Phillies Notes: Myers, Stairs, Eyre, Park
4:32pm: MLB.com's Todd Zolecki tweets more info on the Phillies. He says that if Matt Stairs returns, it would be a minor league deal. The team will wait to see how Scott Eyre's elbow surgery turns out. And they've contacted Chan Ho Park's agent about a possible new contract.
1:33pm: Pitcher Brett Myers was told today by Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. that the team will not pursue a new contract with him, according to Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Myers told Salisbury he's open to starting or relieving with his new club.
Myers, 29, posted a 4.84 ERA in 70.6 innings this year. The Phillies' Opening Day starter missed time with hip surgery and a back strain. He could be an interesting buy-low opportunity for many teams.
Angels Sign GM Tony Reagins To Extension
The Angels signed general manager Tony Reagins to a long-term contract extension, tweets Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse. Reagins has been the Angels' GM since October of 2007, when Bill Stoneman stepped down. His notable signings include Torii Hunter, Brian Fuentes, Juan Rivera, and Bobby Abreu. He also acquired Jon Garland, Mark Teixeira, and Scott Kazmir in trades. Reagins faces a tough offseason ahead with John Lackey, Chone Figgins, and Vladimir Guerrero among his free agents.
Trade Market: Right Fielders
Next up in our Trade Market series, right fielders. The free agent market presents options such as Jermaine Dye, Brian Giles, Vladimir Guerrero, and Xavier Nady.
- Brad Hawpe, Rockies. Hawpe, 30, hit .285/.384/.519 this year in 588 plate appearances. He's set to earn $7.5MM in 2010 and has a $10MM club option for '11 that he can void if traded. The knock on Hawpe is his poor defense. Last month in response to rumors, Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd said, "We have no desire to move him at all." Speculations persists because the Rockies have Seth Smith, Dexter Fowler, Carlos Gonzalez, and Ryan Spilborghs in the outfield.
- Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals. Ludwick gets a mention because he was part of trade talks a year ago. The 31-year-old slipped to .265/.329/.447 this year after mashing 37 homers in '08. He's under team control through 2011.
- Milton Bradley, Cubs. The Cubs seem likely to trade Bradley after he slugged just .397 in his first season for them and caused problems off the field. Since he's owed $21MM over the 2010 and '11 seasons, the Cubs will have to match him up with another bad contract.
- Jose Guillen, Royals. Guillen's bad contract only has one year left, at $12MM next year. He was hobbled by hip and knee injuries this year.
- Travis Buck, Athletics. Buck seemed to have a bright future after a .288/.377/.474 rookie season in '07. Instead, he's been affected by shin splints, a concussion, a shoulder injury, and an oblique strain. He hit .272/.345/.418 at Triple A this year.
- Gary Matthews Jr., Angels. You know the story – Matthews is owed $23MM over the next two seasons and wants to be some team's starting center fielder. He's listed here because he has spent 562 innings in right over the past two seasons.
Danny Richar, Kevin Barker Become Free Agents
Danny Richar and Kevin Barker elected free agency after being outrighted by the Reds, according to C. Trent Rosecrans (via Twitter). The Reds also outrighted pitcher Justin Lehr, but signed him for 2010.
Richar, 26, hit .290/.330/.438 in 181 Triple A plate appearances this year. The second baseman had labrum surgery in July. He came to the Reds from the White Sox last July with Nick Masset in the Ken Griffey Jr. trade. Barker, a 34-year-old first baseman, hit .285/.376/.551 with 22 home runs in 417 Triple A plate appearances this year.
Braves Sign Scott Proctor
FRIDAY: David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has details on Proctor's deal.
WEDNESDAY: The Braves signed reliever Scott Proctor to a split contract, according to Mike Graham of TCPalm.com (hat tip to Talking Chop). Proctor's agent Mark Rodgers said the Braves were "very aggressive in their pursuit of Scott." The contract contains performance incentives. Jeff Euston of Cot's Baseball Contracts informed me that Proctor would "have to spend all but about 21 days on the 25-man to qualify as a free agent after 2010." He'll probably need all of April in the minors, meaning the Braves could retain Proctor for 2011 as an arbitration-eligible player if he has a successful '09 campaign.
Proctor, 33 in January, was released by the Marlins a month ago. He had Tommy John surgery in May. Proctor is a low-risk signing; the Braves may need to accumulate relievers in the event Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez both depart via free agency.
Marcus Thames, Matt Treanor Become Free Agents
Marcus Thames and Matt Treanor became free agents today, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. Both former Tigers were non-tender candidates anyway, but apparently they've been outrighted or released.
Thames, 33 in March, hit .252/.323/.453 in 294 plate appearances while playing 125 innings in left field and spending the rest of his time at DH. Thames has played a little first base and right field in his career as well.
Treanor, 34 in March, had only 14 plate appearances this year due to a hip injury. He caught 524 innings for the Marlins back in '08, earning him a $750K contract with the Tigers in December.
Reds Notes: Ramon Hernandez, Hardy
MLB.com's Mark Sheldon has the latest on the Reds…
- GM Walt Jocketty told Sheldon the Reds will decline catcher Ramon Hernandez's $8.5MM option, as expected. Jocketty hopes to negotiate a new deal with Hernandez. Bad news for Ryan Hanigan, who posted a .361 OBP in 293 plate appearances this year.
- Jocketty hopes to re-sign catcher Corky Miller and outfielder Darnell McDonald to minor league deals.
- Jocketty said he talked to the Brewers several times about J.J. Hardy, but "We didn't match up and they didn't want to trade within our division, which was understandable." It's a sign that the Reds may not be content with Paul Janish as their starter.
- Check out our Offseason Outlook for more Reds analysis.
Jack Wilson, Mariners Discussing Extension
The Mariners are discussing a multiyear extension with shortstop Jack Wilson, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Kovacevic believes the Ms offered a two-year deal worth more than $8MM. Soon, the Mariners must decide between Wilson's $8.4MM option for 2010 and a $600K buyout.
Given Wilson's defensive prowess and the scarcity of shortstops, bringing him back at around $4MM a year isn't a bad idea. The free agent market doesn't offer much beyond Marco Scutaro, and J.J. Hardy was just plucked off the trade market by the Twins.
Five More Years For Mariano Rivera?
Mariano Rivera told today's crowd he wants to play for five more years, according to the New York Times' Jack Curry. Rivera explained:
"I'm serious. I hope the organization does whatever it takes to bring me back. I know I have another year under my contract, and then whatever happens happens."
Of course, as Curry notes, "A few months before the 2000 season, Rivera shocked the Yankees by saying he wanted to pitch four more years, then retire to become an evangelical minister."
Rivera, 40 later this month, added to his legend in 2009 with 44 regular season and five postseason saves. It's difficult to justify $15MM a year for a reliever, but if anyone's worth it, it's Rivera.
Odds & Ends: Matsui, Belcher, Cuddyer, Griffey
Links for Friday…
- Lefty reliever Darren Oliver "will play in 2010 and perhaps beyond," according to his agent Mike McCann (MLB.com's Lyle Spencer reporting).
- Free agent Hideki Matsui ruled out the possibility of returning to Japan, says NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman (via Twitter).
- The Indians have hired their new pitching coach: Tim Belcher.
- The decision on Michael Cuddyer's $10.5MM option for 2011 is due by Monday, according to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Cuddyer would like to finish his career in Minnesota.
- Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel considers Jeremy Hermida among the all-time exasperating Marlins.
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News has comments from Andy Pettitte about the future.
- Ken Griffey Jr.'s agent Brian Goldberg told C. Trent Rosecrans of CNATI.com that Junior's future will be decided soon.