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A’s Not Interested In Pierre

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11:50am: Slusser says A’s sources are thoroughly denying this rumor.  It was fun while it lasted!  She is also skeptical of the Mark Ellis rumblings.

8:01am: There’s a headline I didn’t expect to write, given that the Dodgers’ Juan Pierre comes with a $36.5MM commitment over the next four years.  Susan Slusser reports that the Athletics have inquired on him, proof that they may be looking to acquire a veteran center fielder.

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense on the surface.  Either the A’s would want the Dodgers to absorb a significant portion of the money, or they’d like to pass back their own questionable contract.  Front row center would be Eric Chavez, owed $37MM over the next three seasons.  Chavez’s ten and five no-trade rights haven’t kicked in yet, and the Dodgers aren’t among the teams on his current limited clause.   The oft-injured Chavez isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Odds and Ends: Ponson, Inge, Papelbon

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Let’s round up some Monday morning links.

  • The Cardinals are taking another look at Sidney Ponson.  Insert your own punchline in the comments.
  • Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun could see the O’s making a minor trade for a veteran second baseman if they acquire Ronny Cedeno but not Eric Patterson in a Brian Roberts deal with the Cubs.
  • Brandon Inge is trying his best to talk his way out of town.  The Dodgers’ recently reported nibble hasn’t been publicly shot down, so that’s a plus.
  • South Side Sox thinks speedy infielder Eugenio Velez is the type of player the White Sox could desire for Joe Crede.
  • Jonathan Papelbon wants $900K in his last year before arbitration eligibility.  Ryan Howard set a scary precedent last year.  If Papelbon doesn’t get offered something close, he’d rather make a statement and be renewed near the minimum.
  • Buster Olney suggests Dan Johnson and Doug Mientkiewicz could be possibilities for the Mets in their quest for a backup first baseman.  Olney speculated on Nick Johnson, Scott Hatteberg, Richie Sexson, Tony Clark, and Kevin Millar the day before.

White Sox Interested In Mark Ellis

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About a week ago, I speculated that the White Sox could go after Oakland second baseman Mark Ellis if their in-house options don’t work out.  Billy Beane and Kenny Williams have a great relationship.  Today, Baseball Prospectus’ John Perrotto says the White Sox reportedly have interest in Ellis.

If the White Sox are pushing all-in for ’08, Ellis makes a lot of sense.  The Sox have interesting candidates for second base, but none who could be expected to post a .775 OPS with Gold Glove caliber defense as Ellis can.  The 30 year-old will earn $5MM this year before reaching free agency for the first time. The White Sox don’t have much in the farm system, but the two clubs could still work something out.  It would have to be a solid return, as Ellis has a decent shot at Type A status after the season.

Managers On The Hot Seat

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It is a slow news day, so we are going to venture a bit off the beaten path…As spring training is now in full swing, a number of managers may have their jobs on the line during the ’08 season. Three managers are in the final year of their deals and another 12 managers have two years left on their contracts. This second group will be due either an extension or a pink slip next winter as few teams are willing to play out a season with a lame-duck manager. Therefore, any manager with two years remaining on their contracts (including options) will likely have their fate determined prior to the ’09 season.

Ignoring managers that may be on the hot seat for other reasons (i.e. Willie Randolph), here is a list of managers that could potentially have their jobs on the line in ’08 based on their current contract situations. (Numbers in parentheses represent the number of years remaining on current contract)

  • Cecil Cooper, HOU (2)
  • Bob Geren, OAK (1+1 team option)
  • John Gibbons, TOR (1)
  • Bobby Cox, ATL (1)
  • Ned Yost, MIL (1+1 team option)
  • Tony LaRussa (2)
  • Bruce Bochy (2)
  • John McLaren, SEA (1)
  • Fredi Gonzalez, FLA (2)
  • Dave Trembley, BAL (1+1 team option)
  • Bud Black, SD (1+1 team option)
  • Joe Maddon, TB (2)
  • Clint Hurdle, COL (2)
  • Jim Leyland, DET (2)
  • Ron Gardenhire, MIN (2)

Taking a closer look at the list…Of the managers in the final year of their deal, Cox will be back if he chooses. LaRussa and Leyland may very well enter ’09 without new deals considering their ages. Yost, Gardenhire, Hurdle and Black look like locks for extensions prior to ’09. However, the remaining eight names on the list (Cooper, Geren, Bochy, Gonzalez, Trembley, Maddon, Gibbons, McLaren) may very well be managing for their jobs in ’08.

By Cork Gaines

Piazza Considering Two Teams

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Mark Hale of the New York Post recently spoke to Mike Piazza’s agent, Dan Lozano.  Piazza may retire if he doesn’t find the right opportunity, but he is currently mulling two interested teams.  Lozano indicated that there is one team from each league under consideration.  Japan is not a possibility for Piazza.

Piazza, 39, hit .275/.313/.414 in 329 plate appearances last year as Oakland’s DH.  He was limited by a shoulder strain and bruised triceps.  Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA system has him at .255/.310/.426 in 294 PAs this year, a performance worth $675K.  If Piazza gets a Major League deal, the A’s will get a decent draft pick.   

Tampa Bay would be a reasonable guess for the AL club.  Could the Marlins make sense in the NL?  If I recall correctly Piazza didn’t fare too well in his stint at first base with the Mets, so I’m not sure if that’s an option.

Shannon Stewart Signs With Blue Jays

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TODAY: Fun fact/correction, courtesy of Susan Slusser.  Turns out the A’s will not be receiving a compensation pick for Stewart, since he signed a minor league deal.  It also seems a long shot that they get one for Mike Piazza, as he could retire, settle for a minor league deal, or head to Japan.

2-24-08: According to Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail, Shannon Stewart has signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. It seems that Stewart’s agent switch helped facilitate the contract, as the Jays made an offer earlier in the winter.  My guess is that this is around a million bucks, and you really can’t complain about that.  Stewart is a fine defender in left and a solid fourth outfielder.  Stewart was originally drafted by the Jays 19th overall in ’92.  That draft also had Derek Jeter, Jason Kendall, and Johnny Damon in the first round.

By the way, the A’s are set to receive the 39th or 46th overall pick as compensation for Stewart, depending on what Mike Piazza does.

Meanwhile, Adam Lind joins the class of expendable young outfielders with MLB experience.  Lind, 24, didn’t hit much last year but projects at .267/.324/.443 according to PECOTA.  That’s a notch below other available guys like Matt Murton and Gabe Gross.

Odds and Ends: Choo, Inge, Lohse, Francona

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Let’s round up some rumors and links.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Barry Bonds

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He has 762 home runs and 7 MVPs. In 2007, he hit 28 home runs in only 126 games and posted a 170 OPS+, which would have led the NL if he had not come up 27 plate appearances short of qualifying. Still, Barry Bonds is without a job for 2008. Some would argue it is because he is 43 years and has bad knees that limit him to DH duty. Others would say it is because he is an unwanted distraction. Some are even beginning to whisper that Bonds is being blackballed by baseball…The Cardinals and the A’s have been linked to Bonds. The Padres were rumored to be in the mix, but publicly have said they are not interested. Marc Topkin wondered if the Rays would be interested, which seems unlikely as the Rays just traded Elijah Dukes and Delmon Young in part because they were headaches. The latest rumor has Bonds possibly playing in Japan in 2008. Could the enticement of setting another home run record convince Bonds to head to the land of the rising sun? With camps in full-swing and Bonds recliner still without a home, let’s take a look at what is being said about Bonds in the Blogosphere…If you think there is a team that is the perfect fit for Bonds in 2008 let us know in the comments.

If there is a topic you would like to see covered in "Baseball Blogs Weigh In" please let me know HERE.

  • Giants Cove is willing to admit that the Giants chemistry will be better in 2008, but there is one glaring problem with the new found chemistry. The Giants cleanup hitter will be Benjie Molina.
  • Athletics Nation notes that signing Bonds would be a smart business decision for the A’s.
  • Catfish Stew wonders if A’s fans will be just as hard on Jack Cust, who was named in the Mitchell Report as they say they will be on Bonds if he signs with Oakland.
  • Yankees Chick finds it curious that so many Yankees fans are clamoring for the Bombers to sign Bonds.
  • Rays of Light notes that baggage aside, DH is already crowded for the Rays with Cliff Floyd, Jonny Gomes and Rocco Baldelli sharing at bats.
  • Metstradamus feels that the chances of the Mets signing Bonds to play the outfield are about 2,000,000 to 1.
  • Gaslamp Ball
    is not surprised the Padres passed on Bonds, noting that San Diego is
    where the giant syringe was thrown at Bonds during a game.
  • Babes Love Baseball can’t understand why Bonds is without a job, but they understand he comes with a bit of a circus and the occasional ’booing’.

By Cork Gaines

Fogg Signs With Reds

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THURSDAY, 2:20pm: It’s official – Fogg has signed with the Reds.  He’s no lock for the rotation though.

WEDNESDAY, 10:43pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Reds are just one of three teams pursuing Fogg.  The other two are unknown, but Boston is not one of them.  I wonder if these mystery teams are coming from Fogg’s agent.

7:04pm: Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News reports that the Reds are on the verge of a one-year deal with Josh Fogg, with a base salary of just $1MM.  Ringolsby was not able to get confirmation from Wayne Krivsky quite yet, but Krivsky isn’t one to show his hand.  Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News is also reporting the expected signing.

I had Fogg pegged for a $20MM deal at the beginning of the offseason.  Many have suggested that GMs are simply being smarter about free agent valuations.  I don’t think there’s collusion going on here.

The Reds now set up with Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Matt Belisle, and Fogg in the first four spots.  They could use Jeremy Affeldt as a starter, or go with one of Homer Bailey, Edinson Volquez, or Johnny Cueto.  As one MLBTR commenter pointed out, this might signal and end to the Reds’ pursuit of Joe Blanton.

Odds and Ends: Crisp, Stewart, Meyer

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Let’s round ’em up!

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