Quick Hits: Red Sox, Dodgers, Peavy, Bauer
Sunday night linkage..
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter) wonders if the Red Sox might pursue pitching for the final stretch, even though anyone acquired wouldn't be eligible for the postseason.
- Surprisingly, patience seems to be the new trend in baseball when it comes to GMs, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. This morning, the Pirates announced that they have extended GM Neal Huntington's contract through 2014.
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said yesterday that the club won't undergo any major changes this winter and Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times is less-than-enthused.
- The White Sox are shutting down starter Jake Peavy in hopes that rest will help the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner return to full strength next year, according to the Associated Press. Peavy underwent shoulder surgery on July 14, 2010 and the right-hander posted a 4.92 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9.
- The Diamondbacks might promote top prospects Trevor Bauer and Jarrod Parker to experience the playoff race as they prepare for 2012, tweets Peter Gammons of the MLB Network.
Poll: Pirates Extension Of Neal Huntington
This morning, the Pirates announced that they extended GM Neal Huntington's contract through 2014 with a club option for 2015. In his four years on the job, the Bucs' farm system has gotten an infusion of talent and the club has shown that they are willing to spend on the draft. Most recently, the Pirates gave sizeable deals right-hander Gerrit Cole and outfielder Josh Bell. Pittsburgh also saw success on the major league level as they briefly sat atop the NL Central in late July before a slide in August.
While it appears that the club is headed in the right direction, the Pirates' record in three full seasons under Huntington's watch has been 186-299. Unless they practically run the table to close out the season, this year will mark the team's 19th consecutive losing campaign.
All things considered, do you agree with the Pirates three-year extension of Huntington's contract?
Do You Agree With Huntington's Three Year Extension?
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Yes 70% (3,233)
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No 30% (1,376)
Total votes: 4,609
MLBTR Originals
Here's a look back at the original content we published this week at MLBTR …
- Mike Axisa took a look at the impending free agency of Rays first baseman Casey Kotchman.
- We're all about player movement here at MLBTR but Ben Nicholson-Smith ran down the five non-moves that shaped the 2011 season.
- Ben Nicholson-Smith spoke to Yankees scouting director and GM candidate Damon Oppenheimer.
- The Arbitration Eligibles series continued with posts on the Tigers, White Sox, Indians, and Twins.
- Twenty position players and ten starting pitchers face contractual options this winter and Tim Dierkes laid out his predictions for all of them.
- We collected the best baseball analysis from around the web in our weekly edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
- Orioles slugger Luke Scott will probably be in line for another one-year, $6.4MM contract next season but Tim Dierkes says that the 33-year-old could be a non-tender candidate.
- Francisco Cordero's $12MM 2012 club option is very likely to be declined and Dan Mennella explained why that's the case.
- It's a safe bet that Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder will command the biggest contracts on the open market this winter. Plenty of clubs will be in the mix but there are 15 clubs that probably won't go after either slugger, says Ben Nicholson-Smith.
- If you missed our weekly chat, you can check out the transcript right here.
- On Monday, we ran down the top free agent at each position.
- Plenty of clubs fell short of expectations this season, but according to MLBTR readers the Twins were the biggest bust with nearly 23% of the vote. The White Sox finished in a close second with almost 18%.
- Heading into this offseason, it looks like the Braves will have a surplus of starting pitching to work with.
Rosenthal On Wright, Showalter, Sizemore
Let's take a look at the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- There are conflicting signals over the Mets' willingness to deal David Wright. They've turned away suitors and the subject has hardly come up in internal discussions. However, others in baseball think the club will look to deal Wright if they re-sign Jose Reyes. Wright's club option for 2013 becomes void if he's dealt, making him a free agent after next season.
- Orioles owner Peter Angelos is willing to give Buck Showalter virtually anything that he wants. Sources tell Rosenthal that Angelos has told the skipper that he can stay on as manager while assuming the role of General Manager. The club will have to work out Andy MacPhail's siutation before making any moves.
- The chances of a new labor agreement being struck by the World Series seem to be diminishing. Things are tough to handicap as things can pick up at anytime, but the two sides are very far apart on the draft. The owners want hard slotting and a worldwide draft which would be a difficult undertaking. Of course, free agent compensation, the luxury tax, and revenue sharing are also among the chief topics of discussion.
- Grady Sizemore's future with the Indians might hinge on how he performs in the final weeks of the season. The Tribe holds a 8.5MM option on Sizemore for 2012 but they'll be reluctant to exercise it on a player who hasn't played much recently. One potential solution would be a contract extension with a lower base salary but the outfielder might prefer to test the open market.
NL West Notes: Giants, Dipoto, Zito, Rockies
Let's take a look at a few items out of the NL West..
- This winter, the Giants will have 13 players eligible for salary arbitration and seven players hitting free agency. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle peered into his crystal ball to predict which players would return to the club in 2012.
- Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports gives credit to Diamondbacks exec Jerry Dipoto for his role in the club's success. The former interim general manager could have looked for another GM gig after the position was given to Kevin Towers last year, but he instead chose to be a company man. Recently, Tim Dierkes spoke to Dipoto about his career in baseball and his future aspirations.
- If all goes well, it looks like Giants pitcher Barry Zito will soon be activated and will get the chance to show the club where he stands, tweets Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News. Recently, Giants skipper Bruce Bochy admitted that he wasn't sure where the lefty fits into the team's long-term plans.
- Given their other needs, Troy Renck of The Denver Post (via Twitter) expects the Rockies to wait another year to address their first base situation.
Blue Jays Release Brian Tallet
The Blue Jays have released left-hander Brian Tallet, according to their team transactions page. Toronto designated Tallet for assignment on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after surrendering a walk-off win to the Orioles.
That outing against the O's was Tallet's only appearance for the Blue Jays in 2011 after coming over from the Cardinals. The reliever was shelved with a broken left hand and then a right intercostal strain. In nine big league seasons, Tallet owns a 4.79 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9.
Marlins Designate Alfredo Amezaga For Assignment
The Marlins have designated Alfredo Amezaga for assignment, according to Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post (via Twitter). The 33-year-old had an OPS of just .345 in 20 games with the Marlins.
Florida acquired Amezaga from the Rockies roughly a month ago for minor league infielder Jesus Merchan. At the time, the veteran was excited to get another chance with his former club, but the reunion was short-lived. Amezaga played four seasons for the Marlins from 2006 through 2009.
NL Central Notes: Barmes, Cardinals, Cubs, Garza
Let's take a look at some news out of the NL Central, where the Brewers hold a comfortable 10.5 game lead over St. Louis..
- Astros shortstop Clint Barmes is facing free agency this offseason for the first time in his career and would like to return to the club, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. General Manager Ed Wade thinks so highly of Barmes that he was not made available at the trade deadline.
- The Cardinals can't find room on the 40-man roster for Nick Stavinoha, who is headed for minor league free agency, writes Matthew Leach of MLB.com. It appears likely that the outfielder will wind up elsewhere given the lack of openings in the organization.
- Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com examines last winter's Matt Garza trade to see if the Cubs or Rays came out on top in the deal. The eight-player trade sent Garza, Fernando Perez, and Zach Rosscup to Chicago for Sam Fuld, Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos, and Hak-Ju Lee. Ultimately, Mooney thinks that the trade benefited both parties.
AL Central Notes: White Sox, Guillen, Tigers, Royals
Let's take a look at a few items out of the American League Central division..
- It's time for the White Sox to move on from Ozzie Guillen and work out a deal with the Marlins for him, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Guillen has long been linked to the Fish and it's unlikely that octogenarian Jack McKeon will return next season.
- The Tigers appear to be the biggest trade deadline winners so far, writes Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. Since joining the Tigs, right-hander Doug Fister has a 2.97 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 0.5 BB/9 in six starts.
- In today's mailbag, a reader asks Baseball America's Jim Callis if the Royals will still have a top ten farm system in 2012 after several players made their major league debuts this season. Callis says that despite spending $14.1MM on the draft this year, Kansas City might not have more than four prospects in BA's top 100 next season, putting them outside of the top ten.
Hideki Okajima Pondering Retirement
Reliever Hideki Okajima, currently pitching for Boston's Triple-A affiliate, says that his future beyond this season is up in the air, writes Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal. Okajima will consider his options, including retirement.
"I don't know what I'm going to be doing next season," Okajima said through an interpreter. "I might retire. I might go back to Japan. I might be over here again. I'm not really sure. I just have to see where the offseason takes me once I get there."
After being clearing waivers and accepting a Triple-A assignment in May, the veteran said that he would like to be traded. In 34 appearances for the Pawtucket Red Sox this season, Okajima has a 2.29 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9.