Quick Hits: Red Sox, Sizemore, Padres, Chen
Links for Wednesday night as we await arbitration decisions from the National and American Leagues…
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com surveyed this offseason's stronger-than-usual relief market with the help of many Major League GMs. The Red Sox aren’t desperate for a closer, because Daniel Bard and Bobby Jenks are already in their ‘pen, but GM Ben Cherington figures to explore the market for closers after losing Jonathan Papelbon to the Phillies.
- The Phillies, Rockies and Cubs had more interest in Grady Sizemore than any teams except the Indians, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter links). Hoynes has the details on Sizemore’s incentives: the outfielder obtains $1MM if he reaches 500 plate appearances and $500K for every 25 plate appearances until he reaches 650.
- The Padres aren’t likely to sign any free agent pitchers to Major League deals this offseason, according to MLB.com’s Corey Brock (on Twitter). Padres GM Josh Byrnes sent starter Wade LeBlanc to Miami yesterday.
- The Rockies had mild interest in Bruce Chen before he re-signed in Kansas City, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter).
- The Twins and Cubs were Chen’s primary suitors other than the Royals, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
Quick Hits: Street, Garza, Red Sox, Sizemore
Some links to check out as we await tonight's 11pm central time arbitration deadline…
- Though teams are interested, there's nothing imminent regarding a trade of Huston Street, tweets Troy Renck of The Denver Post. A source also tells Renck that the Rockies have not spoken with the Cubs about Matt Garza.
- The Red Sox won’t reach a decision on their new manager before tomorrow, a team source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
- Indians GM Chris Antonetti doesn't expect Grady Sizemore to play 150-160 games next year, but does think that the center fielder will play the "vast majority of games" in 2012, tweets Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer.
Minor Moves: Braves, Loewen, Garrison
The latest minor moves from around MLB via Matt Eddy of Baseball America…
- The Braves have signed 14 players to minor league contracts according to a press release, including righty reliever Adam Russell, utility man Drew Sutton, lefty reliever Dusty Hughes, and infielder Josh Wilson. The full list can be found here.
- The Mets signed outfielder Adam Loewen, according to Eddy. Loewen, the fourth overall selection in the 2002 draft, successfully completed the transition from left-handed pitcher to outfielder in 2011. He posted a .306/.377/.508 line with 46 doubles at Triple-A before appearing in 14 games with the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays removed the Surrey, British Columbia native from their roster after the regular season, but maintained some interest in him.
- The Mariners signed left-hander Steve Garrison, according to Eddy. Garrison, 25, appeared in one game for the Yankees this past season and posted a 5.58 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 as a starter in the minors.
- The Red Sox signed right-hander Will Inman and left-hander Justin Thomas for bullpen depth, according to Eddy.
- The Twins re-signed left-hander Phil Dumatrait, according to Eddy.
Red Sox Notes: Hazen, O’Halloran, Farrell
Here's the latest from Boston, as the Red Sox are still without a manager and a closer…
- The team announced a series of front office moves in a press release. Among the reshuffling, Mike Hazen and Brian O'Halloran have both been named Vice President and Assistant GM. All of the moves can be found here.
- The Blue Jays announced last month that they would not give employees permission to make lateral moves, but Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says that didn't stop the Sox from asking Toronto what it would take to let them talk to manager John Farrell about their managerial vacancy. The talks failed to progress.
- Earlier today we learned that the Red Sox have interest in Huston Street, and they also spoke to Joe Nathan without making an offer.
Six Teams Interested In Huston Street
TUESDAY: The Marlins, Red Sox, Reds and Mets are also interested in Street, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
MONDAY: The Orioles and Blue Jays are among the teams to have expressed trade interest in Rockies reliever Huston Street, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Jim Johnson replaced Kevin Gregg as the Orioles' closer late last season, but Rosenthal says the O's prefer Johnson in next year's rotation. There's no harm in inquiring on Street, but in my opinion an $8MM closer is a luxury the Orioles don't need. We'll see whether the Rockies are willing to cover a decent chunk of his contract. Rosenthal suggests Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie as a possible fit for Colorado, though I think Baltimore could trade Guthrie for better long-term assets than Street.
With Rafael Betancourt penciled in to close for the Rockies next year, Street seems widely available. Rosenthal and colleague Jon Paul Morosi first made the Blue Jays connection last week.
Bullpen Notes: Red Sox, Street, Rangers
Closernews.com offers fantasy analysis of relievers all offseason long and we’ll also be keeping detailed tabs on the relief market here at MLBTR. Now for the latest hot stove notes regarding relievers…
- The Red Sox talked to Joe Nathan, but never made him an offer, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Boston was uncomfortable offering the closer a multiyear deal partly because he's 37.
- The Rockies are trying to move Huston Street because they believe Rafael Betancourt can close for them, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter links). Renck expects the Rockies to attempt to acquire a starter such as Jeremy Guthrie or Carl Pavano for Street.
- The bullpen remains the Rangers’ top priority, GM Jon Daniels told reporters, including Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest (Twitter link).
- The Red Sox, Angels, Twins, Reds, Marlins, Blue Jays and Mets are among the teams with potential interest in closers, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
Quick Hits: Cespedes, Red Sox, Phillies, Barmes
Congratulations to Justin Verlander, the 2011 American League MVP. Here are some links for Monday night, starting with a note on the contract status of one of Verlander’s former teammates…
- The value of the Yankees' 2013 option on Curtis Granderson increased from $13MM to $15MM thanks to the center fielder's top-five finish in the MVP voting.
- Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com hears Cuban center fielder Yoenis Cespedes could obtain $45MM and suggests the 26-year-old will eventually sign for “quite a bit more” (Twitter link). One evaluator told Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun that Cespedes will sign for “way over [the] top” money (Twitter link). It appears that he’ll cost $35-50MM, if not more.
- Red Sox GM Ben Cherington confirmed Craig Shipley will no longer be the team’s VP of player personnel and international operations, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com (on Twitter).
- Ryne Sandberg will return as the Phillies’ Triple-A manager in 2012, according to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.
- ESPN.com’s Keith Law doesn’t endorse the Pirates’ two-year, $10.5MM deal with Clint Barmes. Pittsburgh would have been better off picking up Ronny Cedeno’s $3MM option for 2012, Law argues.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America looks back at the 2005-07 drafts and shows that the Cardinals (24) and Padres (22) have developed the most Major Leaguers from those three drafts to this point.
Minor Moves: Spoone, Tolleson, Socolovich
Here is a recap of today's minor league moves…
- The Red Sox have signed right-hander Chorye Spoone to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, reports Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com. The deal is pending a physical. The Orioles designated the 26-year-old for assignment in July, and he pitched to a 4.50 ERA in 122 innings this season.
- The Orioles have signed Steven Tolleson, reports Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The 28-year-old infielder hit .275/.358/.394 in 557 plate appearances in the Athletics' and Padres' farm systems in 2011.
- Within the same link, Connolly also reports that the Orioles signed Miguel Socolovich. The 25-year-old righty struck out 11.1 batters per nine innings in the White Sox's system this year, posting a 3.44 ERA in 55 relief innings.
Latest On Boston’s Managerial Search
Red Sox GM Ben Cherington met with managerial candidate Bobby Valentine today. Here’s the latest on Boston’s search for a new manager:
- The Red Sox ruled out Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. as a managerial candidate, according to multiple reporters, including Rob Bradford of WEEI.com (on Twitter).
- The Red Sox will bring Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont in for another interview, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com (Twitter link). Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo is still under consideration, but the Red Sox haven't scheduled a second interview for him yet.
- Valentine “looks like the sudden favorite” for the position, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.
- Cherington must have the most say in the decision, Bradford writes at WEEI.com. The ownership group and president and CEO Larry Lucchino will have some say in the decision, but Bradford suggests the Red Sox should give Cherington ample space to make his own call.
- Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com says the Red Sox should not name a new manager until they are completely sure the Blue Jays won’t part with manager John Farrell. The Blue Jays announced less than a month ago that they “will not grant permission for lateral moves,” so there doesn’t appear to be any chance Farrell returns to Boston this offseason.
Red Sox Notes: Cherington, Valentine, Lamont
A few items of note out of Beantown …
- Some have presumed that Red Sox GM Ben Cherington wanted to hire Dale Sveum as manager — and that ownership quashed it — but a source tells Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald that Cherington has relative autonomy: “I don’t think he would’ve taken the job if that would be an issue,” the source said.
- As rumored earlier on Sunday, the Red Sox will interview Bobby Valentine for the managerial vacancy on Monday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Valentine hasn't managed since 2002 but is the most experienced among the remaining candidates: Torey Lovullo, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Gene Lamont.
- Lamont, however, may be the best fit for the job, writes John Tomase of the Boston Herald, as he represents a compromise between ownership, which seems to prefer a candidate with experience, and Cherington, who apparently seeks someone who will be willing to work closely with the player development department.