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Fielder To Aim High In Arbitration

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Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel expects Scott Boras and Prince Fielder to aim sky-high when they file his salary arbitration request. Fielder and Boras turned down an extension of 5 years, $60MM last season to "focus on his first year of arbitration eligibility," says Haudricourt. Last season Ryan Howard won his case for $10MM. Haudricourt makes a statistical comparison of the two sluggers in their first year of salary arbitration:

Fielder: .278 AVG, 114 HR, 312 RBI, .533 slugging percentage and .370 on-base percentage in 513 games.

Howard, as of last season: .291 AVG, 129 HR, 353 RBI, a slugging percentage above .600 and an on-base percentage approaching .400, in 410 games.

Assistant GM Gord Ash said, "The number we put in has to be defendable in the event it goes to a hearing.  We’ve been able to settle these situations in the past and that’s our preference, but we’ll go to a hearing if we have to."  Haudricourt adds:

"The Brewers budgeted the expected increase in Fielder’s salary into their 2009 payroll and are prepared to pay it. But the expectation of a contentious arbitration hearing as well as Fielder’s likely exodus as a free agent after the 2011 season have prompted some to suggest the Brewers should trade him now. The thinking is that the closer Fielder gets to free agency, the less the Brewers would get in return for a player they have no chance of keeping long-term. But the club also wants to follow up on its 2008 playoff breakthrough and won’t trade Fielder merely to head off financial conflicts in the future."

Brewers Still Considering Cordero

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Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Brewers are maintaining interest in Chad Cordero, even after signing Trevor Hoffman to close. Writes Haudricourt,

"[Brewers assistant GM Gordon] Ash said the Brewers were still discussing whether to put in an offer to the agent of former Washington closer Chad Cordero, who held a throwing session in California last week for interested clubs. Cordero is coming off shoulder surgery and is not expected to be ready to pitch until a month or two into the season. ’It’s a risk decision,’ said Ash. "It’s a matter of how much (financial) risk you want to take. His agent has let it be known he’s going to sign somewhere.’"

Cordero auditioned 10 days ago for 7 teams, one of which was Milwaukee. The Marlins and Dodgers have since expressed interest. Also potentially interested: the Angels, Mets, Cardinals, D’Backs, Rangers, Twins, Nats, and Tigers.

Rosenthal On Andruw, Nady, Lyon, Madson

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

  • The Braves are pulling back for the moment in their search for an outfield bat.  They’ll hope for a free agent bargain or the right trade.  Rosenthal says they’re torn about Andruw Jones.  The Braves seek a right-handed hitter but aren’t dead set on it.  They were unwilling to meet the Yankees’ demands for Xavier Nady.
  • Brandon Lyon’s agent is telling teams he has a two-year, $9MM offer in hand (Kyle Farnsworth money).  The Tigers or Twins are possibilities there, while the Cardinals may have offered one year.  Jon Paul Morosi confirms Detroit’s interest, but says they’ve yet to make an offer.  Morosi believes the Tigers have about $5MM left in their budget.
  • Ryan Madson turned down a three-year, $12MM extension from the Phillies.  The Scott Boras client is eligible for free agency after the season.
  • Execs have all kinds of concerns with Oliver Perez: his flyball tendencies, frequent walks, and inability to reach 200 innings.
  • The Yankees have little interest in Ben Sheets and Freddy Garcia.  The Rangers, Mets, and White Sox remain in the mix for Garcia.
  • The Brewers and other teams are in on Braden Looper, while the Orioles and Dodgers have backed off.
  • Edgardo Alfonzo is playing well in the Venezuelan Winter League and could make a comeback.

Brewers No Longer Interested In Dunn

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MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy spoke to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who indicated the team is no longer interested in free agent slugger Adam Dunn.  The possibility was considered when the Brewers were discussing a Mike Cameron trade with the Yankees (Corey Hart would’ve moved to center field).  Cameron and Hart are staying put.

Another scenario, which Ken Rosenthal discussed a week ago, is trading Prince Fielder and replacing him with Dunn.  McCalvy doesn’t dismiss the idea outright, but notes that the Crew would be treading water in terms of lefthanded bats.

Stark On The Arbitration Class

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark says we’re headed for a historic arbitration class.  Players file today, and the dollar submissions become known on Tuesday.  If the sides can’t come to an agreement, they go to a hearing and an arbitrator chooses one of the two salary submissions.  Be sure to read the article, but here are a few highlights.

  • Ryan Howard’s dad may be behind the player’s unprecedented salary expectations.  Howard may ask for $15-17MM in his second arbitration year.  He could be a trade candidate in the 2009-10 offseason.
  • Prince Fielder’s numbers and accolades don’t match up to Howard’s, so Scott Boras may have difficulty matching Howard’s first arb year record award of $10MM.
  • Cole Hamels could ask for $5MM or more, but seems more amenable to a long-term deal than Howard.  Will the Phillies offer him more than three years?
  • Other interesting names: Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Felix Hernandez, Dan Uggla, Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander, Russell Martin, B.J. Upton, Ryan Zimmerman, Jeff Francoeur, and Ervin Santana.
  • Looking for a surprise summer trade candidate?  Stark talked to one AL exec who wondered if Verlander could be made available if the Tigers are out of contention.

Odds and Ends: Smoltz, Young, Cameron

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Links for Tuesday…

Cafardo’s Latest: Manny, Dunn, Fielder

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has lots of rumors in his latest article:

  • Apparently the Giants were willing to offer Manny Ramirez a four year deal in the form of a one year deal with three option years. No more details are known, except that the Giants remain interested in Manny.
  • Brad Ausmus has had ongoing talks with the Padres and Dodgers, according to Cafardo’s sources. The Red Sox aren’t interested.
  • The Angels, Giants and Mets are possible suitors for Xavier Nady.
  • Cafardo’s heard other clubs talking about the Red Sox and Rockies restarting the Todd Helton for Mike Lowell trade talk, but hasn’t heard anything similar from the Red Sox.
  • At least one of Cafardo’s sources thinks Prince Fielder would make a lot of sense in Boston. Clay Buchholz could be a starting point if these talks were to start.
  • Ben Sheets is becoming a bargain, so the Braves or Rangers could jump in and sign him affordably.
  • Cafardo calls Atlanta an "emerging" destination for Adam Dunn.
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