Odds and Ends: Smoltz, Crede, Burnett
A few links for Sunday evening…
- Chicago Tribune reporters Todd Lighty and Oscar Avila have more info on the David Wilder bonus-skimming scandal.
- Terence Moore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talked to John Smoltz recently about players leaving or choosing not to sign with the Braves.
- SI.com’s Pablo S. Torre digs into Ken Griffey Jr.‘s decision.
- Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel learned that Marlins third baseman Dallas McPherson (42 home runs at Triple A last year) would like 500 at-bats, but a bench role is more likely. McPherson is out of options.
- Joe Crede talked about the White Sox going young, but Ozzie Guillen did not agree.
- Newsday’s Kat O’Brien talked to A.J. Burnett, who was leaning toward the Yankees well before he signed. He chatted often with Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon this winter.
- Speaking of Damon, River Ave. Blues points out a passage in Joe Torre’s book about how the Yankees chose Rondell White over him back in ’02.
- Nationals special assistant Jose Rijo is taking a leave of absence, partially because of the Esmailyn Gonzalez scandal. ESPN’s Jorge Arangure Jr. has much more on the situation, after talking to Gonzalez/Lugo’s trainer.
- South Side Sox takes a stab at fixing free agent compensation.
- Orlando Hudson could’ve had $24MM for 2009-11 if he’d taken an offer the D’Backs made before the ’08 season. Nick Piecoro says Hudson’s counteroffer was "so unrealistic that it actually upset people with the Diamondbacks."
Nothing Close For Juan Cruz, Twins
4:46pm: Steve Gilbert of MLB.com talked to D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes. Byrnes is in regular contract with Cruz’s agent Barry Praver, but has nothing new to report and is not talking to any teams about Cruz.
3:47pm: MLB.com’s Kelly Theiser reports that the Twins have not even extended a formal offer to Cruz. She agrees with Neal that Twins fans should not expect a Cruz acquisition, though they definitely are interested.
SUNDAY, 1:27pm: Neal is back with another update, though not a pleasant one for Twins fans. Neal writes that the reports saying the Twins are "closing in on a deal" are not true. The trade, may in fact, be very difficult to pull off:
"It’s going to be hard enough to agree to terms with the agent. Getting the Diamondbacks to agree on a trade might be even tougher. Things could always change but, for now, there’s little reason to feel optimistic that the Twins can land Cruz."
SATURDAY: Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks are "closing in on a likely sign-and-trade deal" with the Twins for Juan Cruz. He adds that "various reports expected the deal to be completed by Saturday."
FRIDAY: According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins made an offer to reliever Juan Cruz tonight as part of a possible sign-and-trade with the Diamondbacks. If Cruz accepts the offer, Neal says the teams would then have 48 hours to work out a trade.
Cruz would represent a power arm for the back of Minnesota’s pen; his average heater was 94.3 mph in 2008. Cruz’s big-time strikeout stuff is accompanied by poor control, however.
Doug Davis Hopes To Stay With D’Backs
MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert questioned Diamondbacks pitcher Doug Davis about his future, learning that the pitcher would like to put in three more years. Davis will be eligible for free agency after the season, but he hopes to remain in Arizona. The sides have yet to discuss an extension.
D’Backs Claim Bobby Korecky
MLB.com’s Kelly Thesier says the Diamondbacks claimed pitcher Bobby Korecky off waivers from the Twins today, a move that signifies the completion of Minnesota’s Luis Ayala signing.
Korcecky, 29, made his MLB debut in ’08 with 17.6 relief innings for the Twins. He did a nice job out of the pen in Triple A.
D’Backs Avoid Arb With Conor Jackson
8:51pm: Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has the financial details; the contract is worth $3.05MM.
8:35pm: MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert reports that the Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Conor Jackson.
An arbitration hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, so the deal was struck just in time. Financial terms are not yet available, but the sides probably settled near the midpoint of the numbers that were filed at the end of January. The Diamondbacks submitted a $2.45MM bid and Jackson’s representatives countered with a request for $3.65MM.
GM Josh Byrnes has not required an arbitration hearing in his time with the Diamondbacks.
More From The Sign-And-Trade Front
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle shares some thoughts from the A’s brass on this whole sign-and-trade fiasco:
I spoke to a member of the A’s front office who is doubtful that deals of this nature will be allowed to go through because they so clearly run counter to specific rules.
Slusser also writes that the A’s are not considering tyring such a deal with the White Sox for Type-A free agent Orlando Cabrera.
For one thing, the A’s would lose a second-round pick to Chicago rather than a first-round pick if they were to sign Cabrera, writes Slusser. And the source told me that losing a second-rounder is not something that would squash a deal. The A’s aren’t concerned with it at all. Cabrera’s wish for a $9 million-plus salary, though? That could kill things.
D’Backs, Conor Jackson May Have Hearing
MONDAY: Yahoo’s Jeff Passan says the D’Backs and Jackson have been discussing a long-term deal for nearly eight months. Though they’re struggling just to agree on his ’09 salary, the D’Backs would like to buy out Jackson’s three arb years and get a club option on his first free agent season.
SUNDAY: According to MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert, the Diamondbacks are not close to a contract with arbitration-eligible outfielder Conor Jackson.
Jackson requested $3.65MM and the club countered with a $2.45MM figure back when arbitration numbers were due. That gap has been a tough one to close and his hearing is looming. It is currently scheduled for Wednesday, February 18.
D’Backs Working On Sign-And-Trade Deal?
According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the Diamondbacks could be hammering out a sign-and-trade deal with reliever Juan Cruz.
"I can’t say too much," Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes said Monday. "But of late, they’ve talked to the union, we have talked to the Commissioner’s Office to see if there is a way where they could sign through us and then we would receive in trade what we would deem as enough value."
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic also has a column on the topic. Ken Rosenthal and La Velle E. Neal III have done a nice job of explaining this complicated situation. As Neal notes, the Twins may be interested in Cruz if they aren’t forced to surrender a high draft pick for his services. Yahoo’s Jeff Passan says the Brewers and Rangers also have interest in Cruz.
Cruz, Diamondbacks Continue Talking
According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks and free agent reliever Juan Cruz continue to engage in dialogue about a possible deal.
"A solution that works for us and works for him is unclear," said GM Josh Byrnes. "We’re at least trying to see how to make this a favorable outcome."
Cruz, a 30-year-old right-hander, posted a 2.61 ERA in 51 2/3 innings last season. He also fanned 71 batters, but has drawn little to no interest this offseason from any team other than the D-Backs.
Odds And Ends: Brewers, Roberts, Tejada
A few links for Wednesday night…
- According to The Sports Network, the Brewers signed minor leaguers Eduardo Morlan and Cody Scarpetta to one year deals.
- Brian Roberts hasn’t given up on working out an extension with the O’s, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Kubatko writes "it’s pretty clear that he wants a fourth year."
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News profiles Jesus Montero, the 19-year-old who could succeed Jorge Posada if he fares well as a catcher.
- MLB.com’s Corey Brock reports that Tigers’ pitching prospect Rick Porcello isn’t changing his approach as he approaches the majors.
- AZSnakePit.com interviewed D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes about pitching, defensive metrics and the June draft.
- Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Chase Utley looks healthy in Clearwater.
- The Astros hope Miguel Tejada starts the season as their shortstop, according to Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle. Astros GM Ed Wade is apparently "committed to Tejada."