Odds and Ends: Ponson, Pie, Dohmann
Links for Wednesday…
- Check out the recent minor league transactions, always some familiar names.
- Scott Erickson‘s wife talks about his comeback bid.
- The Red Sox have had "early-stage conversations" about an extension for Kevin Youkilis.
- The Phillies invited ten players to Spring Training and signed a bunch of minor league free agents. The Royals invited four, including Lenny DiNardo and Oscar Villarreal.
- Roch Kubatko suggests the Orioles should try to acquire Ryan Garko.
- Curt Schilling weighs in on Mark Teixeira‘s options.
- Dayton Moore still doesn’t sound willing to trade Zack Greinke.
- Peter Schmuck and Craig Calcaterra discuss the Sidney Ponson case, which could have a significant impact on the game.
- RotoAuthority looks at the current top fantasy draft picks at each position.
- Gordon Wittenmyer expects Felix Pie to be traded.
- Cesar Izturis‘ contract is actually for two years and $5MM guaranteed, plus incentives.
- John Fay looks at options for a right-handed bat for the Reds.
- Reliever Scott Dohmann is headed to Japan on a $650K deal plus incentives.
- Chris Capuano can earn over $3MM this year based on incentives.
- Willie Bloomquist hasn’t received an offer yet, and he doesn’t expect to return to Seattle.
Will Ohman Draws Interest From Mets, Indians
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the market for free agent lefty Will Ohman is picking up. The Mets and Indians are among the inquiring clubs. Ohman wants a two-year deal.
Odds and Ends: Nelson, Atkins, Taveras
After a hectic Winter Meetings, it’s been a slow weekend. Today’s links…
- A 3.35 ERA for Phil Hughes next year? Bill James and Co. think so.
- Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe talked to Mark Mulder‘s agent, Gregg Clifton. Clifton said, "He’s ready to go for any team right out of the chute." Clifton shot down talk that Mulder would not be ready in April.
- The Rays have contacted the agents for Joe Nelson and Scott Proctor.
- Keith Law likes A.J. Burnett‘s upside, but notes the risks. Peter Abraham compares the Burnett and Johan Santana deals.
- Law is in favor of the Indians’ Kerry Wood signing.
- Scott Ostler’s baseball source says people are scratching their heads about the Giants’ Edgar Renteria contract.
- Bruce Jenkins says the Rockies would trade Garrett Atkins for Jonathan Sanchez.
- Troy Renck says Willy Taveras has received interest from the Reds, Nationals, and White Sox.
- Drayton McLane says there are a lot of reasons for Astros fans to be optimistic.
- The Yankees like Andy Pettitte over Ben Sheets.
Four Teams Interested In Wigginton
According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Indians, Giants, Pirates, and Reds have expressed interest in new free agent Ty Wigginton. Dejan Kovacevic confirms Pittsburgh’s interest. Neal says the Twins have admired Wiggy for years as well. He adds that Wigginton was nearly dealt to the Giants before being non-tendered. Ken Davidoff thinks the Mets should look into it.
What will it take to sign Wigginton? Casey Blake‘s three-year, $17.5MM deal might be optimistic, but Neal figures Wigginton could get a similar average annual salary. Still might take two years to sign Wigginton though. Beyond Joe Crede, there’s not much else out there for third base.
Indians Complete Kerry Wood Signing
11:50am: The AP reports that Wood gets $10MM in 2009 and $10.5MM in 2010. If he finishes 55 games either year, the Indians’ option vests and they pay Wood $11MM in 2011. Check out this Chicago Tribune article for comments from Wood and Mark Shapiro.
9:09am: Kerry Wood signed a two-year $20.5MM contract with the Indians that has a vesting club option for a third year.
The Indians decided to complete the deal after discussing Wood’s physical and running it past club executives.
Indians Close To Deal With Wood
FRIDAY, 5:34pm: According to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, we should hear the Indians’ decision on the Wood signing by Saturday. Indians president Paul Dolan has the final call.
9:41am: Looking for a Kerry Wood update? The AP is reporting that he took his physical yesterday, and team doctors are taking a look. They say it may still take a few days before the official announcement.
WEDNESDAY, 4:42pm: Castrovince says Wood is headed to Cleveland for a Thursday physical. He believes the two-year, $20MM deal will include a third-year option of some variety.
11:37am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Indians are closing in on a two-year, $20MM deal with Wood. Jon Paul Morosi reported the same earlier today.
TUESDAY, 11:17pm: Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reports Wood reached an agreement with the Indians on what is believed to be a two-year deal with a vesting option. It’s unclear if Rogers is offering up new information here or just summarizing what we know.
7:44pm: John Perrotto says the Indians signed off on Wood’s medical reports and will likely announce the signing today or tomorrow.
5:36pm: The AP says the Indians are close to a two-year deal with Wood.
5:01pm: Peter Gammons says the Indians are making progress with Wood but still talking to alternatives.
4:21pm: Yahoo’s Gordon Edes says an Indians source expressed confidence that the team is close to signing Wood, probably to a two-year deal with a vesting option. The AP agrees.
3:12pm: Castrovince says his Wood report "appears to be legit." Multiple sources have confirmed to him that a deal "could be cemented soon." Wood would still have to pass a physical though.
3:03pm: ESPN’s Keith Law:
A source with Cleveland indicated that the Indians are still "actively engaged in the closer market" but haven’t settled on one player or finalized a deal yet.
1:15pm: According to MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince, the Indians appear closer to a two-year deal with Kerry Wood. The deal may contain a third-year option.
Mets Acquire Putz In Three-Team Deal
THURSDAY, 12:56am: Rosenthal raises the question of whether the Mets will exercise Putz’s 2010 option for $9.1MM now that he’s a setup man. I think if he’s worth that amount pitching the ninth he’s worth it pitching the eighth.
Putz seems excited about the trade, even if his agent says otherwise. Ben Shpigel explains how the deal came together while reporters were in an adjacent room.
WEDNESDAY, 11:02pm: Geoff Baker says the Mariners got three additional minor leaguers from the Mets: pitcher Maikel Cleto, outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, and pitcher Jason Vargas.
10:17pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street confirmed the deal. The Mariners give up Putz, Green, and Reed and get Heilman, Chavez, Carp, and Gutierrez. The Indians give up Gutierrez and get Valbuena and Smith. The Mets give up Heilman, Chavez, Carp, and Smith to get Putz, Green, and Reed.
The Mets succeeded in overhauling their bullpen without giving up premium pieces. Assuming Putz and K-Rod are healthy, they’ll be playing seven-inning games.
The Mariners can try Heilman the rotation, and add good outfield depth. I’m kind of lukewarm on the Indians’ benefit.
10:02pm: Geoff Baker says a previous incarnation with the Rays instead of the Mets fell apart. In that deal, the Tigers would’ve included Jeff Larish.
9:27pm: Rosenthal has an update:
Under terms of the deal, the Mets would get Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green. The Mariners would receive reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first baseman Mike Carp from the Mets. They’d also get Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians and minor leaguers. The Indians would get reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from Seattle.
David Lennon seems to agree.
9:06pm: Jon Heyman says the Mets would surrender six players in this blockbuster.
8:40pm: MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince says the three teams "appear to be on the verge" of a deal. He says that if the deal goes through the Mariners would get Gutierrez and the Indians would get Joe Smith and Mariners prospect Luis Valbuena. Heilman and Jeremy Reed would also be involved in some capacity. Graziano suggests not all of the players in the trade have been decided upon. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik admitted a proposal is on the table.
8:06pm: Rosenthal softened the language of his post – he now says the Mets are trying/working to acquire Putz rather than close to a deal. He also mentions that the deal would involve one or more prospects.
8:00pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mets are close to acquiring Mariners reliever J.J. Putz in a three-team trade. Putz and K-Rod will be quite a late inning tandem. The Indians are also involved in the trade. Other players in the mix: Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, Mike Carp, and Franklin Gutierrez. Rosenthal is not sure yet who’s heading where.
Dan Graziano has the story as well, but does not mention the Indians.
Astros Shopping Wigginton
9:36pm: Nick Piecoro says there’s nothing to the D’Backs-Wigginton rumor.
4:19pm: According to Ed Price, the Astros are shopping Ty Wigginton. He’s arbitration-eligible and under team control for one more year. Price says the D’Backs are showing the most interest, while the Dodger and Indians are out. We’ve also seen the Blue Jays and Twins linked to Wiggy.
Rafael Furcal Rumors: Wednesday
9:31pm: The Royals hope to clear payroll to make room for Furcal, preferably by trading Jose Guillen. Orlando Cabrera is their backup plan. The Royals would eat some money to move Guillen, but predictably the market is "almost nonexistent."
The Royals believe Furcal requires a four-year, $44MM deal. Kinzer has four offers for Furcal currently, all for three or four years. The surprising implication is that the Dodgers went past two years.
2:50pm: Buster Olney says the A’s met again with Furcal last night. Apparently Oakland’s four-year offer had been worth about $36MM. Meanwhile Steve Phillips says Royals GM Dayton Moore asked ownership for more money to sign Furcal.
2:07am: Richard Griffin suggests the Blue Jays are just being used by Kinzer to add negotiating power.
12:10am: The most important takeaway from yesterday’s Rafael Furcal rumors: his agent Paul Kinzer told Ken Rosenthal the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Royals, and A’s are in the running. Furcal still wants four years. We also have word from Yahoo’s Tim Brown that the Orioles are in on Furcal, and the list might at times include the Indians. Brown says the O’s would sign Furcal as a complement to Mark Teixeira.
Indians Closer Rumors
The Indians may not be a player for J.J. Putz, as they can choose between strong free agent closer options in Kerry Wood and Brian Fuentes. MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince says the Indians met with Wood’s agent yesterday. Trevor Hoffman remains on the radar as well.