Rosenthal On Penny, Bay, Brandon Wood
The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Rosenthal suggests Cecil Cooper of the Astros may be the first manager fired; he says the team's veterans "do not care for Cooper." He's in the last year of his contract.
- With a comeback season for the Red Sox, Brad Penny could be in line for a lucrative free agent deal after the season. One executive told Rosenthal Penny had the least amount of structural issues in his arm compared to similar free agents last winter.
- The Red Sox are said to be "maintaining a quiet dialogue" with Jason Bay, who is eligible for free agency after the season. Rosenthal says there's no acrimony or deadline; the sides are just trying to determine Bay's value. It's a tricky calculation for corner outfielders, and the market will be flush after the season.
- Angels infielder Brandon Wood appears big league ready. Will the Angels trade Chone Figgins this summer to make room, or at least let Figgins leave as a free agent after the season? There are plenty of ways to sort out the situation, but Wood deserves to play.
- Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario, signed out of the Venezuelan winter league, drew strong praise from one scout.
- One scout had this to say regarding Emilio Bonifacio: "He's just a guy."
Red Sox Claim Travis Denker
According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Red Sox claimed second baseman Travis Denker off waivers from the Padres today. Denker had been designated for assignment to clear a spot for Luis Perdomo.
Denker, 23, hit .282/.373/.468 at Triple A last year as a member of the Giants organization. Baseball America envisioned him as an offense-first second baseman in their '08 Handbook, writing, "his value lies in his bat and his tenacity."
Cashman Convinced Hal On Teixeira
Kat O'Brien of Newsday writes today about the Yankees' pursuit of Mark Teixeira. In talking to Brian Cashman, O'Brien learned that the GM's persistence finally led to the go-ahead from Hal Steinbrenner; for much of the offseason, Tex wasn't an option. At the time of Cashman's December meeting with Teixeira and Scott Boras, the Yankees were not expecting to sign the slugger. According to Cashman:
"When I met with him, I was doing it more to get leverage on CC. We weren't playing possum on purpose. We were actually out of it."
Cashman was able to convince Hal with this pitch regarding the Red Sox:
"I know you're not interested, but they're going to get this guy. He's going to fall in their lap, and he's so perfect for us."
Offseason In Review: Boston Red Sox
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Red Sox. Here's what we wrote about them on October 20th. Changes for 2009:
Additions: Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Ramon Ramirez,Takashi Saito, Rocco Baldelli, Junichi Tazawa, Tim Wakefield (exercised option), Jason Varitek (re-signed), Mark Kotsay (re-signed), Brad Wilkerson, Randor Bierd, Nick Green, Billy Traber. Midseason: Jason Bay
Subtractions: Coco Crisp, David Aardsma, Mike Timlin, Paul Byrd, Sean Casey, David Pauley, Kevin Cash, Bartolo Colon, David Ross, Alex Cora. Midseason: Manny Ramirez, Brandon Moss, Craig Hansen
Extensions: Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester
Despite taking a very different approach from the Yankees, the Red Sox also had a positive offseason. They extended three talented young players and maintained financial flexibility by signing free agents to low base salary contracts.
Last year the Red Sox ranked 2nd in the AL with 5.22 runs scored per game. Changes in the '09 lineup include the subtraction of Manny, Crisp, and possibly Lugo, as well as more time for Bay and Lowrie. CHONE projections and the Baseball Musings lineup analysis tool predict the best offense in the league: 5.62 runs per game. Theoretically the Baldelli addition can limit the damage if Drew is to miss time.
Boston's '08 rotation ranked 3rd in the AL with a 4.02 ERA in 966.6 innings. The '09 rotation is similar but deeper with the additions of Penny and Smoltz and the possible emergence of Clay Buchholz. Michael Bowden, a quality young pitcher, seems buried on the depth chart. I tweaked CHONE's innings projections and ended up with a 4.13 ERA for this year's group. That seems pessimistic but we'll go with it.
Last year's bullpen posted a 4.00 ERA in 479.6 innings (I know these bullpen ERAs aren't great indicators but let's not overcomplicate things). The subtractions of Timlin, Aardsma, and Hansen help. Add in more innings from Masterson as well as imports Ramirez and Saito, and this 'pen projects at a 3.43 ERA. Even if they're not that good I can still see a few extra wins this year.
Defensively the Red Sox ranked 5th in the AL according to The Fielding Bible II. I don't think they'll suffer for the losses of Crisp and Manny.
Like the Yankees, the Red Sox project on paper to win 100+ games. Of course, for both teams some players will get hurt and have unexpected seasons. Plus, the quality of competition in the division should bring down those win totals.
Bottom line: The Red Sox failed to sign Mark Teixeira, but he was a luxury for them anyway. I liked Boston's low-risk offseason approach, and it's scary to think that they could make major summer trade acquisitions.
Odds & Ends: Bergmann, Maddux, Red Sox
Some Odds & Ends to round out this Sunday morning's news:
- Right-hander Jason Bergmann, who has an option left, is not happy that the Nationals have sent him to Triple-A, says Pete McElroy of masnsports.com. In nine games, Bergmann didn't give up a run. He had 6 K and 2 BB in 11 1/3 innings.
- Not a rumor, but a headline of importance: Unsurprisingly, the Braves are going to retire Greg Maddux's number in July.
- Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal praises the Red Sox shrewdness by improving their ballclub while reducing their payroll by $13MM, from fourth highest to sixth. Back-loaded extensions to key players could mean the Sox could add payroll if a marquee player becomes available this summer.
- Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star has a short but interesting article up noting that paying for a free agent pitcher does not usually work out. It would be interesting to actually see the numbers on this. Mellinger writes,
"The results are brutal: Thirty pitchers regressed after signing, and only 13 improved. Four contracts were close enough to be judged either way. That’s a fail ratio of 2:1."
The Jason Bay Trade Revisited
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsbugh Post-Gazette recounts the details of the deadline deal that sent Jason Bay to Boston, specifically the final 7 minutes that reshaped the future of the Pirates organization. It's a really interesting read for any rumor-enthusiasts. Some points of interest:
- According to Kovacevic, before finally dealing Bay at the buzzer, Pittsburgh had been working on dealing Bay for over a year and a half.
- Before the 2008 season, the Bucs had come close to dealing Bay and catcher Ronny Paulino to Cleveland for Cliff Lee, Franklin Guttierez, and Kelly Shoppach. The Pirates did not feel it was enough and killed it.
- Just 20 minutes before the 4p.m. deadline, Kovacevic says the Braves and Rays were considered the primary trading partners, particularly the "prospect-rich Rays." But with only 15 minutes left, "the Pirates called each [team] to insist upon a specific prospect package and summarily were rejected," writes Kovacevic.
The Rays Index takes a look at this article from a Tampa Bay perspective.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sheffield, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees
On this date 43 years ago, Tom Seaver signed with the Mets for a $50K signing bonus. Seaver originally agreed to a deal with the Braves, but the contract was voided due to Seaver's status as an amateur at USC. After being ruled ineligible at USC, and the Braves were forbidden from signing Seaver, any team willing to match the original $50K signing bonus were included in a lottery for the rights to the future hall-of-famer. The Phillies, Indians and Mets literally had their names placed in a cap and the Mets were selected. The regular season is only days away and inevitably a former Mets pitcher will throw a no-hitter. Let's see what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- The Detroit Tigers Weblog reflects on the release of Gary Sheffield.
- The Rays Party takes a look at what the Rays can expect to receive in return for either Jeff Niemann or Jason Hammel.
- Simon on Sports chronicles a lecture given by Donald Fehr to an MBA class.
- The Blue Jay Hunter interviewed our very own Tim Dierkes.
- Sox and Pinstripes concludes their look at which team (Yankees or Red Sox) is more homegrown. Personally I vote for the Rays, but I might be biased.
- More Hardball looks back at the #1 picks from the last 10 years.
- Fire Brand of the American League wonders why the Red Sox did not pull the trigger and trade for Miguel Montero or Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
- Jorge Says No! has updated their all-released team.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.
Red Sox Standing Pat
The Red Sox don't plan on pursuing any recently released players, according to Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal. Names like Frank Catalanotto and Jeff Keppinger have been floated in connection with Boston, but club officials believe the roster is set (Keppinger's already an Astro).
"It looks like we have our team," manager Terry Francona said Thursday. The Sox appear satisfied with Chris Carter and Nick Green as viable fill-ins for injured players Mark Kotsay and Julio Lugo.
Odds & Ends: Minor Deals, Catalanotto, Gwynn Jr.
Your Thursday links, with more to come…
- Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Phillies have acquired RHP Manny Ayala from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. Ayala will probably spend the entire '09 season in the minors.
- According to Steve Holley of Scout.com, the A's have plucked right-hander Rocky Roquet from the Cubs for a player to be named later. He's another minor league guy.
- The Boston Globe's Tony Massarotti would like the Red Sox to pursure Frank Catalanotto, but writes that there's "no indication that they plan to do so."
- Marc Hulet over at BaseballAnalysts.com reviews the production of the 2008 Rule 5 Draft class. It's not a very impressive group.
- SI.com's Jon Heyman explores the Rays' and Phillies' offseasons.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders if Tony Gwynn Jr. could be on the way out.
- Even with the loss of Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes, the Rockies will come close to setting a franchise payroll record this season.
Odds & Ends: Colletti, Youkilis, Turnbow
Links for Tuesday…
- Chat today, 2pm CST.
- Rays info from Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times: they're trying to figure out a way to keep Jason Isringhausen, and they've released pitcher Chuck Tiffany (part of the Danys Baez trade in '06).
- In talking to Ramona Shelburne of the L.A. Daily News, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti explained his success reading the market this offseason. He also said, "I believe there will be some players available on July 31st that normally would never be available."
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday reminds us of past trade discussions involving Kevin Youkilis, before he was highly regarded.
- Baseball America's Jim Callis notes that the Cubs released "three of their top picks from the last six drafts this spring: outfielder Ryan Harvey, the sixth overall pick in 2003; righthander Grant Johnson, a second-rounder in 2004; and lefty Mark Pawelek, the 20th overall choice in 2005."
- According to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, Rangers reliever Derrick Turnbow's opt-out date is Thursday. He's talking to his agent about whether he should head to Triple A Oklahoma.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince says lefty reliever Juan Lara signed a minor league deal with the Indians – "just 16 months after a car accident nearly took his life."