Which Overpaid Veterans Could Be Released?
The Diamondbacks released Eric Byrnes, owed $11MM, in January of this year. In March of 2009, the Giants released outfielder Dave Roberts and ate $6.5MM in salary. Soon after, the Tigers cut Gary Sheffield despite $14MM left on his contract. In '08, the Orioles cut Jay Gibbons and assumed his remaining $11.9MM. That same month, the Astros released pitcher Woody Williams despite his $6.5MM commitment. Which well-paid veterans might be on the chopping block for 2010? My entirely speculative list follows.
- Eric Chavez, Athletics: one year, $15MM. Even as a utility man, Chavez is a tough fit on an A's roster that includes an out of options Jake Fox. Chavez retiring might make this situation easier on everyone.
- Jeff Suppan, Brewers: one year, $14.5MM. For the first time in his Brewers career, Suppan is battling for a rotation spot.
- Carlos Silva, Cubs: two years, $25MM. Though the Cubs are only on the hook for $16MM of Silva's contract, it still may make sense to cut him if he shows nothing in Spring Training.
- Jose Guillen, Royals: one year, $12MM. Coming off ankle and back surgery, Guillen is slated to be the Royals' full-time DH. CHONE projects him to hit just .254/.309/.398 in 2010.
- Dontrelle Willis, Tigers: one year, $12MM. Willis is in good spirits as he tries to return from anxiety and command issues and earn a rotation spot.
Baldelli To Serve As Special Assistant For Rays
Rocco Baldelli will return to the Rays with a special assistant role, working with minor leaguers and other young players, reports Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. Baldelli is "not ready to retire," but has a shoulder issue currently. Topkin notes that Rays exec Andrew Friedman didn't make the deal with the idea that Baldelli would later play for the Rays, but said "anything's possible."
Baldelli, 28, signed a $500K deal with the Red Sox in January of '09 and hit .253/.311/.433 in 164 plate appearances. He dealt with foot, hamstring, and hip injuries, but also has a type of channelopathy, which has caused muscle fatigue.
Minor League Signings: Van Benschoten, Bourgeois
Matt Eddy of Baseball America has the latest minor league transactions. A few highlights:
- The Yankees signed pitcher John Van Benschoten, former eighth overall pick by the Pirates in '01. JvB posted a 6.35 ERA, 7.7 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, and tons of hits allowed in 78 innings for the White Sox Triple A club last year.
- The Astros signed 28-year-old outfielder Jason Bourgeois, who they claimed off waivers from the Brewers in October but designated for assignment later to make room for Brett Myers. Bourgeois hit .316/.354/.401 in Triple A last year while playing all three outfield positions.
- The Rockies added a few familiar names in first baseman Brad Eldred and third baseman Travis Metcalf. Eldred, 29, has made five stops at Triple A, last year with the Nationals' affiliate. Metcalf, 27, has 242 big league plate appearances with the Rangers under his belt but has yet to master Triple A.
- The Dodgers signed Robin Yount's son Dustin, formerly of the Tucson Toros.
- The Rangers signed corner infielder Wes Bankston. The 26-year-old hasn't done much in his four Triple A stints.
Offseason In Review: Minnesota Twins
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Twins.
Major League Signings
- Carl Pavano, SP: one year, $7MM. Accepted arbitration.
- Orlando Hudson, 2B: one year, $5MM.
- Jim Thome, DH: one year, $1.5MM.
- Clay Condrey, RP: one year, $900K.
- Total spend: $14.4MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
Extensions
- Brendan Harris, IF: two years, $3.2MM.
Trades and Claims
- Acquired SS J.J. Hardy from Brewers for CF Carlos Gomez
- Acquired P Chris Province from Red Sox for P Boof Bonser
Notable Losses
- Boof Bonser, Brian Buscher, Mike Redmond, Ron Mahay, Joe Crede, Carlos Gomez, Armando Gabino, Orlando Cabrera, R.A. Dickey, Philip Humber, Steve Tolleson, Jason Pridie, Bobby Keppel
Summary
For about $20MM and Carlos Gomez, Twins GM Bill Smith revamped his middle infield, retained a mid-rotation starter, added an excellent bench bat, and signed a groundballing middle reliever. On paper, Smith improved his team at a reasonable cost.
In Hardy, Smith traded for two seasons of the offseason's best available shortstop. Hudson should easily earn his salary, and might be able to top last year's Twins second base offensive output (.209/.302/.267) batting blindfolded. Pavano's '09 peripherals suggest he deserved an ERA around 4.00 as opposed to his actual 5.10 mark. Thome should come in handy; he hit .262/.383/.498 against righties last year.
The Twins' rotation looks respectable, with Kevin Slowey and Francisco Liriano likely to provide much more than last year's 227.3 innings of 5.42 ball. Does the lineup pack enough punch? CHONE projections suggest the Twins will score 850 runs. That's optimistic, since injuries are inevitable for all teams. Still, it's all relative, and the Twins' offense projects as the best in the division. Thanks to Smith's fine winter, the Twins are my AL Central favorite.
Mariners Sign Wes Littleton
The Mariners signed righty Wes Littleton to a minor league deal, tweets ESPN's Shannon Drayer. Littleton, 27, spent '09 with the Brewers' Double A and Triple A clubs after being claimed off waivers from the Red Sox. It was a rough year, as he posted an overall 6.50 ERA, 7.5 K/9, and 7.7 BB/9.
Littleton has 102.3 innings of big league experience with the Rangers from 2006-08. Even after a useful '07 season, Baseball America noted that "the possibility exists that major leaguers will adjust to his funky motion and start to hit him."
Fantasy Baseball Third Baseman Rankings
RotoAuthority ranks the third basemen…check it out.
Odds & Ends: Calero, Beckett, Robles, Bay
Links to kick off the new month…
- The Mets "would have interest in Kiko Calero on a minor league deal," tweeted Ken Davidoff of Newsday yesterday. Calero is holding out for a big league contract, which seems reasonable.
- Scott Boras client Jacoby Ellsbury hasn't had any long-term contract discussions with the Red Sox, nor does he intend to, reports Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com.
- The latest GM's Corner video from Jim Bowden of FOX Sports is fifteen minutes well-spent, with appearances by Billy Beane, Jack Zduriencik, Mike Rizzo, Logan White, and Lance Berkman. The video is all about scouting.
- Check out Rob Bradford's in-depth discussion with Josh Beckett for WEEI.
- Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says the Mariners might have a nice find in hard-throwing lefty Mauricio Robles, who came from Detroit in last summer's Jarrod Washburn trade.
- Baker's colleague Larry Stone talked to Jason Bay, who said the Mariners expressed interest but never made a serious push for him.
- Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that Brett Tomko and Jason Jennings will each earn $700K if they make the A's.
Red Sox Claim Casey Fien, Designate Gaby Hernandez
The Red Sox claimed pitcher Casey Fien off waivers from the Tigers today, according to the Tigers' official Twitter feed. Fien was designated for assignment on Tuesday to make room for Johnny Damon. The Red Sox announced that they designated former waiver claim Gaby Hernandez for assignment to clear a spot for Fien. It's been a busy winter for Hernandez, who was designated for assignment by the Mariners when they signed Ryan Garko.
Fien, 26, posted a 3.41 ERA, 10.2 K/9, and 2.3 BB/9 in 58 Triple A relief innings this year. He struggled in 11.3 big league frames, which marked his Major League debut. Baseball America ranked Fien 27th among Tigers prospects, writing that he "profiles as a middle reliever." Still, his minor league command is intriguing.
Indians Sign Tom Mastny
The Indians signed righty Tom Mastny to a minor league deal, according to a team press release. Mastny spent the '09 season with the Yokohama Bay Stars, posting a 5.69 ERA, 6.3 K/9, and 3.6 BB/9 in 61.6 innings.
Mastny, 29, was drafted by the Blue Jays but joined the Indians organization as part of the December '04 John McDonald trade. Mastny posted a 6.13 ERA, 8.1 K/9, and 4.9 BB/9 in 94 big league innings for the Tribe across three seasons before being purchased by the Bay Stars.
Cubs, Derrek Lee Waiting On Contract Talks
MONDAY, 11:22am: Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune has more on Lee. He says that while interest is mutual and Lee wants to retire a Cub, contract discussions will not occur until after the season.
TUESDAY, 11:09am: Like many players entering contract years, Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee would prefer not to negotiate during the season. He told ESPN's Bruce Levine that he is open to discussing an extension, but he won't be approaching the team.
Lee, 34, bounced back to a .306/.393/.579 line last year. He's finishing a five-year, $65MM extension signed after his career-best '05 season. If he reaches free agency, Lee projects to join a first base class that might include Lance Berkman, Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Adam LaRoche, and Carlos Pena. Lee seems likely to get a two or three-year deal worth more than $10MM per, but much rests on his 2010 production.