Chipper May Retire Before His Contract Expires
The frustration hadn't set in yet when Chipper Jones signed a three-year extension with the Braves this March. He had just won a batting title and his OPS had exceeded 1.000 for a second straight season. Now, Jones says he may retire before his contract expires, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"I'm certainly not going to stick around for a big contract if I'm not having fun and not producing," Jones said. "I'm not saying I'm retiring at the end of this year or the end of next year, but if I become an average player, I'm not sticking around."
Jones, who says he doesn't want to hamstring the Braves with his contract, has a .390 OBP in an otherwise disappointing season. He's hitting nearly 100 points lower than he did last year and has just 16 homers. He's a defensive liability according to UZR/150, but he still walks more than he strikes out and many players would love an .827 OPS. If Jones can't meet his own expectations, he says he'll stop playing.
Odds And Ends: Sweeney, Padres, Saito
Some links for the morning…
- We already knew Mike Sweeney would consider signing with the Mariners and Angels after the season. Now MLB.com's Jim Street adds the Padres to Sweeney's list of preferred clubs.
- Like GM Kevin Towers, Padres CEO Jeff Moorad expects the team to be "competitive" next year, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
- Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports that Takashi Saito will make $500k when he appears in his next game. Even more incentives kick in if he continues picking up appearances throughout the season's final month.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington tells Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Joel Hanrahan has seemed like a different pitcher in Pittsburgh because he was unlucky as a member of the Nationals.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer doesn't expect the confusion surrounding Jose Valverde's age to have much of an effect on the contract he signs in the winter.
Will Rod Barajas Return To The Jays In 2010?
Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston doesn't expect Rod Barajas to return to the team next year, according to Shi Davidi of the Canadian Press (via the Toronto Sun). Barajas, who will hit free agency after the season, told reporters he's surprised his manager doesn't expect him back.
"I enjoy it here," Barajas said. "I have fun here and I don't see any reason for someone to make that assumption about me coming back."
Barajas says he wants to re-sign with Toronto after the season. The 34-year-old made $2.5MM this year and figures to be a Type B free agent. The Blue Jays could let him walk and obtain a compensation pick if he rejects arbitration to sign with another club.
Barajas has 16 homers this year, but his OBP is just .270. The Blue Jays have an alternative to Barajas at Triple A with similar on base skills. J.P. Arencibia, a first round pick two years ago, has just a .284 OBP. Like Barajas, he has power. The 23-year-old hit 21 homers and 32 doubles in Triple A this season, so the Jays could rely on him and Raul Chavez next year if Barajas departs.
Odds And Ends: Giambi, Wainwright, Meche
Some more links for the morning…
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney believes NL teams should consider Jason Giambi next year if they're looking for a powerful, high OBP bat off the bench.
- Olney also hears from a scout who raves about Adam Wainwright. In case you're wondering, he won't become a free agent until after 2012 or 2013 (the Cards hold an option).
- Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports (via Twitter) that Gil Meche is likely done for the year. Like rotation-mate Brian Bannister, Meche has a tired shoulder. Makes sense for the team to play it safe if there's any doubt, in my opinion.
- Murray Chass points indirectly to this ESPN.com article and argues that some baseball writers rely too much on anonymous sources. Chass believes writers should pass information along to readers without giving too much play to individual biases.
- Joba Chamberlain and Rick Porcello top the list of young pitchers who won't have the luxury of resting their arms during the season's final month, as ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick shows.
Selig On Competitive Balance, Draft, Salary Cap
Commissioner Bud Selig told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that competitive balance exists even though many of baseball's biggest spenders figure to make the playoffs. Selig points to the recent past when the Rays, Twins and A's have succeeded and suggests that the current system allows small and mid-market teams to compete.
However, Selig says the draft needs to be changed when the current collective bargaining agreement expires after 2011. In fact, the commissioner believes changing the current system is "imperative for the health of the game." Selig suggests, as he has before, that he will push for slotting and a worldwide draft.
Selig doesn't completely rule out a salary cap, but hints that he first plans to explore other ways of maintaining competitive balance.
Odds And Ends: Lackey, Millwood, Ross
Some more links for the morning…
- As MLB.com's Lyle Spencer reports, John Lackey is pitching well at the perfect time for the Angels, who now have a solid rotation one through five. It doesn't hurt Lackey's position as an impending free agent, either.
- Kevin Millwood's $12MM option for next season will kick in tonight if he pitches 8.0 innings or more. He has 172 innings on the season and the option vests once he reaches 180.
- It looks like the Rangers will be able to surround Millwood with even more young talent next year. As Jamey Newberg shows for MLB.com, the club has more than its share of promising young players in the minors and, now, in the majors.
- Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports that Cody Ross earned $25k for making 540 plate appearances on the season. He could have more money coming his way, as he makes the same amount for reaching 570 and 600 plate appearances.
Figgins Not Ruling Out A Return To LA
We've heard rumors that the Yankees, White Sox and Cubs could have interest in Chone Figgins this offseason, but the free agent-to-be tells Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times that other cities don't appeal to him as much as LA does.
"It's a different world than here," Figgins said. "Not to say those places are bad, but here is what my game is all about. The guys they bring in fit the program. You get used to winning and that's a great feeling. It doesn't matter how much money you have there."
However, he doesn't seem inclined to give the Angels a hometown discount, as much as he appears to enjoy playing for them. He will likely have many suitors because of his .400 OBP, versatility and defense (he's a strong defender at third, according to UZR).
Byrd Would Consider Pitching Next Year
Paul Byrd recovered from a rough outing against the White Sox to help the Red Sox beat the Orioles last night. His numbers to date aren't good, though the sample size is admittedly small. The 38-year-old righty has started three games for the Red Sox and has allowed 19 hits and six walks in 13.1 innings, striking out five. Still, Byrd tells WEEI.com's Rob Bradford that he would consider pitching again next season.
"I'm going to do the same thing until I can't offer anybody anything, until I can't bring anything to the table," Byrd said. "So I think this year is really important to prove that."
Byrd was able to spend time with his family and preserve his health before joining the Red Sox in time for the stretch run. Given the recent success of older pitchers like Jamie Moyer and Tim Wakefield, it's not hard to imagine Byrd pitching again next year, especially if he finishes the season with a stretch of effective starts.
Josh Beckett’s 2010 Option Vests
11:25pm: WEEI's Rob Bradford notes that "the only way the option wouldn’t be triggered is if Beckett finishes the ‘09 season on the disabled list." Bradford also explores the circumstances surrounding Beckett's extension, signed in July of 2006.
1:19pm: When Josh Beckett delivered his first pitch to Scott Podsednik this afternoon, his 2010 option kicked in, as anticipated. The 29-year-old righty will make $12.1MM next season and probably would have seen the Red Sox pick up his option even if he hadn't quite reached the 28 start plateau that triggered the option.
As free agents last year, C.C Sabathia ($161MM) and A.J. Burnett ($82.5MM) signed lucrative long-term deals that Beckett could have used for leverage had he hit the open market this winter. Instead, he'll wait until next offseason at the earliest.
Beckett has been worth $19.2MM so far this year, according to FanGraphs. He's striking out nearly a batter per inning, limiting his walks and allowing a characteristically low number of hits. As a result, he entered today's start as a fringe contender for the Cy Young Award thanks, in part, to his 14-5 record and 3.87 ERA.
Odds And Ends: Jeter, Pettitte, Griffey
All three of these potential Hall of Famers were on their current teams ten years ago…
- Bob Klapisch of FOX Sports says the Yankees are bracing themselves for the possibility that Derek Jeter will ask for a massive contract after next season. Klapisch wonders if Jeter could ask for $100MM over four years when negotiations begin.
- Andy Pettitte tells Jon Heyman of SI.com that he hasn't decided whether to return for another season after this one. The 37-year-old has a 4.10 ERA in 28 starts for the Yanks this year.
- MLB.com's Jim Street says Ken Griffey Jr.'s return to Seattle has been a complete success. We heard last week that Griffey would consider returning to the team next year.