Odds & Ends: Rangers, Wheeler, Red Sox
Links for Thursday, exactly one year after the D'Backs signed Kelly Johnson. Former Arizona GM Josh Byrnes deserves credit for this shrewd addition. Here are today's links…
- MLBTR's Tim Dierkes talked baseball with Roy Shelton of NetDugout.com.
- The Rangers do like Adrian Beltre, but as MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan explains, they could be showing interest partly to drive up the third baseman’s price for the Angels. Click here to vote on Beltre's next team.
- Matthew Carruth of FanGraphs shows that lots of talented players, including Cliff Lee, have moved from the AL to the NL this offseason. The Senior Circuit "looks like it is making inroads against the American League for next season."
- Dan Wheeler explains to John Tomase of the Boston Herald that he realized he had to trust his stuff in the 2004 NLCS against the Cardinals. Wheeler and Bobby Jenks are two of most recent additions to the group of well-established right-handers in Boston's 'pen.
- In a separate piece, Tomase examines the Red Sox 'pen, which was "an unquestioned weakness" last year, but could be a strength in 2011. Lefties Felix Doubront, Andrew Miller and Rich Hill will compete for a spot and Matt Albers and Scott Atchison will also be in the mix.
Unfinished Business: Remaining Team Needs
Some teams have completed their offseason shopping, and lots of deals still lie ahead for others. Here's a summary of the remaining team needs, sorted by division (links go to detailed breakdowns of divisional needs):
- Orioles: First baseman, right-handed reliever, left-handed reliever, starter.
- Red Sox: left-handed reliever.
- Yankees: starter, right-handed outfielder.
- Rays: closer, DH/first baseman.
- Blue Jays: hitter, left-handed relief help.
- White Sox: Swingman or reliever.
- Indians: Veteran starting pitcher, third baseman, utility infielder, Shin-Soo Choo extension.
- Tigers: Starting pitcher, lefty reliever.
- Royals: Starting pitcher, reliever.
- Twins: Starting pitcher, reliever(s), backup infielder, Jim Thome situation, Francisco Liriano extension.
- Angels: Third base, outfielder/DH, leadoff man.
- Athletics: Reliever.
- Mariners: Starting pitcher, left fielder, reliever, backup infielder.
- Rangers: Designated hitter, possible extensions for Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson.
- Braves: Backup outfielder who can handle center field.
- Marlins: Left-handed hitting bench bat.
- Mets: Starting pitcher, lefty reliever, fourth outfielder.
- Phillies: Taker for Joe Blanton.
- Nationals: Starting pitcher, first baseman, reliever.
- Cubs: Starting pitcher.
- Reds: Lefty reliever, left-handed hitting outfielder/leadoff hitter, backup shortstop, Joey Votto extension.
- Astros: Lefty reliever.
- Brewers: None.
- Pirates: Veteran reliever, starting pitcher, taker for Ryan Doumit.
- Cardinals: Albert Pujols extension, pitching depth.
- Diamondbacks: None.
- Rockies: Starting pitching depth, lefty reliever, Carlos Gonzalez extension.
- Dodgers: Right-handed hitting left fielder.
- Padres: Backup infielder.
- Giants: Backup shortstop, sixth starter.
Unfinished Business: AL East
MLBTR's Tim Dierkes has already examined the remaining needs for teams in the AL Central, AL West, NL East, NL Central and NL West. To round out the series, I'm going to take a look at the remaining needs for the AL East clubs:
- Orioles: First baseman, right-handed reliever, left-handed reliever, starter. The Orioles are targeting Derrek Lee, and Adam LaRoche has been on their radar all offseason. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Andy MacPhail move on to DH types if he doesn't sign Lee or LaRoche. The club is also interested in right-handed relievers like Kevin Gregg, Jon Rauch and Grant Balfour and could bring a lefty like Will Ohman or Mark Hendrickson aboard. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reported ten days ago that the O's would like to add a veteran pitcher and had spoken to Marcus Thames' agent.
- Red Sox: left-handed reliever. Felix Doubront, Rich Hill and Andrew Miller give the Red Sox three southpaws, so they may have all the left-handed relief they need. But Boston has been linked to Brian Fuentes all month and could pursue him. Jed Lowrie's strong finish to the 2010 season means the Red Sox don't have a pressing need for infielders, but MLB.com's Ian Browne recently suggested that the team could add a utility type player. Boston could also listen to offers for Mike Cameron, but he does provide value to the Red Sox.
- Yankees: starter, right-handed outfielder. The rest of the Yankees' offseason centers on Andy Pettitte's decision, since that will determine whether Brian Cashman has to pursue a Jeff Francis/Freddy Garcia type or rely on Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre. The team will likely add a fourth outfielder who bats right handed and consider utility infielders and relievers.
- Rays: closer, DH/first baseman. The Rays' biggest need is for back-end bullpen help, and they have expressed interest in a number of free agents. Rafael Soriano will sign elsewhere, but the Rays could look for a bargain arm. They could enter the season with some combination of Matt Joyce, Justin Ruggiano and Leslie Anderson at DH, but many free agent bats are available and DHs like Jim Thome and Johnny Damon would be fits in Tampa. The Rays have limited resources, and it seems like they're content to open the season with the relatively inexperienced Elliot Johnson as the backup middle infielder. The rotation is deep enough for the Rays to consider trading a starter, such as Matt Garza or James Shields.
- Blue Jays: hitter, left-handed relief help. The Blue Jays will likely add a bat at some point, and they have the flexibility to add one at a number of positions. Adding a first baseman or DH could limit playing time for Adam Lind or Edwin Encarnacion, but the two would create a strong offensive platoon. If the Blue Jays want to play Lind and Encarnacion every day, they can add a third baseman or right fielder and play Jose Bautista at the vacant position. The team lost Scott Downs this winter and could puruse left-handed relievers. David Purcey, Brad Mills, Rommie Lewis and Jesse Carlson give the team internal options, but Jon Heyman of SI.com reported that the Jays have some interest in Brian Fuentes.
Poll: Where Will Adrian Beltre Sign
The team that opened the bidding for Adrian Beltre has reportedly removed itself from the sweepstakes for the third baseman and now the top position player available doesn't appear to have many suitors left. The A's aren't bidding, and though the Rangers maintain some interest, they aren't an ideal fit for Beltre.
The Angels, who made Beltre a significant offer earlier this winter, remain the most logical fit for his services. They have since pulled their offer, but have continued interest despite agent Scott Boras' asking price. It seems likely that Beltre will return to the AL West, but let's not put it past Boras to involve more teams. Beltre will sign with some club within a couple months – which one will it be?
Which team will sign Adrian Beltre?
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Angels 57% (6,900)
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Other 20% (2,466)
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Rangers 12% (1,441)
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The A's will show interest again and win the bidding 11% (1,290)
Total votes: 12,097
Six Teams Interested In Chad Qualls
The A's are one of six teams with legitimate interest in Chad Qualls, the reliever's agent told Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group (Twitter links). Alan Hendricks acknowledged that he has spoken with the Athletics, but says no "substantial" discussions have taken place yet. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported earlier today that the A's will look at Qualls and Hideki Okajima.
Qualls will not cost a draft pick since he is a Type B free agent, but the Rays will receive an extra 2011 selection if the right-hander signs a big league deal elsewhere, since he turned down their offer of arbitration. In 59 innings for the D'Backs and Rays last year, Qualls posted a 7.32 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9.
The Mets, Twins and Rockies have been linked to the 32-year-old this offseason, but it seems unlikely that the Rockies will sign Qualls now that they have obtained Matt Lindstrom. The Royals, Orioles, Mariners, Nationals, Pirates, Blue Jays and Rays could also be on the lookout for right-handed relief help.
Odds & Ends: Morse, Pettitte, Miller, Durbin
Links for Wednesday, four years after the Giants signed Barry Zito to a seven-year, $126MM deal…
- Michael Morse, who broke out with 15 homers in limited playing time last year, could be pushed into a platoon role if the Nationals sign a first baseman, as Ben Goessling of MASNSports explains.
- Yankees president Randy Levine said to Peter Botte of the New York Daily News what lots of Yankee fans are thinking: the club needs Andy Pettitte in 2011. Meanwhile, Mark Teixeira says the left-hander is leaning toward retirement.
- In the same piece, Levine acknowledges that the Yankees discussed Manny Ramirez, but downplayed the team's interest.
- Mark Rodgers, the agent for Andrew Miller, told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald that the lefty received big league offers from at least three teams, including the Rangers and Giants, before signing a minor league deal with the Red Sox.
- The Phillies could fill Chad Durbin's role internally with someone younger, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Lots Of Arb Cases For Angels, Jays, Giants, Padres
The Angels and Blue Jays have more upcoming arbitration cases than any other major league teams. Toronto and Los Angeles both have eight remaining arbitration eligible players, one more than the Giants, Padres and Rockies, who lead the National League with six apiece.
Teams and arbitration eligible players file for arbitration early next month in the first part of the process that determines players' 2011 salaries. If teams and players don't reach an agreement by January 18th, they exchange salary figures. If the sides don't reach a deal by the end of the month, they schedule a February hearing that would take place in front of a panel of arbitrators who decide between the player's pitch and the team's.
The Blue Jays avoided arbitration with their eligible players last offseason, the team's first under GM Alex Anthopoulos. The organization has avoided arbitration hearings for 13 consecutive offseasons, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the team settle with Jose Bautista, Shawn Camp, Rajai Davis, Yunel Escobar, Casey Janssen, Jesse Litsch, Carlos Villanueva and Brandon Morrow.
The Angels have as many arbitration eligible players; the club faces potential hearings with Erick Aybar, Alberto Callaspo, Howie Kendrick, Jeff Mathis, Kendry Morales, Mike Napoli, Jered Weaver and Reggie Willits.
Most teams have 3-5 arbitration eligible players, but the Red Sox, Phillies and Pirates have just two. Kyle McClellan is the Cardinals' lone remaining arbitration eligible player.
Be sure to keep track of every arbitration case using MLBTR's new Arb Tracker, which you can find under the Tools tab at the top of the site.
This Date In Transactions History: December 28th
Former Tigers GM Bill Lajoie passed away today at the age of 76. In the words of current Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, Lajoie "played an integral role in building the [1984] Detroit Tigers into a world championship team."
Lajoie had been a a senior advisor for Pirates GM Neal Huntington since 2009, and Huntington calls him a "terrific evaluator of talent, an outstanding baseball man, a tremendous mentor and a better friend.” Along with the Tigers, Pirates and many others in the baseball world, MLBTR extends condolences to Lajoie's family and friends.
Now here's a look back at some historical transactions that have occurred on this date:
- The Red Sox signed Josh Bard and Brad Penny on this date in 2008. Bard didn't play for the 2009 Red Sox and fans of the team probably wish Penny hadn't either. The right-hander posted a 5.61 ERA in 131 2/3 innings before moving on to San Francisco, where the results were considerably better.
- The Indians signed Fausto Carmona as an amateur free agent ten years ago today. They've paid him $8.87MM for 746 innings of 4.43 ERA ball so far and have him under team control for four more seasons.
- The Tigers traded Luis Gonzalez to the Diamondbacks for Karim Garcia on this date in 1998. Garcia hit 14 homers for the Tigers in 1999 and was out of the organization the next year. Gonzalez hit 26 homers for the D'Backs in 1999 and didn't stop there. He hit 31 long balls in 2000 and 57 more in 2001, leading the D'Backs to their first World Series title.
- The White Sox traded Tim Raines to the Yankees on this date in 1995. Raines was past his prime, but that didn't stop him from hitting .299/.395/.429 in three seasons in New York as the Bronx Bombers won a pair of championships.
- The Indians signed current Rangers manager Ron Washington on this date in 1987. In his last extended taste of playing action, the infielder hit .256/.298/.363 for the Tribe.
- Last, but certainly not least, we take you back to 1994. On this date 16 years ago, the Astros and Padres completed a memorable 12-player trade that MLBTR's Howard Megdal explained in great detail this June.
5 Outfielders Who Could Benefit From Werth’s Deal
Jayson Werth has been one of the best outfielders in baseball for the past few years, but it took the former first round pick years to turn his potential into production. Even though he didn't thrive in the majors until arriving in Philadelphia in 2007, Werth just signed a $126MM deal. Others could follow Werth's path and cash in as free agents even if they don't break out until a little later in their careers. Here are five outfielders who could benefit from the deal the Nationals just made with the 31-year-old outfielder (players listed according to when they hit free agency):
- Jose Bautista (hits free agency after 2011 as a 31-year-old) – He was drafted in 2000 and didn't break out until he clubbed 54 homers last year. If he adds another All-Star caliber season to the back of his baseball card, Bautista could cash in next offseason. Werth played at a high level for two full seasons and two partial seasons before hitting free agency, so there is some precedent for players leveraging recent history into nine figure contracts.
- Josh Hamilton (hits free agency after 2012 as a 31-year-old) – The former first overall pick didn't debut until he was nearly 26 because of a variety of on and off-field problems. He's an MVP now and he'll hit free agency at the same age Werth did (Hamilton is two years and one day younger).
- B.J. Upton (hits free agency after 2012 as a 28-year-old) – Upton's performance has fluctuated considerably over the course of the past few seasons. If the former second overall pick can turn in two consecutive All-Star seasons, he'll have a case for a substantial multiyear deal when he hits free agency.
- Adam Jones (hits free agency after 2013 as a 28-year-old) – Jones was an All-Star in 2009, but he has yet to completely break out. He's three seasons away from free agency, so there's still time for him to excel on a consistent basis and prove doubters that he deserves Werth-like money.
- Nelson Cruz (hits free agency after 2013 as a 33-year-old) – Cruz broke out in 2009, 11 years after he signed as an amateur free agent. He's still a few years away from free agency, but he has been setting himself up for a big payday with two consecutive monster seasons.
Orioles Target Derrek Lee
The Orioles are targeting Derrek Lee, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The team renewed discussions with the free agent first baseman a week ago and are open to a deal in the one-year, $8MM range, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. Rosenthal reports that the team is more comfortable signing Lee for one year than committing to Adam LaRoche for three.
The Orioles will have some competition for LaRoche, who appeals to the Nationals, and Lee. The Padres offered Lee a one-year deal worth more than $8MM before agreeing to terms with Brad Hawpe, according to Rosenthal. San Diego would have been a good fit for Lee, who is interested in playing for a contender and returning to the West Coast.
The Angels are “cool” on Lee, according to Rosenthal. They tried to acquire him after Kendry Morales went down last summer and could pair him with Morales at first/DH.
Lee is a potential bargain for 2011. He's coming off thumb surgery and had a down year by his standards, but finished the 2010 season strong with the Braves and hit 35 homers as recently as 2009.