Odds and Ends: Lowry, Kawakami, Lowe, Young
Links for Wednesday…
- Rany Jazayerli has withdrawn his support for Royals GM Dayton Moore.
- Chris Haft says that if Noah Lowry has a nice spring, perhaps the Giants should trade him rather than Jonathan Sanchez.
- Keith Law says Kenshin Kawakami should provide bulk innings for the Braves, while the risk with Derek Lowe is his age.
- La Velle E. Neal III doesn’t get the sense the Twins are interested in Michael Young.
- Jeff Wilson looks at the likely free agent options for the Rangers.
- Peter Abraham suggests the Yankees don’t have sufficient rotation depth without Andy Pettitte or a similar veteran addition.
- It was bound to happen sooner or later…a blog dedicated entirely to Scott Boras.
- The Reds are looking for power off the bench…Mark Sheldon has suggestions.
- A look at the Twins’ non-roster invitees.
- Geoff Baker says the Mariners screwed up with Jarrod Washburn.
Paul Byrd To Sit Out First Half
According to Ken Rosenthal, free agent starter Paul Byrd will sit out the first half of the season and then possibly join a contender. Byrd said he had "nice, competitive" offers to play all year but wants to spend more time with his family.
It’s uncertain whether Byrd will draw interest midseason, but I imagine he will. Remember how many teams were eyeing Freddy Garcia last year? The Braves, Rays, or Marlins woud be Byrd’s preference.
Braves Sign Derek Lowe
10:59pm: O’Brien adds that Lowe did not receive a no-trade clause.
9:43am: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves agreed to terms with Derek Lowe on a four-year, $60MM deal. For all the talk of the Braves’ failed offseason, they’ve added three quality starting pitchers. Even if Lowe wasn’t their first choice, he probably should’ve been. Ken Rosenthal says the Braves made their four-year offer to Lowe "on the condition that he accept the deal quickly."
Braves Sign Kenshin Kawakami
4:27pm: O’Brien says now it’s about $23MM over three years.
2:02pm: David O’Brien says Kawakami gets three years, $25MM.
8:38am: A news conference is scheduled for today, so it’s safe to assume pitcher Kenshin Kawakami passed his physical and is a Brave. We’ll add the terms of the three-year deal once they become available. The Japanese paper Sponichi believes it’s worth $24MM, though it was written in uncertain terms according to Patrick Newman.
If the Braves are able to sign Derek Lowe, they’ll have a rotation of Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Kawakami, Jair Jurrjens, and Jorge Campillo (with Tommy Hanson knocking on the door and Tim Hudson in the second half).
Braves Interested In Nady, Swisher
Jerry Crasnick and Ken Rosenthal are both reporting today that the Braves have interest in Yankees outfielders Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady. It’s not the first time we’ve heard the Braves connected to the two. The general feeling is that the Yankees are more willing to trade Nady, and the Braves may have to compete with the Mets for him.
Dunn Looking For Four Years, $56 Million
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick talked to an official of a team interested in Adam Dunn. That official said Dunn’s current asking price is four years, $56MM ($14MM per). Crasnick says the Braves and Nationals are more focused on trades.
Even in the depressed market Dunn has a case for more than the $30MM Milton Bradley received. But not significantly more, and Bradley’s deal protects against a first-year injury. Plus, Dunn’s list of suitors is small.
Braves Offer Four Years, Close To $60MM To Lowe
9:12am: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has a source saying Lowe is "leaning strongly toward signing with Atlanta."
7:34am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Braves’ offer to Derek Lowe is close to $60MM over four years. The two sides are in serious discussions. Heyman says Lowe prefers the National League. The reported offer seems fair; it’s difficult to see the Mets matching it.
The Mets could end up with another Boras client, Oliver Perez. They’re at three years and $30MM for him. Jerry Crasnick and Matthew Cerrone both wondered today if the Mets will get in on Ben Sheets.
Jones Has Interest In Returning To Atlanta
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones has interest in returning to the Atlanta Braves, MyFoxAtlanta.com reports.
In a video on the TV station’s Web site, Jones is shown working out with current Braves Chipper Jones and Brian McCann.
“It would be nice to kind of finish my career here,” Jones told the station from an Atlanta batting cage.
The station also interviews McCann, who said Jones, 31, looks great.
Reporter Buck Lanford notes that the Dodgers are supposed to trade or release Jones by Thursday.
Braves Make Offer To Lowe
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the Atlanta Braves made an offer to free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe on Friday.
O’Brien guesses that the Braves’ offer was for more than the New York Mets’ reported three-year offer of $36MM. He also speculates that the annual amount would be at least $15MM in at least a three-plus-an-option deal, if not a four-year deal.
Braves Sign Omar Infante To Extension
According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves signed Omar Infante to a two-year deal with a club option. Troy Renck says the deal is worth $4.325MM. The club 2011 club option is for $2.5MM with a $250K buyout. The deal buys out one free agent year with an option on a second.
Infante, 27, hit .293/.338/.416 in 348 plate appearances in ’08 while playing second base, shortstop, third base, left field, and center field. The Braves acquired Infante and Will Ohman a year ago from the Cubs for Jose Ascanio.