Marlins Renew Three
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Marlins renewed the contracts of three pre-arbitration players: Matt Lindstrom, Taylor Tankersley, and Cameron Maybin. The renewals mean the sides were not able to reach contract agreements, though the players have no real bargaining power anyway.
Astros Not Close To Signing Pedro Martinez
10:56am: John Perrotto, the Baseball Prospectus writer who first ran the Pedro-to-the-Astros story, has issued a mea culpa:
Let’s get this straight right off the top: I was wrong, way wrong about Pedro Martinez being on the verge of signing as a free agent with the Astros.
WEDNESDAY, 9:17am: Oritz reports that third baseman Aaron Boone will leave the Astros to undergo open heart surgery. It's unclear when or if he'll ever play baseball again. This appears to be the only big announcement that the Astros had planned for this morning.
TUESDAY, 9:35pm: Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle talked to Astros GM Ed Wade, who said the team has had "zero discussions" on the Pedro front. Martinez is not close to signing with the Astros. De Jesus Ortiz was also able to determine in talking to owner Drayton McLane that he is not selling the team or firing, hiring, or signing anyone. The press conference also has nothing to do with steroids. MLB.com's Alyson Footer also confirmed that the Astros are not close to an agreement with Pedro.
Meanwhile, Manny Ramirez spoke to Pedro and learned that the pitcher is down to two options (MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reporting). SI.com's Jon Heyman wrote Monday that the Mets and Dodgers seem to be the likely possibilities.
8:25pm: John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus says the Astros are close to an agreement with Pedro Martinez.
6:34pm: According to MLB.com's Alyson Footer, the Astros scheduled a press conference for tomorrow morning at 8:45am CST. Footer says the Astros confirmed it's not about Ivan Rodriguez. Any guesses?
Andruw Jones Unlikely To Make Rangers
WEDNESDAY, 10:51am: Jones indicated to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he feels comfortable in the Rangers' system and has developed a strong relationship with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo:
"These guys have the system," Jones said. "The hitting coach they’ve got, they work on the things they want to. We’ll see what happens."
TUESDAY, 10:27pm: According to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, outfielder Andruw Jones is unlikely to break camp with the Rangers. Marlon Byrd seems to have a leg up on the fourth outfielder role (he's quieted concerns about his surgically-repaired knee). Sullivan explains the Jones situation:
Technically, the Rangers have to decide by Friday if they'll put him on the Major League roster, but it seems quite clear they have no interest in doing that.
The question is, will Andruw head to Triple A for the Rangers to prove he can still contribute?
Dodgers Sign Pre-Arbitration Players
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Dodgers inked many pre-arbitration players such as Chad Billingsley ($475K), Matt Kemp ($467K), and James Loney ($465K).
Offseason In Review: Cleveland Indians
The Indians are next in our Offseason In Review series. Here's what we wrote about them on September 30th. Changes for 2009:
Additions: Kerry Wood, Mark DeRosa, Carl Pavano, Luis Valbuena, Juan Salas, Joe Smith, Greg Aquino, Jack Cassel, Vinnie Chulk, Matt Herges, Tomo Ohka, Kirk Saarloos, Tony Graffanino, Jamey Carroll (exercised option). Midseason: Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, Zach Jackson, John Meloan, Anthony Reyes, Carlos Santana
Subtractions: Franklin Gutierrez, Juan Rincon, Matt Ginter, Jorge Julio. Midseason: Casey Blake, Paul Byrd, C.C. Sabathia, Jason Michaels
The Indians' offense ranked 6th in the AL last year with 4.97 runs per game. The infield was the obvious area for improvement, and GM Mark Shapiro acquired DeRosa. CHONE projections suggest bounceback years for Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez, resulting in 5.37 runs per game for Cleveland. That level of scoring would've ranked second in the AL last year.
Defensively, The Fielding Bible II ranked the Indians third in the league last year. Much of that run prevention came from the departed Gutierrez, however.
The Indians set out to get a closer, and Shapiro signed Wood in mid-December. The move is risky, given Wood's injury history. Still, he was among the best relief arms available and did not cost a draft pick. The pen was also bolstered by the addition of sidearming groundballer Smith.
The big question for the 2009 Indians is the rotation. Cliff Lee is the only safe bet. They'll need Fausto Carmona to bounce back, and healthy, decent performances from Pavano and Reyes. The Indians might've been able to get a more reliable pitcher than Pavano on a one-year deal. There are several decent options for the fifth starter job, and Jake Westbrook should be back midseason.
If the Indians match last year's 761 runs allowed, they're a 92 win team. But with the loss of Gutierrez's defense, regression from Lee, and no contribution from Sabathia, that's a tall order. Still, with a middling 780 runs allowed they'd project for 90 wins.
Bottom line: Shapiro succeeded in adding an infielder and improving the bullpen. 2009 may rest on four variables: Martinez, Hafner, Pavano, and Reyes.
A’s Release Rob Bowen
According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s released catcher Rob Bowen today. They’ll go with Landon Powell as Kurt Suzuki‘s backup. Bowen had been placed on revocable waivers on Friday.
Bowen, 28, hit .176/.219/.286 in 98 plate appearances last year.
Odds & Ends: Suzuki, Zambrano, Nationals
Links for Tuesday…
- Remember Mac Suzuki? According to MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel, the Royals’ first Japanese pitcher worked out for Kansas City and Cleveland and will audition for the Dodgers as well. He’s spent the last three years in the Mexican League.
- Carlos Zambrano‘s second-favorite team is the White Sox, according to Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times. Big Z’s contract with the Cubs runs through 2012 or 2013.
- Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo told Chico Harlan of the Washington Post he’s received a lot of phone calls about his outfield/first base logjam.
- RotoAuthority runs through all 30 closer situations. Print it out and bring it to your draft.
- Cole Hamels update: no structural damage to his elbow. ESPN’s Buster Olney says it’s inflammation.
- Hal McCoy heard from a scout that the Reds might be shopping pitcher Nick Masset, who is out of options.
- Baseball America’s Jim Callis says about 42-44% of first-round draft picks have significant big league careers.
- "Only a physical and minor details" remain on Ivan Rodriguez‘s one-year, $1.5MM deal with the Astros, according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle.
- Free agent outfielder Luis Gonzalez still hopes to play in 2009. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the D’Backs’ interest only lies in post-retirement employment.
- According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets have begun the process of returning Rule 5 pick Rocky Cherry to the Orioles. UPDATE: Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post says the O’s rejected Cherry and the Mets released him.
- This week’s chat has been moved to Thursday at 2pm CST.
Royals Sign Sidney Ponson
According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, the Royals signed pitcher Sidney Ponson to a minor league deal. Ponson, 32, posted a 5.04 ERA, 3.85 K/9, and 3.18 BB/9 in 135.6 innings for the Rangers and Yankees last year. He did post a very strong 54.5% groundball rate. The Rangers released Ponson in June due to "disrespectful and adverse reactions to situations unbecoming of teammates."
Brewers Claim Wes Littleton
According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers claimed reliever Wes Littleton off waivers from the Red Sox. Rule 5 pick Eduardo Morlan was designated for assignment to make room. Morlan could end up back with the Rays if they’ll have him. The Sox had acquired Littleton from Texas for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Hideki Matsui Enters Contract Year
Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes about Hideki Matsui‘s future with the Yankees. Matsui, 34, projects as the team’s full-time DH and Opening Day cleanup hitter this year. Sherman says that after two knee surgeries the Yankees view him strictly as a designated hitter.
The Yankees’ outfield may see changes for 2010. Matsui is a free agent after the season, as are Scott Boras clients Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady. Nick Swisher is under contract through 2011. Sherman says that since the Yanks may want to keep the DH spot open for Jorge Posada and other stars under contract, Matsui may not make sense. Interesting names on the free agent market after ’09: Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Rick Ankiel, Mike Cameron, Bobby Abreu, Jermaine Dye, and possibly Manny Ramirez.
Matsui told Sherman he’d be open to playing for other teams and doesn’t intend to return to Japan. Like many corner outfield/DH types, Matsui will probably have to take a large pay cut in free agency even if he has a solid year.