Pedro Would Only Consider Contenders
Pedro Martinez’s agent confirmed that his client wants to play in 2010 and explained that the circumstances would have to be right for Pedro to return to the majors. Fernando Cuza told Andy Martino and Christian Red of the New York Daily News that Pedro won’t play for a losing team.
“It definitely has to be a contending team, one that has a chance to make the playoffs and go deep," Cuza said.
Pedro, who is working out privately in the Dominican Republic isn’t about to showcase himself for teams, as he did last year. Cuza says Pedro “removed any doubts” with last year’s performance.
Martinez posted a 3.63 ERA in 44.2 innings for the Phillies last year thanks in part to a rejuvenated fastball. The Phillies downplayed their interest in Pedro, though they have been keeping in touch. The Rangers, Cardinals, Tigers and Reds could be looking for pitching this summer. It’s hard to imagine the Mets bringing Pedro back, but they are looking for top starters.
Yankees Sign First Rounder Cito Culver
The Yankees signed first round pick Cito Culver, according to the team. Marc Carig of the Star Ledger reports (via Twitter) that the deal is worth $954K. Culver, a high school shortstop, placed 168th among the draft-eligible prospects that Baseball America ranked, so his selection in the first round was a surprise. But Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer told fans at MLB.com that the Yankees couldn't pass Culver up.
"He has great tools, makeup and performs," Oppenheimer said. "He's a great shortstop and can hit."
The Yankees aren't the only ones who consider Culver a skilled defender. Baseball America says the shortstop has "all the tools to play shortstop in pro ball, including a 65 arm on the 20-80 scale." Culver is the eighth first rounder to agree to a deal. Click here for the complete, updated list of which first and supplemental rounders have signed.
Culver lists Derek Jeter as one of his favorite players and the Yankees as his favorite team on his high school bio page. Culver and C.J. Henry are the two high school shortstops the Yankees have drafted in the first round since they selected Jeter in 1992.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Brandon Inge
Last year, Brandon Inge posted a .314 OBP and a .406 slugging percentage with a +7 UZR/150 on defense. This year, he has a .316 OBP and a .403 slugging percentage with a +6 UZR/150 on defense. His production is as consistent as can be, but his free agent stock is not quite the same as it was pre-season.
Back in March, Inge appeared to be on track for a modest one-year deal. At that point, he was just one year removed from 2008, when he caught 60 games and played center field 13 times. Now, the 33-year-old is exclusively a third baseman, so it would be hard to leverage his versatility into a favorable contract.
Inge is not exactly the same hitter he was in 2009, despite his nearly-identical slash line. He hit 27 homers a year ago, but his power has come in the form of doubles so far in 2010, possibly because he's hitting more line drives. Inge still strikes out a lot, but he now fans 23% of the time (down from 30% last year).
A few months ago, it looked like Garrett Atkins, Miguel Tejada, Pedro Feliz, Jorge Cantu and Adrian Beltre would be competing for jobs alongside Inge. Beltre has distinguished himself from that group of free agents-to-be with exceptional play on offense (.898 OPS) and defense (+18.5 UZR/150) and it now appears that Atkins and Feliz will be non-factors this winter. Cantu and Tejada are still comparable to Inge and could be competing for openings in Baltimore, Boston, Houston, Miami and Detroit after the season.
Inge will no longer be able to distinguish himself from the likes of Tejada and Cantu with his versatility, but he remains a capable hitter and an above-average defender. Those skills should enable him to land a guaranteed deal in the $4-6MM range.
Poll: Which Team Will Become A Surprise Buyer
Some clubs, like the Yankees, Rangers and Phillies, have positioned themselves as buyers for the trade deadline. They may not add stars, but they can consider big moves since they're going for it in 2010. Some other clubs could conceivably become buyers if things go well between now and the end of July. Will it be the Nationals? the Cubs? the Blue Jays? It's time for your predictions.
Which team will become a surprise buyer at the trade deadline?
Click here to take the survey and here to see the results.
Odds & Ends: Chipper, Cubs, Lowell, Mets, Tigers
Links for Thursday, as Ubaldo Jimenez keeps winning…
- Chipper Jones may have decided on his future; David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (via Twitter) that the Braves will hold a press conference for Chipper at 5pm CST today.
- The Cubs seem close to signing first rounder Hayden Simpson, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox are not close to dealing Mike Lowell to the Rangers or Twins.
- The Red Sox want the Twins and Rangers to pick up salary in a Lowell deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The Twins and Rangers are still reluctant to pay much of the $7MM remaining on Lowell's contract.
- Pat Andriola of FanGraphs says Jake Westbrook could be a good fit for the Mets, who are looking for starting pitching.
- A Tigers official tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that things have been “quiet” on the trade front so far.
- Cubs GM Jim Hendry told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune that he has "no intention of firing Lou Piniella."
- Miguel Montero tells Alex Speier of WEEI.com that he was flattered by the interest Boston had in trading for him after the 2008 season. Speier hears that the Red Sox and D'Backs, who were never on the brink of a deal, were discussing a swap based around Michael Bowden or Daniel Bard.
- If you've ever wondered what it would be like to watch a game beside Padres GM Jed Hoyer, check out this profile by Tim Sullivan of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Within the piece we hear that Hoyer would like to make San Diego an especially appealing destination for pitchers.
- ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick examines the Padres' amazing pitching and points out that manager Bud Black and Hoyer were pitchers themselves.
O’s Aren’t Looking To Shed Payroll
The Orioles may be 30 games under .500, but they’re not going to make deals for the sake of making deals. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli that the club is open to making trades this summer and that’s a good thing, since opposing general managers regularly call to ask about his players.
"You can imagine the guys that are popular," MacPhail said. "Our young pitching is popular, but that's part of the cornerstone of what we are trying to do."
Jeremy Guthrie, who has a sub-4.00 ERA and won’t become a free agent until after the 2012 season, could be one of the appealing arms MacPhail is referring to. Some of Guthrie’s teammates – Ty Wigginton, Miguel Tejada, Kevin Millwood, Cesar Izturis, Will Ohman and Luke Scott – could be easier to obtain. But that doesn’t mean they’re going anywhere.
"We wouldn't [trade] just for the sake of moving payroll," MacPhail said.
If the Orioles determine that they can get something back for Millwood, he is “open" to the idea of switching teams, though he will not demand a trade. Last summer the O's traded Aubrey Huff, Gregg Zaun and George Sherrill away.
Cubs Approached Red Sox About Fukudome
The Cubs recently approached the Red Sox about Kosuke Fukudome, according to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com. Sources in both leagues told McAdam that the Red Sox did not engage the Cubs in talks because of the $21MM remaining on Fukudome’s contract. The Cubs are apparently unwilling to take on much of the $13MM Fukudome makes this year or the $13.5MM he makes next year.
The Red Sox are debating whether to rely on internal options like Daniel Nava and Darnell McDonald or pursue outside help to fill in while Jeremy Hermida, Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury are injured. They never exchanged names with the Cubs, according to McAdam.
The Cubs would like to deal Fukudome, according to recent FOX Sports reports. The 33-year-old is batting .281/.373/.456 with six homers. So far in his two-plus years in the majors, Fukudome has hit better in the first half (.798 OPS) than in the second (.736 OPS).
Pirates Extended Huntington, Russell
2:30pm: MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch passes on a statement from Coonelly which confirms the extensions and says dismissing Russell "is not the appropriate response" to the team's struggles. Coonelly sounds confident in the team's progress, but says "a contract will not prevent us from making a change if one is appropriate and thus contract status truly is irrelevant."
2:22pm: The Pirates extended Russell and Huntington last offseason, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter).
10:53am: The Pirates have extended GM Neal Huntington’s contract through 2011 and may have picked up manager John Russell's option for next season, according to a major league source who spoke to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Pirates president Frank Coonelly chose not to comment on the contracts of Russell and Huntington.
The timing of the extensions would be odd, but not unprecedented. The 23-42 Pirates appear headed for an 18th consecutive losing season and Russell’s job security appears anything but certain. Rosenthal reports that Huntington, whose contract was set to expire after the season, believes in Russell and shoulders much of the blame for the team’s disappointing play.
Huntington has drafted aggressively (Jameson Taillon, Stetson Allie, Pedro Alvarez) and pursued international free agents with gusto since taking over. He has acquired some promising youngsters (Jose Tabata, Tim Alderson, Bryan Morris) in deals for proven players, though he has given up many valuable players along the way (Jason Bay, Tom Gorzelanny). Like any GM who has been around for a few years, there are commendable moves and regrettable ones in Huntington's history.
The Royals, who might be the American League’s answer to the Pirates, made a similar move last summer. They extended GM Dayton Moore in the midst of a largely disappointing 2009 season.
Mets Seek Top Starter
The Mets would like to add a top starter and their ability to absorb payroll will help them acquire an arm, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. Few teams appear willing to take on significant salary, according to Olney, and that could position the Mets to acquire a pitcher for the stretch run.
Roy Oswalt would pitch for the Mets, but they don’t like the $26.8MM remaining on his contract. That price tag would make any team pause and the Mets know the Astros would want prospects, too. Olney hears that the team would prefer to take on salary than give up prospects.
Some within the Mets organization want to make a serious run at Cliff Lee, who would certainly cost top prospects. The Mariners are hesitant to deal Lee at this point, but most expect that to change.
If the Mets sidestep Oswalt and Lee, they could turn to Jake Westbrook, Fausto Carmona, Ben Sheets or Kevin Millwood (who is open to pitching in Queens). Westbrook, Sheets and Millwood all make $10MM-plus, which could limit the number of bidders and give the Mets an edge.
Darin Erstad Is ‘Done’
There will be no more base hits or diving catches for Darin Erstad. After a 14-year MLB career that began soon after the Angels made him the first overall pick in the 1995 draft, Erstad says he's finished.
“I’m done,” he told Dave Selvig of the Jamestown Sun. “I had my time. I always said, ‘When I’m done, I’m done.’ I’m good.”
Erstad wanted to play this year and the Marlins were reportedly interested, but he didn't sign. That means the 36-year-old is spending more time than ever with his family. Assuming Erstad doesn't play again, his career earnings will fall just short of $50MM, according to Baseball-Reference.
Erstad won Gold Gloves in left field, center field and at first base and was named to two All-Star teams. He has a career .282/.336/.407 line with 179 steals and 124 homers. Erstad played for the Astros last year and the White Sox before that, but he's best-known for the decade-plus he spent in Anaheim.