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Odds & Ends: Red Sox, V-Mart, Nats, Tigers

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Some more links before another playoff triple-header…

  • If you're rooting for the Red Sox this month, you have more in common with Theo Epstein than you might expect. The Boston GM tells Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe that he spends October "watching the fates unwind." Epstein has assembled a good team, but he sits back and watches this month with an understanding that good teams can't always win it all.
  • As WEEI.com's Rob Bradford reports, the Red Sox were in talks this summer to acquire Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee from the Indians for a prospect-rich package including Clay Buchholz.
  • WEEI.com's Alex Speier points out that it would have been hard for the Red Sox to find a more perfect fit than V-Mart.
  • The Nats dismissed Jose Cardenal according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Cardenal had been a special advisor to the GM since 2005.
  • Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski was upset that Miguel Cabrera got drunk between games last weekend, according to the AP (via ESPN).

Odds & Ends: Red Sox, V-Mart, Nats, Tigers

By | at

Some more links before another playoff triple-header…

  • If you're rooting for the Red Sox this month, you have more in common with Theo Epstein than you might expect. The Boston GM tells Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe that he spends October "watching the fates unwind." Epstein has assembled a good team, but he sits back and watches this month with an understanding that good teams can't always win it all.
  • As WEEI.com's Rob Bradford reports, the Red Sox were in talks this summer to acquire Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee from the Indians for a prospect-rich package including Clay Buchholz.
  • WEEI.com's Alex Speier points out that it would have been hard for the Red Sox to find a more perfect fit than V-Mart.
  • The Nats dismissed Jose Cardenal according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Cardenal had been a special advisor to the GM since 2005.
  • Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski was upset that Miguel Cabrera got drunk between games last weekend, according to the AP (via ESPN).

Odds & Ends: Sabathia, Leyland, Astros

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Some links to start the day off…

Porcello No Longer With Boras

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Back in 2007, Scott Boras "advised" recent high school graduate Rick Porcello to take a $7MM Major League contract, tying Josh Beckett's record for the biggest guarantee given to a high school player.  Two years later, at age 20, Porcello will start today's crucial one-game playoff against the Twins. 

During that time, according to ESPN's Buster Olney, Porcello dropped Boras for agent Alan Hendricks.  Porcello's contractual status shouldn't be much of a story until after the 2011 season, when he'll first become eligible for arbitration.  As they did with Jeremy Bonderman, the Tigers could attempt to sign Porcello long-term.  But Bonderman had four years of service time under his belt when he signed.  And the Tigers' more pressing issue may be Justin Verlander, who is due another large raise his second time through arbitration.

Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Dye, Varitek

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Links for Monday…

Discussion: Placido Polanco

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When ESPN.com's Buster Olney polled six major league executives about this year's crop of Type A free agents, the panel was split evenly on whether the Detroit Tigers would offer Placido Polanco arbitration.

One exec suggested the Polanco was valuable enough to the Tigers that they wouldn't mind paying $6MM or $7MM to keep him around (Polanco has made $4.6MM in each of the last four seasons). Another thought that, having already committed $18MM to Magglio Ordonez, Detroit would have to "bite the bullet some place," and second base looks like as good a spot to do it as any.

After a slow start, Polanco has hit .322/.359/.420 since the All-Star break, and it looks like he'll just barely qualify as a Type A free agent. Olney points out that the second baseman, who turns 34 next week, is one player whose market value would take a huge hit if the Tigers offered arbitration.

Tonight's discussion question, then: What's Detroit's best move? Is Polanco valuable enough to keep on board for 2010? Or can the Tigers get similar production elsewhere at a lesser cost (either through a trade or from this year's free agent pool)?

Will Yusei Kikuchi Choose MLB?

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Yusei Kikuchi may decide this week between Japanese baseball and MLB, according to Bobbie Dittmeier of MLB.com.  As Dittmeier says, the hard-throwing 18-year-old southpaw would "become the first high school player to bypass Japan's draft and sign with a Major League organization."

Dittmeier says the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, Tigers, Braves, Rangers, Mariners and Indians have reportedly scouted Kikuchi.  She passes along a Kyodo News quote from Kikuchi's high school coach indicating the pitcher is 50-50 on his decision.

NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman has covered Kikuchi extensively.  Back in May, Newman explained to MLBTR the differences between Kikuchi and Junichi Tazawa.

Odds & Ends: Chipper, Ordonez, Schultz

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Links for Wednesday…

Magglio Ordonez’s 2010 Option Vests

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Magglio Ordonez has made his third plate appearance of the night in Detroit against the Royals, reaching base on an Alex Gordon error. The at-bat means his 2010 option has vested, as expected. Making his 1080th plate appearance in 2008 and 2009 combined, Ordonez reached the minimum number of PA required to guarantee his $18MM option.

When the Tigers benched and platooned the 35-year-old right fielder earlier in the year, it seemed unlikely that he would play enough to trigger the option, but a torrid second half (.364/.438/.521) has made it impossible for Jim Leyland to keep him out of the lineup.

While Ordonez's hot bat has helped the Tigers in their 2009 playoff push, his overall production has declined significantly. He has only homered seven times, after hitting 20-plus in each of the last three seasons. His age and injury history suggest the odds are against his 2010 numbers rebounding to his career averages of .311/.371/.512.

With $18MM now committed to Maggs next season, the Tigers will have less flexibility for other roster moves, such as re-signing or replacing closer Fernando Rodney and second baseman Placido Polanco.

Odds & Ends: Granderson, Magglio, Hampton

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Another round of links…

  • Lynn Henning of the Detroit News wonders if the Tigers will consider offers for Curtis Granderson after the season. Though he has 27 homers and 20 steals, Granderson has struggled at the plate this year, particularly against lefties. He has a batting average on balls in play below .300 for the first time in his career, and it has factored in to a .248/.331/.457 line that's solid, but below Granderson's standard. (He's hitting more fly balls than usual, which could explain the BABIP dip and rise in homers.)
  • After months of anticipation, it looks like Magglio Ordonez will see his 2010 option kick in tonight. With three more trips to the plate, he can guarantee himself an $18MM salary next year. 
  • Mike Hampton had surgery on his left rotator cuff and will miss the 2010 season, according to MLB.com's Alyson Footer.
  • If Josh Johnson makes all of his scheduled starts, he'll earn $50K in incentives before the season ends, as MLB.com's Joe Frisaro points out.
  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post says there's a reasonable chance Jason Giambi returns to the Rockies next season.
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