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Jonathan Mayo Projects The Top Ten Picks

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MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo admits it’s too early, but still takes a stab at projecting the first ten picks of the June draft.  Here’s what he’s come up with:

1. Rays – Buster Posey, C.
2. Pirates – Pedro Alvarez, 3B.
3. Royals – Eric Hosmer, 1B. 
4. Orioles – Brian Matusz, LHP.
5. Giants – Tim Beckham, SS.
6. Marlins – Kyle Skipworth, C.
7. Reds – Aaron Crow, RHP.
8. White Sox – Gordon Beckham, SS.
9. Nationals – Justin Smoak, 1B.
10. Astros – Tanner Scheppers, RHP.

Interesting note from Mayo: he’s hearing that the Orioles are leaning toward a college player.  Mayo has also heard buzz that the Marlins "have been all over Skipworth."  Read Mayo’s column – it’s a nice blend of inside info and educated guesses.  What do you think about this mock top ten?

Also, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune has some White Sox draft tidbits.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Lidge, Daniel Cabrera, Bonds, Edmonds

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.  I put the Griffey info in a separate post; let’s discuss the rest.

  • Rosenthal suggests that Brad Lidge would be harder to replace than Pat Burrell, and for that reason the Phillies will make a bigger effort to re-sign him.  I imagine Phillies fans would prefer that course of action.  The problem?  The Phillies have little chance of offering four years, according to Jayson Stark.
  • The Rangers will face a delicate situation in coming years: moving Michael Young to a different position.  The chain reaction could make Hank Blalock available.  Blalock has a club option for ’09 at $6.2MM.
  • Aside from Rick Porcello replacing Kenny Rogers at some point, the questionable Detroit rotation is set and signed through 2010.
  • One scout seems to think Daniel Cabrera has turned the corner and shouldn’t be traded.  He’ll become a free agent after the 2010 season and earns $2.875MM this year.
  • Though it might be seen as a desperation move, the Tigers don’t have much to lose by signing Barry Bonds.  Gary Sheffield endorsed it.
  • Rosenthal says the Rays and Jays are teams with "possible interest" in Jim Edmonds but are likely to pass.  That leaves the Cubs.
  • Will Jason Giambi find a job next year after the Yankees decline his option?  He plans to try.
  • The Red Sox asked about Mark Loretta during Spring Training as "infield insurance."  Rosenthal suggests the Sox consider Omar Vizquel, a defensive upgrade over Julio Lugo.

Odds and Ends: Bay, Roberts, Cliff Lee

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And here we have some random links I’ve collected over the past day or so.

Stark’s Latest: Griffey, Daniel Cabrera, Lidge

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark has a new column up; it’s a must-read.

  • Stark examines the impact of ten deals made last offseason; check it out.
  • Because of last year’s surprise playoff clubs, teams may wait extra long this year before throwing in the towel and trading veterans.
  • As Peter Gammons has noted, Ken Griffey Jr.’s 2009 option will be an impediment in dealing him.  Even if the Reds find a suitor Griffey will probably want that $16.5MM guaranteed for ’09.
  • Daniel Cabrera will be available again this summer.  The Orioles should trade him as soon as possible; the .213 BABIP and 1.62 K/BB ratio indicate that his 3.54 ERA is a fluke.
  • The Royals will have pitching to spare this summer, with guys like Ron Mahay, Jimmy Gobble, and Brett Tomko on the block.  Might make sense to shop Gil Meche, too.
  • The Phillies may want to explore an extension with impending free agent Brad Lidge before season’s end.  Three years might be their max, though.  The extension subject has not yet been broached with Pat Burrell.

Heyman On Teixeira

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Jon Heyman’s latest column does a fine job analyzing Mark Teixeira’s future.  To sum it up:

  • Heyman’s source expects the asking price to be around ten years and $200MM.  Personally, I don’t see him getting a term nearly that long.
  • Heyman and his sources do not see the Braves re-signing Tex.
  • The suitors, in order of likelihood: Yankees, Mets, Orioles, Mariners, Braves, Red Sox, Giants.  A battle of the New York powers is a reasonable prediction – both clubs should have first base open and the market for the position is otherwise poor.
  • In a February MLBTR poll, the Yankees were picked as Tex’s most likely future club.

Rockies Sign Juan Castro

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FRIDAY: The Rockies win the Castro sweepstakes.  Ken Rosenthal notes in a sidebar that the silver lining to the Tulo injury could be Barmes getting a chance to build up trade value.  Rosenthal doesn’t see the Rox pursuing Brian Roberts for second base help unless they battle their way into contention first. 

THURSDAY: Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News has been all over the Juan Castro situation.  The 35 year-old shortstop became a free agent today, and four clubs are in pursuit.  The Dodgers, Padres, Orioles, and Rockies are all after him.  Jackson says the Dodgers and Rockies would want him to do a brief Triple A stint.  Troy E. Renck confirms Colorado’s interest.

The Rockies received devastating news today – star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki could be out until July with a torn tendon in his quad.  Clint Barmes will assume the starting shortstop position.

O’s Not Planning Long-Term Deals For Markakis, Jones

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Interesting note from Buster Olney’s blog today:

Most major-league teams are working to sign their best young players to multi-year deals. But right now, the Orioles’ internal philosophy is to wait for at least three years before discussing a multi-year deal with the likes of Adam Jones and Nick Markakis.

Surprising, isn’t it?  If the Orioles eschew long-term deals, their best players will be much more expensive when the team is ready to compete.  Markakis, their star player, will be up for arbitration after this season.  Maybe he won’t get the $10MM Ryan Howard did, but $7MM seems reasonable.  There were already rumblings that Markakis was angered by this year’s $55K raise.

Corey, Aquino Designated

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The Red Sox designated reliever Bryan Corey for assignment today to make room for Mike Lowell.  Also, the Orioles designated reliever Greg Aquino.

Corey, 34, has decent big league stats in 53 career innings but could never hold a job.  Aquino, 30, has been done in by home runs, walks, and injuries in his career.    He did manage to close for the D’Backs in ’04.

Gammons’ Latest: Crisp, Piazza, Wells

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ESPN’s Peter Gammons has a new blog post up.

  • Peter Angelos might put the kibosh on any Brian Roberts trade.
  • The Red Sox apparently wouldn’t mind shipping Coco Crisp to the Cubs for Sean Gallagher and another prospect.  The Sox might hope Crisp is the Cubs’ backup plan to Roberts. 
  • Gammons says Tommy Lasorda suggested the Dodgers consider Mike Piazza as a backup catcher; they are not interested.  It would’ve been fun to see Piazza finish his career in L.A.
  • Another free agent, David Wells, "hasn’t gotten a sniff from any team."  It’s only April 23rd, so desperation hasn’t quite sunk in. 

Odds And Ends: Lowry, Street, Farnsworth, Roberts

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Just a few loose links for Saturday morning.

  • Billy Beane has talked to Alan Hendricks, agent for closer Huston Street, about an extension. However, they have been informal talks, with no specifics to mention. Don’t expect much movement on this front until we get deeper into the season and see where the A’s really stand.
  • Brian Roberts is relieved now that the trade rumors are dead. "I know where I’m going to be on a nightly basis now, at least," Roberts said. "It is a relief because I think everybody wants stability in their life, but I understand that doesn’t always happen. If it comes up again, I’ll deal with it."
  • Brian Sabean talked about the possibility of a six-man rotation once Noah Lowry returns to action in May. The article says that this "ensure that the youngest and most prized starters, Cain and Lincecum, are not overtaxed in a rebuilding season." But you still need them to get their innings in. Lincecum, for instance, pitched 177.1 innings last year. You’d like to get him to 200 this year, which would be difficult in a six-man rotation environment.
  • It looks like Kyle Farnsworth will be suspended for throwing at Manny Ramirez the other night. I know it’s not a transaction rumor. But won’t punishing retaliation just mean more preemptive aggression?

Posted by Joe Pawlikowski, who writes for River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog.

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