Odds And Ends: Hill, Dye, Hinske, Fogg
Links for Saturday…
- Cameron Smith of the Washington Post thinks the Orioles should pull the trigger on a possible Rich Hill deal immediately.
- MLB.com’s Scott Merkin reports that Jermaine Dye remains "unfazed" by all the trade rumors that have involved him this winter.
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times suggests Dye doesn’t expect to return to the White Sox after 2009.
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Eric Hinske attracted lots of interest. Hinske said eight teams showed "good interest" in him.
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post likes the Josh Fogg signing because of his clubhouse presence and his price.
- Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune heard that the Padres will not offer a contract to Brian Lawrence, Steve Trachsel or Scott Elarton (hat tip to Buster Olney).
- Olney heard that the Blue Jays are looking for bargains to stock up their minor league system.
Rockies Ink Fogg To Minor League Deal
According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have signed Josh Fogg to a minor league contract.
Fogg, 32, went 2-7 with a 7.58 ERA in 14 starts for the Reds last season. The Rox will hope he can get back to his ’07 form, when he finished 10-9 with a 4.94 ERA for Colorado. He’ll first have to win his way onto the roster. Greg Smith, Jorge De La Rosa, Franklin Morales, Jason Hirsh, Greg Reynolds and Matt Belisle are all vying for spots in the starting rotation.
Fogg Leaning Toward Rockies
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, free agent pitcher Josh Fogg is "leaning toward rejoining the Rockies and expects to make a decision this weekend." Many pitchers are battling for Jeff Francis‘ rotation spot while he deals with a shoulder injury. Fogg would join them on a non-guaranteed minor league deal worth less than a million bucks, and he could also get an out clause.
The Rockies had targeted Braden Looper earlier this winter, but can’t afford him now.
Odds and Ends: Kotsay, Redding
Links for Thursday…
- RotoAuthority ranks the catchers for fantasy baseball.
- Dave Cameron reminds us that talented minor leaguers often have delayed success in the bigs.
- MLB.com’s Mychael Urban talked to Mark Kotsay, who did not enjoy the free agent experience.
- MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone transcribes a Tim Redding MLB Network interview, where it was revealed that the Rockies, Pirates, and Orioles had interest before the pitcher signed with the Mets.
Rosenthal On Abreu, Garland, Glavine, Sisco
The latest from Ken Rosenthal…
- The Mariners and Giants are interested in Bobby Abreu, if the price is right. Yesterday Buster Olney suggested that Abreu is willing to take a one-year deal. The A’s and Nationals have other targets, while the Mets, White Sox, and Braves are seen as long shots.
- Rosenthal examines the nuances of Jon Garland‘s December 7th decision to reject arbitration, saying that it wasn’t an obvious mistake at the time.
- Tom Glavine‘s agent Gregg Clifton did not attend yesterday’s meeting with Frank Wren; it was a health update and not a contract negotiation. Rosenthal says Glavine figures to seek a Freddy Garcia-like deal. The Braves need to save money to add an outfielder, with Nick Swisher atop their list. The Yankees’ goal in moving Swisher or Xavier Nady would be to recoup prospects.
- The Brewers are not interested in projects such as Kris Benson, Jason Jennings, Mark Redman, and Victor Zambrano. They’re just lukewarm on Mark Mulder. Benson is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Rangers, and Cardinals; one exec reviewed his audition as "so-so."
- Rosenthal doesn’t seem to buy the idea that Jason Varitek and Scott Boras feared the Red Sox could cut him if he accepted arbitration, noting that Boras client Travis Lee was advised to accept years ago.
- The Braves have reservations about re-signing Andruw Jones, who could be a Spring Training cut.
- The A’s deal for Russ Springer will be worth more than $3MM plus incentives. They’re also eyeing Brian Shouse and Andrew Sisco as possible pen additions. Sisco, recovering from Tommy John, has also auditioned for the Rockies and Giants.
Rockies Lock Up Ubaldo Jimenez
WEDNESDAY, 5:27pm: Renck adds more specifics. If Jimenez is dealt before the contract’s final year, he can void the 2014 club option that could cover his first year of free agency.
TUESDAY, 3:04pm: Contract details from Renck: "It’s a four-year, $10-million deal with two club options, that if exercised, would bring value of contract to $22.75 million." The club options were crucial for the Rockies, said Dan O’Dowd.
12:06pm: The Rocky Mountain News says the deal locks up Jimenez through 2012 and has club options for 2013 (his final arb year) and 2014 (his first free agent year). Renck says Matt Cain‘s deal may be a comparable.
11:38am: Renck says the Rockies signed Jimenez to a four-year contract. I believe that will leave Jimenez unsigned for one arb year (2013) before he’s eligible for free agency.
TUESDAY, 8:33am: According to Troy Renck and Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, the Rockies hope to sign starter Ubaldo Jimenez to an extension. Jimenez is open to the idea.
The 25 year-old with the blazing fastball had a fine 2008, posting a 3.99 ERA in 34 starts. His control needs work, but his 54.4% groundball rate meshed nicely with Coors Field. Jimenez won’t be arbitration-eligible until after the 2010 season.
The young pitchers recently signed to extensions aren’t good comps for Jimenez – Cole Hamels is a Super Two and one of the game’s best, while Zack Greinke is an odd case having earned $1.4MM in his first arb year. If Paul Maholm signs an extension, that might be a good match (despite the difference in service time).
Rockies Rumors: Beimel, Fogg, Benson
The latest on the Rockies from Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post…
- It seemed the Rockies had satisfied their need for lefthanded relievers by signing Alan Embree and Glendon Rusch. However, Renck says they may renew interest in Joe Beimel if the price is right. I’m not sure what Beimel is asking for, but two years and $5MM seems appropriate (in hindsight, the Yankees may have overpaid for Damaso Marte at three years, $12MM).
- Josh Fogg still has an "open invitation" to sign a minor league deal to return to Colorado. Fogg signed with the Reds on February 21st last year; you have to imagine he’d like to resolve his situation more quickly and have a normal Spring Training.
- The Rockies aren’t interested in Kris Benson, though they did attend his Saturday workout.
Benson Works Out In Front Of Nine Teams
Free agent right-hander Kris Benson worked out Saturday for nine teams and demonstrated that he should be ready to compete for a job in Spring Training, MLB.com reports.
Agent Gregg Clifton said the throwing session “went well, and he showed teams that he’s ahead of schedule in getting ready for the ’09 season.”
The article only lists the Rockies as being there, though it does note that nine teams were in attendance. This post lists the Dodgers, Rangers, Padres, Diamondbacks, Indians and Cardinals as teams that planned to attend.
Benson, 34, missed the 2007 season because of surgery on his right shoulder. He spent last season in the minors with the Phillies. He is 68-73 with a 4.34 ERA in 195 career starts.
Rockies Update On Fogg, Atkins
The Colorado Rockies offered third baseman Garrett Atkins $6.65MM, and Atkins asked for $7.95MM, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports.
“Either way, it’s going to be a lot of money and I will be happy,” Atkins told Renck.
Atkins’ arbitration hearing date has been set, Renck adds, but both parties are keeping it secret to prevent advance research by the arbiters.
Renck also notes that starting pitcher Josh Fogg is still considering rejoining the Rockies. Fogg would receive a minor-league deal similar to Matt Belisle.
Odds and Ends: Yamarin, Eaton, Atkins, Ohman
Links for Monday…
- Yankees and Red Sox fans are dreaming of Joe Mauer, whose contract is up after the 2010 season.
- Updated June draft order, courtesy of Baseball America.
- The Braves signed a Japanese amateur pitcher named Yoshinori Yamarin to a minor league deal.
- Adam Eaton is not a candidate for the Phillies’ fifth starter job, and they’ll probably release him and eat his contract if they can’t trade him.
- MLB.com made a nice addition in Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki.
- Arbitration hearing dates are set for Paul Maholm and Nate McLouth.
- Jim Salisbury writes about Tal Smith, who prepares arbitration cases for clubs.
- Garrett Atkins comments on his arbitration request and his future with the Rockies.
- The Reds voided the contract of 16 year-old Venezuelan pitcher Ismael Guillon and re-signed him for less due to a problem found during his physical.
- Athletics Nation talked to MLB.com beat writer Mychael Urban.
- David O’Brien chatted with unsigned reliever Will Ohman.
- Orioles infielder Oscar Salazar cleared waivers.