Rosenthal’s Latest: Roberts, Horacio, Willits
Rumor guru and baseball insider Ken Rosenthal has a new column at FOX Sports. Let’s discuss.
- Rosenthal does not see the Cubs taking on the salaries of both Brian Roberts and Coco Crisp, even if they shed their Jason Marquis commitment. Roberts remains the focus.
- Horacio Ramirez‘s agent says seven clubs have already expressed interest in his client. Perhaps he meant to say 0.7.
- Rosenthal runs through many Rocco Baldelli replacement options for the Rays: Reggie Willits, Kenny Lofton, Gabe Gross, and Reed Johnson. Only Willits seems the perfect fit, and the Angels aren’t making him available. Willits and his .393 career OBP could be headed to Triple A.
- The Phillies are looking for middle relief help; Rosenthal suggests a possible match with Arizona. Or, how ’bout signing Bob Wickman? Is he officially retired?
Odds and Ends: Garland, Linden, A-Rod
Time to round up various tidbits and rumors.
- Jon Garland says that unless his agent kept him in the dark, a long-term deal was never discussed with the White Sox. But in the unlikely event the Sox pursue Garland this winter, he’ll listen. Here’s a look others who will be free agents after this season and under 30 years old for ’09.
- We’ve heard the Brandon Inge/Joe Crede rumors regarding the Dodgers. Tony Jackson speculates that Wes Helms or Jeff Cirillo could also be options.
- Paul Sullivan says Aaron Rowand was the Cubs’ Plan B to Kosuke Fukudome.
- ShysterBall can’t figure out why the Cubs would go after Coco Crisp.
- Todd Linden is mashing so far this spring, but he gets the feeling he won’t make the A’s. The 27 year-old switch-hitter has a Major League line of .231/.303/.335 in 502 ABs.
- Jon Heyman has an inside look at Alex Rodriguez‘s offseason adventure.
- In addition to the aforementioned Brandon Medders and Dustin Nippert, Arizona’s Edgar Gonzalez is out of options and has drawn interest.
Medders Or Nippert Could Be Traded
The D’Backs have two fellas on our Out of Options list – pitchers Brandon Medders and Dustin Nippert. In the eyes of Nick Piecoro, there’s a decent chance the D’Backs trade one of ’em.
Nippert turns 27 in May. A TJ survivor, Baseball America wrote in their ’07 handbook that the tall righty has "top-of-the-rotation stuff." He could be a prize for a rebuilding team that could afford to keep him in the Majors all year. He’s yet to have much big league success.
Medders has a nice 3.36 career ERA in 131 innings of relief, but his K/BB has deteriorated over the years. The 28 year-old missed most of ’04 with labrum surgery, according to BA. They say he’s deceptive and possesses a decent sinking fastball and cutter.
Both these guys are interesting, with Nippert the upside choice. If the D’Backs do deal one of them I’m guessing it could be for a prospect or two.
Odds and Ends: Johnson, Ponson, Nady
Ever lose a contact in the bathroom and scour for it for hours? That was my morning. Good times. On to the links.
- Friend of MLBTR Susan Slusser notes that the Giants had two scouts watching the A’s on Wednesday. One guy they might have been eyeing is first baseman Dan Johnson. It seems that Johnson, who is out of options, may be able to linger around on the A’s roster until at least mid-April given the expanded rosters for the Japan series. And since Slusser’s article we’ve learned that Daric Barton‘s hand injury is more serious than initially thought. That could buy Johnson even more time if the A’s aren’t ready to trade him.
- The Cardinals, Mariners, Royals, and Diamondbacks, Astros, and Rangers were among teams with scouts watching Sidney Ponson touch 94mph today. He’s stopped drinking and lost some weight; who knows, maybe he can help an NL club.
- Peter Abraham views Joba Chamberlain‘s recent comments with a little skepticism.
- MLB.com’s Marty Noble calls a Mets trade for Xavier Nady "quite unlikely," though an anonymous Mets player likes the idea.
Odds and Ends: Fields, Garcia, Bonds
Welcome to today’s roundup…
- Josh Byrnes would never give a pitcher eight years, just so you know (hat tip AZ Snakepit).
- South Side Sox explains how Josh Fields was posturing in not signing his contract. Unrelated interesting fact – Fields seemed headed to Florida in a Miguel Cabrera for a split-second in December.
- Bobby Jenks‘ salary is set to skyrocket next year, as he becomes arbitration-eligible.
- Freddy Garcia‘s agent talks about the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox for his client. Garcia is targeting a June or July return.
- DRays Bay’s free season preview guide is now available. Speaking of the Rays, owner Stuart Sternberg may be willing to spend some money for midseason acquisitions if need be. And he "sounded as if he were open" to the idea of signing Barry Bonds, according to Marc Topkin.
Shawn Green Retires
According to Mark Hale of the New York Post, outfielder Shawn Green has decided to retire. He had interest from a half-dozen clubs, but apparently nothing close enough to his California home. Green retires at 35 with about $100MM earned in his career. That’d be kind of nice, wouldn’t it?
Green finishes with a line of .283/.355/.494 and 328 home runs. He topped 40 HR in three different seasons.
Odds and Ends: Spiezio, Pavano, Gross, Jackson
Links, rumors…
- Scott Spiezio is in trouble with the law, and the Cardinals decided to release him for it. Joe Ostermeier notes that the Cards now have about $20MM in dead money on the payroll for ’08.
- Evan Grant believes the Rangers would want Jose Ceda or Donald Veal in a deal for Marlon Byrd.
- Call it informed speculation, but Mike Berardino wonders whether Carl Pavano could end up back with the Marlins eventually.
- Ken Rosenthal recently wrote that the Padres were eyeing Gabe Gross. Tom Haudricourt found out that Kevin Towers never inquired on the Brewers outfielder, but that doesn’t mean the Friars weren’t eyeing him.
- Ken Davidoff makes a case for why the Astros should sign Roger Clemens.
- Sadly, the Rockies pulled the plug on a deal with Neifi Perez at the last minute.
- We hear "best shape of his life" often in Spring Training, but not with the newly signed Bartolo Colon. The Red Sox have some history pursuing Colon, as noted by Rob Bradford.
- Conor Jackson switched agents.
Orlando Hudson Heads Into Contract Year
Second baseman Orlando Hudson is set to reach free agency after the 2008 season, with Mark Ellis as the strongest alternative in his class. Hudson will be 31 for the ’09 season and figures to get a deal averaging at least $7MM. Baseball Prospectus’ numbers say a fair value four-year pact would be around $25MM. But Hudson is significantly better than Luis Castillo, who recently received that deal from the Mets. Hudson should easily pass $30MM on a four-year deal.
Perhaps only Aaron Hill can rival Hudson’s second base defense. Hudson is no slouch with the bat either, though his splits show a large boost from Chase Field. He’s still not an easy player to replace. The D’Backs can afford Hudson, but their willingness to pony up the cash for him is unknown. For his part, Hudson says he wants to finish his career in Arizona.
D’Backs Extend Josh Byrnes Through 2015
Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes doesn’t have to worry about making moves with his job hanging in the balance. Arizona extended Byrnes and President Derrick Hall through 2015 today.
My Trade Profile of Byrnes was created in April of ’07. At that point I considered him an excellent trade-maker. Since then he’s traded away Scott Hairston, Carlos Quentin, Emiliano Fruto, Alberto Callaspo, Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland, Greg Smith, Chris Carter, Aaron Cunningham, Carlos Gonzalez, and Jose Valverde. Coming into the organization: Leo Rosales, a couple of Chris Carters (one used in the Haren deal), Billy Buckner, Dan Haren, Connor Robertson, Juan Gutierrez, Chris Burke, and Chad Qualls. It’s been a fine offseason – I loved the Buckner and Haren deals for Arizona.
D’Backs Extend Josh Byrnes Through 2015
Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes doesn’t have to worry about making moves with his job hanging in the balance. Arizona extended Byrnes and President Derrick Hall through 2015 today.
My Trade Profile of Byrnes was created in April of ’07. At that point I considered him an excellent trade-maker. Since then he’s traded away Scott Hairston, Carlos Quentin, Emiliano Fruto, Alberto Callaspo, Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland, Greg Smith, Chris Carter, Aaron Cunningham, Carlos Gonzalez, and Jose Valverde. Coming into the organization: Leo Rosales, a couple of Chris Carters (one used in the Haren deal), Billy Buckner, Dan Haren, Connor Robertson, Juan Gutierrez, Chris Burke, and Chad Qualls. It’s been a fine offseason – I loved the Buckner and Haren deals for Arizona.