Brewers Inquire On Wood
We learned a week ago that Brewers GM Doug Melvin has eight or nine different free agent relievers on his radar (apparently aside from Francisco Cordero or Scott Linebrink). Four of the relievers are known: Matt Herges, LaTroy Hawkins, Ron Mahay, and Troy Percival.
Some new facts emerged today, courtesy of Tom Haudricourt (as usual). Haudricourt says Percival wants more years and money than the Brewers are comfortable with. I’m guessing that means $5MM+ annually over three guaranteed years? Seems crazy but that’s my guess on what he’s asking.
We also learned a fifth reliever on Melvin’s radar: Kerry Wood. The Red Sox and Cubs are the frontrunners but the Brewers have inquired. If Wood somehow gets three years…wow.
Browsing the available relievers, I’ll guess that Keith Foulke, Jeremy Affeldt, David Riske, and Octavio Dotel are the other guys.
Brewers Sign Jason Kendall
UPDATE: It’s a one-year contract with a vesting option for ’09 if he plays 115 games.
The Brewers have signed Jason Kendall, pending a physical. The amount and length is unknown. Let’s hope it’s around one year, $3MM. Tom Haudricourt had said the Crew had offered both one and two-year options.
Kendall, 33, hit .242/.301/.309 last year in 466 ABs. On the plus side he was a much better hitter for the Cubs, posting a .362 OBP in that stint. He threw out 15.3% of runners, better than only Johnny Estrada among regular backstops in ’07. He’s going to really have to work some magic with the pitchers if this signing is to pan out.
With Kendall off the market, the only viable free agent catchers are Michael Barrett, Paul Lo Duca, and Yorvit Torrealba. Seems like the Marlins and Rockies will take two of them.
Yankees, Brewers, Giants, Astros, Rays After Percival
Buster Olney sums up the known Troy Percival suitors thusly: Yankees, Brewers, Giants, Astros, and Rays. He obviously wouldn’t close for the Yankees, but might be able to pitch the ninth for the other clubs Olney named.
The 38 year-old Percival is a fascinating story. He missed all of 2006 and joined the Cardinals this year and posted phenomenal numbers – 1.80 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 3.6 K/BB. Suddenly he’s primed to snag a closer gig again, if he wants it.
Olney named five clubs, but it’s been said that ten teams are in on Percival. Teams that were confirmed to be involved last summer: Dodgers, Indians, Cardinals, Braves, Athletics, Phillies, Tigers, and Marlins. I think it’s safe to assume the Phillies are one of the ten.
Mets Acquire Estrada For Mota
UPDATE: Non-tendering Estrada is still an option for the Mets, but they’ve unloaded Mota’s contract. The Mets may shop around for better options, knowing they have an adequate fallback. According to Jamey Newberg, the Mets found the asking prices for trade targets Gerald Laird and Ramon Hernandez to be unacceptable.
The Mets found their catcher today in the person of Johnny Estrada. To get him from the Brewers, Omar Minaya only had to surrender Guillermo Mota.
It was a swap of a couple of unwanted guys. The Brewers would’ve non-tendered Estrada rather than pony up $4MM+ for him. However they’ll probably plop down something close to that for Jason Kendall, who is superior to Estrada only in the intangibles department. Doug Melvin offered Estrada to the Mets while naming six different players he’d accept in return.
Mota was actually decent in terms of his 2.6 K/BB ratio this year, but he was hittable and home run prone. Maybe the Brewers can make something of him, though at $3.2MM it’s a slightly pricey gamble. Mota of course brings more steroid stigma to Milwaukee’s pen, which already has Derrick Turnbow.
Brewers Pursuing Hunter?
We recently named the White Sox, Dodgers, and Rangers as the teams in hot pursuit of free agent center fielder Torii Hunter. However, those aren’t the only clubs after him.
Yahoo’s Jeff Passan talks of how Hunter was impressed with the Royals’ pitch. Passan also adds the Brewers and Nationals as teams interested in Hunter.
Out of all these clubs, this is the first I’ve heard of Milwaukee being in the mix. Perhaps if the Brewers let Francisco Cordero walk they’ll spend the money on Torii. They could then move Bill Hall to third base and Ryan Braun to left field.
Hunter may sign by the end of next week.
Astros Close To Kaz Matsui Deal?
UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal notes that the Astros are close to a deal with Geoff Blum, and believes the Astros are behind both the Rockies and Cubs for Matsui.
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News is reporting that Kaz Matsui "appears headed to the Astros." Maybe Ed Wade will save the Cubs from themselves. The Cubs were reportedly going to offer Matsui a three-year pact.
Ringolsby adds an interesting twist: the Astros and Rockies could swap second basemen. The Rockies like Chris Burke, and he will probably be deemed expendable if Matsui is signed. Seems to me there’s a decent chance Burke matches Matsui in production next year at a much cheaper price.
Ringoslby also notes that Jason Kendall is "finalizing a deal with Milwaukee." Tom Haudricourt confirms the deep stages of the talks. To me this seems to be another case of change for the sake of change. Maybe the Brewers weren’t pleased with Johnny Estrada, but Kendall has his own glaring deficiences as a starter.
Brewers, Padres, Angels, Rockies, Astros After Iguchi
In some ways, Tadahito Iguchi might be a better buy at second base than Luis Castillo. He’s getting half the press, but that doesn’t mean he’s getting half the interest. Iguchi’s agent said today that the Astros, Brewers, Padres, Angels, and Rockies have expressed interest. Keep in mind that the Phillies asked Iguchi about playing third base several weeks ago and he said he’d rather sign elsewhere at a second baseman.
I wonder if Iguchi may have relaxed that stance. The Brewers and Angels have third base vacancies. They have Rickie Weeks and Howie Kendrick at second base, respectively. Weeks could be an interesting option in center, and Kendrick has been rumored as part of a Miguel Cabrera package. So Iguchi could theoretically still play second for either club.
The Padres and Rockies just have good old-fashioned vacancies at second base. Both clubs could still fill the spot internally – the Padres with Matt Antonelli and the Rockies with Ian Stewart.
As for the ‘Stros, well, Ed Wade has contacted half the free agent class.
Giants Rumors: Cabrera, Rolen, Walker
Finally some Giants rumors! I know a few fans have been clamoring for the team to join the hot stove rumblings. Andrew Baggarly has an article here and Henry Schulman has one here. Let’s discuss.
- The Giants have no one to play third base. Kevin Frandsen could technically do it but they prefer him at second. Thankfully, they will pass on Pedro Feliz. Feliz – get this – wants a three year deal. He’s on the Brewers’ radar, by the way.
- Miguel Cabrera is one option, though Baggarly doesn’t see the Giants offering up Tim Lincecum to jump into the fray. However Schulman’s source says the Giants have been "one of the most aggressive teams" after Cabrera. Who to believe?
- Baggarly’s team source doesn’t expect to go after the available Scott Rolen, given his health questions and contract. Free agents Morgan Ensberg and Mike Lamb seem more likely options at third base.
- Brian Wilson and the newly signed Tyler Walker will mix it up for the closer job. Brian Sabean doesn’t anticipate dropping big bucks/losing a draft pick for Scott Linebrink. Nor are the Giants likely to hit up the Japanese market.
Odds and Ends: Kendall, Matsui, Fukumori
Here are some non A-Rod/Lowell rumors from today…
- MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy says the Brewers are interested in Jason Kendall. Kendall is somehow seeking a two-year deal. The Rockies are in on him as well. The Brewers still have Johnny Estrada, but they’re not happy with him. He could be traded or non-tendered.
- WGN Radio’s Dave Kaplan reported that the Cubs could complete a contract with second baseman Kaz Matsui this week. It’d be a multiyear deal; not sure if the Cubs would have to go three years on it. This would be an indefensible signing. UPDATE: A source of Troy E. Renck’s believes the Cubs may have offered something close to three years, $14.4MM.
- East Windup Chronicle profiles free agent reliever Kazuo Fukumori. The Rockies, Royals, Rays, and Red Sox are said to be interested in him.
Brewers Targeting Herges, Hawkins, Mahay
UPDATE: Melvin signed sidearmer Randy Choate this afternoon to start things off. This MLB.com article also quotes Cordero’s agent Bean Stringfellow that "numerous" teams have shown serious interest in the closer. The Astros may be making a strong push.
Tom Haudricourt checks in with some names among the eight or nine free agent relievers on Brewers GM Doug Melvin’s radar. And to think, they cut this part out of Haudricourt’s newspaper article.
Melvin is currently interested in righties Matt Herges and LaTroy Hawkins, as well as southpaw Ron Mahay. The Rockies have one-year offers on the table for Herges and Hawkins in the $1.5-2MM range. Any team guaranteeing two years can probably have Herges or Hawkins. Mahay’s in the three-year, $12MM class. Haudricourt suggests David Riske, another 3/12 type, might also be a consideration.
The Brewers have an offer out to Francisco Cordero, and haven’t decided whether to make a proposal to Scott Linebrink. Both are Type A free agents, so at least the Brewers should offer them arbitration. I say let ’em both walk and reap the draft picks. (The Mets, by the way, seemingly won’t be in on Linebrink).