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Does Crede Make Sense For Dodgers?

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South Side Sox wonders if the Dodgers will look to acquire White Sox third baseman Joe Crede now that Andy LaRoche is out two months with a torn thumb ligament and Nomar Garciaparra’s status is day to day after getting hit in the wrist by a pitch.

Buster Olney says the Dodgers are likely to trade for a player like Crede because "the perception about Garciaparra, among scouts, is that his unusual throwing mechanics make it very difficult for him to play third base on a regular basis."

Previously, Los Angeles had been mentioned as a possible destination for Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge. But, as South Side Sox points out, "Crede brings more power, a better contact rate, and a smaller salary" than Inge. So why not Crede?

One more point in Crede’s favor: because he’s in the final year of his contract, he wouldn’t block LaRoche at the position next season. Then again, Crede, who is coming off back surgery, is hardly a safe bet to stay healthy and the last thing the Dodgers need is three third basemen on the DL.

By Umpbump Coley

Sox To Wait On Crede Trade?

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman gives his take on the White Sox-Giants Joe Crede trade talks:

The White Sox apparently haven’t been enamored by what the Giants have to offer for third baseman Joe Crede. A Giants person conceded, "We badly need bats,” but they aren’t to the point where they’ll give up any of their better pitchers to get them. One possibility could be hard-throwing reliever Jonathan Sanchez, though it appears now that Crede may not be traded until closer to this summer’s deadline.

White Sox GM Kenny Williams has previously said that Josh Fields will play third base in 2008, whether in the Majors or at Triple A.  He doesn’t have much left to learn there, however.  Ken Rosenthal explored a scenario that would allow the Sox to play both Crede and Fields at the corners – a trade of Paul Konerko before the veteran’s 10 and 5 no-trade rights kick in.

There is no reason that the Giants should feel motivated to include the promising Sanchez to acquire one year of Crede.  The 25 year-old southpaw has a "sneaky fastball and plus change-up," according to Baseball America.  He’s whiffed more than a batter per inning in his 92-inning big league career.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Thames, Konerko, Ellis, Atkins

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up; let’s take a look.

  • Rosenthal dissects the outfield options for the Mets, many of the names we’ve been speculating.  He notes that the Mets’ talks for Marcus Thames fizzled during the Winter Meetings.
  • He says Paul Konerko "remains quietly available," and expresses the opinion that the Mets or Yankees could both use him.  Rosenthal believes Chicago’s biggest need is starting pitching.
  • Rosenthal speculates that six years at $18MM per might be the Rockies’ limit for Matt Holliday.  Will the Scott Boras client demand full market value?  Also, Colorado doesn’t seem to have any plans to lock up Garrett Atkins.
  • Signing Mark Ellis to an extension rather than trading him is a possibility for the A’s.  Three or four years at $5MM per would be the going rate.
  • Though Dylan Hernandez wrote that the Dodgers "don’t appear to be interested in Brandon Inge," Rosenthal says they’re "indeed intrigued."

A’s Not Interested In Pierre

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11:50am: Slusser says A’s sources are thoroughly denying this rumor.  It was fun while it lasted!  She is also skeptical of the Mark Ellis rumblings.

8:01am: There’s a headline I didn’t expect to write, given that the Dodgers’ Juan Pierre comes with a $36.5MM commitment over the next four years.  Susan Slusser reports that the Athletics have inquired on him, proof that they may be looking to acquire a veteran center fielder.

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense on the surface.  Either the A’s would want the Dodgers to absorb a significant portion of the money, or they’d like to pass back their own questionable contract.  Front row center would be Eric Chavez, owed $37MM over the next three seasons.  Chavez’s ten and five no-trade rights haven’t kicked in yet, and the Dodgers aren’t among the teams on his current limited clause.   The oft-injured Chavez isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Odds and Ends: Lowry, Mantei, Inge

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Link time!

Odds and Ends: Ponson, Inge, Papelbon

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Let’s round up some Monday morning links.

  • The Cardinals are taking another look at Sidney Ponson.  Insert your own punchline in the comments.
  • Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun could see the O’s making a minor trade for a veteran second baseman if they acquire Ronny Cedeno but not Eric Patterson in a Brian Roberts deal with the Cubs.
  • Brandon Inge is trying his best to talk his way out of town.  The Dodgers’ recently reported nibble hasn’t been publicly shot down, so that’s a plus.
  • South Side Sox thinks speedy infielder Eugenio Velez is the type of player the White Sox could desire for Joe Crede.
  • Jonathan Papelbon wants $900K in his last year before arbitration eligibility.  Ryan Howard set a scary precedent last year.  If Papelbon doesn’t get offered something close, he’d rather make a statement and be renewed near the minimum.
  • Buster Olney suggests Dan Johnson and Doug Mientkiewicz could be possibilities for the Mets in their quest for a backup first baseman.  Olney speculated on Nick Johnson, Scott Hatteberg, Richie Sexson, Tony Clark, and Kevin Millar the day before.

White Sox Interested In Mark Ellis

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About a week ago, I speculated that the White Sox could go after Oakland second baseman Mark Ellis if their in-house options don’t work out.  Billy Beane and Kenny Williams have a great relationship.  Today, Baseball Prospectus’ John Perrotto says the White Sox reportedly have interest in Ellis.

If the White Sox are pushing all-in for ’08, Ellis makes a lot of sense.  The Sox have interesting candidates for second base, but none who could be expected to post a .775 OPS with Gold Glove caliber defense as Ellis can.  The 30 year-old will earn $5MM this year before reaching free agency for the first time. The White Sox don’t have much in the farm system, but the two clubs could still work something out.  It would have to be a solid return, as Ellis has a decent shot at Type A status after the season.

Odds And Ends: Crede, Marlins, Canó, Bonds

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Some interesting tidbits this afternoon before I check out:

  • Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that one of Brian Sabean’s top advisors, Ted Uhlaender, was present to witness Joe Crede’s homer off of Arizona’s Max Scherzer on Saturday.  Seems more and more likely, as Crede proves his back is fine, that he will be moved to the Giants.  Will the White Sox get Kevin Correia in exchange for Crede?  The White Sox need a back-of-the-rotation guy, and Kenny Williams and company think they can win this year.  So prospects probably won’t get it done.  While the Giants could conceivably use Rich Aurilia or Kevin Frandsen at third, Sabean will most likely be unable to resist Crede’s 2006.
  • Juan Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel digs up this little tidbit: The Florida Marlins haven’t signed a player to a multi-year contract since December 2005, when they signed Carlos Delgado to a four-year, $55MM contract, and Paul Lo Duca to a three-year, $18MM deal.  One would hope that this trend will end soon enough, and that owner Jeff Loria will open the purse strings for Hanley Ramirez when the time is right.
  • Tyler Kepner of The New York Times explores the relative surprise that Robinson Canó has been considering his draft position and reputation as a prospect, and details how frequently the Yankees almost dealt him before he made the big club.  Canó was nearly dealt for Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltrán, and Randy Johnson in different instances. 
  • AP Sports Writer Bob Baum explains that Bud Selig isn’t trying to keep Barry Bonds from being signed.  Selig stressed that each club is free to deal with whomever they please.

Posted by Matt Birt

Coco Still Possibility For Cubs, White Sox

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Two suitors for the affable Coco Crisp, both in the Windy City.

According to Chris De Luca at the Chicago Sun Times,

"The Cubs and Red Sox have had talks centering on Crisp in recent weeks, though the subject was broached by Boston, sources say, and evidently the Red Sox were not interested when the Cubs dangled outfielder Matt Murton.  Talks could resume during spring training, however, depending on the Red Sox’ need for starting pitching — an area where the Cubs are expected to have some surplus with Ryan Dempster or Jason Marquis getting nudged out of the rotation."

And also from the same source,

"They, too, could find themselves in the market later in camp if Jerry Owens doesn’t pan out in center. Manager Ozzie Guillen has long admired Crisp, but the White Sox don’t figure to have a surplus of starting pitching by the end of spring training."

On a related side note, I caught the BoSox/Twins preseason game on Friday night and got a chance to watch Twins CF incumbent Carlos Gomez unload a scud missile from centerfield to get Dustin Pedroia at homeplate. With Gomez in house, I can see why rumors of the Twins as an option for Coco have cooled.  Thoughts?

By Nat Boyle

Odds and Ends: Crede, Rodriguez, Marlins

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Just a couple items worth mentioning:

  • Matt Hurst notes Elasticman Scot Shields says "(Heck) yeah" to whether or not the Angels should dish out the big bucks for Francisco Rodriguez, this despite incentives in Shields contract that would kick in should he be transitioned into the closer role.
  • Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times touches in on Joe Crede’s fate after notching his first homerun of the spring, easing concerns for his surgically repaired back.  Says Cowley, "Crede’s agent, Scott Boras, already has told general manager Ken Williams that they want to explore the market. With Josh Fields waiting in the wings, the Sox are dealing from a position of strength. The Giants are a top suitor."  Scouts were present for Crede’s homerun.
  • Marlins Owner Jeff Loria says payroll is "all going to be a function of the revenues we generate.  If we have a bigger base than we anticipate, that will go back to the payroll."  This from Tom D’Angelo of the Palm Beach Post who add, "When asked if the team could lock up young stars like shortstop Hanley Ramirez for the long term, Loria said: ’We’re going to look at that going forward.  But we are challenged until we get into that new stadium."  The Marlins payroll this year is just under $20MM.

By Nat Boyle

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