By Tim Dierkes | at
Despite published reports to the contrary, Tracy Ringolsby says the Tigers and Orioles are considering extending a spring training invite to Juan Gonzalez. He adds that despite Bill Stoneman’s denial, the Angels had scouts watching Gonzalez in Puerto Rico this winter.
Now let us all sit back and wait for those three clubs to re-deny interest. It’s funny to me that the clubs even felt compelled to comment on the rumor in the first place.
By Tim Dierkes | at
It was bound to happen sooner or later – Igor, aka Juan Gonzalez, is attempting another return to the Majors. Published reports in Puerto Rico named the Angels, Tigers, and Orioles as interested parties. Update: the Orioles aren’t interested after all. And the Tigers denying interest as well. Ah, there we go – the Angels are not pursuing him. That was awesome – each team systematically denied any interest in Gonzalez within a few days of the rumor surfacing.
The slimmed-down Gonzalez spent last year in the Atlantic League and he’s currently playing in the Caribbean Series. Baseball Prospectus’s Derek Jacques reports:
"Juan Gonzalez makes the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz look nimble and flexible. Watching him run the bases, I constantly expected to hear a loud snapping sound followed by a trail of body parts. Igor still has the long looping swing, but his bat speed isn’t where he can really turn on Dessens’ heat in the third. He’s trying to cheat, and it just isn’t working."
Last year, Gonzalez was said to be in the best condition of his life and supposedly drew interest from the Cubs, White Sox, Red Sox, Athletics, and Rockies.
By Tim Dierkes | at
It was bound to happen sooner or later – Igor, aka Juan Gonzalez, is attempting another return to the Majors. Published reports in Puerto Rico named the Angels, Tigers, and Orioles as interested parties. Update: the Orioles aren’t interested after all. And the Tigers denying interest as well. Ah, there we go – the Angels are not pursuing him. That was awesome – each team systematically denied any interest in Gonzalez within a few days of the rumor surfacing.
The slimmed-down Gonzalez spent last year in the Atlantic League and he’s currently playing in the Caribbean Series. Baseball Prospectus’s Derek Jacques reports:
"Juan Gonzalez makes the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz look nimble and flexible. Watching him run the bases, I constantly expected to hear a loud snapping sound followed by a trail of body parts. Igor still has the long looping swing, but his bat speed isn’t where he can really turn on Dessens’ heat in the third. He’s trying to cheat, and it just isn’t working."
Last year, Gonzalez was said to be in the best condition of his life and supposedly drew interest from the Cubs, White Sox, Red Sox, Athletics, and Rockies.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Here’s a new one: the Rockies approached the Orioles several weeks ago to try to interest them in Todd Helton. The Orioles balked when the Rockies suggested they pay a significant portion of Helton’s insane contract.
Surely the Orioles realized they’d have to pay at least $30MM over the next five years.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Here’s a new one: the Rockies approached the Orioles several weeks ago to try to interest them in Todd Helton. The Orioles balked when the Rockies suggested they pay a significant portion of Helton’s insane contract.
Surely the Orioles realized they’d have to pay at least $30MM over the next five years.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Aside from the aforementioned Roger Clemens tidbit, Nick Cafardo’s recent Boston Globe column is packed with interesting info. A brief summary follows.
Cafardo believes the Red Sox will add one more reliever and then sort out the closer situation in spring. The Cordero, Lidge, and Gonzalez talks didn’t go anywhere. The idea of returning to Jon Papelbon, on the other hand, makes a lot of sense and isn’t out of the question. Failing that, Julian Tavarez could be the favorite. Shaky alternatives (Brendan Donnelly, Mike Timlin, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen) abound.
A source told Cafardo that Matt Clement wants to prove everyone wrong and could be throwing by springtime. Maybe he just wants to cash in after his walk year. Clement had rotator cuff surgery at the end of September.
Rodrigo Lopez has gotten interest from five teams. A move to St. Louis or somewhere like that could help him quite a bit.
Carl Everett and Sammy Sosa may need to play in the independent leagues to convince some team to give them a shot. Two of baseball’s finest role models, right there.
Mark Mulder is still looking at the Cards, Rangers, and Indians for his options. The Tribe has offered two years and $8MM with another $7MM in incentives. The Rangers offer less than $8MM guaranteed but a possible package of $18.75MM instead of $15MM.
The Giants would still like to recruit David Wells despite their signing of Barry Zito. Such a move would push Jonathan Sanchez to the bullpen. The Phillies, Padres, Diamondbacks, and Mets may also be interested in Wells.
By Tim Dierkes | at
UPDATE: The Sun says the deal is done for three years and $20MM. Not a bad price.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles have offered Aubrey Huff a contract in the neighborhood of three years and $18 million. Discussions with Craig Wilson have quieted, as the O’s don’t intend to sign both.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles are still in talks with the representatives for Craig Wilson and Aubrey Huff. I assume they only want one of the two, as a team can only hold so many 1B/DH/OF types.
The O’s have previously been linked to Adam LaRoche, Ben Broussard, Richie Sexson, Chris Shelton, and Carlos Pena. They’ve also attended Shannon Stewart’s workout; there’s speculation he’d be limited to a DH-type role as well.
By Tim Dierkes | at
The AP is reporting that the Braves and Orioles have discussed a straight-up swap of Adam LaRoche for Brian Roberts. They further indicate that Mark Loretta’s agent has spoken to Baltimore; he could replace Roberts at 2B.
LaRoche’s power numbers would benefit from a switch to Camden Yards, though not significantly. Turner Field suppresses home runs for left-handed hitters by about 11% while Camden suppresses them by around 4%. The figures come courtesy of the Bill James Handbook.
LaRoche turned 27 recently and offers three full years of service time. Roberts turned 29 this year and has two years of service time left. LaRoche made $420,000 in ’06 while Roberts made $3.075MM. According to WARP, LaRoche was worth 6.2 wins in 2006 and Roberts 4.7. Fan favorite or not, the O’s should swap Roberts for LaRoche if given the chance.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Last night, the Orioles reached a verbal agreement with 34 year-old Jay Payton to man left field. It’s a very Orioles move – miss out on all the big fish, gotta sign some kind of warm body. The deal is for two years and $9.75MM.
While that may be an OK price, this is left field in the American League we’re talking about. You have to hit .280/.347/.449 to earn a C grade. Payton hasn’t posted an OBP that high since Colorado in ’03; he may be capable of slugging .449.
This type of signing frustrates me, as it doesn’t indicate any sort of coherent plan. At least with the Cubs, they are going all in for 2007. They might not have the right hand with which to do so but they have made a decision and are acting on it. That’s rare in Cubdom. But the O’s remain the same – a mix of promising youth and mediocre vets that will probably earn them fourth place.
Baltimore’s outfield is now set with Payton in left, Corey Patterson in center, and Nick Markakis in right. Overall, it looks decent.
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