Cubs Outfield Situation: Crisp, Johnson, Byrd
Quite a bit of info is floating about this evening regarding the Cubs’ quest to add an outfielder. Let’s put it all together.
- SI.com’s Jon Heyman names Coco Crisp, Jay Payton, Marlon Byrd, and Brandon Inge as possible targets. Inge makes the least sense given his salary and the Tigers’ need for him while Curtis Granderson is out.
- ESPN’s Jayson Stark confirms Ken Rosenthal’s assertion that the Cubs are leading the pack for Reed Johnson. Stark speculates that such an acquisition could prompt the Cubs to trade Matt Murton.
- ESPN’s Peter Gammons says Red Sox scout Allard Baird is currently observing the Cubs. Other scouts in ‘zona are speculating about a Sean Gallagher for Crisp scenario. Gammons notes that the Red Sox wouldn’t mind getting Murton back, either. He thinks the Sox are wary of trading Crisp right now though, echoing a sentiment from Buster Olney.
- Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News writes that the Rangers want Murton plus one of Jose Ceda, Gallagher, or Donald Veal for Byrd. Jim Hendry did recently re-engage the Rangers, according to Grant.
Who Wants Reed Johnson?
3:40pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs are "showing the heaviest interest" in Johnson. Johnson does make sense for the Cubs, playing center when the team faces a lefty. It might hold Felix Pie back slightly, but it’s a win-now move.
Rosenthal says the Red Sox, Rays, and Rangers are the other teams in on Johnson. It’s definitely surprising to see the Sox and Rangers in the mix as neither club is light on outfielders.
9:40am: If 31 year-old outfielder Reed Johnson clears release waivers, he’s going to be a hot commodity. Already, the expected three teams have been named as possibilities in their respective newspapers.
- On Sunday, Joel Sherman characterized the Mets’ interest as "mild at best." Bart Hubbuch says the Mets are interested but quotes Omar Minaya as saying the Mets will go with internal options.
- Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says the Cubs have interest in Johnson, noting that Jim Hendry is likely to make an acquisition this week. Jeff DaVanon is another (less likely) option. Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs would have interest in Johnson if he clears release waivers.
- Joe Smith connects the Rays to Johnson and DaVanon, though only in speculation.
- I asked ESPN’s Keith Law how Johnson handled center field. He said: "I haven’t seen him since the injury, but he could play it every day when I was with Toronto, and he has a plus arm."
Odds and Ends: Papelbon, Darvish, Crisp
Let’s round up some morning links.
- McCovey Chronicles feels that the Jose Castillo signing reduces the Joe Crede threat level for the Giants.
- Jonathan Papelbon wants to drive the market for closers upward.
- Keith Law discusses J.P. Ricciardi’s decision to overrule scouting advisers and draft Ricky Romero over Troy Tulowitzki for the Blue Jays back in ’05.
- If Yu Darvish is posted after this season, will it cost $75MM just to negotiate with him?
- From Buster Olney on Sunday: "Rival teams are not entirely sure if the Red Sox are devoted to the idea of trading Coco Crisp."
- Pedro Martinez will not worry about his next contract until after the season.
Manny Hopes To Play Six More Years
Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez expressed no discomfort with his contract situation (Boston has $20MM options for 2009 and 2010). "They’re not stupid," he said of his bosses in the Sox front office. "They know. They know I can play and I’m ready. That’s it. I’m going to get the two options, then I’m going to get a four-year deal. I’m just going to go and get it." That would have Manny retiring at the age of 42. "Age is just a number," he added.
Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.com. She can be reached here.
Rays Considering Crisp?
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
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
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
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
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
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.