Odds And Ends: Hinch, Manny, Longoria
Links for Friday…
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports believes the D'Backs' new manager, A.J. Hinch, is a "strange choice" because he has no managerial or coaching experience.
- Newsday's Ken Davidoff says signing Manny Ramirez was the best move the Mets never made.
- MLB.com's Doug Miller and Ken Gurnick sift through a year's worth of Ramirez-related drama.
- Tim Sullivan of the San Diego Union-Tribune wonders if the Dodgers will have enough payroll flexibility to take on Jake Peavy's contract, now that Manny has been suspended without pay.
- Kirk Kenney of the Union-Tribune asks where Stephen Strasburg belongs in college baseball history.
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle has a plan to fix the Astros. He'd like to see them trade veterans like Jose Valverde and Carlos Lee and try to win with youth, even if it means losing first.
- Tyler Kepner of the New York Times says the contrast between what the Yankees owe Alex Rodriguez and what the Rays owe Evan Longoria illustrates the difference between the AL East rivals.
- Buster Olney profiled Longoria for ESPN the Magazine.
- More sad news for baseball: Dom Dimaggio died this morning, as MLB.com's Bobbie Dittmeier reports.
Draft Update: Strasburg, Scheppers, Paxton
ESPN.com's Jason A. Churchill has an update on some top amateur players as June 9th draws closer:
- He confirms what we heard last week: Barring the unforseen, the Nats will select Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick.
- Scouts expect Tanner Scheppers, who was drafted but never signed by the Pirates last year, to be selected within the first 15 picks. They're divided on whether the righty, who is pitching in an independent league, can crack the top ten.
- Scott Boras added a new client, Kentucky lefty James Paxton, according to one of Churcill's sources.
Nationals DFA Mike Hinckley
The Nationals have designated left-handed pitcher Mike Hinckley for assignment to make room for Ron Villone, according to the AP (via ESPN). Hinckley, 26, walked 11 batters in 9.2 innings this year, most recently against the Dodgers with the bases loaded last night.
What Manny’s Suspension Means For The Dodgers
We know that Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games after failing a drug test, but what does it mean for the Dodgers? ESPN.com's Buster Olney breaks down the consequences for baseball's winningest team so far.
- Ramirez loses between $7-8MM in salary this year.
- He'll miss 50 games and return in early July.
- Olney says "no team with any sanity is going to match the money that Ramirez stands to make in the second year of his deal" (he makes $20MM next season).
- So Manny will not opt out of the contract.
- The Dodgers, like the Yankees with Alex Rodriguez, have been "duped," but there's nothing they can do about it.
Some other consequences for the team:
- Juan Pierre will presumably play every day in left field and bat eighth.
- Could the $7-8MM be used to acquire a free agent like Pedro Martinez or Ben Sheets?
- Could it give the team the flexibility to make a deal for a premier player?
A-Rod’s Milestone Bonuses
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark hears from a variety of baseball officials who believe the Yankees should try to challenge and avoid the clauses in Alex Rodriguez's contract that reward him for hitting historic home runs. The contract calls for five $6MM bonuses to reward Rodriguez for "historic milestone accomplishments." A-Rod, who has 553 home runs, gets $6MM for matching Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762) and another $6MM for passing Bonds.
Odds And Ends: Draft, Stark, Selig
Links for Wednesday night…
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer argues that the Nats shouldn't take Stephen Strasburg unless they're sure he'll help their team more than any other player, regardless of the hype surrounding the college righty.
- Neyer also weighs in on the possibility of Bill James appearing as a cartoon in the upcoming Moneyball movie.
- Speaking on ESPN radio, Jayson Stark says the Dodgers should win the NL West by 15 or 20 games.
- He says they're a starter and a bullpen arm away from becoming much stronger and adds that they have the pieces to deal for the pitching they need.
- Jenny Vrentas of the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports that Bud Selig says teams are making the necessary adjustments to cope with the struggling economy. Selig was speaking with the commissioners for the NBA, the NFL and the NHL.
- MLB.com's Ken Gurnick writes that the Dodgers are thrilled to have added Orlando Hudson.
- MLB.com's Bill Chastain spoke with Carl Crawford about the 100-steal plateau and heard that the speedy left fielder doesn't expect his stolen base tally to reach triple digits. Crawford, who has 20 steals, will likely become a free agent after 2010. How much could he command as baseball's first 100-steal man since Vince Coleman in 1987?
Yankees Re-Sign Humberto Sanchez
The Yankees re-signed right-handed pitcher Humberto Sanchez to a minor league deal, according to this press release on the site for the Scranton Times-Tribune. He was released by the Yankees on April 25th to make room for Mark Melancon. Sanchez, 25, was assigned to AA Trenton and placed on their disabled list.
Super Two Players
You hear about Super Twos, but who are they and what distinguishes them from other players? Here's a quick explanation, along with lists of Super Twos from the last few years. None of these lists could have been assembled without Jeff Euston of Cot's Baseball Contracts.
- According to the MLBPA: Super Twos come from the group of players who have between two and three years service time and at least 86 days service time the previous year. The 17% of those players with the most service time become Super Twos.
- They go to arbitration four times, instead of the usual three.
- This means Super Twos make more money than other players who have between two and three years of service time. Going to arbitration four times is much more lucrative than renewing a contract once and going to arb three times.
- They don't become free agents earlier than other players; six years of service time are still required.
- No Super Two had less than two years, 130 days service time any of the last three winters. Alex Rios, Randy Flores and Antonio Perez all went to arbitration for the first time with two years, 130 days service time before the 2007 season.
- The most service time a Super Two player could have is two years, 171 days. Any more than that and the player has three years.
- Since 2007, the average Super Two has had two years and 148 days of service time.
- Players who started the 2009 season with a year and 140 days of service time have a good chance at becoming Super Twos with a full season of baseball, but we won't know who qualifies until the season's over.
- Service time is written: years.days. So if a player has three years and 145 days of service time, it's noted as 3.145.
2010 Super Twos
Matt Albers, Orioles 2.141
Mike Fontenot, Cubs 2.139
Tom Gorzelanny, Cubs 2.160
Jared Burton, Reds 2.165
Nick Masset, Reds 2.146
Rafael Perez, Indians 2.157
Jason Hammel, Rockies 2.153
Hunter Pence, Astros 2.156
Alex Gordon, Royals 2.162
Carlos Gomez, Brewers 2.141
Rajai Davis, A's 2.167
Joey Devine, A's 2.171
Tim Lincecum, Giants 2.148
Brian Wilson, Giants 2.169
Matt Garza, Rays 2.149
Dustin Nippert, Rangers 2.140
Jesus Flores, Nationals 2.158
2009 Super Twos
Willy Aybar
Brian Bannister
Taylor Buchholz
Melky Cabrera
Chris Duncan
Andre Ethier
Cole Hamels
Shawn Hill
Brandon League
Russell Martin
Mike Napoli
Ricky Nolasco
Angel Pagan
Humberto Quintero
Luke Scott
Jack Taschner
2008 Super Twos
Jose Bautista
Brian Bruney
Tim Byrdak
Robinson Cano
Ryan Church
Matt Diaz
Jonny Gomes
Brad Hennessey
Ryan Howard
Casey Kotchman
Dallas McPherson
Augie Ojeda
George Sherrill
Brian Tallet
Mark Teahen
Chien-Ming Wang
2007 Super Twos
Dave Borkowski
Eric Bruntlett
Daniel Cabrera
Randy Flores
Jason Frasor
Geoff Geary
Jimmy Gobble
Matt Miller
Justin Morneau
Antonio Perez
Alex Rios
Cory Sullivan
Mike Wood
This post was updated on June 25th, 2010.
Astros DFA Jason Smith
According to Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros designated Jason Smith for assignment to make room for pitcher Alberto Arias. Smith hadn't collected a hit in 21 at bats for the Astros so far this year.
Astros Sign Brendan Donnelly
The Astros signed Brendan Donnelly and assigned him to Triple-A, a month after the Rangers released him. He joined Round Rock earlier in the week, but it was an under-the-radar signing found on the team's transactions page so it didn't surface right away (Hat Tip to this blog). Donnelly, now 37, debuted as a 30-year-old rookie on the World Champion Angels team in 2002.