Trot Nixon Released
WEDNESDAY: Nixon has been released, according to Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
MONDAY: Outfielder Trot Nixon, in Brewers camp on a minor league deal, is on the roster bubble according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. They may not even have a place for him in Triple A. Nixon, 35 in April, is hitting .108/.233/.216 in 43 spring plate appearances. He hit .309/.437/.558 in a Triple A stint last year, earning a brief look with the Mets.
Odds & Ends: Beckham, Taschner, Red Sox
Links for Wednesday…
- Chat today, 2pm CST.
- The White Sox sent last year's first-round pick Gordon Beckham to Double A to play shortstop, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
- Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle talked to Astros GM Ed Wade about the difference between guaranteed and non-guaranteed contracts.
- El Lefty Malo expects the Giants to trade lefty Jack Taschner and go after free agent Will Ohman. Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News dismissed an internet rumor about Taschner and the Tigers. Not sure where that came from.
- Alex Speier of WEEI projects Boston's Opening Day payroll to be under $120MM, its lowest since '03. Speier suggests this could allow midseason financial flexibility.
- Chico Harlan of the Washington Post asks whether the Nationals will try to avoid an eventual Super Two status for Jordan Zimmermann.
- Bart Given says Shawn Hill made the right decision in signing with San Diego.
- Oil Can Boyd hopes to pitch in Ottawa in the Cam-Am Baseball League.
- The Royals Authority 2009 Annual is on sale now – check it out.
Rockies Hope To Trade Torrealba, Baker
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post writes today about the Rockies desire to trade catcher Yorvit Torrealba and infielder Jeff Baker.
Torrealba was signed in November of '07 after coming close to a deal with the Mets. The Rockies had reached the World Series with Torrealba behind the dish, and Chris Iannetta had yet to emerge. Now, though, the Rox would love to move Torrealba and the $4MM owed to him for '09. Renck says they shopped him hard this winter but came up empty. The Rockies like Sal Fasano as the backup catcher and don't have much use for Torrealba.
Baker, 27, hit .268/.322/.468 in 333 plate appearances for the Rockies last year, crushing lefties while struggling away from Coors. Baseball Prospectus likens Baker to former Padre Archi Cianfrocco, circa 1994. Baker has spent time at first base, second base, third base, left field, and right field in his career. Yesterday Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports said the Phillies, Astros, and Pirates were interested. Rosenthal suggested Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick as a possible target for the Rockies, but Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn't see that as a fair trade. Renck says the Pirates and Astros have interest in Baker while the Yankees, Braves, and Phillies have a need. Baker is trying to bounce back from elbow soreness this spring.
Gary Matthews Jr. Wants Playing Time
Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. spoke to reporters yesterday, resulting in articles in the L.A. Times, MLB.com, and the O.C. Register. Matthews wants to play every day, and admitted to having "candid conversations" with Angels brass. It's not known whether Matthews would waive his no-trade clause, which is full for 2009 and limited to four teams for 2010-11. He's owed $33.5MM for 2009-11, plus another $500K assignment bonus if traded.
Matthews is hitting .412/.500/.941 this spring in 20 plate appearances, which doesn't do much to change the fact that his contract is burden.
Brewers Peavy Rumor Shot Down
TUESDAY, 8:01am: This rumor died a quick death. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who said there's nothing to the rumor and he hasn't talked to the Padres.
MONDAY, 9:34pm: According to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Brewers "are now said to be interested in Jake Peavy." Peavy's agent Barry Axelrod said, "I haven't been asked about the Brewers, although we've heard there was some interest before that didn't come to fruition."
It's possible that this rumor stems only from the speculation of Brewers third baseman Bill Hall. ESPN's Peter Gammons wrote on Sunday: "Hall believes the Brewers will be in on Peavy, when and if he goes on the market." I haven't seen any recent articles actually reporting talks between the two teams. Still, the speculation is logical.
Danks Discusses Extension Offer
MLB.com's Scott Merkin talked to White Sox starter John Danks, who recently turned down the team's offer of a four-year, $15.5MM extension (Gavin Floyd accepted the same offer). Danks was excited by the offer, but his agent advised him not to take it:
"I was thrilled to death. I was advised that it wasn't the right time for that deal, but at the same time, never in a million years, never did I think I would have turned down a guaranteed 15. It was a hard decision, but that's why I pay my agent. We'll move on from there."
So at least the desire to stay in Chicago is evident with Danks. Danks mentioned two more times that he turned down the offer on the advice of his agent Jeff Berry. He even admitted, "When I heard $15 million, I was like 'Heck yeah.'" Berry wants Danks to wait until after '09, when he'll be arbitration-eligible for the first time. Presumably Berry has his eye on a Jon Lester deal.
The Future Of Chien-Ming Wang
In a blog post this morning, Joel Sherman of the New York Post discussed the future of Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang. Sherman says the Yankees are not positive about offering Wang an elite free agent contract after the 2010 season (note: I believe Wang may not be free agent-eligible until after 2011). This uncertainty has caused the Yanks to "weigh trade scenarios in the past involving Wang." Sherman adds, "I have yet to talk to a Yankee official who is fully committed to keeping him long-term."
There was a time back in December of '07 when Wang was said to be open to a three or four-year deal, but Kat O'Brien of Newsday said talks fizzled when the Yankees requested Wang's agent Alan Nero make the opening offer. In a display of the distance between the two parties, the Yanks went to an arbitration hearing with Wang in February of '08 over a difference of $600K (Wang lost).
Offseason In Review: Minnesota Twins
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Twins. Here's what I wrote about them on October 6th. Changes for 2009:
Additions: Joe Crede, Luis Ayala, Nick Punto (re-signed)
Subtractions: Dennys Reyes, Adam Everett. Midseason: Mike Lamb, Livan Hernandez, Brian Bass, Juan Rincon, Craig Monroe
The Twins entered the offseason with the left side of their infield open and a desire for relief help. They paid the market rate to retain Punto in December, and then waited out Scott Boras and signed Crede for $2.5MM in late February. Ayala was the bullpen choice at $1.3MM. Additionally, GM Bill Smith locked up young starter Scott Baker at a reasonable $15.25MM with an option on his first free agent year.
The Twins ranked a surprising 3rd in the AL last year with 5.09 runs per game. Credit goes to the .340 team OBP, which included a .279 team average. The Twins were second in the league with an .826 OPS with runners in scoring position and didn't have much power.
The '09 Twins project to score 4.79 runs per game, using CHONE projections and Baseball Musings' lineup analysis tool. That would've been 9th in the AL last year. The projection adds Crede but doesn't account for Delmon Young and Brendan Harris, who received significant playing time in '08. Joe Mauer's injury will be a big factor, since he's a .410 OBP in the middle of their lineup.
The Twins' rotation posted a 4.32 ERA in 959 innings last year, including 206 innings of 5.64 ball from Livan Hernandez and Boof Bonser. Note that the Twins' front four – Baker, Kevin Slowey, Francisco Liriano, and Glen Perkins – totaled only 559.6 innings last year (an average of 140 each). This rotation should be the class of the AL Central if healthy.
The bullpen lost Dennys Reyes, but also subtracts poor performances from Bass, Bonser, and Rincon. I still think they could've done better than Ayala. A big year from Jose Mijares would go a long way.
Defensively, the Twins ranked 7th in the AL according to the Fielding Bible II. Crede has the potential to make a big difference at third base; that's his main source of value. Young played an ugly left field last year, but he still has breakout potential on both sides of the ball. The Twins' best defensive outfield will involve Gomez in center and Denard Span in left.
The Twins allowed 745 runs last year, and as you can see there's some potential for improvement in both pitching and defense. With the same run prevention they look like an 84 win team. But with a healthy rotation and seasons from Crede and Mauer, 88 wins seems possible.
Bottom line: Bill Smith could've done more with the bullpen, but the Crede addition and the Twins' young pitching should keep them in contention in the AL Central.
A’s Announce Bob Geren Extension
According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A's officially announced an extension for manager Bob Geren today. It runs through 2010 with a club option for '11.
Mets Retain Freddy Garcia
According to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times, the Mets reassigned starter Freddy Garcia to minor league camp today. Garcia softened his stance on the minors, as he'll work at extended Spring Training or else head to Triple A as a member of the Mets organization. The move solidifies Livan Hernandez as the Mets' fifth starter, at least for now.