Angels Hope To Start Lackey Extension Talks
According to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, the Angels plan to contact John Lackey‘s agent to initiate negotiations soon on a long-term extension. Lackey is eligible for free agency after the season.
The pitcher would like to get something done before the season if it’s going to happen. He’s open to re-signing but finds free agency alluring as well. Lackey surely realizes he’d be the best available free agent starter with a strong ’09.
Brian Giles Likes Red Sox, Yankees, Angels
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune talked to Padres outfielder Brian Giles today. At $9MM, Giles is the Padres’ second highest-paid player behind Jake Peavy. He’s a trade candidate this season, though he has full no-trade rights. He carries the baggage of a lawsuit with his former girlfriend as well as an additional $2MM in salary if traded. The Padres exercised his ’09 option on November 7th last year, and I’m guessing they’re already regretting it.
Krasovic learned that Giles’ favored trade destinations would be the Red Sox, Yankees, and Angels. The Yankees and Angels have surpluses in the outfield currently, though Giles would love to stay in California. Giles vetoed a trade to Boston last year due to playing time issues and an expectation that Theo Epstein would’ve traded him after the season.
Angels, Ervin Santana Agree To Extension
SUNDAY: Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times has details on Santana’s new deal: $3.8MM in ’09, $6MM in ’10, $8MM in ’11, and $11.2MM in ’12. The 2013 option for $13MM carries a $1MM buyout.
The Angels will pay Santana $17.8MM for his three arb years, up from the typical $14MM paid for that period in these types of deals. The Angels and Santana’s agent may have been looking at Scott Kazmir‘s deal as the model, the main difference being that Kazmir’s first arb year salary had already been determined before he signed long-term in May of ’08.
SATURDAY: According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Angels have agreed to a $30MM, four-year extension with Ervin Santana. There is a club option for a fifth year. The contract will prevent the two sides from going to arbitration. Heyman heard from WFAN’s Sweeny Murti that the option year is worth $12MM, if exercised. In that case, the deal would cover two of Santana’s free agent years.
Odds And Ends: Griffey, Varitek, Giants
A few links for Saturday morning…
- Russell Branyan wants Ken Griffey Jr. to join him in Seattle according to this AP story found in the Globe and Mail.
- If Griffey ends up in Seattle, Cameron Smith of the Washington Post says it’s nothing but a marketing ploy.
- Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times likes the depth the Bobby Abreu addition gives the Angels.
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle suggests the Giants could make a trade in Spring Training if teams are looking to dump salary. Brian Sabean says he’s keeping his eye on teams who may need to free up money.
- Alex Speier of WEEI in Boston heard from Jason Varitek about his contract negotiations this offseason. Varitek says he never doubted that he would stay in Boston.
- This doesn’t have to do with rumors, but it’s a good read: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan shares anecdotes from 20 years of Spring Training.
Arb Hearings Postponed For Aybar, Santana
According to the AP, arbitration hearings for Willy Aybar and Ervin Santana were postponed until next week. 11 other players also have pending hearings.
Odds and Ends: Dunn, Schumaker, Abreu
Links for Friday…
- The Blue Jays signed pitcher Dirk Hayhurst to a minor league deal; they’d released him to make room for Matt Bush.
- Alex Speier of WEEI has quotes from John Smoltz about his departure from Atlanta. Smoltz leaving the Braves was the biggest surprise of the offseason for me.
- ESPN’s Jayson Stark surveyed 15 baseball sages for all kinds of opinions on the best and worst of the offseason (which is not officially over yet).
- Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post has more from the Adam Dunn press conference.
- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch sees Skip Schumaker as the Cardinals outfielder most vulnerable to a trade.
- ESPN’s Keith Law weighs in on the Bobby Abreu signing.
- Kevin Goldstein’s Top 100 Prospects list is up over at Baseball Prospectus.
- Scott Moore cleared waivers; he’ll remain in the Orioles organization.
- My definition of a fantasy baseball sleeper, over at RotoAuthority.
- Shoutout: MLBTR had over 9,800 pageviews from Puerto Rico this month.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Red Sox, Cruz, Angels, Jays, Braves
On this date 14 years ago, Hideo Nomo signed with the Dodgers after "retiring" from professional baseball in Japan, becoming the first Japanese player in the big leagues in over 30 years. Nomo would go on to win 123 games in 12 big league seasons, including two no-hitters. Since then, at least 25 other pitchers have made the jump from Japan to the U.S. and Nomo is arguably still the best to make the move. With several big names still looking for their own big league contract, let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Fire Brand of the American League speculates on some in-season trade targets for the Red Sox.
- MLB Notebook takes a look at the players most affected by the recent signings of Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn.
- Jorge Says No! takes a look at the market for Juan Cruz.
- The Sports Banter reflects on what they consider to be a "disappointing" offseason for the Angels.
- UmpBump recaps the offseason for the Blue Jays and looks at their projected lineup.
- Braves Blast rummages through the scraps of what is left for the Braves outfield now that most of the big names have signed elsewhere.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.
Angels Sign Bobby Abreu
According to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, the Angels’ one-year deal with outfielder Bobby Abreu is official. The contract is believed to be for about $5MM guaranteed with incentives that can push the value past $6MM. On today’s conference call, Abreu and Angels GM Tony Reagins explained how they deal came together.
Heyman On Manny, Pudge, Cabrera, Howard
The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…
- Heyman says "most in the know seem to still believe [Dodgers owner Frank] McCourt will bend on Manny Ramirez and go to three years."
- The Nationals’ offer to Adam Dunn was on the table for weeks until he realized no team was going to beat or approach it. There were rumors months ago that Dunn sought a $100MM deal heading into free agency.
- The Astros and Marlins are looking at Ivan Rodriguez. There’s even an El Nuevo Dia report suggesting the Astros offered $2.5MM+ to Pudge, but that seems out of their price range to me. In today’s mailbag, MLB.com’s Alyson Footer opines that the Astros wouldn’t go to $3MM for a catcher.
- The A’s "want to spend no more than $5MM, and probably closer to $3MM" for Orlando Cabrera. He should take that if it’s offered.
- The Angels had been eyeing Joe Crede but may be done after signing Bobby Abreu. The Giants and Twins remain the likeliest suitors for Crede.
- The Phillies hoped to lock up Ryan Howard beyond his arbitration years, and Ruben Amaro Jr. disputed the notion that he is after Teixeira money.
Brewers Acquire Nick Green
According to MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer, the Angels removed pitcher Nick Green from the 40-man roster to make room for Bobby Abreu and Green was "promptly snapped up from waivers by the Brewers." The Brewers designated reliever Luis Pena for assignment to make room, says MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy.
Green, 24, posted a 5.32 ERA in 159 Triple A innings last year. He had issues with hits and home runs allowed. In their ’09 Handbook, Baseball America said Green has a strong changeup but "lacks a swing-and-miss pitch" and "projects as a #4 starter at best."