Odds and Ends: Aurilia, Vazquez, Al Reyes, Varitek
Some random links for today…
- McCovey Chronicles thinks Rich Aurilia would be a nice fit for the ’09 Giants.
- Tyler Kepner of the New York Times says the Yankees never really had to give up on Javier Vazquez.
- The Mets released Al Reyes; he never pitched for them. Reyes had nine saves for the Rays in April of last year, but it’s mostly been downhill since then.
- Jason Varitek does not want to talk about 2009. It’s hard to see the Red Sox offering him more than one year.
- RotoAuthority discusses the fantasy baseball code of honor.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Huff, Hardy, Russ Ortiz
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column up.
- Mark Attanasio set a dangerous precedent by firing Ned Yost. Will he interfere with GM Doug Melvin’s plans in the future?
- Rosenthal considers Aubrey Huff a "highly desirable trade commodity" this winter. That begs the question – why did Huff pass through waivers unclaimed in August?
- Trading J.J. Hardy is more likely than moving him to third base. Hardy is under team control for two more seasons. The Jays, Tigers, Royals, Twins, Giants, Dodgers, and Cardinals could be in the market for a shortstop. Demand certainly outstrips supply.
- Rosenthal believes Rafael Furcal would be a nice fit for the Blue Jays. He agrees that GM J.P. Ricciardi is likely to return.
- The Orioles might prefer affordable veterans to A.J. Burnett as they try to improve their pitching staff this winter.
- Russ Ortiz wants to pitch in 2009, and he worked out for ten days a week ago. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick first reported the workout yesterday. He says the Royals, Astros, Brewers, and Red Sox had scouts at the audition.
Odds and Ends: Cashman, Roberts, Lowe
Rounding up links for Thursday…
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday notes which player moves were entirely Brian Cashman’s, and which came from above.
- Buster Olney wonders if Doug Melvin could replace Cashman as the Yankees’ GM. Olney stresses that it’s pure speculation on his part.
- Viva El Birdos asks what it would take for the Cardinals to acquire Brian Roberts.
- John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press says the Tigers should sign Derek Lowe this winter. Will Lowe get a four year deal?
- Bud Selig tells Ken Rosenthal the Manny Ramirez trade was completed before the deadline. Jerry Crasnick says the Dodgers have not talked to Ramirez about an extension.
- Rays Index explains why the team should not trade Scott Kazmir.
Schilling Blasts Manny
Pitcher Curt Schilling sounded off on former teammate Manny Ramirez yesterday on WEEI. His comments can be found here and here. Schilling says management ultimately took a players’ vote, and they elected to have Manny traded. The public is aware of just 10-20% of Ramirez’s antics, according to Schilling.
Meanwhile, Joe Posnanski takes a look at the genius of Manny in a column at SI.com.
Heyman’s Latest: Epstein, Cano, Hudson
Highlights from Jon Heyman’s latest column at SI.com:
- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio reportedly made the decision to fire Ned Yost, but GM Doug Melvin’s power is not diminished.
- Theo Epstein’s new agreement is for three years.
- Heyman notes "talk lately that the Yankees might consider trading Robinson Cano." Apparently Cano still has good trade value and the Yankees could fill multiple needs in a deal. Heyman says the Dodgers are interested. Cano was subject of an odd Dodgers rumor back in July. The Yanks would be interested in Orlando Hudson if they were to trade Cano.
- Alex Rodriguez patched things up with Scott Boras, who he considers "a good guy."
Epstein Agrees To Extension
WEDNESDAY: Amalie Benjamin sifts through the murky statements regarding the Epstein negotiations. Regardless, it looks like he’s staying.
TUESDAY: According to Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has agreed to a contract extension. Some details still need to be hammered out though.
Epstein’s moves since winning the World Series last year:
- Re-signed Mike Lowell, Curt Schilling, and Mike Timlin.
- Exercised options on Julian Tavarez and Tim Wakefield.
- Offered arbitration to Eric Gagne; selected Bryan Price with compensation pick.
- June draft picks also included Casey Kelly and Ryan Westmoreland.
- Acquired David Aardsma.
- Signed Bartolo Colon and Sean Casey.
- Traded Manny Ramirez, Craig Hansen, and Brandon Moss; received Jason Bay.
- Acquired Mark Kotsay and Paul Byrd.
Odds and Ends: LaRoche, Bradley, Burnett
Digging into today’s random links…
- Joel Sherman looks at what went wrong for the Yankees this year. Did they fall too in love with their farm system?
- At least six teams have called the Pirates about third baseman Andy LaRoche in recent weeks. If LaRoche pans out and Pedro Alvarez comes aboard, the Bucs could have a surplus at some point.
- Craig Harris examines the rise of D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes.
- Eddie Bajek updated the Elias rankings for the AL 1B/OF/DH category. They’re fluctuating wildly. Eddie also did catchers for both leagues; Ivan Rodriguez is headed into Type B territory. Gregg Zaun lost Type B status.
- Mike Hindman conducted a roundtable asking what kind of contract the Rangers should offer Milton Bradley.
- 29 teams passed on Rays reliever Grant Balfour last spring. Now he has a 1.62 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 50 innings. Balfour’s been through a lot.
- Joe McDonald and Sean McAdam don’t see the Red Sox signing A.J. Burnett (or any big-name free agent starter).
- Padres CEO Sandy Alderson scoffed at the idea of a $40MM payroll for ’09. I never heard that figure tossed around; Buster Olney suggested the $50MM range.
- Maury Brown heard a rumor that Thomas Ricketts won the bid for the Cubs.
Cafardo’s Latest: Salty, Renteria, Pudge
Let’s take a look at the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
- The Red Sox are "intrigued" by Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (I believe they have been for some time). Jamey Newberg would like to see Clay Buchholz in a Rangers uniform, but admits the deal would have to be expanded.
- The Red Sox will not have to pay the $3MM buyout on Edgar Renteria if the Tigers decline his $11MM option for ’09. The free agent market for shorstops is weak, but the Tigers will probably look elsewhere given Renteria’s .269/.318/.375 showing.
- Cafardo wonders if Jason Bay or Matt Holliday will be on the Braves’ radar this winter (both are signed through ’09). You’d have to think the Sox will want to keep Bay. The Braves will have $30-40MM to spend, and Bobby Cox expects two starting pitchers to be added.
- Cafardo talked to a scout who feels Ivan Rodriguez still has something left to offer despite his poor performance for the Yankees. Ideally he’d sign a one-year deal. It won’t be with the Yankees; Jorge Posada noted that Pudge is "going to have to go somewhere else."
Tazawa Ignites Controversy
Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa is shaking things up – last week he asked the 12 Nippon Professional Baseball teams not to draft him. He wants to join an MLB team instead. His decision, coupled with interest from multiple MLB teams, is putting a major strain on MLB-NPB relations.
Peter Abraham of The Journal News had an informative article on the Tazawa situation yesterday. He says Tazawa’s decision is testing an informal agreement that MLB will not sign Japanese prospects. Abraham says the Red Sox, Mets, Braves, and Dodgers have scouted Tazawa. The Tigers, Pirates, Cubs, and Mariners may also be in the mix. The Red Sox are said to be in the lead. There’s no posting free for an unsigned player, though Tazawa may want a big league deal.
The Yankees will pass – GM Brian Cashman told Abraham he will honor the gentleman’s agreement between the two leagues. When the Yanks sent Gene Michael to Japan last week, it was apparently to scout Yu Darvish. Darvish’s availability this winter will hinge on the whims of the Nippon Ham Fighters. No one knows whether the Fighters will cash the 22 year-old in now for a possible $60-80MM posting fee.
NPB directors convened to discuss the Tazawa situation last week, and they’re sending a delegation to the U.S. to meet with MLB. Abraham suggests NPB could strike back if Bud Selig doesn’t step in to stop the pursuit of Japanese players before they are drafted. Abraham speculates Japan could pull out of the World Baseball Classic or even sign an American amateur player as retaliation. Or, as Patrick Newman suggested to me recently, a team like Softbank could jump in and sign Pedro Alvarez or Aaron Crow.
Boston Says Okie-Dokie To Okajima in 2009
The Red Sox announced Saturday that reliever Hideki Okajima’s option has officially vested for next season.
Because he pitched in 115 games this season and last, the Red Sox were bound to pick up Okajima’s $1.75 million option for 2009.
Entering Saturday’s doubleheader with Toronto, Okajima, 32, has pitched in 123 games over the past two seasons. This season he’s got a 2.88 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 56.3 innings. Those are impressive numbers, though he’s had a bit of a problem allowing inherited runners to score.
Still, Okajima for $1.75 million is a steal — an absolute no-brainer. Other teams are paying set-up men far more, and have had to hand out long-term contacts, like the Phillies gave to J.C. Romero (three years and $12 million) or the White Sox gave to Scott Linebrink (four years and $19 million).
Oh, and Okajima’s got the absolute greatest theme song.
Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. You can reach him here.