Cafardo’s Latest: Fuentes, Sowers, Laffey
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
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.”
A’s Revive Talks For Crisp
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
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.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Roberts, Horacio, Willits
Rumor guru and baseball insider Ken Rosenthal has a new column at FOX Sports. Let’s discuss.
- Rosenthal does not see the Cubs taking on the salaries of both Brian Roberts and Coco Crisp, even if they shed their Jason Marquis commitment. Roberts remains the focus.
- Horacio Ramirez‘s agent says seven clubs have already expressed interest in his client. Perhaps he meant to say 0.7.
- Rosenthal runs through many Rocco Baldelli replacement options for the Rays: Reggie Willits, Kenny Lofton, Gabe Gross, and Reed Johnson. Only Willits seems the perfect fit, and the Angels aren’t making him available. Willits and his .393 career OBP could be headed to Triple A.
- The Phillies are looking for middle relief help; Rosenthal suggests a possible match with Arizona. Or, how ’bout signing Bob Wickman? Is he officially retired?
Odds and Ends: Mirabelli, Lohse, Spring Stats
Here are some links I’ve cobbled together.
- Surprise move by the Red Sox, releasing Doug Mirabelli.
- Check out this typically lengthy blog entry from Joe Posnanski. I laughed out loud twice. Read it.
- Derrick Goold says the Cards are having "continued dialogue" with Kyle Lohse‘s people. Viva El Birdos considers this a test for ownership.
- With a hat tip to John Dewan, RotoAuthority attempts to find some meaning in this year’s spring training stats.
- If you haven’t already, take a look at my video mailbag from yesterday. We should have one of those MLB Roundup things on the way this week too.
Crisp Must Establish Health Before Trade
It’s fair to say that most teams like to acquire healthy players rather than injured ones. That’s definitely the case with Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, who is trying to come back from groin problems. Nick Cafardo reiterates the Cubs’ interest, but the Cubs need to see him play first. Crisp also dealt with a root canal this spring. On a related note I am having some wisdom teeth removed tomorrow morning, so forgive me if I’m a bit off.
Crisp has only played in two games this spring, and it’s possible he’s left off the Japan trip to start Boston’s season. While it’s nice to have things shored up before Opening Day, there’s no reason not to extend this thing into April. For what it’s worth, Tony Massarotti talked to a scout who suggested the Reds, White Sox, Pirates, and Rangers might be looking for a center fielder.
Bogus Crisp To Mets Rumor
2:34pm: Theo Epstein says he hasn’t been talking to the Mets. Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe labels this rumor a fabrication.
2:10pm: Newsday’s David Lennon confirms the Mets haven’t traded for Crisp, implying that they wouldn’t be interested.
1:13pm: WFAN’s Ed Coleman reports rumblings of a possible Coco Crisp to the Mets deal, which would involve Angel Pagan. It’s not confirmed or official, but it’s out there. When I get more I’ll update the post.
Crisp’s contract: $4.75MM in ’08, $5.75MM in ’09, and an $8MM club option for ’10 with a $0.5MM buyout. Crisp has posted an OPS around .700 for Boston while playing stellar center field defense. I imagine he’d spend time at all three outfield positions for the Mets if acquired.
Pagan, 26, started in the Mets’ organization. The outfielder plays all three positions and has a career line of .255/.306/.415. In January of ’06, the Cubs purchased his contract from the Mets. He made the Cubs’ Opening Day roster, but a torn hamstring knocked him out until July. The following year he got the call in May to replace Felix Pie. Then he had an unfortunate bout with colitis. In January of this year, the Mets reacquired Pagan from the Cubs for Corey Coles and Ryan Meyers.
Red Sox Not Interested In Chris Capuano
Tom Haudricourt and Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel asked Brewers’ GM Doug Melvin about an Internet rumor: possible interest from Boston in Chris Capuano. Melvin shot it down, saying he hadn’t talked to the Red Sox. I think I’m slipping – I’ve been chronicling rumors all week and hadn’t heard a whisper of this one. And I’m on the Internet!
Anyway, Melvin admitted that he might trade some of his pitching surplus before the season begins. I agree with MLBTR readers that Capuano is the most likely to go. Just seems like he needs a change of scenery. Salary comparison: Capuano makes $3.75MM, Claudio Vargas makes $3.6MM, and Dave Bush makes $2.55MM. Bush has a year less service time than the other two. The Cardinals would be a great match for any of these guys if they weren’t in the Brewers’ division. One fit could be the Rangers, who have an ailing rotation right now.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Crisp, Capuano, Lohse
Does anybody else think that Brian Roberts‘ agent fuels 90% of these rumors just so his client’s name is kept in the news? Me neither…Now that we have gotten the obligatory Roberts reference out of the way, let’s move on to some trades/signings that might actually happen in the near future. The biggest of course is the recent news that talks may be heating up with the Red Sox to move Coco Crisp. So far we know that the Sox are not interested in Jason Marquis or Sam Fuld and the Padres may only be having internal discussions at this point (although one writer does not see the Padres as serious suitors). Let’s take a look at what is being written about Crisp and a few others in the Blogosphere…
If there is a topic you would like to see covered in "Baseball Blogs Weigh In" please let me know HERE.
- Red Sox News doesn’t like the rumored offer of Jason Marquis and Sam Fuld for Crisp. More likely they believe a package of Josh Donaldson and either Bobby Howry or Carmen Pignatiello could be accepted by the Sox.
- Boston Sports Buzz sees Crisp as a nice solution for the Padres, since they currently employ one utility player and two injuries-waiting-to-happen in the outfield while lacking a legitimate leadoff hitter.
- El Guapo’s Ghost also sees the Padres as the logical destination for Crisp, noting that prospect Kyle Blanks may be expendable for the Pads and fill the vacancy of power-hitting prospects in the Red Sox organization.
- Hire Jim Essian is not too keen on Crisp, so they are rooting hard for Felix Pie to play well and keep "punching the baseball in its stupid face."
- Goat Riders is not crazy about Crisp playing center for the Cubbies, but prefer him to the alternatives.
- Right Field Bleachers notes that the Brewers may trade Chris Capuano before Opening Day as he needs a change of scenery and he still has some value on the market. They do not see the Red Sox as a good match since the Brew Crew does not need a center fielder (i.e. Crisp).
- Rockin’ the Red laments the loss of another starting pitcher and acknowledges that it is time to look outside the organization for help. They would rather the Cardinals sign Kyle Lohse as opposed to Jeff Weaver.
- Viva El Birdos would also prefer Lohse to any other outside options, and would opt for in-house options if Lohse is not signed.
Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.