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Update On Sheets’ Injury

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ESPN’s Buster Olney swapped emails with Ben Sheets’ agent, Casey Close.  According to Close:

"His forearm muscle [strain] was the equivalent of a hamstring pull and it simply needed time to rest.  No real treatment was needed.  He’s fine and should be 100 percent in a month."

Olney says execs are skeptical.  Obviously they will conduct their own tests to confirm a lack of structural damage.  My guess is that the skepticism will wane once a few big names leave the board.  Jason Schmidt’s three-year, $47MM deal from ’06 could be the model for Sheets, even though that deal worked out terribly for the Dodgers.

Where Could Prince Land?

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Prince Fielder will be an intriguing name if he hits the trade market.  Many teams will not be able to afford Mark Teixeira, while Ryan Howard is apparently unavailable.  So three years of Prince at a reasonable price looks pretty good.  Which teams have a vacancy at first base?

  • Orioles.  Consolation prize to the Tex sweepstakes?  Brian Roberts, George Sherrill, and Melvin Mora would add depth for the Brewers, and Roberts gets you two draft picks if he leaves after the season.
  • Yankees.  The Brewers would probably want MLB-ready talent, meaning Phil Hughes.
  • Blue Jays.  The Brewers sent the Jays their current first baseman, Lyle Overbay.  Not sure how they’d match up on players.
  • Indians.  The Brewers would probably ask for some quality pitching, and it doesn’t seem like the Indians should part with theirs.
  • Angels.  If Tex leaves, perhaps.
  • Giants. The Fielder for Matt Cain rumor is popular, but has it been discussed by Melvin and Brian Sabean?  Who wins a straight-up swap?

Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Hardy, Manny

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Let’s take a look at Jon Heyman’s column from yesterday.

  • The Yankees will go "all in" for C.C. Sabathia.  Heyman sees the Dodgers, Mets, and Giants as other possible suitors.
  • Heyman dismisses a rumor of J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, and another player for Matt Cain.
  • He predicts a "feeding frenzy" for Hardy.  I’m with Heyman though, I wouldn’t be quick to trade him this winter.
  • Heyman talked to a GM who feels the Mets will go after Boras client Manny Ramirez.  If the five-year demand is accurate, the list of suitors will probably shrink significantly.
  • Manny quote: "I gotta thank Scott for bringing me to L.A."  Hmmm.

Odds and Ends: Bonds, Crow, Odalis Perez

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Links for Tuesday…

  • Barry Bonds is enjoying his freedom.
  • MLB.com has a list of all the potential free agents. The Dodgers lead with 14, while the Royals and Giants have only two.
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin may get an extension soon.
  • Rich Harden will have a shoulder exam soon, which will inform the Cubs’ decision on his $7MM option.
  • MLB.com’s Matthew Leach sees the Cardinals letting starter Braden Looper leave, but attempting to re-sign infielder Felipe Lopez.
  • The Kansas City Star’s Bill Reiter catches up with Aaron Crow, who is basically just chillin’ right now.  MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel says the Royals like Crow, but he may not be around when they draft 12th in 2009.
  • Ken Rosenthal agrees that the Rays owe their success to much more than just top draft picks.
  • Pete McElroy notes that Odalis Perez would love to re-sign with the Nationals.  Perez pitched 159.2 respectable innings but earned less than a million bucks.
  • Eddie Bajek has his final Elias rankings for NL relievers.  Type As: Ryan Dempster, Russ Springer, Juan Cruz, Doug Brocail, Brian Fuentes, Kerry Wood, and Jason Isringhausen.  Type Bs: Joe Beimel, Jeremy Affeldt, Brian Shouse, Bob Howry, David Weathers, Trevor Hoffman, Eric Gagne, and Brandon Lyon.  If one of these players is offered arbitration, turns it down, and signs elsewhere, his old team gets one or two draft picks.
  • MLB.com’s Spencer Fordin doesn’t see the need for the Orioles to sign Jeremy Guthrie to a long-term deal this winter.

Odds and Ends: Mets, Royals, Sabathia

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Links for Monday:

  • Brewers owner Mark Attanasio wants to extend GM Doug Melvin beyond 2009.
  • Royals GM Dayton Moore recognizes that his team has to win now. "We’re at a point now where you will never, ever hear me say again that we have young players who are improving. You will never, ever hear me say again that we are rebuilding. That stuff is over. I’m sick of all that."
  • At Sabernomics, JC Bradbury examines what C.C. Sabathia will command on the market. Conclusion: six years and $144 million. Will any team go that high, though?
  • Jim Callis reveals the 2009 MLB amateur draft order. The Nats pick first for having the worst record, and 10th for failing to sign Aaron Crow. The Mariners slot at 2 and 22, though they could lose the 22nd pick if they sign Josh Fields. The Yankees pick 26th and 31st, the latter for missing out on Gerrit Cole.
  • Ken Davidoff looks at the Mets’ sunk costs.
  • Jon Heyman tackles some Mets issues, too, including their interest in Manny Ramirez, and their thoughts on a few players who might play better outside of New York. The trick, of course, is convincing other GMs that this is the case.

Sheets Done As A Brewer?

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Some have suggested Ben Sheets’ recent elbow injury increases his chances of re-signing with the Brewers, as it may lower his price.  Beat writer Tom Haudricourt, however, says he will probably be allowed to leave via free agency.  The pitcher won’t rule out a return, but Haudricourt said "Sheets’ red eyes and solemn words told the story."

My guess is that Sheets will look more and more appealing as the offseason progresses and the other big names fall off the board.  The numbers are good, and he made 30+ starts for the first time since ’04.  Sheets has a muscle tear near the elbow, but will that prevent him from getting a four-year offer?

Sabathia Open To All Teams

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All kinds of quotes from C.C. Sabathia this evening, as the Brewers were eliminated by the Phillies.  Sources: MLB.com, the AP, and SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

Sabathia will consider all interested teams, and isn’t focused on California:

All those who say I only want to go back to California to play, that’s not true.

Sabathia on New York:

I like it there, but we’ll have to see what direction the teams are going and would my family be uncomfortable being on a whole other coast? We’ll have to see.

He won’t be touring the country, and doesn’t want the process to drag out:

I want to get it done pretty quick. I try to be as less free as possible.  All that is is stress, having it drag on through the winter.  I can guarantee you I won’t be flying around going to different cities.  I’ve pretty much been to every city. I’ve got a lot of friends around the league. They’re going to have to come to me.

Heyman says the Brewers will be in on Sabathia, and are willing to exceed $100MM.  Sabathia enjoyed his time in Milwaukee and the NL quite a bit.

Indians Choose Brantley In Sabathia Deal

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According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Indians have chosen 21 year-old outfielder Michael Brantley to complete the C.C. Sabathia trade.

Heading into the season, Baseball America saw Brantley as a "fourth outfielder who can be a useful pinch-hitter."  Brantley proceeded to hit .319/.395/.398 in Double A.

Will Brewers Try To Sign Sabathia?

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Back in July, most writers assumed the Brewers would not sign C.C. Sabathia after the season.  However, ESPN’s Buster Olney is saying there’s a chance:

Others in the Brewers’ organization say Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio will try to make it very difficult for Sabathia to leave — maybe to the point of risking a colossal mistake.

You have to figure the Brewers will at least make their best offer to Sabathia.  They’ll get a shot at him before he hits the open market – before the bidding war. 

If the Brewers let Ben Sheets and Eric Gagne leave, that’s $21MM right there.  Guillermo Mota clears another $3.35MM.  Non-tendering Chris Capuano would wipe out another $3.75MM.  That is $28MM off the books for C.C. in ’09.  A six or seven-year deal for Sabathia would surely hamper the Brewers down the road, but it cannot be ruled out.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Vlad, Cano, Peavy, Hardy

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Today we have a fresh column from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

  • Vladimir Guerrero’s $15MM option for ’09 is a lock, but perhaps the Angels will reconsider extending him beyond that.  Some of the money could be used to make Mark Teixeira the next franchise player.
  • Rosenthal says "virtually every club with a need at the position" has shown interest in second baseman Robinson Cano.  If you give Cano a mulligan for April, he hit .297/.326/.448 in 2008.  That seems like a reasonable American League projection going forward.  Cano, 26 in a few weeks, is signed through 2011 with two club options beyond that.  The Yankees would look for a starting pitcher in return.
  • Rosenthal agrees the Padres will explore the trade market for ace Jake Peavy.  He expects Kevin Towers to wait until the big-name free agent starters sign, which will accentuate the relative affordability of Peavy’s contract (basically four years, $63MM).
  • Rosenthal says Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy knows he is likely to be traded to make room for prospect Alcides Escobar.  It’d be a reasonable move, but only if Escobar proves he is a capable replacement.
  • Pat Gillick told Rosenthal he will not be returning as Phillies GM next year, despite recent speculation.
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