Odds And Ends: Harper, Pirates, Hanley
Some links for Tuesday morning…
- Be here at 2pm CST for this week's chat.
- Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says one Nationals official broke into a broad grin after describing Bryce Harper's ability.
- In a piece that's worth reading completely, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tries to determine when the Pirates expect to contend. Some within the organization can imagine results by 2011 and Neal Huntington says Pirates fans won't have to wait until 2015.
- Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says top pick Matt Purke expects to complete a deal with the Rangers.
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says the Rangers have a better, younger, cheaper team than the Astros, but that doesn't mean Houston couldn't make things interesting this year.
- Eric Chavez told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he's "dreading" his upcoming back surgery.
- Carlos Guillen may not play again this season, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwuakee Journal Sentinel says it's clear the Brewers need a starter.
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that Torii Hunter talked with the Giants when he was a free agent after the 2007 season.
- Hanley Ramirez doesn't think Theo Epstein wanted to trade him to the Marlins, according to John Tomase of the Boston Herald.
Heyman On Valentine, Strasburg, Atkins
Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Nationals have already begun searching for a long-term manager, even though Manny Acta remains in charge. Here's what Heyman's hearing about a Nationals team that's been the center of attention recently:
- The Nationals are considering Bobby Valentine, who has a history of transforming losing teams into winners. Valentine's managing the Chiba Lotte Marines now, but they're not expected to bring him back after the season ends in November.
- Acting GM Mike Rizzo, is expected to become the full-time GM eventually.
- One small-market GM said he would have been prepared to spend $15-20MM on Stephen Strasburg if the phenom has slipped to his team on draft day.
- Heyman says the record-setting bonus Strasburg will receive won't change bonuses as we know them because he's an exceptional player who can demand more than others.
- Now that Jake Peavy's hurt and the Padres won't be able to deal him soon, no-trade clauses seem less appealing to GMs. Braves GM Frank Wren doesn't hand them out, and he says it's never prevented him from signing a player.
- It still doesn't look like Roy Oswalt will be dealt.
- The market for Brad Penny hasn't been great so far, but he could be more appealing to teams, without Peavy and Oswalt as options.
- Garrett Atkins makes $7MM, so it's not likely he'll be traded, but the Rockies may decide they're buyers, rather than sellers, if they continue to win.
- Jonathan Sanchez is on the market, but some scouts aren't impressed with his stuff.
- The A's plan to build around their young pitching.
Odds And Ends: Peavy, Acta, Harper
Some links for Monday morning…
- Scott Miller of CBS Sports says the Padres made a mistake last offseason when they rejected the package the Braves offered for the now-injured Jake Peavy.
- Chico Harlan of the Wahington Post goes through the pros and cons of firing Manny Acta. More than half of his readers don't think it's time for a firing yet.
- ESPN.com's Jason A. Churchill says Bryce Harper will be the "clear No. 1 talent" if he's eligible for next year's draft, as planned.
- Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the A's haven't started contract talks with their first round draft pick, Grant Green.
- Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe asks his readers what the Red Sox should do with their excess pitching. We broke down several of their options last week, which Massarotti considers. He adds one of his own: Tim Wakefield could pitch out of the 'pen.
A’s Inquired On DeRosa, Didn’t Like Price
Eric Chavez will have career-jeopardizing back surgery. He could return in time for Spring Training 2010, but Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says the A's are considering other options at third base in the meantime. They inquired on Mark DeRosa, but believe the Indians are asking for too much in return. The A's could pursue DeRosa after the season and Slusser adds that Chone Figgins is a likelier free agent target.
Eric Chavez To Retire?
Athletics manager Bob Geren informed the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman this afternoon that Eric Chavez is headed for back surgery. The Oakland third baseman told the Chronicle's Susan Slusser last month that another procedure "would spell the end to his career," leaving his body "too unstable for baseball."
Heyman On Strasburg, Rockies, Holliday
Jon Heyman of SI.com says Stephen Strasburg stands to make about $15-30MM from the Nationals. Here are the details:
- The Nationals would receive the second pick in next year's draft if they fail to sign Strasburg, but this would not be an acceptable consolation prize for the team. First, Strasburg is a unique talent. Secondly, the Nats can't afford to keep pushing back their future.
- Strasburg could sit out an entire year as J.D. Drew and Luke Hochevar did, but he'll receive an offer considerably larger than either of those two players, which could be hard to reject.
- Heyman doesn't think it's likely that Strasburg would go to Japan if he fails to sign.
Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- Mark Shapiro isn't ready to sell his players, but he has many trade candidates if he decides this isn't the Indians' year. Kerry Wood would be a tough sell given his slow start and the $15MM plus remaining on his contract this year and next.
- Chad Qualls and Tony Pena could become available, but one NL GM doubts Pena hits the market this year.
- Huston Street and Jose Valverde could also become available.
- Street, Jason Marquis and Ryan Spilborghs would be the easiest Rockies to deal.
- Yorvit Torrealba is available.
- Some Yankees people love Mark DeRosa, but the team has no room for him.
- Executives still expect Billy Beane to deal Matt Holliday.
Odds And Ends: Hawpe, Royals, Draft
Some links for Wednesday morning…
- Brad Hawpe would void his 2011 option and become a free agent after next season if he's traded, according to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.
- Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star explains why yesterday was a good day to be a Royals fan even though the team lost its 22nd game in its last 28 tries. They drafted Aaron Crow and Wil Myers, the best players available to them.
- Mellinger points out that "any immediate reaction to baseball's draft is an overreaction" and these players won't necessarily be stars, but he likes the Royals' approach.
- Bryan Smith of Baseball Prospectus has some names to watch in today's portion of the draft.
- Baseball America's John Manuel reports that the's A's selected catcher Max Stassi, who BA ranked higher than any other player remaining.
- We have a Stephen Strasburg discussion underway on the MLBTR Facebook page. Follow MLBTR on Twitter and on your mobile phone.
Cardinals Chairman “Open” To Deals
According to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said the Cardinals are "open" to making trades, but won't deal just for the sake of making a change. Since many teams are still trying to contend, some big names are not yet available.
Olney On Economy, Penny, Strasburg
Buster Olney said on ESPN Radio that the struggling economy could limit the number of trades we see this summer as fewer clubs are willing to take on contracts. Here are the details:
- Since a limited number of teams can add salary, Olney suspects "very cheap players" could be the ones to move.
- Teams are willing to give up less impressive prospects for expensive players, so the A's could be limited if they decide to deal Matt Holliday. However, they don't have to deal, so they can stand pat and collect picks after the season.
- Olney says there's a good chance Brad Penny's moved within the next couple weeks. It won't be this week unless Penny gives his permission, since he can't be dealt before June 15th.
- The Indians are starting to ask themselves who they'll be dealing with if they decide to shop Mark DeRosa and others.
- Olney wonders if the Nats will offer Stephen Strasburg a record deal- say $18-20MM- immediately and stick with that offer until the August 15th signing deadline.
Olney fleshes his ideas out in today's column, saying that teams like the Mariners and Padres may see less impressive bids for Erik Bedard and Jake Peavy as the perceived value of cheap, young players continues rising. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox want to keep their young talent, so they don't drive up the prices for players who could be moved. The Padres could simply keep Peavy instead of accepting a second-rate return for him.
A’s Don’t Have To Make Trades
The A's are in last place, 7.5 games behind the Rangers and they've already been involved in their share of trade rumors, but as Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, they don't have to shed payroll. Now riding a six-game win streak, the A's can hold onto players like Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera if they continue to win.