Rockies Not Looking To Add Pitching
According to Troy E. Renck, set up man Taylor Buchholz‘s elbow injury that has him out an expected four-to-six weeks has not sparked the need to find a replacement from the outside. The Rockies contacted lefty Joe Beimel‘s agent; however, it seems the Rockies want to spend a lot less than Beimel is seeking.
Odds & Ends: Gload, Pierre, Beimel
Links for Friday…
- The Dodgers designated Justin Orenduff for assignment to make room for Manny Ramirez, according to Tony Jackson.
- The A's contracts with Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra are official.
- WEEI's Alex Speier talked to Marlins prospect Mike Stanton and manager Fredi Gonzalez about the near-acquisition of Manny last summer.
- In another column, Speier looks at the players the Red Sox and Yankees have battled for in recent years.
- Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a bunch of relievers are vying for one bullpen spot for the Cardinals, now that they've signed Dennys Reyes.
- Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star suggests there's a chance the Royals release first baseman Ross Gload and eat the $1.9MM owed to him in 2009. Rany Jazayerli talks about Gload as well as the chances of the Royals competing this year.
- Tom Tango says Juan Pierre would have to defer his contract for 50 years to be worth acquiring.
- Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies says the Rox offered Joe Beimel more than $1MM but so far he's passed. Beimel's home run prevention trend might be challenged at Coors Field. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says the A's are in on Beimel but "have not yet have substantive talks" with his agent.
- Check out a Giants Spring Training preview from the guys behind El Lefty Malo and McCovey Chronicles.
A-Rod Has Torn Labrum In Hip
7:12pm: All A-Rod, All the time…Tom Verducci notes that the A-Rod injury is a sign of a bigger problem, that the Yankees are getting old. Verducci also notes that Mark Teixeira is the player that will be most impacted without A-Rod’s protection and the pressure to live up to the new contract…The New York Post has another comprehensive list of possible A-Rod replacements. The two intradivisional options at the top of their list seem like a long-shot…Ken Davidoff wonders if some time away will help Yankees fans appreciate what they have with A-Rod…Rob Neyer can’t help but wonder if the Yankees are going to have to eat a good chunk of the $178MM they still owe A-Rod.
5:30pm: Even more from Abraham with special bonus audio of Brian Cashman: Abraham says surgery is necessary at some point, but that the Yankees are hoping that rest and rehab will be enough to hold off the surgery until after the season. Abraham notes that Mike Lowell tried the same tactic last season after his injury was discovered in June, but the injury got so bad he was held off the playoff roster.
3:27pm: More details from Abraham: A-Rod has a torn hip labrum that would take four months to repair surgically. He won’t play in the WBC and he’ll play less in Spring Training to try to return soon. Marc Craig of the Star-Ledger writes that A-Rod’s out indefinitely and could still need surgery. The New York Daily News offers more, including analysis from various doctors.
2:40pm: Peter Abraham of The Journal News talked to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who said Rodriguez’s cyst was drained and they will attempt rest and rehab rather than surgery.
12:59pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post offers other ideas for third base if A-Rod is to be out for a considerable length of time: Scott Rolen, Melvin Mora, Brandon Inge, Hank Blalock, Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Blake DeWitt, Martin Prado, and Mark Teahen.
12:17pm: ESPN’s Peter Gammons comments about the injury, wondering if mid-May is a best case scenario. Gammons speculates that Garrett Atkins or Chad Tracy could be fits for the Yanks, but the price for Atkins could be high. River Ave. Blues likes Mark Grudzielanek or possibly Bobby Crosby as other external options, while ESPN’s Buster Olney speculates on Bill Hall (who is recovering from a torn calf). Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if Bobby Crosby could fit.
ESPN’s Stephania Bell suggests ten weeks could be a light estimate, if Rodriguez has a labral tear.
10:40am: ESPN’s Enrique Rojas talked to Alex Rodriguez‘s brother, who says the Yankees third baseman will miss about ten weeks due to hip surgery to remove a cyst. A ten week rehab would put A-Rod at a mid-May return, so he could miss a quarter of the season. A-Rod’s brother told MLB.com the operation will be performed Monday. The Yankees haven’t confirmed anything yet though. It probably makes sense to hold off on replacement speculation until we get official word on the injury.
Check out my instant fantasy take on the situation over at RotoAuthority.
Odds & Ends: Free Agents, Manny, Buchholz
Links for Thursday…
- A confident Sidney Ponson expects his agent to receive a few calls after he pitches in the WBC Saturday, according to Phil Miller of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
- ESPN’s Rob Neyer looks at the most interesting remaining free agents.
- Jorge Says No! names their 8 Worst Free Agent Contracts of the offseason.
- Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire weighs in on the Manny Ramirez contract, noting the player’s control over the team’s finances. Check out Manny’s comments made to the AP. Juan Pierre doesn’t have much to say about the signing.
- Baseball America’s Ben Badler talks about the reactions of Latin American scouts to the Esmailyn Gonzalez scandal.
- ESPN’s Jayson Stark looks at the top players who are on Spring Training invites.
- Rockies reliever Taylor Buchholz will miss the rest of Spring Training with a sprained elbow.
- Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the Braves made room for Tom Glavine on the 40-man roster by outrighting pitcher Anthony Lerew, who cleared waivers.
Carlos Gonzalez, Ryan Spilborghs Switched To Boras
Two new names for our Scott Boras client list, courtesy of Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies. Ringolsby says Rockies outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Spilborghs switched to Boras during the offseason. Jeff Baker is the Rockies’ third pre-arbitration Boras client. None of the three agreed to terms to 2009 contracts, instead forcing the Rockies to renew them. Says Ringolsby:
The Rockies have a very stringent pay scale for pre-arbitration eligible players, and they are consistent with that approach. Boras does not agree with the philosophy and prefers to have his clients not agree to the contract as a matter of principle.
Rockies Agree To Contracts With 21
Steve Foster of InsidetheRockies.com reports that the Rockies have signed 21 players to one-year contracts. Some of the more recognizable names include Chris Iannetta, Greg Smith, Ryan Spilborghs, Matt Murton and Franklin Morales.
Odds & Ends: Contraction, Pudge, German, Jays
Links for Monday…
- Squawking Baseball talked to Braves exec John Coppolella about the salary arbitration process as well as various topics about the team.
- The Marlins renewed their remaining players, including Cameron Maybin and Matt Lindstrom. The Braves signed 10, including Yunel Escobar.
- Bill Madden of the New York Daily News wonders if contraction will be considered during negotiations for the next Basic Agreement.
- Justin Murphy of Seamheads.com talked to Brian Bannister, as did Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star.
- MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro talked to various sources who expect Ivan Rodriguez to wind up a Marlin, though that’s based on opinion rather than insider knowledge.
- We forgot to mention that the Royals designated Esteban German for assignment to make room for Juan Cruz. Rany Jazayerli liked the Cruz signing. My opinion: Cruz has great stuff and upside, but he has a ways to go before being considered a top setup man.
- Blue Jays president Paul Beeston says the team will go over slot in the draft for the first time, according to Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail (hat tip Drunk Jays Fans).
- Tracy Ringolsby and Jack Etkin, formerly of the Rocky Mountain News, can now be found at Inside The Rockies.
Odds And Ends: Rockies, Manny
A few links for Saturday afternoon…
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post spoke with Rockies owner Dick Monfort and heard that the team has confidence in GM Dan O’Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle even though they haven’t received extensions.
- Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald is tiring of the negotiations between Manny Ramirez‘s camp and the Dodgers.
- Speaking of those negotiations, Barry Bloom of MLB.com says there are no new developments as of mid-day Saturday.
Olney: Rockies Aren’t Panicking
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Rockies feel they can fill their starting pitching void from within.
"This is the best depth we’ve had since I’ve been here," said Bob Apodaca, the Rockies’ pitching coach.
With Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis, Jorge De La Rosa, Franklin Morales, Greg Reynolds, Jason Hirsh and Josh Fogg all in camp, there’s no reason to rush out and grab a free agent arm.
"They’re really deep," the injured Jeff Francis said Thursday. "I mean, there’s what, six guys going for the fifth starting spot? So I’m not going to stand here and say they’re not going to miss me, but I’m also not going to say that they’re not going to be OK without me because there’s a lot of talent out there and there’s guys that can step in and fill some holes."
Jeff Francis Likely Out For Season
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis will have exploratory shoulder surgery on Wednesday and is likely out for the season (Tracy Ringolsby says it’s a torn labrum). Renck adds that the team’s acquisition of Jason Marquis was made with this possibility in mind.
The Rockies still have Marquis, Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jorge de la Rosa, Greg Smith, Jason Hirsh, Matt Belisle, and Josh Fogg as probable starters.