Odds And Ends: Cordero, Schmidt, Griffey
Another round of links…
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty tells MLB.com's Mark Sheldon that no team has inquired on Francisco Cordero.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports has a series of predictions for the season's final month. He doesn't expect Jake Peavy to win more than a single game for the White Sox.
- MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports that Jason Schmidt's season is over. Schmidt, who won three games in as many seasons for the Dodgers, hinted he may retire.
- Ken Griffey Jr. tells C. Trent Rosecrans of CNati.com he's having the time of his life back in Seattle. He's open to staying with the Mariners, but says he understands if the team decides to move on. Check out the entire interview – it's a great read.
- Roy Oswalt says there's "a dead feeling" in the Astros clubhouse, according to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle. Justice argues that "the people in charge have screwed up the franchise."
- Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox evaluated Billy Wagner in depth before trading for him.
Odds And Ends: Manny, Marlins, Wagner
Some links to start the week off…
- Manny Ramirez, who has a $20MM player option for next year, shouted "I'm going to be here next year" to his Dodgers teammates, according to T.J. Simers of the LA Times. You never know with Manny, but it's hard to imagine someone offering him a better deal.
- If you've ever wondered about some of the more lucrative performance incentives around baseball, check out Jorge Says No!.
- The Marlins have a tiny payroll, but call them a surprise and Larry Beinfest starts to bristle, says Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
- Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the feeling is the Red Sox will send a marginal player to the Mets for Billy Wagner if they can work out a deal with the former closer and his agent.
Discussion: Orlando Hudson
We'll have a whole lot more on the subject this offseason, when free agency picks back up and rumors begin swirling like crazy, but it's probably a fine time to start throwing around names in the 2010 free agent class. One of the more intriguing players from that group, because of a youngster behind him and the season he's having, is Orlando Hudson.
The "O-Dog," 32 in December, is batting .291/.358/.425 this season with eight home runs and 57 RBI in 461 at-bats. He's outperforming a good amount of his career offensive averages and plays a decent second base.
But, with 24-year-old serviceable infielder Blake DeWitt waiting in the wings, it's doubtful the Dodgers will get into any sort of bidding war or offer Hudson big money to stay in Los Angeles. So, who's going to make a play? The Nationals have publicly acknowledged that they're seeking a long-term second baseman, and ESPN's Buster Olney suggested in June that Hudson could fairly demand a three or four-year deal. Is that the right fit? Who else needs a new two-sacker? Get after it in the comments.
Odds & Ends: Padilla, Riggleman, Cabrera, Twins
Some links to wrap up your Thursday night…
- Scott Miller of CBSSports.com notes that Vicente Padilla brings hefty baggage with him to Los Angeles. He points out that the circumstances are similar to the arrival of one Manny Ramirez last year.
- The Nationals will conduct a search for a permanent manager in the offseason, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com. Jim Riggleman, the interim manager, will be a candidate for the job.
- R.J. Anderson at FanGraphs discusses the success of of Everth Cabrera, whom the Padres swiped from the division-rival Rockies in the Rule V Draft.
- And the Twins signed a German player with a family background in ballet, according to John W. Miller of the Wall Street Journal.
Odds And Ends: Padilla, Strasburg, Gomes
Another round of links…
- Ted Green of the LA Times says Vicente Padilla will be an "angel" with the Dodgers because he has no other choice.
- As Monday night's deadline to sign picks neared, we had no idea whether Stephen Strasburg would sign. Neither did Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, so he wrote this story in case the Nats failed to sign him.
- We've heard lots of talk about Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, but John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer wonders if the Reds could deal Jonny Gomes, who has 15 homers, to a contender.
- Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball shows how much teams spent on draft picks Monday and argues that the recommended slotting system isn't working as intended.
Odds And Ends: Jeter, Uggla, Cubs, Hall
Links for Thursday morning…
- Derek Jeter, whose contract expires after next season, says he isn't thinking about his next deal or how long he'll keep playing, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
- Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel asks: Are the Marlins better off holding onto Dan Uggla after the season and paying him about $7MM in arbitration, or should they trade him?
- Cubs GM Jim Hendry tells Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times that he takes resonsibility for his team's frustrating season.
- Jeff Sackmann of the Hardball Times says Doug Melvin was justified in handing Bill Hall a long-term contract, even though it didn't work out for the Brewers.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports expects Vicente Padilla to be on his best behavior with the Dodgers, who need him badly.
- In his latest roundup of top Rangers prospects at MLB.com, Jamey Newberg notes that it doesn't look like Justin Smoak will reach the majors this year.
- Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles will audition Luke Scott at first base between now and the end of the season.
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says the Astros won't see their attendance improve if they put another "old, bad, boring" team on the field next year.
Odds & Ends: Tejada, Rays, Yankees
A roundup of links before the evening comes to a close:
- Alyson Footer at MLB.com wonders if Miguel Tejada's suggestion to play third for the Astros in 2010 isn't such a bad idea.
- The father of the Rays' first round pick Levon Washington says the Rays didn't abide by the pre-draft agreement the two sides had come to, says Marc Topkin at the St. Petersburg Times. Washington was reportedly offered $1.1MM. Washington will enter next year's draft.
- Gritty and Clutch examines whether the Yankees got their moneys' worth in payroll this season (h/t River Ave. Blues).
- Matthew Leach at MLB.com gets player and management reaction in the fallout of the Cards' John Smoltz acquisition.
- Kevin Baxter at the L.A. Times says that Vicente Padilla will have to pass a physical before he can join the Dodgers.
Dodgers Sign Vicente Padilla
6:35pm: Jayson Stark at ESPN is reporting that the move is official. Padilla will sign a minor-league deal and make at least one start in the minors before he's called up to the Dodgers' rotation. He'll be owed the prorated portion of the league minimum–around $100k.
It's a cheap way for the Dodgers to add depth, since they'll only be responsible for the pro-rated MLB minimum, with the Rangers paying Padilla the rest of his $12MM salary.
4:36pm: Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times hears that the Dodgers are "very" close to adding Padilla.
12:45pm: Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that the Dodgers are "moving closer" to an agreement with Padilla.
12:19pm: ESPN.com's Jayson Stark hears that Vicente Padilla has become "a consideration" for the Dodgers now that a liner to Hiroki Kuroda's head has further depleted the team's rotation. The Dodgers are talking with Padilla's agent, Paul Kinzer, and we could hear of a deal this afternoon. The Dodgers, who would only be responsible for about $100k if they add Padilla, had uncertain interest as recently as yesterday but they're now considering him.
Dodgers Interested In Padilla?
4:53pm: Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears from an unnamed source that the Dodgers have some interest in Padilla. However, a Dodgers official downplayed the club's interest.
9:38am: A person within the Dodgers front office tells Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times that the team isn't likely to pursue Vicente Padilla, who was just released by the Rangers. Padilla's agent, Paul Kinzer, contacted the Dodgers to let them know his client would "absolutely" like to pitch in Dodger Blue.
Talkin’ John Smoltz
As Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com notes, 42-year-old right-hander John Smoltz has not considered retirement and is hoping to join a new team soon, either as a starter or reliever. Here's what we know so far:
Smoltz was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on August 7 after posting an 8.33 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP over eight starts. He refused an assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket earlier this week, and the Sox now have only two days to find a trade partner before they must grant him his release. The Marlins, Cardinals, Dodgers, Rangers and Astros are thought to have some level of interest. SI.com's Jon Heyman has spoken with MLB executives who believe the veteran is likely to end up back in the National League.
There's a chance an interested club will jump in and make a deal for Smoltz before he's released, but it would make more sense for teams to sit tight until Monday, and leave Boston with the remainder of his one-year, $5.5 million contract. A release will also negate all bonuses and incentives tied to that deal.