Rosenthal’s Full Count: Managerial Searches
Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports has his newest Full Count Video up, focusing this week on managerial searches around the Majors. Let's dive in:
- The Braves may pursue their top candidate — believed to be recently fired Marlins skipper Fredi Gonzalez — prior to the end of Bobby Cox's tenure. If the Braves make a deep playoff run, they may look to lock down Gonzalez before other teams, such as the Cubs, can get their hands on him.
- The Marlins want their next manager to have a "more dynamic personality" than Gonzalez. Rosenthal names Bobby Valentine, who says he doesn't know what happened previously with Florida or what will happen in the future, Jim Fregosi, Wally Backman, and Larry Bowa as candidates.
- Mets general manager Omar Minaya is telling friends that he knows his time is running out. The Mets are likely to move Minaya to a scouting role and promote assistant GM John Ricco. However, if they go outside the organization, some names to remember are former Rangers and Indians GM John Hart, and Dan Jennings, a longstanding Marlins executive.
- There have been rumblings of Hart taking over the job in Baltimore as well, but there's no indication that Andy MacPhail is on his way out.
- Rosenthal quotes an MLB executive as saying Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik is "under siege" in Seattle, given that a Seattle Times report this week claimed Zduriencik knew more about Josh Lueke's criminal record than he let on before they acquired him in the trade for Cliff Lee. Rosenthal says that it's unlikely the Mariners act so quickly in dismissing Zduriencik, but if they were to do so, that Jennings, a former Mariners scout, and former Padres GM Kevin Towers could be fits.
Marlins, Nolasco Negotiations “Going Nowhere”
We've heard that the Marlins were looking to sign Dan Uggla and Ricky Nolasco to long-term contracts, but just as the Uggla talks haven't yielded much progress, the club's negotiations with Nolasco are similarly stalled. Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that "a significant gulf exists between the two sides" as they try to keep Nolasco in Miami.
Nolasco has avoided arbitration the last two seasons (most recently signing a one-year, $3.8MM pact with Florida last December) but still has two arbitration years left thanks to his Super Two status. Rodriguez reports that since the Marlins have a team policy that requires any multi-year deal to buy out at least one free agent year, it's logical to assume that the Fish are looking at a three- or four-year contract for the right-hander.
Nolasco hasn't quite become the top-flight starter that many expected him to become after his breakout 2008 season, but aside from a 4.81 ERA in 2009-10, his peripherals over the last two seasons have been solid — a 4.44 K/BB ratio and an even 9.00 K/9 rate. One possible wrinkle in the negotiations could be Nolasco's pending surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. The Fish may want to wait to see how Nolasco recovers from the surgery before committing a big chunk of money. As Rodriguez points out, there's nothing stopping Florida from settling a contract with the pitcher for next season and then resuming the long-term negotiations later.
Odds & Ends: Huff, Marlins, Sampson, D’Backs
Links for Thursday, exactly ten years after the Angels signed Ervin Santana as an amateur free agent…
- Aubrey Huff is enjoying his time in San Francisco, writes Chris Haft of MLB.com. Huff, who signed a one-year, $3MM deal with the Giants in the offseason, will be a free agent at season's end.
- The Marlins still consider Bobby Valentine a candidate for their managerial opening and Valentine didn't rule out the possibility of re-starting talks with the team, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
- The Astros announced that they removed Chris Sampson from their 40-man roster. He has three days to accept a minor league assignment or opt for free agency. Sampson told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart that he realizes his time with the Astros is likely over.
- The Mariners say they knew little about Josh Lueke's history with the law when they acquired the pitching prospect in the Cliff Lee trade, but both the Rangers and former Mariners pitching coach Rick Adair have different versions of the story, as Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times explains.
- Unsure where your team is going to pick in next year's draft? Check out our reverse standings page, which we link to under 'Features' on the right side of the page.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports that the D’Backs plan to speak to De Jon Watson, the Dodgers assistant GM for player development, about their permanent GM job. Also in the running, some familiar names: Jerry Dipoto, D’Backs assistant GM Peter Woodfork, Kevin Towers, Damon Oppenheimer and Logan White.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic believes Chien-Ming Wang, who signed for $2MM plus incentives, is a better comparable for Brandon Webb than Rich Harden, Tim Hudson, or the other pitchers his agent compared him to.
- Chone Figgins told Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times that he doesn't regret signing in Seattle.
- Rookie pitcher Hisanori Takahashi can become a free agent after the season, as David Waldstein of the New York Times reports. He and the Mets haven't started negotiating an extension, but there's mutual interest in one.
Marlins Sign Mike Rivera
The Marlins signed former big league catcher Mike Rivera and assigned him to Triple A, according to MLB.com's transactions page. Rivera, who turns 34 later this month, has big league experience with the Tigers, Padres and Brewers. He last played in the majors in 2009 and spent most of this season at AA for the Dodgers.
Rivera posted a .257/.384/.377 line at Chattanooga, showing more patience than he did in his big league career (.244/.305/.383 MLB line). The Marlins don't have much depth behind the plate, since John Baker has an injured elbow and Ronny Paulino has been suspended for PED use. We heard last night that they were looking to sign a catcher.
Marlins Working To Sign Catcher
Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said the team is working to sign a catcher, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). The team currently has Brad Davis, Chris Hatcher and Brett Hayes, but regulars John Baker and Ronny Paulino are not available. Baker has an injured elbow and Paulino has been suspended for PED use, so the Marlins are without an experienced backstop.
MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reported this week that the team will look into catching options this offseason, but it appears that Larry Beinfest and Michael Hill are searching now. There aren't many catchers available on the free agent market, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the team signed Mike Rabelo, Paul Lo Duca or Mike Redmond, all of whom are former Marlins.
Marlins Seeking Catching Help This Offseason
The Marlins are "strongly considering moving in another direction at catcher" this offseason, reports MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. John Baker may be headed for elbow surgery, while Ronny Paulino is a non-tender candidate given his PED suspension. Who might the Marlins consider importing this winter?
Viable free agents for the Marlins include Rod Barajas, John Buck, Ramon Hernandez, Gerald Laird, Bengie Molina, A.J. Pierzynski, Yorvit Torrealba, Jason Varitek, and Gregg Zaun. If the Fish don't find their man within that group, Ryan Doumit, Mike Napoli, Russell Martin, and Chris Iannetta could be available via trade.
Odds & Ends: Twins, K-Rod, Marlins, Soriano
Sunday links, as Charlie Morton hopes to avoid becoming the Pirates' fifth pitcher this season with double-digit losses….
- Jon Paul Morosi tweets that he spoke with a source who believes that the Twins are done trading, following their acquisition of Brian Fuentes from the Angels, but notes that it's hard to be 100% certain. Morosi suggested they could be a fit for Troy Glaus earlier today.
- While trading Francisco Rodriguez would be good for the Mets, it won't be easy, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman stops short of labeling K-Rod an "untradeable player," but says he's pretty close.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider-only link) praises the Twins' acquisition of Brian Fuentes and suggests the government ought to formally investigate whether the Marlins lied to taxpayers about their finances.
- Alex Speier of WEEI.com details Rafael Soriano's unlikely path to Tampa last winter, noting how crucial the closer has been to the Rays' success.
- In his weekly Baseball Notes piece, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe discusses Manny Ramirez, Dusty Baker, and the Indians, among other topics.
Negotiations Slow Between Uggla, Marlins
Dan Uggla told Jim Bowden on Fox Sports Radio today that negotiations for a contract extension with the Marlins are moving "really slow." Bowden suggests (via Twitter) that Uggla is unsure at the moment whether he and the team will be able to reach an agreement.
Last we heard, the Marlins and Uggla were far apart on both years and money. The 30-year-old is seeking a five-year deal worth close to $60MM, while the Fish were reportedly willing to offer about $30MM over three years. Based on Uggla's comments, it appears the two sides have made little headway toward a compromise.
Even if an extension can't be worked out, Uggla remains under team control next year, his final arbitration-eligible season. The Marlins avoided going to arbitration last winter, signing their second baseman to a $7.8MM contract for 2010. The 30-year-old has responded with perhaps the best year of his career (.284/.368/.515) and will certainly be in line for another raise this offseason.
Rosenthal On Rangers, Ramirez, Finances
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports brings us another edition of Full Count. Fans of Manny Ramirez will especially enjoy this. Let's dive right in..
- Despite their recent ownership issues, the Rangers seem to have no problem with spending big. One of the reasons that they claimed Manny Ramirez on waivers was to prevent him from getting to two of their potential postseason foes, the Rays and the Yankees. It's probably for the best that they didn't submit the winning claim as seeing Ramirez or Vladimir Guerrero in the outfield would have caused some problems. Right now they should be fine offensively with Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler, two big right-handed bats, coming off of the DL soon. However, they had been interested in obtaining a fourth outfielder such as Reed Johnson.
- The Dodgers could let Ramirez go to the White Sox regardless of where they are in the standings. Rosenthal notes that he has played in just three of six games since coming off of the disabled list. In the last hour we learned that the twelve-time All-Star will not start in tonight's contest against the Rockies.
- Based on this week's events it appears that Major League Baseball is doing better financially than we are led to believe. Leaked financial reports showed that the Marlins and Pirates are taking in a decent amount of money and the small-market Rays took a $4MM gamble on claiming Manny Ramirez. Rosenthal asked a GM how three teams could take that chance and the GM replied that no one really could take that risk but everyone wants to win.
Odds & Ends: Dodgers, Overbay, Hawpe, Lilly, Marlins
Links for Friday…
- Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times says (via Twitter) that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti hasn't asked anyone to waive their no-trade clause, which would include Manny Ramirez.
- Lyle Overbay was pulled from tonight's game in the 6th inning, and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com says there has been trade interest in the Jays' first baseman recently. However, Overbay left for precautionary reasons as he's been feeling under the weather according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (Twitter links).
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that Brad Hawpe chose the Rays over the Red Sox was because there was "a perceived better fit in terms of guaranteed playing time."
- The Dodgers placed Ted Lilly on waivers today, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported yesterday that the Dodgers aren't inclined to trade Lilly.
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan reports that Marlins president David Samsom directed millions of dollars to owner Jeffrey Loria. Samson has said publicly that he did no such thing, but Passan contests that "what Samson said was so provably false that it was akin to a 3-year-old trying to hide his peas under a pile of mashed potatoes."
- Stephen Strasburg will probably need Tommy John surgery, according to the Nationals.
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says the idea of Joe Girardi leaving the Yankees for the Cubs this offseason is "pure insanity," since the Yankees will always provide Girardi with the chance to win.
- However, Cubs sources confirmed to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times that the Cubs will pursue Girardi to manage, possibly as the leading candidate, if he is available.
- Padres GM Jed Hoyer told MLB.com's Corey Brock that he and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein joked about the inevitable Adrian Gonzalez rumors last winter. As Brock shows, those rumors are a thing of the past for the first place Padres.