Hoffman Close To Re-Signing With Brewers
11:37pm: A bit more detail from SI's Jon Heyman, via Twitter:
Hoffman will be returning to the Brewers. Deal for about $8MM expected to be done within a week.
6:53pm: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Milwaukee and closer Trevor Hoffman have already begun discussing a return in 2010. Hoffman, who is coming off of a one-year deal worth $6MM, said that the two sides were "pretty close" to an accord. MLB.com's Adam McCalvy believes the deal will include some kind of 2011 option.
The likely future-hall-of-famer posted 8.0 K/9 along with an ERA of 1.70 this season – his best ERA since 1998.
Hoffman's deal will likely be a short one as he turns 42 next Tuesday. If he does re-sign with the Brewers, it will certainly weaken the pool of available closers this winter.
Discussion: What Late Additions Could Have Big Playoff Impact?
With the 2009 postseason picture nearly in place, it's time to identify some of the late-season pickups that can make a huge splash in this year's playoffs.
In 2002, the Angels may not have won the championship without the help of a young pitcher by the name of Francisco Rodriguez. Because of multiple injuries to their bullpen, the Angels called up the 22-year-old in mid-September. Rodriguez was able to pitch in just five regular season games for the club before being thrown into the postseason fire. The hard-throwing righty responded to the pressure beautifully, posting an ERA of 1.93 and fanning 28 batters in just 18.2 innings.
Here are some of the key late-season additions by playoff-bound squads:
- Scott Kazmir has posted an ERA of 1.73 since being acquired by the Angels in late August. The 25-year-old southpaw is slated to start the third game of the ALDS against Boston.
- The Yankees acquired pitcher Chad Gaudin from the Padres in August. Gaudin proved to be a valuable addition as he posted a 3.43 ERA in 42 IP as both a reliever and a starter. If Gaudin makes the playoff roster, it will be as a reliever. Along with deadline acquisition Jerry Hairston Jr., Gaudin will have to wait until Wednesday for confirmation that he will be on the postseason roster.
- When the Cardinals claimed John Smoltz off of waivers in August, no one was sure if the future-hall-of-famer had much to offer after an unsuccessful stint in Boston in which he posted an ERA over 8. However, Smoltz appears to be turning things around in St. Louis as he has posted a 4.26 ERA, 2.1 BB/9 and 9.5 K/9 in seven starts for the NL Central division champs.
- Alex Gonzalez has given a boost to the Red Sox after coming over from Cincinnati in an August trade, as he has played well in the field while posting a slash line of .285/.318/.438 in 43 games.
- Jason Giambi has thrived in his new role as a pinch hitter for the Rockies, who signed the slugger on August 23rd. In 18 games with Colorado, Giambi hit .350/.519/.700. It's safe to say that this year's NL wild-card winners will carry Giambi on the playoff roster.
- The Dodgers acquired pitcher Jon Garland via an intra-divisional trade on August 31st. Prior to that, they signed Rangers-castoff Vincente Padilla to fill-in for Hiroki Kuroda after a comebacker to the mound took him out of action. It is probable that both Padilla and Garland will find themselves on the Dodgers' playoff roster. One or both could land themselves a start in the NLDS with Kuroda shelved once-again – this time to recover from a neck injury.
- Speaking of the Dodgers, late-season acquisitions Jim Thome and Ronnie Belliard should find themselves on the playoff roster.
What other playoff-bound players added to the big league roster after the trade deadline could be poised to have a memorable postseason?
Odds & Ends: Cubs, Indians, Draft Order
Let's take a look around the web on this Sunday evening:
- Cubs manager Lou Piniella says that Ryne Sandberg will be "in the mix" to succeed him as Cubs skipper, according to Andrew Simon of MLB.com. Sandberg is the manager of Chicago's Double-A affiliate and could get consideration as soon as 2011 if Piniella does not ink a new deal.
- Speaking of the Cubs, the Associated Press reports that hitting coach Von Joshua will not return to the team next year but has been invited to fill a similar role for the Triple-A affiliate. Sullivan identifies Sandberg as a possible replacement for Joshua, although GM Jim Hendry declined to name names.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Indians general manager Mark Shapiro wants to appoint the club's next manager by the end of the World Series. Hoynes says that while Cleveland's list of candidates includes some people who are already in-house, Eric Wedge's replacement will likely come from outside of the organization.
- Via twitter, ESPN's Keith Law runs down the 2010 MLB Draft order. Law also notes that spots 9-11 could change.
- Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron, who is a free agent this offseason, suffered a minor concussion when he hit his head diving for a ball in the sixth inning of the season finale, writes Adam McCalvy of Brew Beat. Cameron says that he has had several concussions during the course of his career but assured reporters that he'll "be fine."
Chone Figgins Too Pricey For White Sox?
Recently, the South Side of Chicago has been identified as a logical destination for Angels third baseman Chone Figgins as he heads into free agency. However, manager Ozzie Guillen doesn't envision the 31-year-old utility player fitting into the White Sox' budget, reports Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Cowley says that in 2010 high-priced pick-up Alex Rios will take over in center field and Carlos Quentin will move from left to right in place of Jermaine Dye, whose $12MM option is not likely to be picked up. This leaves one spot open, which could be solved by signing Figgins or retaining Scott Podsednik, who Guillen would "love" to have back.
Podsednik played a slightly below average left field this season, posting a UZR/150 of -3.4 at the position. Figgins, meanwhile, hasn't played the outfield regularly since 2006.
Can Figgins be had for less than $10MM per year in a depressed economy?
Cubs Might Not Trade Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley could be back with the Cubs in 2010, reports Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. In a session with reporters in which he characterized this season as "disappointing", GM Jim Hendry left open the possibility of the troubled outfielder staying put this winter:
"You deal with the cards you have now," Hendry said. "Right now, he's still a member of the Cubs…Until people come or go, you have to play the cards you have now."
Recently, it has been reported that the Padres could reunite with the 31-year-old. The Royals and Rangers, on the other hand, are not interested in dealing for Bradley. In a radio interview, Lou Piniella hinted that Bradley would don another uniform next season.
Bradley is owed $21MM over the next two years and the Cubs would likely have to swallow a portion of his contract in a trade. Does it make more sense for the Cubs to try and iron things out with the right fielder who is only one year removed from back-to-back ~1.000 OPS seasons, or is he simply not worth the trouble? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments section.
Odds & Ends: Marlins, Molina, Cueto, Astros
Let's check out some links to cap off the afternoon:
- Marlins president David Samson says that he is not aware of any talks with Bobby Valentine, according to Dan Gelston of the Associated Press. Current manager Fredi Gonzalez is signed through 2011. Gordon Edes of Yahoo Sports reports that Samson would not dispel speculation that Gonzalez' job may be in jeopardy.
- Bengie Molina wants to remain in San Francisco, writes Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. Molina is seeking a raise from the $6MM he made this season in a two-year pact. Baggarly says that the Giants are going to ask for a lower base, as the 35-year-old is likely to catch less games as time progresses. The article names Ramon Hernandez and Jason Kendall as veteran catchers who could replace Molina if he is not retained. Molina projects as a Type A free agent.
- As the season comes to a close, players are looking ahead to the prospect of playing winter ball. After logging 171.1 IP this season, the Reds are considering keeping Johnny Cueto from playing in the Dominican Republic, reports MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Meanwhile, the Mets' Bobby Parnell would prefer not to play winter ball after going through the grind of his first full big league season, writes Marty Noble of MLB.com. Manager Jerry Manuel says that not pitching in winter ball will not effect his candidacy as a starter for the Mets next season.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday posted selections from his Sunday Insider column. Davidoff says that Jim Fregosi – who worked with Houston GM Ed Wade in Philadelphia – appears to be a candidate for the Astros managerial position. Recently, Wade said that he doesn't expect Craig Biggio or Jeff Bagwell to become the team's next manager.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes via Twitter, "I will be very surprised if Rick Peterson is not the Brewers' next pitching coach. He appears to be the leading candidate by far."
- Haudricourt also tweets that Ryan Braun wants the club to capitalize on their "small window…to win"
Reds Report: Volquez, Bruce, Gomes
To put it mildly, this has been a rough year for Reds fans. Edinson Volquez had the Cincinnati faithful buzzing after posting a 3.21 ERA with 9.5 K/9 in his first full season in 2008. After logging just nine starts in the 2009 campaign, Volquez needed surgery to repair damage in his right elbow. The Reds faded fast as their depleted staff wasn't getting much of a lift from their sagging offense. Injuries to Joey Votto and Edwin Encarnacion (prior to being dealt to Toronto) certainly didn't do them any favors.
However, if the team's recent performance is any indication of what lies ahead, Reds fans might have something to cheer about in 2010. Dusty Baker's squad has gone 19-11 since September 1st, thanks in part to stronger pitching (3.39 team ERA) and the return of Jay Bruce, who missed two months with a broken wrist.
Buster Olney, Baseball Prospectus and the ESPN Insider staff compiled a glance at this past season and what to expect next year in Cincy. An ESPN Insider account is needed to read the article, but here are the brass tacks for those without:
- It's no secret that the Reds don't have a top-flight budget. They opened this season with a payroll of $73MM and owner Bob Castellini isn't going to "go all Steinbrenner" and tack-on much more.
- Further exacerbating their financial woes are their pricey commitments to Bronson Arroyo, Francisco Cordero, Aaron Harang and Scott Rolen. Combined, these four players are owed $46.5 million next season.
- Olney says that considering their lack of flexibility this offseason, Homer Bailey might be their best chance for improvement as he recorded a 2.41 ERA in September. The velocity that made Bailey such a highly-coveted prospect has returned, with his fastball being clocked at an average of 94.5 MPH this year. This is a big step-up from his previous big league work and could spell an even bigger jump in 2010.
- Baseball Prospectus says that their "acceptable" rate of 4.5 runs allowed per game is due in part to their much-improved defense. It will be interesting to see if defensive-minded yet weak-hitting shortstop Paul Janish will be the Reds' starter next season. Manager Dusty Baker said on Friday that a "definitive decision" hasn't been made yet.
- Jay Jaffe of Baseball Prospectus notes that the combined efforts of all Reds batting in the top two lineup spots resulted in a slash line of .245/.301/.354. When Willy Taveras hit the DL in August, Dusty Baker put rookie Drew Stubbs and the aforementioned Janish at the top of the order. The team has gone 27-15 since then, but Jaffe attributes most of the credit for that to the improved performance of the pitching staff.
- The "Rumor Central" portion of the piece encourages Reds fans that are anxious to see the team acquire a big bat to consider what the offense is capable of if they are healthy. Injury-free seasons from Bruce and Votto should give Cincinnati a major boost.
- The report says to expect the Reds to tender Jonny Gomes an offer as he is arbitration-eligible. This should come as no surprise as Gomes has belted 20 HRs in 311 plate appearances while posting .266/.338/.540.
- Jaffe says that Jocketty could deal Arroyo or Harang to give the team room to make a mid-level signing this winter. He adds, "…It's difficult to envision this team breaking out of the middle of the pack without keen vision and bold steps."
Scott Podsednik Will Explore Free-Agency
Scott Podsednik wants to return to the White Sox next season but will test the market, reports Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Podsednik says that he will look for counsel from his representation as he is new to the process.
Posting .306/.355/.415 in 583 plate appearances with Chicago in 2009, Podsednik proved to be one of the best minor league deals of the year. After logging significant time at both left and center field, Podsednik is sure to garner some attention this winter.
Fangraphs estimates the Texas native's 2009 value to be $7.2MM. It's difficult to ascertain what Scotty Pods will fetch on the open market as he will turn 34 in March.
How much would you fork over to sign Podsednik? Would a team in need of a solid lead-off bat overpay for his services? Your thoughts in the comments.
Odds & Ends: Blue Jays, Towers, Pirates, Mets
Here are some links to kick off Sunday morning:
- Some Blue Jays players approached CEO and President Paul Beeston with complaints about Cito Gaston, reports Ken Fidlin of the Toronto Sun. “They raised the issues,” said Beeston. “They were listened to. They have not been addressed at this time. I had my ears open. I kept my mouth shut. I gave them some comments and that’s all I want to say about that.”
- Jordan Bastian of MLB.com writes that newly appointed Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos was emotional in his introductory presser. The article notes that the position of president and CEO will be filled soon, relieving the interim hire, Paul Beeston. Beeston says that while the next president and CEO will have the authority to hire its own staff, he will recommend that Anthopoulos remain as GM.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that Kevin Towers didn't deserve to get fired considering all the obstacles he has had to work around in San Diego.
- Towers conducted a farewell press conference in San Diego and Craig Elsten of 619sports.net posted some key sound bytes. Towers insisted that the organization maintained a strong focus on scouting and player development under his watch. He also said that he has been contacted by seven or eight other teams to work immediately, but wants to take some time off before jumping into another job. The 47-year-old made it known that he wants the opportunity to be a GM again. Also available are team owner and CEO Jeff Moorad's post-podium comments.
- The Pirates have talked to Andy LaRoche about possibly moving from third base to second next year to make room for Pedro Alvarez, writes Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Pirates would like to call-up Alvarez by the middle of the 2010 season, but first he must improve his strength and conditioning. The 22-year-old excelled after his mid-season promotion to AA, posting .333/.419/.590 with 13 HR in 60 games.
- More from Kovacevic as he labels the Pirates' trade of Nate McLouth to the Braves to be the worst personnel move of the year. Kovacevic says the deal hurt the players' trust in Pittsburgh management and was a poor public relations decision.
- Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post tweets, "Jerry Manuel was in meetings all morning and said he expects an announcement tomorrow on changes and the team's offseason plans."
- Jon Heyman reports via Twitter that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria refused to comment on a possible manager change. Recent reports suggest that Fredi Gonzalez could be on the way out and Bobby Valentine could be on the way in.
Brewers Will Bring Back Macha Next Season
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Ken Macha will return as the Brewers' skipper in 2010. On top of that, GM Doug Melvin added an option for 2011 to Macha's contract to ensure that he will not return as a "lame duck."
Melvin did not extend contract offers to two members of the Milwaukee coaching staff – interim pitching coach Chris Bosio and bullpen coach Stan Kyles. However, the two could return to the organization, perhaps even in their present roles.
Bench coach Willie Randolph, hitting coach Dale Sveum, third base coach Brad Fischer and first base coach Ed Sedar were all invited back. Randolph says that he will pursue managerial openings that he is interested in this offseason but otherwise looks forward to another year with the Brewers.
Was the team's lackluster performance this year Macha's fault or was it the result of injuries? Do you agree with bringing Macha back and tacking on an option for '11? Your thoughts in the comments.