Nationals Sign Josh Bard
10:04pm: Jack Etkin at Inside The Rockies has some details on the Bard signing. He writes that the Red Sox "decided to keep George Kottaras, 25, who was out of options" as a back up for Jason Varitek. Etkin continues:
"By releasing Bard on Wednesday, the deadline for paying a player 30 days termination pay, the Red Sox owed him about $279,000. Had they waited one more day to release him, they would have owed Bard 45 days termination pay or about $418,000."
7:42pm: Chico Harlan of the Washington Post writes that Bard will join what Nationals GM Mike Rizzo calls "a competitive situation." Bard will battle Wil Nieves and Javier Valentin for the backup catcher spot.
2:26pm: According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, the Nationals signed catcher Josh Bard to a minor league deal. Bard had been signed but then released by the Red Sox.
Bard, 31 in March, had a couple of pretty solid seasons for the Padres in 2006 and 2007. He dealt with ankle and elbow injuries last year. It's a nice signing for the Nationals.
Giants Release Keiichi Yabu
Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a Nikkan Sports report: the Giants released pitcher Keiichi Yabu. The Giants could re-sign him to a minor league deal. GM Brian Sabean cited Yabu's age, 40, when demoting him earlier this month. Sabean mentioned at the time that he'd attempt to trade Yabu. The righty posted a 3.57 ERA, 6.35 K/9, and 4.2 BB/9 in 68 innings last year.
Lackey Not Impressed With Angels’ Extension Efforts
MLB.com's Lyle Spencer talked to Angels starter John Lackey about the pitcher's ongoing extension talks. Lackey said, "They're not trying very hard." Lackey's agent submitted a proposal earlier this week, presumably above A.J. Burnett's $82.5MM over five years.
If Lackey and the Halos don't hammer something out, he'll presumably be the top free agent starter on the free agent market after the season.
Offseason In Review: Toronto Blue Jays
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Blue Jays. Here's what we wrote about the team on October 3rd. Changes for 2009:
Additions: Matt Clement, Mike Maroth, Ken Takahashi, Michael Barrett, Raul Chavez, Brandon Fahey, Kevin Millar, Jason Lane, Dirk Hayhurst, Adam Loewen, Rod Barajas (option exercised). Midseason: Jose Bautista
Subtractions: A.J. Burnett, Gregg Zaun, Brad Wilkerson. Midseason: Matt Stairs, David Eckstein, Shannon Stewart, Kevin Mench, Frank Thomas
It was a quiet offseason for the Blue Jays, a team that won 86 games last year and might've had the talent to win 93. Can the in-house talent push them into contention in 2009?
Let's start with the offense. The Jays ranked 11th in the AL last year with 4.41 runs per game. Better health should lead to some changes for '09; this year's offense projects to score 4.63 runs per game. That, unfortunately, still would've ranked 11th in the AL. I upgraded Snider's projection by using his PECOTA numbers and that brought us to 4.76 runs per game.
Did you know the Blue Jays led the AL last year with 610 runs allowed? If they could score 770 runs and duplicate last year's run prevention, they'd project as a 98 win team! I don't know how to statistically account for the Jays' high quality of competition, however.
How did Toronto manage to allow only 610 runs in 2008? The league's best pitching and second-best defense blended to produce this result. The defense was particularly stellar at third base and right field, and Scott Rolen and Alex Rios haven't gone anywhere. More Marco Scutaro and less Eckstein shouldn't hurt. And Hill seems healthy. So maybe the Jays can repeat on defense.
The rotation is once again fronted by Roy Halladay. But after that Burnett is gone, Jesse Litsch will regress, Dustin McGowan may not contribute, and Shaun Marcum is out for the season. Non-Halladay Blue Jays starters had a 4.00 ERA in 2008. It's hard to see David Purcey, Casey Janssen, Scott Richmond, Brad Mills, and Clement pulling that off, even if there is some promise in the group. The bullpen returns the same key players, so that should be a strength again. Had Scott Downs' elbow not started barking it might've made sense to try him in the rotation.
It would've been perfect to sign Jason Giambi to DH, as he would've been an improvement over Lind and wouldn't have upset the team's excellent defense. Instead the Blue Jays' hopes rest on excellent performances in the rotation behind Halladay. Even at a still-solid 715 runs allowed this club would win 86 games and miss the playoffs.
Bottom line: The Blue Jays could have been a sleeper with the addition of a decent starter and a bat, but they chose to stand pat this winter.
Beimel Contract Details
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has details on Joe Beimel's new contract with the Nationals. Renck says it's a one-year, $2MM deal with up to $250K in incentives. The incentives kick in at 60 games and max out at 80. Renck says the Rockies balked at Beimel's asking price. Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies has more:
Beimel signed with Washington, a one-year $2 million deal in the last week. He showed no interest in the Rockies' overtures. He was seeking more than $3 million, and I have seen some reports that he was actually asking for a two-year deal at $4 million a year, but I have not had anyone confirm that.
Does Beimel make sense for the Nationals? Unless they can flip him for something good in July, it seems to be $2MM better spent on the draft.
We have a few other Nationals notes from MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Ladson talked to an opposing scout who says the Nats are trying to trade Nick Johnson and Austin Kearns but does not expect them to find a match. Additionally, minor league signee Jorge Sosa hasn't been able to get a work visa in the U.S.
Heyman On Bargains, Andruw, Buchholz
The latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman…
- Heyman runs through his top 13 free agent bargains, beginning with Orlando Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, and Jon Garland.
- Andruw Jones will decide next week whether to opt out and become a free agent again. Heyman reminds us that the Yankees, Braves, and Phillies were previously interested. He says a Yankees person "hedged" when asked if they'd rejoin the Jones pursuit.
- The Twins sent a scout to watch Ivan Rodriguez before he signed with Houston, but Heyman figures they must be confident about Joe Mauer's back after standing pat.
- The Red Sox "remain uninterested in the Rangers' proposal from a few months ago of Jarrod Saltalamacchia for Clay Buchholz." Buchholz has allowed one run, nine Ks, and two walks in 8.6 innings this spring.
Andruw Decision Pushed To Monday
1:35pm: The decision has been pushed to Monday, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. He adds that Jones does not appear interested in going to Triple A.
10:56am: According to Evan Grant of DMagazine.com, Rangers outfielder Andruw Jones is not expected to opt out of his contract today. Grant says Jones "will give the Rangers at least several more days to evaluate him" and has not cleared out his locker. Jones is hitting .258/.324/.419 in 34 plate appearances this spring.
Orioles Release Quiroz, Chiasson
Press release from the Orioles this afternoon: they've released catcher Guillermo Quiroz and pitcher Scott Chiasson. Combined with other moves they're down to 50 players in camp. Infielder Chris Gomez is also on the roster bubble, according to Jeff Zrebiec and Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun.
Odds & Ends: Wade, Baker, Catalanotto
Links for Friday…
- RotoAuthority advises how to manage information during your fantasy draft.
- Something's not right with Corey Koskie, and the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan says he'll decide about his future by Saturday.
- Former Blue Jays assistant GM Bart Given has a blog, and it's pretty good from what I've read (hat tip: Drunk Jays Fans).
- Sidearmer Mark Worrell, acquired by the Padres for Khalil Greene, needs Tommy John surgery according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union Tribune.
- Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says the White Sox "traded infielder Sergio Santos to San Francisco for future considerations." Santos was picked 27th overall by the D'Backs in the 2002 draft.
- Chico Harlan of the Washington Post wonders whether $5MM first baseman Dmitri Young will be willing to accept an assignment to Triple A.
- MLB.com's Alyson Footer says Astros GM Ed Wade never lied to her and doesn't owe her an apology about Ivan Rodriguez. Wade just changed his mind after talking to Footer.
- Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune doesn't see the Cubs releasing $4MM reliever Luis Vizcaino.
- Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies believes Jeff Baker is the team's most likely infielder to be dealt. ESPN's Jayson Stark mentioned Baker yesterday as a trade candidate, and the Denver Post's Troy E. Renck has wondered if he'd fit for the Yankees or Astros.
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers have discussed Frank Catalanotto with other clubs but found no takers. Catalanotto has $6MM coming to him.
- Rany Jazayerli discusses the Royals' signing of Sidney Ponson and release of Jimmy Gobble.
Freddy Garcia Not In Mix For Fifth Starter Job
Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post suggests Freddy Garcia is no longer in the mix for the Mets' fifth starter job, which Livan Hernandez has all but locked up with the demotion of Jon Niese today. Hubbuch says general manager Omar Minaya didn't even mention Garcia when discussing the No. 5 starter job.
Garcia is on a non-roster deal, but Hubbuch told me he said on the first day of camp he's not willing to pitch in the minors. So the situation should come to a head soon.
Hubbuch adds that GM Omar Minaya "once again specifically ruled out signing Pedro Martinez."