Potential Braves Targets
David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sums up players on the Braves' radar as they attempt to augment their offense. Most of these names have already leaked out in stray rumors: Mark DeRosa, Josh Willingham, Mike Cameron, and Jermaine Dye. Carl Crawford is also on the Braves' wish list, as we learned yesterday from Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times. In a more speculative sense, O'Brien adds that Xavier Nady and Marlon Byrd "could be possibilities."
For the sake of argument, if it came down to these seven hitters, which would you prefer? Using Bill James projections and the wOBA stat, Willingham comes out on top offensively for 2010. We learned recently that the Braves face competition from the Cardinals for Willingham, though Atlanta may have concerns about the player's defense.
Elsewhere in the O'Brien article, Scott Boras extols the virtues of free agent reliever Mike Gonzalez. To hear Boras tell it, about half the teams in baseball are eyeing his new client. Gonzalez figures to come with a draft pick cost attached, as O'Brien expects the Braves to offer arbitration a week from now when that deadline arrives.
Rich Aurilia Hopes To Play In 2010
Rich Aurilia hopes to play in 2010, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Said Aurilia:
"As far as next year, I definitely want to play if the situation is right. I understand that I would mainly be a utility, pinch hitter-type player, which I'm alright with."
Crasnick notes that it was a trying year for Aurilia, whose father passed away. Aurilia, 38, hit .213/.256/.279 in 133 plate appearances while missing time with ankle and toe injuries. He'd signed a minor league deal with the Giants in February worth $1MM.
Laynce Nix Elects Free Agency
Outfielder Laynce Nix has been outrighted by the Reds and elected free agency, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Nix was considered a non-tender candidate, as the Reds have plenty of outfielders already. In a few weeks they must decide whether to tender Jonny Gomes a contract (seems like a good idea to me).
Nix, 29, received the most playing time of his career since 2004 this year. He hit .239/.291/.476 in 337 plate appearances, knocking 15 home runs and playing left field. Reds manager Dusty Baker shielded him from left-handed pitching most of the year.
Latest Milton Bradley Scenario
1:36pm: MLB.com's Carrie Muskat hears from a Cubs official that there's nothing to the rumored three way deal between the Cubs, Rangers and Mets. However, four to six teams are interested in Bradley to varying degrees.
10:58am: The latest Milton Bradley trade scenario comes courtesy of Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, who considers Bradley going to the Rangers, Kevin Millwood to the Mets, and Luis Castillo to the Cubs.
We talked to a source familiar with the situation who said that this deal is not being discussed. Backing that up, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan talked to a Rangers official who said it's "not happening." So for our purposes it's more of a discussion piece.
Does this satisfy the needs of all three teams? The Rangers add a bat and trade from an area of depth, the Mets free up second base for other pursuits and get a veteran for the rotation, and the Cubs unload Bradley while getting a piece they can use. The money: Bradley is owed $21MM over two years, Millwood $12MM over one, and Castillo $12MM over two.
Odds & Ends: Atkins, Twins, Carlyle
Links for Friday, as the free agent market officially opens…
- As Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports points out, the Angels' lack of interest in Matt Holliday bodes well for the Cardinals, but not for Scott Boras.
- Scott Boras tells FOX Sports that interest in Adrian Beltre and Mike Gonzalez is strong so far. The agent says he's fielded offers for eight players already.
- The Nippon Ham Fighters signed minor league free agent pitcher Buddy Carlyle, says NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman. Newman also says the Yokohama BayStars are working to sign Chris Bootcheck, Jose Castillo, and Terrmel Sledge.
- The Nats hired former Mariners manager John McLaren as a bench coach, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse.
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan ranks 131 free agents and provides capsules. We've also got SI's Jon Heyman and AOL FanHouse's Frankie Piliere with Top 50 lists.
- Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch breaks down the market for Mark DeRosa.
- ESPN's Buster Olney notes five arbitration-eligible players who could be traded, including Russell Martin and Kevin Correia.
- SI's Jon Heyman tweets that the Mariners and Tigers continue to discuss Edwin Jackson.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel tweets a comment from Brewers GM Doug Melvin: the team will fill current needs before discussing a Prince Fielder extension.
- Garrett Atkins to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post: "I know that I will be on another team next year."
- Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune feels that free agents Carl Pavano, Jarrod Washburn, and Rich Harden are potential fits for the Twins.
- Christensen's colleague Sid Hartman wonders if catcher Mike Redmond "could wind up with a job in the [Twins] organization." However, Redmond told MLB.com's Kelly Thesier a month ago that he plans on playing in 2010.
- Paul Hagen's Phillies source shot down a story that Pat Gillick could be heading back to the Blue Jays.
- Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball has a Winter Meetings primer.
- Chico Harlan is moving on from the Washington Post's Nationals beat, once a replacement is found.
Non-Tender Candidates Revised
Remember our October 5th list of non-tender candidates? Since then, Jeremy Hermida, Mark Teahen, Aaron Heilman, Boof Bonser, Brian Bruney, and Matt Lindstrom have been traded, while John Bale, Mike Jacobs, and Ryan Church have been cut. Others have been outrighted or eliminated from consideration. The non-tender deadline is December 12th at 11pm CST. Here's a revised list.
Jeremy Accardo
Alfredo Amezaga
Brian Anderson
Garrett Atkins
Jose Bautista
Taylor Buchholz
John Buck
Dave Bush
D.J. Carrasco
Kevin Correia
Neal Cotts
Jack Cust
Mike Fontenot
Ryan Garko
Chad Gaudin
Jody Gerut
Jonny Gomes
Gabe Gross
Conor Jackson
Bobby Jenks
Kelly Johnson
Logan Kensing
Ryan Langerhans
John Maine
Andy Marte
Seth McClung
Brandon Medders
Sergio Mitre
Dioner Navarro
Scott Olsen
Tim Redding
Jeremy Reed
Jason Repko
Cory Sullivan
Brian Tallet
Chien-Ming Wang
The full list of arbitration-eligible players can be found here; let me know who needs to be added to the non-tender candidates.
Halama Hopes To Sign With Brewers
John Halama hopes to sign a minor league deal with the Brewers by early next week, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Halama's agent said his client "would love to reunite with both [Ken] Macha and [Rick] Peterson." Halama, 37, will take the mound for Aguilas tonight in the Dominican Republic.
Earlier this month, the Blue Jays were named as one team with an eye on Halama. Halama pitched in the Independent League this year and also tossed 90.3 Triple A innings for the Braves.
Heyman On Gonzalez, Wellemeyer, Rivera
SI's Jon Heyman kicks off his newest column with thoughts on his top 50 free agents. A few highlights from the list and elsewhere in the column…
- Via Twitter Heyman says Mets GM Omar Minaya likes Luis Castillo more than any of the 29 other teams do.
- Heyman groups the Cubs in as a possible Matt Holliday suitor, which does not seem feasible given the team's payroll situation.
- Lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez has "drawn interest from as many as 15 teams."
- A new name on the Brewers' radar as a "No. 5-type guy": Todd Wellemeyer.
- Heyman speaks of "indications the Angels might be willing to trade outfielder Juan Rivera." One such indication popped up earlier this month when Ken Davidoff said the Angels and Tigers discussed a Curtis Granderson deal. Rivera had a solid year – .287/.332/.478 – and has $9.5MM remaining over two years.
Royals Sign Jorge Campillo
The Royals signed righty Jorge Campillo to a minor league deal, according to MLB.com's Dick Kaegel. Campillo was limited to 9.3 pro innings in the Braves organization this year due to shoulder issues, and elected free agency a month ago. In 2008 he logged 158.6 innings with a 3.91 ERA, making 25 starts.
Discussion: Derek Lowe’s Value
Braves righty Derek Lowe makes for an interesting discussion topic. Lowe is owed $45MM over the next three years, and is widely known to be on the trading block. The Braves seem unwilling to eat significant salary. There are arguments on both sides of the fence as to Lowe's value.
On one side we've got Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports saying the Braves are finding Lowe difficult to trade. The financial commitment is significant, and I must note that Lowe's strikeout, walk, and groundball rates moved in the wrong direction this year. I think the free agent market offers plenty of mid-rotation options at one year and less than $10MM.
How about the other side? In that same Rosenthal piece, he writes that the Braves feel that if Lowe were a free agent, only John Lackey would be in higher demand among starters. And maybe Lowe at 3/45 is better than Lackey at 5/80 (or whatever).
Other pro-Lowe points from MLB.com's Mark Bowman: he took pressure off the other Braves' starters, he's durable, and he had a 3.88 ERA this year if you subtract his worst three starts. (In fairness, we can play that game with anyone – Jon Garland's ERA drops from 4.01 to 3.24 if we remove his worst three). Frankie Piliere of AOL FanHouse sides with Bowman, saying, "Don't expect teams to be any less impressed with Lowe than they were when he was free agent last offseason." And while I pointed out that Lowe's numbers declined this year, it should also be noted that his .333 BABIP and subsequent 232 hits allowed might be a reflection of the Braves' shaky infield defense aside from Yunel Escobar. Plus, one year isn't a big sample.
The bottom line for me is that Lowe certainly has value as a pitcher, but he's also overpaid in this market. What's your take?