Odds and Ends: Perez, Lowe, Garland, Swisher, Neshek
Some Tuesday evening links:
- Odalis Perez is waiting to sign a new contract this offseason, says MLB.com’s Bill Ladson after a conversation with Perez’ agent. Ladson also notes that Nats’ GM Jim Bowden has expressed interest in resigning the lefty starter. Perez did start 30 games last season with Washington.
- The Braves have a significant interest in Derek Lowe, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Beyond Lowe, Atlanta may look next at Jon Garland, Randy Wolf, or Oliver Perez. Bowman categorizes the members of this group as potentially "profitable gambles."
- Nick Swisher will play almost exclusively at first base for the Yankees–at least for now, says Ed Smith of the New Jersey Star-Ledger.
- Twins reliever Pat Neshek had successful Tommy John surgery this morning, and will soon begin rehab. He’s targeting Spring Training 2010 for his return, according to Kelly Thesier at MLB.com.
Wakamatsu Is New Mariners’ Manager
According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, Don Wakamatsu will be the next manager of the Seattle Mariners. Wakamatsu has worked previously as a bench coach for the Oakland Athletics, and also as a third-base coach for the Texas Rangers.
Tigers Interested In Beimel
Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Tigers are interested in LHP Joe Beimel, according to Beimel’s agent.
Biemel, 31, posted a 2.02 ERA for the Dodgers in 2008. He’s only allowed one home run over the past two seasons, while pitching a combined 116.1 innings. However, he did give up 50 hits in 49 innings last year.
Morosi mentions that the Tigers are also in the hunt for a closer, making it clear that Beimel isn’t the answer for the 9th inning in Detroit. Darren Oliver and Arthur Rhodes also appear on the Tigers’ short list of interesting free agent relievers.
K-Rod Takes A Physical
MONDAY, 8:55am: Matthew Cerrone sorts through this mess at MetsBlog. Seems that K-Rod took a physical, but not for the Mets or any specific team. The whole thing is getting confusing, but it’s safe to say he’s not close to signing.
SUNDAY, 7:34pm: A variety of sources, including MLB.com, have quoted Rodriguez’ agent Paul Kinzer directly as saying that the following rumor, posted earlier this evening, is inaccurate.
7:25pm: According to a report issued by Venezuelan newspaper El Universal, Francisco Rodriguez has visited doctors in New York City for a physical. The move may be interpreted by some as a step forward in ongoing negotiations between Rodriguez and one of his most interested suitors, the New York Mets.
Matthew Cerrone at MetsBlog mentions an instance last season where El Nuevo Dia had reported that the Mets had signed Livan Hernandez, when in fact they had not done so. Despite this, the story certainly qualifies, at the very least, as a rumor.
Closer Roundup: K-Rod, Fuentes, Wood, Hoffman
Joel Sherman of the New York Post takes a look at the sudden surplus of potentially available closers in major league baseball, a situation that certainly benefits the Mets considering their need to upgrade the bullpen this offseason.
Two free agent closers that seemed destined to retire with their 2008 teams, Trevor Hoffman and Kerry Wood, now appear to be more available than was expected in October. That pair, along with Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, give the Mets and other teams several options in free agency.
Other relief pitchers with experience in the 9th inning have been recently mentioned in trade rumors. The list includes Huston Street, who may move again before the 2009 season begins, along with JJ Putz, Jose Valverde, and Bobby Jenks, mentions Sherman.
Sherman also provides a short list of teams, beyond the Mets, that may need a reliever with closing experience for 2009. The Texas Rangers, seemingly always short on pitching these days, may be a good fit for Kerry Wood; the Detroit Tigers, the St. Louis Cardinals, and most recently the Milwaukee Brewers, faced with the sudden retirement of Salomon Torres, are also in need of 9th inning help.
Sherman suggests Fuentes may be the favorite for the Mets’ closing job at this point.
Yankees Sell Rasner To Japanese Team
In line with totally revamping their starting rotation, Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com reports that the New York Yankees have sold RHP Darrell Rasner to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Pacific League for $1 million. Rasner posted a 5.40 ERA in 24 games with the Yankees in 2008.
The cash from this deal would provide 0.7% of the money needed for the contract that has been offered to CC Sabathia.
Yankees Targeting Sabathia, Burnett, Lowe
Joel Sherman of the New York Post offers a dream rotation for the New York Yankees that includes CC Sabathia, Derek Lowe or A.J. Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte.
Sherman acknowledges Sabathia’s strong perference to stay on the West Coast, but also notes that the Angels and Dodgers may end up having a lot of their available payroll tied up in contracts for Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez, respectively. Along that same line of thinking, Barry Zito‘s contract in San Francisco may keep the Giants from getting too involved in the bidding for Sabathia’s services.
The article also puts Derek Lowe at the top of the Red Sox’ list of desired free agents.
Nationals Sign Matt Whitney to Minor League Deal
Bill Ladson at MLB.com reports that the Washington Nationals have signed first baseman Matt Whitney to a minor league contract. The signing includes an invitation to spring training.
Whitney was the Nationals’ first pick in the 2007 Rule 5 Draft. In 2007, Whitney posted a combined .299/.364/.545 between Class A Lake County and Kinston. He followed that season with a .268/.356/.404 split at Class AA Akron in 2008. Whitney will be 25 in 2009.