Discussion: Akinori Iwamura
Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura faces a $4.85MM club option for 2010 with a $550K buyout, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. Topkin notes that under the terms of his contract, Iwamura will become a free agent if the Rays decline the option (despite not having six years of service time).
A healthy Iwamura should easily be worth that amount; he was in 2007 and 2008. However, he was limited to 260 plate appearances this year due to a knee injury. What's more, the Rays are tight on payroll and have other strong options at second base.
Topkin noted that Iwamura would discuss renegotiating the option at a lower price, because he loves the Tampa area. That might be hard to resist. But if the Rays prefer to move on, they could attempt to exercise the option and then trade Iwamura. According to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, Japanese newspaper Sanspo is already speculating on the Dodgers as a fit.
Iwamura still appears capable of a .350 OBP and acceptable defense at second base (he also played third base in '07). If he reaches free agency or becomes available in trade, which teams make sense? Aside from the Dodgers, the White Sox, Indians, Tigers, Twins, and Diamondbacks could consider him.
Strong Interest In Aroldis Chapman
SUNDAY, 12:35pm: As suggested by Lennon earlier, Chapman's price tag is too high for the Mets. Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reports (via Twitter) that the Mets were told Chapman wants up to $60MM to sign.
SATURDAY, 7:23pm: John Stockstill – the Orioles' director of international scouting – has confirmed that the club will meet with Chapman and his agent next week in New York, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN.com. In a piece yesterday, Kubatko wrote that he doesn't think Baltimore will end up signing the 21-year-old.
SATURDAY, 2:38pm: Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports the A's have also had interest in Chapman since he became a free agent. However, they were not among the teams that met the hard-throwing left-hander in New York this week.
FRIDAY, 1:59pm: Lennon says (via Twitter) that the Mets won't bid $40-60MM for Chapman.
FRIDAY, 1:19pm: Add the Blue Jays to the mix of teams interested in Chapman, according to our source. Also, the Orioles have maintained interest and want to meet.
THURSDAY, 2:39pm: MLBTR has learned that the Cubs and White Sox have expressed interest in free agenty lefty Aroldis Chapman. The Cardinals have been more aggressive than those clubs, and plan to meet with Chapman next week. The Yankees and Red Sox, of course, have also been among the aggressive suitors. A meeting with the Mets will come later this week, according to Newsday's David Lennon.
The Chapman tour began yesterday in New York, as the 21-year-old's agency decided not to make MLB clubs come to Andorra. ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. believes Chapman will command a contract in the $40-60MM range.
Odds & Ends: Reds, White Sox, Shimizu
More Thursday linkage…
- MLB.com's Mark Sheldon guesses the Reds will buy out Ramon Hernandez's option for $1MM, but then try to re-sign him. Sheldon also runs through the upcoming important hot stove dates.
- White Sox GM Ken Williams wouldn't reveal much about his offseason plans, talking to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. "I'm always looking at all the possibilities," said Williams.
- WEEI's Rob Bradford talked to Tim Wakefield, who is aiming for 200 victories. He's 11 shy, so he could pull it off in 2010. The Sox figure to exercise his $4MM option once again.
- Ryo Shinkawa of NPB Tracker says 33-year-old righty Naoyuki Shimizu has MLB aspirations. Shimizu posted a 4.42 ERA this year in 144.6 innings for the Chiba Lotte Marines, striking out only 88.
- Cot's Baseball Contracts informs us that Ryan Howard will earn $50K for his NLCS MVP award. Tack that on to his $15MM salary.
Heyman On Dodgers, Valentine
The latest from SI's Jon Heyman…
- Heyman, like many writers, believes the Dodgers need a #1 starter. He says Dodgers people "aren't overly optimistic" about snagging Roy Halladay or John Lackey, however.
- Heyman believes the Dodgers should consider trading one or all of James Loney, Russell Martin, and Chad Billingsley. Billingsley was ineffective in July and September, but the 25-year-old is under team control for three more years. Interest would be very strong.
- Heyman guesses the Indians might be willing to go to $2.5MM for Bobby Valentine, while GM Mark Shapiro doesn't expect money to be a factor.
Odds & Ends: Parker, Okajima, Kikuchi, La Russa
Links for Thursday…
- Bad news for D'Backs fans: top prospect Jarrod Parker is headed for Tommy John surgery. Reynolds Sports Management broke the news via their Twitter feed, check it out.
- Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima has dismissed agent Peter Greenberg in favor of Boston-based Joe Rosen, according to a Japanese report passed along by NPB Tracker's Ryo Shinkawa. Shinkawa takes this as a sign Okajima wants to stay with the Red Sox. He is already under team control through 2012 as an arbitration-eligible player.
- Yusei Kikuchi's NPB-vs.-MLB decision seems to be coming within a few days, says Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker.
- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is nearing his decision on whether to manage in 2010, says Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says that "if La Russa manages next season, it will be with the Cardinals."
- Mark McGwire told The Sporting News' Jeff D'Alessio that Albert Pujols would be worth $30MM+ as a free agent.
- Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star feels the Royals should consider trading closer Joakim Soria.
- Baseball America's Jim Callis believes it's not far-fetched to think Bryce Harper could fall out of the first round in 2010 due to financial demands (hat tip River Ave. Blues).
- MLB.com's Matthew Leach and Jon Weisman of Dodgers Thoughts expect GM Ned Colletti to focus on the rotation this winter.
Offseason Outlook: Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are next in our Offseason Outlook series. Their likely commitments for 2010:
C – Gregg Zaun – $2MM (club option, Zaun can void)
C – Shawn Riggans – $414K
1B – Carlos Pena – $10.125MM
2B – Ben Zobrist – $416K
SS – Jason Bartlett – $1.98MM+
3B – Evan Longoria – $950K
IF – Willy Aybar – $1.35MM
IF – Reid Brignac – $400K
LF – Carl Crawford – $10MM (club option)
CF – B.J. Upton – $435K+
RF – Matt Joyce – $410K
OF – Fernando Perez – $403K
DH – Pat Burrell – $9MM
SP – James Shields – $2.5MM
SP – Matt Garza – $433K+
SP – Jeff Niemann – $1MM
SP – David Price – $1MM
SP – Wade Davis – $400K
RP – J.P. Howell – $434K+
RP – Dan Wheeler – $3.5MM
RP – Grant Balfour – $1.4MM+
RP – Lance Cormier – $675K+
RP – Randy Choate – $400K+
RP – Andy Sonnanstine – $430K
RP –
Other commitments: Akinori Iwamura – $250K buyout, Brian Shouse – $200K buyout
Non-tender candidates: Dioner Navarro, Gabe Gross, Jeff Bennett
I have uncertainty with the Rays, given the options and non-tender candidates. Zaun hopes to return in 2010, and if he does the Rays would be less inclined to tender Navarro a contract for $1.68MM+. On the other hand, the Rays have talked about expecting Navarro to rebound, so it's difficult to guess their plan. As for the options, Crawford is an easy decision at $10MM. Cases could be made for retaining Iwamura and Shouse, but I have the Rays paying them $450K to leave rather than $6.25MM to stay. Under this scenario, the Rays have about $50MM committed before arbitration raises to Bartlett, Upton, Garza, Howell, Balfour, Cormier, and Choate. These raises should cost at least $10MM, putting the Rays in the low $60MM range for the second year in a row.
The Rays can probably expect more out of Upton, Burrell, and the catcher spot in 2009. Trading Upton is a possibility, though his value is at a low point. A successful first half could allow the Rays to trade Upton and promote Desmond Jennings for center field. Offensively, the Rays also have to worry about Zobrist and Bartlett coming down somewhat from their excellent numbers.
Right field should be a competition. Gross may be non-tendered, with Kapler leaving as a free agent. Zobrist, Joyce, and Perez could be in the mix, plus any possible imports. One affordable plan could be to use Zobrist in right and Sean Rodriguez at second base. Iwamura has value at $4.25MM, so the Rays could exercise his option and then trade him.
With Davis looking good and Jeremy Hellickson waiting in the wings, the Rays appear to have rotation depth for 2010 despite trading Scott Kazmir, Edwin Jackson, and Jason Hammel in recent years.
The Rays may not add a closer, but they're planning to bring in two or three late-inning arms. Whatever payroll space they have will likely be used here. Interesting free agents are plentiful.
Even without major moves, it's not difficult to envision improvements in the offense and starting rotation next year for the Rays. It's an important year to pounce, with Pena and Crawford entering contract years.
Multiple Teams Eyeing Milton Bradley
"Multiple teams are in contact with the Cubs about outfielder Milton Bradley," according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal even quotes one source who said, "You would be shocked at the level of interest."
Rosenthal says the Cubs believe they can trade Bradley without eating the vast majority of his remaining $21MM, and the team's new ownership set a limit for a cash contribution from the Cubs in any trade. Rosenthal notes that the Cubs could still take back a contract.
Bradley, 32 in April, hit .257/.378/.397 in 473 plate appearances this year. He logged 915 innings in the outfield, his highest total since 2004. I suggested yesterday that the Cubs should try to work things out with Bradley, especially with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo on board. However, Cubs GM Jim Hendry told MLB.com's Carrie Muskat the Jaramillo hiring had nothing to do with Bradley.
As far as the shocking level of interest in Bradley, we know there's a longshot possibility with the Rays. In a September 26th video, Rosenthal said the Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rays, and Mets "are among the clubs with possible interest." The Padres seemed open-minded, but that was when Kevin Towers was GM. The Rangers and Royals appear to be out.
Red Sox Rumors: Bay, Drew, Bard
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein appeared on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan show this morning; let's take a look.
- Epstein admitted the Red Sox need a contingency plan in case Jason Bay leaves, but he still believes "[Bay] wants to be here, and we want to keep him and take a shot."
- Epstein says J.D. Drew has been worth "a tick more than $14MM per year," due to his offense, defense, and baserunning. FanGraphs has the best-known public player valuation system, and they say Drew has averaged $14.93MM in regular season value over 2007-09.
- The Red Sox GM was not trying to send a message through the media when he said DH David Ortiz needed to be a force in 2010.
- Epstein considers reliever Daniel Bard a "work in progress," and implies thrusting him into the closer role in 2010 wouldn't be beneficial long-term for Bard.
- In other Red Sox news, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald says the team has "expressed interest in meeting with [Aroldis Chapman] and watching him throw, although it is premature to categorize their interest as anything beyond preliminary."
Braves Rumors: Soriano, Gonzalez, Hudson
David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talked to Braves GM Frank Wren yesterday. Hot stove highlights:
- Wren considers the Braves' biggest needs to be the bullpen and the offense.
- O'Brien is certain the Braves won't try to re-sign both Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez. O'Brien explains why it's in the Braves' best interest to stay tight-lipped about possible arbitration offers for any Type A or B free agents (Soriano and Gonzalez both project as Type As).
- O'Brien guesses the Braves will try to work out a multiyear extension with Tim Hudson at less than $10MM per year. Decisions on Hudson's $12MM mutual option within five days of the conclusion of the World Series.
- Wren implied Martin Prado will enter Spring Training as the Braves' starting second baseman. We talked earlier this month about Kelly Johnson as a trade candidate.
- As you learned from Baseball America's Matt Eddy a week ago, righties Jorge Campillo, Buddy Carlyle, and Vladimir Nunez were granted free agency. Wren says the Braves still need to make decisions on whether to attempt to re-sign any of them.
Aroldis Chapman In New York
Aroldis Chapman's agent Edwin Mejia changed his mind – he won't make MLB teams come to Andorra to see his client. Instead, according to ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr., Chapman is set to arrive in New York today to visit with several GMs.
Arangure Jr. still sees the hard-throwing 21-year-old lefty getting a contract in the $40-60MM range. He considers the Yankees and Red Sox top suitors for Chapman, with the A's and Giants in the mix. The Angels, Mets, and Orioles are also interested, based on previous reports. The Dodgers are not viewed as a serious suitor, according to one Arangure Jr. source.
Click here to read Keith Law's scouting report on Chapman for ESPN.