Odds and Ends: Jacque, Lee Hak-ju, Tavarez
Here’s today’s collection of links.
- The Tigers weren’t able to trade Jacque Jones; he’ll become a free agent tomorrow. The Marlins are expected to make an offer.
- The Cubs signed a Korean high school shortstop named Lee Hak-ju. Aaron Shinsano, who works for the Cubs as a scout, says the team believes he’d have been a first round pick in the states.
- Giants owner Peter Magowan is expected to step down Friday.
- Troy Renck says the Rox still want Julian Tavarez but won’t give up pitching prospect Brandon Hynick. Baseball America ranked Hynick eighth among Rockies prospects, they describe him as a command guy with a decent splitter. The Sox are talking to two or three teams about Tavarez.
- Not a surprise, but Jon Garland isn’t likely to sign back with the White Sox.
Odds and Ends: Jacque, Vizquel, Greinke
Today’s linkage…
- An MLBTR chat will take place in this space at 2pm CST – get your questions ready!
- I will also be hopping on ESPN-1580 (Columbia, MO) today at 4:20pm CST.
- Jacque Jones prefers to play for the Marlins…I imagine he will end up there.
- GM bloodlines courtesy of Batter’s Box.
- Omar Vizquel wants to play in ’09, if he has a good offensive year in ’08.
- The White Sox do not intend to overpay their 8th overall pick this June.
- The Royals haven’t had any extension talks yet with Zack Greinke, who would become a free agent after the 2010 season. Greinke says he doesn’t know what he’s worth. The market says about $11MM over the 2009-10 seasons.
- J.P. Ricciardi says he’s done tinkering with his offense.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Lidge, Daniel Cabrera, Bonds, Edmonds
Ken Rosenthal has a new column up. I put the Griffey info in a separate post; let’s discuss the rest.
- Rosenthal suggests that Brad Lidge would be harder to replace than Pat Burrell, and for that reason the Phillies will make a bigger effort to re-sign him. I imagine Phillies fans would prefer that course of action. The problem? The Phillies have little chance of offering four years, according to Jayson Stark.
- The Rangers will face a delicate situation in coming years: moving Michael Young to a different position. The chain reaction could make Hank Blalock available. Blalock has a club option for ’09 at $6.2MM.
- Aside from Rick Porcello replacing Kenny Rogers at some point, the questionable Detroit rotation is set and signed through 2010.
- One scout seems to think Daniel Cabrera has turned the corner and shouldn’t be traded. He’ll become a free agent after the 2010 season and earns $2.875MM this year.
- Though it might be seen as a desperation move, the Tigers don’t have much to lose by signing Barry Bonds. Gary Sheffield endorsed it.
- Rosenthal says the Rays and Jays are teams with "possible interest" in Jim Edmonds but are likely to pass. That leaves the Cubs.
- Will Jason Giambi find a job next year after the Yankees decline his option? He plans to try.
- The Red Sox asked about Mark Loretta during Spring Training as "infield insurance." Rosenthal suggests the Sox consider Omar Vizquel, a defensive upgrade over Julio Lugo.
Rosenthal’s Full Count: Bonds, Webb, Hanley
Let’s hit up Ken Rosenthal’s latest Full Count video:
- Rosenthal thinks the Tigers should sign Barry Bonds. Sure, Detroit already has too many DHs, and Bonds wouldn’t help their need for improved defense and speed, but they absolutely need another lefthanded bat. Rosenthal points out that the team is 11-20 in games started by RHP. As for the fear of a clubhouse problem, Gary Sheffield – who has feuded with Bonds in the past – has no problem and I would presume that the other players, particularly veterans, on the Tigers would echo that sentiment.
- The 3-year contract extension for Brandon Webb does not have "a lot of momentum." Like Jake Peavy last year, Webb is looking for around 3 years, 52 million despite being 2 years older than Peavy.
- KR loves the Hanley deal. It keeps them from having to deal another player before his contract becomes too expensive and that there shouldn’t be any concern for Hanley’s production to drop off.
By Nat Boyle
Scenarios: Bonds In The American League
In his latest column, Baltimore Sun writer Peter Schmuck doesn’t buy the collusion talk going around baseball circles regarding one Barry Bonds. He argues that the owners have no need to collude when Bonds’ bad health, bad ‘tude, bad rep, and age are doing just fine in keeping bidders at bay.
Like many other baseball pundits, Schmuck thinks Bonds could be of some service to an American League team in need of a DH, but the reality is that only a few teams have a hole at that spot.
He does raise a good point, mentioning the Tigers’ decision to plop Gary Sheffield in left field (and cut Jacque Jones), creating an "apparent" need for a pure DH. For those of us too young to remember, Tigers manager Jim Leyland was instrumental during the early part of Bonds’ carreer in Pittsburgh, and Schmuck believes the 43-year-old slugger helped build Leyland’s reputation in return. (Another former Leyland protegé, Edgar Rentería, was acquired by the Tigers in the off-season).
But don’t add Bonds to your fantasy yeam just yet, because as Schmuck points out, "it probably wouldn’t be a great idea reuniting Sheffield and Bonds after the BALCO mess."
Alejandro Leal writes for UmpBump.com
Padres, Marlins Interested In Jacque Jones
According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the Marlins and Padres have inquired on recently designated outfielder Jacque Jones. The Tigers, on the hook for $3MM of Jones’ salary this year, would obviously prefer a trade.
Many Padres are not hitting, including outfielders Jim Edmonds and Scott Hairston. Jones might not hit for much power anymore, but he can play a quality center field.
The Fish nearly acquired Jones last summer. They haven’t gotten much out of Alfredo Amezaga and Cody Ross in center, and left fielder Josh Willingham is on the DL with a sore lower back. The Marlins are just a game back in the NL East.
Tigers Release Jacque Jones
According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers released outfielder Jacque Jones today.
Jones, 33, received only 90 plate appearances before the Tigers gave up on him. He makes $5MM this year, of which the Cubs are paying $2MM. Given Jones’ ability to play all three outfield positions, he shouldn’t have a problem finding a new team.
Rockies Acquire Jason Grilli, Jorge de la Rosa
The Rockies and Tigers made a swap today. The Rockies get 31 year-old pitcher Jason Grilli, while the Tigers receive 22 year-old pitcher Zach Simons.
Grilli has served as a mop-up man for the Tigers the past two years, eating bullpen innings at a mediocre ERA. The Rox may have been drawn to his typically decent groundball rates.
Simons appears to be a long shot to reach the bigs; he wasn’t among the Rockies’ top 30 prospects.
The Rox also completed their long-rumored deal for lefty Jorge de la Rosa. He’ll jump right into the rotation. The 27 year-old is an interesting arm when healthy.
Retirement A Possibility For Sheffield
Because of shoulder woes, 39 year-old DH Gary Sheffield hasn’t hit well since July of last year. He’s an elite slugger when he’s on but terrible when he’s off. In the midst of a third cortisone shot, Sheffield suggested that retirement is not out of the question. He’s dealing with all kinds of pain and won’t undergo another surgery. Retirement sounds like a worst-case scenario though. After all, he is set to earn $14MM in ’09.
If Sheff retires or hits the 60-day DL, talk of Barry Bonds or Mike Piazza could heighten. The Tigers, however, have consistently denied interest in Bonds. They could simply shift Carlos Guillen to DH and Brandon Inge to third if Sheffield is out of the picture.
Cabrera-Guillen Position Switch Upsets Inge
We haven’t discussed the Miguel Cabrera–Carlos Guillen position swap here on MLBTR – on the surface it doesn’t appear to have hot stove implications.
However, Ken Rosenthal heard from a Major League source that Brandon Inge is "livid" that Cabrera was moved off third yet Inge still doesn’t have a starting gig.
Inge, 31 in May, is off to a decent start this year with a .246/.357/.439 line in 20 games. His versatility is especially valuable for the Tigers, who have multiple injury-prone starters. Trading Inge now only makes sense if a respectable reliever comes in return (even if $6.2MM is pricey for a supersub).