Odds and Ends: Twins, Big Unit, Rockies
Links and tidbits for Wednesday. Remember to check back on this post for updates!
- Dave Cameron notes that the Elias rankings screwed over Damaso Marte by making him a Type A. See also: Doug Brocail, Bob Howry, Darren Oliver.
- Remember to check out the Previous Entries link at the bottom of the website, as stories get buried pretty quickly in times like these.
- Japanese outfielder Saburo Ohmura (link in Japanese) would be fine with a minor league deal.
- Roch Kubatko has info on what it might take to trade for Khalil Greene or Jack Wilson.
- Pirates president Frank Coonelly confirmed the team’s interest in Junichi Tazawa. For what it’s worth, Coonelly wouldn’t rule out Derek Lowe when asked.
- Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times offers his thoughts on the rumor mill.
- Official Elias rankings for the AL and NL.
- Ballplayers are in for a tax bump under the Obama administration. They’ll manage.
- The Twins are looking for righthanded pop.
- The D’Backs have just $3-5MM budgeted for Randy Johnson.
- The Hanshin Tigers are eyeing Nelson Cruz, Kevin Mench, and Jose Bautista. Only Mench is a free agent of the three.
- The Rockies are looking for a lefty reliever, according to Troy Renck and Keith Law. How about Jeremy Affeldt again?
- Brewers GM Doug Melvin doesn’t like his C.C. Sabathia offer being called window dressing.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Tex, Furcal, Johnson, Lofton
Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- If they are to sign Mark Teixeira, the Angels would like to do it quickly. However, it’s Scott Boras’ custom to let the market develop until late December or so. It’s possible the Angels change gears on November 14th. There are other big names to pursue, though none fit as perfectly as Tex.
- Rosenthal’s worst case scenario for the Yankees: C.C. Sabathia goes to a West Coast team while A.J. Burnett re-signs with Toronto. The Jays truly are in the mix for Burnett. ESPN’s Keith Law says Burnett expects to receive multiple five-year offers.
- The Orioles plan to make serious offers to Teixeira and Burnett. Still, both are considered long shots for Baltimore. Another note: the Orioles were one of the teams the Yankees outbid for Sergio Mitre.
- The Dodgers are considered "a good bet" to re-sign Rafael Furcal. The Giants have their eye on him if he hits the open market.
- About ten teams have inquired on Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson. We had a Cardinals rumor yesterday.
- The Rangers figure to trade one or two of their catchers, with Gerald Laird a strong candidate to be traded. The Red Sox and Marlins are looking for catching, though the Rangers are wary of Florida’s Scott Olsen.
- Rosenthal wonders if Brandon Webb could leave the D’Backs after the 2010 season.
- Kenny Lofton wants to play in 2009.
Lyon Open To Eighth Inning Role
MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert talked to Brandon Lyon‘s agent Barry Meister, who said his client would be open to closing or an eighth inning role. Lyon would be thrilled to return to the D’Backs, but they don’t figure to match a multiyear offer. More likely, they offer arbitration but let him leave.
Lyon, 29, posted a 4.70 ERA in 59.1 innings this year. His command was strong, possibly indicating better times ahead.
D’Backs Looking At Second Base Options
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic talked to Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes, who says the team will explore second base options rather than move Mark Reynolds from third base.
One option is Ramon Vazquez, whose agent has spoken with the D’Backs. Vazquez seeks a two-year deal. The 32 year-old hit .290/.365/.430 in 347 plate appearances, but struggled against lefties. He’s played mostly third base in recent years.
D’Backs Rumors: Hudson, Dunn, Johnson, Rauch
8:19pm: According to the AP, the D’Backs exercised Rauch’s $2.9MM option for 2010. He’ll earn $2MM in ’09.
9:49am: Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has the latest D’Backs hot stove chatter, here and here.
- The D’Backs figure to have nine draft picks in the first 75 or so next year. They will probably offer arbitration to Orlando Hudson, Adam Dunn, Juan Cruz, and Brandon Lyon, and see all of them decline to sign elsewhere. They could end up spending $8-12MM on next year’s draft, but at least the farm system will be restocked.
- Team CEO Jeff Moorad says he inquired on Hudson’s contract demands and received no response. The D’Backs have $10-15MM to spend and probably cannot afford him.
- Moorad admitted that they will not look to sign Dunn.
- The D’Backs want to bring Randy Johnson back, but only at a discount. If Johnson wants to be paid what he’s worth he’ll hit the open market.
- Jon Rauch‘s 2010 option decision is due by Monday. The option is for $2.9MM, but the D’Backs could decline it and go to arbitration with him that year.
- Piecoro does not expect the D’Backs to be in on Japanese free agent starter Kenshin Kawakami.
Odds and Ends: Yankees, Lowe, D’Backs
Links for Thursday…
- Peter Abraham takes a look at the Yankees’ first base options. The Royals could match up on a trade, if the Yanks are willing to try an unproven player.
- A pair of free agent bargains from Dave Cameron: Randy Johnson and Derek Lowe. What kind of salary will Lowe command?
- Free agent reliever Will Ohman hopes to remain in Atlanta.
- Braves GM Frank Wren has already talked to every team about his needs in left field and the rotation.
- Nick Piecoro looks at the D’Backs’ offseason needs. Will there be room in the budget to make the necessary improvements?
- The A’s have five days to decide on Alan Embree‘s $3MM option, according to Susan Slusser. Embree profiles as a Type B free agent.
- The Padres have ten days to decide between Brian Giles‘ $9MM option and his $3MM buyout. It’s an easy call to exercise the option.
Heyman’s Latest: Manny, Holliday, Peavy
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new rumor-packed article up.
- Heyman suggests the battle for the three elite free agents – Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and C.C. Sabathia – will mostly be fought by the New York and Los Angeles clubs. Heyman talked to one GM who believes the country’s economic situation will not affect the big names but could be bad for the lower-tier guys.
- Heyman’s potential Manny suitors: the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles, and Phillies. The Phillies’ interest will depend on whether Pat Burrell stays. I’m not sure why the Orioles would be in the mix.
- The Rockies are "very likely" to trade Matt Holliday. The Rox would be willing to sign Holliday for five years and $100MM, but that won’t cut it. The team’s focus in a trade will be a young starter. Heyman echoes a Ken Rosenthal thought from a few months ago: surprising small-market teams may enter the Holliday bidding.
- Heyman has the Mets, Rangers, and Indians as teams looking at Brian Fuentes. The Mets are the favorite to sign him in the three-year, $36MM range.
- Jake Peavy has already turned down one American League team. Heyman believes hes particularly opposed to the Rangers and has mixed feelings about the Yankees. Peavy is reeling from the Padres’ decision to shop him.
- Heyman has unkind words for Luis Gonzalez, who may not be welcomed back to the D’Backs based on his "uneasy relationship" with Stephen Drew and Chris Young.
- Heyman does not think MLB has any evidence against Nationals GM Jim Bowden in the scout skimming scandal.
- Heyman gives Ruben Amaro a slight edge over Mike Arbuckle to replace Pat Gillick as Phillies GM.
- George W. Bush as baseball’s next commissioner? "Many have long believed" that Bush would like to be Bud Selig’s successor.
Odds and Ends: Schilling, Manny, Mateo
Links for Thursday…
- If Curt Schilling does a half-season next year, he apparently will not model it after Roger Clemens‘ approach.
- Drunk Jays Fans discusses Ken Rosenthal’s recent chat with J.P. Ricciardi.
- Richard Justice says some GMs complained privately that Ed Wade didn’t do a good job letting teams know Brad Lidge was available last year.
- The Adam Dunn trade pushed the D’Backs a little over budget. They don’t have much to spend this winter. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic elaborates on the topic.
- Dave Cameron looks at some free agent landmines, led by Manny Ramirez.
- The Giants voided their $625K contract with Dominican righty Luis Mateo after finding bone chips in his elbow.
Luis Gonzalez Wants To Return To D’Backs
According to Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic, Luis Gonzalez wants to finish his career with the Diamondbacks. Money is not an issue for him. If the D’Backs can add Gonzo for $1MM or so, why not?
Gonzalez, 41, hit .261/.336/.413 in 387 plate appearances this year. He allowed 11 more bases than the average left fielder in his 503.2 innings there, according to the plus/minus system.
Odds and Ends: Dice-K, Varitek, Rolen
Links for Monday…
- Tim Brown and Peter Abraham offer their takes on the top free agents.
- A note from Abraham – if Daisuke Matsuzaka finishes top three in the AL Cy Young vote, he’ll get an extra $2MM in each of the ’09 and ’10 seasons.
- The Mariners could hire their new GM as soon as tomorrow. Geoff Baker discussed the merits of the four candidates in two recent posts.
- Jason Varitek was mum on his future last night.
- Joe Frisaro has the Marlins’ 2009 payroll in the $30-35MM range. They have 15 arbitration-eligible players.
- I came across an interesting note about B.J. Upton. Back in 2004, Devil Rays GM Chuck LaMar wanted to sign Upton to an unprecedented eight or nine-year contract before he reached the Majors. The new Rays regime eventually succeeded with a similar deal for Evan Longoria.
- The Diamondbacks signed a Korean high school catcher named Kim Jae-yoon for $150K.
- Jordan Bastian would be stunned if Scott Rolen exercises his right to opt out of his contract or demand a trade.
- T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers are not in the running for C.C. Sabathia.
- SI.com’s Jon Heyman looks at how the Phillies were built.