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Indians, Orioles Looking At Bay?

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We first checked in on outfielder Jason Bay back in late September.  Neal Huntington’s comments seemed to indicate Bay could be dealt.  He slumped to a surprising .746 OPS this year.

Logically the Indians would be in the mix for Bay.  He’s affordable – he makes only $13.25MM over the next two seasons.  And Huntington used to work for Tribe GM Mark Shapiro.  Marty York backs up the speculation, saying the Indians are the most interested club. 

Another interested club is the Orioles, according to Bucco Blog.  Jake mentions that teams are still trying to figure out why Bay declined in 2007.  Bay has contended his surgically repaired knee only hindered him on the basepaths and defensively, not at the plate.  A lack of passion has been suggested.  And I hate to throw it out there based only on a statistical decline, but teams may be waiting to see if Bay’s name appears in the Mitchell Report at all.

Orioles Notes: Crisp, Burnett

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The always-informed Jeff Zrebiec has a few Orioles tidbits for us.

  • The Orioles didn’t engage in conversations with agents for any free agents during the GM meetings – just trade talks with other teams (about 15 total).
  • President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said that he’s open to trading with other teams in the AL East.  He just wants the best deal. 
  • With that in mind, two Yankees who interest the Orioles are Melky Cabrera and Kyle Farnsworth.  The Yankees could employ Miguel Tejada at third base, if he’s willing.
  • The O’s could have some interest in Coco Crisp, though he’s not atop their list.  But they do need some kind of center fielder.
  • The team’s ears perked up at the availability of A.J. Burnett, even though he makes no sense for them.

Yanks Have Interest In Tejada

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The Orioles may have two third basemen to offer up this winter: Miguel Tejada and Melvin Mora.

Tejada’s mind would need to be changed – he still doesn’t want to move to third.  But the Yankees do have interest, and I can think of 13 million reasons Tejada would change his stance.  Tejada came up as part of the inclusive list I came up with the night A-Rod opted out.  The Orioles’ focus would be to acquire position players, so you’d have to think Melky Cabrera or Robinson Cano would be targeted.  Tyler Kepner adds that the Orioles would like to acquire Kyle Farnsworth in a Tejada deal.  I doubt the Yankees would have a problem with that.  The Yanks would have to make a very strong offer to convince the O’s to help their division rival.

One third baseman I didn’t include on my list was Melvin Mora.  While Mora wants to remain with Baltimore, he said yesterday that he’d consider waiving his full no-trade clause if the Orioles asked him.  They haven’t yet.  Mora’s a below average offensive third baseman, hitting .274/.341/.418 last year.  Mora will make roughly $17MM from 2008-09.  He doesn’t figure to be a hot commodity.

Will Yankees Offer Arbitration To A-Rod?

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Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus tell us not to expect the Yankees to offer arbitration with Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras.  However, Brian Cashman told Joel Sherman "of course" the Yankees would offer it, because of the two draft picks involved. 

Sherman notes that there’s a "very slim possibility" of Rodriguez accepting, and then getting a $30-40MM one-year contract as a result of the hearing.  He adds that A-Rod would lose his no-trade clause in this scenario.  This would be a great scenario for the Yankees.  Rodriguez on any kind of one-year commitment is a sweet deal, and he’d be very trade-able.  One year, $40MM is a lot easier to stomach for any team than 10 years, $300MM.

If they do offer arbitration and A-Rod declines (the most likely scenario), the Yankees will hope for one of the teams picking 16th-30th in next June’s draft to sign him.  That could be the Cubs, Tigers, Mets, Angels, or Red Sox.  In those cases the Yankees get that team’s first-round pick.  On the flip side, it would not be preferred if the Dodgers, Giants, or any other team picking 1st-15th signs him.  Those picks are protected.

Interesting A-Rod side note: one GM surveyed by Jerry Crasnick predicted A-Rod would end up with the Orioles.

White Sox Re-Sign Uribe, Out On Tejada

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According to Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 in Chicago, the White Sox have re-signed shortstop Juan Uribe at one year, $4.5MM.  That represents a 10% discount for the Sox compared to his club option.

Not coincidentally, the Sox no longer have interest in Miguel Tejada after failing to reach an accord with the O’s.  Apparently at some point Kenny Williams offered Gio Gonzalez and Jose Contreras for him and were rejected.  Gio is a pretty solid pitching prospect, and if he offered that package a year ago it may have been reasonable.  Jeff Zrebiec’s report indicates that teams will only turn to Tejada after the dust settles from Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera.  Zrebiec also adds that O’s president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail met with Phillies GM Pat Gillick yesterday, but it’s not known who was discussed.  One reader emailed me to suggest the Phils have long coveted Erik Bedard.

Ricciardi Willing To Listen On Burnett

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UPDATE, 11-7-07: This isn’t really an update.  Ricciardi kind of clarified his comments, saying that the Jays aren’t shopping Burnett.  But he never said they were in the first place.  He originally said if he was blown away, he’d trade Burnett.  The only people confused were those who didn’t closely read his original comments.

FROM 11-6-07: Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi has said something interesting things to the media in recent times, from lying to the public about B.J. Ryan’s injury to questioning A.J. Burnett’s manliness.  It’s not that his actions and opinions are astounding; it’s just odd to see a GM so publicly frank about things.

Today, Ricciardi was upfront with ESPN about the possibility of trading Burnett.  If he’s blown away by an offer, he’ll trade him.  It’s not really a groundbreaking assertion.  I imagine most GMs feel that way about most players.

In Burnett, another high impact arm enters the trade market.  His opt-out clause after the 2008 season effectively makes his contract worse than a one-year deal, as we discussed here.  Jerry Crasnick says the Cardinals, Phillies, and even Orioles are possible fits.  I could imagine the Braves, Mets, Astros, and Diamondbacks expressing interest as well.  Burnett has no-trade protection against 15 teams, so that might require compensation.  He’ll earn a reasonable $12MM in 2008.   

Orioles Will Listen On Bedard

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New Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirms what we’ve been reading for the past few months: the club will at least listen to offers for ace Erik Bedard.  He adds that the O’s have had preliminary, general extension talks with Bedard.    I imagine that if Bedard is looking for the $18-20MM per year he could get on the open market, the O’s will choose to trade him.  Two years of Bedard is at least as good as one of Johan Santana, and Bedard doesn’t have any no-trade stipulations.  He made just $3.4MM this year.

What are your thoughts on a reasonable package the O’s might get for Bedard?  The typical Matt Kemp/Clayton Kershaw speculation seems to fit here.   

MacPhail also admits that he’d prefer to have flexibility rather than all the long-term contracts the team has committed to.  He expects an active trade market, and you can bet the Orioles will be in the middle.  Miguel Tejada is likely to be dealt, especially if his name is absent from the Mitchell Report.

Rays’ Kazmir May Be Available

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The week in hot stove kicks off with a bang: Joel Sherman of the New York Post has a source saying the Devil Rays might listen to offers for ace lefty Scott Kazmir.  Kazmir turns 24 in January and carries a 3.64 career ERA despite pitching in the AL East.  He’s been particularly tough on the Red Sox (2.66 ERA in 101 innings).  You have to think that if the Yankees are entertaining making an offer for Johan Santana, they’d consider Kazmir as well if the Rays would deal within the division.

Sherman notes that Kazmir is under contract for three years as opposed to just one for Santana, which could equate the two pitchers in the marketplace.  Erik Bedard, under control for two years, has to be in that group of elite, possibly available southpaws as well.  Sherman believes the Rays would seek "multiple high-end pitchers" for Kazmir, who is entering arbitration for the first time this winter.  The Yankees could offer a package starting with Phil Hughes, but the Mets don’t seem to have the goods.  It would take a pitcher of that nature – Hughes, Yovani Gallardo, Clay Buchholz.  Otherwise, why would the Rays consider it? 

Sherman also echoes the surprising notion that Tim Lincecum could be had for the right bat.  He speculates that the Giants could pursue Carl Crawford or Delmon Young as the return.  Hey, our Delmon speculation is catching on!

Sherman indicates that the Twins may be compelled to hold onto Santana, afraid of fan backlash if they also lose Torii Hunter.  Meanwhile, another Santana, Ervin, might be had for a bat if the Angels can’t sign Alex Rodriguez.  Sherman’s sources say any club in the A-Rod sweepstakes will move slowly in the market because his contract would dictate the team’s available budget.

Also notable from Sherman’s rumor-packed column:  teams may wait for the Mitchell Report to come out before engaging in serious talks for Miguel Tejada.  I’ve read speculation that MLB could release this report soon as a way of limiting free agent spending.  Also, isn’t it about time for Jose Canseco’s next book, which supposedly has "other stuff" on Alex Rodriguez?

Rangers Rumors: DeJesus, Lamb, Millar

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Evan Grant writes for the Dallas Morning News, but he posted this column at night.  Go figure.  He’s got some new info regarding the Rangers.

  • As you know, the Rangers have had difficulty finding a long-term center fielder.  That’s the main focus of this offseason.  The team has already shown interest in Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand, the top center fielders available.  Other free agents such as Andruw Jones and Mike Cameron appear to be in play as well.  Grant’s trade candidates: Coco Crisp, David DeJesus, Mark Kotsay, and Carlos Beltran.  We’ve speculated on DeJesus to Atlanta in the past.  With DeJesus signed cheaply through 2011 and the market at the position robust this winter, it might make sense for Dayton Moore to wait a year to shop him aggressively.
  • Grant adds that Jon Daniels is considering some affordable options for first base.  They’ve already talked to Mike Lamb’s agent and like Kevin Millar as well.  Lamb came up through the Rangers’ system but was traded to the Yankees in ’04.  Millar is under contract for ’08 but it’s in the $3-4MM range and the Orioles should be open to a trade.  Grant says Ben Broussard could pique the Rangers’ interest if he’s non-tendered.
  • Grant concludes with five Rangers whose names will be bandied about in trade talks: Gerald Laird, Vicente Padilla, Joaquin Arias, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Nelson Cruz.  Salty’s not being shopped but Grant expects teams to ask.  He proposes some kind of bad contract swap for Padilla – Jason Giambi, Richie Sexson, or Adam Eaton are named.  I still think it’s funny the way Padilla crawled away from the brawl he started this year. 

Odds and Ends: Hunter, A-Rod, Bedard

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Sunday morning minor rumor collection…

  • There’s always some skepticism from readers regarding Charley Walters rumors.  Nonetheless I’ll report that he names the Nationals, White Sox, Braves, Yankees, and Dodgers as teams that will bid for Torii Hunter.  I don’t see the Braves getting involved at $15MM per.  And are the Dodgers ready to move Juan Pierre to left field already?  The other clubs named seem reasonable.
  • As expected, the Cardinals interviewed Chris Antonetti for their open GM position.  No doubt it’s an attractive position but you have to wonder what kind of autonomy he’d have with Tony La Russa around.
  • Larry LaRue makes the case for the Mariners tendering a contract to Horacio Ramirez.  He also notes that Jose Guillen is as good as gone and the Ms won’t consider A-Rod.
  • Speaking of that guy, Bill Price suggests the Mets should sign him and move David Wright to first base.  Carlos Delgado I suppose would be a very expensive pinch-hitter in 2008. 
  • Nick Cafardo expects the Orioles to shop Miguel Tejada this winter, which would surprise no one.  But he’s also hearing that Erik Bedard could be available.  Trades of either might be unpopular with the fanbase.  The trade market for starters could be hopping if Johan Santana, Bedard, and C.C. Sabathia are made available.
  • Joel Sherman says Koji Uehara is a free agent, but we have heard differently.  Anyway, the success of Hideki Okajima may create a minor bidding war for Hitoki Iwase.
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