2010 Options: Cleveland Indians
Today let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the Indians.
- Cliff Lee – $9MM club option with a $1MM buyout. Lee's 2010 option received a $1MM bump when he won the Cy Young last year. He doesn't have to repeat that performance to make this an easy decision to exercise. He could be trade bait this summer, but maybe the Indians will prefer to have him for 2010.
- Victor Martinez – $7MM club option with a $250K buyout. This is a near-lock to be exercised. Perhaps they will broach an extension before next season.
- Rafael Betancourt – $5.4MM club option. Betancourt signed this deal in January of 2008, coming off his best season. It was thought that Betancourt might replace Joe Borowski at closer, but that didn't last too long. The Indians figure to decline the option.
- Masahide Kobayashi – $3.25MM club option with a $250K buyout. Kobayashi can become a free agent if the option is declined. Looking at the numbers, that seems likely.
Odds & Ends: Bowden, Owens, Flores
Links for Thursday…
- MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo and ESPN's Jason Churchill say high school catcher Luke Bailey is having Tommy John surgery. He might fall out of the top 20 in the draft, says Churchill.
- Thom Loverro of The Washington Times transcribes all kinds of amusing comments made by former Nationals GM Jim Bowden earlier this month. Bowden touched upon Stephen Strasburg, Mark Teixeira, and Aaron Crow.
- Alex Speier of WEEI notes that free agency hasn't done much for the Red Sox recently, outside of the Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz bargain signings.
- ESPN's Jim Caple talked to pitcher Jeff Zimmerman, who is on the comeback trail with the Mariners.
- Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune notes that White Sox outfielder Jerry Owens may be on the way out. It sounds like Scott Podsednik is coming up, but there will be no roster move today.
- Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post says Rockies reliever Randy Flores, currently in Triple A, is debating whether to opt out of his contract.
- Zach Berman of the Washington Post gathered quotes on new Nationals pitcher Logan Kensing.
- Tonight at 10pm CST, Seth Stohs and Twins pitcher Glen Perkins will co-host the MN GameNight radio show.
Manuel Stuck With Ramon Castro?
Back in February, the Mets were reportedly trying to trade backup catcher Ramon Castro. Today, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News says it's obvious Mets manager Jerry Manuel would prefer to keep Omir Santos over Castro when Brian Schneider returns from the DL. However, "the front office keeps saying the plan is to option Santos to the minors."
If the Mets do eventually designate or release Castro, they'll have to assume most of the $2.5MM owed to him this year.
Jeff Moorad Chat At MLB.com
New Padres CEO Jeff Moorad did an online chat with fans for MLB.com today. A few highlights:
- When asked about the idea of signing Adrian Gonzalez to an extension in 2010, Moorad replied, "Why wait until 2010?"
- Moorad reiterated that he is willing to keep Jake Peavy, but tossed in the caveat that "no one player is untouchable."
- In reference to the July 31st trade deadline, Moorad would be "open to adding an appropriate player or two" if the team is within striking range.
At this writing, the Padres are 11-10, three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. They rank 10th in the NL at 4.33 runs scored per game and 13th with a 4.77 ERA. Bright spots: Gonzalez, David Eckstein, Nick Hundley, Scott Hairston, and Heath Bell.
The biggest needs appear to be a shortstop and starting pitching. Just for fun: what do you think about a midseason run at Miguel Tejada? What pitcher would you like to see Kevin Towers target?
2010 Options: Chicago White Sox
Today let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the White Sox after the season.
- Jermaine Dye – $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout. The 2010 option was a big factor for Dye when he signed his current extension in August of 2007. It seems possible that he could stay if the White Sox exercise their side. However, with the recent market trend for corner outfielders, a one-year, $11MM deal may seem steep despite Dye's production.
- Matt Thornton – $2.25MM club option with a $250K buyout. There's a good chance this is exercised, and if not Thornton will still be arbitration-eligible.
White Sox Release Mike MacDougal
According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, the White Sox released reliever Mike MacDougal today. He'd been designated for assignment a week ago. The White Sox will assume the $3MM remaining on his contract, less his salary for his new team.
The White Sox acquired MacDougal for pitchers Tyler Lumsden and Daniel Cortes back in July of 2006. That swap and MacDougal's extension were a couple of rare missteps for Sox GM Ken Williams.
Nationals Acquire Logan Kensing
According to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro, the Nationals acquired recently-designated reliever Logan Kensing from the Marlins for minor league reliever Kyle Gunderson. Gunderson was drafted out of Rice in '07.
Kensing, 26, was designated for assignment by Florida after just 7.3 innings this year. Last year, he logged 55.3 innings with a 4.23 ERA, struggling with his control. He had Tommy John surgery in August of 2006.
Rosenthal On Figgins’ Future
Ken Rosenthal has a new column up, discussing the future of Angels third baseman Chone Figgins. The versatile leadoff man is eligible for free agency after the season (perhaps a Type B). Rosenthal says the Halos, who have bigger issues in the free agency of John Lackey and Vladimir Guerrero, "will balk at retaining Figgins for $10 million a season." Will Figgins find a Brian Roberts-like four-year, $40MM deal elsewhere?
Here's what Figgins had to say regarding free agency:
"I'm excited. I've talked to (Garret) Anderson about it before. I've talked to (Juan) Pierre. I've talked to Orlando Cabrera. They say, 'You've worked hard to get to this point. Leave it out on the field like you always do and see what happens.' It's an honor to get to that point. That means you've done well in the big leagues."
Free Agents Off On The Wrong Foot
It's way too early to label the busts of the 2008-09 free agent class. We're only about 12% into the season. But I still want to take a look at the slow starts among the pricier free agents. It doesn't take much to irritate a fanbase, initially.
- Mark Teixeira, Yankees: .206/.363/.381 in 80 plate appearances. This contract runs through 2016, so it's barely begun.
- C.C. Sabathia, Yankees: 4.73 ERA in 32.3 innings. So far we haven't seen the expected walk and strikeout rates. This one runs through 2015.
- A.J. Burnett, Yankees: 5.47 ERA in 24.6 innings. Home runs and walks have been the problem so far. He's signed through 2013.
- Oliver Perez, Mets: 9.31 ERA in 19.3 innings. Control has been the biggest problem, and there's already talk of moving him to the bullpen. Perez is signed through 2011.
- Milton Bradley, Cubs: .107/.324/.214 in 37 plate appearances. Bradley has started eight of the Cubs' 19 game so far and isn't off to a good start with the media. He's signed through 2011, unless he spends significant time on the DL this year.
- Rafael Furcal, Dodgers: .241/.326/.316 in 89 plate appearances. Signed through 2011.
- Kenshin Kawakami, Braves: 7.06 ERA in 21.6 innings. Kawakami left his pinpoint control in Japan. He's signed through 2011.
- Kerry Wood, Indians: 6.75 ERA in 8 innings. Vesting option for 2011.
- Brian Fuentes, Angels: 6.43 ERA in 7 innings. Vesting option for 2011.
- Pat Burrell, Rays: .238/.364/.317 in 77 plate appearances. Signed through 2010.
- Damaso Marte, Yankees: 15.19 ERA in 5.3 innings. Signed through 2011.
- Kyle Farnsworth, Royals: 9.95 ERA in 6.3 innings. Signed through 2010.
- Randy Johnson, Giants: 6.16 ERA in 19 innings. Signed through 2009.
- Trevor Hoffman, Brewers: Missed most of April due to oblique injury. Signed through 2009.
- Ty Wigginton, Orioles: .216/.256/.270 in 78 plate appearances. Signed through 2010.
- Jason Giambi, A's: .215/.311/.308 in 74 plate appearances. Signed through 2009.
- Brad Penny, Red Sox: 8.66 ERA in 17.6 innings. Signed through 2009. We'll cut it off here, at the $5MM+ deals.
Odds & Ends: Nationals, Garcia, Bonds
Links for Wednesday…
- Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com grilled various Nationals about the possibility of the team signing Stephen Strasburg for big bucks.
- Righty Steven Shell elected free agency, while Nats reliever Wil Ledezma accepted a Triple A assignment according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Chico Harlan of the Washington Post discusses the Nationals' bullpen construction in this post.
- Yahoo's Gordon Edes chatted with Evan Longoria as part of his article about David Price and Matt Wieters starting the season in Triple A.
- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen commented about free agent Freddy Garcia, talking to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star thinks the Royals should sign Barry Bonds, and current team members seem receptive to the idea. In separate columns, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle and Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News try to figure out why Bonds hasn't retired.