Francisco Cordero Drama
There’s been a little drama unfolding the last few days regarding closer Francisco Cordero‘s defection from Milwaukee to Cincinnati for a difference of $4MM.
According to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, the Crew stretched beyond their comfort zone to offer him four years and $42MM. Melvin set a deadline for Cordero and his agent Bean Stringfellow on his offer, as he didn’t want to be played. Stringfellow figured the Brewers were at their limit and never came back to Melvin to see if he’d match the Reds’ $46MM offer.
Cordero himself has a different account; he says Stringfellow did come back to the Brewers to see if they’d match. Melvin might’ve thought Stringfellow was bluffing about it. Cordero added that the Brewers passed on a chance to sign him at a discount (both in years and money) during Spring Training of ’07.
But wait, there’s more! Melvin doesn’t agree with anything Cordero said! Melvin says he did make a spring offer in the range of three years, $30MM. Cordero wasn’t interested. Furthermore, Melvin says Stringfellow suggested that the Reds’ offer was "significantly greater," and that’s why he didn’t try to get ownership to stretch a little beyond $42MM. Two sides to the story; it seems unlikely that Melvin and Stringfellow will be working together anytime soon.
Phils Designate Lahey For Assignment
Earlier today, the Phillies activated closer Brad Lidge from the 15-day DL and, to make room for him on the roster, designated young right-handed reliever Tim Lahey for assignment as foreseen. He’ll now be looking for his fifth job in as many months.
The wandering Lahey has already been part of the Cubs, the Rays, and the Twins. He’s still relatively new to pitching, having been converted by the Twins from catching. He posted a 3.45 ERA in 78 and a third innings at AA New Britain last year, and gave up three runs in three innings at AAA Rochester. Clearly, a bit more seasoning is required for the Princeton alum, but there are plenty of teams with shaky bullpens, and Lahey’s fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s. "The delivery adds some deception," according to Baseball America, while the Cubs also praised his sinker, buddind slider, and ability to induce grounders. He’s 6’6" and 250 lbs. Due to Rule 5 draft rules, first dibs will go to Minnesota after Lahey clears waivers.
Which organization could use him the most? We all know Detroit’s bullpen is a glaring weakness, but it’s not clear that Lahey could be polished enough to help them this year. However, their farm system is pretty depleted right now, so it’s not too far-fetched. The Indians, Braves, White Sox, and Brewers have also had bullpen meltdowns during this young season, and perhaps one of them would like to have some insurance at the Triple A level.
Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.com and can be reached here.
Odds and Ends: Rauch, Fielder, Braun, Garcia
Some links for you to peruse…
- We suggested on Wednesday that Jon Rauch makes sense for Detroit. That same day, the Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga wrote that the Tigers "will watch Rauch very closely."
- You have to appreciate Matt Morris‘ candor regarding his salary.
- We learned on Saturday that the Brewers made offers to sluggers Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. Today the team’s owner said talks with both are ongoing. Other multiyear offers have been made, though the players are not known. Tom Haudricourt speculates on Corey Hart, Yovani Gallardo, J.J. Hardy, and Rickie Weeks.
- Ken Rosenthal sees Freddy Garcia landing with the Mets later this summer. I’ll stick with the opinion that he’s a nonfactor this year.
Rosenthal’s Latest: DeWitt, Murton, Vargas, Hatteberg, Pena, Baek, Piazza
Ken Rosenthal has his latest column up at FoxSports.com. As usual he is not shy about stirring up rumors. Let’s take a look at what the rumor-guru has to say:
- Rosenthal notes that the Dodgers will go with Blake DeWitt at third base who has never played a game above AA. This comes after the Dodgers failed to acquire either the Astros’ Mark Loretta, who was unavailable and the Royals’ Esteban German, who was too expensive. The Royals were asking for the Dodgers’ third best prospect, shortstop Chin-Lung Hu.
- He indicates that the Padres and the Rays are pursuing Matt Murton but the Cubs are holding out for a top pitching prospect in return, knowing Murton will be a starter on another club. Rosenthal quotes one GM as saying that the price "is way too high as of now". As many as five teams have shown interest in Murton.
- The Mets are among a dozen teams that have inquired about Brewers pitcher Claudio Vargas, who will not be in the rotation to begin the season. [Update: Sorry about this one. I had forgotten that the Brewers released Vargas earlier this week]
- The Reds have put Ryan Freel on the market, but more teams appear to be interested in Scott Hatteberg. However, Rosenthal indicates that it is unlikely for the Red to trade Hatteberg even if Joey Votto is named the starter.
- The Tigers, Reds and Orioles all tried to acquire backup catcher Brayan Pena from the Braves, but the Braves do not appear interested in letting him go
- Rosenthal says that Pat Gillick’s history in Seattle may have played a part in the Phillies inability to land M’s reliever Cha Seung Baek, who is out of options but made the roster as a reliever.
- Finally, Rosenthal notes that Mike Piazza is still working out with hopes of landing a gig at some point in ’08. Rosenthal thinks that Piazza may have to come to the realization soon that his career may be over.
Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.
Sheets & Sabathia Head Next Year’s Free Agent Class
A couple nice nuggets to confirm what we already suspect regarding a couple big fish on the 2009 Starting Pitcher Free Agents list.
As MLBTR covered here, this should be Ben Sheets‘ last year with the Brewers. Further affirming the inevitable, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says,
If the 29-year-old right-hander finally has a healthy season and puts up impressive numbers, the Brewers would be hard-pressed to meet his asking price on what has been a runaway pitching market in recent years. And, should Sheets break down again and turns his four-year, $38.5 million contract into a complete boondoggle, the Brewers would be taken to task for giving him another chance.
And news on an even bigger fish, Patrick McManamon of the Ohio Beacon Journal brings us a quote from Indians GM Mark Shapiro that could lead one to believe that C.C. Sabathia will be voted out of the Tribe:
”We’re forced to confront decisions every year,” Shapiro said. ”We don’t lose much next year. We lose one core player next year . . . maybe not. But then the two years that follow we lose almost no one — and none of our core players. ‘The biggest challenge that we’ve got over the next four years, the three years that follow this one, is how we handle losing C.C., if we lose him.”
Tim recently put together an excellent breakdown of Sabathia-suitors here.
By Nat Boyle
Brewers Make Offers To Braun And Fielder
When the Brewers renewed Prince Fielder’s contract at the beginning of the month, he wasn’t happy about it. He told the press, "My time is going to come. It’s going to come quick, too."
He may have been more right than he knew.
The Brewers have submitted multiyear contract proposals to Fielder and Ryan Braun. Each deal would buy out at least one year of free agency and include an option for an additional year past that. No word yet on how much money is involved.
Bet on Braun getting at least as much as Troy Tulowitzki — six years, $30MM. Braun last year enjoyed what was arguably the greatest rookie season ever (though, as many have noted, he can’t field a lick). He is eligible for arbitration after the 2010 season and for free agency after 2014.
Fielder, who is represented by Scott Boras, is eligible for free agency after 2011. Not sure what it will take to buy his happiness. Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was recently awarded $10MM in his first year of arbitration. Fielder could expect a similar payday next season.
This is a savvy move by Brewers owner Mark Attanasio. If Braun and Fielder turn down these contracts, at least Attanasio can say he tried — and he’ll still control the rights to Braun for the next seven seasons, and Fielder for the next three.
Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. You can contact him here.
Brewers Release Claudio Vargas
According to Tom Haudricourt, the Brewers have released 29 year-old starter Claudio Vargas. It’s a very surprising move. The Brewers save $2.7MM with the move. Just like that, the Brewers’ starting pitching surplus is pretty much gone.
Even if the ERAs haven’t been there, you have to credit Vargas for good peripheral stats (6.43 K/9, 3.48 BB/9 for his career). To me he’s an affordable #4 starter with the chance to post 175 innings of 4.50 ball. All sorts of pitching-starved clubs should be vying for his services. Joel Sherman notes Omar Minaya’s history with Vargas.
Brewers To Focus On Fielder, Braun
Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun form an awesome tandem; the two Milwaukee sluggers could combine for 90 home runs this year. According to Tom Haudricourt, they’ve been identified as the first two targets for contract extensions. Haudricourt says the Crew will want to buy out at least one year of free agency in either case.
Fielder is set to reach arbitration for the first time next year. Scott Boras mentioned "general discussions" with Doug Melvin on the topic. I imagine Fielder’s arb years could cost more than $35MM going year to year. Then he’d want at least $18MM for the free agent year.
Talks thus far with Braun haven’t been serious, though preliminary contact was made a month ago. At that time Troy Tulowitzki’s deal was considered a possible framework. Most likely, the Brewers’ waiting until late May to call Braun up last year pushed his first year of arb eligibility to 2010.
Odds and Ends: Jerome Williams, Linden, Lo Duca
Below you’ll find the day’s random rumors and links.
- Remember Jerome Williams? He’s begging the Giants or any other team to give him a shot, "even if it means in A-ball" according to John Shea. The 26 year-old Hawaiin couldn’t find any success last year with Washington. He started out pretty strong with the Giants back in 2003-04.
- Todd Linden can get out of his minor league deal with Oakland if offered a deal in Japan, which is a possibility.
- Paul Lo Duca has choice words for the Mets, rejecting the notion that they were ever interested or that he demanded three years.
- The Astros still have Mark Loretta on the radar.
- The Brewers don’t seem to have any trades in the works.
- He deems it "pure speculation," but Buster Olney wonders whether the Angels should call the A’s about Joe Blanton.
- Support for my contention that RBI Baseball is better than today’s baseball video games.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Roberts, Horacio, Willits
Rumor guru and baseball insider Ken Rosenthal has a new column at FOX Sports. Let’s discuss.
- Rosenthal does not see the Cubs taking on the salaries of both Brian Roberts and Coco Crisp, even if they shed their Jason Marquis commitment. Roberts remains the focus.
- Horacio Ramirez‘s agent says seven clubs have already expressed interest in his client. Perhaps he meant to say 0.7.
- Rosenthal runs through many Rocco Baldelli replacement options for the Rays: Reggie Willits, Kenny Lofton, Gabe Gross, and Reed Johnson. Only Willits seems the perfect fit, and the Angels aren’t making him available. Willits and his .393 career OBP could be headed to Triple A.
- The Phillies are looking for middle relief help; Rosenthal suggests a possible match with Arizona. Or, how ’bout signing Bob Wickman? Is he officially retired?