MLBPA Decides Against Training Camp
ESPN.com passes along the AP’s report that the players’ association has decided not to run a training camp for unsigned free agents this spring. After the 1994-95 strike, the union opened a training camp for its players. Donald Fehr, the union’s leader, said it’s not necessary this year:
"We don’t think that it’s essential to do that and we still remain hopeful that players will be signed."
Fallout From Abreu And Dunn Deals
Let’s look at the fallout from today’s big news. The Angels have reached an agreement with Bobby Abreu and the Nats have done the same with Adam Dunn, but, as many of our commenters have noted, other teams and players are affected by these deals. Here’s a breakdown:
- The Dodgers lose a lot of leverage in their negotiations with Manny Ramirez. Dunn was their preferred alternative to Manny, and Abreu was another possibility. Unless GM Ned Colletti wants to trade for a bat or sign a much lesser hitter, he may have to give in to Manny and offer three years or an enhanced one or two year deal.
- Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras must be smiling tonight. The two strongest suitors for Manny, the Dodgers and Giants, still need bats, but Manny’s the only top-notch outfielder left.
- The Braves lose leverage. They’ve considered trading for Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher, but with Dunn and Abreu off the board, and Manny out of reach, the Braves might have to give up more in a trade with the Yankees.
- The Yankees, in turn, benefit from these two deals because they can demand more from the Braves. Peter Abraham thinks the Yankees should hold onto Swisher and Nady.
- Garret Anderson and Ken Griffey Jr. are now the best remaining alternatives to Manny, so they could both benefit from today’s deals.
Odds And Ends: Brewers, Roberts, Tejada
A few links for Wednesday night…
- According to The Sports Network, the Brewers signed minor leaguers Eduardo Morlan and Cody Scarpetta to one year deals.
- Brian Roberts hasn’t given up on working out an extension with the O’s, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Kubatko writes "it’s pretty clear that he wants a fourth year."
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News profiles Jesus Montero, the 19-year-old who could succeed Jorge Posada if he fares well as a catcher.
- MLB.com’s Corey Brock reports that Tigers’ pitching prospect Rick Porcello isn’t changing his approach as he approaches the majors.
- AZSnakePit.com interviewed D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes about pitching, defensive metrics and the June draft.
- Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Chase Utley looks healthy in Clearwater.
- The Astros hope Miguel Tejada starts the season as their shortstop, according to Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle. Astros GM Ed Wade is apparently "committed to Tejada."
Sabean Can’t Imagine Trading Sanchez
According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, Giants GM Brian Sabean can’t imagine trading Jonathan Sanchez for a bat.
Sanchez is pencilled in as the Giants’ fifth starter, behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Randy Johnson and Barry Zito. Noah Lowry would have to pitch extremely well in Spring Training to take the job from Sanchez.
Peavy Glad To Be A Padre
MLB.com’s Corey Brock passes along comments Jake Peavy made on XX Sports Radio in San Diego. Peavy said he’s "dang glad" to be a Padre after an offseason of trade talks. Peavy said he understands that business decisions led to a "crazy winter."
Brock adds that GM Kevin Towers "has not had active discussions with any team regarding Peavy" since the Winter Meetings.
Rays To Sign Morgan Ensberg
5:42pm: Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune spoke with Rays VP of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, on Monday about the Ensberg signing. The club has talked to their new acquisition about possibly filling in at a corner outfield spot this season. Ensberg told ESPN.com earlier today that he’d be willing to play second base or left field.
12:36pm: According to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, the Rays have agreed to a minor league contract with Morgan Ensberg. He can earn $650K if he makes the team out of Spring Training.
Ensberg’s production has declined since 2005, when he hit 36 home runs, but he’d be a backup for the Rays, who already have Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena on the corners.
As Crasnick points out, DRaysBay was on this signing Friday.
Cardinals Release Adam Kennedy
According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals have released Adam Kennedy. They’ll still be responsible for his $4MM salary. The move was "apparently made at the strong urging of manager Tony La Russa," who didn’t want Kennedy to be his starting second baseman.
Skip Schumaker has been working out at second base, and could play there if the Cards don’t add anyone to replace Kennedy. Strauss mentions Brendan Ryan and a few others as possible competitors for the job.
This is good news for Orlando Hudson, who has another possible bidder for his services.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Saturday
6:28pm: According to Chris Haft of MLB.com, Giants’ GM Brian Sabean maintains that it will take "a special set of circumstances" for the Giants to land Manny Ramirez.
"It’s not going to be a long-term contract like you’re reading about," Sabean said. "It’s not going to be at the dollars that are being speculated. It’s going to have to make business sense and it’s going to have to make baseball sense."
Sabean spoke of Ramirez as "a player that has tremendous upside on the one hand, and some warts that still leave him on the market because of what his lack of all-around play is or what his past has been in previous organizations."
Sabean also maintained that the Giants are in a position to wait for bargains when the July 31 Trade Deadline approaches, saying that the Giants are putting together a "hit list" of players who might become available.
4:21pm: Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times has posted an article following an interview with the man himself, Manny Ramirez.
Hernandez writes that Ramirez continues to wait for a four-year deal. Says Ramirez, "We’re in the seventh inning and I’m waiting for my pitch."
Ramirez was also very frank with Hernandez about his future baseball aspirations. On that subject, Ramirez says, "Understand me, I have goals. I know that if I play six more years, I could get to my 3,000th hit and, who knows, maybe my 700th home run."
2:49pm: Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports that while the Dodgers have not been speaking with Manny’s agent Scott Boras lately, it appears that the San Francisco Giants have been doing so. Actually, it couldn’t be clearer: "We have been talking," says Giants President Larry Baer.
According to Shaikin, the Giants are not likely to beat either the Dodgers’ one or two-year offers to Manny, but have recently been reported as having "not ruled out a three-year contract."
9:40am: Here are some thoughts on Manny Ramirez from around baseball:
- Scott Miller of CBS Sports thinks "the Giants immediately become NL West favorites if they sign Manny. Adding Bob Howry, Jeremy Affeldt, Edgar Renteria and Randy Johnson certainly helped their team.
- The Boston Herald’s John Tomase remembers the last time someone other than Manny started the season as the Boston left fielder: Troy O’Leary in 2001. Tomase thinks Jason Bay will continue to play well as Manny’s successor in left.
- Mark Kreigel of Fox Sports writes that clubs "are scared of Manny being Manny."
The Corner Outfield-DH Market
There are still many jobless players who could contribute as a corner outfielder or a DH, so it’s a good time to take stock of the market. Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu are the big names, but Garret Anderson, Andruw Jones, Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds and Ken Griffey Jr. want jobs and Jermaine Dye, Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher could be available through trades.
Here’s a look at the teams who have reportedly had interest in this type of player, starting in the AL:
- White Sox: They thought about Abreu and Dye’s been involved in rumors all offseason, much to the frustration of Kenny Williams. Dye will earn $11.5MM in 2009.
- Angels: They aren’t interested in Dye, but they could be interested in Abreu or Dunn at the right price. Don’t look for them to make a play for Manny though; GM Tony Reagins said it won’t happen. Garret Anderson won’t be back.
- Mariners: The Ms could sign Griffey, but they prefer Abreu and Anderson.
- Braves: They are the top suitor for Swisher and they have some interest in bringing back Jones. Atlanta has about $5-9MM to spend, so they could change plans and pursue Dunn or Abreu if they’re willing to accept a deal worth under $10MM. Don’t rule out a Nady trade, either.
- Nationals: The Nats have offered Dunn a contract, which he’s been sitting on for a while. They’re also monitoring the Manny market.
- Mets: Abreu and Ramirez won’t sign with the Mets this offseason. If Griffey’s willing to sign at a major discount, he could sign with the Mets, but indications are he wants $5-6MM.
- Dodgers: The Dodgers have targeted Manny Ramirez all offseason, and he’s rejected two contract offers from them. The first was for $45MM over two years with a club option; the second was for $25MM over one year. Dunn appears to like the Dodgers, and Abreu’s an option, too.
- Giants: The Giants are also courting Manny, but some have said they just want to prevent the Dodgers from getting a deal. Abreu could also fit in San Francisco.
- Reds: Yet another team that could pursue Abreu, the Reds spoke with Luis Gonzalez’s agent ealier in the winter. Adam Dunn won’t return to Cincinnati this offseason.
Odds And Ends: Anderson, Griffey, Varitek
Links for Saturday…
- According to Bill Dwyre of the LA Times Garret Anderson has no ill will towards the Angels.
- Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times thinks the Mariners need to sign Ken Griffey Jr. He adds that the Mariners may be "warming to the idea."
- The Kyodo News reports that the Blue Jays have finalized Ken Takahashi‘s contract.
- According to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, Jason Varitek passed his physical.
- Jay Jaffe, Kevin Goldstein and Christina Kahrl of BP fill in the remaining holes on National League teams.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes that players should "go the extra mile" to please fans in the weakened economy, as they did in 1995 after the strike.