Damon Talks About Future, Varitek
MONDAY: WEEI's Alex Speier talked to Damon. Damon's stance on the term of his next contract:
"I would like to at least get two years, but we’ll see what happens. If I need to take a one with an option or a vesting option, then so be it."
Damon also stirred the pot a bit in reference to Jason Varitek:
"I couldn’t believe that they were letting him walk and try to find a team. That’s the difference between New York and Boston…If you’re a part of New York, they’re going to keep you there: Posada, Jeter, Mariano, it’s the first time in history guys have been on the same team for 15 years. It goes to show you something about how the Yankees think, and how many Yankees players have been exclusive with one team. They keep them forever. (The Red Sox) were ready to let (Varitek) go. He’s their starting catcher. That’s how the two teams work. You know his days are going to be numbered here. But hopefully not — he deserves to be here until his career is over."
FRIDAY: ESPN's Andrew Marchand has a story up about a Johnny Damon radio appearance on 1050 AM in New York. Damon, a free agent after the season, hopes to re-sign with the Yankees. However, he feels the chances are slim based on the team's young outfielders. Damon specifically mentioned Austin Jackson.
Damon, 35, is hitting .295/.385/.500 in 91 plate appearances on the young season. Realistically, the Yankees may well look to sign an outfielder this winter. It just might not be Damon.
Miguel Angel Sano Drawing Attention
Miguel Angel Sano, a 15 year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic, is coveted by all 30 teams according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He'll turn 16 in May. The signing period for international free agents begins July 2nd. Kovacevic says Sano could command a bonus of $3MM.
Kovacevic says the Pirates are one of the favorites for Sano. GlobalPost has an informative video about the kid. In the clip, Sano wears apparel representing the Blue Jays, Cubs, and Cardinals at various times, for what it's worth. He was wearing an A's jersey when ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. and Luke Cyphers saw him. Sano is not worried about proving he's 15 years old, saying in the video, "Let them investigate me." To read a bit about his personality, check out this blog post.
White Sox Sign Daryle Ward
According to Bobbie Dittmeier of MLB.com, the White Sox signed first baseman/outfielder Daryle Ward and assigned him to Triple A Charlotte. In fact, Ward already homered for the team yesterday. He had been playing in the Atlantic League after the Reds let him go.
Ward, 34 in June, hit .216./.319/.402 in 119 plate appearances for the Cubs last year.
Mariners Sign Jerry Owens
According to Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News Tribune, the Mariners signed outfielder Jerry Owens to a minor league deal. Owens was designated for assignment to make room for Scott Podsednik a few days ago.
Owens, 28, spent most of last year at Triple A (his third stint at the level). He hit .276/.346/.316 with 30 steals in 43 tries. In their 2007 Handbook, Baseball America had this to say about his defense: "He covers plenty of ground in center field, though his arm is below average."
No Contract Talks For Jason Bay
According to Amalie Benjamin and Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe, Jason Bay's agent Joe Urbon says contract talks have not resumed with the Red Sox. Urbon said he hasn't even talked to Bay.
WEEI's Alex Speier talked extensively with Bay on April 23rd; check that out here.
Odds & Ends: Nationals, Teixeira, Ligtenberg
Links for Friday…
- RotoAuthority looks at the April offensive stat leaders.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America discussed Jim Bowden's Stephen Strasburg comments. Bowden says the Nationals' decision to draft Strasburg has been made, and predicts they'll sign him for around $15MM minutes before the deadline.
- ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. talked to Nats interim GM Mike Rizzo about their revamped Latin American plan.
- Mark Teixeira talked to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times about his decision to sign with the Yankees.
- Brian Stensaas of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes about Kerry Ligtenberg, who is attempting a comeback with the St. Paul Saints.
- SI.com's Tom Verducci spoke with one GM who points to struggling older teams and says "it's better to be young these days."
- Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press writes that the Tigers are being patient with pitchers Ryan Perry and Rick Porcello.
- MLB.com's Corey Brock doesn't expect GM Kevin Towers to sit back and watch if the Padres continues to struggle.
- Here's Baseball America's list of the hottest prospects in the minors right now.
- ESPN.com's Keith Law scouts a pair of college players who could turn up on BA's list next year: Tim Wheeler and Drew Storen.
- Twins reliever Juan Morillo cleared waivers, so he'll head to Triple A according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
2010 Options: Detroit Tigers
Let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the Tigers.
- Magglio Ordonez – $18MM club option with a $3MM buyout; becomes guaranteed with 457 plate appearances this year. Maggs already has 90 PAs, so he needs just 367 to lock in his '10 salary.
That's it for the options, and it's not really an option. After the 2010 season, the Tigers have good money coming off the books: Jeremy Bonderman ($12.5MM), Dontrelle Willis ($12MM), Nate Robertson ($10MM), and Brandon Inge ($6.6MM).
Doug Davis A Midseason Trade Candidate?
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes about Diamondbacks pitcher Doug Davis, who is eligible for free agency after the season. Davis admitted that his contract situation "pretty much goes through my head every day." He's motivated by his contract year, and doesn't understand the team's anti-incentive policy. Davis would like to remain in Arizona, but he knows he's a trade candidate if the team is out of contention this summer. Other impending free agents like Jon Garland and Felipe Lopez could fit the bill as well.
Davis, 33, is earning $8.75MM this year. He has a 2.91 ERA through five starts, and his 2.6 walks per nine innings would be a career-best if it holds up.
Free Agent Hot Starts
Which free agents are off to solid starts? Let's take a look.
- Derek Lowe, Braves: 3.10 ERA in 29 innings. Just what the doctor ordered.
- Manny Ramirez, Dodgers: .360/.489/.600 in 94 plate appearances.
- Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: 2.08 ERA in 8.6 innings, 4 saves in 4 tries.
- Raul Ibanez, Phillies: .359/.433/.718 in 90 plate appearances. The signing received a healthy amount of criticism, but Ibanez has been incredible so far.
- Adam Dunn, Nationals: .324/.477/.632 in 88 plate appearances. As a team, the Nationals have a .358 OBP.
- Juan Rivera, Angels: .311/.364/.410 in 66 plate appearances. More power would be nice, but it's still been a solid April.
- Koji Uehara, Orioles: 4.50 ERA in 30 innings. The O's will take that kind of performance from Koji.
- Jeremy Affeldt, Giants: 2.79 ERA in 9.6 innings.
- Willy Taveras, Reds: .262/.351/.338 in 80 plate appearances. Doing a decent job getting on base.
- Juan Cruz, Royals: 1.86 ERA in 9.6 innings.
- Braden Looper, Brewers: 2.45 ERA in 22 innings.
- Andy Pettitte, Yankees: 2.96 ERA in 27.3 innings.
- Bobby Abreu, Angels: .363/.422/.425 in 90 plate appearances. No home runs yet, though.
- Jason Varitek, Red Sox: .250/.348/.533 in 69 plate appearances.
- Randy Wolf, Dodgers: 4.31 ERA in 31.3 innings.
- Arthur Rhodes, Reds: 0.00 ERA in 8 innings.
- David Weathers, Reds: 0.00 ERA in 6.3 innings.
- Orlando Hudson, Dodgers: .330/.408/.505 in 103 plate appearances.
- Felipe Lopez, Diamondbacks: .309/.378/.481 in 90 plate appearances.
- Russ Springer, Athletics: 0.96 ERA in 9.3 innings.
- Willie Bloomquist, Royals: .333/.432/.433 in 38 plate appearances.
- Dennys Reyes, Cardinals: 2.57 ERA in 7 innings.
- Dave Ross, Braves: .321/.457/.643 in 35 plate appearances. We'll cut it off here at $3MM, but Mike Hampton and Russell Branyan certainly deserve a mention.
Stark On Holliday, Relievers, Relocation
The latest from ESPN's Jayson Stark…
- Stark compared 2009 April attendance to 2008, excluding the New York teams given their new stadiums. He found virtually no change, overall. One anonymous agent complained that Bud Selig "overdramatized the potential financial losses so as to limit and to artificially control spending on free agency."
- The Royals may need a bat, but Stark says they're unwilling to discuss any of their best or most advanced prospects in trades.
- Stark talked to one exec about Billy Beane's Matt Holliday situation. If Holliday's power outage continues, could he become a July salary-dump candidate? If the A's keep him all year, will they risk offering him arbitration? And is Holliday headed toward a one-year "redeem yourself" deal on the free agent market?
- Stark says the Marlins would love to add a late-inning reliever via trade. He runs through possible relief trade candidates. In addition to the players I listed on Tuesday, Stark mentions Alan Embree, Octavio Dotel, Matt Thornton, Tom Gordon, Eddie Guardado, and Ron Mahay. The Phillies are also in the market.
- Remember the Zack Greinke trade rumors of years past? Stark talked to one exec who says Royals GM Dayton Moore never wanted to trade him.
- If, down the road, the A's or Rays have to relocate, Stark says San Antonio, Las Vegas, and Mexico were the locations MLB was considering in reference to the Marlins.