Though the Red Sox seemed close, Ken Rosenthal now reports that the Rangers have acquired righty Kip Wells from the Pirates. Guess Jon Daniels stepped in with something better than Abe Alvarez.
UPDATE: The Pirates snagged 22 year-old reliever Jesse Chavez in the deal. Chavez just got promoted to Triple A.
Stark: Mets To Get Roberto Hernandez, Oliver Perez
According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark:
"Mets are closing in on a big deal with the Pirates, for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. Still haggling about the rest of that deal."
The Mets have been interested in these guys for a while; first I heard of it was back when Jeff Keppinger was dealt.
SI.com now reports that Xavier Nady goes to Pittsburgh in the deal. I’m told that the Mets also have coveted Edwin Jackson as a project for Rick Peterson, but that interest may be on hold with this acquisition.
UPDATE: Word via Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline is that the Mets could spin Perez along with Heath Bell to the Padres for Scott Linebrink. Perez, of course, began his career with San Diego.
Edes: Red Sox Inquire On Kip Wells
Check out Gordon Edes’s latest blog posting for the Boston Globe. Through a Pirates source, Edes has learned that the Red Sox are discussing a trade for starter Kip Wells. Wells has been decent with a 3.16 ERA this month. He shut down the Giants last time out.
UPDATE: ESPN’s Amy Nelson says this one is on the verge of getting done. Also, word via Sons of Sam Horn is that this deal could be for Abe Alvarez.
Tigers Trade For Sean Casey
Latest from Ken Rosenthal: the Tigers have found their left-handed bat in Sean Casey. Detroit gave up a minor league pitcher in the deal.
Casey makes $8.5MM this year, but the Reds are paying one million of that. That leaves approximately $2.6 mil for the Tigers to cover.
Casey should get most of the time at first base, as the Tigers demoted Chris Shelton to make room for him.
In return the Pirates received right-hander Brian Rogers, not among Detroit’s top 30 prospects entering the season. The 24 year-old has worked in relief at Double A this year, posting a 2.39 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 9.7 K/9. Rogers, a product of Georgia Southern University, was an 11th round pick in 2003. He switched to relief last year and has put up good numbers since.
Pirates Trade Rumors
Let’s run down all the possible trades Dave Littlefield and the Pirates have brewing.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review still has Oakland as the favorite for Sean Casey, a move that makes little sense to me.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mentions a possible swap of John Grabow for Ryan Shealy. That sounds reasonable.
Dejan Kovacevic’s article also indicates that the Mets and Yankees are leading the charge for Kip Wells. The Yankees also want Craig Wilson and Roberto Hernandez. Wilson and Wells seem unlikely at this point, though, as the Abreu deal looks close.