Marlins Interested In Juan Morillo
According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Marlins are interested in right-hander Juan Morillo, who was recently designated for assignment by the Rockies.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Opening Day Payrolls
On this date 33 years ago, Andy Messersmith signed a three-year, $1M contract with the Atlanta Braves after being granted free agency by an arbitrator in the Seitz Decision. This move was historic in that the ruling effectively nullified baseball's reserve clause, seven years after Curt Flood first challenged the clause. This led to the inclusion of free agency after six years of service in the next collective bargaining agreement, a rule still in place today. Since then, payrolls have skyrocketed. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- The Biz of Baseball takes a closer look at opening day payroll, the highest paid players in baseball and which teams have the highest average player salaries.
- Astros Country breaks down the Astros' 2009 payroll.
- Bleed Cubbie Blue has details on the Cubs' payroll.
- Rays Index breaks down the Rays' opening day payroll.
- YanksBlog tries resolve different reports of the Yankees opening day payroll.
- Purple Row takes a look at service time and options remaining on the Rockies' roster, among other things.
- Baseball Analysts takes a look at payroll efficiency for the last three years.
- On a side note, The Sports Banter put together a list of the best off-season moves, and the worst.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here and followed on Twitter.
Juan Morillo Designated For Assignment
According to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies, pitcher Juan Morillo was designated for assignment today. The Rockies needed to clear a spot for Matt Belisle.
Morillo, 25, is out of options. He throws in the mid to high 90s, but exhibits poor control. It might make sense for a non-contending team to take him on as a project.
Rockies Eyeing Chad Gaudin
10:04pm: Ringolsby has a source saying Gaudin is leaning toward the Rockies, as he'd like to be a starter. He may be willing to spend some time in Triple A as part of the process. Ringolsby says the A's and Padres have interest in Gaudin as a reliever.
WEDNESDAY, 2:54pm: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies' interest level in Gaudin changed when they acquired Jason Hammel. Still, they'd like to add him to the Triple A club. Gaudin's agent Larry Reynolds said, "We have a lot of teams calling so we are taking a step back."
TUESDAY: According to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies, pitcher Chad Gaudin cleared waivers. That means that the Cubs will be on the hook for $1.6MM of Gaudin's $2MM salary. The Rockies remain interested; Ringolsby says they'd like to sign Gaudin to a minor league deal and send him to Triple A. Ringolsby adds:
Word is that at least two other teams are talking with Gaudin, offering him a big-league job but it would be as a middle reliever.
The Cubs tendered Gaudin that $2MM contract in December, but changed course this month and released him after seeing him in Spring Training. Gaudin injured his back last summer after slipping off a curb and smacking into a dumpster. It seems that the injury has affected him since then.
Odds & Ends: A’s, Hammel, Manny, McPherson
Links for Tuesday…
- Chat today, 2pm CST.
- Yahoo's Tim Brown says there was never a mandate from A's owner Lew Wolff to remake the team into a contender. The strategy this winter was Billy Beane's idea.
- Tyler Hissey of Around The Majors examines the Jason Hammel trade from both sides.
- Manny Ramirez responds to Ken Rosenthal's comments, talking to T.J. Simers of the L.A. Times.
- The SoftBank Hawks seek a foreign third baseman, and Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker suggests Dallas McPherson.
- A look at the slugging percentage leaders of Spring Training 2009.
- In a Wall Street Journal article, Russell Adams and Tim Marchman write about newspapers cutting money spent on the baseball beat.
Odds & Ends: Sheffield, Morillo, Perdomo
I think you would all agree that today should be a federal holiday. Monday links to tide you over until games start…
- According to David Lennon of Newsday, Gary Sheffield expected to get a call from Albert Pujols about possibly playing for the Cardinals, before the Mets signed him.
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies' acquisition of Jason Hammel may mean Juan Morillo's time with the team is drawing to a close. Morillo throws in the high 90s with poor control, and he's out of options.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic talked to John Dewan about The Fielding Bible and the D'Backs' defense.
- Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says the Giants continue to try to work out a trade for Rule 5 pick Luis Perdomo, who will otherwise have to be offered back to the Cardinals.
- Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star has a great profile of Zack Greinke.
- Baseball America's Matt Eddy has the latest minor league transactions.
- John Hickey recently wrote about Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre. Beltre, a Boras client, is entering his contract year.
Rays, Rox Agree On Deal For Hammel
SUNDAY 1:02pm: Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times reports Jason Hammel has been notified that he's been dealt to the Rockies. Jeff Niemann will be the Rays fifth starter.
11:00am: Renck is reporting, "The Rockies and Rays have agreed on the parameters of a deal that would land Colorado right-handed reliever Jason Hammel, but Tampa Bay is still mulling other offers." The agreement is still involving Aneury Rodriguez.
SATURDAY 7:21pm: Renck says there "is growing momentum" behind the deal. Hammel would apparently be used as a reliever initially, and could also spot start.
6:03pm: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times notes that Hammel is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Sunday morning. The Rockies and Rays could be waiting for that outing to conclude, as to not throw off his schedule.
5:01pm: Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies has learned from a Tampa Bay source that the sides are currently working out the details of the deal. He has confirmed that the Rays would get Rodriguez in return.
1:52pm: Troy Renck of the Denver Post says there is "growing momentum for a trade to transpire between Tampa Bay and the Rockies involving Hammel." The Rays are thought to be eyeing Double-A starter Aneury Rodriguez.
11:49am: According to Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse trade talks between the Rays and Rockies have resumed. Jason Hammel or Jeff Niemann could be dealt to the Rockies this weekend, according to Price's sources.
Odds & Ends: Fogg, Payrolls, Padres, Nady
Links for Friday…
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Orioles have "mild interest" in Josh Fogg. If Fogg can't find an appealing job elsewhere he'll report to Triple A Colorado Springs for the Rockies.
- Via the Twitter feed of John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer…the Reds have talked about Geoff Jenkins and Frank Catalanotto but nothing is close.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker has a Sports Hochi report saying recently released pitcher Ken Kadokura is reaching out to the Cardinals and Orioles.
- Ryan Shealy cleared waivers and was sent to Triple A, clearing up the Royals' first base/DH logjam.
- The website FINalternatives.com says Rangers owner Tom Hicks defaulted on more than $500MM in loans.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks at the payrolls for the Mets and Yankees.
- Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune says Hal Steinbrenner "told close friends he plans on hiring Lou Piniella as a consultant when his managerial contract with the Cubs runs out after the 2010 season."
- According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Padres GM Kevin Towers said he still might add another starting pitcher.
- Albert Chen of Sports Illustrated writes about the advanced defensive metrics that are becoming prevalent in the game.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs writes about the ethics of service time manipulation.
- SI.com's Jon Heyman noted yesterday that "The Giants like Xavier Nady and wouldn't mind bringing the University of California product home at some point."
Rosenthal On Sheffield, Repko, McPherson
A look at Ken Rosenthal's column from yesterday afternoon…
- The Marlins chose Ross Gload over Frank Catalanotto, but are still considering signing Cat for the minimum now that he's been released.
- The Braves are not interested in bringing back Gary Sheffield. Meanwhile, Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets (as well as the Phillies and Reds) have an eye on Sheffield.
- Sheffield is apparently the only right-handed hitter on the Phillies' radar. Rosenthal learned that the Rockies' asking price for Jeff Baker is high.
- The Braves almost made a deal for Dodgers outfielder Jason Repko, but backed off recently.
- The Yankees will pass on Dallas McPherson, but the Giants may consider him.
- The Yanks don't seem desperate to move Melky Cabrera. They've received multiple calls on him but Rosenthal says "the team will only move him for the right price."
Rockies Interested In Hammel, Gaudin?
1:53pm: The Denver Post's Troy Renck reports that the Rockies' pursuit of Gaudin has "cooled." The club is now focusing on the Rays' Jason Hammel.
10:25am: According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Rockies are interested in acquiring Chad Gaudin of the Cubs. Sullivan explains:
"If that happens, the Cubs could keep both Angel Guzman and Rule 5 pick David Patton, and send Jeff Samardzija to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs probably aren't expecting much back for Gaudin, who hasn't pitched well since his mysterious fall last August put him on the disabled list with back problems."
Gaudin, 26, posted a 4.40 ERA in 90 innings last year. He's set to make $2MM in '09.