The Pudge Rodriguez Market
Ivan Rodriguez is past his prime by about a decade, but still he caught over 100 games last year and put up an OPS of .713. Let’s take a look at the possible suitors for Pudge and the teams that have said they won’t pursue him:
- Astros GM Ed Wade said earlier in the week that he doesn’t intend to sign Pudge, regardless of Toby Hall‘s shoulder.
- The Mets don’t appear to be interested either.
- On Sunday, Pudge said he wants to sign with the Astros, Mets or Marlins. The first two teams don’t seem interested, so could the Marlins offer him a minor league deal? Currently their catchers are John Baker and Mike Rabelo.
- DRaysBay suggests the Rays could use Rodriguez to back up Dioner Navarro.
- This is pure speculation on my part, but the A’s, whose current backup is Rob Bowen, have been willing to give veterans second chances before. Mike Piazza, Frank Thomas (twice) and now Nomar Garciaparra have all attracted Billy Beane’s attention, so why not Rodriguez?
Lots of teams could use catching depth; which one’s the best fit for Pudge?
Fredi Gonzalez Gets Extension
According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez had his contract extended through the 2011 season.
Will Ohman Has Three Offers
TUESDAY: MLB.com’s Corey Brock talked to a Padres source who considers an Ohman signing a long shot. We learned earlier today that the same goes for the Phillies.
MONDAY: According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick:
Will Ohman, one of the top relievers left on baseball’s free agent market, has major league offers in hand from the Pirates, Marlins and Padres, but plans to continue discussions with three contending teams before making a decision on his destination for 2009, his agent said Monday. The Phillies, Mets and Dodgers have all stayed in touch with Ohman, but their interest has yet to progress beyond the talking stage.
Crasnick doesn’t believe the Pirates, Marlins, or Padres would be willing to go past $1MM on a one-year deal. Joe Beimel and Dennys Reyes also remain unsigned.
Three Teams Targeting Pudge
According to the Associated Press, via ESPN.com, Ivan Rodriguez said he plans to sign with either the Marlins, Astros or Mets.
- The Astros denied having interest in the 37-year-old catcher on Saturday, but maybe that has changed. They’re not comfortable with handing the reigns to J.R. Towles after he hit .137/.250/.253 in 146 at-bats last year, and Humberto Quintero isn’t a guy you want starting every day.
- The Marlins are only willing to offer Pudge the league minimum, which might not do enough to woo the free agent. Jon Heyman suggested in late January that the Fish are the best fit, but their tight budget is obviously going to be an issue.
- The Mets could be the darkhorse here. They haven’t been vocal with their interest in Pudge this offseason, but he would work well in a platoon with Brian Schneider. Of course, the Mets would probably then want to move Ramon Castro.
Rodriguez hit .276/.319/.394 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 115 games last season for the Tigers and Yankees. He also stole 10 bases.
Heyman On Manny, Pudge, Cabrera, Howard
The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…
- Heyman says "most in the know seem to still believe [Dodgers owner Frank] McCourt will bend on Manny Ramirez and go to three years."
- The Nationals’ offer to Adam Dunn was on the table for weeks until he realized no team was going to beat or approach it. There were rumors months ago that Dunn sought a $100MM deal heading into free agency.
- The Astros and Marlins are looking at Ivan Rodriguez. There’s even an El Nuevo Dia report suggesting the Astros offered $2.5MM+ to Pudge, but that seems out of their price range to me. In today’s mailbag, MLB.com’s Alyson Footer opines that the Astros wouldn’t go to $3MM for a catcher.
- The A’s "want to spend no more than $5MM, and probably closer to $3MM" for Orlando Cabrera. He should take that if it’s offered.
- The Angels had been eyeing Joe Crede but may be done after signing Bobby Abreu. The Giants and Twins remain the likeliest suitors for Crede.
- The Phillies hoped to lock up Ryan Howard beyond his arbitration years, and Ruben Amaro Jr. disputed the notion that he is after Teixeira money.
Dan Uggla Wins Arbitration Case
According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, Dan Uggla won his arbitration case. He’ll be paid $5.35MM in ’09 instead of the Marlins’ $4.4MM submission. 2009 is Uggla’s first arb year, so the decision will have a ripple effect on his ’10 and ’11 salaries.
Odds and Ends: Garland, Lindstrom, Angels
Links for Wednesday…
- I cleaned up the 2010 free agent list a bit, eliminating a few guys who will not have six years service time after ’09. For example, Tim Redding. He’ll be a Met in 2010 unless they non-tender him.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic learned that if Jon Garland is traded this season and is a Type A free agent afterwards, his new team cannot offer him arbitration.
- Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald has an interesting profile on Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom.
- RotoAuthority gathers comments from readers on their favorite fantasy league provider. Yahoo leagues are open for registration, by the way.
- Sam Miller of the OC Register lists possible trade pieces for the Angels if they are able to finish up the Bobby Abreu contract.
Uggla’s Arbitration Hearing Is Today
According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla will have his arbitration hearing today. The Marlins submitted $4.4MM, while Uggla is at $5.35MM. Uggla will sit in on the proceedings.
Marlins Interested In Ivan Rodriguez, Chris Coste
SATURDAY, 5:45pm: Joe Frisaro of MLB.com provides an update from the Marlins’ FanFest, reporting that the team would consider signing Rodriguez, but only at the league minimum, plus incentives.
Marlins’ president of baseball operations, Larry Beinfest, said that the Marlins are likely to stand pat at catcher, and that any free agent signing would have to "make perfect sense."
FRIDAY, 9:05am: Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel confirmed the Marlins’ interest in Pudge, while also noting that the Fish discussed Philadelphia’s Chris Coste this week. He says the Phillies want to evaluate Ronny Paulino before considering a Coste trade.
THURSDAY, 5:12pm: Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports that the Marlins have interest in free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
"Cost, however, is key," writes Frisaro. The Fish don’t have much money left to work with and are only willing to guarantee about $1 million, plus a few performance-based incentives. That might not be enough to woo Pudge, who hit .276/.319/.394 with seven homers and 35 RBI in 398 at-bats last season.
Rodriguez might also crave more playing time. The Marlins seem to like 27-year-old John Baker a whole lot.
Uggla Feeling Unwanted In Florida?
Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has a chat transcript from Dan Uggla‘s Wednesday afternoon appearance on ESPN Radio 760 in West Palm Beach. During the interview Uggla hinted that he’d like the Marlins to offer him a long-term deal, even if it’s "crappy."
"People would argue that I deserve a long term deal, along with some other guys on our team that probably deserve a long term deal. But by no means are we saying, ‘Oh we are worth just as much as Hanley [Ramirez],’ or anything like that. It would be nice to have them [the Marlins] — to even throw out even a crappy deal just to show us they are interested in keeping some of us around."
Uggla, 28, hit .260/.360/.514 last season with 32 home runs and 92 RBI. He also stole five bases.