Rosenthal’s Full Count: Bonds, Webb, Hanley
Let’s hit up Ken Rosenthal’s latest Full Count video:
- Rosenthal thinks the Tigers should sign Barry Bonds. Sure, Detroit already has too many DHs, and Bonds wouldn’t help their need for improved defense and speed, but they absolutely need another lefthanded bat. Rosenthal points out that the team is 11-20 in games started by RHP. As for the fear of a clubhouse problem, Gary Sheffield – who has feuded with Bonds in the past – has no problem and I would presume that the other players, particularly veterans, on the Tigers would echo that sentiment.
- The 3-year contract extension for Brandon Webb does not have "a lot of momentum." Like Jake Peavy last year, Webb is looking for around 3 years, 52 million despite being 2 years older than Peavy.
- KR loves the Hanley deal. It keeps them from having to deal another player before his contract becomes too expensive and that there shouldn’t be any concern for Hanley’s production to drop off.
By Nat Boyle
Odds And Ends: Benitez, David Wells, Delgado
And for my first trick: My very first Odds and Ends.
- The Toronto Star’s aptly named Blue Jays blog reports the team placed Vernon Wells on the 15-day DL, and they expect him to be out six to eight weeks after fracturing his left wrist during Friday night’s game. The Jay’s also placed reliever Jeremy Accardo on the 15-day DL with a strained right forearm. As replacements, the Jays will call up infielder Joe Inglett and veteran hurler Armando Benitez. With Wells out, do the Jays re-enter the Barry Bonds speculation market?
- David Wells in Pinstripes? No deal says Joe Girardi. Wells did look comfy during a recent appearance on the not-aptly-called Best Damn Sports Show Period.
- Mets manager Willie Randolph had penciled slugger Carlos Delgado in the seventh spot before Friday’s game against the Reds (postponed due to rain), marking the lowest spot he’s been slotted at in 12 years. Delgado didn’t see it as a demotion, but still, in light of the recent talk about his release, it raises eyebrows. For the record, Delgado is 6-20 in the last six games, with two doubles, a home run, and four RBI.
When not being a bitter nostalgic journalist, Alejandro Leal writes for UmpBump.com
Odds and Ends: Bay, Roberts, Cliff Lee
And here we have some random links I’ve collected over the past day or so.
- The Bucs will try to fill their open 40-man spots through low profile moves, not unlike the Jason Michaels one. They won’t move Jason Bay or Xavier Nady until they’re truly out of it. 4.5 games out of the wild card, they still have a prayer here on May 9th.
- Keith Law’s top 60 prospects list for the June draft has been published. Shortstop Tim Beckham heads the list.
- Gordon Wittenmyer looks back on the Cubs players rumored to be traded for Brian Roberts.
- Juan Uribe, partially on the strength of a great takeout slide, still has life with the White Sox.
- Nick Piecoro reminds us that the D’Backs were close to acquiring Cliff Lee in a deal for Carlos Quentin this winter. That would just be unfair, Lee as a part of that rotation. Ken Davidoff notes that the Mets discussed Lee as well.
- So…did the Yankees really have a shot at Micah Owings in the Randy Johnson deal?
Webb, Haren Extensions Possible
FRIDAY: SI.com’s Jon Heyman expects the D’Backs to attempt an extension with Dan Haren once they complete Webb’s. Heyman says Haren "won’t get Webb money, but he’ll get a significant raise on a deal that will likely be another Desert Discount."
THURSDAY: When you have one of the top three pitchers in baseball, you’ve got to lock him down. Especially if you’re the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team rife with young talent that could keep the team successful for years to come. The team has been talking with ace Brandon Webb about an extension to his deal, which essentially runs through 2010. They’re not quite there yet, but things are looking positive.
"Yeah, some progress has been made," Webb said. "We’ve been talking a little bit more. We’ve made some headway. We’ll see where it goes."
Webb, who has won the Cy Young and finished second in voting in the past two years, is set to earn $5.5MM this year and $6.5MM in 2009, with a 2010 team option for $8.5MM which, barring injury, will surely be exercised. As far as I can tell, 2010 represents the first year he would be eligible for free agency — he had 4.158 years of service time after the 2007 season (four years, 158 days).
Word is that the D’Backs are looking to add at least three years to that deal. At what price, though? AZ Central notes two excellent deals for comparison: Johan Santana‘s $22MM salary, and Jake Peavy‘s $17.3MM take home pay. My guess is that a deal would be geared more towards the latter.
The D’Backs tried to get a deal done early last off-season, but were rebuffed by Webb. I would guess, then, that the team is ready to fork over the dollars at this point. Webb is off to another superb start, sitting on a 7-0 record with a 2.49 ERA.
Posted by Joe Pawlikowski, who writes for River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Hudson, Turnbow, Laird, Kershaw
Rumorland Ambassador Ken Rosenthal has posted yet another Full Count video. Let’s get sifting:
- Rosenthal thinks Orlando Hudson could be shown the money this offseason if he opts to explore free agency. Hudson most likely won’t be offered market value by the Dbacks. Rosenthal posits the Orioles, Cards, Dodgers, and Mariners as potential buyers.
- 4 unnamed teams are interested in Derrick Turnbow, who is making $3.2MM this year. According to KR, the Brewers would need to throw money in a deal or get a comparable salary in return – as the saying goes, you trade contracts, not players. Turnbow needs a fresh start and middle relief is always in demand; however, a lot of teams have better internal options and could see Turnbow as a project for better or worse.
- Gerald Laird update: Reds, Yankees, and Brewers all passed. But Rosenthal still expects Laird to end up somewhere and notes that whoever gets him has him through 2010.
- The Dodgers are planning on "integrating" Clayton Kershaw soon to throw a limit of 150 IP; however this doesn’t (yet) make Esteban Loaiza expendable as they would alternate the two in the rotation, Kershaw starting twice, and then Loaiza twice, and so on. I say "(yet)" because Rosenthal doesn’t mention that the rotation will get crowded if/when Jason Schmidt returns in early June. I would expect they’ll explore options, but be content using Loaiza out of the bullpen. By the way, Kershaw has a 1.40 ERA with 31 K in 25.2 IP for Double-A Jacksonville.
By Nat Boyle
Orlando Hudson Denies $15MM Asking Price
On April 9th, Jack Macgruder of the East Valley Tribune said that D’Backs second baseman Orlando Hudson seeks $15MM per year for his next contract. That would suggest he is in Chase Utley‘s class.
MLB.com’s Barry Bloom inquired with Hudson on this topic today but didn’t get much out of him. Hudson did tell Bloom that Macgruder’s report was false, though. Hudson also made a point to say that he’d love to stay in Arizona.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Krivsky, Scherzer, Edwin Jackson
Ken Rosenthal has a new column up; let’s take a look.
- Rosenthal gives a good refresher on July trade candidates; pretty much the names you’d expect.
- Reasons for Wayne Krivsky’s firing are discussed. By the way check out John Fay’s blog for some candid final comments from Krivsky. One interesting note is that he had no extension talks with Adam Dunn.
- The D’Backs could use Max Scherzer to strengthen their bullpen, or they could shop Chad Tracy for a reliever.
- Rosenthal wonders whether the Nationals might consider the under-30 segment of the next free agent class.
- Plenty of teams continue to express interest in the Rays’ Edwin Jackson. Something has to give in their rotation when Scott Kazmir returns, but demoting Andy Sonnanstine to the pen would solve the logjam.
Odds and Ends: Chat, Krivsky, Valverde
Let’s discuss today’s random links.
- We’ll be doing a chat here at 2pm CST, don’t miss it!
- Jon Heyman suggests that the number of unqualified GMs is dwindling. He names seven whose jobs may be in jeopardy.
- Wayne Krivsky cleared the air on various issues, including the signings of Dusty Baker, Josh Fogg, and Corey Patterson.
- Jose Valverde denies the notion that he made outlandish salary demands of the D’Backs.
- Good news on Jorge Posada‘s shoulder; maybe the Yanks won’t have to acquire a catcher.
Tracy Could Be Trade Fodder For D’Backs
It looks like Diamondbacks 3B/1B Chad Tracy is close to returning from knee problems that have limited him to just one at bat since August 12 of last year. KFFL reported that he would work out in extended spring training starting this past Wednesday, and was slated for game action last night. Well, he’s been working out, but has yet to play in an extended spring training game.
When Tracy does return, which should be in a few weeks, it looks like he’ll be sitting the bench. The Diamondbacks have scored an MLB-leading 139 runs this year, so substituting Tracy for either Mark Reynolds or Conor Jackson — who are both murdering the ball — seems highly unlikely. While Tracy would provide a late-innings threat off the bench, as well as a capable backup who could spell both Reynolds and Jackson during slumps, he might provide more value in a trade.
Looking at the D’Backs roster, it seems — as is the case with many teams — that the bullpen is their weakest aspect. The good news is that it’s still early, and they have time to figure out if they need an upgrade. If they do, Tracy would be a decent candidate to acquire one. He’s owed $3.75MM this year and $4.75MM in 2009, with a $7MM club option ($1MM buyout) for 2010.
The Twins are the first team that come to mind. He’d be an upgrade over Mike Lamb, and they could spare an arm. While Tracy likely wouldn’t help them contend this year, he could be part of the plan for 2009. The A’s could be in, since Jack Hannahan hasn’t been cutting it lately (and who knows with Eric Chavez). Houston could use an upgrade from Geoff Blum.
In any case, Arizona is in the driver’s seat. Tracy is relatively young, cheap, and a league-average hitter. If they can’t find what they want in a trade, he’d still be valuable coming off the bench.
Posted by Joe Pawlikowski, who writes for River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog.
Stark’s Latest: Oswalt, Tejada, Upton, Burrell
Check out the latest column from ESPN’s Jayson Stark.
- Stark talked to one exec who believed the Astros’ baseball people might consider a Roy Oswalt trade, but owner Drayton McLane never would.
- The exec also questioned whether the Astros would’ve given up a bounty of five players to acquire Miguel Tejada if they’d known the player’s true age.
- Stark implies that the Upton brothers are eyeing big bucks and aren’t likely to sign extensions.
- Stark’s sources believe the Phillies will offer Pat Burrell something like two years and $14MM. He’ll probably want significantly more than that.