Votto May Crowd Hatteberg Out
If John Halpin is right, Scott Hatteberg of the Reds ought to be looking forward to a lot of bench time this coming season.
Writing about fantasy baseball on foxsports.com, Halpin is wild on Joey Votto. The Cincy first baseman ranks second in Halpin’s list of rookies to watch in 2008. If Votto comes through, would Hatteberg be trade bait at mid-season? Hatteberg will earn $1.85MM this year after Cincinnati picked up his option. It’s a bargain for a professional hitter who controls the strike zone.
The Yankees may need a first baseman once Joe Girardi gets tired of seeing Jason Giambi play matador at the corner. The A’s may be attracted by his pricetag if Daric Barton doesn’t provide enough offense. The Royals and Giants also are possibilities, in my estimation.
Votto joins teammates Homer Bailey and Jay Bruce in the list of eleven first-year players. Boston’s Clay Buchholz heads the list.
By Big Mike Glab
Wanted: Major League Ready Shortstops
Both the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds have lost their starting shortstops to injury recently. Omar Vizquel had surgery to remove torn cartilage from his knee, while Alex Gonzalez‘ ‘sore knee’ turned out to be a broken knee. In both cases, the players are not expected to be ready for opening day and neither team appears to have a major league-ready shortstop ready to step in. The best options for the Giants appear to be Kevin Fransden and Rich Aurilia. Fransden is a natural second baseman while Aurilia has not been a regular shortstop since 2004. The Reds are now stuck with Juan Castro and Jeff Keppinger. Like Fransden, Keppinger is a second baseman by trade and Castro is a journeyman shortstop with a career OPS of .605.
McCovey Chronicles recently suggested that the Giants needed to make a trade and their target should be Ben Zobrist of the Tampa Bay Rays. Zobrist, a switch-hitter, has impressive minor league numbers that have yet to register at the big league level. Zobrist posted a .428 OBP in the minors with a 176:234 strikeout to walk ratio. However, in parts of two seasons with the Rays, Zobrist has seen those numbers drop to .234 and 47:13 respectively. Now Zobrist is stuck behind Jason Bartlett whom the Rays acquired to shore up their defensive deficiencies. In addition super-prospect Reid Brignac may be ready for the big leagues in 2009.
That leads us to two questions: 1) What would it take to land Zobrist from the Rays? For the Giants, Pat Misch might get the deal done. For the Reds, maybe Bill Bray. 2) Are there any better options out there that either the Giants or the Redlegs could land to fill their holes at shortstop? Let us know in the comments.
Alex Gonzalez Is Out; Who’s In?
Now that Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez is out with a knee fracture, will Wayne Krivsky be on the lookout for a short-term replacement?
New manager Dusty Baker has shown a propensity to trust veteran fill-in middle infielders, so Jeff Keppinger may have an opportunity to play Lou Gehrig to Gonzalez’s Wally Pipp if Krivsky doesn’t dig up any help. Bet Keppinger’s never been compared to Gehrig before, eh? Moving Brandon Phillips to shortstop will not be considered.
The free agent market offers next to nothing even as a short-term Gonzalez replacement. Unless…wait for it…Neifi!
By Big Mike Glab and Tim Dierkes
Stark’s Latest: Patterson, Lohse, Lofton, Clemens
Finally, new info regarding some of the remaining free agents. Jayson Stark has the scoop.
- Seems there’s a chance Corey Patterson takes a cheap deal to return to Baltimore. He could be relegated to fourth outfielder duty in that case. Stark says the Marlins have discussed Patterson internally, but aren’t sure if they could afford the Boras client. Patterson would be a nice stopgap for Cameron Maybin, who’d be well-served with some time in Triple A. Ken Rosenthal also mentioned the Florida possibility.
- One of the most surprising free agents at this point is Kyle Lohse. Stark shoots down the notion of Lohse signing with the Met or Phillies on a one-year deal. Rosenthal tossed out the Cards and O’s as slight possibilities. It’s tough to be impressed with Boras’ work with Patterson and Lohse this year. Stark’s colleague Buster Olney even speaks of rumors that Lohse could ditch Boras.
- Kenny Lofton wants a Major League deal, and the offers so far have been minor league (including one from the Reds). I don’t find this an unreasonable demand on Lofton’s part; he’s still a useful player. He’s OK with starting the season late and coming in as a mercenary when a spot opens up.
- Stark talked to a friend of Drayton McLane who believes the Astros’ owner could roll the dice on Roger Clemens at the right price.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Lohse, Furcal, Lofton
FOX’s Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest buzz from Spring Training.
- The Mets, Cardinals, and Orioles are listed as possibilities for Kyle Lohse. However, the Mets may deem him unnecessary, reports are conflicting on the Cards’ interest, and the Orioles are wary of the price.
- Rosenthal says Rafael Furcal‘s agent met with Ned Colletti a few days ago, but the Dodgers would likely want to see Furcal return to form before entertaining an extension. Click here to see the other shortstops eligible for free agency after the ’08 season. The Dodgers may have a viable replacement for Furcal in defensive whiz Chin-Lung Hu.
- Rosenthal notes that the Yankees, in search of a right-handed outfielder, considered Shannon Stewart and Mike Cameron this winter.
- Kenny Lofton‘s chances of a getting the big league deal he wants with the Reds or Twins look slim.
- The rumor going around for Corey Patterson is the Marlins, if the price is right.
- Rosenthal confirms two additions for our 2008 Out Of Options list – Gabe Gross and Clint Barmes.
- Rosenthal says the Mets need a right-handed hitter who can play left field and first base. Here are some names I came up with: Ryan Ludwick, Xavier Nady, Matt Murton, Franklin Gutierrez, and Kevin Millar. Granted, not all those guys know their way around first base.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Gross, Weaver, Encarnacion
Ken Rosenthal is on the scene with some new rumors.
- Astros president Tal Smith arguing other teams’ arbitration cases. Rosenthal finds it a bit awkward, while Keith Law finds it to be a hilarious conflict of interest.
- Possible trades of Matt Murton to the Padres or Rangers seem to have fizzled. The Padres may turn to the Brewers’ Gabe Gross, a player who previously caught the eye of the A’s, Indians, and Braves. Our good friend PECOTA sees a .267/.366/.467 line from Gross this year. With Gross and various veteran starters, the Brewers have some surpluses to work with.
- Rosenthal believes the Cardinals’ interest in Jeff Weaver to be not especially serious. They’ve got in-house candidates to start, and Matt Clement needing some time is not a revelation.
- We’ve read about extension possibilities for Matt Capps and Alex Rios. To that mix, Rosenthal adds Edwin Encarnacion. The Reds might want to do it now; he seems primed for a big year.
Fogg Signs With Reds
THURSDAY, 2:20pm: It’s official – Fogg has signed with the Reds. He’s no lock for the rotation though.
WEDNESDAY, 10:43pm:Ken Rosenthal says the Reds are just one of three teams pursuing Fogg. The other two are unknown, but Boston is not one of them. I wonder if these mystery teams are coming from Fogg’s agent.
7:04pm:Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News reports that the Reds are on the verge of a one-year deal with Josh Fogg, with a base salary of just $1MM. Ringolsby was not able to get confirmation from Wayne Krivsky quite yet, but Krivsky isn’t one to show his hand. Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News is also reporting the expected signing.
I had Fogg pegged for a $20MM deal at the beginning of the offseason. Many have suggested that GMs are simply being smarter about free agent valuations. I don’t think there’s collusion going on here.
The Reds now set up with Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Matt Belisle, and Fogg in the first four spots. They could use Jeremy Affeldt as a starter, or go with one of Homer Bailey, Edinson Volquez, or Johnny Cueto. As one MLBTR commenter pointed out, this might signal and end to the Reds’ pursuit of Joe Blanton.
Fogg Signs With Reds
THURSDAY, 2:20pm: It’s official – Fogg has signed with the Reds. He’s no lock for the rotation though.
WEDNESDAY, 10:43pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Reds are just one of three teams pursuing Fogg. The other two are unknown, but Boston is not one of them. I wonder if these mystery teams are coming from Fogg’s agent.
7:04pm: Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News reports that the Reds are on the verge of a one-year deal with Josh Fogg, with a base salary of just $1MM. Ringolsby was not able to get confirmation from Wayne Krivsky quite yet, but Krivsky isn’t one to show his hand. Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News is also reporting the expected signing.
I had Fogg pegged for a $20MM deal at the beginning of the offseason. Many have suggested that GMs are simply being smarter about free agent valuations. I don’t think there’s collusion going on here.
The Reds now set up with Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Matt Belisle, and Fogg in the first four spots. They could use Jeremy Affeldt as a starter, or go with one of Homer Bailey, Edinson Volquez, or Johnny Cueto. As one MLBTR commenter pointed out, this might signal and end to the Reds’ pursuit of Joe Blanton.
Burrell Enters Contract Year
All sorts of players are entering contract years, and it’s become a popular Spring Training topic. Pat Burrell mentioned over a month ago that he’d love to re-sign with the Phillies. Todd Zolecki chronicles Burrell’s trials and tribulations over nine years playing for the Phils. He’s set to earn $14MM this year, finishing up the extension Ed Wade engineered.
Other major power threats in Burrell’s free agent class: Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn, and perhaps Manny Ramirez. Dunn, by the way, hasn’t had any extension talks with the Reds.
Burrell Enters Contract Year
All sorts of players are entering contract years, and it’s become a popular Spring Training topic. Pat Burrell mentioned over a month ago that he’d love to re-sign with the Phillies. Todd Zolecki chronicles Burrell’s trials and tribulations over nine years playing for the Phils. He’s set to earn $14MM this year, finishing up the extension Ed Wade engineered.
Other major power threats in Burrell’s free agent class: Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn, and perhaps Manny Ramirez. Dunn, by the way, hasn’t had any extension talks with the Reds.