Rangers Have Crowded Outfield
Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes that the Rangers have six candidates for the outfield: Josh Hamilton, Andruw Jones, Nelson Cruz, David Murphy, Frank Catalanotto, and Marlon Byrd. Is a trade in order?
Hamilton is a lock for one spot, and last I read the Rangers were intent on giving the out of options Cruz regular work (perhaps even in center field). We may be looking at Jones, Murphy, Catalanotto, and Byrd battling for two spots.
The commitment to Catalanotto is ugly: $4MM in ’09 plus another $2MM for his ’10 buyout. The contract plus his ability to play first base may keep him in Texas unless he can be swapped for another contract.
Jones could be cut if he doesn’t impress in Spring Training, or he could opt out on March 20th if he doesn’t like the way his role is shaping up. Rangers president Nolan Ryan seems quite fond of Murphy.
Byrd seems the likeliest trade candidate, especially if Jones makes the team. Sherman likes Byrd as a center field stopgap for the Yankees; he’s earning $3.06MM in his last year before free agency. The Cubs were after him a year ago, but seem filled up now. The White Sox could make sense but have not been connected to Byrd in rumors.
Edgardo Alfonzo Headed To Japan
Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passed along a Sponichi report yesterday: Edgardo Alfonzo will sign with the Yomiuri Giants. The AP says he’ll earn $380K. Alfonzo, 35, played for independent league teams the last few years. He hit .280/.355/.379 in the Venezuelan Winter League recently, winning the league’s Comeback Player Of The Year award.
Royals Interested In Chad Cordero
Word from a source around the Royals’ mini-camp in Arizona is that the team is taking a long look at free agent reliever Chad Cordero. Cordero will be conducting a showcase on February 18th.
The Royals join a long list of teams connected to the rehabbing righty this winter. Teams rumored to have interest at various points: the Brewers, Marlins, Dodgers, Twins, Angels, Mets, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Nationals, and Tigers. A few of those clubs may have since spent their bullpen budgets. Cordero, 27 in March, had surgery to fix tears in his labrum and biceps tendon in July of 2008. On Monday, Cordero will throw his first private bullpen session (off a mound).
Ned Colletti: GM Trade History
MLBTR contributor Brendan Bianowicz is back with a new installment in our GM Trade History series: Ned Colletti of the Dodgers. Click here to download the spreadsheet chronicling Colletti’s work.
Braves Out On Will Ohman?
According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves are no longer pursuing lefty reliever Will Ohman. The Braves made an early offer to Ohman and left it on the table for much of the winter. There have been varying reports on the Phillies’ interest; it seems they’d like to sign him cheaply. The Mets also have Ohman on the radar, if he’s a bargain.
Rangers Sign Jason Jennings
10:54pm: Renck says Jennings can make $1.45MM in incentives for innings pitched, on top of his $800K base salary.
9:07am: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rangers signed pitcher Jason Jennings to a minor league deal.
Jennings was a bust after the Astros acquired him for the ’07 season; he had surgery for a torn flexor tendon in his elbow in August of that year. Sound familiar? It’s the same injury Ben Sheets has. Jennings was still able to get $4MM guaranteed from the Rangers before the ’08 season, reminding us how drastically the market has changed in one year. Jennings had another flexor tendon surgery in May of ’08 (the first surgery "didn’t take.") MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan notes that the Rangers had interest in Odalis Perez before he re-signed with the Nationals. In a blog post, Sullivan looks at some other flexor tendon cases, with Andy Pettitte being the best one.
Diamondbacks Sign Tom Gordon
10:51pm: As he often does, Troy Renck of the Denver Post comes through with contract details. Gordon’s incentives are based on the number of days he spends on the active roster.
3:19pm: According to John Gambadoro of KTAR Radio, the Diamondbacks signed reliever Tom Gordon to a one-year deal worth $500K guaranteed. With incentives, Flash could earn up to $2.5MM. Gordon, 41, had ulnar nerve decompression surgery in October. A solid, low-risk acquisition by Arizona.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Friday
9:04pm: Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News spoke with Dodgers GM Ned Colletti on Friday. Jackson asked if there would come a time when the Dodgers will simply have to move on from their pursuit of Manny. Here’s Colletti’s response:
"At some point in time, yes, but I’m not sure when that point in time will come yet. We signed Furcal, we signed Loretta, we signed Ausmus, we signed Casey Blake, we signed Wolf, and we signed Mota. We haven’t been sitting and waiting for one player to sign. We have been active, and we have continued to put a club together. At some point in time, we have to come to a conclusion. But we’re not there yet, and we’re still open-minded.”
8:17pm: A few current Giants offered perspectives Friday on the possibility of having Manny in the clubhouse:
"You’d be an idiot if you didn’t say a guy like Manny Ramirez can’t help your team," center fielder Aaron Rowand said. "But even with that being said, there’s not a guy in here who’s looking at that and hoping and praying. To a man, we’re all confident about what we have right now."
"Manny Ramirez is an unbelievable hitter," said right fielder Randy Winn. "He’s probably the best RBI guy that I’ve ever played against. Of course he’s going to help any team he goes to. But it’s nothing I can focus on because it’s kind of like a trade rumor. It’s probably not going to happen."
4:44pm: Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has a Manny Ramirez update today, from the Giants’ point of view. Most Giants execs, as well as former owner Peter Magowan, expect Manny to re-sign with the Dodgers. They’ll continue to explore the possibility though.
On the other hand, ESPN’s Jayson Stark talked to one official who regularly speaks with the Giants’ front office. That person thinks new owner Bill Neukom wants to make a splash and said, "I would watch the Giants" in regard to Manny. The official also suggested the Giants may have "more dollars to spend than they’ve been letting on."
Twins, Luis Ayala Reach Agreement
According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins reached an agreement with reliever Luis Ayala today on a one-year, $1.3MM deal. He can earn another $575K in incentives. If met, he’d exceed his ’08 salary of $1.7MM. Ayala was ranked as a Type B free agent after the season, but the Mets did not offer him arbitration.
Ayala, 31, posted a 5.71 ERA in 75.6 innings for the Nationals and Mets last year. He stuck out just 5.95 per nine innings, but showed good control with a 2.85 BB/9. He showed an elevated groundball rate in his short stint with the Mets. FanGraphs valued last year’s performance at $100K.
Remaining Free Agent Starters
19 free agent starters remain, with about a week to go until Spring Training. Let’s take a look.
- Kris Benson (33) – Last we heard from Ken Rosenthal’s source, Benson looked so-so in throwing sessions (he had rotator cuff surgery two years ago). The Dodgers and Cardinals appear to be suitors; the Rangers may be out, having signed Jason Jennings.
- Paul Byrd (38) – The Red Sox will miss out on a supplemental draft pick, as Byrd intends to sit out the first half and then possibly sign with a contender. He’d prefer the Braves, Rays, or Marlins.
- Shawn Chacon (31) – In December, Chacon’s agent said he was drawing interest from a few teams. Chacon was released in June after a physical confrontation with Astros GM Ed Wade.
- Tom Glavine (43) – He wants to return to Atlanta, but may seek a big league deal worth $2-3MM guaranteed. He had minor elbow and shoulder surgeries in August. The Nationals have been kicked around as a distant Plan B, though they just signed Odalis Perez.
- Scott Elarton (33) – He worked out for the Padres, but they declined to sign him. Ditto Steve Trachsel and Brian Lawrence.
- Livan Hernandez (34) – Apparently remains on the Padres’ radar.
- Orlando Hernandez (43) – We learned from Ken Davidoff in November that not only does El Duque want to pitch in ’09 after missing all of ’08, he wants to close.
- Chuck James (27) – James, only 27, was non-tendered by the Braves in December. He had rotator cuff and labrum surgery in September, so he won’t be ready until the second half.
- Jon Lieber (39) – We haven’t heard anything about Lieber all winter. He suggested in June that he was mulling retirement after the season.
- Braden Looper (34) – Despite interest from the Orioles, Looper prefers the NL. If the Dodgers sign Randy Wolf, maybe he’ll turn to the Pirates.
- Rodrigo Lopez (33) – All quiet on the Lopez front; last I checked he was a Scott Boras client. The Braves declined his ’09 option. Lopez had Tommy John and flexor tendon surgery in August of ’07.
- Pedro Martinez (37) – Pedro intends to showcase himself in the World Baseball Classic. The Pirates were involved at one point.
- Mark Mulder (31) – Mulder’s audition was set for early February. The A’s and Brewers were linked to him at one point but subsequent stories made those teams sound less interested.
- Sidney Ponson (32) – Aside from settling his grievance with the Orioles in December, we haven’t heard much about him.
- Kenny Rogers (44) – He’s a candidate to retire.
- Curt Schilling (42) – When last reached in January, Schilling had been working out but hadn’t decided whether to play in ’09. The D’Backs were linked to him around that time.
- Ben Sheets (30) – Sheets had an agreement with the Rangers called off when his physical revealed the possible need for flexor tendon surgery. He’s having the surgery and aiming for a second half return, likely leaving the Brewers without draft pick compensation.
- Kip Wells (32) – He didn’t pitch well with the Rockies or Royals in ’08, and it’s been a quiet winter.
- Randy Wolf (32) – Wolf is expected to sign with the Dodgers soon.