Astros Rumors: Looper, Wolf, Pudge
MLB.com’s Alyson Footer spoke with Astros GM Ed Wade and has the latest on the club.
- The Astros made "11th-hour" offers to Randy Wolf and Braden Looper before they signed elsewhere.
- They offered Wolf a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2010.
- The offers to Wolf and Looper were both for less than $5MM.
- The Astros haven’t spoken with Ivan Rodriguez in weeks and never made him a formal offer.
- Wade says he isn’t likely to make any moves between now and the regular season.
Heyman On Manny, Pudge, Cabrera, Howard
The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…
- Heyman says "most in the know seem to still believe [Dodgers owner Frank] McCourt will bend on Manny Ramirez and go to three years."
- The Nationals’ offer to Adam Dunn was on the table for weeks until he realized no team was going to beat or approach it. There were rumors months ago that Dunn sought a $100MM deal heading into free agency.
- The Astros and Marlins are looking at Ivan Rodriguez. There’s even an El Nuevo Dia report suggesting the Astros offered $2.5MM+ to Pudge, but that seems out of their price range to me. In today’s mailbag, MLB.com’s Alyson Footer opines that the Astros wouldn’t go to $3MM for a catcher.
- The A’s "want to spend no more than $5MM, and probably closer to $3MM" for Orlando Cabrera. He should take that if it’s offered.
- The Angels had been eyeing Joe Crede but may be done after signing Bobby Abreu. The Giants and Twins remain the likeliest suitors for Crede.
- The Phillies hoped to lock up Ryan Howard beyond his arbitration years, and Ruben Amaro Jr. disputed the notion that he is after Teixeira money.
Odds And Ends: Brewers, Roberts, Tejada
A few links for Wednesday night…
- According to The Sports Network, the Brewers signed minor leaguers Eduardo Morlan and Cody Scarpetta to one year deals.
- Brian Roberts hasn’t given up on working out an extension with the O’s, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Kubatko writes "it’s pretty clear that he wants a fourth year."
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News profiles Jesus Montero, the 19-year-old who could succeed Jorge Posada if he fares well as a catcher.
- MLB.com’s Corey Brock reports that Tigers’ pitching prospect Rick Porcello isn’t changing his approach as he approaches the majors.
- AZSnakePit.com interviewed D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes about pitching, defensive metrics and the June draft.
- Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Chase Utley looks healthy in Clearwater.
- The Astros hope Miguel Tejada starts the season as their shortstop, according to Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle. Astros GM Ed Wade is apparently "committed to Tejada."
Astros Sign Bourn, Three Others
The Houston Chronicle’s Brian McTaggart reports that the Astros have signed outfielder Michael Bourn, right-hander Sammy Gervacio, and left-handers Polin Trinidad and Wesley Wright to one-year contracts.
Bourn struggled with increased responsibilities last season, finishing with a line of .229/.288/.300 in 467 at-bats. He stole 41 bases, but will need to prove that he can consistently hit major league pitching. The 26-year-old will make $435K in ’09.
Gervacio and Trinidad signed for $400K, and Wright, the team’s Rookie of the Year in ’08, signed for $425K.
Giants Sign Rich Aurilia
8:03pm: Henry Schulman says the deal is done. Aurilia will earn $1MM if he makes the team.
11:54am: According to Ken Rosenthal, "Rich Aurilia will return to the Giants on a minor-league contract. Aurilia, 37, chose the Giants over the Cubs and Phillies. His deal is expected to be finalized on Monday." Henry Schulman learned that the Blue Jays were also in on Aurilia, and the Astros made a Major League offer early in the winter.
Aurilia hit .283/.332/.413 in 440 plate appearances last year, but he does handle lefties well for the most part. Though their deals are not guaranteed, the Giants having both Aurilia and Juan Uribe in camp may be another sign that they’re backing off on Joe Crede. At the least, Crede would have to come down from his $7MMish demand for the Giants to sign him.
Astros Not Pursuing Dunn
MONDAY: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick talked to Astros GM Ed Wade, who said Dunn "was never an item of discussion for us." The Astros are also not involved on Bobby Abreu. The Astros don’t have money to spend and would use it on pitching if they did.
SUNDAY: According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, the Astros may be planning to offer Adam Dunn a one-year contract before camp begins. Rogers writes,
"Dunn, a 40-homer man for five straight seasons, would allow the Astros to move Hunter Pence to center field and Michael Bourn to the bench. That would mean a huge lift to run-production. Dunn has multi-year offers on the table, including one from Washington, but clearly isn’t crazy about them."
It remains to be seen whether Dunn would seriously consider a one-year deal or not. For a recap, here’s a write up on the market for the unsigned slugger.
Orioles Sign Ty Wigginton
11:52am: Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun says Wigginton gets a two-year, $6MM deal. The O’s had originally offered one year with a club option but upped their offer due to competition from the Giants and other clubs.
8:16am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Orioles signed Ty Wigginton to a two-year contract. Wigginton, 31, was non-tendered by the Astros after hitting .285/.350/.526 in 429 plate appearances while playing third base and left field. His ’08 numbers are dampened by his poor performance away from Minute Maid Park. Rosenthal says Wiggy will see time at first base and DH with the Orioles.
David Newhan Re-Signs With Astros
THURSDAY: The Astros signed Newhan to a minor league deal. He’ll compete for a backup infield job.
FRIDAY: Brian McTaggart talked to Astros GM Ed Wade, who said David Newhan could rejoin the team on a minor league contract. That seems to be all Wade has cooking; here’s what he said:
"Otherwise, we’re not talking to anybody else. If things fall in our lap we have to think about — it’s got to be something of a front-line nature — but I think we’re covered with regard to competition at positions. In the existing player payroll budget, there is no more to cover anything of significance."
Newhan, 35, hit .308/.355/.535 in Triple A and .260/.297/.404 for the Astros. He’d contend for a backup infield job.
Ausmus, Dodgers Complete One-Year Deal
Veteran catcher Brad Ausmus and the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a one-year, $1MM contract Monday, The Associated Press reports.
The parties agreed to terms last week, and the three-time Gold Glove winner needed to take a physical. He can earn an additional $350,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.
Ausmus, 40 in April, spent the past eight seasons with Houston, and he batted .218 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 81 games in 2008. He will back up catcher Russell Martin in Los Angeles.
Ausmus lives in Del Mar, about 100 miles south of Los Angeles.
Astros Avoid Arbitration With Rodriguez, Geary
Troy Renck of the Denver Post has learned that Houston Astros left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez and the franchise have reached a one-year, $2.6MM deal.
Rodriguez, 30, went 9-7 with a 3.54 ERA in 2008. He can make an additional $50,000 for 180 innings pitched.
The Astros also avoided arbitration with right-handed pitcher Geoff Geary. Geary will earn $1.7MM plus incentives.
Geary, 32, went 2-3 with a 2.53 ERA in 55 appearances in 2008, his first season with the Astros.