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Odds & Ends: Myers, Lackey, Hardy, Holliday

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Here's some Thursday links…

  • Brett Myers said it would be "upsetting" to leave Philadelphia, according to FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi. It would make sense for Myers to market himself as a starter this offseason, but Morosi points out that the Phillies already have five starters returning in 2010.
  • Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com doesn't see the Orioles opening their wallet for John Lackey. He points out that Jeremy Guthrie's numbers are on par wth Lackey's over the last few years.
  • Charley Walters of The Pioneer Press says it wouldn't be surprising to see the Twins pursue J.J. Hardy if Orlando Cabrera departs via free agency. He says Glen Perkins "would seem a likely bet to be included if there were an offer to the Brewers."
  • Matt Cerrone at MetsBlog.com wonders if Matt Holliday is worth $17MM per season for six years.
  • Tom Singer of MLB.com previews this year's free agent class.

Odds & Ends: Schueler, Dunn, Yankees, Strasburg

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Some links for Tuesday…

  • The Nationals hired former White Sox GM Ron Schueler as a special assistant to Mike Rizzo, according to a team press release.
  • Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos must decide in the coming days whether to proceed with a payroll of about $80MM or ask ownership for more money, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
  • Phil Wood of MASN.com doesn't think it makes sense for the Nats to trade Adam Dunn away. 
  • ESPN.com's Rob Neyer says the Yankees will probably want to become younger this offseason, even if it's just a marginal change.
  • Former Rockies assistant GM Chris Rice tells Irv Moss of the Denver Post how "exciting and tense" the expansion draft was before the team's inaugural season.
  • As Danny Knobler of CBSSports points out, the Phillies' decision to go after Cliff Lee instead of Roy Halladay looks smart right now.  
  • Harry Pavlidis of The Hardball Times looks at Stephen Strasburg's performance in the Arizona Fall League and says the top pick "is proving to be everything he was hyped to be."
  • MLB.com's Matthew Leach guesses that Matt Holliday will not return to the Cardinals in 2010. 
  • Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports that the Rangers could decide today whether Thad Bosley, Rusty Greer, Clint Hurdle or Gerald Perry will become the team's next hitting coach. 
  • Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Twins outrighted Brian Buscher to Triple A. He can become a minor league free agent 16 days after the World Series. Aaron Gleeman doesn't expect Buscher to remain in the organization.

Twins Notes: Mauer, Crede, Duensing

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MLB.com's Kelly Thesier fielded questions from Twins fans in her mailbag today.  Here are some of the more noteworthy tidbits:

  • While the Twins may raise their payroll to about $85-90MM, most of that increase will go towards retaining their own players and, potentially, an extension for Joe Mauer.  Thesier says that as a result, it is not likely to be a busy offseason for the team in terms of acquisitions.  However, the team still may have enough space to add an infielder or starting pitcher.
  • With that in mind, it is "very unlikely" that the Twins will pursue free agent Chone Figgins.  The 31-year-old could possibly receive a deal worth $50MM over five years, which is more than the Twins are willing to spend.  Figgins projects as a Type B free agent.
  • It is unlikely that the club re-signs Joe Crede, who says his recovery from back surgery is going well.  Third baseman Danny Valencia is close to being ready for the majors, making Crede's return less than probable.  There is a "small chance" that Crede – who hit .225/.289/.414 with 15 HRs in '09 – could return if he comes at a bargain price.
  • Brian Duensing will "more than likely" be a member of Minnesota's rotation in 2010, unless the team signs two starters on the open market.  The 26-year-old recorded an ERA of 5.17 in 15 relief appearances but found more success as a starter, posting a 2.73 ERA in nine games.  Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey "appear to be locks" in the starting five.
  • For more on what lies ahead for the club, take a look at our Twins Offseason Outlook.

Offseason Outlook: Minnesota Twins

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Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Twins.  Their likely commitments for 2010:

C – Joe Mauer – $12.5MM
C – Jose Morales – $400K
1B – Justin Morneau – $14MM
2B – Alexi Casilla – $428K
SS – Nick Punto – $4MM
3B – Brendan Harris – $466K+
IF – Matt Tolbert – $405K
IF – Brian Buscher – $413K
LF – Delmon Young – $1.152MM+
CF – Denard Span – $435K
RF – Michael Cuddyer – $8.5MM
OF – Carlos Gomez – $438K+
DH – Jason Kubel – $4.1MM

SP – Scott Baker – $3MM
SP – Nick Blackburn – $440K
SP – Kevin Slowey – $440K
SP – Glen Perkins – $430K
SP – Francisco Liriano – $430K+

Other candidates: Brian Duensing, Anthony Swarzak

RP – Joe Nathan – $11.25MM
RP – Jon Rauch – $2.9MM
RP – Jesse Crain – $1.7MM+
RP – Matt Guerrier – $1.475MM+
RP – Pat Neshek – $440K+
RP – Brian Duensing – $400K
RP – Jose Mijares – $400K

Other candidates: Bobby Keppel, Jeff Manship

Non-tender candidates: Boof Bonser, Delmon Young

The Twins have about $70.5MM committed before arbitration raises to Harris, Young, Gomez, Liriano, Crain, Guerrier, and Neshek.  (Perkins is considering a grievance over missing Super Two status).  They'll be in the high $70MMs range if all those players are tendered contracts.  The Twins entered the '09 season at $65.3MM, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts.  Fortunately, there's a rumor payroll could jump to the $90-100MM range with the new stadium opening in 2010.

Smith's areas of focus should be second base, shortstop, and third base.  Second base options are plentiful on the free agent market.  Among shortstops Smith would be well-served to target Milwaukee's J.J. Hardy, but Hardy should have multiple suitors.  Adrian Beltre and Troy Glaus could be interesting third base considerations.

The Twins are set in the outfield, though there's a case to be made for non-tendering Young and using that money for a left field/DH type.

The rotation has question marks behind Baker and Blackburn.  Slowey is coming back from wrist surgery, Perkins from a shoulder injury, and Liriano from post-Tommy John elbow issues.  Duensing had a 2.73 ERA in nine starts, though his peripheral stats were less inspiring.  The Twins will have to find the Carl Pavano of 2010, an innings eater who can be had for a few million bucks.

Trading Nathan should be considered; he's owed $24.5MM over the next two seasons.  He might bring a few decent pieces in return, and the savings could be used to add a veteran starter and/or late-inning reliever.  On the other hand, the market will be flooded with closers this winter and the Twins could be starved for suitors.

Additionally, the Twins will attempt to sign Mauer long-term.  Even with a hometown discount this might require a $100MM commitment.

Last winter, Smith used his budget to re-sign Punto and add Joe Crede and Luis Ayala.  He supplemented those moves with the midseason additions of Orlando Cabrera, Ron Mahay, Pavano, and Rauch.  The shuffling should continue this winter, as the Twins continue to seek infield solutions.  With the pitching depth taking a hit, Smith will need every penny of that increased payroll.

Odds & Ends: Chapman, Bradley, Rays, Twins

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Links for Monday…

Olney On Non-Tenders

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In his latest blog post (ESPN Insider required), Buster Olney discusses what he refers to as baseball's "next great economic disparity," referring to the large number of players, young and old, who stand to make more money through arbitration than they would on the free agent market. One executive referred to the arbitration process as "outdated."

Multiple general managers feel that there will be dozens of non-tendered players over the course of the next 41 days. In total, Olney and some baseball executives counted 93 "solid" non-tender candidates as they examined each team's roster (check out Tim's list here). If the final number comes close to that, nearly 300 players will be looking for a new team this offseason, vastly deflating the asking price for most free agents.

Olney names two non-tender candidates in detail, in J.J. Hardy and Bobby Jenks:

  • Hardy hit just .229 with 11 home runs this season after posting home run totals of 26 and 24 the past two seasons. He's also due a raise on his $4.65MM salary, and the Brewers have Alcides Escobar waiting in the wings. Olney writes that the Red Sox inquired about Hardy at the deadline, but balked when the Brewers asked for excellent prospects in return. Olney wonders if this is a sign of things to come, and if no market for Hardy develops, would the Brewers be better off non-tendering the former All-Star?
  • Jenks posted a mediocre line this season, while making $5.6MM. Olney speculates that he could receive as much as $7.5MM through arbitration. Roughly a dozen closers could be available this winter, making Jenks and his disappointing 2009 a tough sell at that price tag. Should the White Sox invest that much in him, or simply look for a cheaper alternative?

Olney feels that some big market teams could reel in non-tender candidates from small market teams for lower level prospects and wait to see if they pan out over the remainder of their time under team control. Additionally, he says that teams such as the Twins will be able to take fliers on non-tendered players and receive tremendous value.

What other non-tender candidates do you see emerging this offseason, and where might they land? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Cafardo On Pujols, Mauer, Holliday, Damon

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a new column up, and he addresses a few topics of interest from around the majors. Some highlights….

  • Cafardo examines the crossroads that superstars Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer will soon face with their current clubs. He passes on this quote from one baseball official: "I think Mauer has a better chance of staying in Minnesota than Pujols in St. Louis. Mauer is from Minnesota, while you have to give Pujols an A-Rod type contract and I’m not sure the Cardinals would do it."
  • His source thinks that the best way for the Cardinals to keep Pujols in St. Louis is to continue showing him they're committed to going after championships by making moves like this year's Matt Holliday acquisition.
  • Cafardo sees "no downside" to the idea of Holliday patrolling left field in Fenway next season. From an on-field standpoint, that statement could apply to virtually every team in the league, but the Red Sox are probably one of the few clubs that could absorb the financial blow.
  • Johnny Damon could be a good fit in the south side of Chicago, according to Cafardo. The White Sox will be looking for a leadoff hitter, and it's still unclear whether or not Damon will be back in New York.
  • Casey Kotchman may not fit into Boston's plans next year, but Cafardo thinks he could also be a solid addition to the White Sox — especially if Chicago doesn't retain Mark Kotsay.
  • Cafardo wonders why a power-hitting right-hander, like the New York Mets covet, would want to play in Citi Field, which he calls a "death valley" for righties.

Twins Notes: Mauer, Morneau, Valencia

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MLB.com's Kelly Thesier answered a few e-mails from fans in regard to what Minnesota might have up its sleeve in the offseason, and here are some of the most notable bits of news from the piece… 

  • Thesier said that though talks between the Twins and Joe Mauer about a contract extension  haven't yet begun, "don't take Mauer's patience to mean that the catcher isn't interested in signing an extension."  Thesier also noted a possible good omen for Minnesota fans — Mauer's agent, Ron Shapiro, also represented single-franchise stars Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken Jr.
  • Justin Morneau should be recovered from minor wrist surgery in four weeks' time, and looks to start rehabbing his injured back by the middle of November.
  • Top prospect Danny Valencia will need a big performance in spring training to win the third base job, given that the 25-year-old didn't even receive a call-up last September.
  • Money may be the only thing that prevents Minnesota from re-signing Orlando Cabrera, since the Twins "appreciated" his contribution to their AL Central crown.

Odds & Ends: Ricciardi, Sabathia, Chapman

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Links for Monday…

  • Former Padres GM Kevin Towers told Bill Madden of the New York Daily News recently "it's just a matter of when" the team trades first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
  • The Astros claimed outfielder Jason Bourgeois off waivers from the Brewers, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart via Twitter.  Bourgeois, 28 in January, hit .316/.354/.401 in Triple A while playing all three outfield positions.  In other Brewers-related news, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the team retained Mike Burns and Adam Stern on minor league deals.
  • Don Mattingly is discussing his future with the Dodgers, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.
  • I missed this October 5th article from Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.  Elliott talked to former Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey, who was frank in his opinions of ex-GM J.P. Ricciardi.
  • Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times says the Angels bid $140MM for C.C. Sabathia last winter, but Olney says "the Angels bid a firm $100MM and discussed increasing their offer to $120MM."
  • Andy Pettitte admitted to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times, "I think everybody knows I wasn't real happy with the contract.  But I wanted to take it and come back here and have a chance to do this."  Pettitte ended up earning about $10MM in 2009, but only $5.5MM was guaranteed.
  • ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. says on Twitter that Aroldis Chapman "had good conversations" with Yankees GM Brian Cashman and other team execs at yesterday's game.  Meanwhile, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says that Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos finds signing Chapman unrealistic for his club.  Logically, the Chapman bidding should heat up after the World Series.  The 21-year-old lefty is meeting with the Cardinals, Orioles, and Red Sox this week.
  • Aaron Gleeman says it's reasonable for fans to call for Twins closer Joe Nathan to be traded, but not because he allowed a postseason home run to Alex Rodriguez.
  • NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman says reliever Scott Atchison hopes to return to MLB in 2009.  Atchison, 34 in March, elected free agency in November of 2007 after posting a 4.11 ERA in 30.6 relief innings for the Giants.
  • Jim Seip of the York Daily Record writes about the beginning of Ken Rosenthal's career.
  • John Bonnes attempted to extract info about Joe Mauer's future with the Twins, talking to GM Bill Smith.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Gonzalez, Thome, Hinske, Red Sox, D’Backs, Twins

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On this date 64 years ago, the Dodgers announced the signing of Jackie Robinson, who would become the first African-American to play major league baseball since the 1880s. Robinson would spend the '46 season with Triple-A Montreal, hitting .349. The next season he would hit .297/.383/.427 and help the Dodgers to the National League pennant. With the Hot Stove season only days away, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Sox and Pinstripes looks at what it would take for the Red Sox to land Adrian Gonzalez.
  • Phlavio's Corner attempts to fix the Diamondbacks in three moves or less.
  • Around the Majors takes a look at the free agent class of shortstops.
  • MLB Notebook breaks down the market for Jim Thome.
  • Nick's Twins Blog makes an off-season blueprint for the Twins and projects next season's roster.
  • Capitol Avenue Club examines what the Braves can do to reload the bullpen in 2010.
  • Talking Chop says the Braves need to add a power-bat this off-season, in part to protect Chipper Jones.
  • Marlin Maniac sees Eric Hinske as a good fit for the Marlins.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

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