Astros Beat Jose Valverde In Arbitration Case
Another reliever bites the dust; Jose Valverde will receive $4.7MM rather than the $6.2MM he was after. That $1.5MM could go toward another starter, as could another $2.15MM saved in the event the Astros beat Mark Loretta (I think they will). Of course, the list of remaining free agent starters ain’t pretty. It shouldn’t be on February 15th.
Valverde is under the Astros’ control through the 2009 season. If he has another 40 save season, he can probably vault past $10MM for ’09.
Astros Show Interest In Chacon
The Astros look to be heading into camp with Roy Oswalt heading their rotation, but not much else. They used 10 different starters last year, and the only one who made more than 10 starts and had an ERA under 4.50 was Oswalt. So they surely could be looking at the free agent starters. Word is that they’ve made an offer to Shawn Chacon.
There’s no word on exactly what the offer was, but from the article it appears it’s a Major League deal. It’s also uncertain if the teams are even close as far as terms. I’d assume that the Astros offered a one-year deal.
I’m not really familiar with the Astros system, other than it’s ranked near or at the bottom of the league. They have a couple of young guys listed on the 40-man roster: Paul Estrada, Samuel Gervacio, Brad James, Fernando Nieve, Felipe Paulino, Chad Reineke, and Wesley Wright, though I know nothing about any of them, other than that they’re my age or younger. They also have former Padre Jack Cassel. Do any ‘Stros fans see them as being better than Chacon?
Chacon has shown flashes of solidness in his career. He was stellar in the first half of 2003, going 8-2 with a 3.17 ERA through June 2. The wheels came off after that, though, as he allowed 12 runs over 3.2 innings in his next start against Kansas City, pumping his ERA up more than a run. He made 10 starts after that game, most mediocre, a couple really good, and a few real bad ones. He ended the season early due to injury.
He is perhaps most famous for his role in 2005 with the Yankees, when he pitched brilliantly in August and September, essentially leading the team, along with Jason Giambi, to the playoffs.
His problem, as I see it, has always been that he walks too many guys. He’s got a good curveball, but seemingly doesn’t have the fastball to make it a knockout offering. He’s looking to be a starter, despite success last year in Pittsburgh’s pen. He definitely has a shot to start in Houston.
– Joe
Astros Interested In Bartolo Colon
According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, the Astros will have two scouts watching Bartolo Colon pitch Wednesday in the Dominican Republic. Astros GM Ed Wade said he’s not at the point of talking contract yet, which makes sense. A factor determining Wade’s budget will be the arbitration hearings of Mark Loretta and Jose Valverde.
Colon indicated a preference to pitch in the National League, and expects to sign next week.
Odds and Ends: Dotel, Valverde, Wilkerson
Some Saturday odds and ends to mull over…
- The Yankees considered bringing Octavio Dotel back, but wouldn’t go two years on him.
- Richard Justice thinks Astros GM Ed Wade is making a mistake by setting a deadline and going to arbitration hearings with Jose Valverde and Mark Loretta. I doubt the Astros wanted Loretta to accept their offer of arbitration in the first place, but they took the $4-5MM gamble hoping to get a draft pick. But they actively sought out Valverde, and this might not bode well for him staying past 2009.
- Can’t promise anything, but my source is saying Brad Wilkerson is likely to become a Mariner on a one-year deal. Put this in the unconfirmed category for now.
- Did the Rangers DFA Armando Galarraga in anticipation of including him in a trade?
- Troy Tulowitzki explanation: he can opt out of his $15MM club option for 2014 if he’s traded. Tracy Ringolsby also reports that Garrett Atkins had unfruitful extension talks with the Rox last year and would still like to stay.
- "No substantive negotiations" on a multiyear deal for Ryan Zimmerman.
- Casey Blake‘s agent put in a counteroffer but hasn’t heard back from the Indians yet; the two sides are $1.5MM apart on his ’08 salary.
Odds and Ends: Cano, Colon, Lowry
Here are some links I’ve rounded up this morning.
- In theory, Robinson Cano would be open to a long-term deal. River Ave. Blues recently took a look at how historically good Cano has been so far, and suggest the Yankees lowballed him with their arbitration submission.
- Baseball Prospectus’ Derek Jacques saw Bartolo Colon pitch in the Dominican League Finals, and lends his evaluation. Colon was not impressive, but not terrible. It doesn’t seem like he will get the two-year deal he wants.
- The Brewers will bring Abraham Nunez to camp. Versatile, but a drain on offense.
- Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune notes that the White Sox aren’t done yet. The Joe Crede situation should linger into spring. Gonzales also mentions that the Giants are "listening to offers for Noah Lowry."
- A factual look at whether Omar Minaya really stockpiles Latin American players.
- The Astros can’t settle their gaps with Mark Loretta or Jose Valverde, and Ed Wade expects the team to go to its first arbitration hearings in over a decade. Wade has set a deadline of this afternoon and will go to hearings otherwise. Loretta asking for $4.9MM seems particularly off.
- Matthew Cerrone takes an educated guess on the current Johan Santana situation.
- Some interesting quotes from XM Radio from Michael Cuddyer and Scott Boras, separately.
Angelos Did Not Kill Roberts Trade
Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun checks in with a few Andy MacPhail quotes. Basically, MacPhail has only brought one trade to Orioles’ owner Peter Angelos, the Miguel Tejada deal. That was obviously approved; nothing else was presented. So the Brian Roberts and Erik Bedard talks remain just talks. No deal has been reached in either case.
Astros Close On Runelvys Hernandez
Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros are close to a one-year deal with starter Runelvys Hernandez. Hernandez will turn 30 in April. He spent 2007 in Triple A with the Pirates, Yankees, and Red Sox organizations.
None of this seems terribly interesting, but the article also says Hernandez got on a strict training regimen. Now that he’s in shape, he’s reportedly hitting 97 on the gun (sounds like agent-speak to me). I’ll believe it when I see it. But Hernandez chose the right team in the Astros, as they’re hurting for starting pitching. It’s not a done deal yet; he’s having some last minute discussions with other clubs. McTaggart says the Rangers, Pirates, Phillies, and Reds have all shown interest.
Odds and Ends: Jennings, Saito
Here are some interesting links to peruse when you get the chance…
- Alyson Footer believes the Astros and Jason Jennings are not interested in each other.
- Kazumi Saito will have surgery on his rotator cuff today. He’s a Mark Prior type, a tantalizing talent who can’t stay healthy. Doesn’t seem like he’ll be posted anytime soon.
- In case you missed it earlier, MLBTR now has a Facebook page and group. Become a fan on the page, join the group, friend me, and spread the good word of MLBTR to those who don’t read it.
- Funny look at the types of signs fans hold up at games, courtesy of Joe Sports Fan.
- I did an interview over at We Should Be GMs.
Odds and Ends: Cameron, Inge, Bay
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.
Darin Erstad Signs With Astros
Minor signing tonight, as the Astros inked Darin Erstad to a one-year deal. It’s a one-year, $1MM deal plus incentives.
Erstad has become a popular stathead target but as long as the Astros don’t give him hundreds of at-bats, does it really matter?