Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Teixeira, Giants, Braves, Bradley, Pirates
On this date 17 years ago, the Blue Jays signed 40-year old future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield to a one-year, $2.3MM contract. The signing was a good one as Winfield helped the Jays to their first title in 1992. That year he hit .290-26-108 with a .377 OBP and 137 OPS+, including what would prove to be the series-winning two-run double in the top of the 11th of game 6 of the World Series. Did I mention he was 40? With this year’s crop of free agents playing euchre as they patiently wait for Mark Teixeira to make up his mind, let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Sully Baseball is not worried about the Red Sox possibly losing out on Mark Teixeira feeling the money may be better spent on pitching.
- The Bottom Line wonders if the Red Sox are better off waiting a year and going after Matt Holliday to replace Jason Bay.
- El Lefty Malo projects the Giants offense for next season and shows that one more big bat would give them a league-average offense.
- Braves Blast laments the Braves inability to land a starting pitcher so far this off-season and wonders what options are left.
- The Launching Pad does not see any of the remaining free agent pitchers as an upgrade for the Braves over what is already on the roster.
- Goat Riders of the Apocalypse is aggravated by the lack of big moves from the Cubs and while they would like Milton Bradley as a Cub, they think it is unlikely.
- Baseball Handyman offers grades for the free agent signings to date, with only the Francisco Rodriguez contract earning an ‘A’.
- The ‘Burgh Blues takes a look at the Pirates inability to find pitchers that can find the strike zone.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.
Odds and Ends: Abreu, Millwood, Wigginton
Links for Thursday…
- Luke Hudson agreed to stay with the Royals on a minor league deal. And because Braves fans keep emailing it…the Braves signed Lance Niekro as a pitcher, as noted in the minor league transactions we linked yesterday. Talking Chop and Henry Schulman have more.
- Along similar lines, here’s a link to Joel Sherman’s December 12th story about the Orlando Hudson and Adam Dunn being the Nationals’ backup plan for Mark Teixeira. That came four days before the Jon Heyman report people keep emailing.
- C.C. Sabathia‘s preferred teams heading into free agency: the Yankees, Brewers, and Angels.
- Dave O’Brien tries to figure out what the Braves should do with all their money.
- John Fay explains why the Reds may attempt to acquire a young shortstop.
- The Orioles may move on to Gregg Zaun now that Matt Treanor is off the board.
- Geoff Baker speculates on a possible Mariners-Brewers trade match, though nothing seems to be cooking currently.
- RotoAuthority looks at the biggest losers, comparing ’09 fantasy baseball mock draft positions to ’08.
- I did a Q&A with Called Safe At Second.
- ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick writes about how teams view free agent outfielder Bobby Abreu.
- Kevin Millwood has twelve million reasons to pitch 180 innings in 2009. I never understood that phrase. Why is each dollar a reason?
- Dejan Kovacevic says Ty Wigginton has no wish to return to Pittsburgh.
- Roch Kubatko is hearing the Orioles may have reached a settlement with Sidney Ponson regarding the grievance.
- Pitcher Jon Leicester is the latest to head to Japan.
- Might not read about this on MLBTR, eh? Chico Harlan says the Nationals signed 16 year-old Dominican prospects Bill Pena and Gregory Baez.
Four Teams Pursuing Redding
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies, Rangers, Mets, and Orioles have been the most aggressive suitors for free agent starter Tim Redding. Redding, 31 in February, posted a 4.95 ERA in 33 starts for the Nationals this year while earning $1MM. They decided to non-tender him.
Other notes from Renck…the Rox have had productive talks with Glendon Rusch, and Ray King has drawn interest from the Phillies, Marlins, and Pirates.
Pirates Close To Extension With Doumit, Not McLouth
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are close to signing catcher Ryan Doumit to an extension. Doumit, 28, had a breakout year with a .318/.357/.501 line in 465 plate appearances. He’s arbitration-eligible for the first time.
Kovacevic learned that talks with Nate McLouth‘s agent for an extension are "close to dead," according to his agent. The two sides were never close on the dollars. McLouth is under team control through 2011 anyway.
Derrick Turnbow Derby
We learned yesterday from Dejan Kovacevic that five teams are in serious talks for free agent reliever Derrick Turnbow. One large-market team (not the Pirates) made a Major League offer.
Jon Paul Morosi talked to Turnbow’s agent Damon Lapa, who said the Tigers called him this week to reaffirm their interest. The Tigers have Turnbow’s medical records (he dealt with a slight labrum tear this year). Lapa expects his client to sign somewhere by the end of the year.
According to Morosi, the Pirates, Marlins, Rays, Rangers, and Phillies have also shown interest in Turnbow. The last three are new, while the Rockies and Giants have been linked to Turnbow in the past as well.
Pirates Looking at Ray King
Ray King is currently playing winter ball in the DR, but he’s one of several relievers the Pirates are pursuing — including Chris Bootcheck and Derrick Turnbow, as we knew — according to MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch. He’s 34, weighs 230 lbs, and a lefty.
King was on the Nationals’ Opening Day roster, but only spent 12 games with the Nats before heading to Triple A (with the affiliates of the White Sox and the Astros). Though his major league ERA has been (well) over 4.00 since 2005, in 32 games with Houston’s AAA Round Rock Express he posted a 2.25 ERA.
Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.
Daniel Cabrera Suitors
According to John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus, the Pirates top the list of suitors for Daniel Cabrera. He says the Brewers, Padres, Rangers, Blue Jays, and Nationals are also interested.
We learned yesterday that the Blue Jays are interested but haven’t made an offer yet. Cabrera’s agent has heard from about half the teams in baseball, and one even offered a multiyear deal.
Turnbow Receives Major League Offer
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are one of five teams in serious talks for free agent reliever Derrick Turnbow. A large-market team among those five made a Major League offer to Turnbow. Kovacevic says Turnbow could sign before Christmas.
The Rockies, Giants, and Tigers have also been linked to Turnbow, who stopped pitching in July of this year due to a slight labrum tear. We’ve also heard the Marlins are in the mix.
Pirates Make Offer To Chris Bootcheck
10:56am: Correction – the Pirates have offered a minor league contract to Bootcheck, but no agreement has been reached.
12:15am: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates signed free agent reliever Chris Bootcheck. It’s a minor league deal paying $700K for time spent in the Majors. Bootcheck pitched 54 innings this year at various levels. He missed time with a strained oblique and forearm.
Bootcheck went to the Angels with the 20th overall pick in the 2000 draft; he was advised by Scott Boras. If Bootcheck is still represented by Boras, this move could be viewed as a sign that the Pedro Alvarez drama did not have a lingering effect. Bootcheck hasn’t done much in the Majors, but he does average about 93mph with his fastball.
No Trade Market For Jack Wilson
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates might not be able to trade shortstop Jack Wilson this offseason. Even if the Dodgers miss out on Rafael Furcal, their Plan B is Orlando Cabrera. The A’s, Royals, and Blue Jays have not expressed interest in Wilson. Kovacevic says the Blue Jays are definitely not interested. You may recall that J.P. Ricciardi went out of his way to deny interest in Wilson in July of last year.