Free Agent Market For Designated Hitters
With so many quality hitters available to fill designated hitter jobs these days, it's embarrassing for a club to get subpar production out of the spot. Demand might be high too, though – of the 14 American League teams, only the Indians are locked into a player they must use at DH. Let's examine the free agent market.
Already Full-Time DHs
David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero, and Hideki Matsui each played at least 119 games at designated hitter this year, and won't be looking to transition back to regular field work. The Red Sox could pick up Ortiz's $12.5MM option after a bounceback season. Vlad's $9MM option with the Rangers is mutual, but expect the two sides to try to hammer something out after the World Series. Matsui does not have an option. The Angels may have to let him go if they'd prefer to move Bobby Abreu or Juan Rivera to DH.
Johnny Damon played 36 games in the outfield this year and 97 at DH. With his slugging percentage down to .401 this year, he may be a tough sell for Scott Boras as a designated hitter.
Jim Thome picked up just 340 plate appearances this year, but had a big impact with a .283/.412/.627 line and 25 homers. He's just 11 home runs shy of 600, and he'd like to return to the Twins. The Twins also must decide on Jason Kubel's $5.25MM option.
Could Occupy Full-Time DH Roles
Manny Ramirez, Lance Berkman, and Aubrey Huff spent much or all of their seasons in the National League. Ramirez, whose .409 OBP was second only to Thome among free agents, seems a lock to seek a full-time DH job. Berkman could still be a first base option. Huff, the Giants first baseman, didn't DH at all this year but has plenty of experience in the role from his time with the Orioles and Rays. Only Huff is coming off a strong contract year, but any of these three will help on offense.
Adam Dunn and Pat Burrell are a couple of free agents who prefer to play defense, so we won't consider them here.
Fighting For Playing Time
Ten hitters who figure to chase the best opportunity for playing time: Nick Johnson, Marcus Thames, Troy Glaus, Andruw Jones, Brad Hawpe, Jonny Gomes, Russell Branyan, Jose Guillen, Mark Kotsay, and Jorge Cantu. Some of these guys can still play the field. A few, such as Thames and Jones, are coming off solid part-time seasons. Seven of them reached double digits in home runs.
Non-Tender Candidates
Jack Cust had a robust .395 OBP this year for the A's, but they could choose to go in a different direction. He was non-tendered and then re-signed last winter, but was coming off a worse year. The Rays have a couple of non-tender candidates in Willy Aybar and Dan Johnson.
Summary
American League teams such as the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Orioles could stay in-house at DH, but there are plenty of vacancies. If Ortiz, Guerrero, and Thome are re-signed early, Manny, Berkman, and Matsui will become the best available.
Phillies Decline Option On J.C. Romero
The Phillies declined their $4.5MM option on lefty reliever J.C. Romero, tweets Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He'll receive a $250K buyout instead.
Romero, 34, posted a 3.38 ERA, 6.8 K/9, and 7.1 BB/9 over 53.3 innings spanning the 2009-10 seasons after tossing 59 innings in '08. He had flexor tendon elbow surgery in October of '09 and also had a 50 game suspension that year for using a banned supplement.
The Phillies signed Romero to a three-year, $12MM deal in November of '07, even though he's always demonstrated big control problems. Romero, who says he's got "a brand new arm," joins Scott Downs, Pedro Feliciano, Arthur Rhodes, and others on the lefty relief free agent market.
Trade Market For Right Fielders
The free agent market for right fielders offers a few solid options, such as Jayson Werth and Magglio Ordonez. With the Tigers, Angels, Phillies, Nationals, Pirates, Cardinals, and Giants potentially looking for help at the position, let's survey the trade landscape.
Are They Available?
Jose Bautista, David DeJesus, and Carlos Quentin are three names to watch this winter. Though there were a few rumors in the summer, it's difficult to picture the Blue Jays trading Bautista coming off a 54 home run campaign. With DeJesus, we mentioned earlier that it may be wise to let him establish good health after his season ended in July with a torn thumb ligament. Though it's pure speculation, Quentin seems the most likely of the three to be dealt this winter. The Daily Herald's Scot Gregor examined his stock four days ago. At one point, the Nationals showed interest.
Three Under Contract
Bobby Abreu, Kosuke Fukudome, and Milton Bradley are three well-paid right fielders who could be on the move if their teams assume salary. Abreu is owed $9MM next year and another $9MM in 2012 if he reaches 433 plate appearances in '11. Abreu or Juan Rivera could be dealt if the Angels add a free agent outfielder. Fukudome was useful given his .263/.371/.439 line, but at $13.5MM next year the Cubs might prefer to trade their first-ever Japanese player and recoup some payroll space. Bradley at $12MM is nearly immovable, but I like listing him anyway.
Deemed Expendable?
The Giants' Nate Schierholtz, 27 in February, could be sent packing after failing to produce in the bigs the last few years. The non-tender candidates, discussed here, are so heavily favored to be cut loose that it doesn't make sense to trade for any of them.
Summary
There are several useful bats potentially joining the right field trade market. Players like DeJesus and Quentin require injury risk tolerance, while most of the others require a willingness to assume part of an oversized contract. Also consider that some clubs may be open to tolerating a left field type in right field for a year, adding names like Josh Willingham, Raul Ibanez, and Luke Scott to the mix.
Cliff Lee’s Wife Offended By Yankees Fans
3:02pm: Lee's agent Darek Braunecker told ESPN's Andrew Marchand, "The story is not an issue to us. Her experience in New York is certainly a non-issue. She enjoys New York as much as anyone enjoys New York."
10:01am: Two years ago, C.C. Sabathia's wife Amber was said to prefer the Giants. Yankees GM Brian Cashman was able to pitch the couple on New York and close the deal on a seven-year, $161MM contract. He may have a tougher task with Cliff Lee's wife Kristen, who did not have a good time at Yankee Stadium during the playoffs. From USA Today's Bob Nightengale:
Perhaps the Rangers' greatest sales pitch simply was having Kristen sit in the visiting family section at Yankee Stadium during the playoffs. She says there were ugly taunts. Obscenities. Cups of beer thrown. Even fans spitting from the section above. "The fans did not do good things in my heart," Kristen says. "When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it's hard not to take it personal."
It's impossible to say how Kristen Lee's experience will factor into the lefty's decision. As Nightengale notes, Sabathia and A.J. Burnett (and perhaps their wives) are ready to recruit Lee this offseason. Plus, it's unlikely Yankees fans would taunt their own star pitcher's wife.
The Yankees' main selling point, of course, will have to be money and contract years. The Rangers have all the intangibles in their favor, especially the team's World Series appearance and proximity to the Lee family's Little Rock, Arkansas home. We've seen players leave millions on the table before, though the Rangers plan to be aggressive in the bidding.
White Sox Exercise Options On Thornton, Castro
The White Sox exercised their 2011 options on reliever Matt Thornton and catcher Ramon Castro, tweets MLB.com's Scott Merkin. The Sox also requested release waivers on righty Carlos Torres so he can pursue a job in Asia.
Thornton's $3MM option, which had a $250K buyout, was a given after his dominant 2010 season. The hard-throwing southpaw posted a 2.67 ERA, 12.0 K/9, and 3.0 BB/9 in 60.6 innings, the only blemish being an August forearm injury. After Thornton's strong '06 campaign for the Sox, GM Kenny Williams wisely signed him to a three-year deal with club options for 2010 and '11. Talking to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Thornton said he's confident he can close in 2011 if needed. Many consider Bobby Jenks a non-tender candidate.
Castro had a $1.2MM option with a $200K buyout, so his option was also an easy choice. In his second season as A.J. Pierzynski's backup he hit .278/.328/.504 with eight home runs in only 128 plate appearances.
Torres, 28, was ranked 16th among White Sox prospects by Baseball America heading into the season. He repeated Triple A, posting a 3.42 ERA, 7.9 K/9, and 4.0 BB/9 in 160.3 innings. BA wrote that Torres "profiles as a long reliever/sixth starter." His repertoire: "a heavy 90-92 fastball and a plus cutter that frustrates lefthanders." They described him as an organizational favorite for his fearlessness and durability.
Yankees Sign Wilmer Romero
The Yankees signed July 2nd prospect Wilmer Romero out of the Dominican Republic, tweets SI's Melissa Segura. Romero, a 16-year-old center fielder, was ranked fifth among Dominican prospects on the list Blake Bentley compiled for MLBTR back in May. Bentley wrote that Romero has the toolset to demand seven figures – the 6'2" center fielder has good speed, a strong arm, and plus power. ESPN's Keith Law also praised Romero's tools and noted that he signed later because he had to go through MLB's age verification process.
Olney On Offseason, Athletics, Red Sox
ESPN's Buster Olney dishes hot stove opinions and rumors…
- In today's blog, Olney says some folks see the fairly expensive deals given to mid-level free agents Ted Lilly and Brandon Inge as a sign that teams will spend aggressively this offseason. Olney feels that this forecast might make certain club options, like those of David Ortiz and Mark Ellis, more palatable.
- Final decisions aren't due yet, but Olney tweets that his sources expect the Athletics to pick up the 2011 options on Ellis ($5.5MM net) and Coco Crisp ($5.25MM net). Based on the free agent market for center fielders, the Crisp option is looking like a good deal.
- Olney tweets that Boston's next pitching coach "may well be Curt Young, who turned down a two-year offer to stay with Oakland." Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote recently that the A's offered Young a one-year deal. Young interviewed with the Red Sox today, reports WEEI's Alex Speier, and was the most impressive external candidate so far.
Free Agent Market For Right Fielders
The Tigers, Angels, Phillies, Nationals, Pirates, Cardinals, and Giants may be in the market for a right fielder this winter. Let's examine the free agent options.
The Big Name
Though his agent Scott Boras keeps talking about center field, Jayson Werth has mainly played right in the Majors. Werth, 31, is the marquee right-handed bat on the free agent market and plays strong defense as well. In the opinion of CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury, "it’s clear that the starting price will be something in the range of the seven-year, $120 million deal that Boras client Matt Holliday received from St. Louis last winter." Werth will also cost a draft pick if a team other than the Phillies signs him. The Tigers, Angels, and Nationals could be contenders for his services, and despite full outfields most expect the Red Sox and Yankees to check in.
Solid Regulars
Magglio Ordonez and Brad Hawpe might be solid regulars next year, but there are concerns. Ordonez, 37 in January, is represented by Boras and was limited to 84 games this year due to ankle surgery. Will he take one year and a sizeable pay cut despite a solid offensive performance? Hawpe, 31, slipped to .245/.338/.419 and was cut by the Rockies in August. If UZR is any indication, he's better suited for a DH role.
Jason Kubel was pressed into right field duty this year; like Hawpe, he's better off at DH. Kubel's off-year still looks pretty good compared to other free agents, but the Twins may pick up his option at a $4.9MM net price. Xavier Nady played right field fairly regularly in 2008, but may not have the arm for an everyday gig after a second Tommy John procedure in July of '09.
Part-Time Players
Jose Guillen, Andruw Jones, Gabe Kapler, Randy Winn, Austin Kearns, Willie Bloomquist, and Jeremy Hermida all tallied 100+ innings in right field this year. Jones and Kearns flashed decent OBPs, while Jones and Guillen showed some pop.
Non-Tender Candidates
The non-tender candidates don't add much to the discussion. Jeff Francoeur is the main name, but he hasn't hit much since 2007. He'll have to take a part-time role or minor league deal, as will Gabe Gross, Jason Repko, Ryan Church, Delwyn Young, Brett Carroll, and Travis Buck.
Summary
For clubs that don't have $100MM+ to spend on Werth, Ordonez and Hawpe are decent offensive-minded alternatives.
Boras Defends Werth
At yesterday's press conference, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. was asked how the team's offense could be good or better without Jayson Werth. Part of Amaro's response:
Jayson had a good year. It wasn't an extraordinary year. He had kind of a tough time with men in scoring position, so he didn't have as productive a year as he had in the past. But I think if he's not with us, there are players that we can acquire or we have in our own organization that can help us be as consistent.
It was odd to see a GM point out a player's shortcoming, although Amaro was correct in that Werth hit .186/.353/.314 in 190 plate appearances with runners in scoring position. Of course, the sample is small and Werth was just fine with runners in scoring position in previous seasons. Werth described the 2010 RISP numbers as an anomaly, talking to CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury.
Werth's new agent Scott Boras sidestepped the runners in scoring position angle, but still defended his client in a discussion with Salisbury. Boras explained, "Compared to '09, he was up 30 points in batting average, 15 in on-base percentage, 30 in slugging, 40 in OPS. He had fewer home runs, but he had 20 more doubles." Valid points. Boras also said Werth's defense was "better than it has ever been," a point that is more difficult to prove. The agent once again praised Werth's "center field acumen," though he's never played there regularly in the Majors.
As he typically does, Boras added that the Phillies have the money to retain Werth.
De La Rosa Will Test Free Agent Market
Lefty Jorge de la Rosa will test the free agent market, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd still plans to make an aggressive multiyear offer, saying, "We continue to have a strong desire to bring him back. The conversations have been great."
In Renck's estimation, De La Rosa is seeking a four or five-year contract. The southpaw, 30 in April, is one of the better free agent starters available despite never reaching 200 innings and a career walk rate of 4.5 per nine. De La Rosa's case was strengthened when the Dodgers re-signed Ted Lilly at three years and $33MM earlier this month. De La Rosa is represented by TWC Sports.
Our reverse-engineered Elias rankings suggest De La Rosa barely made the Type A cutoff. He'll likely turn down an arbitration offer from the Rockies on November 30th, allowing Colorado to snag two draft picks if another team signs him. Only one of those picks would come from the signing team. Note that at 74.092 points, De La Rosa is the sixth-lowest rated of the 29 Type A free agents. If a team signs De La Rosa and another higher-rated Type A who also turned down arbitration, one of the Rockies' picks could be pushed to the second or third round of the draft. Renck expects the Rockies to pursue another free agent starter if De La Rosa departs.
Renck adds that the Rockies' decision on catcher Miguel Olivo's $2.5MM mutual option is due three days after the World Series. He says they're leaning against exercising their side due to Carney Lansford's success working with Chris Iannetta.