Beimel Discouraged By Weak Market
Free agent left-hander Joe Beimel told MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick Tuesday that he has spoken with 16 teams this offseason, but none have made "an offer worth accepting."
"It’s a good sign when a club calls, but in this market, you can’t get optimistic just because a club calls," Beimel said. "A lot of teams say they’re interested, but turning words into action hasn’t happened. It’s been strange... I put up good numbers three straight years, I’m durable. Usually that means you get a good contract, but it just hasn’t happened this year. It’s just really weird. I haven’t even had a reasonable offer to negotiate with. I don’t want to sign just to sign. It’s definitely discouraging, but you’ve got to deal with it. I’ll just wait it out."
The Dodgers contacted Beimel’s agent Tuesday afternoon, and the Phillies are also thought to have some level of interest.
Dodgers Sign Milton To Minor League Deal
Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Dodgers have signed left-hander Eric Milton to a minor league contract worth $650K.
Milton, a 10-year MLB veteran, went 0-4 with a 5.17 ERA in six starts for the Reds in ’07 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. He hasn’t finished with an earned run average under 5.00 since 2004, when he went 14-6 with the Phillies.
Report: Dodgers Could Make ‘Big Splash’
The East Valley Tribune’s Scott Bordow reports that the Dodgers "could make a big splash in the next 72 hours."
"Don’t be surprised if the Dodgers not only sign Manny Ramirez but Orlando Hudson as well," writes Bordow. It sounded like speculation at first, but Bordow confirmed to me in an e-mail that he heard the news from a "pretty reliable source."
The Dodgers have been linked to Hudson at times this offseason, but have only admitted to having mild interest in the second baseman. The Dodgers would lose their #17 pick in the June draft if they sign Hudson, but they’re in need of a guy that can play second base every day and he’s the best man available. Then again, as some readers have pointed out, it might block the development of Blake DeWitt.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday
The New York Post reports that Dodgers owner Frank McCourt told the MLB Network Tuesday that his club is still hoping to sign free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez.
"Well hopefully we are going to sign him soon," McCourt told the "Hot Stove" program. "That is certainly our intention."
"You know Manny had a tremendous impact on L.A. and made great contributions to our run at the end of last season," McCourt continued. "I’ve seldom seen a situation like his with our fans. I mean that love affair was tremendous. It’s our intention to try and bring Manny back. We’ve tried to do that, been unsuccessful to date, but that doesn’t mean we are going to stop trying."
Phillies Rumors: Will Ohman, Dennys Reyes
Cameron Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the latest on the Phillies’ pursuit of a reliever.
Will Ohman‘s agent Page Odle spoke of a "real good positive conversation" with the Phillies over the past week, but GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the dollars would have to be "extremely modest." Odle said Ohman is open to a one-year deal with a contender. The Mets are the other main suitor, but they are also in bargain mode.
Smith spoke to Dennys Reyes, who said his agent has been talking to the Dodgers and A’s. But Reyes did talk to the Phillies back in December. He is also focused on signing with a contender.
The Phils do have in-house options, plus Amaro suggested he could find a righthanded reliever with the ability to retire lefties.
Dodgers, Jeff Weaver Agree To Terms
8:38pm: Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News writes that Weaver will "compete for a bullpen spot in spring training, NOT for the fifth spot in the rotation."
7:33pm: Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that the Dodgers have agreed to terms with Jeff Weaver on a minor league contract.
The deal comes with an invitation to spring training. Weaver, 32, will make $500,000 next season if he makes the club, but that seems like a longshot. He has struggled mightily since winning a World Series with the Cardinals in 2006 and finished last season with a 6.20 ERA.
Plus, he’ll have to outpitch Jason Schmidt, Claudio Vargas, Eric Stults, Ramon Troncoso and Shawn Estes to win the fifth spot in the starting rotation. His willingness to work out of the bullpen might help, but there’s also plenty of competition there.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Monday
Interesting note yesterday from ESPN’s Peter Gammons, related to the Manny Ramirez negotiations:
Scott Boras has put the heat on Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, and there has been no love lost. The L.A. scouting department has been told it will not draft Boras clients come June.
Gammons adds that the Giants "may well be seriously considering constructing a three-year package for Manny."
Ramirez recently spoke with Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, and the slugger described his situation this way:
"We’re in the seventh inning and I’m waiting for my pitch."
Ned Colletti: GM Trade History
MLBTR contributor Brendan Bianowicz is back with a new installment in our GM Trade History series: Ned Colletti of the Dodgers. Click here to download the spreadsheet chronicling Colletti’s work.
Cafardo’s Latest: Manny, Sheets, Glavine
The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo shares some notes on Manny Ramirez and around the league. Let’s have a look, bullet-point style:
- He cites an AL Exec who says, "I’ll be honest, I never thought Ramirez would walk away from… one year, $25 million. That’s better than the $20 million option he had torn up… If he has another great year, he gets another $25 million for one year? Or maybe a team then decides, ‘OK, this guy has behaved himself for a while, continues to produce at a high level now, let’s commit for another two years to him.’ Unless a team like the Yankees comes in at the last minute and gets it done, I just don’t see where he’s going to make more than $25 million." Cafardo adds that "Brian Cashman insists it won’t happen."
- A quote from Rich Hill on his being traded to the Orioles: "[Cubs general manager] Jim Hendry really took care of me. He wanted to create an opportunity for me that he told me probably didn’t exist in Chicago, so I’m grateful. I know Baltimore tried to deal for me last year and it didn’t work out, but this time they made it work." Hill also adds that he’s over his back injury and will rediscover his control.
- Ben Sheets not signing anywhere until June hurts the Brewers two-fold: they may have to foot the bill for the surgery and won’t receive a first round draft pick for losing a Type-A free agent. Sheets has a torn flexor tendon, as revealed by an exam with the Texas Rangers. On the other hand, MLBTR has noted that in June, after his surgery, he won’t cost a draft pick to sign.
- Andruw Jones on playing in Boston: "It’s too cold there. There’s too much stuff going on."
- Bobby Abreu may have to settle for a one or two year deal at $3MM. Cafardo lists the Angels, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, and Mariners.
- Expect an incentive-laden deal for one year between Tom Glavine and the Braves. As MLBTR has noted, their latest offer was between $1-2MM with no incentives.
- Mark Mulder could be a useful back end starter and he’s almost ready to put himself on display to teams.
- Shea Hillenbrand is 32 and receiving no interest. Cafardo wonders if he’s "being punished for past transgressions?"
- Cubs, White Sox, and Dodgers are lined up for Orlando Hudson; however, the transfer of ownership may have temporarily tied the hands of Jim Hendry to do anything until Tom Ricketts takes over.
- The A’s are continuously interested in Orlando Cabrera, Adam Dunn, and Abreu.
The Corner Outfield-DH Market
There are still many jobless players who could contribute as a corner outfielder or a DH, so it’s a good time to take stock of the market. Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu are the big names, but Garret Anderson, Andruw Jones, Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds and Ken Griffey Jr. want jobs and Jermaine Dye, Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher could be available through trades.
Here’s a look at the teams who have reportedly had interest in this type of player, starting in the AL:
- White Sox: They thought about Abreu and Dye’s been involved in rumors all offseason, much to the frustration of Kenny Williams. Dye will earn $11.5MM in 2009.
- Angels: They aren’t interested in Dye, but they could be interested in Abreu or Dunn at the right price. Don’t look for them to make a play for Manny though; GM Tony Reagins said it won’t happen. Garret Anderson won’t be back.
- Mariners: The Ms could sign Griffey, but they prefer Abreu and Anderson.
- Braves: They are the top suitor for Swisher and they have some interest in bringing back Jones. Atlanta has about $5-9MM to spend, so they could change plans and pursue Dunn or Abreu if they’re willing to accept a deal worth under $10MM. Don’t rule out a Nady trade, either.
- Nationals: The Nats have offered Dunn a contract, which he’s been sitting on for a while. They’re also monitoring the Manny market.
- Mets: Abreu and Ramirez won’t sign with the Mets this offseason. If Griffey’s willing to sign at a major discount, he could sign with the Mets, but indications are he wants $5-6MM.
- Dodgers: The Dodgers have targeted Manny Ramirez all offseason, and he’s rejected two contract offers from them. The first was for $45MM over two years with a club option; the second was for $25MM over one year. Dunn appears to like the Dodgers, and Abreu’s an option, too.
- Giants: The Giants are also courting Manny, but some have said they just want to prevent the Dodgers from getting a deal. Abreu could also fit in San Francisco.
- Reds: Yet another team that could pursue Abreu, the Reds spoke with Luis Gonzalez’s agent ealier in the winter. Adam Dunn won’t return to Cincinnati this offseason.