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Odds and Ends: Crisp, Stewart, Meyer

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Let’s round ’em up!

K-Rod Looking For Rivera Money?

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On Saturday, we discussed the Francisco Rodriguez situation.  He’s been historically good for a closer his age, and his next contract could be record-breaking.  That contract doesn’t seem likely to come from the Angels.

K-Rod has arrived in camp, and he admits that ’08 is probably his last season with L.A.  Mike DiGiovanna speaks of repeated rejected extension attempts by the Angels.  After the ’07 season, the Angels offered something near three years and $34MM.  Rodriguez unsurprisingly turned this down, as it’s $11MM short of the Mariano Rivera money he craves.  GM Tony Reagins is thinking about a future that may include Kelvim Escobar or Ervin Santana in the pen.

2008 will be huge for Rodriguez, whose post-break 3.45 ERA and 5.6 BB/9 raise red flags for a team considering committing $40MM+ to him.

Odds and Ends: Perez, Jones, Howard, Burnett

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Let’s round up today’s linkage.

  • No more long-term discussions with Oliver Perez and the Mets.
  • Andruw Jones already wants to talk extension with the Dodgers.
  • The Cardinals are not likely to make anymore acquisitions.  In my view the team has question marks in right field, the middle infield, and the rotation.  Here’s a look at their MLB.com depth chart.  By the way, could Ryan Franklin be a league average starter?  They could try it if the current options don’t pan out.
  • Jim Salisbury thinks the Ryan Howard contract situation is a nonstory.  I think this is partially because (and I hope this doesn’t sound condescending) most fans do not understand the arbitration process.  Anyway Salisbury’s source says the Phillies would match Chase Utley’s seven-year, $85MM deal and might approach $100MM.  He says Howard may want "significantly more."
  • Ivan Rodriguez would like to play beyond the 2008 season and retire a Tiger.  If the Tigers can’t find a taker for Brandon Inge this year, he could be their starting catcher in ’09.
  • Carl Pavano doesn’t seem too popular in the Yankees’ clubhouse.
  • J.P. Ricciardi does not plan to do an extension during the season with A.J. Burnett.  I think Burnett will stay healthy enough to top the two years, $24MM he could get if he does not opt out.

Kinsler Talking Long-Term Deal

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2:17pm:The Rangers signed Kinsler for near the minimum for ’08, which doesn’t really affect the long-term discussions.

10:40am:According to Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Rangers have made little progress on a long-term deal with second baseman Ian Kinsler.  Jon Daniels was positive about it, however.

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News does see progress – he spoke to Kinsler and learned that talks for a five-year pact are ongoing.  A sixth-year option could be included as well.

Kinsler has two years of service time, so a five-year deal would buy out one year of free agency.  Grant believes a five-year deal for Kinsler would be for less than the $30MM Robinson Cano received.  Kinsler, 25, has a career line of .274/.351/.447 in 250 games.  The average AL second baseman hit .284/.339/.416 last year.  Kinsler’s probably not among the top ten defensively at his position, if you go by the Fielding Bible awards.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Joe Blanton

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After letting Barry Zito walk last year and trading Danny Haren in December, the A’s appear to be entertaining offers for Joe Blanton. While the Reds and the Dodgers appear to be the most aggressive suitors, Ken Rosenthal speculated that Blanton would be a good fit for the Twins or the Rays and Buster Olney named several other clubs that could be interested in acquiring the right-hander. Blanton, 27, is still three years from free agency, and will make $3.7MM this season. With pitchers and catchers due to report this week, let’s take a look at reactions to the Blanton rumors from the blogosphere.

  • Athletics Nation is surprised that Blanton has not been moved yet. They expect that a deal is more likely now that Johan Santana has been traded, and the free agent market is drying up.
  • Redleg Nation thinks the Reds should be willing to part with Homer Bailey or Johnny Cueto in addition to Joey Votto for a proven pitcher.
  • On the other hand, Red Reporter believes the Reds should only take Blanton if they do not have to surrender one of their top prospects.
  • Pinstripe Alley wouldn’t mind the Yankees acquiring Blanton as long as the trade does not require Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes. The would be willing to part with Alan Horne or Austin Jackson from the lower levels.
  • Rays Anatomy believes that Blanton is an asset that the Rays could use (an innings eater), but ultimately does not think the trade makes sense for the Rays.  They are hesitant With so many pitching prospects knocking on the Rays’ door and do not want to part with prospects such as Wade Davis, Jake McGee or Desmond Jennings.
  • Over the Monster does not see the Red Sox giving up Coco Crisp for Blanton as that would be a deviation from their plan to develop pitchers in their system. Rather, they think it is more likely that the Sox sign a free agent or move Julian Tavarez to the rotation.

By Cork Gaines

Cashman Expects Hearing For Chien-Ming Wang

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Yankees GM Brian Cashman expects an arbitration hearing for Chien-Ming Wang.  It would be the team’s first hearing in eight years, even though the two sides are just $600K apart.

Long-term talks fizzled with the Yankees and Wang, who will become a free agent after the 2011 season.  He would’ve been open to a three or four-year deal.  A hearing over such a small amount could indicate a bit of a rift between the player and team.  But at the least, the Yanks have Wang for four more years if they want him.

Blanton May Be Traded

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9:14pm: Fay suggests the A’s would want Homer Bailey or Johnny Cueto, Joey Votto, and a third player for Blanton.

1:32pm: Paul Daugherty and John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer report that the Reds and Dodgers are talking to the A’s about Blanton.  Seems to be a disagreement about whether the Dodgers are in on this.

10:31am: Check out this new Ken Rosenthal video (hat tip to MetsBlog).  The video is all about Joe Blanton.

  • One Rosenthal source suggests a 50/50 chance Blanton is traded (presumably before the season starts).
  • Two teams are showing significant interest.  Rosenthal believes the Reds are one, and the Twins or Rays could be another.  He rules out the Dodgers, Yankees, Rockies, and Indians.  The Reds have had preliminary discussions for Blanton already.  How about the Phillies?  They came calling in July.
  • Rosenthal notes that the bounty for Blanton will be less than that of Dan Haren, because Blanton is slightly more expensive and an inferior pitcher.
  • On January 14th, an A’s source suggested to MLB.com’s Jim Molony who expected Blanton to be the A’s Opening Day starter.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Johan Santana

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Unless Omar Minaya fumbles the most important contract negotiation of his career (we can’t see that happening), the biggest story of the 2007-08 off-season now has an ending and the enduring national nightmare is over. Johan Santana is a Met…now we can get back to talking about more important issues like Kyle Lohse and Livan Hernandez. But before we do let’s take a look at reactions to the Santana trade from the blogosphere.

  • Aaron Gleeman is sentimental as his blog has grown up along side Santana’s career. Now he is disappointed in the package the Twins received but hopeful it could still work out in the long run.
  • Twinkie Town believes trading Santana is status-quo for the Twins as the franchise seems to be in a perpetual state of rebuilding. This seems like overreaction considering the Twins have been in the playoffs four of the past six years.
  • Twins Territory is not disappointed in the trade outcome. They believe Bill Smith had his hands tied and four top prospects is a nice haul.
  • Amazin’ Avenue was still smiling hours after the news broke and feels Twins fans must be disappointed in the package they received.
  • Metsgeek doesn’t care what the price was for Santana. He is worth it and they are giddy.
  • The ’Ropolitans are begging the Mets to pay Santana whatever it takes to get him signed. We have to agree. The Mets can’t mess this one up.
  • Fire Brand of the American League (Red Sox) speculates that the Red Sox may have backed off of Santana when they learned the Yankees were no longer interested.
  • My Baseball Bias believes the Yankees won the Santana Sweepstakes by not mortgaging the future for one $150 million player. Normally we would agree, but Santana is not 35 and winning is about pitching and Santana is the best pitcher alive.
  • Was Watching shows that the Mets (and the Red Sox) have done a better job of acquiring pitchers than the Yankees, and Santana is the latest example.

by Cork Gaines

Morgan Ensberg Signs With Yankees

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According to a source, the Yankees have signed Morgan Ensberg.  They’ll use him at first base (and maybe off the bench).  It’s a minor league deal.  Jerry Crasnick confirms it, noting that the Rays and Giants expressed interest.

Ensberg, 32, hit .231/.320/.404 for the Astros and Padres in ’07.  He earned $4.35MM, and the Padres non-tendered him in December.  The Astros had designated him for assignment in July after acquiring Ty Wigginton.  Ensberg has not been the same since seriously bruising his shoulder in June of ’06.

Twins Wanted Wang/Kennedy For Santana?

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According to Buster Olney in his blog today:

The Twins tried to re-engage the Yankees Monday night, calling and asking, again, for Hughes to be in a package. The Yankees said no, and the Twins then asked, instead, for Chien-Ming Wang and Ian Kennedy, and the Yankees said no.

This differs from Bob Klapisch’s take yesterday.  Klapisch said the Twins’ last-ditch proposal to the Yankees was for Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, and a top prospect.  Regardless, the Yankees preferred to enter the ’08 season with Wang, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, and Joba Chamberlain in the rotation.  Kennedy and Mike Mussina will compete for the fifth spot.

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