Lincecum Seeking A One-Year Deal
With the mother of all arbitration cases set to go down this winter, Tim Lincecum and his agent Rick Thurman will pursue just a one-year deal according to John Shea of The SF Chronicle. Going year-to-year in arbitration would allow the righty to maximize his earning potential, though he'd be forgoing the security that comes along with signing a long-term deal.
Shea mentions that the 25-year-old two-time defending Cy Young Award winner could ask for C.C. Sabathia money thanks to a "special accomplishment" provision in Article VI Rule F (12) of CBA. While filing for salary arbitration, a player's compensation is based on what other players with similar service time are paid, however this provision would allow arbitration panel to "give whatever weight to such argument as is deemed appropriate." That essentially means they could disregard Lincecum's service time, if they choose.
Jays Looking For An Arm And A Bat For Halladay
Another day, another Roy Halladay rumor. Today, Jeremy Sandler of The National Post reports that the Blue Jays "want a major league-ready arm and bat, both young and affordable enough to stay in Toronto a while, plus prospects for Halladay."
Regardless of how great Halladay is, it's a steep price to pay for just one year of his services. Yesterday we heard that the Red Sox would "almost certainly" have to give up Clay Buchholz and Casey Kelly to acquire Halladay, though those two don't meet the above-mentioned criteria. According to industry insiders, Sandler suggests that serious offers matching Toronto's wish list could be coming in the next few weeks.
Donnelly Hopes To Land A Major League Deal
Free agent reliever Brendan Donnelly hopes to secure a Major League contract this offseason, according to MLB.com's Doug Miller. The 38-year-old righthander signed a minor league contract with Texas last winter, when he was coming off Tommy John surgery.
"The sense I'm getting this year is that it's similar to last year in general. But personally, I feel really different this year than last year, because last year I was coming off an injury," Donnelly said. "I feel like last year, when I finally got the chance, I showed people I'm back.
"In that way, I can't imagine having to take a Minor League deal this year. I think I've answered the questions that need to be answered on the field. If I had half a season in the NL with a 3.50-4.00 ERA, if the numbers weren't there — especially the strikeout numbers — then I might be singing a different tune."
Donnelly managed to put up a 1.78 ERA with an 8.9 K/9 in 25.1 second half innings for the Marlins last year after Texas cut him and he opted out of another minor league deal with Houston. Based on WAR, it was his most productive season since 2003. Given all of the righthanded relief options on the market (there's 49 of them on our free agent list), it might be tough for Donnelly to get his wish.
Pirates Kicking The Tires On Ankiel & Blalock
The Pirates are believed to have already made contact with Scott Boras about two of his clients, free agents Rick Ankiel and Hank Blalock, according to Dejan Kovacevic of The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. The team's preference "is for a short-term contract aimed at allowing the player a chance at full-time duty to revive their careers."
With Andrew McCutchen in center and Lastings Milledge serving the default leftfielder, the idea is that late-bloomer Garrett Jones would play either first base or rightfield, depending on what the team does in the offseason. Kovacevic says that management's preference is for Jeff Clement to win the first base job, though bringing in Ankiel would put Jones at first, while bringing in Blalock would put Jones in right.
Kovacevic also adds that GM Neal Huntington has been cleared by team president Frank Coonelly to spend more, although no firm number was given. However, Huntington "expressed no urgency to do so, citing solely baseball reasons." The Pirates started 2009 with a $48.78MM payroll, and Tim had the team's projected 2010 obligation at less than half that in his Offseason Outlook, though that was prior to the Akinori Iwamura deal.
Wagner Will Be Presented With Offers Next Week
Bean Stringfellow, agent for free agent reliever Billy Wagner, said that a few interested clubs will be presenting his client with offers "sometime next week," according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Eight clubs have shown interest in Wagner, and all eight have the intention of using him as their closer according to his agent.
Stringfellow also indicated that Wagner is open to going back to Boston, even though he wouldn't be closing. He has “no doubt” the club will offer the Type-A free agent arbitration, and feels "Wagner will have enough offers in hand prior to that date that an informed decision can be made by the pitcher in regards to a possible return to the Red Sox."
Red Sox Acquire Tug Hulett
The Red Sox have acquired utility player Tug Hulett from the Royals, according to Bob Dutton of The KC Star. The Royals will receive either cash or a player to be named later in the deal.
The 26-year-old Hulett has hit .194/.270/.254 in 75 career plate appearances in the big leagues, spending most of the last three seasons in Triple-A. He's a career .284/.394/.418 hitter in the minors, and is capable of playing second, third, and short.
Lyon Seeking A Multi-Year Deal
According to his agent Barry Meister, free agent reliever Brandon Lyon is seeking a multi-year contract, says Steve Kornacki of MLive.com.
“The main thing for me going into this after last year, and playing for two teams in two years, is a long-term deal,” Lyon recently told Booth Newspapers. “That’s more important to me this year. The shuffle is tougher and I want to dedicate myself to one team and one city, and have that peace of mind.”
Meister added that they're still "in the exploratory phase and a number of teams are interested,” noting that they will talk to the Tigers before anything else happens. Lyon said that he'd like to return to Detroit.
The 30-year-old righthander had a 2.86 ERA in 78.2 innings for Detroit this year, pitching extremely well in the second half.
Mets Close To Bringing Back Dessens
4:10pm: Dessens' agent says the two sides are "getting closer" to a deal, according to an update from the FoxSports.com duo.
3:13pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com report that the Mets are interested in bringing righthander Elmer Dessens back."We are talking," said Dessens' agent, Oscar Suarez.
The 38-year-old Dessens was actually pretty good for the Amazin's last year, posting a 3.31 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP in 32.2 innings out of the bullpen. The Mets are the ninth team he has played for in his 13-year career.
Phillies Sign DeWayne Wise & Wilson Valdez
According to Matt Eddy and Baseball America's latest edition of minor league transactions, the Phillies have signed utility men DeWayne Wise and Wilson Valdez to minor league contracts.
Wise, 32 in February, declared free agency back in October after hitting .225/.262/.366 in 153 plate appearances for the White Sox this year. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Valdez hit .256/.326/.337 in 95 plate appearances for the Mets.
Make sure you check out the transactions link for more moves, including shortstop Josh Wilson becoming a free agent.
Red Sox Interested In Justin Duchscherer
A major league source tells Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com that the Red Sox are interested in righthander Justin Duschscherer as a starting pitcher.
The 32-year-old missed all of 2009 following surgery on both his hip and throwing elbow, plus a bout with clinical depression that ESPN's Jerry Crasnick chronicled today. Duchscherer was originally drafted by Boston back in 1996, and has a 3.14 career ERA in 27 starts and 192 relief appearances.