Odds & Ends: Gonzalez, Halladay, Pettitte, Snyder
Here's some more links on a busy first day at the GM meetings…
- WEEI.com's Alex Speier writes that when Jed Hoyer took over as GM of the Padres, it only made it tougher for the Red Sox to pull off a deal for Adrian Gonzalez. “He knows all my tricks, and I know his,” said Theo Epstein of Hoyer.
- Meanwhile, WEEI.com's Rob Bradford reports that Roy Halladay has identified the Red Sox as a team he'd be willing to accept a trade to. Doc has a full no-trade clause.
- Andy Pettitte has apparently told his Yankee teammates that he'd like to come back for one more year, though there's been no definitive word according to SI.com's Jon Heyman. GM Brian Cashman said he expects the team to be more "cautious than anxious" this offseason, and that he plans to go slow, even with their own free agents according to Joel Sherman of The NY Post.
- Mets' GM Omar Minaya "has told several of his friends in the industry that he badly wants to add a run-producing bat at either first base and/or left field," according to Sherman.
- MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reports that Chris Snyder confirmed there has not been a setback in his rehab from back surgery. The Blue Jays nixed a potential Snyder for Lyle Overbay swap over the weekend over concerns about the catcher's back.
- The Orioles claimed righthander Armando Gabino off waivers from the Twins, according to Joe Christensen of The Star Tribune. Meanwhile, a team press release says the Rays claimed righty Ramon Ramirez off waivers from the Reds.
- FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report that Melvin Mora is working out at other positions to increase his versatility and up his value as a free agent.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs compared Jason Bay to Mike Cameron, and determines that the latter is a better value.
- Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts breaks down some Chad Billingsley rumors.
Blue Jays, D’Backs Discussed Snyder For Overbay
SUNDAY, 3:25pm: The Toronto Blue Jays called off the swap because of concerns about Snyder's surgically repaired back, according to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.
2:16pm: In an update to last night's article, Gilbert reports that the deal has been put on hold, according to a Major League source.
SATURDAY, 7:44pm: MLB.com's Steve Gilbert cites a Major League source who says the two sides are "making progress" in their discussions.
12:31pm: Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports that the two teams are discussing a Snyder for Lyle Overbay swap. He mentions that it's "unclear how far along the trade talks are."
10:05am: MLBTR has learned that the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks are in trade talks for catcher Chris Snyder.
Snyder would be a good fit for the Jays, who have catcher Rod Barajas eligible for free agency. The 28-year-old Snyder hit .200/.333/.352 for the D'Backs in a season marred by a back injury (he had surgery in September). Presumably the Blue Jays' doctors would have to check him out before a deal could be completed. The other issue would be money – Snyder is owed $11.25MM over the next two seasons. Snyder received the contract on the strength of his '08 season (.237/.348/.452) but has since lost the starting job to Miguel Montero.
Odds & Ends: Brewers, Pierre, Webb, Mariners
Here's a few links on a gorgeous Saturday, at least around these parts…
- Acquiring Carlos Gomez allows the Brewers to wave goodbye to Mike Cameron, and Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel says they'll use the savings on pitching. "We're going to have to take our resources that we gave to Mike and distribute them to fill other needs for our ballclub," said GM Doug Melvin. "We've said pitching is our focus. We still have other needs, like any club. And the salaries of our other players go up, too."
- The return of Manny Ramirez allows the Dodgers to resume searching for a trade partner for Juan Pierre, according to Dylan Hernandez of The LA Times. Pierre still has two-years and $18.5MM remaining on his contract.
- In today's blog post, ESPN's Buster Olney says that Brandon Webb will be prime trade bait in the middle of next season if he makes it all the way back and the Diamondbacks aren't in contention.
- Jason A. Churchill of Prospect Insider takes a look at some offseason options for the Mariners.
- Meanwhile, former Mariner Kenji Johjima can provide some additional input on American pitchers the Hanshin Tigers may pursue, notes Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. Patrick also passes along a report that lists some pitchers Hanshin is looking at, including two Mariners: Ryan Rowland-Smith and Chris Jakubauskas.
- Rowland-Smith is on Twitter, and was a little surprised by the news.
- Bob Dutton of The KC Star takes a look at the newest Royals, Chris Getz and Josh Fields.
- Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball lists all 39 players who filed for free agency on Friday.
Diamondbacks Exercise Option On Brandon Webb
The Diamondbacks exercised their $8.5MM club option on pitcher Brandon Webb, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert (via Twitter). The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro has comments from Webb and D'Backs GM Josh Byrnes.
The D'Backs had expressed interest in renegotiating and perhaps having an option on Webb beyond 2010, but the pitcher decided to pass. Webb had shoulder surgery in August and expects to be ready for Spring Training. He was one of the game's best and most durable starters prior to the shoulder issues this year.
Daniel Cabrera Becomes A Free Agent
In addition to declining their 2010 option for Chad Tracy, the Diamondbacks cleared three 40-man roster spots by outrighting players, according to The Arizona Republic. The casualities were outfielders Alex Romero and Trent Oeltjen, and righthander Daniel Cabrera. Cabrera elected to become a free agent rather than accept a minor league assignment.
The suddenly well-traveled Cabrera got into six games (one start) for Arizona, allowing eight runs and 20 baserunners in just 11 innings. He also made eight starts and one relief appearance with the Nationals after spending five years in Baltimore.
Diamondbacks Decline Chad Tracy’s Option
The Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks have declined Chad Tracy's $7MM option for 2010, choosing instead to pay him a $1MM buyout.
The 29-year-old Tracy missed a month of the season with a strained oblique, hitting just .236/.306/.389 in 288 plate appearances when he did make it onto the field. Capable of playing first and third base, Tracy's OBP and SLG have each declined for three straight seasons.
Petit, Slaten Claimed Off Waivers
According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, right-hander Yusmeiro Petit and left-hander Doug Slaten have been claimed off waivers.
Petit, 24, was scooped up by the Mariners. He went 3-10 with a 5.82 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 74/34 K/BB ratio in 17 starts (89 2/3 innings) this season with the D'Backs. As Piecoro notes, Petit has allowed 1.96 HR/9 through 229 1/3 major league innings, tied for the worst rate in MLB history.
Slaten, who turns 30 in February, was claimed by the Nationals. He allowed five earned runs and 11 total baserunners in 6 1/3 innings with the Diamondbacks in '09, but posted a 3.09 ERA and a 40/15 K/BB ratio in 43 2/3 innings at Triple-A Reno. He hasn't been the same since undergoing knee surgery at the end of 2007.
Odds & Ends: D’Backs, Iglesias, Moeller
Links for Friday…
- The Diamondbacks are looking to add a veteran setup man or two in free agency, explains MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
- The Boston Herald's Sean McAdam has an in-depth look at Red Sox shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias.
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post wonders if the Orioles will pursue Garrett Atkins in free agency, assuming he is released or non-tendered. Renck also notes that if the Mets are to sign Yorvit Torrealba this winter, they'll have to settle their 2007 grievance first.
- Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun finds it "fairly likely" that catcher Chad Moeller will re-sign with the Orioles on a minor league deal, despite the team declining his $850K option.
- Tommy Bennett of Beyond the Boxscore looks at the relationship between the average MLB salary and the GDP.
Heyman On Manny, Felix, Bay, Washburn
The latest hot stove notes from SI's Jon Heyman…
- Manny Ramirez "is planning to exercise" his $20MM player option for 2010. This was expected but it'd still be interesting to see Manny jump back into free agency, maybe seek two years and $30MM.
- Heyman echoes what we've read regarding Brandon Webb – the D'Backs will pick up his $8.5MM option for next year, as Webb is not interested in renegotiating. On a related note, MLB.com's Steve Gilbert looks at some options for the two open spots in Arizona's rotation.
- The Red Sox "would still love to make a run at Felix Hernandez." Who wouldn't? I don't expect Felix trade talks to become reality unless the Mariners try and fail to sign him to an extension first. Heyman considers Roy Halladay more realistic for the Sox; Doc's price would presumably be slightly lower with the '09 season concluded. According to Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail, Halladay, his wife, and his agent had dinner with Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston last week to discuss the future.
- The Red Sox "were thought to have offered" $15MM to left fielder Jason Bay. How many years?
- Heyman says the Mariners and Brewers "are expected to be in the mix" for free agent lefty Jarrod Washburn. Scott Boras surely knows a move to the NL would help Washburn, who was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
Odds & Ends: Cubs, Byrnes, Orioles
Links for Wednesday…
- Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times doesn't expect much to change with the Cubs under the Ricketts family. He says to expect a payroll around $143MM. That might leave GM Jim Hendry with around $8MM to work with.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic believes Eric Byrnes' time with the Diamondbacks might be nearing an end. They may attempt to trade him before releasing him.
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer wouldn't be surprised to see the Reds release center fielder Willy Taveras, who is still owed $4MM.
- Sox Machine reader Chris Pummer makes the case for the White Sox offering arbitration to reliever Octavio Dotel. Dotel projects as a Type A free agent, though he's right on the fringe.
- Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun believes Andy MacPhail "will have to pull a huge rabbit out of his hat" to make the Orioles competitive in 2010.
- As expected, new Padres GM Jed Hoyer reassigned scouting director Bill Gayton according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
- WEEI has a live online chat scheduled with Jason Bay tomorrow.
- Diamondbacks prospect Jarrod Parker blogged about his upcoming Tommy John surgery.