NL Central Notes: Wandy, Tabata, McCutchen
The latest from around the NL Central…
- Astros lefty Wandy Rodriguez is likely to clear waivers Tuesday, in the opinion of SI's Jon Heyman (Twitter link). The Yankees have no interest, tweets ESPN's Andrew Marchand, and Heyman says the Diamondbacks don't either. Rodriguez is a bargain this year with $1.4MM remaining, but then is owed as much as $36MM over the next three seasons.
- Jose Tabata's $15MM contract was about shared risk, explained Pirates GM Neal Huntington to Michael Sanserino of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I'm still trying to determine what agency collected the commission on the team-friendly deal.
- It'll require compromise to get a deal done with Andrew McCutchen, Huntington told Sanserino. This is much different than the Tabata situation.
Why Your Team Won’t Sign Prince Fielder
Scott Boras isn't likely to send client Prince Fielder to play for the St. Paul Saints next year; obviously he'll wind up with one of baseball's 30 teams. Still, there are good reasons for every single team not to give Fielder the megadeal he's expected to seek.
- Orioles: The Orioles could probably fit in Prince's salary without raising payroll, but would a new GM jump in with a $100MM+ commitment for a team that isn't expected to compete in 2012? Is there any way they'd win the bidding on a top Boras client? Fielder is not a good long-term signing for the Orioles, who may prefer to give Chris Davis a full season at first base if he continues to avoid labrum surgery. All that said, they will probably at least be in the mix.
- Red Sox: This could only work if Fielder replaces David Ortiz as the team's full-time DH, given the presence of Adrian Gonzalez at first. The Sox clearly have bigger concerns and are highly unlikely to make Fielder the game's first $100MM DH.
- Yankees: To open up first base, the Yanks would have to trade Mark Teixeira despite his full no-trade clause. Fielder is not clearly better, so don't expect that manuever. While DH is technically possible, it's wise to leave that spot open for Alex Rodriguez, who is under contract through 2017. Plus, starting pitching will be a more immediate concern than offense.
- Rays: Something tells me they won't have Fielder taking up half their payroll.
- Blue Jays: I expect the first base and DH spots to be filled by Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion again; they'd earn a total of $8.5MM next year. However, Lind has been disappointing and the Blue Jays could certainly afford Fielder, if you'd like to dream on it.
- White Sox: Paul Konerko is locked in through 2013; Adam Dunn through 2014. In theory Dunn could be dumped, but not for the purpose of Kenny Williams oddly cozying up to Boras for a massive Fielder contract.
- Indians: They don't have the payroll space for it, nor does signing Fielder fit with their long-term plan.
- Tigers: Miguel Cabrera will occupy first base through 2015, while DH Victor Martinez is signed through 2014.
- Royals: Their future is with Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler.
- Twins: They have to be worried about Justin Morneau and could have an open DH spot this offseason. Technically the Twins could afford Fielder without raising payroll, but they have needs all over the place and this would not be their style.
- Angels: Though he missed all of 2011, Boras client Kendrys Morales should be in the first base mix next year, as well as Mark Trumbo. Bobby Abreu is under contract for '12 as the DH. While the Angels could afford Fielder, it is tough to see Arte Moreno winning that bid. A pursuit of Aramis Ramirez to play third base is more reasonable.
- Athletics: I imagine they'd like to see Brandon Allen and Daric Barton compete for first base next year, with a cheap free agent DH signing. Fielder would be hard to fit into the payroll, and the team's outfield uncertainty will likely be a big focus.
- Mariners: The Ms would probably like to see Justin Smoak and Mike Carp in their regular lineup. I think they could afford Fielder, but I can't see them making that DH investment.
- Rangers: Mitch Moreland, Mike Napoli, and Michael Young will all be back next year unless someone is traded. With a big arbitration class, the Rangers would need to raise payroll just to re-sign C.J. Wilson or sign a comparable starter, so I don't think Fielder fits in financially either.
- Braves: They're surely content with Rookie of the Year contender Freddie Freeman.
- Marlins: Gaby Sanchez has this spot locked down on the cheap.
- Mets: Even with a payroll reduction the Mets should have some money to burn, but not Fielder money while embroiled in a huge lawsuit. Ike Davis' status is uncertain, but that's not going to push the Mets to Fielder.
- Phillies: Ryan Howard is signed through 2016.
- Nationals: An $8MM Adam LaRoche is not a huge roadblock to Fielder, and Boras will certainly try to get the Nationals involved. While Mike Morse could move to left field, a big extension for Ryan Zimmerman could be preferable to Washington.
- Cubs: Boras needs to get the Cubs involved in the Fielder bidding. While the Cubs could afford him, their needs for starting pitching and perhaps a third baseman should be equally pressing. The team's new GM will have alternatives in Carlos Pena, Michael Cuddyer, and Albert Pujols.
- Reds: They've got Joey Votto through 2013, plus a lack of payroll space if Brandon Phillips is retained.
- Astros: Brett Wallace and Carlos Lee have their flaws, and Jonathan Singleton is a ways off, but it'd be a radical departure for the Astros to go after Fielder.
- Brewers: Last year, Fielder reportedly turned down an offer from the Brewers that was similar to Howard's five-year, $125MM deal. Since then the Brewers locked up Ryan Braun through 2020, so they might not be able to make that offer again even if Prince is interested.
- Pirates: The Pirates could sign Fielder and still have one of the game's smallest payrolls. I don't think GM Neal Huntington has committed even $20MM total to a player in his tenure, and it'd cost that much for one year of Fielder. It just doesn't seem like his style, but if ownership decides that the team is close they do technically have the need and payroll space.
- Cardinals: It's difficult to see Fielder as anything more than a long shot Plan C for the Cards. If Pujols signs elsewhere while Fielder is still on the market, and the idea of re-signing Lance Berkman to play first base doesn't pan out either, I guess the Cardinals could look into Fielder.
- Diamondbacks: I think they could afford him, but they have Paul Goldschmidt as their future.
- Rockies: They don't have the money for it, and Todd Helton is under contract through 2013.
- Dodgers: They'll have an opening, but payroll flexibility is the question. Attendance and payroll will be down, and without a new owner in place by year's end the Dodgers won't be able to bid for Fielder.
- Padres: Anthony Rizzo struggled as a rookie, but Jed Hoyer isn't jumping into the Fielder bidding.
- Giants: Aubrey Huff is only under contract through 2012, but signing Fielder would make Brandon Belt a permanent outfielder. Maybe that could work, but payroll flexibility will be very limited. The focus may be on signing Tim Lincecum and finding a shortstop and an outfielder or two.
Cubs Rumors: Zambrano, Aramis, GM Search
Before the Cubs can moving on their offseason, they face big decisions in their next GM, what to do with Carlos Zambrano, and how to handle Aramis Ramirez's $16MM club option. The latest on each situation:
- Cubs owner Tom Ricketts told ESPN's Dan Shulman last night that he found it hard to imagine Zambrano would ever pitch for the Cubs again. Buster Olney points out that the Cubs would have to reinstate or move Zambrano before the end of the season, should the pitcher win his grievance. On Tuesday, I presented 11 scenarios the Cubs could consider in their attempts to move Zambrano.
- Ramirez would have been "pretty much a slam dunk" to return to the Cubs next year under Jim Hendry, his agent Paul Kinzer tells Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. But now, Ramirez plans to step back, see who the Cubs hire, and also see what's out there on the free agent market. With his resurgent season, Ramirez may be the only viable free agent starting third baseman, and would be hard for the Cubs to replace.
- The Cubs have reached out to front office member Greg Maddux about remaining in the organization, reports Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Maddux is close to Hendry. As for the team's GM post, Sullivan writes, "The names of Josh Byrnes, Andrew Friedman and even Theo Epstein have also come up in conversation. While the Red Sox are unlikely to let Epstein out of his contract with a year remaining, the Cubs seem interested enough to explore the possibility."
- Hendry, who Sullivan speculates could land in Arizona working under Kevin Towers, is off the hook for the Alfonso Soriano signing in the opinion of Wittenmyer. Wittenmyer says then-president John McDonough drove that disastrous contract.
- Ricketts said on Friday that he seeks a GM with a commitment to player development, a stronger analytical background, and a track record of success. I expect him to look into big-name current GMs like Epstein, Friedman, and Jon Daniels first. Those guys will probably stay put, at which point I can see Ben Cherington, Thad Levine, and Jerry Dipoto being candidates. Click here to see our top 20 GM candidates, among those who have not yet held that position permanently.
- ESPN's Jon Greenberg is "convinced the Cubs will be run by a forward-thinking general manager with a strong emphasis on advanced statistics, and reliance on cheap, farm system labor." I think the stats thing is a big factor – teams tend to go in the opposite direction from the previous guy.
- Talking to Wittenmyer, Cubs interim GM Randy Bush said he could see a lot of the team's front office members keep their jobs.
GM Candidate: Jerry Dipoto
MLBTR's list of general manager candidates introduced 20 people who were identified by their peers as potential Major League GMs. We’re bringing you closer to the candidates with a series of pieces. Today the series continues with Diamondbacks executive Jerry Dipoto, who ranked first on our list.
By May of 2000, right-handed reliever Jerry Dipoto had appeared in 378 big league games for the Indians, Mets, and Rockies, saving 49 along the way. Faced with a lengthy DL stay for a neck injury, the Rockies invited the 31-year-old to take part in a unique experience: exposure to the inner workings of the front office. Though he had not yet retired, Dipoto's education beyond the mound began, as Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd let him into the draft room to be a fly on the wall and many of the organization's future star executives showed him the ropes. When retirement officially came about in 2001, O'Dowd invited Dipoto to officially "step across the aisle and help the Rockies build a champion."
Dipoto assumed a jack-of-all-trades role for Colorado, taking in everything from baseball operations and trade discussions to postgame commentary on television. After a few years his education continued with the Red Sox, as he followed Josh Byrnes to Boston and was a member of the front office for the '04 World Champion team. Dipoto went back to the Rockies in '05 as their director of player personnel, and then settled in with the Diamondbacks in '06.
Dipoto initially served as Arizona's vice president of player personnel, overseeing all aspects of the club's scouting and player development. During his tenure, he's had interviews for GM openings with the Mariners and Nationals. When the D'Backs let Byrnes go last summer, they made Dipoto interim GM, and he authored multiple crucial trades. Dipoto interviewed for the full-time job, but the D'Backs hired Kevin Towers after the season, with Dipoto staying on as the senior vice president of scouting and player development. Dipoto, a self-described "talker," chatted with me on the phone Friday evening.
On his experience with the Red Sox:
It's a great franchise with a storied history and they had a new, young, cutting edge general manager who was building a group around him that was very eclectic. There were longer-in-the tooth, experienced baseball people with decades of experience to younger up-and-comers that I knew personally. It was cool to be in at the ground floor of a system they were creating from scratch.
On his education of the statistical side of the game:
As the Bill James literature became more mainstream you had somebody you could read along with and understand. I wouldn't qualify myself as a saber-junkie but I would say that from the early stages you start to understand trends. There are things you notice when you're a 12-year-old kid that you can break down in more specifics when you're a 40-year-old man.
I've always been hungry for information and have an understanding of the analytics and have a personal feeling on how to apply them on a case-to-case basis. There are times when the blend starts to favor one side or the other [stats or scouting]. If you try to apply one formula or stick with one natural inclination I think you'll make a lot of mistakes.
On the constant thirst for baseball knowledge:
The day I feel like I've stopped learning about baseball is the day I should go home. Every single day you're going to learn something new and start to adjust your lines of thinking. It's an ongoing education. Every person I meet in the game, my first instinct is to learn something from them. My mentor is the game.
On his experience as the Diamondbacks' interim GM:
It's experience you really can't buy. Until you're into the fire you really don't know, like pitching the ninth inning of the World Series. It was a very unique time for the organization. As a group we made a lot of really effective moves that positively changed the future of the team. Ken Kendrick said to me, "You are in charge now. These are your decisions to make." I appreciated their trust. At the end of the day I am very happy with what we were able to do.
On his proudest moments in player acquisitions…
I'm very proud of this draft. Trevor Bauer, Archie Bradley, Andrew Chafin, Anthony Meo, Kyle Winkler in the tenth round. I'm also proud of the 2009 draft, the way we went about picking off offensive performers and restocking a system that had been picked apart a little bit by graduations and recent trades.
The trades last summer, in particular the Dan Haren deal with the Angels and the Edwin Jackson deal with the White Sox, largely because it was essentially the first time I was operating and had done that with no net. The industry's reaction to the Dan Haren trade in the hours and weeks surrounding it, there might be a little bit different opinion of it today, which is I think the essence of scouting. I'm extremely proud of the Edwin Jackson deal, not only because Daniel Hudson's been terrific for us since they we acquired him, but because the guy on the back end of that deal, David Holmberg, is actually a good prospect himself.
Take the total haul from those two deals and it's a pretty high volume of pitching. And it helped us get our finances situated so that we could handle this draft and build a team within our payroll confines. I'll probably always look back on it, whether I have an opportunity to be a full-time GM or not, as one of more exhilarating moments I've had in the game. If I do get a chance to be a full-time GM and do another hundred deals, I'm not quite sure any of them will bear the weight that those deals did in that moment in time.
On his career goals and whether he's aiming to become a GM:
I wouldn't tell you that I don't have the desire to be a GM. As a general rule I've always believed the game will tell me how far I will go. My current role is awfully hard to complain about. If a GM job becomes available it's be an honor to be considered, but I have no expectation of it nor do I feel like my career is a failure if I don't get it.
Free $400 Fantasy Baseball Contest (Sponsored Post)
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The MLBTR freeroll is for Friday night's games (the Cubs-Cardinals game at 1:20 is not included), so you have until then to create your team. You're given a $100K salary cap, and each player is assigned a price by DraftStreet. For Friday, Felix Hernandez is considered the most valuable player since he starts against the Rays, but he'll cost you over $15K. Your roster will cover these positions: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, 3 OF, 2 utility, 2 SP, 1 RP, 1 P and 2 Reserves (14 starters). You get points based on how your team performs Friday. For example, you'll get 0.75 points for each strikeout Felix racks up and 1.5 points if he gets the win. The teams with the most points get the prize money. You can apply all kinds of strategy in building your roster – for example, check out the chance of rain at Citi Field Friday before you decide to add Brewers and Mets players. Below I've taken a screenshot of my roster:
If you're interested, sign up and create a roster prior to Friday's night games (6:05pm central time). It's quick, easy, fun, and the MLBTR league gives you a free chance to win some of the $400 prize pool. If you enjoy the competition you can try other leagues for free and earn credits, or deposit real money.
Braves Sign Juan Jaime
The Braves signed righty Juan Jaime to a minor league deal, MLBTR has learned. The deal covers the rest of 2011 as well as 2012.
Jaime, 24, was released by the Diamondbacks yesterday after being designated for assignment to create a roster spot for Lyle Overbay. He had Tommy John surgery in April of last year, prior to which Baseball America ranked him 17th among Nationals prospects. At that time BA saw Jaime as a future power arm out of the bullpen. With a mid-90s fastball, his ceiling is high.
Drew Pomeranz Joins Rockies
WEDNESDAY: The Rockies announced that Pomeranz is officially theirs, and he'll start tonight for Double-A Tulsa.
TUESDAY: Southpaw Drew Pomeranz has officially joined the Rockies organization, according to this tweet from the pitcher. He'll head to the Rockies' Double-A affiliate in Tulsa. Pomeranz's inclusion as the headliner in the Indians' acquisition of Ubaldo Jimenez has been baseball's worst-kept secret since the trade deadline. He had to wait until today to begin his Rockies career because drafted players cannot be traded until one full year after signing.
Pomeranz, 22, made three starts for the Indians' Double-A club prior to the trade and didn't miss a beat, posting strong numbers similar to those he had in 15 High-A starts. Baseball America ranked him as the 14th best prospect in baseball in July, while ESPN's Keith Law had him 35th in his rankings that month. Prior to the season Baseball America praised his plus fastball and curveball, but noted that he must "corral his control."
Yankees, Phillies Seek Veteran Lefty Relievers
The Phillies and Yankees are searching for veteran left-handed relievers, reported ESPN's Jayson Stark yesterday. Let's take a look at who might be available.
Five southpaws have been reported to have cleared waivers so far: Chris Capuano, Jason Vargas, Bruce Chen, Tom Gorzelanny, and Ted Lilly. Lilly is certainly not being acquired for a bullpen role, while Vargas is also unlikely. Of the remaining three, Gorzelanny has been sharp against lefties and is currently in the Nationals' bullpen. If the Nationals do not intend to tender him a contract after the season, they could move Gorzelanny now as a way of saving $485K and possibly getting a mildly useful prospect back.
Players do not have to clear waivers to be traded in August, but the Yankees and Phillies are at the bottom of the claiming order in their respective leagues. Their best bet would be to go after an overpaid southpaw who is effective against lefties, as the Twins did with Brian Fuentes a year ago. Examples could be Fuentes again, or Baltimore's Mike Gonzalez.
Otherwise, eight more lefty relievers I could see being available are John Grabow, Craig Breslow, Sean Burnett, Jose Mijares, Tim Byrdak, Randy Choate, Joe Beimel, and J.P. Howell. Byrdak and Choate have been the toughest on lefties, but Choate might be hardest to acquire since he is controlled beyond this year. Howell could be a fit for the Phillies – he's been battered by right-handed hitters but good against left-handed ones in a small sample, and the Rays may be planning to non-tender him after the season anyway.
Stark On Cubs, Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies
ESPN's Jayson Stark posted a new column yesterday; let's take a look.
- Stark speculates on four players the Cubs could attempt to trade Carlos Zambrano for: Carlos Lee, A.J. Burnett, Barry Zito, and Derek Lowe. I posted 11 Zambrano trade scenarios yesterday; check it out. A few baseball insiders Stark spoke to did think that with the right veteran team or manager Zambrano could be useful.
- Cubs players Kerry Wood and Reed Johnson were claimed on waivers and pulled back, reports Stark. Carlos Pena has yet to be placed on waivers, but the Cubs may not be motivated to move him.
- One baseball man who is close to Bud Selig told Stark the commissioner has "basically promised a lot of people he'll get them slotting by next year."
- The Red Sox are poking around for a right-handed bench bat, while the Yankees and Phillies seek veteran left-handed relievers.
Early Non-Tender Candidates
We're more than three months away from the non-tender deadline, but many teams are certainly pondering the status of their arbitration eligible players. For example, it's possible that the Twins sent Delmon Young packing this week because they did not intend to tender him a contract in December. Let's take a look at a few prominent non-tender candidates, while acknowledging that the season is far from over.
- Luke Scott, Orioles: Scott's season, cut short by July shoulder surgery, wouldn't necessitate a big raise. But he'd probably get some kind of increase and he's already at $6.4MM, so it's likely he hits the free agent market.
- James Loney, Dodgers: He's likely to become a free agent at age 27, as the Dodgers will not want to pay him $5MM after the season he's had.
- Casey McGehee, Brewers: He's had a nice August and could still finish the season on a high note. My gut says he will be tendered a contract. However, his career body of work could lead to a $3MM arbitration salary, so the Brewers have to decide whether he'll be worth it.
- Ian Stewart, Rockies: Stewart will be earning at least $1.8MM next year if he's tendered a contract and not cut in Spring Training. His track record and work at Triple-A this year suggest some team would strike a deal for him and the Rockies won't have to non-tender him.
- Ryan Theriot, Cardinals: A non-tender candidate last offseason, Theriot received a $700K raise following a season pretty similar to this one. The Cards might not want him at a salary above his current $3.3MM.
- Andres Torres, Giants: He's had a couple of DL stints and has not approached his offensive production from 2010. He's operating from a $2.2MM salary and the Giants could let him go.
- Angel Pagan, Mets: Like Torres, Pagan has fallen off big-time this year. His current salary is $3.5MM.
- Tom Gorzelanny, Nationals: His strikeout and walk numbers are solid but the Nationals booted him from the rotation. With his $2.1MM salary on the rise they may not keep him around.
- Mike Pelfrey, Mets: His salary next year could be around $6MM, and the Mets have to decide whether that's good value for a back-end rotation type.
- Jonathan Sanchez, Giants: While it's hard to picture the Giants losing Sanchez for nothing, he took a step backward this year and would surely earn more than $6MM in 2012.
- Kevin Slowey, Twins: I doubt Slowey is in the Twins organization next year, but at a mild raise from this year's $2.7MM they should be able to find a taker.
- Luke Hochevar, Royals: Is it time to pull the plug? Hochevar is due a raise on this year's $1.76MM but has made little progress from last year.
- David Aardsma, Mariners: He had Tommy John surgery in July and would earn at least $3.6MM in arbitration, so he's probably headed for free agency.
- Tony Pena, White Sox: He appears headed for Tommy John and is a likely non-tender.