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Odds and Ends: Morneau, Jocketty, Santana

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Your usual dose of random rumors and links…

Tigers Still Hope To Sign Miguel Cabrera To Extension

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Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press has an article up today in which he tosses around some numbers regarding a possible Miguel Cabrera contract extension.  Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski admitted his desire to sign Cabrera long-term recently.

Morosi expects Cabrera to receive an $11MM contract for ’08, if he doesn’t sign long-term soon.  Morosi calculates that if Cabrera signed right now, six years and $105MM might be a reasonable amount.  That would be $11MM for ’08, $14MM for ’09, and $20MM per year thereafter.

By the way, I’m happy to report that Morosi has agreed to answer some questions for our Rumor Royalty series.  Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments.

Odds and Ends: Mantei, Foulke, Cairo, Guardado

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Here are this morning’s random rumors and links.

Odds and Ends: Cameron, Inge, Bay

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Here are some random rumors and links I’ve cobbled together today.

  • The Fish officially signed Jorge Cantu to a minor-league deal worth $500K with $100K in incentives.
  • The Cardinals re-upped Aaron Miles for $1.4 mil.  This team needs some good middle infielders.
  • According to Tyler Kepner, Alex Rodriguez has been "privately endorsing" Mike Cameron.  Well, it’s not private anymore!  The Yankees could entertain such a signing if they trade Melky Cabrera but don’t want to move Johnny Damon back to center.  Kepner’s article also discusses the internal struggle between Hank and Hal Steinbrenner.  Hank wants Johan Santana, Hal wants to show a little financial restraint.

  • Lynn Henning digs into the Brandon Inge situation, with help from the always-insightful Keith Law.  Henning believes Inge would view a shift back to catcher "with contempt."
  • Scott Wuerz runs through various possible Cardinals targets.  He notes that the Pirates had considered the White Sox their best possible trade partner for Jason Bay, and are disappointed by Chicago’s Nick Swisher acquisition.
  • Seems that Bartolo Colon has yet to crack 90 mph in the Dominican Winter League.
  • There are rumblings that the Astros are considering bringing Freddy Garcia back.
  • R.J. Anderson snagged an interesting interview with Paul DePodesta.
  • Minor League guru and MLB.com senior writer Jonathan Mayo has a new book coming out about what it’s like to face Roger Clemens.  I’m going to do a Q&A with Jonathan next week; if you have any good question ideas leave ’em in the comments.  By the way, Mayo finished his book before the Mitchell Report came out.
  • Yankees fans – Ray Istorico has an illustrated history of the early Yankees coming out in a few months.
  • I will be appearing on XM Radio’s MLB Home Plate show on Sunday around 2:25 CST.

Odds and Ends: Hillenbrand, Tsao, Uehara

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Here are some random bits and pieces to hold us over until front offices re-open…

  • Shea Hillenbrand has only received one inquiry this winter – from the Giants.  He probably won’t be earning $6MM again.  Hillenbrand posted a .599 OPS in 267 ABs for the Angels and Dodgers this year.  I thought perhaps that was one of the worst performances of the decade for guys with 250+ ABs.  However it’s only the 49th worst since 2000.  Homer Bush’s 2000 takes the cake – a .524 OPS for the Blue Jays in 297 ABs.
  • The Royals inked Chin-Hui Tsao to a minor-league deal.  Tsao was once considered the Rockies’ best prospect, but he’s been decimated by injuries.  Makes sense for the Royals to throw him a bone though.
  • Koji Uehara re-signed with the Yomiuri Giants for 400 million yen – about $3.57MM.  He’ll turn 33 in April.  A hamstring injury knocked Uehara out of the ’07 season’s first month, denying him free agency this winter.  Now he needs to be active for just eight days to be eligible after the season.  The Giants used him in relief in ’07, perhaps to spite him.  Read more about that and his repertoire in my Q&A with Mike Plugh on Uehara.   
  • John Fay runs down the Reds’ veteran free agent starter options.
  • A-Rod still won’t return Scott Boras’ calls.
  • Jason Churchill names some intriguing, possibly available young hurlers who may be on Seattle’s radar: Scott Olsen, Noah Lowry, Daniel Cabrera, Edwin Jackson, Chris Capuano, Ian Snell, and Anthony Reyes.
  • Nothing is cooking with Brandon Inge, and the Tigers won’t be bringing Sean Casey back.

Odds and Ends: A-Rod, Morrow, Cabrera

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The daily, and sometimes twice daily, odds n’ ends roundup…

Willis Signs Extension With Tigers

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UPDATE, 12-20-07 at 11:52am: Jerry Crasnick says Willis has agreed to a three-year, $29MM extension with Detroit.  The deal buys out one year of free agency.  I like it – assuming Willis’ elbow checks out, the Tigers paid the innings-eater rate for a guy who could be more than that.  And by 2010, can you imagine what the innings eater rate will be?

UPDATE, 12-20-07 at 9:04am: Morosi reports that progress has been made on this extension.

FROM 12-19-07 at 1:57pm:

The Tigers have begun talks with Dontrelle Willis’ agent on a three or four-year extension, according to Jon Paul Morosi.  Morosi is thinking around $25-30MM.  It would be Willis’ first multiyear contract.

Morosi notes that both Willis and Nate Robertson are free agents after the 2009 season, and Kenny Rogers might be done after ’08.  Robertson also wants to talk extension.

Jeremy Bonderman is signed through 2010.  He’ll team with Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello to form the team’s pitching nucleus.

Robertson Looking For Extension

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30 year-old Tigers starter Nate Robertson is offering his team a chance to buy low.  He just finished an off year (4.76 ERA) and doesn’t reach free agency until after the ’09 season. But he’d like to sign an extension now to stay in Detroit longer than that.

My guess is that the Tigers might entertain the idea of buying out his two remaining arbitration years plus one year of free agency.  A three-year extension in the $27MM range might make sense for both parties.  Thoughts?

Tigers, Jays Interested In Miguel Olivo

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UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 12:51pm: The Jays have their eye on Olivo as well.  He would get more playing time in Toronto than Detroit.

FROM 12-14-07 at 3:06pm:

Hot stove action!  It was revealed today that the Tigers recently contacted Miguel Olivo’s agent to express interest.  Olivo’s agent has also heard from four or five other teams.  Olivo would have to serve as Ivan Rodriguez’s caddy if he signed with Detroit.

A starting gig for Olivo might be hard to come by.  He earned $2MM in ’07 and figures to make a touch more in ’08.  He gunned down an impressive 32.9% of baserunners this year.

Today’s Non-tenders: Towers, Prior, Everett, Durbin

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Tim’s out for the night, so we’ve got a fresh post started for the non-tenders.  MLB.com has a running list as well.

These guys are the officials as of now:

  • As expected, the Marlins non-tendered catcher Miguel Olivo.  Johnny Estrada was another casualty; these two make up the market for starting catchers.
  • The Blue Jays non-tendered Josh Towers, a surprising move.  Some NL team could offer him two years and get league average work out of him.
  • Mark Prior has been non-tendered.  Honestly if I were the Cubs, I would’ve tossed the $3.5MM his way just to see.
  • Aaron Miles is now a free agent.
  • The A’s cut Kiko Calero loose.
  • The Padres have non-tendered four: Morgan Ensberg, Jason Lane, and pitchers Jack Cassell and Ryan Ketchner. RotoWorld speculates that the latter two, not arbitration eligible, could be offered minor league deals.
  • The Royals cut the cord on Emil Brown.  He turns 33 soon; he hit an ugly .257/.300/.347 in 2007.  Brown earned $3.45MM in ’07.
  • The Tigers non-tendered Chad Durbin, toss him into the free agent pool.  Guess those trade talks with the Bucs didn’t work out.
  • The Twins have let go Jason Tyner.
  • The Nats have cut bait with Nook Logan and LHP Michael O’Connor.
  • The Dodgers wave goodbye to Mark Hendrickson.
  • The White Sox have non-tendered Andy Gonzalez and LHP Heath Phillips. Joe Crede sticks with the Pale Hose for now.
  • Adam Everett has lost his job with the Astros. It’d be kind of funny if the Orioles signed him.
  • Per RotoWorld, the Angels have non-tendered Dallas McPherson. He’s full of potential, but he’s never come through. He’s only 27, though, so he could still catch on somewhere. Unless, RotoWorld notes, he has an agreement in place with the Angels.
  • The Braves have non-tendered Willie Harris, though he had already been DFA’d.

–Joe and Tim

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