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Odds & Ends: Phillies, Manny, Japanese Players

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Here are a few more random notes from the MLBiverse…

  • Todd Zolecki says the Phillies would likely have to trade Geoff Jenkins or Matt Stairs if they want to add another right-handed bat to the bench, noting that it is not likely for either player to be released after the Phils already ate Adam Eaton’s contract. Zolecki does say that Stair’s $1MM salary would be easier to absorb.
  • Dan Barbarisi of the Providence Journal gives us some quotes from Terry Francona in response to being asked about Jonathan Papelbon calling Manny Ramirez a "cancer." Francona would not answer the questions directly but did say "The moves we make, I think that speaks volumes enough."
  • Keith Law scouted the Japanese squad at the World Baseball Classic and gives us the rundown on a few of their better players. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t believe that any of the players mentioned will be eligible to make the jump to MLB anytime soon.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Odds & Ends: Manny, Papelbon, Pudge, Peavy

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Links for Thursday…

  • The Nationals remain interested in Duaner Sanchez, says Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post.
  • Yahoo’s Jeff Passan talked to Mark Prior.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post heard Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras consider the contract with the Dodgers a one-year deal with a safety net.  Sherman wonders if the Yankees and/or Mets could get involved depending on how Manny’s 2009 season plays out.
  • Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon commented about Manny to Chris Jones in the April issue of Esquire.  It’s a good article and there’s a lot more to it than the Manny comments.
  • Free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez is working out at first base, according to Will Gonzalez of MLB.com.
  • The Padres have the third pick in the June draft.  Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune asks whether they’ll finally take a player with big upside.
  • Jake Peavy’s agent Barry Axelrod seems to be writing off the Padres, in comments to Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune: "It’s tough with the Padres’ situation.  They are not very good and it looks like it is going to be another long year for them."
  • Marlins shortstop Robert Andino is out of options, so Mike Phillips of the Miami Herald says this is his audition.
  • ESPN’s Buster Olney says Mark Mulder’s audition is drawing closer and he’s throwing well.  Olney also says Luis Gonzalez is waiting by the phone.  For a look at the other remaining free agents, click here.

Stark On Red Sox Offseason Moves

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In his latest column, Jayson Stark weighs in on the moves the Red Sox made this off-season. While Boston did not spend nearly as much as the Yankees, their moves have a ton of upside potential and that no team "had a more underrated offseason than the Red Sox."

  • Stark spoke to one scout that thinks the Red Sox did a better job than the Yankees at filling their needs through free agency.
  • Stark notes that the amount of guaranteed dollars for the Red Sox four free agents (John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Takashi Saito, Rocco Baldelli) is less than what the Yankees will pay AJ Burnett this season.
  • The Red Sox moves also did not leave the team with "long-term inflexibility."
  • One scout believes Smoltz will come back healthy at some point and compares the signing to trading for an impact pitcher at the trade deadline. Stark says the Sox believe $5.5MM for Smoltz is a better gamble than a five- or seven-year deal for "any free-agent pitcher."
  • Stark notes that Penny did not need off-season surgery and one scout says pitching coach John Farrell is the one person that should be able to get the best out of Penny.
  • One scout says that if Saito is healthy, the Red Sox got a steal.
  • Stark says the Red Sox rotation is more "October-ready" than the Yankees, even if the Yankees have the better long-term outlook.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Rosenthal On Pedro, A-Rod, Beimel, Ohman

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Here’s the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • One executive tells Rosenthal Pedro Martinez seeks a contract similar to the one John Smoltz received (a $5.5MM base plus $5.5MM incentives). Rosenthal’s speculative candidates for Pedro include the Dodgers, Marlins, Indians, and Mets.  He says the A’s, Orioles, Nationals, and Brewers are out.
  • Rosenthal does not expect a major acquisition by the Yankees to cover for Alex Rodriguez.  He adds that the Yanks will not collect insurance on A-Rod’s salary.
  • In addition to Orlando Cabrera, Manny Ramirez has a clause in his contract prohibiting his team from offering arbitration if he’s a Type A free agent after the season.  Orlando Hudson and Bobby Abreu do not have such clauses.
  • Two GMs told Rosenthal Joe Beimel wants a one-year, $2.5MM deal, but the pitcher’s agent Joe Sroba says they have’t gotten that specific.  Sroba says new teams are in the mix for Beimel and he’s waiting for one to be "aggressive and sincere in their pursuit."
  • The White Sox and Dodgers are two teams in on free agent lefty Will Ohman.

Peavy Was Willing To Pitch In Boston

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Rob Bradford of WEEI has a quote from Padres pitcher Jake Peavy:

"Boston was a place that I told the Padres I would certainly be interested in playing.  I don’t know if there were any talks. I gave the Padres a list and Boston was on that list. Boston was a place I told the Padres I would be interested in playing at. Set that straight for sure."

At various times during the offseason, Peavy also expressed a willingness to play for the Braves, Astros, Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals, Yankees, and Angels (based on previous WEEI reports).  If the Padres do re-engage in trade talks for Peavy this summer, it’ll of course be on his terms given his full no-trade clause.

Sox, Jon Lester Agree On Five-Year Extension?

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MONDAY, 2:07pm: WEEI’s Alex Speier spoke to Lester, who said there is currently no contract extension agreement with the Red Sox.

SUNDAY, 12:42pm: Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports is reporting the Red Sox have signed Jon Lester to a five-year, $30MM extension. The contract includes a $13MM team option for 2014.

Along with Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, this makes Lester the third long term contract handed out to homegrown talent in three months. Passan writes,

"The impending deal is the largest given to a pitcher with around two years of service time, doubling the four-year, $15 million deal Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona signed at the beginning of last season. If the Red Sox exercise the option, they will have kept Lester off the free-agent market for two years."

Lester will take a physical on Tuesday to finalize the deal.

Odds & Ends: Strasburg, Lester, Pudge

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Links for Monday…

  • Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who said the Yankees have yet to contact him regarding their possible third base need.
  • ESPN’s Rob Neyer says the Mets don’t need Pedro Martinez.
  • The scouts Buster Olney talked to absolutely adore Stephen Strasburg.  One of them said, "Right now, he’s better than A.J. Burnett."  There’s no way the Nationals can pass on a talent like this.
  • WEEI’s Alex Speier compares Jon Lester’s record-breaking contract to others given to young pitchers.
  • Jim Baumbach of Newsday talked to Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, who promoted Ivan Rodriguez and noted that assistant GM Tony Bernazard observed the catcher’s four-hit, two home run performance in Puerto Rico Saturday.
  • ESPN’s Peter Gammons notes the affordability of Boston’s pitching staff.

Cafardo’s Latest: Mauer, Red Sox, Glavine

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With every Sunday come rumors from the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:

  • Cafardo asks Tom Glavine whether he’d consider another year if 2009 is a success. Glavine didn’t say no: "I’m not prepared right now to say. It would take a lot of good things to happen this year to consider playing next year. Last year, I didn’t think I’d be sitting here this year, so I guess you never know."
  • Nomar Garciaparra had placed a call to the Red Sox front office inquiring about their potential interest.
  • If he hits free agency, Joe Mauer is expected to receive offers in the $20-25MM range and "The Sox are expected to be front and center." Mauer is signed with the Twins through 2010. He’ll make $10.5MM this year and $12.5MM in 2010.
  • Dusty Baker thinks Barry Bonds would still be a top hitter in the league. Says Baker, "He’s one of those guys that will be able to pick up a bat when he’s an old man and still get a hit."
  • Andruw Jones is 4 for 18 with 10 strikeouts to start spring training.
  • Scouts agree: George Kottaras would clear waivers if designated for assignment, meaning the Red Sox may not have to deal the catching prospect.
  • Cafardo would make the Clay Buchholz-Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade right now.

Red Sox Pre-Arb Signings

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With the exception of Jon Lester, who’s expected to sign at any moment, the Red Sox have agreed to 2009 contracts with every player on their 40-man roster.  (Information courtesy of Sean McAdam with the Boston Herald).

Jacoby Ellsbury, Justin Masterson, Jed Lowrie, Clay Buchholz and Wes Littleton have finalized contracts in recent days.  Ellsbury will make $449.5K in ’09.  Masterson will earn $441K.  These are guys with zero to three years of MLB service time.

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