Melvin Extension Near Complete?
According to Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, "Doug Melvin is finalizing details on a new three-year deal in Milwaukee." Melvin is already signed through 2009.
If Melvin stays on board, he’ll first determine the team’s manager. After that, like many GMs, he has all kinds of personnel issues.
Offseason Outlook: Milwaukee Brewers
Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Brewers. Their likely 2009 commitments:
C – Jason Kendall – $4.6MM
C – Mike Rivera – $400K
1B – Prince Fielder – $670K+
2B – Rickie Weeks – $1.057MM+
SS – J.J. Hardy – $2.65MM+
3B – Bill Hall – $6.8MM
IF – Joe Dillon – $400K
IF – Alcides Escobar – $400K
LF – Ryan Braun – $745K
CF – Mike Cameron – $10MM (club option)
RF – Corey Hart – $444K+
OF – Tony Gwynn Jr. – $400K
OF –
SP – Yovani Gallardo – $404K
SP – Dave Bush – $2.55MM+
SP – Manny Parra – $400K
SP – Jeff Suppan – $12.5MM
SP – Seth McClung – $750K+
RP – David Riske – $4.25MM
RP – Salomon Torres – $3.75MM (club option)
RP – Carlos Villanueva – $413K
RP – Mitch Stetter – $400K
RP – Mark DiFelice – $400K
RP – Tim Dillard – $400K
RP – Todd Coffey – $925K+
Other commitments: Craig Counsell – $400K buyout, Chris Capuano – $3.75MM+
That’s about $60MM committed before arbitration raises to Fielder, Weeks, Hardy, Hart, Bush, McClung, Coffey, and Capuano. The last two could be non-tendered (and maybe re-signed after that). Those raises will still add up, so I’ll say roughly $75MM committed. The Brewers entered the season at $80.9MM and added several million more for C.C. Sabathia and Ray Durham midseason. The Brewers set a team record with more than three million fans in ’08, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see payroll reach $100MM.
Another reason I say that is the Brewers are seriously entertaining re-signing Sabathia. He and Gallardo would make a fine 1-2 punch next year; otherwise GM Doug Melvin will probably explore other free agent options. The cost-effective alternative would be to shop Fielder.
Fielder seems more expendable than Hardy for a couple of reasons. One, the Brewers have a powerful prospect in Mat Gamel. Two, Hardy is strong both offensively and defensively at a key position. If Escobar is ready, Hardy could move to third. If he’s not ready, a one-year offer to Joe Crede could make sense.
The Brewers could also use a late-inning reliever. Perhaps the failure of last year’s free agent signings will prompt Melvin to focus on the trade market. Huston Street, B.J. Ryan, and Kevin Gregg may be available.
Busy offseason for Melvin – he has to address the rotation, find a closer, decide on Cameron, figure out third base, and decide whether to trade Fielder or Hardy.
Final Interviews For Mariners GM Job
12:05pm: Baker and Stone learned of a fourth final candidate for the Mariners GM job: Jack Zduriencik of the Brewers.
10:19am: According to Geoff Baker and Larry Stone of the Seattle Times, the Mariners are bringing back Jerry DiPoto, Tony LaCava, and Kim Ng for second interviews for their GM position. Peter Woodfork, Tony Bernazard, and Lee Pelekoudas did not make the cut. Furthermore, Baker believes DiPoto and LaCava have a leg up on Ng.
Tigers assistant GM Al Avila talked to the Tigers about his future before the Ms asked for permission to interview him, and now has an extension through 2011.
Heyman’s Latest: K-Rod, Furcal, Blalock
Non-Manny notes from Jon Heyman’s latest…
- The Angels and Mets "appear hesitant" to give Francisco Rodriguez five years. There’s not an obvious suitor to overpay K-Rod, but the Mets are the closest.
- Heyman sees Brian Fuentes getting about $11MM per year. Ken Rosenthal recently suggested even more money.
- Doug Melvin could become a candidate for the Mariners job if the Brewers aren’t able to extend him. Doesn’t seem to make sense since Melvin is signed through 2009.
- Heyman believes Chris Antonetti in Cleveland is contractually guaranteed the GM job in the future.
- The Dodgers will try to re-sign Rafael Furcal, no surprise there.
- A scout sang the praises of Hank Blalock‘s second-half hitting (.281/.324/.532 after the break). Blalock may be on the trading block.
Week in Review: 10/5 – 10/11
Let’s kick things off this afternoon with the week in review…
- Rich Harden doesn’t need surgery, and he also doesn’t need to worry about where he’s pitching next year. The Cubs exercised his $7MM option this week. That one was a no-brainer, good news for Cubs fans.
- Elsewhere in the Midwest, the Twins exercised backup catcher Mike Redmond’s option for $950K. While that’s great news for Twins fans, the bigger story for them is that Delmon Young could be available this offseason. Personally, I think trading a 23-year-old outfielder with that kind of upside would be a colossal mistake. I realize the Twins feel the need to acquire some infield help, but trading a former #1 overall pick after one disappointing season when he’s just 23 holds zero logic in my mind. I still like the Young/Matt Garza trade for Minnesota in the long run.
- Couple of notes on the Brewers’ 1-2 punch, as C.C. Sabathia told reporters he’s open to playing anywhere, and wants to get his free agency over with quickly, and early in the offseason. As for Ben Sheets, despite his elbow injury, he is likely to be wearing a new uniform when 2009 comes around. His injury is apparently not too serious anyway.
- We saw a few different rumblings about a possible Jake Peavy trade. Peavy doesn’t like the idea of a full-scale rebuilding project in San Diego, and an interview with his agent hints that he may be willing to play for the Yankees. If he’d prefer to be somewhere closer to home (Alabama), the Braves could be an interesting suitor.
- Ryan Howard’s name has been tossed around as a potential trade candidate, but he’s likely to remain in place. One slugging first baseman from the NL will be available though, it seems: Tim takes a look at several potential landing sites for Prince Fielder. Trading Fielder is only a good idea if they can get a cheap, young, potential ace in my mind. With Sabathia and Sheets on their way out the door, the Brewers are going to need that offense working on all cylinders.
- For those teams that need power, but lose out on the Fielder sweepstakes (assuming he’s moved that is), there’s still power to be had. Here’s a list of this year’s free agent home run leaders.
- Tim covered his Offseason Outlook for the Twins, White Sox, Cardinals, and Astros.
- Curt Schilling will either pitch for a contender in the second half of 2009 or retire.
Odds and Ends: Beltran, Brewers, Padres
Links for Friday…
- The Padres claimed second baseman Travis Denker off waivers from the Giants. Surprising to see the Giants let him go.
- Ted Berg at MetsBlog explains how a Carlos Beltran rumbling spun out of control.
- I recently did a Brewers Q&A with Bernie’s Crew.
- The Padres called yesterday’s report about John Moores selling his share of the team "highly speculative." Tim Sullivan considers the statement revealing, and notes that this is a bad time to sell.
- Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times chatted with Scott Boras.
- Mark Cuban mentions that the struggling economy is slowing down the sale of the Cubs.
- Terry Pluto believes the Indians should pursue Brian Roberts.
- David Brown at Yahoo profiles Theo Epstein and Andrew Friedman.
- Freddy Garcia is headed to winter ball. The Tigers will have the first crack at signing him. Andruw Jones will also play winter ball; he seems to want a trade if he’s not a starter next year.
- Elbow surgery for Tom Gordon, which probably means the Phillies will buy out his ’09 option for $1MM.
Mike Cameron’s Option
From ESPN’s Buster Olney:
The Brewers have five days after the World Series to tell Mike Cameron whether they’re picking up the option; to date, there has been no official conversation between the team and the player, and it figures there won’t be until Doug Melvin’s situation is resolved.
Melvin has one year left on his contract, and the Brewers plan to offer him an extension.
Cameron has a $10MM option with a $750K buyout. At the time of the signing (January), it seemed likely to stand as a one-year deal. Cameron began the season with a 25-game suspension for using a banned stimulant. The Yankees might have passed due to concerns over paying both Cameron and Johan Santana, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Cameron, 36 in January, hit .243/.331/.477 in 508 plate appearances. He also saved eight bases defensively compared to the average center fielder. After such a fine year, he’s an easy choice at one-year, $9.25MM.
Update On Sheets’ Injury
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?
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
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.