2010 Options: Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays do not have to decide on any club options after the 2009 season. They do, however, have many veterans with contracts ending after the 2010 season. Let's take a look at those signed through next season:
- J.P. Ricciardi. Contracts don't typically stop teams from firing GMs when they feel it's necessary, so it won't matter that Ricciardi is signed through 2010. Manager Cito Gaston is also signed through next year.
- Scott Rolen – $11MM. Rolen receives an additional $4MM bonus in 2010, but the Cardinals are paying it. Rolen is off to a nice .319/.377/.435 start in 77 plate appearances this year.
- Roy Halladay – $15.75MM. Ricciardi told ESPN's Jayson Stark he wants to discuss an extension with Halladay at the end of the year.
- B.J. Ryan – $10MM. Ryan hit the DL last week after a rough start to the year. He'll need to turn it around if the Jays are to move his contract.
- Lyle Overbay – $7MM. Overbay has been incredible so far in 2009 – .289/.458/.578 in 59 plate appearances. Perhaps the last year of his deal will be seen as a bargain.
- Scott Downs – $4MM. I wasn't thrilled with the Downs extension in January of 2008, but he's proven his '07 breakout was no fluke. Downs may represent a cheap, excellent closer for Toronto this year and in 2010.
Odds & Ends: Perez, D’Backs, Baez
Links for Monday…
- RotoAuthority looks more closely at the Pirates' MLB-best rotation.
- Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the Marlins won't be pursuing Luis Vizcaino.
- On Saturday, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan wrote that the Rangers don't expect to be in on Pedro Martinez, but could have interest in Vizcaino for a Triple A job.
- Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts has a quick American League Elias rankings preview.
- Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post thinks Oliver Perez may be headed to the bullpen or even Triple A if he'll consent. Perez has pitched poorly in three of his four starts. He's had streaks like this before, though.
- With Brandon Webb out for at least six weeks, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic wonders if the Diamondbacks will be sellers this summer.
- Could Danys Baez have midseason trade value? Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun thinks it's possible, despite the pitcher's $5.5MM salary.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks back at last summer's Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte deal with the Pirates.
- Murray Chass thinks Ned Colletti deserves a contract extension. Do you agree?
- ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. wonders who will be the first American-born player to exploit a draft loophole by dropping out of high school and living in another country for a year to become a free agent.
Hideki Irabu Signs With Long Beach Armada
According to Kyodo News, former Yankees, Expos, and Rangers pitcher Hideki Irabu has unretired to pitch for the Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League. He last pitched in 2004, for the Hanshin Tigers. He'll be 40 years old when he makes his debut for the Armada. One of Irabu's rotation-mates will be Jose Lima.
Hiroshima Carp Sign Scott McClain
According to Kyodo News, third baseman Scott McClain agreed to a one-year, 20 million yen (about $207K) deal with the Hiroshima Carp. He's played in Japan before, spending four years with the Seibu Lions.
McClain, 37 in May, had his longest Major League stint last year with the Giants (38 plate appearances, 14 games). Aside from the Lions stint he's bounced around with the Orioles, Yankees, Rays, Rockies, Cubs, A's, and Giants.
Tigers Release Scott Williamson
According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers' Scott Williamson experiment is over. They released the righty to clear a spot for Eddie Bonine on the Triple A club. Williamson's comeback attempt resulted in runs allowed in three of five appearances for the Toledo Mud Hens. He hasn't pitched in the Majors since '07, but spent time last year with the Atlanta and Seattle Triple A clubs.
Logan Kensing Designated For Assignment
According to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro, Marlins reliever Logan Kensing was designated for assignment after last night's game. The 26 year-old had given up runs in four of his six appearances on the young season. Kensing had Tommy John surgery back in September of 2006. He throws around 93 mph, so the Marlins should be able to find a trade partner.
Pedro Martinez May Sign Soon
6:47pm: Just to clarify, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo says the team maintains mild interest in Pedro.
1:41pm: For what it's worth, Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post would like to see the Nationals ink Pedro. He believes the organization has more than enough money, citing the recent Forbes findings, to match the right-hander's high salary demands.
FRIDAY, 8:53am: MLB.com's Bill Ladson has a source saying the Nationals haven't had interest in Pedro since Spring Training. The door remains just a crack open in the event that Martinez becomes amenable to an inexpensive contract. Otherwise, Ladson's Nationals source says, "We are satisfied with our rotation even though there is going to be some bumps along the way. We wouldn't want to make any changes there."
Meanwhile, here's Dodgers GM Ned Colletti talking about Pedro.
THURSDAY: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Pedro Martinezcould decide on his next team within two weeks. He's set to begin throwing off a mound tomorrow. Rosenthal says Pedro is open to both contending and rebuilding teams, but continues to demand a $5MM salary. ESPN's Jayson Stark suggested today that Martinez's exorbitant asking price may be a way of delaying his return.
A rundown of possible suitors, from Rosenthal:
- Angels GM Tony Reagins recently admitted to contacting Pedro's agent, but Rosenthal says "the two sides have not spoken in more than two weeks."
- Rosenthal learned from Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo that the team has mild interest in Pedro and scouted him in March. Martinez's asking price is the issue.
- The Rangers have some interest.
- Rosenthal's Yankees source denies interest in Pedro, despite the pitcher telling friends the opposite. There is a Dominican newspaper report floating about suggesting a Pedro-Yankees union, but we'll trust Rosenthal's source.
- The Indians don't have the money, the Dodgers don't like the price, and the Mets aren't interested.
- Rosenthal does not mention the Orioles, Cardinals, or Pirates, teams that have been linked to Pedro in the past.
2010 Options: Tampa Bay Rays
Let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the Rays.
- Carl Crawford – $10MM+ club option with a $1.25MM buyout. According to Cot's, Crawford's 2010 option may increase to $11.5MM with escalators. His defense may make him worth the money even if his bat doesn't bounce back. He'll turn 28 in August.
- Akinori Iwamura – $4.25MM+ club option with a $250K+ buyout. With a typical Iwamura season, this figures to be exercised. If not, Iwamura can become a free agent despite having only three years service time (a typical arrangement for Japanese players here).
- Brian Shouse – $1.9MM club option with a $200K buyout. So far Shouse has done his job shutting down lefties. He turns 41 in September.
Odds & Ends: Minaya, Bradley, McClain
Links for Friday…
- Yahoo's Gordon Edes on what might've been: Alex Rodriguez in Boston.
- MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone interviewed GM Omar Minaya.
- Milton Bradley is not a fan of the Chicago media. He explained why in an exclusive chat with MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.
- Rob Bradford of WEEI talks about the scarcity of middle-of-the-order bats on the free agent market, as it relates to the Red Sox.
- Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald wonders if Luis Vizcaino could return to the White Sox.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a Sponichi report indicating that the Hiroshima Carp are in contract talks with minor league veteran Scott McClain.
- Mike Thomas of The Herald News caught up with Shea Hillenbrand and got the player's take on the various incidents in his career.
Indians Willing To Trade Cliff Lee?
FRIDAY: Talking to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, here's Indians GM Mark Shapiro on trading Lee:
"I'm not even thinking about that. My focus is on us having a contending season and Cliff having a great season. I think the two go hand-in-hand."
Lee's agent Darek Braunecker says "right now it's just sheer speculation."
THURSDAY: Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com wrote about Indians starter Cliff Lee a few days ago. The article includes speculation from rival executives:
Multiple officials familiar with the Indians said this week that they wouldn't be at all surprised to see Lee get traded if the Indians fall far out of the race, just as C.C. Sabathia was dealt away when Cleveland fell out of it last year. "I think they'd love to trade him," one of the officials said.
The Indians were in last place, 13.5 games out, when they traded Sabathia to the Brewers on July 6th of last year. They finished in third place, 7.5 games out.
Lee, 30, has a 5.25 ERA this year through four starts but pitched well in his last two starts. He has yet to show last year's otherworldly control and 46% groundball rate. At $5.75MM this year with a $9MM club option for 2010, Lee would be attractive on the trade market even if he's pitching like a middle-rotation guy.
Back in March, the Indians decided not to negotiate an extension with the Cy Young winner due to the economy. Said Lee:
"They said they can't do it become of the economy. I'd like to spend the rest of my career here. I would have loved to get that out of the way. But I can't force that to happen."