Tigers To Sign Scott Williamson
According to Danny Knobler, reliever Scott Williamson is close to a minor league deal with the Tigers. Knobler says the Brewers also had interest in Williamson, who pitched in Triple A for the Braves and Mariners last year. You have to look back to a 28.6 inning stint with Boston in ’04 to find his last big league success.
Odds and Ends: Prospects, Schilling, Elarton
Links for Thursday…
- Jon Paul Morosi estimates the Tigers’ 2009 payroll at $126.6MM. They were at $137.7 on Opening Day 2008.
- ESPN’s Keith Law ranks the top 100 prospects, with Matt Wieters, David Price, and Jason Heyward topping the list.
- Jack Curry emailed Curt Schilling, learning that the pitcher has been working out for three weeks but hasn’t decided whether to play in ’09.
- Free agent hurler Scott Elarton is also undecided (hat tip to BBTF).
- RotoAuthority wonders if Kenshin Kawakami is a fantasy baseball sleeper.
- Patrick Newman profiles new Cub Ken Kadokura.
- As expected, Oscar Salazar was designated to make room for Gregg Zaun.
Varitek Negotiations Dragging
According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have a proposal on the table for Jason Varitek. However, the two sides have not made recent progress on a deal. Varitek "has not given up hope of securing a two-year deal," according to Massarotti’s source.
More realistically, I am guessing Tek can accept around $4MM on a one-year deal. If he’s really stubborn he can wait until after the June draft, but it’d take a desperate team to give him more than a few million for a half-season.
Twins Rumors: Crede, Gagne, Springer
La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune checks in with the latest on the Twins.
- Free agent third baseman Joe Crede will work out for scouts next week, and the Twins are expected to attend. Neal’s source says Crede believes he’s finally overcome his back problems with a minor surgery this winter. He’s willing to sign for one year to re-establish himself.
- Brandon Lyon and Eric Gagne remain in the Twins’ sights, with the Twins "swapping offers" with Scott Boras for Gagne.
- Neal was able to confirm a rumor first reported by Seth Stohs: the Twins have interest in Russ Springer.
Reds Reach Payroll Limit
C. Trent Rosecrans spoke to Reds brass Bob Castellini, Walt Jocketty, and Dusty Baker today (Jocketty transcript here). All three told him the team has reached its payroll budget. It may be a slight increase from the ’08 payroll.
The Reds’ 2009 additions/re-signings include Ramon Hernandez ($6MM), David Weathers ($4.6MM or $3MM), Willy Taveras ($2.25MM), Jerry Hairston Jr. ($2MM), Mike Lincoln ($1.5MM), Arthur Rhodes ($2MM), and Jonny Gomes (minor league deal). Many of the team’s veterans have significant raises for ’09: Francisco Cordero ($3.5MM), Aaron Harang ($4.25MM), Bronson Arroyo ($1.5MM), Brandon Phillips ($2MM), and Edwin Encarnacion ($2MM+).
On the flip side, the Reds will not have to pay Adam Dunn ($13MM in ’08), Ken Griffey Jr. ($12.5MM, partially deferred), Dave Ross ($2.525MM), Ryan Freel ($3MM), Javier Valentin ($1.3MM), Jeremy Affeldt ($3MM), Corey Patterson ($3MM) and Josh Fogg ($1MM).
Fogg Mulling Rockies Offer
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, free agent starter Josh Fogg has an invitation to rejoin the Rockies on a deal similar to Matt Belisle‘s minor league pact. Fogg would face significant competition for a job with the big league club, so he’s waiting to see if anything better surfaces. Renck notes that Belisle has an April out clause, which is not something the Rockies hand out lightly.
Renck adds that the Rox will watch Kris Benson throw Saturday but are unlikely to sign him. Ken Rosenthal said yesterday the Dodgers, Rangers, Padres, and D’Backs will also be in attendance. The Indians and Cardinals too, says Thomas Harding.
Rosenthal On Perez, Manny, Pirates
Another new column from the hard-working Ken Rosenthal.
- Rosenthal doesn’t believe that the market for Oliver Perez is limited to the Mets; it’s more that they’re the only interested team we know about. Two teams we can cross off are the Rangers and Cubs. The Mets want to do three years for Perez while Scott Boras wants five. The Mets’ plan is to sign one of Perez, Randy Wolf, or Ben Sheets and then add a cheaper arm like Freddy Garcia.
- Rosenthal believes the Giants could justify signing Manny Ramirez as an attempt to "max out" while they still have Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum (they have Cain through 2011, Lincecum through 2013).
- Rosenthal notes that free agents who accept offers of arbitration do not have guaranteed contracts. However, players such as Orlando Cabrera and Jason Varitek would’ve had to be released for clear baseball reasons, not to save money. Otherwise the teams would be in hot water with the Players Association.
- Rosenthal notes that Scott Boras has worked out two-year deals covering arbitration years for past clients such as Matt Holliday and Mark Teixeira, so the current Prince Fielder talks don’t signify a change.
- The Pirates have no need to shed payroll.
The 3400 Club
Over at RotoAuthority, we list the 19 hurlers who threw 3,400 or more pitches in 2008. Injury risk can be high for this group.
Dodgers To Sign Brad Ausmus
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers reached an agreement with catcher Brad Ausmus on a one-year, $1MM deal. The Padres will have to keep looking for a veteran backstop.
Ausmus, 40 in April, hit .218/.303/.296 in 250 plate appearances for the Astros last year while throwing out 17.4% of attempted thieves. His value will lie in intangibles.
Odds and Ends: Prospects, Alfonzo, Zimmerman
Links for Wednesday…
- Cardinals GM John Mozeliak subjected himself to all kinds of questions from fans today in an online chat. It sounds like he might do a little spring tinkering.
- It seems that the Angels will go with internal options for the fifth starter job.
- The Rangers, Rays, and A’s are atop Keith Law’s farm system rankings, with the Tigers, Nationals, and Astros bringing up the rear.
- Orioles infielder Oscar Salazar is likely on the chopping block to make room for Gregg Zaun.
- Kyodo News reports that Edgardo Alfonzo will try out for the Yomiuri Giants.
- Dave Sheinin says Kevin Youkilis is a good comp for Ryan Zimmerman. The midpoint between Zimmerman’s and the Nationals’ arbitration submissions would be a $3.325MM.
- I sincerely appreciate all the submissions for the Saturday evening writer gig. I’m happy to welcome D.J. Blatter aboard as our newest blogger.