Olney On Hardy, Rangers, Figgins
Everyone's predicting the market for Chone Figgins these days and ESPN.com's Buster Olney is no exception. Olney guesses that the Yankees will sign Figgins, who could patrol left field for the Bombers and fill in at other positions when needed. Here are the rest of Olney's rumors:
- Olney points out that J.J. Hardy, whose free agency the Brewers delayed, picked up 130 days of service time on the DL over the years. It all counts, though.
- Olney hears that there are now just three contenders to buy the Rangers.
- One talent evaluator suggests MLB could adopt first and second half winners to lessen the advantage big market teams have.
Padres Expect To Be “Pretty Good” Next Year
When the Padres won the NL West with an 82-80 record four years ago, the division was laughably weak. Now that the Dodgers, Rockies and Giants have improved, the NL West is home to three of the league's five best teams. The Diamondbacks should improve next year, so the division is no longer a joke, but that hasn't deterred Padres GM Kevin Towers.
"I think we might be pretty good next year," Towers told ESPN.com's Buster Olney. "I know that sounds pretty crazy."
Olney suggests the Padres will likely keep Adrian Gonzalez, whose 35 homers would appeal to many teams if the Padres decided to listen to trade offers. The Padres have improved pitching and, now that they're no longer responsible for Jake Peavy's contract, could be minor players in the free agent market.
Odds And Ends: Mets, Padilla, Cardinals
Derek Jeter could become the all-time Yankees hit leader today, but in the meantime, here are some links:
- Jim Bastian of The Journal reports that the Dodgers re-signed Jamie Hoffman just two days after designating him for assignment in a procedural move.
- As Ben Shpigel of the New York Times notes, Daniel Murphy could start at first base for the Mets next year. This could allow the team to spend on an outfielder, perhaps even Jason Bay or Matt Holliday.
- MLB.com's David Ely says Vicente Padilla has been more than serviceable since the Dodgers picked him up to bolster their rotation in late August.
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan says the Cardinals are the champions of the trade deadline. Matt Holliday, Mark DeRosa, Julio Lugo and John Smoltz have turned the Cards into a force.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer expects Jose Tabata to spend the next six years making the Yankees look foolish. The Pirates acquired Tabata in the Xavier Nady trade last summer.
- Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post gives Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd credit for the team's strong play.
Cafardo On Boston’s Catchers
Ever since the Red Sox acquired Victor Martinez, we've assumed that they'll pick up his $7MM option for next season. Other than that, the team's plans at catcher are unclear, so Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe breaks down their options going forward. Here's the latest:
- Red Sox scouts have been scouring the league for catchers in case the team decides not to bring Jason Varitek back next year. The club can exercise his 2010 option for $5MM, but even if they choose not to, Varitek can trigger a player option that pays him $3MM, plus incentives.
- The Red Sox may consider extending Martinez. He's hitting well and fitting in with Boston's staff, so they could consider making him their long-term backstop.
- Like Joe Mauer and A.J. Pierzynski, Martinez should hit free agency after the 2010 season.
- Mauer could likely command $20MM on the open market. How much could V-Mart make?
Nats Hope To Improve Middle Infield Defense
Amid concerns that Cristian Guzman's defensive abilities are fading, the Nationals will look for improved defense up the middle in 2010, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. The Nats would apparently "love" to sign Orlando Hudson, who will be a free agent after the season. But, after last offseason, they realize he may choose to sign elsewhere, so they have a second option in mind.
The team is "seriously thinking" about moving Guzman to second base, where he has yet to play a game at the major league level. This would enable the Nats to upgrade defensively over Guzman, who has been a slightly below average defender every year since 2005, according to UZR/150.
Marco Scutaro and Alex Gonzalez (team option) are among the better defensive shortstops who could be available on the open market and J.J. Hardy could be available in a trade. Alternatively, the Nats could try prospect Ian Desmond at short.
Odds And Ends: Figgins, Peavy, Royals
Some more links to check out…
- Cubs manager Lou Piniella told the Chicago Tribune that he expects his team to be speedier next year. The Tribune suggests Chone Figgins could be a fit for the Cubs. With his versatility and speed, Figgins would be a fit on a number of clubs.
- As MLB.com's Rustin Dodd points out, Figgins has also emerged as one of the league's best defenders at the hot corner.
- Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald believes the White Sox would be wise to rest Jake Peavy for the rest of the season if they're not within five games of the division lead by next weekend.
- Whether Peavy returns this year or not, MLB.com's Mike Bauman says the White Sox have a lot to look forward to in coming seasons.
- A "baseball guy" tells Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star that the Royals are bad because even "their good players aren't very good." Zack Greinke and Billy Butler are presumably exceptions.
The Week Ahead
Now that we've taken a look at the week that was, let's anticipate what lies ahead. There aren't as many pennant races to watch as usual this year, so keep your eye on the following stories as the week progresses:
- When Josh Beckett throws his first pitch tomorrow afternoon, his 2010 option will kick in for $12.1MM.
- Kevin Millwood will likely pitch against the Mariners on Friday. If he goes eight innings or more, he will have pitched 180 innings on the season and his $12MM option for 2010 will vest.
- One final option to monitor this week: Magglio Ordonez is a mere 27 plate appearances from seeing his $18MM option kick in for next season. It could happen this week, but, depending on playing time, Maggs may have to wait longer.
- For recaps of these options and more, check out Tim's post from earlier in the week.
- Tony Abreu filed a grievance against the Dodgers and Glen Perkins may file one of his own against the Twins. We'll see if either player reaches a resolution with his club this week.
- Don't rule out trades, either. Could the Rangers acquire an infielder? Could the Phils add a bench bat?
Stark On Mets, Wright, Reyes
Mets GM Omar Minaya tells ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that he will be "very creative and very open-minded" this offseason as he tries to improve one of baseball's most disappointing teams. Here are the details:
- A variety of executives don't believe the Mets are close to winning soon. One says "there's no quick fix" for the team and another believes they have to rebuild.
- One scout believes it will take more than restored health and minor changes for the Mets to compete with the Phillies, Braves and Marlins next year.
- One of Stark's sources says Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya could be fired if the team falls apart in September.
- More than one executive believes the Mets have a weak farm system. One exec says the prospects they do have are far from contributing in the majors.
- The Mets will need starting pitching, a catcher, a first baseman, at least one corner outfielder and a left-handed reliever after the season. They will have some money to spend, but it will be tough to meet those needs with dollars alone.
- One exec believes there's no chance they trade David Wright in an attempt to fill multiple holes.
- Three executives tell Stark the Mets have to trade Jose Reyes.
September Trade Candidates
We won't see nearly as many trades as we did in July, or even in August, but teams can still make deals. New acquisitions won't be eligible to play in the post-season, but they could still help their new clubs make the playoffs. Here are a few of the players who could be dealt this month:
- Mark Hendrickson and Danys Baez are among the players known to have cleared waivers; they could appeal to clubs.
- Kevin Millar has managed a .750 OPS against lefties in an otherwise disappointing offensive season, so clubs may want him off the bench, especially considering his reputation as a positive clubhouse presence. His teammate, John McDonald, could appeal to teams as a defensive specialist. He has a well-earned reputation as an excellent defender up the middle.
- Buster Olney suggested today that the Rangers will look into infielders now that Michael Young is injured. Jamey Carroll could appeal to the Rangers and other clubs.
- Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported recently that the Phillies have an eye on Nomar Garciaparra.
Odds And Ends: Grabow, Brewers, Blue Jays
Time for another round of links…
- John Grabow tells Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times that he enjoys playing for the Cubs and likes the city of Chicago. Grabow, who becomes a free agent after the season, sounds open to re-signing with the Cubs.
- Manager Ken Macha thinks the Brewers could use some power arms, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors argues that the J.D. Drew contract- $70MM over five years- isn't quite as bad as people think.
- Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi tells Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star that he takes full responsibility for the Blue Jays' disappointing play. The club has faded steadily since its 27-14 start.