Smoltz Willing To Pitch Elsewhere
4:10pm: David O’Brien is not surprised by Smoltz’s comments, and mentions a conversation a few weeks ago with GM Frank Wren. Wren suggested the Smoltz/Glavine situations might not be addressed until December or January. As expected, Wren is targeting veteran starting pitching and outfield help this winter.
11:40am: Jay Busbee of Atlanta Magazine asked John Smoltz about his rehab from shoulder surgery. To Busbee’s surprise, Smoltz offered up some interesting quotes:
"I say this for the first time, without reservation, if I’m going to bust my butt and if I feel like I’m good enough and it doesn’t work out here, I will be pitching somewhere else…My dream scenario would be to pitch in the playoffs again, and that’s coming from a guy who’s been in 13 of them. To me, that’s what I’m about. So if the door gets closed here, it’ll have to be explored somewhere else."
Smoltz also makes it clear that he prefers to play out the rest of his career in a Braves uniform. Busbee suggests Smoltz’s quotes are meant to apply pressure on the Braves to make their decision. He probably won’t make outlandish demands for his next contract; I expect him to re-sign with the Braves after the season.
Odds and Ends: Soto, Joba, Colletti, Tazawa
Let’s dig in with today’s links!
- As you know, the Steinbrenners want Brian Cashman back for ’09. Now it’s up to him.
- Geovany Soto was discussed as a throw-in on the trade that ultimately sent Sammy Sosa to Baltimore back in ’05. One that did get away that year: Ricky Nolasco (in the Juan Pierre deal).
- Michael Gluckstadt interviewed ESPN’s Buster Olney.
- CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler takes a look at the deep free agent class of starting pitchers. Dave Cameron considers this "the greatest collection of free agent arms to hit free agency at the same time in the history of the game."
- Joel Sherman disagrees with the ’09 Joba Rules.
- Ned Colletti, the game’s best GM? It’s hard to tell if T.J. Simers is being entirely serious here.
- Nick Piecoro gives a scout’s take on Chad Beck, who the D’Backs sent to Toronto for David Eckstein.
- The Red Sox, Braves, and Mets are eyeing Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa, and Patrick Newman has more details.
- John Perrotto says Pedro Alvarez is coming across as a punk.
Stark’s Latest: Teixeira, Lamb, Ibanez, Blake
Hot stove highlights from Jayson Stark’s latest…
- Stark sees the Mets picking up Carlos Delgado‘s $12MM option for ’09, taking them out of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes. He sees the Yankees in the mix for Tex. Will Teixeira top the $140MM the Rangers offered him?
- The Yanks will also pursue a top flight starting pitcher, with C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets as Plans A and B.
- Stark does not see the Braves diving into megadeals for Sabathia, Sheets, or A.J. Burnett. They’ll have payroll room, but could pursue trades or mid-tier free agents.
- Stark says friends of Tom Glavine and John Smoltz indicate they both want another go at it in ’09. They’re hoping the Braves will offer low-base incentivized deals. If the Braves spurn Glavine, I wonder if he’ll sign with the Nationals.
- Mike Lamb and the Phillies have mutual interest. A trade might make more sense than awaiting his release, so that he’d be eligible for the postseason roster.
- A friend of Raul Ibanez says the Mariners are unlikely to convince him to re-sign. They’ll snag a couple of draft picks if they offer arbitration and he signs elsewhere. The prospect of losing a draft pick makes Ibanez less attractive to other teams though.
- The Dodgers are considering re-signing Casey Blake and moving Blake DeWitt to second base.
Odds and Ends: Indians, Rays, Jays
Time to cobble together today’s links.
- The Dodgers designated Tanyon Sturtze for assignment. The 37 year-old pitched only 2.1 innings for the big club.
- Dejan Kovacevic does not believe the Pedro Alvarez issue will prevent the Pirates from working with Scott Boras in the future.
- RotoAuthority assembles a fantasy team entirely of players who went undrafted in March.
- Dave Cameron wonders if the Indians will make a trade due to their catching surplus.
- Rays Index wants to make it clear that drafting high is only a small factor in the Rays’ success.
- Drunk Jays Fans caught an amusing exchange between a fan and GM J.P. Ricciardi on his radio show.
- Dave O’Brien ponders the possibility of a Mike Hampton trade. In another post, he mentions that reliever Will Ohman was claimed on waivers and pulled back.
Heyman Predicts ’09 Options
THURSDAY: Reader Christopher G. alerted me to the fact that Smoltz will be a free agent after this season. According to this MLB.com article, he has a vesting option for ’09 based on pitching 200 innings in ’08. Obviously Smoltz is unable to reach that total.
WEDNESDAY: SI.com’s Jon Heyman weighs in on 12 players with options for ’09, speculating on whether they will be exercised. Most of the dozen are easy to predict, except for John Smoltz at $12MM and Brad Penny at $9.25MM with a $2MM buyout. Heyman sees both of those being picked up.
You can browse all of the options in our 2009 MLB free agents list. Some players that Heyman did not discuss:
- Rod Barajas ($2.5MM option, $0.5MM buyout) – He was awful in July, but overall he’s had a solid offensive year. They’ll exercise it.
- Hank Blalock ($6.2MM option, $0.25MM buyout) – Another lost year for Blalock, who is not capable of playing third base currently. He’s only 27, so figure the Rangers will try one more time to get value out of him. Blalock was almost traded for Josh Beckett back in the day.
- Cliff Floyd ($2.75MM option, $0.25MM buyout) – There’s been some retirement chatter, but I see both sides wanting one more year.
- Wily Mo Pena ($5MM club option or $2MM player option) – The club will decline, but Pena should exercise accept his option. He had shoulder surgery in July and hopes to be ready for spring training.
- Brian Giles ($9MM option, $3MM buyout) – This seems like an easy call to exercise, but there have been rumblings that the Padres might decline due to payroll concerns.
- Tim Wakefield (perpetual $4MM option) – Easy call to exercise once again.
- Salomon Torres ($3.75MM option, $0.3MM buyout) – Torres’ surprising emergence as the Crew’s best relief acquisition means he stays.
- Tom Gordon ($4.5MM option, $1MM buyout) – If Gordon needs Tommy John surgery, this will be declined and then he may retire.
- Damaso Marte ($6MM option, $0.25MM buyout) – At one point I might’ve said the Yanks would exercise this, choosing to pay extra for the short commitment. But now it looks like he’ll become a free agent.
Braves Sign Elmer Dessens
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves signed 37 year-old righty Elmer Dessens to join their rotation for September. Dessens posted a 4.03 ERA and 3.0 K/BB ratio in 105 innings in the Triple A Mexican League.
Dessens had been released by the Pirates in spring due to a back injury.
Red Sox Acquire Kotsay
12:01pm: According to ESPN’s Keith Law, the Braves will receive minor league outfielder Luis Sumoza.
10:23am: Rosenthal says it’s done, though the prospect remains unknown. He is now saying Kotsay did waive no-trade rights, and received $325K to do so.
9:14am: Rosenthal says it’s close, but the teams have not yet agreed on the mid-level prospect. He says Kotsay does not have no-trade protection this year.
WEDNESDAY, 8:41am: The latest – The Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin wrote late last night that a deal had not been agreed upon. Meanwhile, John Tomase of the Boston Herald notes Kotsay’s strong relationship with Red Sox owner John Henry. Yahoo’s Gordon Edes says the deal is done pending a physical, and the Braves will receive a minor league pitcher.
TUESDAY, 10:38pm: ESPN’s Peter Gammons and Buster Olney are reporting that the Red Sox are on the verge of acquiring Kotsay. The two sides are discussing Kotsay’s no-trade clause. He was held out of tonight’s lineup due to the impending trade.
11:00am: On Sunday, Ken Rosenthal reported the Red Sox were interested in Braves outfielder Mark Kotsay, with the Brewers on the fringes. Rosenthal now says the Brewers’ interest has diminished, since Ryan Braun seems fine. Instead, the Phillies are now in the mix for Kotsay given the Geoff Jenkins injury.
Kotsay cleared waivers because of the $1.5MM still owed to him this year. The Braves weren’t planning on offering him arbitration this winter, as they don’t want to be stuck paying him $8MM in ’09. He doesn’t project as a Type B anyway. Rosenthal says a mid-level prospect would get a deal done with the Braves, though the teams covered in Kotsay’s limited no-trade clause are unknown.
Odds and Ends: Burnett, Inoa, Minaya, Glavine
Today’s links…
- Pablo Ozuna…designated for assignment again. Additionally, the Phillies cut Andy Tracy. The 34 year-old hit .288/.377/.516 in Triple A this year.
- Eddie Bajek added AL infielders to his Elias rankings. Orlando Cabrera and Edgar Renteria are Type As, while Mark Ellis and Mark Grudzielanek are Type Bs. Cabrera could net the Sox some picks.
- The Phillies would like to bring Jamie Moyer back next year, but so far they’ve only had informal talks. Earlier this month Moyer spoke of an obligation with the Phillies, but he is not under contract for ’09. The Phillies have also had informal talks with Pat Burrell, who’s said he wants to stay.
- Richard Griffin discusses A.J. Burnett quite a bit in his mailbag, suggesting this is the pitcher’s best season because of his career-high win total.
- Athletics Nation talks to A’s owner Lewis Wolff about the Michael Inoa signing.
- Omar Minaya’s job is secure.
- Aaron Harang has suggestions for the Reds to make their ballpark more pitcher-friendly.
- Tom Glavine is feeling good after somewhat minor elbow surgery, but isn’t sure about playing in ’09. Ken Rosenthal wrote recently that Glavine wants to pitch next year.
- Grant at McCovey Chronicles gives his take on pitch counts.
Molony’s Latest: Red Sox, Kelly Johnson
Here’s a look at the latest blog post from MLB.com’s Jim Molony.
- Molony agrees with previous reports – the Red Sox are eyeing outfield help. An inquiry on Darin Erstad fizzled, while Mark Kotsay remains on the radar. Drew might be headed to the DL.
- The Red Sox might also be eyeing another starter, given Josh Beckett‘s injury. Molony speculates that Kevin Millwood or Vicente Padilla could make sense (both have cleared waivers).
- Molony expects Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson to be traded this winter. Johnson, 26, slipped to .264/.333/.405 in 482 plate appearances this year. He’ll be arbitration-eligible for the first time.
Odds and Ends: Indians, Livan, Braves, Friedman
Let’s round up today’s random links.
- The Pirates received catcher Robinzon Diaz from the Blue Jays in the Jose Bautista deal. Not too shabby, he should develop into a credible cheap backup.
- Yahoo’s Gordon Edes sees Manny Ramirez playing for the Mets in ’09.
- The point continues to be hammered home – the Indians intend to acquire a proven closer this winter. Brian Fuentes seems a reasonable target.
- RotoAuthority takes a closer look at Cliff Lee.
- Rockies manager Clint Hurdle wants to see if Livan Hernandez fits into their plans for 2009. Hernandez has allowed a remarkable 224 hits in 152 innings – a rate that will rank second in baseball history if he can reach the 162 innings needed to qualify. Even Jose Lima can’t make that claim.
- J.C. Bradbury notes that the Braves’ attempts to extend star players acquired via trade have been largely unsuccessful.
- Outs Per Swing chats with Rays exec Andrew Friedman.
- Danny Knobler surveyed scouts about Francisco Rodriguez‘s stuff.