Porcello No Longer With Boras
Back in 2007, Scott Boras "advised" recent high school graduate Rick Porcello to take a $7MM Major League contract, tying Josh Beckett's record for the biggest guarantee given to a high school player. Two years later, at age 20, Porcello will start today's crucial one-game playoff against the Twins.
During that time, according to ESPN's Buster Olney, Porcello dropped Boras for agent Alan Hendricks. Porcello's contractual status shouldn't be much of a story until after the 2011 season, when he'll first become eligible for arbitration. As they did with Jeremy Bonderman, the Tigers could attempt to sign Porcello long-term. But Bonderman had four years of service time under his belt when he signed. And the Tigers' more pressing issue may be Justin Verlander, who is due another large raise his second time through arbitration.
Cubs Rumors: Bradley, Grabow, Reed Johnson
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune and Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times discuss the Cubs' offseason plans in new articles today.
- Both writers agree that unloading right fielder Milton Bradley (owed $21MM) is at the top of GM Jim Hendry's to-do list. Wittenmyer's sources suggest the Cubs might be able to move Bradley without eating 80% of his contract. Sullivan believes the Cubs could kill two birds with one stone by trading Bradley for their desired "RBI guy," one who carries an equally poor contract. Magglio Ordonez and Jose Guillen come to mind for me. However, the Tigers would have no motivation to make the swap and the Royals are not interested (it's a poor match on money and handedness anyway).
- Sullivan says lefty reliever John Grabow wants a three-year deal, and the Cubs "are likely to give it to him." That'd be overpaying, based on last year's market for lefty relievers.
- Sullivan believes Jake Fox and Mike Fontenot are trade candidates. Fox might be a good fit with an American League club.
- Will the Cubs opt for a cheap backup outfielder in Sam Fuld, or will they re-sign Reed Johnson?
- Neither writer expects the Cubs to trade Carlos Zambrano.
White Sox Exercise Option On Freddy Garcia
The White Sox exercised their 2010 option on pitcher Freddy Garcia, according to SI's Jon Heyman. The option has a $1MM base salary plus $2MM in possible incentives.
Garcia, 33, signed a minor league deal with the Mets in January. That contract had up to $6.5MM in performance bonuses, but Garcia struggled in Spring Training and the minors for the club. When the Mets released him in late April, some thought he might have to hang it up. He returned to the White Sox on a minor league deal in June, and was solid in the majority of his nine big league starts. It looks like Garcia is finally back from August '07 shoulder surgery.
Chicago's 2009 rotation may already be settled, with Mark Buehrle, Jake Peavy, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, and Garcia. Everyone is under contract except for Danks, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time.
Elias Rankings Update
At the end of each season, The Elias Sports Bureau ranks all MLB players numerically based on a bunch of stats. Every player is categorized in one of five position groups and by league. The rankings cover a two-year time period. They are used to determine whether free agents are Type A, Type B, or neither. If you'd like a reminder on how draft pick compensation works, read up here.
Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts reverse-engineered the Elias Rankings last year. Eddie's incredible work was made possible in large part due to information provided by ESPN's Keith Law. Eddie is now providing the rankings exclusively to MLB Trade Rumors. Today's snapshot covers the beginning of the 2008 season through October 4th, 2009. The AL rankings may change once more based on Tuesday's game. Note to journalists: if you use these projections in an article, please credit Eddie Bajek and MLB Trade Rumors.
View the latest Elias Rankings below.
Mike Rizzo Chat At The Washington Post
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post chatted with Nationals GM Mike Rizzo, and posted the full Q&A on his blog. A few hot stove highlights:
- Starter Scott Olsen had surgery in July to repair a small labrum tear in his pitching shoulder. Having earned $2.8MM this year, the Nats would have to pay him at least $2.24MM in 2010 if they tender him a contract. Rizzo said he's getting health reports on Olsen daily and the team will use the coming months to decide whether to non-tender him.
- Rizzo says closer Mike MacDougal has "done a great job." MacDougal represents another of the Nationals' many arbitration cases; he could earn $3MM+ in 2010.
- The Nationals consider Jesus Flores (shoulder surgery) the everyday catcher in 2010, but still may bring in another backstop for insurance.
- Rizzo seems satisfied with Elijah Dukes as the regular right fielder.
Giants Rumors: Lincecum, Sanchez, Penny
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has the goods on the Giants, after speaking with GM Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy.
- Technically, Sabean and Bochy's contracts are up at the end of the month. They don't have commitments for 2010 in hand, yet the expectation is that both will be back.
- In discussing Tim Lincecum's upcoming arbitration case, Sabean referenced Ryan Howard's record first-time award ($10MM) from February of '08. Of course, with Howard, the Phillies screwed up by submitting only $7MM. Sabean wants to file his salary request for Lincecum before discussing a long-term deal, so as to not show his hand early.
- Closer Brian Wilson is another first-time arbitration-eligible player, and you have to think he'll jump up to $5MM+.
- The Giants would like to restructure Freddy Sanchez's $8.1MM option into a two-year deal, but seem confident in his return. Baggarly says they even consider the option as a fallback if the restructuring fails. I can't see Sanchez getting $8.1MM on the open market.
- A Brad Penny return appears unlikely. If he sticks to the NL and the West Coast he'll be down to the Padres pretty much. It'd also be surprising to see the Giants re-sign catcher Bengie Molina, who wants a two-year deal worth more than $6MM annually.
- Sabean wouldn't rule out trading a pitcher for a bat, but said he'd agonize over such a decision.
- Brandon Medders, Justin Miller, and Ryan Garko are non-tender candidates. The Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner call-ups locked up two 40-man roster spots.
- Quoting Baggarly: Sabean justified the $18.5 million contract he gave [Edgar Renteria] last winter by saying they needed a veteran shortstop."
Griffey Earned $3.15MM In 2009
The AP has a few notes on free agent DH Ken Griffey Jr. The report says Junior earned $3.15MM in total this year – a $2MM base plus $1.15MM in incentives for playing time and team attendance. The Mariners kindly played Griffey often in the season's final week, causing him to earn an additional $250K. As for 2010, Griffey will talk to his family and decide within a few weeks.
Griffey, 40 in November, hit .214/.324/.411 in 454 plate appearances this year. A bench role might make sense if he does return next year.
Heyman On Padres, Rockies, Abreu
The latest from SI's Jon Heyman…
- Heyman talked to Padres CEO Jeff Moorad, who is looking for a disciplined and strategic general manager rather than an intuitive exec like Kevin Towers. Heyman says the new GM will be hired within weeks. Boston's Jed Hoyer is in the mix, and Oakland's David Forst fits the profile.
- The Rockies will offer new contracts to GM Dan O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy.
- The Angels made an offer to Bobby Abreu, who is finishing up a one-year deal that will pay him at least $6MM. Heyman says "no progress has been reported thus far." Abreu said in September that he wants to return.
Discussion: Adrian Beltre
MLB.com's Jim Street talked to Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre about the player's upcoming free agent experience:
"It will be different this year, no doubt. I didn't put up the numbers everyone expected and then I had shoulder surgery. I am 100-percent healthy right now, but there may be some questions about that. That is something I am going to find out. I don't know what to expect. Last year, it was a tough free agency for some players because of the economic climate. I don't know what to expect, but for me, it's not about the money anymore. I have already made a lot of money in the sport. I would like to play in the World Series and win one."
Beltre, 31 in April, hit just .265/.304/.379 in 477 plate appearances this year amid injuries. He still plays stellar defense at the hot corner. To his benefit, Beltre projects as a Type B free agent. Should he turn down an arbitration offer from the Mariners, he won't cost his new team a draft pick. Another Scott Boras client, Joe Crede, signed for a one-year $2.5MM guarantee in February. Will Beltre command more? And where might he land? Aside from the Ms, the Orioles, Marlins, Astros, Angels, Twins, A's, Pirates, and Cardinals face uncertainty at third base in 2010.
Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Dye, Varitek
Links for Monday…
- Yakyu Baka translated a recent Yusei Kikuchi press conference. Kikuchi has yet to decide between the U.S. and Japan. The Mets and Tigers attended the conference.
- Baseball America's Jim Callis has the 2010 draft order, and he also explains which picks are protected from Type A free agent signings.
- Jermaine Dye talking to Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald on possibly finishing his White Sox career: "I don't really have a feeling."
- Talking to WEEI's Alex Speier, Jason Varitek would not address next season (he has a $5MM team option and $3MM player option). Manager Terry Francona made sure Varitek received an ovation yesterday.
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan gives one-liners on 35 Rangers players.
- Tyler Bleszinski of Athletics Nation talked to A's GM Billy Beane. Beane chatted about Matt Holliday, stolen bases, and the first base depth chart, among other things.
- Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star tells us about new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
- Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times explains how advanced defensive metrics influenced the team's acquisition of Franklin Gutierrez.
- Outfielder So Taguchi hopes to play in 2010, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.