Odds & Ends: Rockies, Haren, Cowart, Cubs
Links for Tuesday, after a night of drama in Cincinnati…
- The Rockies agreed to sign 15th-rounder Will Swanner to a $490K bonus, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. That's third-round money for the 18-year-old.
- Callis writes that “it's a near lock that we'll get an earlier signing deadline” when baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires after next season. Callis suggests the deadline – now August 15th – could move up a month.
- Dan Haren tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that he is glad to have landed in Anaheim, since he rooted for the Angels growing up. Haren, who has already been traded three times, is a deal-maker himself, at least when it comes to fantasy football.
- MLB executives tell Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus that Angels first rounder Kaleb Cowart will be a "very tough sign" (Twitter link).
- Aramis Ramirez told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times that he has been impressed by Cubs youngsters Andrew Cashner, Starlin Castro and Tyler Colvin.
- Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos explained to Tom Verducci of SI.com that he wants to build his rotation around power arms. So far, so good; Blue Jays starters have posted 7.5 K/9 in 2010.
- Check out Tim Dierkes' examination of Peter Bourjos at RotoAuthority if you're wondering about the speedy center fielder's fantasy value.
- The Marlins agreed to sign third rounder J.T. Realmuto for $600K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. That’s nearly double the recommended bonus of $310K.
Dodgers Release Garret Anderson
The Dodgers released Garret Anderson, according to the MLB.com transactions page. They designated the veteran outfielder for assignment over the weekend. Anderson, 38, hit .181/.204/.271 in 163 plate appearances this year. He has played 34 games in the outfield and Joe Torre used him regularly as a pinch hitter.
The Dodgers, who committed $550K to Anderson before the season, appear to have some interest in another outfielder: Jose Guillen. Anderson now hits the free agent market, but finding another big league job this year will be a major challenge.
Carlos Beltran Clears Waivers
The Mets can trade Carlos Beltran now that the center fielder has cleared waivers, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Beltran has a no-trade clause and $24MM remaining on his contract, so a trade remains highly unlikely.
Beltran has hit just .195/.300/.312 since recovering from January knee surgery, so his trade value would not be high even if he didn’t have a no-trade clause and so much remaining on his contract. Earlier today, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes wondered if the Mets could trade the center fielder this winter.
If you're wondering why the Mets couldn't trade Beltran until he cleared waivers, click here.
Potential Suitors For Adrian Beltre
Adrian Beltre will be one of the most sought-after free agent position players if and when he declines his player option for 2011. Always a strong defender, Beltre has the Gold Gloves and exceptional UZR numbers to back up his reputation. This year, Beltre's hitting again; he has 20 homers to go along with a .333/.369/.565 line. Last winter, after a disappointing offensive season, Beltre fielded multi-year offers. There's no doubt that he and agent Scott Boras will see more of those trickle in this offseason. Here's an early look at some teams that could have interest in the 31-year-old:
- Red Sox – Kevin Youkilis gives the Red Sox the flexibility to pursue a first baseman or a third baseman. Beltre obviously fits on the Red Sox and it's never safe to underestimate Boston's spending power.
- Blue Jays – Edwin Encarnacion has power, but little defensive value. He's a non-tender candidate and the Jays presumably have Beltre on their radar as a possible replacement.
- Tigers – The Tigers have money to spend and needs to address this offseason, as MLBTR's Tim Dierkes pointed out earlier today. Beltre could fit in Detroit, a destination of choice for many Boras clients.
- Angels – Brandon Wood was supposed to be the solution, but has struggled mightily at the plate. He, Maicer Izturis and Kevin Frandsen could be enough for the Angels, but the Halos may be tempted by Beltre's two-way play.
- Mariners – The last time Beltre hit free agency after a massive year, the Mariners spent big. Jack Zduriencik wasn't the team's GM back then, and he probably won't be the GM who signs Beltre this winter. Though Jose Lopez and Matt Tuiasosopo don't compare to Beltre, minor league third basemen Alex Liddi and Matt Mangini are both hitting well in the upper minors.
- A's – The A's, who tend to be tentative with long-term deals, offered Beltre a multi-year deal last offseason. That says Billy Beane & Co. like the veteran third baseman a lot.
The Yankees (Alex Rodriguez), Rays (Evan Longoria), Orioles (Josh Bell), White Sox (Dayan Viciedo), Twins (Danny Valencia), Royals (Mike Moustakas), Rangers (Michael Young), Braves (Chipper Jones), Phillies (Placido Polanco), Mets (David Wright), Nationals (Ryan Zimmerman), Cardinals (David Freese), Reds (Scott Rolen), Brewers (Casey McGehee), Pirates (Pedro Alvarez), Cubs (Aramis Ramirez), Dodgers (Casey Blake), Giants (Pablo Sandoval), Rockies (Ian Stewart), Padres (Chase Headley) and Diamondbacks (Mark Reynolds) all have viable big league third basemen under team control in 2011. That's not to say that those teams won't create room for Beltre and enter the bidding. It would only take one or two trades or injuries to change the list of suitors.
At this point, the Marlins, Astros (who have the red-hot Chris Johnson) and Indians (who have Wes Hodges and Jared Goedert) don't seem likely to spend big on free agents this winter.
Poll: Baseball’s Most Impressive Team
Yesterday, MLBTR readers determined that the Mariners are baseball's most disappointing team. But for every disappointing team, there's an impressive team. The Yankees, Rays, Cardinals, Phillies and Giants have been strong, as expected. The Braves, Reds, Padres and Rangers broke out with big seasons. And the White Sox, who nearly gave up on their season, have been unstoppable since the first week of June. Taking into account pre-season expectations, let's vote:
Which team has had the most impressive season so far?
Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.
The D’Backs’ 2011 Rotation
The D'Backs hoped that Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson could carry the rotation through the 2010 season. Next year, the team will rely on a completely different set of arms. Ian Kennedy, Joe Saunders and Daniel Hudson were all in different organizations this time last year, but they figure to have spots in Arizona's 2011 rotation.
Rodrigo Lopez and Barry Enright now hold the remaining two sports in the rotation, but Lopez is a free agent after the season. Enright, who has posted a 2.81 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in his first 41.2 major league innings, has emerged as a legitimate candidate for a 2011 rotation spot.
Even if Kennedy, Saunders, Hudson and Enright remain healthy and claim four starting spots, one opening remains. Bryan Augenstein, who entered the season as the team's 11th-best prospect, according to Baseball America, has been hit hard at Triple A. The club could look to Kevin Mulvey, who has big league experience and acceptable, but not inspiring Triple A numbers (4.97 ERA).
Another pair of current minor leaguers could also compete for spots in next year's rotation. Matt Torra, 26, has been hittable at Triple A, where he has a solid 3.97 ERA and has shown excellent control (1.8 BB/9). Wade Miley, a 2008 first rounder, has pitched well this year, but the 23-year-old has just nine appearances above A ball. Jarrod Parker could have been a rotation candidate, but he will miss 2010 with Tommy John surgery, so the D'Backs can't count on him in 2011.
Like Parker, Webb has yet to pitch in 2010 because of injuries. The 2006 Cy Young Award winner hits free agency after the season and doesn't figure to be the sort of pitcher the D'Backs would pursue. Because no potential starter other than Saunders has much major league experience, Arizona seems like a fit for a steady veteran looking to sign a one-year deal. A dependable arm would complement Hudson, Kennedy, Enright, Mulvey, Augenstein, Miley, Torra and Parker, who have combined to start just 55 big league games.
That inexperience will likely put the D'Backs in the market for a veteran starter. Dave Bush, Kevin Millwood, Lopez, and former D'Backs Doug Davis, Jon Garland and Livan Hernandez could all hit the open market this winter. Unless the D'Backs are comfortable starting Joe Saunders and a bunch of youngsters, I'd expect them to pursue a consistent free agent starter.
Royals Sign Venezuelan Shortstop For $1.1MM
The Royals officially signed Venezuelan shortstop Humberto Arteaga for $1.1MM, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. The Royals like the 16-year-old’s quickness, positioning and running speed. Arteaga has a compact swing, so the club expects him to make contact and produce lots of line drives, though his power potential seems limited.
As Badler points out, Arteaga joins Adonis Cardona (Blue Jays), Ariel Ovando (Astros), Renato Nunez (A’s), Phillips Castillo (Mariners) and Danry Vasquez (Tigers) in the group of international prospects who have signed for more than $1MM this summer.
The Royals have been spending big on draftees and international players. Last year, for example, the club committed millions to both Noel Arguelles and Wil Myers.
Odds & Ends: Garcia, Guillen, Dunn, Reds
Links for Monday night, as Brandon Phillips' choice words make this week's Reds-Cardinals series that much more intriguing…
- Freddy Garcia told Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune that he would like to return to the White Sox in 2010 if there's room in the team's rotation.
- Talks between the Royals and Giants about Jose Guillen are not progressing noticeably, but not completely dead, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson believes the Nationals should sign Adam Dunn to an extension if they can't find a player who can hit and play defense.
- The Reds agreed to sign Dominican shortstop Olivel Florentino for $250K, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
- Bobby Cox tells MLB.com's Steve Gartner that Alex Gonzalez has been excellent on defense since the Braves acquired him for Yunel Escobar last month.
The Reds’ 2011 Rotation
The Reds have an abundance of major league starters under team control in 2011. Mike Leake, Homer Bailey and Travis Wood are not yet arbitration-eligible and Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter. All except Wood, a 2005 second-rounder, ranked among Baseball America's top 100 prospects before they became prominent major leaguers. That's an entire rotation's worth of former top prospects and they're all still cheap.
Of course it takes more than five starters to get through a season. The Rays, who relied on their own quintet for the first four months of the year, are finding that out now that Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann have sore shoulders. Tampa Bay has more pitching depth than most teams, so they can call on Jeremy Hellickson and Andy Sonnanstine. Like the 2010 Rays, next year's Reds should have rotation depth.
They will be able to stretch out Micah Owings or call on one of three minor leaguers. Aroldis Chapman, who is now pitching out of the bullpen, has the potential to be a frontline starter, according to Baseball America. The left-hander has a 3.90 ERA with 11.3 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 at Triple A this year and has allowed less than one hit per inning pitched, though his command clearly needs work.
A pair of 26-year-old starters are pitching well at Triple A. Right-hander Sam LeCure has a 3.15 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 for Louisville and left-hander Matt Maloney has a 3.36 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9. Those two starters won't make more than the MLB minimum in 2011 and even Owings (headed to arbitration for the first time) and Chapman ($1MM salary) are affordable.
That kind of depth means Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo don't have obvious roles on next year's club. Both veterans have $2MM buyouts for expensive 2011 options, and at this point, it's extremely hard to imagine the Reds picking up both options. The Reds are probably not going to pay $23.75MM to bring Arroyo and Harang back when they have so many affordable and potentially effective arms around.
It's easy to over-estimate pitching depth; injuries and unexpected performances can change plans. Arroyo, who has pitched well this year, would not re-structure his contract, but the Reds could decline his option and try to bring him back for less. The same goes for Harang, who has some value even though he has been hittable this year.
Harang's $12.75MM option isn't worth picking up and Arroyo's $11MM option is no bargain, either. It would be a major surprise to see the Reds bring both pitchers back, but they could re-sign one for depth. For now, that's the last thing the Reds are concerned about. Both pitchers will be part of the club's late-season push for its first playoff berth in 15 years.
Dodgers Sign Geoff Geary
The Dodgers signed Geoff Geary and assigned him to Triple A, according to the transactions page for the Pacific Coast League. The 33-year-old right-hander posted a 5.37 ERA with 4.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 58.2 innings for Triple A Oklahoma City this year. He allowed 83 hits, including seven homers, and the Rangers released him last month.
Geary, a seven-year MLB veteran, has a 3.92 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 351.1 career innings. He has made 287 big league appearances, all of them in relief. The former Phillie and Astro has not pitched in the majors in 2010.