Odds & Ends: Morneau, Nats, Pirates
Some links for Tuesday…
- Justin Morneau will miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his lower back, according to ESPN.com's Jim Caple.
- Ian Desmond, who could figure into the Nationals' middle infield plans next year, has taken some good-natured heat from his teammates for wearing these around, writes Chico Harlan of the Washington Post. Desmond has reached base in nine of his 14 major league plate appearances, but the Nats may look for a free agent shortstop after the season.
- Doug Mientkiewicz tells Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Pirates have made the right decisions this year, as difficult as some of them have been for the fans.
- Neither Kevin Millwood nor Rangers manager Ron Washington is expressing concern over Millwood's 2010 option, according to Anthony Andro of the Dallas Morning News. Millwood, who is less than 5.0 innings away from guaranteeing himself a $12MM payday next year, could start as soon as Friday.
Previewing The Vladimir Guerrero Market
Vladimir Guerrero earned over $80MM over the course of his last contract. He won't sign for nearly as much when he hits free agency again this winter, but he could appeal to clubs looking for a veteran bat. After all, Vladdy hasn't posted an OPS below .800 since 1996. This year, he's hitting .298/.338/.467, but his strikeout rate has risen and his walk rate has fallen. Guerrero remains the free-swinger he's always been; in fact, he swings at a higher percentage of pitches than any major leaguer with at least 250 plate appearances.
He's 34 years old, but his legs are already starting to fail him. The one-time 40-steal man hasn't swiped more than five bags since 2006. His defense is fading, too, according to UZR/150. He's only played in the outfield twice this year, and for good reason.
Now that he's essentially a DH, he'll be competing for jobs with Jim Thome, Hideki Matsui, Gary Sheffield and others. The Angels, Mariners, White Sox, Tigers and Blue Jays could all be among the teams with some interest in the former MVP this offseason. We won't likely know Vladdy's fate before then, since the Angels will wait until after the season before negotiating with any of their free agents-to-be.
For more on the situation, check out Bill Shaikin's article at the L.A. Times. Shaikin explores whether Vlad would wear an Angels cap in the Hall of Fame, and how that might factor into the team's decision this winter. He says it's "absolutely clear" Guerrero wants to stay.
Odds & Ends: Johnson, Dontrelle, Millwood
Some links for the evening…
- Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald hears that there's "some sentiment" within the Marlins organization toward offering Josh Johnson a long-term deal.
- Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune wonders if the Tigers might decide to eat the $12MM they owe Dontrelle Willis.
- The Rangers may skip Kevin Millwood's next start, according to MLB.com's Todd Wills. The 34-year-old is only 13 outs away from seeing his 2010 option kick in for $12MM. Millwood says he feels fine, so his option will likely vest whether he skips a start or not.
- The Reds aren't making the playoffs this year, but, as manager Dusty Baker tells Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News, there's still "the personal stuff on the back of your bubblegum card" to play for.
Odds And Ends: Angels, Red Sox, Heyward
Another round of links…
- Kevin Baxter of the LA Times reports that the Angels don't have a firm payroll for 2010 at this point.
- Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald says Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has made a couple of his best deadline deals the past two seasons. Jason Bay and Victor Martinez have been major contributors ever since arriving in Boston.
- As Baseball America's Conor Glassey notes, the Nationals have a worse record the the Royals, Pirates, or any other team, so they're the favorites to land next year's first overall pick.
- Congrats to Jason Heyward, BA's minor league player of the year.
Nats Look To Add At Least Two Starters For 2010
We knew the Nationals would be looking for a starting pitcher this winter, but Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post now reports that they hope to add at least two starters by next season. One figures to be a "bargain basement" type, perhaps Livan Hernandez. Boswell says the second pitcher will likely be the sort of arm who would fit into the middle of a good team's rotation.
Doug Davis and Jon Garland could both fit for the Nationals, and there are many more names to consider in this year's crop of free agent pitchers. It's a long list, but Nats GM Mike Rizzo says he's "going to get one of them."
Nats Ask Guzman To Move To Second Base
Nats GM Mike Rizzo and manager Jim Riggleman met with Cristian Guzman yesterday to ask the shortstop to move to second base next year, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Guzman, who has never played second base at the major league level, was apparently shocked and didn't give the Nats an answer.
The Nationals hope to improve their defense up the middle, so they're considering the shift. If Guzman agrees to the move, the Nationals would likely be in the market for a shortstop this offseason. They have had interest in Orlando Hudson before, but if Guzman plays second, they would be looking at one of these shortstops. If they decide not to spend on a free agent, they could pursue one via trade (the Brewers and Rays have shortstop depth) or call on prospect Ian Desmond, who impressed in his MLB debut.
Dave Cameron of FanGraphs says moving Guzman doesn't necessarily lower his value. Shortstop is considered the more demanding position, but Guzman could potentially help his team by moving to the right side of the infield.
This reminds me of Michael Young's decision to switch positions earlier in the year. The Rangers are in the pennant race thanks, in part, to Elvis Andrus, so Young's choice helped his club.
Red Sox Rumors: Baldelli, Gonzalez
The latest on Rocco Baldelli and Alex Gonzalez…
- Baldelli tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that, though he prefers not to discuss his upcoming free agency, he has enjoyed his role with the Red Sox. The Red Sox signed him to a one-year $500k deal last offseason and he has responded with a .254/.315/.462 line.
- Billy Wagner insisted that the Red Sox agree to turn down his 2010 option as a condition of the trade that sent him to Boston. He had leverage because of his no-trade clause and decided to use it, as players in similar situations often do.
- Alex Gonzalez also had a no-trade clause, but, as he tells Alex Speier of WEEI.com, decided not to use it to obtain leverage of any sort. He knew right away that he wanted to join the Red Sox, so his decision was simple.
Wagner Expects To Turn Down Arbitration
Billy Wagner tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that he expects to turn down arbitration this offseason if the Red Sox offer it. Wagner wants to close again and, since Jonathan Papelbon has the closer's job in Boston, Wagner says he'd look to sign elsewhere, even if it means he makes less money.
He will probably be a Type A free agent, which means the Red Sox will receive two draft picks if Wagner rejects their offer of arbitration to sign elsewhere. This could limit the interest in Wagner; teams may decide it's not worth giving up a top pick for a reliever coming off Tommy John surgery.
Wagner says he would consider joining a club that offers him the chance to close, but says he hasn't fully committed to playing next season yet.
Crede Wants To Return To The Twins
Joe Crede told Kelsie Smith of the Pioneer Press that he wants to return to the Twins in 2010, though he's prepared for another long job search this offseason. The third baseman didn't sign with the Twins until Spring Training this year, partially because of concerns over his health. Crede has missed time because of back injuries over the years and the injuries forced him to the DL last month.
The Twins signed Crede to an incentive-laden deal that will pay him at least $4MM by the season's end. He could attract similar offers this offseason, but it would be a surprise to see any team commit significant dollars or years to Crede. The 31-year-old offsets his .229/.293/.421 batting line with strong defense (according to UZR/150), but Crede realizes he may have another tough offseason ahead.
Olney On Matt Holliday And The Cardinals
ESPN.com's Buster Olney doesn't expect the Cardinals to spend much differently than usual this offseason, despite their aggressiveness at this year's trade deadline. The Cards took on salary to acquire Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa, but the team may not be able to spend as much this offseason. As Olney points out, the Cardinals have never opened the season with a payroll over $92.1MM.
The Cards have committed to Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter and others, so they may be unable to retain Holliday without exceeding $100MM. The club could increase its payroll, of course, but recent history suggests the Cardinals will operate on an eight figure budget.
One scout says Holliday was easy to pitch to in the American League, which could limit potential suitors. However, Olney guesses the Angels will ultimately sign the left fielder.