Angels Open To In-Season Talks For K-Rod
Angels owner Arte Moreno said today that the team is flexible and is willing to negotiate a contract extension with closer Francisco Rodriguez during the season. K-Rod and his agent were strongly leaning toward putting talks off until after the season after an agreement could not be reached by Opening Day.
Twins closer Joe Nathan inked a four-year, $47MM deal in March. The total is the highest ever for a reliever, though Mariano Rivera earns $15MM annually on a three-year pact. Another comparable is Francisco Cordero‘s four-year, $46MM deal. Nathan and Cordero both have fifth-year club options.
Assuming they hit the open market, the big name closers for the winter of 2008-09 are K-Rod and Brad Lidge. Will one top the $50MM mark or get five guaranteed years? Brian Fuentes and Brandon Lyon seem to fit into the second tier of free agent closers.
Odds and Ends: Jacque, Lee Hak-ju, Tavarez
Here’s today’s collection of links.
- The Tigers weren’t able to trade Jacque Jones; he’ll become a free agent tomorrow. The Marlins are expected to make an offer.
- The Cubs signed a Korean high school shortstop named Lee Hak-ju. Aaron Shinsano, who works for the Cubs as a scout, says the team believes he’d have been a first round pick in the states.
- Giants owner Peter Magowan is expected to step down Friday.
- Troy Renck says the Rox still want Julian Tavarez but won’t give up pitching prospect Brandon Hynick. Baseball America ranked Hynick eighth among Rockies prospects, they describe him as a command guy with a decent splitter. The Sox are talking to two or three teams about Tavarez.
- Not a surprise, but Jon Garland isn’t likely to sign back with the White Sox.
Braves, Angels Scouting Cardinals
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch mentioned in a Wednesday chat that the Braves are scouting the Cardinals heavily and the Angels have also been watching recently.
One rumor that’s been floating about consistently is that the Cardinals are willing to trade pitcher Anthony Reyes. Yesterday Jayson Stark relayed that John Mozeliak wants "an upper echelon prospect back, plus another piece."
Free Agent Stock Watch: Jon Garland
One thing Jon Garland has going for him is his age. He’ll spend the 2009 season as a 29 year-old. Only a few other free agent starters will be under 30 that year: Oliver Perez (27), Mark Prior (27), and C.C. Sabathia (28). A team that can’t afford Sabathia but misses out on Perez might turn to Garland.
Garland is an innings eater, having topped 210 in each of the last three seasons. His low strikeout rate leads to plenty of hits, but he balances that with good control. His groundball rate had been on the decline from 2005-07, but he’s at an elite 55% this year. On the other hand, he’s whiffed just four in 30.3 innings (easily the worst K/9 in baseball).
If the oddities balance out and he has a typical Garland season, Carlos Silva‘s four-year, $48MM deal might be the comparable.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Juan Rivera
Angels outfielder Juan Rivera is in a tough situation, fighting for playing time in his contract year. So far he has eight ABs in the team’s first 16 games. He’s just not getting starter consideration at the DH or corner spots.
Rivera seems like an interesting buy-low candidate, whether via trade during the season or free agency after it. The one time he received more than 400 ABs, in 2006, he hit .310/.362/.525. He broke his leg in a winter league game that year and has barely played since. The Angels aren’t in any hurry to trade him, despite interest.
If the ’08 season continues to depress Rivera’s value, perhaps he could be had one a one-year, $5MM deal. He turns 30 in July and could be quite a bargain if he returns to form.
Olney’s Latest: Lidge, Shields, Eveland, Lahey
Here are some trade-rumor-tidbits from Buster Olney this morning:
- For the first time in his career, Scot Shields was activated from the DL and rookie pitcher Rich Thompson was sent down to Triple A. The Angels had hoped to keep the kid around but last friday’s 1 inning, 5-run meltdown assured his ticket out.
- A likely story: Dana Eveland is making Billy Beane look smart. He shut down the Indians for 7 innings yesterday, striking out 7. When Dan Haren was sent to Arizona for 6 prospects, Tim thought the Dbacks won and suggested Eveland could be a back of the rotation starter of the David Wells-variety as was the common consensus around the league. Eveland hadn’t shown anything at the major league level; however, it seems Eveland might be realizing his potential (413 minor league IP, 8.84 K/9). Then again, it’s been one start and Olney notes Jhonny Peralta just thinks Eveland got lucky. Time will tell, but Beane has a funny way of making time work in his favor.
- As Brad Lidge comes back, reliever Tim Lahey is designated for assignment to make room. Lahey’s path is a bit of a head-scratcher. He was selected by the Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft from the Twins before being claimed off waivers by the Phillies. He’s now back on waivers, and if he clears, he’ll have to be offered back to the Twins who apparently do want him back. So an imminent Twins/Phillies deal could be in the works.
By Nat Boyle
K-Rod Won’t Negotiate During Season
The Daily News LA has a brief update on the Angels and their attempt to re-sign Francisco Rodriguez. Apparently neither party has made much headway on getting a deal done before the season and now that Spring Training is ending K-Rod and his agent, Paul Kinzer, won’t negotiate during the season.
"…Kinzer said he has ‘absolutely not’ given the Angels a deadline or ultimatum to sign Rodriguez before the season starts or watch him leave as a free agent next fall.
Rodriguez conceded Saturday that seems to be the likely outcome.
‘Everything’s headed that way,’ he said. ‘But there’s going to be six long months of the season and I can’t predict what’s going to happen in one week or one month or six months.’"
MLBTR suggests $50MM over 4 years is not unreachable for K-Rod, given Joe Nathan‘s recent $47MM over 4 years. Still both sides are distant at this point as the Angels best offer has been $34 over 3 years. K-Rod argued for $12.5 in the arbitration case he eventually lost, so the Angels contract offer falls short of what Rodriguez feels he deserves now in arbitration. K-Rod is only 26, seven (!) years younger than Nathan, and for that should be able to command a 4+ year deal easily.
By Nat Boyle
A Look At Nathan Haynes
As you know, the Rays snagged outfielder Nathan Haynes off waivers yesterday from the Angels. I liked this move; let’s take a closer look at the 28 year-old outfielder.
MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer speaks of Haynes’ "sprinter’s speed" and defensive talents at all three outfield positions. Haynes’ prospect status expired years ago, but he seems equally as valuable as many free agents signed for millions in the last few years. I think there’s still a lot of talented late-20s players who just need a chance, guys like Haynes, Marcus Thames, and Jack Cust. Haynes’ path has been slowed by many knee and hernia issues.
PECOTA has Haynes hitting .265/.334/.405 this year; ZiPS is far less optimistic. I’ll be curious to see how this no-risk move pans out.
Odds And Ends: Gotay, Register, Haynes
A couple of minor pickups this afternoon:
- The Rays have claimed left-hand-hitting Nathan Haynes off waivers from the Angels. Rocco Baldelli will be moved to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man. Marc Lancaster speculates that Haynes, who is out of options, will take a roster spot that was presumed to be Eric Hinske’s.
- The Mets have given up trying to trade for Rule V pick Steven Register, and are letting him go back to Colorado. He’ll report to Triple A.
- Ruben Gotay, who had been DFA’d by the Mets, has been picked up by the Braves. Adam Rubin also notes that Anderson Hernandez has been optioned to AAA. UPDATE: To make room for Gotay on the 25-man, the Braves have asked for waivers on Scott Thorman. He has cleared, and will report to Triple A Richmond.
Posted by Joe Pawlikowski
Kelvim Escobar’s Season May Be Over
Kelvim Escobar‘s season, and perhaps even career, may be in jeopardy because of his shoulder issue. A contribution this year is a long shot. Baseball Injury Report’s Rick Wilton guesses it is related to the rotator cuff. By the way, Baseball Injury Report was all over this last night; check it out and consider subscribing.
John Lackey‘s triceps strain takes on heightened importance with the probable loss of Escobar. Lackey, Jered Weaver, and Jon Garland is still a competitive front three. And between Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana, Dustin Moseley, and Nick Adenhart, the Halos can figure out the last two slots.
If Tony Reagins does look externally for more pitching, here are some options off the top of my head: Claudio Vargas, Jason Marquis, Matt Morris, Matt Belisle, David Wells, Jorge de la Rosa, Byung-Hyun Kim, Horacio Ramirez, Anthony Reyes, and Cliff Lee. In other words, slim pickens right now.