Robertson Looking For Extension
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
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
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
Today’s Non-tenders
As you know, the non-tender deadline is tonight. I’ve got my list of candidates right here. In this post, I’ll note all those who are officially non-tendered and hence become free agents.
- 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.
Indians Rumors: Haren, Blanton, Bedard, Inge
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer gets the Indians rumor mill churning.
- As we mentioned earlier today, the Indians have spoken to the A’s about Dan Haren and Joe Blanton. They’ve also inquired on Erik Bedard. The Tribe is quietly looking to pair C.C. Sabathia with another ace. Such an acquisition would soften the blow if Sabathia leaves after the ’08 season. Hoynes says a Haren acquisition might require one player from the Indians’ 25-man roster plus at least one near MLB-ready guy.
- The Tribe had brief talks with Detroit about Brandon Inge, but they’ve moved on. Doesn’t seem to be much interest in Inge.
- Cliff Lee and Kelly Shoppach weren’t part of the Jason Bay discussions. Instead, the Pirates were looking for a slew of the Indians’ best prospects. It seems the Bay talks have since cooled.
Odds and Ends: Mench, Kent, Durbin, Wang
Rounding up this morning’s Odds and Ends, to be updated periodically…
- The Pirates are talking to the Tigers about acquiring Chad Durbin. The arbitration-eligible Durbin doesn’t have a place in Detroit’s rotation, but could be useful for the Bucs.
- Chien-Ming Wang would like a three or four-year deal with the Yanks.
- The Phillies will pass on Kevin Mench, though they’ve still got their eye on Nate McLouth. The Royals’ disinterest in Mench was noted yesterday.
- We’ve assumed it for a while, but Jeff Kent playing in 2008 is now official.
- The Twins may have non-tendered Jason Tyner.
Willis Wants Extension With Tigers
Now that he’s on a club with the financial resources for it, Dontrelle Willis would like to talk contract extension. Willis is only 26 in January.
The model would apparently be Jeremy Bonderman’s four-year, $38MM deal. That deal was signed two years prior to Bonderman being eligible for free agency, as Willis is now. Add a little inflation and maybe it’s 4/40 or 4/42 for Willis. A few years from now that might be the going rate for a guy with a high-4’s ERA who can eat 200 innings. So even if Willis doesn’t bounce back the extension could be reasonable. If he does, it’s a bargain.
Odds and Ends: Inge, Greene, Pavano
A few tidbits this morning as we wait to hear more on Fukudome…
- The Tigers and Pirates have had talks about Brandon Inge. Not sure how he fits in with that club, but OK.
- Yesterday Barry Svrluga wrote of a failed Padres-Nats trade worth noting. The Nats would’ve sent Jon Rauch or Chad Cordero plus Felipe Lopez to the Padres for Khalil Greene. The talks fizzled; it never sounded like something the Padres would be interested in. They usually grow their own relievers. Tom Krasovic over at the San Diego Union-Tribune elaborates a little more on Jim Bowden’s love for Greene.
- Carl Pavano, the American Idle, is deciding whether to take a minor league contract with the Yanks. Peter Abraham says the Yankees are offering this to make sure they can collect on insurance.
- Xavier Nady will be tendered a contract, officially putting the rumors to rest.
- The Brewers inked Eric Munson to be their possible backup catcher.
Youngman’s Latest: Tejada, Eckstein, Inge
Randy Youngman of the OC Register has a few new rumor tidbits for us. Let’s discuss.
- The Angels won’t include Jered Weaver in a Miguel Tejada trade. Youngman says the O’s asked for the moon as a way of gauging Tejada’s market value. Now they’ll get serious.
- Both the Padres and Angels like David Eckstein as one-year possibilities, not that he’s open to that. The Halos actually have a bench role in mind for him, according to Youngman. The Padres, by the way, spoke to Eckstein’s agent today.
- Youngman says the Dodgers have interest in Brandon Inge and Pedro Feliz. If that’s the case, they should really go with internal options. Jayson Stark said three days ago that the Dodgers would pass on Inge.
- The Giants are apparently fans of Luis Gonzalez. In a December 5th posting Jerry Crasnick said the Rangers, Twins, Rays, White Sox, and Giants had all spoken to Gonzo’s agent.
Jays Waiting On Rios For Lincecum Offer?
UPDATE, 12-08-07 at 3:12pm: Brian Sabean spoke on the radio about making this decision within a few days; there’s even a rumor the Giants could pursue the Tigers’ Dontrelle Willis to replace Lincecum.
UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 12:17pm: George King talked to a Blue Jays source who said "there was nothing to reports the Giants were talking to Toronto about Alex Rios for Lincecum or Cain." Who’s right here, Blair or King?
FROM 12-5-07 at 11:36pm:
According to Jeff Blair, it’s in the Giants’ hands: Alex Rios for Tim Lincecum. A Jays official suggested to Blair that Brian Sabean might sit on this for a few weeks, mulling it over.
Blair says Sabean is hesitant because he’s scared of making a mistake of the same magnitude as his Liriano/Nathan move four years ago.
It’s easy to bash Sabean for that trade. But you should ask yourself – would you have bashed him at the time he made it?