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Rosenthal’s Latest: Mariners GM, Burnett

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Check out Ken Rosenthal’s Full Count video from last weekend.  Some highlights:

  • The Mariners are looking for fresh blood in their GM search.  A few names in the mix: Kim Ng, Jerry DiPoto, and Tony LaCava.  If the Mariners opt for experience they could try to lure Brian Cashman or even Brian Sabean.
  • Rosenthal notes that an offer of essentially four years, $54MM from the Jays won’t cut it for A.J. Burnett.  Instead of $13.5MM a year, he’ll receive $15-20MM per according to Rosenthal.  Ken sees the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets in the mix if C.C. Sabathia winds up on the West Coast. 
  • Jeff Blair muses on Burnett in the Globe and Mail today.  He sees Burnett getting between $15-18MM per year, and more than the four years the Jays are willing to give.  Interesting note from Buster Olney last weekend – he says the Braves have been scouting Burnett closely.

Mets Rumors: K-Rod, Castillo, Pedro

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Let’s collect some a few postmortem Mets articles floating around this morning. 

  • Ken Davidoff suggests the Mets patch up their bullpen with Francisco Rodriguez.  It’d be an obvious overreaction, and would ignore past history of big money tossed at relievers.  The Mets had a firsthand look with their own Billy Wagner signing.  $43MM for 193.3 innings – was it worth it?
  • David Lennon believes Luis Castillo is as good as gone, though I’d be surprised if eating half of his contract is enough.  Would Castillo get a three-year, $9MM deal on the open market right now given numerous palatable one-year options?  Adam Rubin sees the Mets trading Castillo, Aaron Heilman, and Scott Schoeneweis (he suggests eating 90% of Castillo’s contract).
  • As for the rotation, Lennon doesn’t see the Mets involved on C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett, Oliver Perez, or Pedro Martinez.  I imagine the Mets will add one starter to follow Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, and John Maine though.  Freddy Garcia could make sense.  Rubin says Derek Lowe and Brian Moehler are rumored possibilities, though Moehler already re-signed with Houston for ’09.
  • Bob Klapisch wonders if the Mets should consider trading Jose Reyes, David Wright, or Carlos Beltran to shake up the team.

Delgado’s Option Set At $12MM

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You may recall Jayson Stark’s September 12th article, where he explained the details of Carlos Delgado’s 2009 option.  Stark wrote that Delgado’s option could’ve flipped from $12MM to $16MM if he won the World Series MVP and finished top six in the regular MVP vote.

Delgado still might snag a few MVP votes, but he won’t be winning any postseason awards with the Mets eliminated.  GM Omar Minaya has an easy decision – exercise at $12MM or buy Delgado out for $4MM.  Earlier this year the buyout seemed a lock; now we’re certain to see the option exercised.

Heyman’s Latest: Gillick, Pedro, Dempster, McLouth

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Here’s a look at the latest column from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

  • Heyman is hearing "scuttlebutt" that GM Pat Gillick may not leave the Phillies after all.
  • Theo Epstein’s new deal is worth about $7MM over three years, which might be highest among GMs.
  • Pedro Martinez’s agent insists Pedro will pitch next year.  In May, Martinez said he wanted to pitch two or three more years a couple days after suggesting retirement was an option.
  • Moises Alou is undecided on 2009.
  • Cubs GM Jim Hendry expects to re-sign Ryan Dempster after the season.
  • Heyman says the Yankees "will likely make a big play" for Nate McLouth.  The Pirates center fielder is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, meaning he’s under team control for three more seasons.  McLouth’s defense does not rate well (-21) under the previously discussed plus/minus system.  Carlos Gomez is tops among CFs at +16.  Rumored Yankees target Matt Kemp is a +1.

Odds and Ends: Renteria, Francoeur, Pedro

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Today’s links…

Week in Review: 9/14 – 9/20

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Another week down here at MLBTR, here’s your review!

  • The Brewers fired manager Ned Yost on Monday. Yost has taken a lot of criticism, and while I personally don’t feel like it’s a bad move, it seems like an odd time to disrupt the clubhouse, given that the Brewers are right in the wild card race. Perhaps this was intended to spark the Brewers and act as a wakeup call, but they have just two wins since the move.
  • In an attempt to cut payroll, the Tigers may have to move Magglio Ordonez this offseason. Ordonez will make $18MM next year and has options for 2010 and 2011. Anyone else think the Reds should make a serious run at Maggs? A lineup filled with Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Edwin Encarnacion, and Ordonez could be extremely potent, to go along with a rotation anchored by Edinson Volquez, Aaron Harang, and Johnny Cueto.
  • Despite their bullpen woes, the Mets are not likely to make a run at either Francisco Rodriguez, or Brian Fuentes either. The Mets’ internal options have been bad, but K-Rod is in for a record-setting deal, and aside from the sheer number of saves, I don’t feel that his numbers stand out to the point where the team that lands him is going to get the full value of that contract. Personally, I think passing is a good decision.
  • Are the Royals currently interested in making a move for Braves’ right fielder Jeff Francoeur? The Royals have very few guys with solid OBPs, and adding Francoeur to the everyday lineup doesn’t seem like the route to go. Still, he has a long-standing relationship with Royals GM Dayton Moore, so it could be a valid possibility. The Royals have said they are willing to part with anyone aside from Zack Greinke, Gil Meche, and Joakim Soria.
  • The Red Sox and Theo Epstein have agreed to a contract extension.
  • Things to think about for in the offseason: Kevin Gregg expects to be traded, Matt Cain wants to stay in San Francisco, Milton Bradley wants a long-term deal and feels he has a 50-50 chance at returning to the Rangers. In the meantime, likely non-tender candidates include both Josh Bard and Erik Bedard.
  • Tim updated the Offseason Outlook series with entries for the Athletics, Braves, and Tigers. He also took a look at the Third Base Market, led by Casey Blake.
  • And for anyone curious about Manny Ramirez’s end in Boston, here’s Curt Schilling’s take on the situation.

Rockies Need Pitching

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A common theme: The Rockies need pitching.  Troy E. Renck discusses the offseason focus of the team as they look ahead to a rotation anchored by Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook, and Ubaldo Jimenez, and the loss of Brian Fuentes in the bullpen.

"Ownership needs to go beyond anticipating injuries. It needs to expect slumps from at least one key starter and critical reliever, and give general manager Dan O’Dowd money to address those areas. It makes a trade for a frontline starter imperative…"

Renck suggests a trade for Aaron Heilman and being ready to pounce on Chad Cordero if reports suggest he’s healthy. Both could be safety nets for Manny Corpas who will probably have first crack at closing provided he has a strong winter. Heilman, who made $1.2MM avoiding arbitration this year and might benefit from a change of scenery, could also start.

Olney’s Latest: Cardinals, Snell, Milledge, Maine, Fuentes

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Buster Olney’s latest offering is packed full of links:

  • Bernie Miklasz notes that the Cardinals have only three starting pitchers (Adam Wainwright, Todd Wellemeyer, and Joel Pineiro) locked up for next year (he’s not expecting Chris Carpenter to contribute in 2009), and no prospects waiting in the wings. His solution? Pry open owner Bill DeWitt’s wallet, "and please, no el cheapo deals for rehabbing pitchers, medically risky pitchers, broken-down pitchers."
  • The Pirates have it a little bit tougher. According to pitching coach Jeff Andrews, it consists of Paul Maholm and "a blank sheet." Here’s one vote for adding Ian Snell, "on the verge of becoming the best right-handed pitcher to come from Delaware since World War I," according to DelwareBaseball.com, who sponsors his Baseball Reference page.
  • According to GM Jim Bowden, the Nationals will explore ways to upgrade their defense for 2009, including the possibility of moving Lastings Milledge from center field back to a corner spot. Left fielder Elijah Dukes could move to center.
  • Despite going through a difficult divorce, Padres’ owner John Moores is not planning on selling the team—which he bought because of his soon-to-be ex.
  • The Mets seem to be rushing John Maine back from the DL in an attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive.
  • Dave Krieger is amazed that the Rockies aren’t doing anything to try and keep free-agent closer Brian Fuentes.

Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and Umpbump.

Odds and Ends: Aurilia, Vazquez, Al Reyes, Varitek

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Some random links for today…

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