Mark Ellis: Stay Or Leave?
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reiterates Mark Ellis‘ desire to stay with the A’s beyond 2008 but notes, "Testing free-agent waters might be extremely lucrative for Ellis, who is an elite defensive player."
Tim recently sifted through the 2B market and thinks it would take something substantial to acquire Ellis. I don’t see the A’s, who are 27-23, making any sudden moves – at least not with lower profile quantities like Ellis. Come the off-season Mark Ellis, who turns 31 next week, may be torn between signing for a lot less to stay or following Orlando Hudson who could nab more than 4 years/$30MM, if not extended by Arizona. These guys are comparable talent-wise – boasting elite defense (edge to Hudson) and decent offense – and if either stays with their team the other could reap the rewards in free agency.
By Nat Boyle
Stark’s Latest: Young Players, Giles, DeJesus
Jayson Stark’s latest Rumblings and Grumblings column is chock full of information.
- Stark rattles off Dan Uggla, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, B.J. Upton, Justin Upton, Russell Martin, Zack Greinke, Prince Fielder, Felix Hernandez, Jeff Francoeur, Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedroia as youngsters who do not have long-term deals in the works. With Uggla and Greinke, the opposition seems more on the team’s side. With Hamels and Howard neither side wants a long-term deal. With the rest, the player is resisting.
- The Padres’ top trading chip is probably Brian Giles, though a deal would further deplete a weak offense.
- The A’s are willing to deal, with pitching considered the surplus. Billy Beane might be able to snag one good prospect for Rich Harden.
- There’s some doubt as to whether the Rockies will make Matt Holliday this year’s Mark Teixeira as we approach the deadline.
- Teams other than the Royals are speculating that center fielder David DeJesus might be available.
- The Marlins and Hanley Ramirez battled over a no-trade clause…and the Fish won. He has none.
Mike Piazza Retires
Catcher Mike Piazza has decided to retire. I thought he had a little bit left in the tank as a possible DH this year, but it seems that teams did not agree.
Piazza finishes with a .308/.377/.545 career line in 19 seasons. He mashed 427 home runs and is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Dodgers or Mets cap? Marlins?
Rich Harden Back From DL; Back On Market?
Rich Harden has been activated from the DL and will make his third start of the season today. John Shea says that the A’s are hoping Harden will stay healthy, as the A’s are better team with him. Billy Beane may be hoping for Harden to stay healthy for an entriely different reason. Before His latest trip to the DL, it was believed that the A’s were marketing the right-hander that has not made more than nine starts since 2005.
After making two strong starts at the beginning of the season, Bruce Jenkins suggested that Harden needed about six strong and healthy starts before other teams would become interested. After the latest setback, that number is probably higher now. Troy E. Renck noted that it would probably take a healthy month before the Rockies would be interested.
Harden is to make $4.5MM this year and the team has a $7MM option for 2009. Harden is scheduled to become a free agent following the 2009 season.
It will be interesting to see if teams show enough interest in a talented pitcher that has made six trips to the DL in six seasons, or if the A’s will be willing to lower their asking price.
Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here .
Rockies Looking For Starting Pitching
7:22pm: Walt Jocketty did not deny the Fogg-Rockies rumor when asked. Maybe he’ll be a little more loose with the rumors than Krivsky was.
9:18am: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has details on the Rockies’ pursuit of starting pitching. Their search includes some familiar names.
- Josh Fogg seems like the most likely acquisition; he’s a DFA candidate for the Reds. Fogg received an early one-year offer from the Rockies this winter that was later pulled back.
- Julian Tavarez, another former Rockie, is on the radar again. The Red Sox don’t seem to have much use for him.
- Kevin Millwood figures to be a popular name in the coming months. Renck says the Rangers want "the right players in return, not salary relief." Millwood makes $8.5MM in ’08, $11MM in ’09, and $12MM in ’10 (if he reaches certain innings incentives). He also has a limited no-trade clause.
- Rich Harden may come off the DL soon, but he’d have to remain healthy for probably a month before teams become seriously interested.
- Renck says Joe Blanton is "currently not available." The A’s are the current Wild Card leader, after all.
Odds and Ends: Doue, Furcal, Kuroda
Here are today’s links.
- Dave Cameron notes Nelson Cruz‘s video game numbers in Triple A and suggests he deserves another shot.
- Japanese catcher Hayato Doue was expected to join the Red Sox organization, but visa problems have gotten in the way.
- Buster Olney notes that Rafael Furcal will test free agency if he can’t hammer out an extension with the Dodgers by midseason.
- Shigetoshi Hasegawa denies the notion that he pushed Hiroki Kuroda toward the Dodgers.
- Athletics Nation sees Billy Beane targeting pitcher Tanner Scheppers if he’s available with the 12th pick. Also, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has an overall look at the ’08 draft class.
Odds & Ends: Kennedy, Rays, Bonds, Wagner
And now for something completely different, Odds and Ends:
- ESPN reports that the Yankees optioned Ian Kennedy to Triple-A. To take his place, they recalled Darrell Rasner who in 5 Triple-A games is 4-0 with 0.87 ERA and 27 K in 31 IP. Kennedy relies on control and control he has had not. He has the highest percentage of working into hitters counts of anyone in the bigs.
- The Rays are the first team ever to hold the first pick in back-to-back years, and unlike last year when they selected David Price without thinking twice, they are presently undecided. According to Marc Lancaster, "It’s a safe bet their choice will come from the following pool: Vanderbilt 3B Pedro Alvarez, Griffin (Ga.) High SS Tim Beckham, Florida State C Buster Posey, Missouri RHP Aaron Crow, University of San Diego LHP Brian Matusz and Riverside (Calif.) Patriot High C Kyle Skipworth."
- Art Spander in the Oakland Tribune calls on Billy Beane to sign Barry Bonds. Mike Sweeney and Frank Thomas aren’t enough. Says Spander, "[Bonds] still can put balls in the seats and… butts in the seats. As opposed to you putting a tarp over them. The A’s have to stop being a secret and start becoming an attraction."
- Brian Cashman: Phillies GM? So speculates Jim Salisbury. With no Johan but an injured Phil Hughes and ineffective Ian Kennedy, Cashman could find himself jettisoned by default from the organization should they miss the playoffs. Pat Gillick’s contract is up after this year and Cashman once looked favorably on that gig. But if you ask me, Mr. Salisbury is getting way ahead of himself.
- Billy Wagner tells the New York Post’s Steve Serby that he expects to retire after 2009. And he still hasn’t had a bagel. That blows my mind.
By Nat Boyle
Free Agent Stock Watch: Mark Ellis
A’s second baseman Mark Ellis might be the affordable alternative to Orlando Hudson next winter. In September of last year, the A’s chose to exercise Ellis’ $5MM option for ’08.
Ellis, 30, was ranked as the fourth-best defensive second baseman by the Fielding Bible’s panel of experts, behind Aaron Hill, Hudson, and Brandon Phillips. The market might undervalue second base defense – Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projection system values Ellis at about $30MM over the 2009-11 seasons. He seems unlikely to become a $10MM a year player.
Ellis also has offensive value. He’s good for a .330 OBP and .400 SLG, which is at least league average for the position. And he is capable of more power, having hit 19 home runs last year.
Ellis seems likely to snag a contract of three years at $6-7MM per season. Sure beats Hudson’s asking price. Ellis just missed Type A classification last winter; I think he’ll reach it this time (here’s a refresher on the stats used for the Elias rankings). Because of the likely Type A draft pick compensation, I can see him playing out the string in ’08 with the A’s.
Odds and Ends: Crisp, King, Sweeney
Here’s today’s linkage.
- Bobby Kielty‘s hand injury drastically reduces the chance of a Coco Crisp trade within the next month.
- Who needs a lefty reliever? The Nationals’ Ray King would like to be traded rather than head to Triple A.
- Mike Sweeney was excited about signing with the Twins last winter, but the Craig Monroe trade ended that possibility. Susan Slusser doesn’t expect the A’s to keep both Frank Thomas and Sweeney for very long.
- Joe Sports Fan ranks the seven best long-term contracts. Any additions? How about Dan Haren at four years and $12.65MM?
Frank Thomas Signs With A’s
TODAY: Thomas has signed with the A’s, according to the AP. Can’t help but like such a low-cost move, though it means Jack Cust can’t be stashed at DH.
WEDNESDAY, :12pm: Brown says Thomas was close with the A’s, but another team jumped in with an offer. So he’s considering two offers currently. That mystery team is not Ron Gardenhire’s Twins.
6:49pm: There are not quite 100% but legit-sounding stories bouncing around about the A’s signing Thomas. One is from WWWT Radio in Washington D.C. via Baseball Digest Daily; another is a now-defunct post from Yahoo’s Tim Brown via RotoWorld.
8:17am: When we last checked in on Frank Thomas, the A’s admitted they’d have an internal discussion about him. Today, Buster Olney writes that the A’s will have that talk within 48 hours. They may prefer Thomas to Mike Sweeney. Manager Bob Geren won’t comment on the situation.
Meanwhile Hank Steinbrenner says the Yankees have "never even talked about" signing Thomas. He’s not a good fit for their team. The Yanks still owe Jason Giambi more than $23MM this year.