Dodgers Not Interested In Inge?
TODAY: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times shoots this one down, citing the large amount of money owed to Inge.
SATURDAY: The Dodgers put in a call to the Tigers asking about Brandon Inge, according to Danny Knobler. Both Joe Torre and Larry Bowa are pushing for Inge, who would play third base in LA.
Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche have been jockeying for the position but the Dodgers aren’t sold on either as a solution just yet. Inge is set to earn $19.1MM over the next three seasons. The Dodgers definitely have salary dump candidates in Nomar, Juan Pierre, and Esteban Loaiza, but I’m not sure if there’s a fit.
By Big Mike Glab and Tim Dierkes
Derek Lowe Enters Contract Year
Dodgers righty Derek Lowe is entering a contract year again, and he feels much less pressure than he did entering the ’04 season. Lowe posted a 5.42 ERA but still snagged a four-year, $36MM deal from Paul DePodesta. I believe the deal was panned by many but it turned out phenomenally for L.A. There’s a decent chance he makes over 130 starts during the life of the contract. He’s been first or second in the league in groundball rate during each Dodger season.
Lowe turns 35 in June, and could be primed for $12MM a year if he has a typical ’08. He may be able to find a team willing to go to three years, if Scott Boras is on his game. Looking at the 2008-09 free agent class, Lowe may be accompanied by A.J. Burnett, Jon Garland, Pedro Martinez, C.C. Sabathia, and Ben Sheets.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Lohse, Furcal, Lofton
FOX’s Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest buzz from Spring Training.
- The Mets, Cardinals, and Orioles are listed as possibilities for Kyle Lohse. However, the Mets may deem him unnecessary, reports are conflicting on the Cards’ interest, and the Orioles are wary of the price.
- Rosenthal says Rafael Furcal‘s agent met with Ned Colletti a few days ago, but the Dodgers would likely want to see Furcal return to form before entertaining an extension. Click here to see the other shortstops eligible for free agency after the ’08 season. The Dodgers may have a viable replacement for Furcal in defensive whiz Chin-Lung Hu.
- Rosenthal notes that the Yankees, in search of a right-handed outfielder, considered Shannon Stewart and Mike Cameron this winter.
- Kenny Lofton‘s chances of a getting the big league deal he wants with the Reds or Twins look slim.
- The rumor going around for Corey Patterson is the Marlins, if the price is right.
- Rosenthal confirms two additions for our 2008 Out Of Options list – Gabe Gross and Clint Barmes.
- Rosenthal says the Mets need a right-handed hitter who can play left field and first base. Here are some names I came up with: Ryan Ludwick, Xavier Nady, Matt Murton, Franklin Gutierrez, and Kevin Millar. Granted, not all those guys know their way around first base.
Shawn Green Retires
According to Mark Hale of the New York Post, outfielder Shawn Green has decided to retire. He had interest from a half-dozen clubs, but apparently nothing close enough to his California home. Green retires at 35 with about $100MM earned in his career. That’d be kind of nice, wouldn’t it?
Green finishes with a line of .283/.355/.494 and 328 home runs. He topped 40 HR in three different seasons.
Pierre A Trade Possibility
The idea that Juan Pierre could take away at-bats from Matt Kemp and/or Andre Ethier seems absurd to me. If he was making $400K instead of $8MM, would this even be a consideration? Tony Jackson believes Pierre will be the main left fielder while Kemp and Ethier platoon in right.
Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times notes that Pierre seems willing to waive his five-team no-trade protection. It’s generally assumed that the Dodgers would have to eat some of his remaining $36.5MM over the next four years to move Pierre.
It seemed like the White Sox could’ve been interested in Pierre, but their outfield now seems set with Carlos Quentin, Nick Swisher, and Jermaine Dye. Is there even one team for which for years of Pierre at, say, $24MM, would make sense? Following the whole Corey Patterson/Kenny Lofton theme, maybe the Reds would have interest at the right price.
Four Teams Considering Trot Nixon
MONDAY: The Jays will pass on Nixon. The D’Backs liked what they saw.
SUNDAY: According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, four teams watched 33 year-old outfielder Trot Nixon audition in Tucson today: the D’Backs, Blue Jays, Mariners, and Dodgers. Nixon earned $4MM in ’07 while hitting .251/.342/.336 for the Tribe in 354 plate appearances. He was pretty much injury-free.
Nixon’s calling card had typically been his ability to rake right-handed pitching. He hit .256/.352/.345 against righties in ’07, drawing plenty of walks but displaying no power. Rather than a platoon he seems in line for a bench job this year.
Odds and Ends: Kelly Johnson, Nathan, Crede
Time for some early Monday odds and ends.
- Remember how White Sox GM Ron Schueler embarrassed Cubs GM Ed Lynch in 1998 by acquiring Jon Garland for Matt Karchner? Rany Jazayerli sees a parallel to that heist with the Royals’ acquisition of Daniel Cortes as part of the July ’06 Mike MacDougal trade.
- Mike Berardino’s blog continues to entertain; this time with a Dan Miceli story. Ah, knife fights with siblings. Who among us can say they haven’t had one or two?
- Buster Olney learned from Braves GM Frank Wren that Kelly Johnson has been the team’s most asked-for player in trade talks this winter.
- The look on Kyle Kendrick‘s face is priceless.
- Extension talks with the Twins and Joe Nathan have gone dormant. Nathan still thinks the gap can be bridged but wants it done before the season begins.
- Andy Marte and Shin-Soo Choo are both out of options; when Choo comes back from elbow surgery a month into the season one of them could be traded.
- Henry Schulman says the White Sox may accept prospects from the Giants for Joe Crede.
- Derek Lowe is entering his walk year, and he hasn’t had any extension talks with the Dodgers yet.
Four Teams Considering Trot Nixon
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, four teams watched 33 year-old outfielder Trot Nixon audition in Tucson today: the D’Backs, Blue Jays, Mariners, and Dodgers. Nixon earned $4MM in ’07 while hitting .251/.342/.336 for the Tribe in 354 plate appearances. He was pretty much injury-free.
Nixon’s calling card had typically been his ability to rake right-handed pitching. He hit .256/.352/.345 against righties in ’07, drawing plenty of walks but displaying no power. Rather than a platoon he seems in line for a bench job this year.
Odds and Ends: Perez, Jones, Howard, Burnett
Let’s round up today’s linkage.
- No more long-term discussions with Oliver Perez and the Mets.
- Andruw Jones already wants to talk extension with the Dodgers.
- The Cardinals are not likely to make anymore acquisitions. In my view the team has question marks in right field, the middle infield, and the rotation. Here’s a look at their MLB.com depth chart. By the way, could Ryan Franklin be a league average starter? They could try it if the current options don’t pan out.
- Jim Salisbury thinks the Ryan Howard contract situation is a nonstory. I think this is partially because (and I hope this doesn’t sound condescending) most fans do not understand the arbitration process. Anyway Salisbury’s source says the Phillies would match Chase Utley‘s seven-year, $85MM deal and might approach $100MM. He says Howard may want "significantly more."
- Ivan Rodriguez would like to play beyond the 2008 season and retire a Tiger. If the Tigers can’t find a taker for Brandon Inge this year, he could be their starting catcher in ’09.
- Carl Pavano doesn’t seem too popular in the Yankees’ clubhouse.
- J.P. Ricciardi does not plan to do an extension during the season with A.J. Burnett. I think Burnett will stay healthy enough to top the two years, $24MM he could get if he does not opt out.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Joe Blanton
After letting Barry Zito walk last year and trading Danny Haren in December, the A’s appear to be entertaining offers for Joe Blanton. While the Reds and the Dodgers appear to be the most aggressive suitors, Ken Rosenthal speculated that Blanton would be a good fit for the Twins or the Rays and Buster Olney named several other clubs that could be interested in acquiring the right-hander. Blanton, 27, is still three years from free agency, and will make $3.7MM this season. With pitchers and catchers due to report this week, let’s take a look at reactions to the Blanton rumors from the blogosphere.
- Athletics Nation is surprised that Blanton has not been moved yet. They expect that a deal is more likely now that Johan Santana has been traded, and the free agent market is drying up.
- Redleg Nation thinks the Reds should be willing to part with Homer Bailey or Johnny Cueto in addition to Joey Votto for a proven pitcher.
- On the other hand, Red Reporter believes the Reds should only take Blanton if they do not have to surrender one of their top prospects.
- Pinstripe Alley wouldn’t mind the Yankees acquiring Blanton as long as the trade does not require Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes. The would be willing to part with Alan Horne or Austin Jackson from the lower levels.
- Rays Anatomy believes that Blanton is an asset that the Rays could use (an innings eater), but ultimately does not think the trade makes sense for the Rays. They are hesitant With so many pitching prospects knocking on the Rays’ door and do not want to part with prospects such as Wade Davis, Jake McGee or Desmond Jennings.
- Over the Monster does not see the Red Sox giving up Coco Crisp for Blanton as that would be a deviation from their plan to develop pitchers in their system. Rather, they think it is more likely that the Sox sign a free agent or move Julian Tavarez to the rotation.