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Odds and Ends: Prior, Mulder, Cameron

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Links for Wednesday…

Sherman’s Latest: Gonzalez, Guillen, Castillo, Martin

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Let’s take a little break from Peavy-mania and look at some other situations around the big leagues, courtesy of Joel Sherman.

  • Padres GM Kevin Towers can’t see any circumstances under which he’d trade first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.  He’s signed cheaply, and the Padres already have offensive problems.
  • Sherman knows that it will be extremely difficult for the Mets to move Luis Castillo this offseason, but offers one scenario that has been discussed before: Trade Castillo to the Royals for perennial hothead Jose Guillen. Guillen would bring the Mets a power bat and arm to put in left field, while Castillo would bring the Royals some much-needed OBP and a replacement for free agent Mark Grudzielanek. The difference would be the Royals saving $6MM over Castillo’s remaining three seasons, with the Mets taking on $6MM more, but only having two years of a bad contract. Personally, I think this move could make a lot of sense for both teams, although I’d prefer to have Guillen over Castillo. Also, the Mets apparently have no interest in an Eric Byrnes/Castillo swap.
  • The Phillies may be looking for a way to replace Pat Burrell cheaply in order to pursue a free agent starter. One proposed method would be to move Greg Dobbs to left field. Sherman notes that there wouldn’t be much difference in range between Burrell and Dobbs. Dobbs posted an .824 OPS this season in 226 ABs, but the alarming thing is that 217 of those ABs came against right-handed pitching. Dobbs was just 1 for 9 against lefties in 2008, and has just 52 career ABs against LHP, in which he’s posted a .579 OPS. A plattoon with Eric Brutnlett could work, but if I were a Philadelphia fan, I’d be hoping for an alternative solution. Sherman reminds us that the Phils were players for Manny Ramirez in July…
  • This one surprised me, but Sherman throws a new name as a possibility on the trade market: Russell Martin. Sherman cites rival executives in saying that the Dodgers aren’t "enamored with his makeup" and that with frontline catchers being hot commodities, the Dodgers could explore the market to see what Martin could bring in return. Personally, I think moving Martin would be a mistake, but I have to admit, Martin would indeed fetch a very nice return.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Greinke, Manny, Burnett

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A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…

  • Royals Authority feels it will take a Johan Santana-type deal to trade Zack Greinke this offseason.
  • Goat Riders Of The Apocalypse takes an in depth look at the Cubs ’09 roster and what changes could be made.
  • Mets Geek (or is it Rays Geek?) thinks the most important move for the Mets this winter is to sign Manny Ramirez, but only for three-years and an option.
  • River Ave. Blues agree that Manny should only be signed by the Yankees if it can be done for less than five years.
  • MetsBlog calls Orlando Hudson a "must sign" this off-season.
  • The Chuck Knoblog doesn’t see how the Yankees can sign two big free agent pitchers and a first baseman and still get the payroll down to $180-185MM.
  • Drunk Jays Fans does not see any way A.J. Burnett will return to the Jays next season.
  • First And Goal From Second Base wants to see the Twins trade Jason Kubel for a reliever.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Moore, Manny, Hudson

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Reading material for Thursday…

Odds and Ends: Bonds, Crow, Odalis Perez

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Links for Tuesday…

  • Barry Bonds is enjoying his freedom.
  • MLB.com has a list of all the potential free agents. The Dodgers lead with 14, while the Royals and Giants have only two.
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin may get an extension soon.
  • Rich Harden will have a shoulder exam soon, which will inform the Cubs’ decision on his $7MM option.
  • MLB.com’s Matthew Leach sees the Cardinals letting starter Braden Looper leave, but attempting to re-sign infielder Felipe Lopez.
  • The Kansas City Star’s Bill Reiter catches up with Aaron Crow, who is basically just chillin’ right now.  MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel says the Royals like Crow, but he may not be around when they draft 12th in 2009.
  • Ken Rosenthal agrees that the Rays owe their success to much more than just top draft picks.
  • Pete McElroy notes that Odalis Perez would love to re-sign with the Nationals.  Perez pitched 159.2 respectable innings but earned less than a million bucks.
  • Eddie Bajek has his final Elias rankings for NL relievers.  Type As: Ryan Dempster, Russ Springer, Juan Cruz, Doug Brocail, Brian Fuentes, Kerry Wood, and Jason Isringhausen.  Type Bs: Joe Beimel, Jeremy Affeldt, Brian Shouse, Bob Howry, David Weathers, Trevor Hoffman, Eric Gagne, and Brandon Lyon.  If one of these players is offered arbitration, turns it down, and signs elsewhere, his old team gets one or two draft picks.
  • MLB.com’s Spencer Fordin doesn’t see the need for the Orioles to sign Jeremy Guthrie to a long-term deal this winter.

Cubs Rumors: Hendry, Payroll, Ibanez, Roberts

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Let’s talk Cubs.

  • First things first – the Cubs need to lock in their GM.  ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Cubs are currently trying to convince Jim Hendry not to opt out of his contract in December.  Olney expects a new long-term agreement.
  • Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago-Sun Times talked to Cubs CEO Crane Kenney, who anticipates another payroll bump despite ownership uncertainty.  Maybe the $140MM range?
  • Lot of talk about the Cubs adding a left-handed hitter for balance, with Kosuke Fukudome looking like a failure.  Names suggested by Olney, Wittenmeyer, and Andy Dolan of Desipio.com: Raul Ibanez, Bobby Abreu, David DeJesus, Milton Bradley, and Brian Roberts.  Regardless of the path the Cubs take, they seem likely to accept shaky right-field defense in exchange for a middle-of-the-order bat.  The Cubs could also consider Aubrey Huff or Adam Dunn, but they’d be even more of a stretch in right. 
  • Dolan would like to add a more complete shortstop.  If the Cubs feel the same, they could again pursue switch-hitter Rafael Furcal and finally move Alfonso Soriano out of the leadoff spot.
  • Everyone expects Rich Harden’s $7MM option to be exercised, setting the ’09 rotation.  The Cubs will look at Harden’s shoulder first though.  Wittenmeyer recommends an aggressive run at C.C. Sabathia, which seems unlikely.

Odds and Ends: Mets, Royals, Sabathia

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Links for Monday:

  • Brewers owner Mark Attanasio wants to extend GM Doug Melvin beyond 2009.
  • Royals GM Dayton Moore recognizes that his team has to win now. "We’re at a point now where you will never, ever hear me say again that we have young players who are improving. You will never, ever hear me say again that we are rebuilding. That stuff is over. I’m sick of all that."
  • At Sabernomics, JC Bradbury examines what C.C. Sabathia will command on the market. Conclusion: six years and $144 million. Will any team go that high, though?
  • Jim Callis reveals the 2009 MLB amateur draft order. The Nats pick first for having the worst record, and 10th for failing to sign Aaron Crow. The Mariners slot at 2 and 22, though they could lose the 22nd pick if they sign Josh Fields. The Yankees pick 26th and 31st, the latter for missing out on Gerrit Cole.
  • Ken Davidoff looks at the Mets’ sunk costs.
  • Jon Heyman tackles some Mets issues, too, including their interest in Manny Ramirez, and their thoughts on a few players who might play better outside of New York. The trick, of course, is convincing other GMs that this is the case.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Sabathia, McLouth, Fuentes

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Here’s a look at the latest column from Ken Rosenthal.

  • Rosenthal puts odds for various teams to sign C.C. Sabathia, with the Yankees, Angels and Red Sox on top.
  • Rosenthal wonders whether the White Sox will consider trading Jermaine Dye for a starting pitcher, moving Carlos Quentin to right field, and acquiring an athletic center fielder somehow.  The goal would be a more athletic club.  The Sox will also look to add a second baseman, moving Alexei Ramirez to shortstop.  I’m not sure if something as long-term as Orlando Hudson makes sense, though.
  • The Pirates wouldn’t trade Nate McLouth for Robinson Cano, and won’t trade McLouth at all unless some team overpays.
  • If the Orioles don’t reach an extension with Brian Roberts, he’ll go on the trading block.
  • Rosenthal sees Brian Fuentes asking for Brad Lidge-type money, three years and at least $37.5MM. Pretty steep, but still half of K-Rod’s price.
  • The Rangers "made a big offer" for Zack Greinke in July, and the Braves are also fans.  But the Royals will need to be bowled over to move him.

Olney: Young Starters On Trade Market

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ESPN’s Buster Olney names three young starting pitchers who might be available this winter:  Jake Peavy, Zack Greinke, Matt Cain, and Edwin Jackson.

Peavy is 27; his trade value is off the charts.  He’s under contract for the next four seasons at a below-market $59MM total.  In 2013, his $22MM club option could be seen as a discount as well – remember when A.J. Burnett at $11MM a year was crazy?  The A’s received a six-prospect bounty for three years of Dan Haren; Peavy suitors will have to top that.  Peavy will also need to be compensated to waive his no-trade clause.

Greinke would require a package of players rivaling return the Orioles received for Erik Bedard.  Middle infield, catcher, and center field could be areas the Royals look to address.

It’d be three years of Cain, so put his price somewhere between Greinke and Peavy.  Jackson is also under team control for three years, but he’d be the easiest to acquire of the four.

Odds And Ends: Mientkiewicz, Michaels, Greinke, Soria, Scheppers

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Some links for Saturday lunch, I’ll add some more as the day progresses:

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com and can be reached here: alexo05 (at) umpbump [dot] com.

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