Brendan Donnelly Retires
Brendan Donnelly is hanging up his goggles. The 39-year-old is retiring, unable to find a minor league deal this offseason after being released by the Pirates in July of last year. MLB.com's Doug Miller has the story.
Donnelly, a 30-year-old rookie for the Angels' '02 World Championship team, finishes with a 3.22 ERA and 369 strikeouts over 385 1/3 innings for the Angels, Red Sox, Indians, Marlins, and Pirates. He's best known for his time with the Halos, highlighted by strong pitching in the World Series in '02 and an All-Star game win in '03. Donnelly finishes his career with about $5MM in the bank and is now about to experience the joys of fatherhood for the first time.
Who Could Be Released This Month?
With certain contracts, there comes a time when a team would prefer to pay the player to go away and free up a roster spot. For example, two years ago the Tigers ate $14MM in releasing Gary Sheffield and the Phillies assumed $8MM to let Geoff Jenkins go. Here's a look at some big money players who I think stand a chance of being cut this month.
- Oliver Perez, Mets: one year, $12MM. A team insider told ESPN's Adam Rubin three days ago that Perez is highly likely to be released. Today Perez allowed three runs in the first inning of a split-squad game and followed that with a couple of scoreless frames.
- Luis Castillo, Mets: one year, $6MM. Rubin wrote that Castillo "appears destined for the same fate" as Perez, despite the team's unsettled second base situation.
- Carlos Silva, Cubs: one year, $13.5MM. The Cubs are only on the hook for $8MM to Silva this year, as they're receiving $5.5MM from Seattle. The Cubs' last two rotation spots are too early to call, but if Silva continues to pitch poorly in his next few outings and isn't amenable to long relief, the Cubs might have to let him go.
- Armando Galarraga, Diamondbacks: one year, $2.3MM. The D'Backs would only be on the hook for roughly $380K if they release Galarraga by the 15th, whereas Zach Duke's salary is guaranteed. If Aaron Heilman or Barry Enright makes the rotation, Galarraga or Duke would have to slide to the bullpen or be released.
- Barry Zito, Giants: three years, $64.5MM. Most teams would be thrilled with a low 4.00s ERA from their fifth starter, so the idea of releasing Zito was strange from the start.
- Aaron Rowand, Giants: two years, $24MM. The Giants have a crowded outfield, and cutting Rowand makes sense. They've also got Nate Schierholtz, who is out of options.
- Milton Bradley, Mariners: one year, $12MM. Bradley's legal issues aside, Spring Training seems to be going well enough for him. He's even playing center field today. This one is hard to call right now.
- Danys Baez, Phillies: one year, $2.75MM. Baez had a rough first year for the Phillies, but he can probably squeeze his way onto the Opening Day roster.
- Ryan Doumit, Pirates: one year, $5.6MM. Doumit isn't generating much trade interest, but releasing him would be a last resort and probably won't be necessary prior to Opening Day.
Quick Hits: Rockies, Pagan, Phillies
Links for Tuesday, as fans receive good news on Justin Morneau and concerning news on Carlos Beltran…
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post looks at the five-man battle to serve as Chris Iannetta's backup catcher for the Rockies. My speculation: if the job goes to Matt Pagnozzi, perhaps Jose Morales and Chad Moeller would become available.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post tries to determine whether Angel Pagan is a long-term solution for the Mets in center field. Pagan, 29, is under team control through 2012 as an arbitration eligible player.
- The Phillies lost the payroll flexibility to acquire injury replacements earning more than the minimum by signing Cliff Lee, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports in a notes column.
- Rosenthal offers more thoughts on the Orioles' direction in a Q&A with Matt Vensel of the Baltimore Sun. Click here to read my review of the team's offseason.
- ESPN's Jerry Crasnick looks at the culture change new GM Kevin Towers has engineered for the Diamondbacks.
March Trading
March trading typically involves out of options players, former top prospects, and spare parts, but these players can have a major impact. Here's a look at the players acquired via trade during this month over the last few years, with the help of MLBTR's Transaction Tracker.
- Edwar Ramirez (Rangers and Athletics), Omar Aguilar (Indians), Ray Olmedo (Brewers), Matt Treanor (Rangers), Kevin Frandsen (Red Sox), Steve Lerud (Orioles), Andres Blanco (Rangers), Nate Robertson (Marlins)
- Treanor, Blanco, and Robertson spent significant time in the Majors last year for the acquiring team.
- Sergio Santos (Giants), Chris Stewart (Yankees), Luke Gregerson (Padres), Eulogio de la Cruz (Padres), Curtis Thigpen (Athletics), Ronny Paulino (Giants and Marlins), Hector Correa (Giants), Jack Taschner (Phillies), Chris Burke (Mariners), Rudy Darrow (Braves), Josh Anderson (Tigers), Jeff Keppinger (Astros)
- The Giants' 2009 acquisition of Santos is an interesting story. According to Yahoo's Jeff Passan, he was dealt to San Francisco with the caveat that if the Giants couldn't play Santos every day as a shortstop, they'd send him back to Chicago to start a conversion to pitching. He was indeed traded back to the Sox on April 1st and made the team out of Spring Training the following year, tossing 51 2/3 innings of 2.96 ball with 56 strikeouts in 2010.
- Gregerson was sent to the Padres to complete the December '08 Khalil Greene deal with the Cardinals. Clearly that pickup was a big win for Kevin Towers. Paulino, Taschner, Anderson, and Keppinger also spent significant time in the bigs in '09.
- Henry Arias (Reds), Brad Salmon (Royals), Mike McCoy (Orioles), Justin Huber (Padres), Todd Redmond (Braves), Tyler Yates (Pirates), Ramon Ramirez (Royals), Jose Marte (Diamondbacks), Dustin Nippert (Rangers), Jair Fernandez (Twins), R.A. Dickey (Mariners), Matt Kata (Pirates)
- Yates, Nippert, and Dickey spent significant time in the Majors in '08. Dickey landed with the Mets as a free agent in December of '09 after a stint with the Twins, and took off with a 2.84 ERA in 174 1/3 innings.
- The Royals acquired Ramirez from the Rockies in March of '08, sending Jorge de la Rosa to the Rockies a month later to complete the deal. De La Rosa's career took off with the Rockies, culminating in a $32.5MM deal in November of last year. The Royals sent Ramirez to the Red Sox in November of '08 for Coco Crisp. Crisp might have been a solid acquisition for Kansas City, but shoulder surgery interrupted his season.
Ng Leaving Dodgers For MLB Job
10:42am: Ng still hopes to become a GM one day, she told Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times. She also said that the Dodgers' ownership turmoil was not a factor in her decision to leave. Her 13-year stint with the Dodgers will run through Opening Day.
7:50am: A couple of former GM candidates are now working under Joe Torre in MLB's restructured baseball operations department. Dodgers vice president and assistant GM Kim Ng is leaving the club to become MLB's senior vice president of baseball operations, according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. And former Diamondbacks assistant GM Peter Woodfork will also work under Torre, reported Bill Madden of the New York Daily News yesterday. Both Ng and Woodfork have interviewed for GM jobs in the past.
Word came recently that MLB was firing VP of umpiring Mike Port, VP of administration Ed Burns, and senior specialist of on-field operations Darryl Hamilton in what Madden's MLB source called a "bloodbath." Madden says Woodfork's main responsibilities will be with umpires, while Ng's will be player-related. Madden notes that the changes shouldn't be seen as Torre's moves, as they were in the works before his hiring.
Trade Candidate: Jo-Jo Reyes
The Blue Jays have four out of options players with less than five years of big league service time, according to MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm: Rajai Davis, Dustin McGowan, David Purcey, and Jo-Jo Reyes. Davis and Purcey are expected to make the team and McGowan will start the year on the DL, leaving Reyes as the one member of this group who is on the bubble for Toronto.
As Chisholm explained on February 28th, Reyes is currently part of a four-man battle for the last two spots in the Blue Jays' rotation, along with Jesse Litsch, Marc Rzepczynski and Kyle Drabek. Reyes could wind up in the bullpen instead. The Blue Jays risk losing Reyes if they can't find a spot for him on the 25-man roster, as he's out of options. Reyes struggled in his first Spring Training appearance, but pitched well on Saturday with three scoreless innings.
Reyes, 26, was acquired by the Blue Jays from the Braves in the July Yunel Escobar trade. Baseball America regarded him as the Braves' eighth-best prospect heading into the 2007 season, calling him a "thick-bodied lefthander who does a good job of keeping hitters off balance." Reyes has only 194 big league innings to his credit, as he's dealt with injuries and command and control problems.
One team exec I spoke to feels that Reyes would not clear waivers, as a lefty with decent stuff. He doesn't think it will come to that, as the Blue Jays can probably find a trade partner if they don't have a spot for the southpaw.
Madson Hopes To Remain With Phillies
Scott Boras clients don't always chase the last dollar on the open market, as evidenced by reliever Ryan Madson's three-year, $12MM extension signed in January of 2009. Madson was entering his walk year after turning in 82 2/3 innings of 3.05 ball for the Phillies in 2008, and Boras was reportedly in favor of Madson taking the deal to provide security for his family.
Madson remains one of the best set-up men in the game, posting perhaps the best numbers of his career in 2010 despite missing time for a broken toe suffered after kicking a chair. He'll earn $4.5MM plus incentives in the final year of his contract. At 31 years old in August, you'd expect a Scott Downs-type offer being required just to start the conversation with Boras about Madson.
Madson has a couple of goals, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer: he wants to finish his career with the Phillies, and he'd like an opportunity to close. Gelb believes there is probably room in the Phillies' payroll for Madson and Brad Lidge, but not both, after this season. Regarding Madson's career success rate of 45% in converting save opportunities, GM Ruben Amaro said, "He hasn't proven it yet. We think he has the stuff to do it."
The Phillies have not been shy about taking care of business ahead of time, so perhaps Madson is a candidate for a $6MM a year extension along the lines of Matt Thornton. Thornton, however, is four years older than Madson, so there's a case for the latter to get at least three guaranteed years.
Jays, Brewers Head List Of Dominican Signings
The Dominican Prospect League has announced several more signings:
- The Blue Jays signed 17-year-old outfielder Francisco Tejada for $150K. With the move, all 30 teams have signed a player out of the DPL. The press release refers to Tejada's "high athletic ceiling," citing his speed and arm.
- The Brewers inked 17-year-old third baseman Estervin Matos for $100K after a strong offensive performance in the DPL.
- Additionally, the Mets signed righty Miguel Angel Bautista for $10K, the Nationals signed righty Deury Vazquez for $30K, and the Diamondbacks signed American-born middle infielder Jesse Liriano for $10K.
Cardinals Notes: Freese, Carpenter, Calero
The latest on the Cardinals, as third baseman David Freese makes his first spring start…
- Freese is now represented by CAA, tweets the agency. Phil Tannenbaum was his previous agent. Freese, 28 next month, is a ways off from arbitration eligibility.
- Chris Carpenter felt a twinge in his left hamstring during yesterday's bullpen session, reports Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He's looking doubtful to start Friday, but there's no timetable for his return. Carpenter's hamstring first became a concern six days ago in a start against the Marlins. Perhaps by the weekend the Cardinals will decide whether to explore external options with Adam Wainwright out of the season and Carpenter's status unknown.
- Kiko Calero's slider looked good in his Cardinals audition, tweets SI's Jon Heyman, but the team told the righty they have a full roster.
Astros Interested In Jesus Flores
The Astros are looking at the Nationals' Jesus Flores as a possible replacement for Jason Castro, reports Ben Goessling of MASNsports.com. The two teams face off today, so hopefully the Nationals will get Flores into the game for the Astros scouts on hand. The Astros are concerned about the condition of Flores' shoulder, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
Flores, 26, was signed by the Mets out of Venezuela nine years ago. Coming off a solid age 21 season in Low-A ball, Nationals GM Jim Bowden took Flores in the 2006 Rule 5 draft. Flores served his time in the Majors in '07 as Brian Schneider's backup, and by June of '08 he'd won the team's starting catcher job. In May of '09, a foul tip off the bat of Chris Young set in motion a major shoulder problem. The injury went from being labeled a bruise to a stress fracture to a torn labrum, resulting in September '09 surgery.
During Flores' long recovery, the Nationals signed Ivan Rodriguez, traded for Wilson Ramos, and saw major development from prospect Derek Norris. Now expendable for Washington, Flores is a great fit for an Astros club that can give him consistent at-bats with Castro out for the season with a torn ACL.