Alberto Callaspo Drawing Interest
It was revealed this morning in the Arizona Republic that one of the Diamondbacks’ most asked-about players recently has been infielder Alberto Callaspo. Callaspo is set to back up at second, short, and third this year for the big club. Josh Byrnes stole him a year ago for a mere Jason Bulger.
Callaspo is notoriously hard to strike out – he whiffed in only 6% of his ABs in Triple A last year en route to a .337 average. His Major League equivalent came to .280/.337/.395 in 2006, so yes, he could start for many teams. Baseball America doesn’t go in-depth about his defense, saying just that he can "play anywhere on the field." They liked him enough to rate him the 82nd best prospect in the game and fourth best D’Back.
A quick aside to take a fantasy point of view – without power or stolen bases, Callaspo’s value will be limited to his batting average and runs scored. Those in keeper leagues can take note. He’ll probably get those runs as someone’s #2 hitter one day.
Callaspo was careful when asked if he’d welcome a trade to become a full-timer. The Diamondbacks will probably make every effort to keep him; his development may make Orlando Hudson expendable.
Alex Rodriguez And The Cubs
UPDATE: In a related story, Jon Heyman of SI.com lists a slew of teams that inquired about Rodriguez’s availability this winter: the Angels, Dodgers, White Sox, Cubs, Giants, Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Indians. Heyman says the White Sox and Dodgers were the most persistent. None of the offers went anywhere given Rodriguez’s unwillingness to waive his no-trade clause.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News has an imposing mustache as well as some insight into Alex Rodriguez‘s next possible destination. The article involves Lou Piniella in his underwear as well as a lot of crying and one tender kiss. I found it touching.
Anyway, Raissman believes, based on an upcoming HBO interview with Rodriguez, that a reunion with Lou Piniella in Chicago would be a dream come true for him. Rodriguez responded to the idea thusly:
"He’s on a different team in a different league. My memories of Lou are in the present and the past, not the future."
This is not the first time Rodriguez has been connected to the Cubs. Last July, later confirmed by other sources, Bleed Cubbie Blue broke news of the team’s trading deadline interest.
I would imagine that Rodriguez would not play shortstop for the Cubs for the duration of his 5+ year contract. More likely to me: A-Rod plays shortstop for three seasons, through 2010. At that point, Derrek Lee‘s contract will be up and Aramis Ramirez might be ready to shift to first base. Ramirez is a Cub through 2011 or 2012.
Tim’s take – Chance of Alex Rodriguez signing with the Cubs in the ’07-’08 offseason: 15%.
Doug Davis Gets Three-Year Deal
Instead of battling Doug Davis at an arbitration hearing, the Diamondbacks decided to sign him through 2009 for $22MM. The deal buys out his first two years of free agency; there’s one off the board for the ’08 class. While Davis would have earned several million more had he waited until November, the certainty is valuable.
The 31 year-old southpaw is a durable 200 inning guy with a strong strikeout rate but shaky control. He, Randy Johnson and Brandon Webb are locked down for Arizona’s 2008 rotation.
Pirates Still Chasing LaRoche, Tracy
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tells us that Pirate GM Dave Littlefield is under pressure to acquire a power bat before the season begins. The two main targets are still Adam LaRoche and Chad Tracy, but will Littlefield include a second Major Leaguer along with Mike Gonzalez? And if Kovacevic’s report of Littlefield’s mandate is true, isn’t that leak detrimental to the GM’s efforts?
The Bucs still refuse to include Chris Duffy or Paul Maholm in a two-for-one deal. Kovacevic speculates that another reliever might represent a compromise; if the Pirates need to include Salomon Torres they should do it. While it would decimate the bullpen it still makes sense to trade relievers for sluggers.
The article also mentions that trading for Ryan Church or signing Trot Nixon wouldn’t fulfill the team’s goal and seems unlikely. Options such as Geoff Jenkins or Jacque Jones could be pursued, however.
Johnson Agrees To Extension
According to the Associated Press, Randy Johnson agreed to a two-year, $26MM deal with the Diamondbacks. This complex, drawn out trade will probably be finalized Tuesday.
Josh Byrnes has come up with a couple of solid southpaws in Johnson and Doug Davis to bolster his 2007-08 rotations. Coupled with the acquisitions of Chris Young, Orlando Hudson, Alberto Callaspo and Juan Cruz, I’d say Byrnes is doing quite well. Additionally, the D’Backs signed Brandon Webb to a long-term deal a year ago, before he won the Cy Young. They have Webb at a good price through 2010; he would’ve reached free agency after 2008.
The Johnson acquisition will create a fierce spring training competition for Arizona’s fifth starter job this year. Juan Cruz, Dana Eveland, Edgar Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, and Dustin Nippert will fight for the vacancy. That group of fifth starter candidates could outpitch some teams’ rotations (ahem, Washington).
Randy Johnson Trade Complete
MetsBlog quotes a radio report heard on WFAN from Sweeny Murti: the Yankees traded Randy Johnson to the Diamondbacks for Luis Vizcaino, Steven Jackson, Ross Ohlendorf, and Alberto Gonzalez.
UPDATE: ESPN reports that the Yankees will pay between $1.5MM and $2MM of Johnson’s ’06 salary. Additionally, the D’Backs were granted a 72 hour window for negotation with Johnson starting at 3pm CST today.
Some info on the three prospects:
Jackson is a right-handed starter who will turn 25 in March. He posted a 2.65 ERA and 2.78 K/BB in Double A in 2006. According to Scout.com, the former college pitcher is a power guy with a "devastating slider."
Ohlendorf is a 24 year-old right-handed starter. Like Jackson, he pitched in college and made the jump from Low A South Bend to Double A. He posted a 3.29 ERA and 4.3 K/BB at that level. His changeup may have been a key to making the Southern League All-Star game this year.
Gonzalez is not our attorney general, but rather a Venezuelan shortstop. He turns 24 in April and may have been the best defensive shortstop in Arizona’s system. He hit .290/.356/.392 in Double A in 2006.
Latest On Unit Trade
Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports that the Randy Johnson trade is "all but finalized." He says Johnson has agreed to the one-year extension and only minor differences remain.
The deal still might take another two or three days to complete. Arizona still needs to review Johnson’s physical. Reliever Luis Vizcaino will definitely be included, but the teams have not agreed on a young pitcher.
The North County Times reported on Tuesday that the Padres were trying to slip in with an offer including Scott Linebrink. Today the Newark Star-Ledger found a source that indicated San Diego could still be in the mix.
Latest On Randy Johnson
The New York Times reports that as of Tuesday night the Diamondbacks have not yet been granted a 72-hour window to negotiate with Randy Johnson, though Peter Abraham reported yesterday that Arizona requested it.
The New York Post doesn’t have new information, indicating that dialogue continues over the financial details. Newsday says Johnson’s agents are now in the loop and the odds of a deal are good. Finally, USA Today expects the deal completed by the end of the week.
UPDATE: Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees will not grant the D’Backs a 72-hour window to talk contract with Johnson. It won’t kill the deal however.
Unit Trade Still On Hold Over Money
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post writes that while Randy Johnson, the Diamondbacks, and the Yankees all want to make this trade work, they’ve yet to agree upon how much Johnson will make for 2007-08 and how it will be paid. Ed Price at the Newark Star-Ledger agrees – negotiations continue but the dollars are still the issue.
Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune chips in to mention that the teams have not entered the formal 72-hour negotiating window and offering Johnson partial ownership of the team is not under consideration. He adds that the D’Backs still have to review Johnson’s medical records, as is the custom in any trade. Johnson’s back surgery is not expected to hold up the deal.
UPDATE: Peter Abraham of the Journal News reports that the D’Backs have now requested the 72-hour window and it could be granted today.
John Gambadoro of the Arizona Republic has a source indicating that the Yankees want two of Micah Owings, Ross Ohlendorf, and Dana Eveland. Earlier we’d been hearing Dustin Nippert mentioned and not Eveland. Gambadoro confirms the involvement of Brandon Medders but indicates an unknown infield prospect could be included – another new rumor.
I have to respectfully disagree with a few of the points made in Gambadoro’s column. Gambadoro’s main argument seems to be that Arizona shouldn’t trade Micah Owings because he went 10-0 at Triple A despite admittedly mediocre stuff. While Owings is a mildly interesting prospect, his record shouldn’t be a factor here. You’d be surprised who can go 10-0 when Lady Luck comes calling.
Additionally, labeling the Unit a "five to six inning pitcher" is a stretch given that Johnson averaged 6.21 innings per start in 2006. While that’s a significant drop from 6.64 per start in ’05, it still ranked 21st in the AL. Not to mention above Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte.
Unit Trade Not Done Yet
There have been a handful of reports that the Randy Johnson trade is complete. However, the New York Daily News reports that the deal has hit a snag over money.
The Diamondbacks want the Yanks to kick in some cash, and they also want some of the deferred money they already owe Johnson to be factored into the extension. So there’s still some financial ground to cover. Jon Heyman of SI.com indicates that Johnson wants a one-year, $12MM extension.
The general structure of the deal seems in place – two or three of Dustin Nippert, Micah Owings, Ross Ohlendorf, and Brandon Medders. However, it appears the the Padres could still sneak in.
The New York Post believes that Brian Cashman may be stockpiling prospects with a future trade for Johan Santana or Dontrelle Willis in mind. That paper also mentions that the Diamondbacks are only offering minor leaguers for Johnson.