White Sox Sign Alexei Ramirez
UPDATE, 12-22-07 at 6:00pm: Ramirez can earn another $3.25MM in incentives.
UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 10:57pm: Ramirez gets a mere $4.75MM over the four-year pact. That’s an excellent move right there, in my opinion. Dirt cheap – low risk, decent reward.
FROM 12-21-07 at 5:35pm:
The White Sox made an interesting move today, signing Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez to a four-year contract. The presence of Jose Contreras should be helpful for him. Ramirez probably profiles as Chicago’s center fielder, though he could also play second base. Here’s what Baseball America had to say about him a few months ago.
It’s tough to judge this signing until we hear the money involved. He was apparently highly sought after, as ESPN says he worked out for the Red Sox, Indians, Reds, Cubs, Mets, Yankees, Twins, and A’s too. Ramirez is apparently 26 years old. I think he’s going to need some time in the minors, as Clay Davenport has equated Cuban baseball with our short season A ball.
As a means of comparison, Yuniesky Betancourt signed for four years and $2.826MM in January of 2005. Kendry Morales signed a four-year deal worth around $10MM in December of 2004.
The Mark Prior Derby
Let’s do a recap on the Mark Prior Derby, which is getting more confusing each day. Jerry Crasnick has added some good info this afternoon. Prior wants a one-year deal and hopes to be on a big league mound before the end of May.
- Yankees – They’ll probably pass, per Hank Steinbrenner.
- Red Sox – Named only by Jayson Stark.
- White Sox – Named only by Stark.
- Mariners – Named by Stark, denied by Jim Street.
- Mets – Named by Stark, Crasnick, Ken Rosenthal, Ed Price
- Cardinals – Named by Stark, Crasnick, Rosenthal, Matthew Leach
- Padres – Named by many, made an offer according to Crasnick. Prior went to USC but would have to take less money to play in San Diego
- Astros – Named by many, made an offer according to Alyson Footer
- Giants – Named only by Stark
- Reds – Named by Stark, Crasnick. Prior previously played under Dusty Baker
- Nationals – Named by Stark, Crasnick, Bill Ladson
- Rangers – Named by Crasnick but not Stark, aggressively pursuing according to Rosenthal
- Marlins – Named only by Crasnick
- Indians – Named only by Crasnick
One more and we’re at half of all baseball teams linked at some point. The Phillies and Pirates are not interested, and it’s probably safe to count the Cubs out.
Nothing Imminent With Orioles
Sean Welsh of the Baltimore Examiner spoke to Orioles’ president Andy MacPhail, clearing up some rumors that had been buzzing around. MacPhail would be "very surprised" if the Orioles strike deals for Erik Bedard or Brian Roberts before year’s end.
Welsh says the Cubs are focused on Roberts, while the Reds are still on Bedard’s trail.
Cubs Considering So Taguchi?
Trusted reader Alex writes in with a George Ofman report on 670 The Score out of Chicago. Apparently the Cubs are considering signing free agent outfielder So Taguchi, which may be related to the Kosuke Fukudome signing. The is much less damaging than signing Kaz Matsui would’ve been, at least. But it could lead to Matt Murton being traded for less than he’s worth.
Odds and Ends: Roberts, Otsuka, Walker, DaVanon
A few minor moves to speak of…
- The Cubs don’t appear to be concerned about Brian Roberts‘ steroid admission.
- The Padres’ talks for Xavier Nady are "on hold," according to Bill Center. Also, the Friars continue to eye Akinori Otsuka.
- Aside from the aforementioned Michael Barrett, the Padres signed Robert Fick and Jeff DaVanon. DaVanon, a switch-hitter, has had some decent years against righties. Ken Rosenthal believes the Padres may consider their outfield situation settled now after missing out on Geoff Jenkins and signing DaVanon.
- Todd Walker, remember him? He was released by the Padres this year in Spring Training and hooked on with Oakland. After a month and a half there, they designated him for assignment. He wasn’t picked up, and enjoyed spending the time with his family. Now, however, the Rockies have had preliminary conversations with him according to Tracy Ringolsby. Walker played for the Rox in 2000, posting a .929 OPS in limited duty. He had another half season in Colorado in ’01 before being traded to the Reds for Alex Ochoa.
- Excellent team blogs are going corporate – Bucco Blog was purchased by Baseball Interactive Media, and MetsBlog partnered with SNY. Both seem like positive developments for readers – Jake and Matthew maintain editorial control, but perhaps gain additional access and technology.
Stark’s Latest: Prior, Lofton, Otsuka
ESPN’s Jayson Stark dishes some good rumorage in his latest column.
- Stark dug around to find all the Mark Prior suitors and came up with this list: Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, Mariners, Mets, Cardinals, Padres, Astros, Giants, Reds, Nationals (11 teams). Let’s compare notes. MLBTR readers have seen the Yankees, Mets, Cards, Padres, Astros, Reds, and Nats linked to Prior already. So Stark has added the Red Sox, White Sox, Mariners, and Giants. The idea of the Mariners runs contrary to this MLB.com article. Stark did not name the Rangers, who are said to be aggressively pursuing Prior. Prior is dead set on a one-year deal and would take a big league mound in May in the best case.
- The Phils are focused on Geoff Jenkins and Mike Cameron, offering two year deals to each. They might just take the first one to accept. Stark says Kenny Lofton could be an option if both decline. Lofton batted a career-best .335 for the Phils in ’05.
- Stark rattles off a laundry list of pitchers the Phillies are interested in: Akinori Otsuka, Byung-Hyun Kim, Roberto Hernandez, Kris Benson, John Parrish, Sidney Ponson, Chad Durbin, Kyle Lohse, and Jeremy Affeldt. Given Stark’s 21 years at the Philadelphia Inquirer, I imagine he has a connection or two. Most of those are new names besides Benson, Lohse, Ponson, and Affeldt.
- A source of Stark picks the Yankees as the favorite for Johan, but it should be noted that they’re having internal debates about pulling Phil Hughes off the table.
- For all the crazy Cubs fans we’ve got here: Stark says they’ve talked to the Orioles about both Brian Roberts and Erik Bedard, but couldn’t pull off a deal for both. They favor Roberts even though they need Bedard much more.
Crisp/Lugo For Cabrera Speculation
Been getting this Phil Rogers blog post emailed to me quite a bit lately. In it he speculates that the White Sox could send Orlando Cabrera to the Red Sox for Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp. Or, they could send Cabrera to the Cubs for prospects. Third, he suggests the Sox could sign Cabrera for around four years and $50MM, the offer they made to Kosuke Fukudome.
Nothing wrong with the speculation, Phil is just spitballing here it seems. However, this talk gets passed around a couple of times, people don’t actually read what Phil wrote, and then people start saying this is a rumor or that there have been talks of this nature. To me, speculation doesn’t graduate to a rumor until someone reports that it’s been discussed by execs of one or more teams. Just my two cents on why this is not a trade rumor. But, feel free to discuss.
Cubs Interested In Bedard?
With the volume of rumors that flew around during the Winter Meetings, it’s easy to get confused. Luckily MLBTR has archives of everything. That’s how we were able to research the Cubs’ alleged interest in Erik Bedard.
It started on December 4th with Joel Sherman saying the Cubs were part of a pool competing for Bedard that contained 8-10 teams. Then three days later, Bruce Miles reported that Bedard was "not on the Cubs’ radar screen."
The latest, per an uncredited blurb on ESPN Rumor Central: "In recent days, the Cubs let their interest be known." The blurb also references the Seattle PI, perhaps this article, but there’s no Cubs reference there.
Anyway, it makes sense that Jim Hendry and Andy MacPhail would at least have a high-level Bedard discussion. The Cubs need a pitcher like him, they’ve liked him before, and they do have some decent young talent.
Cubs Like Joe Nathan
UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 2:47pm: George Ofman of WSCR radio 670 out of Chicago says the Twins would indeed want Marmol in a deal for Nathan.
FROM 12-13-07 at 11:26pm:
LENIII has just a single-line teaser for us at the end of his column:
The Cubs are interested in trading for closer Joe Nathan if he’s available.
That’s a new one; who knew the Cubs were looking for a closer? Their deficiences seem to be at shortstop and perhaps in the rotation. It seems that some combination of Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry, and Kerry Wood can handle the ninth inning.
What would the Cubs have to give up? I’m drawing a blank trying to find a precedent – an elite closer dealt with one year left before free agency. Billy Wagner was dealt in the 2003-04 offseason, but he had two seasons left on his deal. How about Keith Foulke? The A’s acquired him with one year left; the White Sox received Daylon Holt, Neal Cotts, and Billy Koch. Maybe the Twins would ask for Marmol plus one more good young player.
Astros Interested In Prior
According to Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros have contacted Mark Prior‘s agent. Prior is a free agent for the first time in his career after the Cubs non-tendered him on Wednesday. By the way, I’ve previously erroneously named Prior’s current agent as Scott Boras. That changed at some point – he’s with John Boggs now.
Astros GM Ed Wade admitted to his interest in Prior but not much else. He told McTaggart that a lot of teams have contacted Boggs about Prior (nine, to be exact). Prior figures to miss a few months of the 2008 season due to his April ’07 shoulder surgery. Wade told McTaggart he contacted a couple of non-tendered players; here’s the list if you want to guess.
The Cubs didn’t feel Prior would return to his "high-level form" until 2009. They insisted on a club option for that year, and their offer was "not received well" by Prior and his agent.