NL West Notes: Dodgers, Giants, Mattingly, Lincecum
Since Dodgers ownership clearly doesn't trust manager Don Mattingly, they should either fire him or trade him to one of the four clubs with managerial vacancies, opines Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. L.A. may or may not find a taker for Mattingly. Even though he has fans in the Nats front office, Rosenthal writes that the general perception is that he's not the best in-game manager.Here's the latest from the NL West..
- Mattingly intends to honor the final year of his contract as manager with the Dodgers, his agent told Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Furthermore, there is renewed hope on both sides that he will continue on beyond 2012, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Agent Ray Schulte said he expects to meet with team president Stan Kasten in the next "few days."
- Mattingly still hasn't heard from Kasten since the season ended and is waiting to meet with him, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, the skipper is still looking for a multi-year deal (link).
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post spoke with Giants assistant GM Bobby Evans about the club's two-year, $35MM extension for Tim Lincecum. Evans broke down his reasons for giving The Freak such a hefty deal and pointed out that if the club retained him with the qualifying offer both this year and next year, the total amount would have been roughly $29MM, not far off from what they gave him.
- Ray Ratto of CSNBayArea.com wonders if Lincecum's lucrative new deal is a baseball or a marketing decision. In all likelihood, it was a little from column A and a little from column B as the Giants legitimately needed to fortify the back-end of their rotation this winter.
Brewers Outright Three To Triple-A
Tonight's outright assignments..
- The Brewers announced that they have outrighted right-handers Santo Manzanillo, Jesus Sanchez, and Josh Ravin to Triple-A Nashville. Sanchez, 26, had a 2.83 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 48 relief appearances at Nashville. Manzanillo, 25 in December, posted a 5.83 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 6.0 BB/9 in 46 games for the club's Advanced-A and Double-A affiliates last season. It was a short stay on the Brewers' 40-man for Josh Ravin, who was claimed off waivers from the Reds less than a month ago. The 25-year-old had a 5.82 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 6.7 BB/9 for the Reds' Double-A and Triple-A affiliates last year.
East Notes: A-Rod, Hawkins, Nationals, McLouth
Yesterday, lawyers for Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez were barred from holding a news conference with a person they described as a "major league baseball whistleblower" when the commissioner's office obtained an order from the arbitrator hearing the case, according to the Associated Press. As A-Rod takes care of his own offseason housekeeping, let's take a look at the latest from the AL and NL East..
- Mets closer LaTroy Hawkins will most likely see what's out there on the open market and won't agree to a new deal in Queens before that, a source tells Marc Carig of Newsday. However, there is certainly mutual interest in a return. Hawkins, 40, posted a 2.93 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9 in 70.2 innings of work last season.
- James Wagner of the Washington Post conducted a Q&A with questions from Nationals fans regarding the offseason. One of the topics brought up was the club's need for better left-handed pitching out of the bullpen. Wagner cites free agent candidates such as ex-Nat J.P. Howell, Oliver Perez, Boone Logan, Eric O’Flaherty, and Michael Gonzalez, who is coming off of a tough year in Milwaukee.
- There's no better candidate for the Orioles' left field job than Nate McLouth, opines Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore. The veteran, who signed a one-year, $2MM pact with the O's last offseason, could be in line for a two-year, $10MM deal, according to Tim Dierkes. That price is likely too rich for Baltimore's blood.
- Rodriguez's camp has also flatly denied that the third baseman has used PEDs, writes Ken Davidoff of the New York Post.
Shin-Soo Choo On Yankees Radar
The Yankees have been linked to a handful of big name free agents like Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann in recent weeks, but there's apparently a new name on their radar. The Yankees also discussed outfielder Shin-Soo Choo at their organizational meetings over the past couple of days, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
Multiple sources indicate that the Yanks are quite fond of Choo and his on-base ability. In his first year batting leadoff for the Reds, he had a .423 on-base percentage, second only to teammate Joey Votto in the NL. The Bombers, as we all know, are trying to get under the $189MM luxury tax threshold and they could be vying with the Rangers, Cubs, Astros, Mariners, Phillies, Mets, and the incumbent Reds.
While finding an outfielder is high on the club's list, they also need consider third base, shortstop, catcher, and their starting rotation. Of course, their No. 1 priority will be trying to work out a new deal with star second baseman Robinson Cano.
Quick Hits: Chapman, Phillips, Butler, Tanaka
At today's news conference, new Reds skipper Bryan Price said that no decision has been made on whether Aroldis Chapman will be a starter or reliever going forward. However, Price did say that pitchers "get better by throwing innings. I haven't changed that philosophy," according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Here's more from around baseball..
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty says that he's not shopping second baseman Brandon Phillips, but he stopped short of guaranteeing that he'll be with the club by the start of Spring Training, writes MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. "[Phillips] texted wanting to know if we were trading him. I told him that I have not spoken to anybody about that," Jocketty said. "I'm not talking to any clubs about him." Earlier today, Charlie Wilmoth previewed the offseason ahead for Cincinnati.
- The Royals are reportedly willing to listen on Billy Butler this winter, but Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star notes that GM Dayton Moore is always open-minded to all opportunities.
- The Dodgers scouted Japanese star Masahiro Tanaka three days ago and could become major players for him, tweets Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com. The hurler is among the very best starting pitchers available on the open market this winter.
Reactions To The Tim Lincecum Deal
The Giants didn't want to risk losing Tim Lincecum in free agency and tonight, they gave the 29-year-old a lucrative two-year, $35MM deal. The deal isn't just a financial windfall for The Freak, it could mean higher paydays for several of this winter's top free agent starters. Here's a look at some of the reactions to the agreement..
- The two-year, $35MM deal could really boost the total price tag for Japanese standout Masahiro Tanaka, tweets Ben Badler of Baseball America. Tanaka is considered by some to be the best available starter on the open market this offseason.
- The deal is also good news for Ubaldo Jimenez, notes MLBTR's Tim Dierkes (via Twitter). Jimenez is another free agent pitcher who reached great heights and had his fair share of struggles but managed to rebound in his walk year. The right-hander posted a 3.30 ERA with 9.6 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 182 2/3 innings for Cleveland this year.
- If you're going by the advanced numbers, it's possible that bad luck contributed a full run to Lincecum's ERA over the last two seasons, writes Rob Neyer of SBNation. If that's the case, then the 29-year-old could be worth the two-year, $35MM price tag. While Neyer is a big believer in sabermetrics, he's less than confident that this deal will work out for GM Brian Sabean.
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (Sulia link) isn't exaclty sure how to feel about the deal, but he has a reality check for fans who have panned the deal as an overpayment. San Francisco's rotation would have been in rough shape sans Lincecum and beyond that, teams are flush with cash this winter thanks to increased TV revenues.
- Lincecum's 4.76 ERA and drop in fastball velocity from 92.2 to 90.2 mph makes the deal a head-scratcher in the view of ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).
Dodgers Designate Peter Moylan For Assignment
The Dodgers announced that they have designated pitcher Peter Moylan for assignment. The move will create space on the 40-man roster for the newly-acquired Alexander Guerrero.
In 14 big league appearances this season, Moylan posted a 6.46 ERA with 3.5 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9. In his seven big league seasons with the Braves prior to coming to L.A., Moylan had a career 2.59 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9. He spent the bulk of 2013 in the minors, where he posted a 2.74 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 38 outings.
To keep track of Moylan and everyone else in DFA limbo, check out the MLBTR DFA Tracker.
Offseason Outlook: Arizona Diamondbacks
A 9.5 game lead in late June is usually a pretty comfortable cushion. Well, it's not when one of your divisional rivals goes on a historic tear in the second half of the season. While the Dodgers went 42-8 over a 50 game stretch, the D'Backs faltered and lost control of the NL West. This year, they're looking to get to the top of the totem pole and remain there through September.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Miguel Montero, C: $50MM through 2017
- Aaron Hill, 2B: $35MM through 2016
- Martin Prado, 3B: $33MM through 2016
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B: $32MM through 2018
- Trevor Cahill, SP: $19.7MM through 2015
- Cody Ross, OF: $17MM through 2015
- Heath Bell, RP: $9MM through 2014 ($4MM of salary will be paid for by Marlins)
- Brandon McCarthy, SP: $9MM through 2014
- J.J. Putz, RP: $7MM through 2014
- Cliff Pennington, INF: $2.75MM through 2014
- David Hernandez, RP: $2MM through 2014
- Matt Reynolds, RP: $550K through 2014
Arbitration Eligible Players (service time in parentheses)
- Brad Ziegler, RP (5.122): $5MM
- Gerardo Parra, OF (4.145): $4.2MM
- Joe Thatcher, RP (5.019): $2MM
- Tony Sipp, RP (4.138): $1.4MM
- Daniel Hudson, SP (3.117): $1.1MM
- Josh Collmenter, RP (2.000): $900K
Free Agents
What do the Diamondbacks need to address right from the top? General Manager Kevin Towers says he'd like to add a power-hitting corner outfielder to the lineup to help protect first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The funny thing is, Arizona had that type of player in guys like Justin Upton, Chris Young, and Jason Kubel (even though he was struggling in 2013) but they've all been shipped elsewhere. Gerardo Parra has right field locked down and Adam Eaton should be slotted in at either center field or left field. While there are already internal options like the defensively sharp A.J. Pollock and the currently injured Cody Ross, neither one offers the aforementioned pop that they're seeking. Don't expect the Diamondbacks to go after this year's elite power-hitting outfielders (i.e. Carlos Beltran and Curtis Granderson), but they'll have less pricey options to choose from as well. Possible fits might include Mike Morse and Corey Hart, even though there are question marks about their ability to play well in the outfield.
If they can't find the right bat at the right price in left or center field, they could get a little creative and move Martin Prado to left and put a bopper at the hot corner instead. The D'Backs won't find a strong crop of third basemen with pop on the open market, however. Looking at the trade block, it seems likely that the Padres will listen on Chase Headley this winter as he takes his final turn through arbitration, but it's hard to imagine that San Diego will be willing to move him within the division. Even if the D'Backs are willing to part with the type of young talent to pry Headley away, they'll have to find the cash to lock him up beyond 2014. Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez could make sense as a trade target.
There' are other ways that the Diamondbacks can take care of their corner outfield situation on the trade market. Even with free agent Willie Bloomquist likely out of the picture, Arizona has two young shortstops in Didi Gregorius and Chris Owings. If the D'Backs commit to one player over the other, they could parlay their mini-surplus into something useful elsewhere. The Pirates could come calling for an upgrade over Jordy Mercer, who wasn't consistently sharp at the plate. The Reds could get by with Zack Cozart at shortstop, but it also wouldn't hurt to find someone better. The Cardinals have Pete Kozma and the Mets could hope for a better effort from Ruben Tejada, but you can add those clubs to the mix as well.
Arizona is also working with a surplus of starters and could use that to fill some holes. Patrick Corbin, Wade Miley, Trevor Cahill, Brandon McCarthy, Randall Delgado, Tyler Skaggs, and top prospect Archie Bradley are all in the fold. Of course, it'll take a heck of an offer to pry Bradley away from the D'Backs.
The bullpen was supposed to be a major bright spot for the Diamondbacks in 2013 but it didn't turn out that way. J.J. Putz was in place as the D'Backs' closer for much of the season but his injury troubles gave Brad Ziegler an opportunity to seize the gig after Heath Bell showed that he couldn't hold it down. There are plenty of quality pitchers already in Arizona, but they have to perform up to their abilities. Bell, who is now two years removed from his All-Star form, is under contract for one more season. David Hernandez had an up-and-down year – with the down resulting in a demotion to Triple-A – but the light turned on in the fall as hitters averaged a .405 OPS against him in September. There could be an opening for a southpaw or two, depending on what the club does with Joe Thatcher and Tony Sipp who are both eligible for arbtration. It doesn't appear that the bullpen will require a complete overhaul, but a few new faces might be a good idea. The D'Backs can look into hard-throwing free agents like Jesse Crain to help build a better bridge to Ziegler.
One of the Diamondbacks' lesser priorities this season will be to address the backup catcher situation. Wil Nieves gave Arizona better offense than expected in 2013 (.297/.320/.369 in 206 plate apperances), but he wasn't sharp defensively. If the Pirates don't retain John Buck, he could be a more stabilizing force behind the plate in support of Miguel Montero.
Ultimately, the D'Backs probably aren't headed for a major overhaul this winter, but they'll look at add a few key pieces to their talented roster. With a bit of good health and good luck, Arizona can keep the Dodgers out of their pool in 2014.
Royals Willing To Listen On Billy Butler
The Royals are ready to listen on offers for Billy Butler this winter, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter). The designated hitter/first baseman is owed $8MM in 2014, and the Royals hold a $12.5MM club option with a $1MM on Butler for the 2015 season.
Butler, 27, hit .289/.374/.412 with 15 homers this season and played in all 162 games. It was a step back from what the Royals were used to seeing from the slugger – he had a career .300/.362/.468 slash line heading into 2013 and belted a career-high 29 homers in 2012.
Kansas City could find a limited market for Butler this offseason as he is probably better suited for the American League and has a good amount of money left on his deal over the next two years. The slugger known as Country Breakfast drew interest from the Mariners and Orioles last winter.
Quick Hits: Rockies, Abreu, Tigers, Dodgers
The Rockies placed multiple bids on Jose Dariel Abreu and while its not known how close they came to matching the White Sox's six-year, $68MM offer, it gives an interesting window into their offseason intentions, writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Abreu might have been out of their price range, but a hitter like free agent Justin Morneau, who is on their radar, wouldn't be. Here's more from around baseball..
- Now that their 2013 season is over, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) offers some suggestions for how the Tigers can take the next step forward this winter. The first step will be addressing some tough questions with free agents including Joaquin Benoit and Jhonny Peralta, who says that he'd like to return to Detroit.
- An international scout from the National League said the price paid for Abreu seems a little steep, write Colleen Kane and Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. Meanwhile, the White Sox like that they don't have to give up draft picks as they might for a major league free agent or prospects in a trade.
- It was reported that MLB is looking into Magic Johnson's comments that the Dodgers won't pursue free agent second baseman Robinson Cano, but Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets that they aren't viewing it too harshly. Had the comments been made by Stan Kasten or someone in baseball operations, it'd be a different story.
- The Red Sox's success this year is a reminder that, sometimes, finding the right fits for your team is more important than star power, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.