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Odds and Ends: Kershaw, Medders, Tavarez

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Hopefully they’ll let you leave work early today in anticipation of the holiday weekend.  Before you go, here are some random links.

Stark’s Latest: Young Players, Giles, DeJesus

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Jayson Stark’s latest Rumblings and Grumblings column is chock full of information.

  • Stark rattles off Dan Uggla, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, B.J. Upton, Justin Upton, Russell Martin, Zack Greinke, Prince Fielder, Felix Hernandez, Jeff Francoeur, Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedroia as youngsters who do not have long-term deals in the works.  With Uggla and Greinke, the opposition seems more on the team’s side.  With Hamels and Howard neither side wants a long-term deal.  With the rest, the player is resisting.
  • The Padres’ top trading chip is probably Brian Giles, though a deal would further deplete a weak offense.
  • The A’s are willing to deal, with pitching considered the surplus.  Billy Beane might be able to snag one good prospect for Rich Harden.
  • There’s some doubt as to whether the Rockies will make Matt Holliday this year’s Mark Teixeira as we approach the deadline.
  • Teams other than the Royals are speculating that center fielder David DeJesus might be available.
  • The Marlins and Hanley Ramirez battled over a no-trade clause…and the Fish won.  He has none.

Young Red Sox Strike Back

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Not every good young player is salivating at the thought of inking a team-friendly multiyear contract.  Prince Fielder, Russell Martin, and Casey Kotchman are three who seem fine going year-to-year and maximizing earnings.  According to Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald, Dustin Pedroia and Jonathan Papelbon are two more players "intent on bucking what has become a disturbing trend."

It’s mainly the idea of tossing in multiple team options that bristles the players and their agents.  Bradford reports that more experienced agents have voiced their concern about the trend to the Players Association.

Papelbon, for one, knows he’s an elite closer and is prepared to set the bar for stoppers with his service time.  You may recall that the Red Sox gave him $775K this year to top Mariano Rivera’s two-year closer service time record.  Though they play different positions, Papelbon’s agent will probably at least reference Ryan Howard’s landmark $10MM first-year arbitration reward when Papelbon’s time comes before the ’09 season.

Locking Up Young Stars: Martin, Kendrick, Kotchman, Pedroia, Uggla

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Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times takes a look at the spate of recent long-term deals for young stars.  Talking to different players and agents, Shaikin found no consensus on whether such contracts are a good idea.

  • Some folks (including Shaikin and Pat Gillick, apparently) believe it’s wise for richer clubs to go year-to-year to avoid getting stuck with a bad contract.  I’m sure teams have done comprehensive studies on these types of contracts, but my guess is that flops are few are far between.  I can only think of a handful (Angel Berroa, Eric Hinske come to mind).  As Scott Boras says, teams usually choose players who will succeed.
  • Boras advises his clients to go year to year and maximize their total earnings.  He suggests young players signing long-term are getting "30 cents on the dollar."  Paul Cohen, author of the Troy Tulowitzki and Evan Longoria contracts, preaches security over maximum earnings.
  • Ned Colletti revealed that he has twice approached catcher Russell Martin about an extension, and has been denied.  Martin will be arbitration-eligible after this season and should add an extra zero to his $500,000 salary, at least. 
  • Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick would consider a long-term offer, and GM Tony Reagins isn’t opposed to long-term deals for young players.
  • First baseman Casey Kotchman is a year-to-year guy.  He astutely notes that in most professions employees aren’t even guaranteed one year.
  • Jumping over to the Boston Herald – the Red Sox have twice approached Dustin Pedroia about a deal.  Pedroia is amenable to the idea. 
  • It’s not known if the Marlins are planning to buy out Dan Uggla’s arbitration years, but he seems open to it.

Moss Recovery May Affect Crisp

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The Providence Journal reports that Red Sox outfielder Brandon Moss could begin a minor league rehab assignment this week (he had an emergency appendectomy).  Bobby Kielty is not close to returning from his broken hand.

Why is this relevant?  Nick Cafardo had reported a few weeks ago that Moss’ injury killed the chances of trading Coco Crisp.  A healthy Moss could reignite trade talks for Crisp, unless the Sox decide to enjoy the luxury and wait until the offseason.

Cafardo’s Latest: Boston Could Use Vizquel

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Last week I heard Peter Gammons on ESPN radio discussing Omar Vizquel as a possible replacement candidate for the struggling Julio Lugo.  In today’s Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo chimes in:

"Vizquel is quite fond of Boston but would be interested only if he were a starter. He has a close relationship with Manny Ramírez from their Cleveland days. Vizquel still has a terrific glove and can hit."

Lugo – who is just returning from a mild concussion – finds himself batting .284 but with a .331 OBP and only 7 extra base hits, all doubles.  He has a major league leading 11 errors, almost half of the Red Sox 23 errors.  Here’s a sampling of Red Sox fan frustration.

Playing in a hitters haven would be a good move for Vizquel, who wants to play in ’09, assuming he produces in the spotlight of Boston.  I see Vizquel as a band-aid (although a band-aid may be what they need).  He might be a better option than a Cora/Lugo platoon; however, the Red Sox are a team that can weather this problem even if Lugo’s contract becomes a sunk cost this year.  Jed Lowrie should be called back up this season and may progress well enough to be the solution, making Lugo the new Coco Crisp in ’09.

By Nat Boyle

Rosenthal’s Latest: Delgado, Sexson, Crisp, Byrd

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Ken Rosenthal has some items worth discussing in his latest Full Count video:

  • Trade Carlos Delgado for Richie Sexson? Rosenthal doesn’t see why not. They’re both in walk years, neither have a no-trade-clause, and they’re both making roughly the same amount. I’ll add to that by noting both have arguably met more success hitting in each other’s league.
  • The Indians may put Paul Byrd on the block in an effort to acquire pieces that could eventually lead to an upgrade at 2B or 3B later this season.  The Indians currently have 7 capable starters in Sabathia, Carmona, Lee, Byrd, Westbrook, Sowers, and Laffey.
  • Crisp’s Latest: It may be in the best interest of the Red Sox to wait to deal Coco Crisp in the offseason when the demand increases.  The Padres could use him now but the 2009 Free Agent class is thin at centerfield.  Coco could be maintained for $5.75MM in ’09 and a club option in 2010 for $8MM, or a $0.5MM buyout.
  • Two Byrds in one post! Marlon Byrd’s return from the DL could mean more time at DH for Josh Hamilton in an effort to keep him rested throughout the season.  Hamilton only played 90 games last year after missing about 4 years due to drug suspensions and injury.  If Byrd performs then this would take the Rangers out of the DH market.  So far, so good.

By Nat Boyle

Seven Teams Have Monitored Freddy Garcia

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According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, at least seven clubs have monitored Freddy Garcia’s progress: the Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, and Mariners.  It wouldn’t be surprising if even more clubs show up to watch Garcia throw when he is able to audition.  A midseason free agent has major appeal.  The Indians are one additional club rumored to have interest.

Garcia remains a mystery – we don’t know when he’ll be ready, how much money he’ll want, or how effective he’ll be.

Heyman’s Best-Ever Free Agent Deals

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A few weeks ago Jon Heyman gave us his list of the worst-ever free agent signings, and you guys chimed in on what deals should have been included on the list.

Heyman is back at it again. This time, he has his list of the 20 best free agent signings ever. Topping the list is the 1-year/$1.25MM deal given to David Ortiz back in 2003. I am not convinced that a 1-year deal deserves to be at the top of this list.

So let’s have it. Which deal would top your list? What deals not on the list, deserve to be included?

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

Kenshin Kawakami Prefers Red Sox?

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RotoWorld has done some translating of a Japanese Associated Press article.  They learned that Japanese righty Kenshin Kawakami reportedly prefers the Red Sox as his 2009 destination (he’ll be a free agent).  The translation notes that the Yankees and Mets have scouted Kawakami.

Back in November of 2007, I asked Aaron Shinsano and Jackson Broder of East Windup Chronicle for a profile on Kawakami, among others.  Here’s what they wrote:

Kenshin Kawakami – Japan’s highest paid starter for the champion Chunichi Dragons (he made around $3MM) mixes a fastball, cutter, and curveball.  His fastball runs around 87 and his curve is very slow. He’s known as a big game pitcher and always challenges hitters. He was 12-8 with a 3.55 ERA in 2007, but the K/BB ratio was an appealing 6.3 in 167 2/3 IP.  He’s a HR prone strikeout pitcher.  Kawakami has been healthy for the past four seasons.

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