Sheets-Rangers Talks Slow Down?
Free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets, another option for the Mets, could end up with the Rangers, but his talks with Texas have "less momentum" than they did 10 days ago, according to a source. The Rangers want Sheets only on their terms, the source said.
A week ago, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan wrote that Sheets wants two years while the Rangers prefer one year and a club option. The Rangers also continued to have concern about his medical reports.
Orioles Acquire Rich Hill
10:36am: According to a press release from the Cubs, they’ve traded Hill to the Orioles for a player to be named later. A sensible low-risk move for the Orioles, who can afford to let Hill take his lumps at the big league level. The AL East may not be the ideal environment for him, but it’s worth a shot.
Roch Kubatko says Brian Burres was designated for assignment to make room for Hill.
10:16am: We learned yesterday from Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun that the Orioles are close to acquiring pitcher Rich Hill from the Cubs for a player to be named later. The deal is not done, but it could be completed early this week. Today Roch Kubatko of MASN adds that the player to be named later the Cubs receive would likely be a "low-level minor leaguer." The Orioles could add Hill and still sign Braden Looper for additional rotation depth.
Phillies Still Talking Contract With Ryan Howard
Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer talked to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who said the team is still involved in contract negotiations with Ryan Howard‘s agent Casey Close.
This is Howard’s second arbitration year; he’s requested $18MM while the Phils countered at $14MM. A panel of three people will decide whether Howard earns $18MM or $14MM in 2009, unless the two sides reach an agreement prior to the hearing. Salisbury believes the hearing is scheduled in the February 9-13 range.
ESPN’s Jayson Stark wrote last week that the previous request record for a second-year arb player was Derek Jeter‘s $10.5MM in 2000. Howard is in uncharted waters once again.
Out Of Options 2009
Our list of players who are out of options for 2009 (and who have less than five years service time). Out of options means these players have to clear waivers before being sent to the minors. Please let me know if you have additions for the list (a link is required).
Athletics
Mike Wuertz, Santiago Casilla
Braves
Josh Anderson, Blaine Boyer, Phil Stockman
Brewers
Tony Gwynn Jr., Brad Nelson
Cardinals
Skip Schumaker, Ryan Ludwick, Brendan Ryan
Cubs
Angel Guzman, Chad Gaudin, Joey Gathright, Esteban German
Dodgers
Hong-Chih Kuo, Delwyn Young
Giants
Travis Ishikawa, Fred Lewis, Nate Schierholtz
Indians
Andy Marte, Anthony Reyes
Mariners
Ronny Cedeno, Franklin Gutierrez, Mike Morse, Wladimir Balentien, David Aardsma
Marlins
Robert Andino, Leo Nunez, Dallas McPherson, Alfredo Amezaga, Cody Ross, Dan Meyer, Jesus Delgado, Renyel Pinto, Logan Kensing
Mets
Brian Stokes, Fernando Nieve
Nationals
Joel Hanrahan, Kory Casto, Mike Hinckley, Steven Shell, Josh Willingham, Willie Harris, Daniel Cabrera, Anderson Hernandez, Wily Mo Pena
Orioles
David Pauley, Hayden Penn, Dennis Sarfate, Scott Moore, Felix Pie, Jeremy Guthrie, Rich Hill
Padres
Cha Seung Baek, Eulogio De La Cruz
Pirates
Phil Dumatrait, Sean Burnett, Craig Hansen, Tyler Yates, Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss
Rangers
Joaquin Benoit, Marlon Byrd, Nelson Cruz, Frank Francisco, Josh Rupe, Dustin Nippert, Jimmy Gobble
Rays
Jeff Niemann, Jason Hammel, Lance Cormier, Grant Balfour, Gabe Gross, Willy Aybar
Reds
Jeff Keppinger
Red Sox
Javier Lopez, Ramon Ramirez, Manny Delcarmen, Wes Littleton, George Kottaras
Rockies
Jeff Baker, Clint Barmes, Jorge de la Rosa
Royals
Ross Gload, Tony Pena Jr., John Bale, John Buck, Albert Callaspo, Shane Costa, Brayan Pena, Ryan Shealy, Robinson Tejeda, Anthony Lerew
Tigers
Bobby Seay, Edwin Jackson, Macay McBride, Ramon Santiago, Mike Hessman, Marcus Thames
Twins
Boof Bonser, Philip Humber
White Sox
Jerry Owens, Gavin Floyd, Wilson Betemit
Yankees
Melky Cabrera, Jose Veras
Ken Takahashi Signs With Blue Jays
According to Kyodo News, lefty Ken Takahashi signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. Takahashi, 40 in April, posted a 3.50 ERA and 5.52 K/9 in 115.6 innings (20 starts) last year in Japan.
NPB Tracker profiled Takahashi back in December. Patrick Newman adds a few details: the Jays will evaluate Takahashi as a starter, and he could earn up to $1.5MM.
Padres Eyeing Livan Hernandez, Cliff Floyd
Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune talked to Padres GM Kevin Towers, who said last week he’s interested in starter Livan Hernandez and outfielder Cliff Floyd. The Padres are no longer targeting a $40MM payroll, so it seems they can afford to add a million or two for these two free agents. The Padres have two open spots in the rotation.
Hernandez, 34 in February, posted a 6.05 ERA and 3.35 K/9 in 180 innings last year for the Twins and Rockies. He earned $5MM. Floyd, 36, hit .268/.349/.455 in 284 plate appearances for the Rays last year; he suffered a slightly torn labrum in the World Series. He earned $2.75MM and had an ’09 option for the same amount declined in November.
Center adds that the Padres had free agent pitchers Brian Lawrence, Steve Trachsel, and Scott Elarton work out at Petco Park recently but decided not to invite them to Spring Training (Ben mentioned this on Saturday; just a reminder). Trachsel was designated for assignment by the Orioles in June of last year and was thought to be considering retirement.
Joe Crede Workout
SUNDAY: Christensen says that the Twins will check Crede’s progress again this week. He couldn’t get another update on Crede heading into the weekend.
THURSDAY: Christensen heard Crede looked good at the workout and drew new contract offers (none from the Twins). Crede apparently wants a base salary above the $5.1MM he earned last year, plus incentives. Jon Heyman confirms the Giants’ attendance.
WEDNESDAY: According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Joe Crede worked out for scouts in Arizona today. The Twins were apparently in attendance. We’ll update the post if more attendees are revealed; the Giants were supposed to be there according to Nick Cafardo.
The Market For Adam Dunn
Amazingly it’s February 1st and the one 40 home run bat on the free agent market, Adam Dunn, remains unsigned. We learned from Bobby Abreu‘s agent that his client is willing to consider a one-year deal, but Dunn’s rep Greg Genske is not as talkative (we saw that with C.C. Sabathia). Jerry Crasnick suggested way back on January 13th that Dunn sought a four-year, $56MM deal. On January 19th, Chico Harlan talked to one agent who will be surprised if Dunn gets more than one year, $5MM.
Let’s review the recent Dunn rumors.
- David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution guesses Dunn might be the Braves’ fourth choice, after Abreu, Nick Swisher, and Xavier Nady.
- ESPN’s Jayson Stark heard that Dunn is "waiting to see what happens with Manny Ramirez because the Dodgers are his preferred destination." Stark says it’s clear the Nationals aren’t Dunn’s top choice, and MLB.com’s Bill Ladson says the slugger is currently out of their price range anyway. Stark characterized the Orioles’ attitude toward Dunn as "back-burner interest."
- Dunn’s friend and Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had this to say, according to Pete McElroy of MASN: "He’s told me he’d like to play here, but I’m sure he’s told people in Milwaukee or whoever else is going after him that he’d like to play there too."
- Could Dunn return to the Reds? Not going to happen, says John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. We learned that the Brewers will pass, based on Adam McCalvy’s conversation with Doug Melvin.
- Ken Rosenthal wrote on January 14th that the Red Sox have shown interest in Dunn, but admitted "they touch base with virtually every top free agent" and the match is probably a longshot.
Dan O’Dowd – GM Trade History
Next up in our GM Trade History series, Dan O’Dowd of the Rockies. Click here to download the spreadsheet of O’Dowd’s work, courtesy of MLBTR contributor Brendan Bianowicz.
Pedro Martinez Rumors: Friday
10:52pm: According to MLB.com’s Marty Noble, or perhaps the AP, Pedro said he’s received offers but not from the Mets.
9:13am: According to Mark Hale of the New York Post, Pedro Martinez plans to use the World Baseball Classic as an audition for MLB teams. Hale notes that Omar Minaya’s presence in the Dominican Republic was for a prearranged scouting trip but a meeting with Pedro was planned for yesterday. Arthur Staple of Newsday said that meeting was "more of a courtesy," and Minaya himself said he was "just keeping in touch."
On Wednesday, Jon Heyman wrote that Minaya loves Pedro and some baseball people expect a Mets reunion after the Oliver Perez situation is resolved.