Heyman’s Latest: Lofton, Owings, Sabathia
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up.
- Heyman and Buster Olney both believe the Cubs should sign free agent Kenny Lofton to help fill in for Alfonso Soriano. However, Olney noted that the Cubs don’t seem interested.
- Apparently the Yanks pushed hard to get Micah Owings in the Randy Johnson deal a few years ago. Ross Ohlendorf still looks interesting, at least.
- Heyman has heard whispers about C.C. Sabathia having arm problems but admits there’s no real evidence. Sabathia threw 256.3 innings last year (postseason included), an increase of almost 60 IP over 2007.
Upton In No Rush For New Deal
Could the Rays have started a new trend by locking up Evan Longoria after just 24 major league plate appearances? Probably not, though we have seen teams locking up players earlier and earlier. The Rockies secured Troy Tulowitzki for the next six years, with a $15MM option for a seventh. And the D’Backs decided they want Chris Young around through at least 2013.
The Diamondbacks have another player who stands to make some decent cash before he reaches free agency: Justin Upton. The youngest player in baseball is off to a scalding start after struggling in 152 plate appearances as a 19-year-old last year. He will be eligible for free agency after the 2013 season, and will enter the 2014 season at age 26.
Upton hasn’t been approached by the Diamondbacks about an extension, but he’s not sweating it. "I want to get through my first season," Upton said. "I’m not going to rush into anything." Indeed, it might be in his best financial interest to let this play out. Or, at least, take the Alex Rodriguez path and not sign a deal that takes him past his first year of free agency.
At 26 years old, Upton will be in high demand in the 2013-2014 offseason. In fact, with Miguel Cabrera locked up through 2015, at which time he’ll be entering his age-31 season, it stands to reason that Upton could be the next $200MM player. Then again, we said the same thing about Cabrera, and things didn’t quite turn out that way.
If Upton keeps up his hot hitting throughout the season, I wouldn’t expect him to sign any deal, options or not, that takes him past 2013, try as the Diamondbacks might.
Posted by Joe Pawlikowski.
Odds and Ends: Lugo, Murton, Scherzer
A handful of random links…
- Josh Kalk did a guest post at RotoAuthority, using PITCHf/x data to analyze C.C. Sabathia‘s early struggles.
- Nick Cafardo comments on Julio Lugo‘s unimpressive Red Sox career, noting that Jed Lowrie is nipping at his heels. Is there any chance the Sox consider guys like Orlando Cabrera or Rafael Furcal this winter?
- Christina Kahrl believes leaving Matt Murton in Triple A was the right move.
- White Sox beat reporter Joe Cowley explains that real baseball is different from fantasy baseball.
- The Scherzer Watch begins, especially for fantasy leaguers.
- Joe Sports Fan offers their list of the seven worst baseball contracts.
Orlando Hudson Wants $15MM Per Year?
Jack Macgruder of the East Valley Tribune reports a major gap between second baseman Orlando Hudson and D’Backs management. Macgruder says Hudson seeks something close to the $15MM per year Chase Utley received to cover his free agent seasons.
Hudson seems to be asking for too much, but maybe it’s just his starting point. Aaron Hill seems like a better comparable than Utley, and Hill has options for his free agent years at around $8MM. Brandon Phillips‘ free agent years were valued in the $11-12MM range; Ian Kinsler gets $7-10MM. It does seem that Hudson could crack a $10MM salary in free agency, but he won’t get Utley money.
Mark Ellis is probably Hudson’s main competition in the ’09 free agent market. Ellis could ask for a $6-7MM salary. Teams that might be looking to upgrade at second base after this season include the White Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Rockies.
D’Backs Acquire Jon Coutlangus
The Diamondbacks and Reds made a deal yesterday. The D’Backs received 27 year-old southpaw Jon Coutlangus in exchange for 23 year-old outfielder Daniel Perales.
Coutlangus has control issues, but the Reds used him for 41 innings last year. Lefties batted .231/.388/.277 off him. Baseball America liked Coutlangus in ’07, suggesting that the converted outfielder’s deception and cutter might be enough for him to shake off the lefty specialist tag. The D’Backs were lacking in left-handed relievers; the Reds had designated Coutlangus for assignment on Opening Day. They had more than enough lefties.
Perales isn’t much of a prospect, though FutureBacks.com draws a Reed Johnson comparison and had him in Arizona’s top 50 back in December.
D’Backs Sign Chris Young To Extension
TUESDAY: Young gets about $28MM over five years (2009-13). 2013 would’ve been his first year of free agent eligibility. There’s also a club option for 2014.
MONDAY, 2:22pm: Steve Gilbert says the six-year agreement has been reached and will be announced tomorrow. ESPN says it’s a five-year deal.
8:17am: According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks "appear to be closing in on a long-term contract" with 24 year-old center fielder Chris Young. It may be similar to but less than Troy Tulowitzki’s six-year, $30MM deal. Young has five seasons left under team control, including this one. Certainly Kenny Williams wishes he’d sent Brian Anderson to Arizona for Javier Vazquez instead, but the deal has still benefitted both clubs.
The only knock on Young in his near 30/30 rookie season was his .295 OBP. It seems that he will improve on that this year, perhaps drawing 70 walks and hopefully raising his batting average.
Olney’s Latest: Lidge, Shields, Eveland, Lahey
Here are some trade-rumor-tidbits from Buster Olney this morning:
- For the first time in his career, Scot Shields was activated from the DL and rookie pitcher Rich Thompson was sent down to Triple A. The Angels had hoped to keep the kid around but last friday’s 1 inning, 5-run meltdown assured his ticket out.
- A likely story: Dana Eveland is making Billy Beane look smart. He shut down the Indians for 7 innings yesterday, striking out 7. When Dan Haren was sent to Arizona for 6 prospects, Tim thought the Dbacks won and suggested Eveland could be a back of the rotation starter of the David Wells-variety as was the common consensus around the league. Eveland hadn’t shown anything at the major league level; however, it seems Eveland might be realizing his potential (413 minor league IP, 8.84 K/9). Then again, it’s been one start and Olney notes Jhonny Peralta just thinks Eveland got lucky. Time will tell, but Beane has a funny way of making time work in his favor.
- As Brad Lidge comes back, reliever Tim Lahey is designated for assignment to make room. Lahey’s path is a bit of a head-scratcher. He was selected by the Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft from the Twins before being claimed off waivers by the Phillies. He’s now back on waivers, and if he clears, he’ll have to be offered back to the Twins who apparently do want him back. So an imminent Twins/Phillies deal could be in the works.
By Nat Boyle
Rangers Acquire Dustin Nippert
Smart move by Jon Daniels tonight, as the Rangers acquired out of options pitcher Dustin Nippert from the Diamondbacks for minor league reliever Jose Marte.
Nippert, 27 in May, was said to have "top of the rotation stuff" by Baseball America in their ’07 handbook. The 6’7" TJ survivor throws in the mid-90s with a strong curve. He hasn’t had any big league success, but there’s upside here. The Rangers can afford to stash Nippert on the active roster and let him struggle in ’08; the D’Backs couldn’t.
I can’t tell you much beyond stats about Marte – he’s a 24 year-old relief prospect with huge strikeout rates. He struggled with his control as a High A ball closer last year. Better than nothing, which was Josh Byrnes’ alternative if he tried to pass Nippert through waivers.
MLB Investigating Salcedo’s Birthdate
Baseball America’s Ben Badler has the latest on 16 year-old Dominican shortstop Edward Salcedo. He says MLB is currently investigating Salcedo’s birthdate (not an uncommon practice). Scott Boras and Co. represent the kid, but they’re not talking. There were rumors he’d signed with the Tribe, but the Indians said two weeks ago that it wasn’t true. Badler adds that Salcedo rejected a $2.5MM offer from the Giants and the D’Backs may be interested. Badler also writes:
Adding to the intrigue is Major League Baseball’s recent firing of three investigators in the Dominican, including one who was working on Salcedo’s case.
MLB’s Latin operations manager says the firings are unrelated to the Salcedo case.
Waivers Possible For Nippert, Medders?
The Diamondbacks are facing too much of a good thing this spring, with five relievers competing for just one remaining spot in the bullpen.
Righthander Dustin Nippert was the frontrunner, but has stumbled in Spring Training. Strong performances by young throwers Billy Buckner, Juan Gutierrez, and Yusmeiro Petit have also complicated the situation, as each has made a strong case for his inclusion on the big-league roster. However, Nippert and fellow righty Brandon Medders have both been with the team for three years, and are out of minor league options. If the Diamondbacks leave them off the roster, they’ll hit the waiver wire.
One thought is that if Randy Johnson isn’t ready to go, his absence will leave a second slot open for a pitcher. However, that could still leave Medders and Nippert disappointed.
Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.com; she can be reached here.