Eric Gagne Will Attempt A Comeback
Diamond Leung passes along a report which indicates that Eric Gagne told Canadian reporters that he will attempt to get back into the big leagues next year, and wouldn't rule out a return to the Dodgers. Gagne reportedly said that he is willing to sign a minor league contract, and wouldn't mind pitching in Double or Triple-A.
Gagne, 34 in January, last pitched in the majors with the Brewers back in 2008, spending last season with the Quebec Capitales of the independent Can Am League. Working as a starter for the first time since 2001, Gagne threw 102.2 innings (17 starts), striking out 64 and posting a 4.65 ERA for the team with the best record and highest attendance in the league.
Nationals Interested In DeRosa, Gonzalez
The Nationals have expressed interest in free agents Mark DeRosa and Mike Gonzalez, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
Washington had the worst bullpen in baseball last year, posting a league worst 5.09 ERA in well over 500 IP. Gonzalez and his 2.42 ERA and 10.9 K/9 would be a welcome addition to the Nats' end-game picture. DeRosa, meanwhile, could be a fit for all 30 clubs given his versatility, though Ladson says the team most likely sees him as a second baseman or leftfielder.
Discussion: Omar Vizquel
No one in Major League history has played more games at shortstop than Omar Vizquel, who this year served as a mentor to Elvis Andrus in Texas while doubling as a valuable option off the bench. We know that Vizquel will not be returning to the Rangers in 2010, and instead is looking for a similar role with a more high-profile team.
The 42-year-old continues to be a marvel on defense, posting well-above-average UZR/150's at second, third and short this year. Unfortunately, Vizquel ceased being an offensive weapon several years ago, though his .266/.316/.345 batting line in 2009 was his best offensive season since 2006. He signed a minor league deal last offseason that paid him $1MM.
Where do MLBTR's readers see Vizquel playing next year? Could a return to Cleveland be in order? What about a get together with the Red Sox, who are perpetually looking for a shortstop? Tell us what you think in the comments.
Varitek To Discuss Player Option
3:37pm: Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that Varitek will discuss his option with agent Scott Boras today.
TUESDAY, 12:14pm: We haven't heard the official word on Varitek's decision, but the news could still come later today. To clear up any confusion, MLBTR's story yesterday that Varitek had exercised his option was a misinterpretation of Adam Hirshfield's NESN.com report. There has been no official report that Varitek will return to Boston.
MONDAY, 9:43pm: Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe writes on his Twitter feed, "Contrary to a report, Theo Epstein just said that Jason Varitek has not yet picked up his option. That could come tomorrow, however."
9:28pm: Or has he? Ken Rosenthal at Foxsports.com acknowledges the NESN report, but adds "one source said that Varitek has yet to make a final decision."
7:23pm: Jason Varitek is expected to exercise his $3MM player option and return to Boston in 2010, according to Adam Hirshfield of NESN.com. This news comes shortly after the Red Sox declined Varitek's $5MM team option.
The news comes after the Red Sox made it clear that they plan on using Victor Martinez as their everday catcher in 2010, and speaks also to the expected difficulties many players may have getting a bigger payday.
For Varitek, more importantly, the days where he is an asset as a starting catcher may be gone. He posted a .703 OPS in 2009, and really wore down after a strong start. His first-half OPS was .826, while his second-half OPS was .489, or 161 points lower than the career mark of Mike Hampton.
1:36pm: According to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford, the Red Sox will not pick up Jason Varitek's $5MM option for 2010. Varitek now has five days to decide on the $3MM player option portion of the contract. He could also earn another $2MM in incentives based on games started next season.
The 37-year-old team captain hit just .209/.313/.390 in 425 plate appearances in 2009, losing his starting catcher's job to Victor Martinez late in the season and in the playoffs.
Rockies Rumors: Hawpe, Betancourt, Torrealba
8:34pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman is reporting that Torrealba declined a Colorado offer of two years, $4.5MM.
3:57pm: Joel Sherman of The NY Post has a slew of Rockies' rumors from the GM meetings, so let's recap…
- The Rockies are willing to listen to trade offers for outfielder Brad Hawpe. Just last month, GM Dan O'Dowd said "We have no desire to move [Hawpe] at all."
- The team's top priority at the moment is to retain reliever Rafael Betancourt, who they've already approached about a multi-year deal.
- Yorvit Torrealba turned down an offer to return to the team after they declined his option. They'll look elsewhere for a backup catcher.
- The Rockies do not plan to tender Garrett Atkins a contract, and intend to use Ian Stewart at third base.
- They'd like to add a righty bat to be a reserve outfielder or first baseman.
- The team has received "glowing reports" about Jeff Francis, who is battling back from shoulder surgery and missed all of 2009.
Red Sox, Wakefield Finalize Two-Year Contract
6:23pm: Full details of Wakefield's contract are here, courtesy of Alex Speier of WEEI.com.
4:29pm: The team has confirmed the signing, according to FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi. Bradford, meanwhile, has some quotes from Wakefield, who admitted to being a little disappointed that they wanted to cut his guarantee, "but in the long run they’re at least guaranteeing me another year.”
1:48pm: Bradford confirmed in an email that the deal has been finalized.
1:28pm: WEEI.com's Rob Bradford says the new deal will guarantee Wakefield $5MM ($3.5MM in 2010, $1.5MM in 2011), with incentives that could push the total value of the deal up to $7MM.
1:26pm: The Red Sox have held (and exercised) a perpetual $4MM option for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield since 2005, but now Tony Massarotti of The Boston Globe reports that the two sides are renegotiating the deal after Wakefield had surgery to remove disc fragments from his back.
Massarotti says the two sides are close to an agreement on a two-year deal with a lower base salary, but incentives that will give Wakefield the chance to earn the same money if he stays healthy. The 43-year-old has made 20+ starts for the Sox for the last seven years, and he's just 17 wins behind Roger Clemens and Cy Young for the franchise record of 192 wins.
Giants Advise Winn To Seek Employment Elsewhere
According to Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News, the Giants called Randy Winn's agent to thank him for his services, then informed him to seek employment elsewhere because they have a number of young outfielders.
Craig Landis, Winn's agent, said his client is looking for an everyday job, and "believes he’d be a good fit on a team that is looking to add athleticism to a lineup that already has plenty of power production." The 35-year-old hit .262/.318/.353 in 597 plate appearances this year, and his defense in the outfield checked in at a stellar +20.1 UZR/150.
Odds & Ends: Gonzalez, Halladay, Pettitte, Snyder
Here's some more links on a busy first day at the GM meetings…
- WEEI.com's Alex Speier writes that when Jed Hoyer took over as GM of the Padres, it only made it tougher for the Red Sox to pull off a deal for Adrian Gonzalez. “He knows all my tricks, and I know his,” said Theo Epstein of Hoyer.
- Meanwhile, WEEI.com's Rob Bradford reports that Roy Halladay has identified the Red Sox as a team he'd be willing to accept a trade to. Doc has a full no-trade clause.
- Andy Pettitte has apparently told his Yankee teammates that he'd like to come back for one more year, though there's been no definitive word according to SI.com's Jon Heyman. GM Brian Cashman said he expects the team to be more "cautious than anxious" this offseason, and that he plans to go slow, even with their own free agents according to Joel Sherman of The NY Post.
- Mets' GM Omar Minaya "has told several of his friends in the industry that he badly wants to add a run-producing bat at either first base and/or left field," according to Sherman.
- MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reports that Chris Snyder confirmed there has not been a setback in his rehab from back surgery. The Blue Jays nixed a potential Snyder for Lyle Overbay swap over the weekend over concerns about the catcher's back.
- The Orioles claimed righthander Armando Gabino off waivers from the Twins, according to Joe Christensen of The Star Tribune. Meanwhile, a team press release says the Rays claimed righty Ramon Ramirez off waivers from the Reds.
- FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report that Melvin Mora is working out at other positions to increase his versatility and up his value as a free agent.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs compared Jason Bay to Mike Cameron, and determines that the latter is a better value.
- Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts breaks down some Chad Billingsley rumors.
Mariner Musings: Lackey, Washburn, Bedard, Branyan
Earlier today we learned that Mariners' GM Jack Zduriencik is looking forward to having Felix Hernandez around for the next two years, but the rumors don't stop there…
- ESPN's Buster Olney writes that the Mariners are a sleeper in the John Lackey sweepstakes.
- Larry LaRue of The News Tribune says the Mariners have interest in bringing Jarrod Washburn and Erik Bedard back, but they won't overpay.
- MLB.com's Jim Street reports that Russell Branyan's back is feeling good, and he hopes to return to the Emerald City
- Mark Feinsand of The NY Daily News basically got a "no comment" out of Zduriencik when he was asked if he'd have interest in bringing Hideki Matsui to Seattle.
Rays Pick Up Crawford’s Option, Decline Options On Zaun and Shouse
2:47pm: The team picked up Crawford's option, but declined Zaun's and Shouse's according to Smith. Zaun will received a $500K buyout, Shouse $200K.
11:35pm: The Rays have three player options they must make decisions about in the not too distant future, and Joe Smith of The St. Petersburg Times reports that those decisions may come as soon as today.
Carl Crawford's $10MM option appears likely to be picked up according to Smith, but he says "an even bigger question is whether Crawford and the Rays can come to an agreement on an extension during the offseason." The longest tenured Ray has already indicated that he's open to signing a long-term extension.
The two other club options of interest belong to Gregg Zaun and Brian Shouse. If Tampa picks up Zaun's $2MM option, he has the right to void it as per a clause in his contract, However, Zaun has already said that he hopes to return to the team in 2010, and $2MM isn't unreasonable for a veteran catcher that can give you a .340 OBP and a .400 SLG.
With the emergence of Randy Choate late last season, Shouse's $1.9MM option might be a little rich for Tampa. Buying him out for $200K seems likely.