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Rays Considering Crisp?

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We’ve seen Coco Crisp’s name connected to Tampa Bay’s outfield need before.  Marc Lancaster tossed out the idea on Sunday.  Today, Buster Olney writes:

The Rays are searching for an outfielder who can hit left-handed, and now that they have tried and failed to sign Kenny Lofton, they are also taking a look at Coco Crisp; Tampa Bay is loaded with a wide range of pitching prospects, so it would seem that Boston could find a fit if it wanted to make a deal.

The fact remains that at $11MM over the 2008-09 seasons, Crisp is too expensive to carry as a fourth outfielder.  Using him in right diminishes his value, and the Rays probably don’t want to move B.J. Upton again.  So this isn’t the perfect fit for Tampa Bay; they’d probably need Boston to eat some salary.  The one pitcher I could see them sending over for Crisp is Edwin Jackson.

But then there’s still the same division factor.  Does either team really want to risk improving the other?  These aren’t your daddy’s Rays; this team could be more than a thorn in Boston’s side in 2008.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Reed, Aardsma, Cueto

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Rumor king Ken Rosenthal has the latest at FOXSports.com.

  • Looks like the Padres will give near-regular playing time to Jody Gerut, at least until Jim Edmonds returns.  If Gerut performs, Kevin Towers may be able to stop his outfielder search.  Still, Rosenthal notes the Padres’ interest in Seattle’s Jeremy Reed.  Reed has two options left, by the way.
  • Rosenthal names three Boston players who are out of options and probably available for little: David Aardsma, Bryan Corey, and Kyle Snyder.  The O’s are known to be eyeing Corey.  You can check out our running out of options list here.
  • The A’s wanted spring sensation/top pitching prospect Johnny Cueto from the Reds for Joe Blanton – no deal.

Red Sox Resolve Coach Compensation Dispute

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1:24pm: This thing is resolved; the Boston Globe has some details.

8:43: Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald writes that Red Sox players may boycott the team trip to Japan if the coaches aren’t paid the $40K they expected. I think it’s highly likely this gets sorted out and the Sox make their flight.

As it stands the season will open on March 25th (less than a week!) with Daisuke Matsuzaka facing Joe Blanton in Japan.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Rule 5 Draftees

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Last year the Reds selected Josh Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft despite only 23 games above Single-A and only 15 games anywhere since 2002 (actually the Cubs picked Hamilton and traded him to the Reds the same day). Hamilton went on to hit .292-19-47 in 90 games. This year, 18 players were chosen in the Rule 5 draft (14 pitchers). These players must remain on the 25-man roster all season or be offered back to their original club for $25K. By my count, three players (Sergio Valenzuela, Lincoln Holdzkom, Jose Capellan) have already been offered back to their original clubs (Capellan was picked up on waivers by a third team during the process). Hamilton is the rare case of a position player sticking with his new club as it is far easier to hide a developing pitcher and still get him playing time in the bullpen than it is on the bench.While it is rare for position players to stick, we have already learned that the Cardinals may keep Brian Barton as a fifth outfielder. As opening day rosters begin to take shape, let’s take a look at what is being said in the Blogosphere about the chances for the Rule draftees.

  • Tim Lahey (RHP, CHC/MIN): Bleed Cubbie Blue sees the Cubs working out a trade with the Twins that would allow them to send Lahey to AAA. In fact, they speculate that Lahey will be the PTBNL in the Craig Monroe deal.
  • Evan Meek (RHP, PIT/TB): Bucs Dugout predicts that Meek will at least start the season with the Pirates before being offered back to the Rays.
  • Randor Bierd (RHP, BAL/DET): Bird Brain projects Bierd to make the roster and hopes the O’s give him every chance to stick.
  • Jose Capellan (LHP, CIN/BOS): Capellan was originally selected by the Giants but was just placed on waivers. The Reds picked him up (Rule 5 rules still apply) and Obsessive Giants Compulsive is surprised the Giants let him go.
  • Sergio Valenzuela (RHP, CIN/ATL): Valenzuela was sold back to the Braves after not making a single appearance in a spring game. The Braves then traded Valenzuela to a team in the Mexican League. Which begs the question…Are "future considerations" from the Mexican League worth the $25K the Braves dropped to bring him back? Talking Chop finds the entire situation funny and is not surprised that Valenzuela did not stick with the Reds.
  • Brian Barton (OF, STL/CLE): Cardinals GM is predicting Barton to be on the opening day roster with Juan Gonzalez starting the season in AAA.
  • R.A. Dickey (RHP, SEA/MIN): Detect-O-Vision is infatuated with the knuckleballer but notes that Dickey "has a looooooooooong way to go".
  • Steven Register (RHP, NYM/COL): Mets Fever thinks Register might actually stick by earning the final spot in the bullpen.

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

Boras Won’t Make First Move For Varitek Extension

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe quotes Scott Boras as saying that the Red Sox would have to come to him about an extension for Jason Varitek.  Boras and Varitek are open to a deal, but I guess they don’t want to sound desperate and give up their leverage.   

Tek turns 36 in April; the Red Sox are going to want to minimize their risk.  They could roll the dice in hopes of signing him after the season, as they did with Mike Lowell and Curt Schilling.  It can be tough to measure the value of a catcher, but Baseball Prospectus has Varitek worth $4.6MM in ’09 and dropping off significantly after that. 

Gammons’ Latest: Bailey, Crisp, Giants

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ESPN’s Peter Gammons posted to his blog yesterday; let’s take a look.

  • More negative vibes around the Reds’ Homer Bailey.  His apparent availability seems odd given his talent.  Bailey was described by an evaluator friend of Buster Olney as "someone who thinks he’s got it all figured out."
  • Gammons likes the fit of Barry Bonds in Seattle, but sees Jeff Clement as the team’s DH in the event that Richie Sexson starts to repeat his ’07.
  • The A’s still like Coco Crisp, but the Red Sox want young catching and/or pitching that the A’s would prefer to keep.  Susan Slusser wrote on Saturday that talks between the two clubs had revived.
  • Giants scouts are apparently handing out a list to other teams with almost a dozen available players (basically all the veterans).  The Giants currently have nine pitchers vying for three bullpen spots.

Cafardo’s Latest: Fuentes, Sowers, Laffey

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Boston Globe baseball writer Nick Cafardo’s Sunday column has new hot stove material, as usual.

  • Cafardo notes that Kyle Snyder, Julian Tavarez, and Bryan Corey have all been heavily scouted by other clubs.  Snyder is out of options, so he’s a good trade candidate.  Cafardo mentioned on Thursday that the Orioles were taking a look at Corey, who might return to Japan if he doesn’t join a big league ’pen.  I imagine the Sox are going to want the insurance Tavarez provides.
  • The Phils are hunting for a southpaw reliever and another starter. Brian Fuentes remains on their radar, but they’re competing with the Tigers and Yankees for him. 
  • The Indians could make southpaws Jeremy Sowers and/or Aaron Laffey available, if Cliff Lee maintains his spring success.  Cafardo says the Cardinals, Phillies, and Astros are eyeing them.

Manny Looking For Four More Years In Boston

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Tony Massarotti writes today that slugger Manny Ramirez wants to play in Boston for four more years. Ramirez told reporters “I’m going to get the two options and I’m going to get two more years.”

The guaranteed portion of Manny’s contract is up at the end of the 2008 season. The club owns the rights to exercise options on both the 2009 and 2010 seasons at 20MM per.

This statement may come as a surprise to the Red Sox brass, however. When Ramirez was asked if he and the club have discussed any of this, he responded, “They don’t need to. I know I’m going to get it.”

By UmpBump Paul

A’s Revive Talks For Crisp

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According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s and Red Sox are "believed to be discussing Coco Crisp again."  Slusser wonders whether the Sox could target Chris Denorfia.

Crisp is guaranteed $11MM over the next two seasons, assuming his 2010 option is bought out.  Oakland seems like a nice fit for Crisp as they seem likely to fully appreciate the value of his tough-to-quantify defense. 

There seems only a slim chance Crisp makes the Japan trip with the Sox.  He’s making progress on his groin injury, but any acquiring team is probably going to want to see him in games first.

Odds and Ends: Inge, Salcedo, Corey, Nathan

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I write this odds and ends post with two less wisdom teeth than I had yesterday.  Looks like applesauce for dinner.

  • Jon Heyman says the Dodgers and Tigers haven’t talked lately, and doesn’t see L.A. taking on Brandon Inge’s $19.1MM.  Aside from the standard Giants suggestion, Heyman puts on his speculation cap and wonders whether Inge could catch for Houston.  What is J.R. Towles, chopped liver?
  • This is questionable, but hey, it’s a Friday.  Hi5 is a popular social networking site in Central America.  A reader sent me a link to this page, which may belong to future superstar kid shortstop/Boras client Edward Salcedo.  The owner of the page slapped up a big ol’ Indians logo over a month ago with the caption "my team."  I have to reiterate that I don’t know if this is really Salcedo’s page.  The Tribe said on Tuesday that Salcedo remained unsigned.
  • The Orioles are observing 34 year-old journeyman reliever Bryan Corey.
  • Joe Nathan, still chatting contract with the Twins.  Kelly Thesier noted that it was the Twins reaching out recently.  Nathan’s agent will meet with them Tuesday.
  • Jacob Jackson goes out on a limb and wonders if Justin Upton could be Oakland’s first $100MM player.
  • The new Phils-ville blog is up.
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