Phillies Satisfied With Current Bench
According to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, the Phillies have no immediate plans to add another bench player.
Phillies Sign Tyler Walker
From Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle:
Aaron Rowand just got a text from Tyler Walker saying he's just been signed by the Phillies. Apparently it's a minor-league deal because Walker said he is reporting to Clearwater, Fla. Walker was released by Seattle at the end of spring training.
Walker, 33 in May, posted a 4.56 ERA in 53.3 innings last year with a 8.3 K/9. He had something of a roller coaster season, alternating between good and bad months for the Giants. Since Walker has less than five years service time, the Phillies could potentially retain him in 2010 as an arbitration-eligible player.
Nationals Release Gustavo Chacin
According to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, the Nationals released pitcher Gustavo Chacin. He was unable to crack the Nats' Triple A rotation. The Phillies then promptly signed Chacin.
Chacin, 28, had his best season as a rookie for the '05 Blue Jays. He had shoulder surgery in September of '07.
Sheffield, Mets Agree To Deal
SUNDAY, 2:40pm: Matthew Cerrone from MetsBlog tells us that Nick Evans was optioned to AAA in order to make room for Sheffield.
4:32pm: Mets GM Omar Minaya announced the signing, which is pending a physical. Will he help? A few projections:
Sheffield came up as a 20 year-old Brewers shortstop; he's now hanging on as a 40 year-old Mets platoon outfielder. Sheffield was willing to waive his no-trade clause for the Mets way back in November of '97, when the Marlins had their fire sale (according to a Jon Heyman Newsday article). He was eventually dealt to the Dodgers in May of '98.
2:33pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman says Sheffield agreed to sign with the Mets. An announcement is expected this afternoon.
12:08pm: Sherman adds that Mets GM Omar Minaya spoke to Sheffield directly recently to explain how he'd fit with the team. Meanwhile, several Phillies players have contacted Sheffield to lobby him to sign.
11:23am: According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets are close to signing Gary Sheffield. The Mets plan to give him significant playing time. They'd only have to pay $400K and would consider Sheffield an option in both outfield corners. Sherman's source said:
"Unless something drastic happens, he is a Met. Someone would have to offer him a second year, and I just don't see that happening."
David Lennon of Newsday believes Sheffield could sign with the Mets as soon as tonight.
Odds & Ends: Opening Day Rosters
After the longest spring training in history, it felt like Opening Day might never arrive. As teams finalize their 25-man rosters, here are some notes from yesterday and today's headlines:
- Third baseman Pablo Sandoval was made the lone-backup for catcher Bengie Molina as the Giants finalize their Opening Day roster and go with a 12-man pitching staff, according to Chris Haft of MLB.com.
- As anticipated, Mike Sweeney and his .408 spring batting average made the Mariners' roster, says Larry Stone of the Seattle Times and the M's are without a lefty reliever. Ichiro Suzuki could make a return by next Friday in Oakland, reports the Kyodo News.
- The AP reports the Diamonbacks added Ryan Roberts as a utility man.
- Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle points out that 24-year old Andrew Bailey, "an unheralded nonroster invitee to major-league camp who hadn't pitched in relief before last summer is now a member of Oakland's bullpen."
- The Phillies added Miguel Cairo.
Phillies Set Their Roster
The Phillies added Miguel Cairo to the 25-man roster today, presumably ending the club's search for a right-handed reserve player. David Murphy of the Philadelphia Inquirer has a short review of that hunt:
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has spent a lot of time looking for ways to upgrade the bench, particularly late in spring training. There was the highly-publicized flirtation with Gary Sheffield. There was the hope that Andruw Jones would fail to win a roster spot with the Rangers. Earlier in the offseason, there was an attempted wooing of Nomar Garciaparra.
But in the Phillies situation, it proved difficult to convince the type of player they hoped to attract to sign with the team. Sheffield, Garciaparra, Jones, Ty Wigginton — all signed with teams where the opportunity for playing time was far greater than the Phillies could guarantee.
Cairo, 34, hit .249/.316/.330 with 23 RBI in 221 at-bats for Seattle last season. He hasn't gone yard in over 900 plate appearances, but should make for a versatile option in the infield.
Rosenthal On Sheffield, Repko, McPherson
A look at Ken Rosenthal's column from yesterday afternoon…
- The Marlins chose Ross Gload over Frank Catalanotto, but are still considering signing Cat for the minimum now that he's been released.
- The Braves are not interested in bringing back Gary Sheffield. Meanwhile, Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets (as well as the Phillies and Reds) have an eye on Sheffield.
- Sheffield is apparently the only right-handed hitter on the Phillies' radar. Rosenthal learned that the Rockies' asking price for Jeff Baker is high.
- The Braves almost made a deal for Dodgers outfielder Jason Repko, but backed off recently.
- The Yankees will pass on Dallas McPherson, but the Giants may consider him.
- The Yanks don't seem desperate to move Melky Cabrera. They've received multiple calls on him but Rosenthal says "the team will only move him for the right price."
Gary Sheffield Rumors: Thursday
9:13pm: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer has an update. Jocketty spoke to Sheffield's agent and Baker spoke to Sheffield, both over the phone. The Reds can only offer platoon at-bats in left field. Sheffield will play for the minimum and is talking to two or three other clubs.
12:26pm: FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal spoke with Sheffield's agent Thursday, who said he and his client plan to "rush slowly" once Sheff clears waivers at 1pm EST. In other words, they want to strike a deal quickly, but will take their time and explore all avenues.
"We're not challenged by the absolute need to be on an Opening Day roster," said the agent, Rufus Williams. "We're challenged by whether it's the right fit for Gary."
11:05am: Baker and Jocketty are expected to meet face-to-face with Sheffield once he clears waivers. "For now, it's just a conversation," writes MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo.
9:23am: After speaking with Reds manager Dusty Baker, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer no longer thinks the club will land Sheffield.
“I’m sure he has some offers," Baker said Thursday. "I called Walt (Jocketty) for permission to make the call. I made the call. Walt talked to Mr. Castellini. I talked to Jim Leyland because (Sheffield) hasn’t played outfield in a long time. His teammates liked him. He’s straightforward and says what he wants. That’s what he gets publicity for. But he told me he’s quiet and off to himself on the clubhouse… I don’t know if we’re in the running or not. He wants playing time.”
9:02am: MLB.com's Todd Zolecki believes the Phillies "very much want to sign" Gary Sheffield when he clears waivers at 1pm today. They'll be bidding primarily against the Reds, it appears.
For a refresher on the Sheffield talks, check out the MLBTR archive.
Odds & Ends: Minor Deals, Catalanotto, Gwynn Jr.
Your Thursday links, with more to come…
- Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Phillies have acquired RHP Manny Ayala from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. Ayala will probably spend the entire '09 season in the minors.
- According to Steve Holley of Scout.com, the A's have plucked right-hander Rocky Roquet from the Cubs for a player to be named later. He's another minor league guy.
- The Boston Globe's Tony Massarotti would like the Red Sox to pursure Frank Catalanotto, but writes that there's "no indication that they plan to do so."
- Marc Hulet over at BaseballAnalysts.com reviews the production of the 2008 Rule 5 Draft class. It's not a very impressive group.
- SI.com's Jon Heyman explores the Rays' and Phillies' offseasons.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders if Tony Gwynn Jr. could be on the way out.
- Even with the loss of Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes, the Rockies will come close to setting a franchise payroll record this season.
Three Teams Interested In Sheffield
8:52pm: Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News has another quote from Jocketty:
"Sheffield and (manager) Dusty Baker have a history and they talked yesterday. He has to clear waivers today, but we'll talk. We have interest because he would be a legitimate big right-handed bat to add to our lineup."
McCoy believes a meeting between Reds officials and Sheffield might take place Thursday.
7:14pm: Fay continues with the updates: Reds GM Walt Jocketty has confirmed his club's interest in Sheffield. "He's still a threat in the lineup… If the price is right," said the Cincinnati GM. The Reds will also look at Geoff Jenkins, who was released by the Phillies on Tuesday.
6:54pm: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Reds manager Dusty Baker is meeting with Sheffield. It sounds like they're one of the "three interested teams" that Leyland alluded to this morning.
5:53pm: ESPN's Buster Olney has more from Sheffield's agent, Rufus Williams. Williams says Sheffield will be able to play this season and "a couple more seasons, at least." Olney adds that "some in baseball are speculating whether Sheffield would be a good fit with the Braves, where he had a good experience in 2002-03 and was liked by manager Bobby Cox."
Talking to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. again confirmed his interest in Sheffield.
1:30pm: David Murphy of the Philadelphia Inquirer says Tigers manager Jim Leyland told Detroit reporters today that three teams are interested in Gary Sheffield. The Phillies are presumed to be one; some reports have suggested a slim chance despite Sheff's agent calling the talks "productive."