D’Backs Attempting To Trade For A Starter
The Diamondbacks "are more focused on trades than free agents" in their search for a starting pitcher, according to a source of Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The writers suggest the D'Backs will look for a cheap back-end rotation type, speculating on non-tender candidates Dave Bush, Brian Tallet, and Tim Redding. It sounds like the D'Backs don't want to give up a ton in trade, as they're reluctant to meet the asking price for Edwin Jackson and haven't inquired on Pirates starters Paul Maholm and Zach Duke.
Back on November 12th, we named about 30 potentially available starters, including Tallet and Bush.
Phillies Sign Brian Schneider
The Phillies signed catcher Brian Schneider, according to Mandy Housenick of The Morning Call (hat tip to Jon Heyman). He signed a two-year deal, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Zolecki says Schneider will earn $1.25MM in '10 and $1.5MM in '11 for a total of $2.75MM. Schneider grew up a Phillies fan, which was part of the reason he was willing to accept a role backing up Carlos Ruiz rather than start for another team. The Rockies were known to have interest, but that was also for a backup job.
Schneider, 33, hit .218/.292/.335 in 194 plate appearances for the Mets this year, catching 437 innings. He dealt with knee, back, and calf issues. He earned $4.9MM in the last year of a four-year, $16MM deal signed in January of '06. In November of '07, Schneider was traded by the Nationals with Ryan Church to the Mets for Lastings Milledge.
Mets Talk: Cora, Catchers, Krivsky
Let's gather up the latest Mets hot stove links…
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Jesse Spector of the New York Daily News, and Ken Davidoff of Newsday all trashed yesterday's signing of Alex Cora for $2MM. The basic premise is that every dollar counts when you're up against a payroll limit, and uninspired signings like Cora, John Grabow, and Ramon Hernandez for $2-3MM hurt.
- In that same blog post, Davidoff says the Mets "like Matt Holliday, but it's pretty apparent that they're not going after him the way they pursued Carlos Beltran five years ago."
- The Mets are poised to add Henry Blanco and Chris Coste as backup options, but Davidoff says their top free agent target is Bengie Molina. If he's offered arbitration today and turns it down later, Molina would cost the Mets' their #40 draft pick (unless they also sign a higher-ranked Type A who turned down arb, in which case their #40 pick would go to another team and the Giants would get #71). Davidoff notes that Gerald Laird and Chris Snyder were Mets trade targets in the past, and that other free agent catchers would not cost a draft pick. Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post says the Mets are interested in Type B free agent Rod Barajas.
- Roch Kubatko of MASN talked to Orioles president Andy MacPhail about Wayne Krivsky leaving his special assistant position with the O's for a better position with the Mets. Knowing that Krivsky wants to be a GM again, does this put more pressure on Omar Minaya?
Rockies Offer Arb To Betancourt, Marquis, Not Torrealba, Beimel
The Rockies offered arbitration to reliever Rafael Betancourt (Type A) and starter Jason Marquis (Type B), according to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies. They did not offer to Yorvit Torrealba (B) or Joe Beimel (B).
The Marquis decision comes as a mild surprise. Ringolsby says there are indications he will reject the offer in search of a multiyear deal, which would net the Rockies a supplemental pick.
Betancourt rejected the Rockies' two-year, $7MM offer earlier in the offseason, so this arbitration offer gives them a chance to either keep him on a one-year deal or receive two draft picks for their loss. The Rox already rejected Betancourt's $5.4MM club option, so they might be thinking he'd get less than that in arbitration. From Betancourt's point of view, he'll be a lot less attractive to other teams if he turns down the Rockies' offer.
Rockies Eyeing Justin Duchscherer, Miguel Batista
It's just one line at the end of Troy E. Renck's Denver Post column, but here's a few fresh Rockies targets: righties Justin Duchscherer and Miguel Batista. Renck says the Rockies are "trolling for pitching depth of all types" given the uncertainty with free agents Rafael Betancourt, Jose Contreras, and Joe Beimel.
Duchscherer is also known to be on the radar of the Pirates and Red Sox after missing the '09 season with hip and elbow surgeries and clinical depression. We learned what Batista is up to in yesterday's Geoff Baker article for the Seattle Times. Batista said he's heard from a few contending clubs.
Also of note: MLB.com's Thomas Harding talked to Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd, who indicated there's a slight chance the Rockies reach an agreement with Garrett Atkins in advance of the December 12th non-tender deadline. Maybe the Rockies could release Atkins and then re-sign him without the restriction of the 80% rule?
Yomiuri Giants Sign Masahide Kobayashi
The Yomiuri Giants signed reliever Masahide Kobayashi, according to Kyodo News. The 35-year-old righty was released by the Indians in July.
I was in favor of Kobayashi's two-year, $6.25MM deal in November of 2007. However, he posted a 5.10 ERA with plenty of hits and home runs over his 65.3 inning MLB career.
Arbitration Offer Predictions For Free Agents
On October 12th, I explained what it means when a free agent is offered arbitration and also made a few loose predictions. Tomorrow evening, those arbitration decisions will be upon us. As far as I can tell, there are 70 Type A/B free agents. It's time to commit to predictions on whether or not the player will be offered arbitration. Let me know where I'm wrong in the comments.
- Bengie Molina (A) - Yes
- Billy Wagner (A) – Yes
- Chone Figgins (A) – Yes
- Darren Oliver (A) – Yes
- Jason Bay (A) – Yes
- Jermaine Dye (A) – No
- John Lackey (A) – Yes
- Johnny Damon (A) – No
- Jose Valverde (A) – No
- Kevin Gregg (A) – No
- LaTroy Hawkins (A) – No
- Marco Scutaro (A) – Yes
- Matt Holliday (A) – Yes
- Miguel Tejada (A) – No
- Mike Gonzalez (A) – Yes
- Octavio Dotel (A) – No
- Orlando Cabrera (A) – No
- Orlando Hudson (A) – No
- Placido Polanco (A) – No
- Rafael Betancourt (A) - Yes
- Rafael Soriano (A) - Yes
- Randy Wolf (A) – Yes
- Adam LaRoche (B) - No
- Adrian Beltre (B) – No
- Andy Pettitte (B) - No
- Bob Howry (B) – No
- Braden Looper (B) – No
- Brandon Lyon (B) – Yes
- Brian Giles (B) – No
- Brian Shouse (B) – No
- Carl Pavano (B) – Yes
- Carlos Delgado (B) – No
- Chan Ho Park (B) - Yes
- David Weathers (B) – No
- Doug Brocail (B) – No
- Doug Davis (B) – No
- Erik Bedard (B) – No
- Felipe Lopez (B) - Yes
- Fernando Rodney (B) – Yes
- Fernando Tatis (B) – No
- Garret Anderson (B) – No
- Gregg Zaun (B) – No
- Guillermo Mota (B) – No
- Ivan Rodriguez (B) - No
- Jason Kendall (B) – No
- Jason Marquis (B) – No
- Joe Beimel (B) – No
- Joel Pineiro (B) – Yes
- Jon Garland (B) – No
- Justin Duchscherer (B) - No
- Kiko Calero (B) – No
- Mark DeRosa (B) - Yes
- Marlon Byrd (B) – Yes
- Melvin Mora (B) – No
- Miguel Olivo (B) – No
- Mike Cameron (B) – No
- Nick Johnson (B) – No
- Randy Johnson (B) – No
- Randy Winn (B) – No
- Rich Harden (B) – No
- Rod Barajas (B) – Yes
- Ronnie Belliard (B) – No
- Russ Springer (B) – No
- Scott Eyre (B) – No
- Troy Glaus (B) – No
- Vicente Padilla (B) – No
- Vladimir Guerrero (B) – No
- Will Ohman (B) – No
- Xavier Nady (B) – No
- Yorvit Torrealba (B) – No
That's 21 arb offers in total, which would be down from 24 last year. I'm on the fence on Molina, Valverde, Hawkins, and Hudson in particular. Thanks to all the journalists and others who offered feedback on these predictions, including Mike DiGiovanna, Tom Haudricourt, Todd Zolecki, Derrick Goold, Bob Dutton, Bill Shaikin, Mark Bowman, Kelly Thesier, T.R. Sullivan, Joe Christensen, Brian McTaggart, Chris Haft, Andrew Baggarly, Tracy Ringolsby, and Jon Paul Morosi.
Reds Expect To Maintain Payroll
MLB.com's Mark Sheldon talked to Reds GM Walt Jocketty, who offered up a few hot stove nuggets.
- Jocketty said the Reds' 2010 payroll will be close to last year's ($73MM). The Reds are already around $72MM committed before arbitration raises to Jared Burton, Jonny Gomes, and Nick Masset.
- The Reds did not talk to Gomes' agents last week. It'd be a surprise to me to see him non-tendered after a .267/.338/.541 campaign.
- Asked if players would be moved to meet payroll, Jocketty replied, "I don't want to talk about that. I'm still working on it."
- The Reds would like to improve their offense and possibly add a fifth starter, but Jocketty does not want to trade young players.
- My take: Jocketty has a tall order ahead of him, improving the team despite a complete lack of payroll space. Committing $3MM to Ramon Hernandez was a questionable start. At this point Jocketty can only create flexibility by trading Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Francisco Cordero, or Arthur Rhodes. ESPN's Buster Olney heard from rival executives that the Reds prefer to trade Harang over Arroyo.
Mets, Alex Cora Agree To Deal
4:03pm: The AP says an agreement has been reached on a $2MM deal with an additional $1MM in performance bonuses. A $2MM option for 2011 vests with 80 starts in 2010.
12:17pm: The Mets are close to a one-year deal with a vesting option with infielder Alex Cora, reports WEEI's Rob Bradford. Bradford believes Cora will again be guaranteed $2MM. The agreement is pending a physical.
Cora, a Scott Boras client, had his OBP slip from .371 in '08 to .320 this year with increased playing time (308 plate appearances, 599 innings in the field). With all of the Mets' needs this winter, I'm a little surprised they didn't fill Cora's role more cheaply.
Offseason Outlook: Philadelphia Phillies
Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Philles. Their likely commitments for 2010:
C – Carlos Ruiz – $475K+
C – Paul Hoover – $400K
1B – Ryan Howard – $19MM
2B – Chase Utley – $15MM
SS – Jimmy Rollins – $7.5MM
3B –
IF – Juan Castro – $800K (estimated)
LF – Raul Ibanez – $11.5MM
CF – Shane Victorino – $3.125MM+
RF – Jayson Werth – $7MM
OF – Ben Francisco – $421K
OF – John Mayberry Jr. – $400K
1B/3B/OF – Greg Dobbs – $1.35MM
SP – Cliff Lee – $9MM
SP – Cole Hamels – $6.65MM
SP – Joe Blanton – $5.475MM+
SP – J.A. Happ – $405K
SP – Jamie Moyer – $8MM
RP – Brad Lidge – $11.5MM
RP – J.C. Romero – $4MM
RP – Ryan Madson – $4.5MM
RP – Chad Durbin – $1.635MM+
RP – Clay Condrey – $650K+
RP – Sergio Escalona – $400K
RP – Kyle Kendrick – $475K
Non-tender candidates: Durbin, Condrey
Other commitments: Adam Eaton – $500K, Pedro Feliz – $500K, Geoff Jenkins – $1.25MM
The Phillies have about $121.5MM committed before arbitration raises to Ruiz, Victorino, Blanton, Durbin, and Condrey. Those raises should put the Phils in the $130MM range after beginning 2009 at $132.5MM. The Phillies would have about $10MM to spend with a $140MM payroll, although Scott Lauber of The News Journal believes they have closer to $120MM committed (and $20MM to spend).
The Phillies' needs are clear: a starting third baseman, a late-inning reliever or two, and perhaps a backup catcher and cheap starting pitcher. With Romero recovering from a flexor tendon surgery, one of the relievers will probably be a lefty.
At third base, Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa, and Placido Polanco are the free agent targets. Beltre, 31 in April, would likely be an improvement on Pedro Feliz both offensively and defensively. Will Ruben Amaro Jr. tangle with Scott Boras? He extended Madson in January and signed Rodrigo Lopez in March, so relations seem fine.
Re-signing relievers Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre appears unlikely, based on recent reports. We have seen the Phils named as speculative suitors for Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon, with the latter a better fit since the team isn't quite ready to hand over Lidge's ninth-inning role. Guys like Kevin Gregg, Rafael Betancourt, Octavio Dotel, LaTroy Hawkins, and J.J. Putz may also be willing to accept uncertainty between an eighth or ninth-inning role. The Phillies could also take the Mets-Putz approach – if you trade for someone, he has no say in his role. If the Phils were willing to offer up the closer job, they could look at free agents Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Jose Valverde, Billy Wagner.
A significant starting pitching acquisition seems unlikely, as the Phillies will be right up against that $140MM limit after filling the third base and bullpen needs. Barring unforeseen injuries, the Phillies should be one of the NL's top teams again next year. Their biggest move was acquiring Lee on July 29th; they'll enjoy him for all of 2010.