Phillies Quiet On Free Agents
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com says things are quiet on the free agent front for the Phillies. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team’s not in on lefty relievers Will Ohman or Joe Beimel, and indicated that signing one of them is a long shot.
Zolecki also finds a Nomar Garciaparra signing unlikely. Nomar still hasn’t decided whether to play in ’09.
Phillies Sign Cairo
Scott Lauber reports that the Phillies have signed Miguel Cairo to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training.
Cairo, 34, hit .249/.316/.330 last year for the Mariners. He can serve as a back-up at nearly any position the Phillies could need if he makes the team. Cairo saw time at all four infield positions, left field, and right field in 2008.
Phillies Must Deal With Adam Eaton
Scott Lauber of The News Journal spoke to Phillies pitcher Adam Eaton, who is "without question, the elephant in the clubhouse." Eaton is owed $9MM, and the Phillies don’t see him as a contender for a rotation spot given his 6.10 ERA with the team.
Eaton says he’s not going to accept another assignment to the minors. The Phillies may have to release him and eat his salary.
Heyman On Manny, Pudge, Cabrera, Howard
The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…
- Heyman says "most in the know seem to still believe [Dodgers owner Frank] McCourt will bend on Manny Ramirez and go to three years."
- The Nationals’ offer to Adam Dunn was on the table for weeks until he realized no team was going to beat or approach it. There were rumors months ago that Dunn sought a $100MM deal heading into free agency.
- The Astros and Marlins are looking at Ivan Rodriguez. There’s even an El Nuevo Dia report suggesting the Astros offered $2.5MM+ to Pudge, but that seems out of their price range to me. In today’s mailbag, MLB.com’s Alyson Footer opines that the Astros wouldn’t go to $3MM for a catcher.
- The A’s "want to spend no more than $5MM, and probably closer to $3MM" for Orlando Cabrera. He should take that if it’s offered.
- The Angels had been eyeing Joe Crede but may be done after signing Bobby Abreu. The Giants and Twins remain the likeliest suitors for Crede.
- The Phillies hoped to lock up Ryan Howard beyond his arbitration years, and Ruben Amaro Jr. disputed the notion that he is after Teixeira money.
Will Ohman May Sign Soon
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that Will Ohman "has received three offers in the past 48 hours and four overall, according to a major-league source, and is expected to reach a decision Wednesday or Thursday."
Cameron Smith of the Washington Post has additional information today. He says Ohman received four offers from NL clubs in the past two days, the Phillies and Mets not among them. Cameron speculates that NL Central clubs may be involved.
Odds And Ends: Brewers, Roberts, Tejada
A few links for Wednesday night…
- According to The Sports Network, the Brewers signed minor leaguers Eduardo Morlan and Cody Scarpetta to one year deals.
- Brian Roberts hasn’t given up on working out an extension with the O’s, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Kubatko writes "it’s pretty clear that he wants a fourth year."
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News profiles Jesus Montero, the 19-year-old who could succeed Jorge Posada if he fares well as a catcher.
- MLB.com’s Corey Brock reports that Tigers’ pitching prospect Rick Porcello isn’t changing his approach as he approaches the majors.
- AZSnakePit.com interviewed D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes about pitching, defensive metrics and the June draft.
- Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Chase Utley looks healthy in Clearwater.
- The Astros hope Miguel Tejada starts the season as their shortstop, according to Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle. Astros GM Ed Wade is apparently "committed to Tejada."
Beimel Discouraged By Weak Market
Free agent left-hander Joe Beimel told MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick Tuesday that he has spoken with 16 teams this offseason, but none have made "an offer worth accepting."
"It’s a good sign when a club calls, but in this market, you can’t get optimistic just because a club calls," Beimel said. "A lot of teams say they’re interested, but turning words into action hasn’t happened. It’s been strange... I put up good numbers three straight years, I’m durable. Usually that means you get a good contract, but it just hasn’t happened this year. It’s just really weird. I haven’t even had a reasonable offer to negotiate with. I don’t want to sign just to sign. It’s definitely discouraging, but you’ve got to deal with it. I’ll just wait it out."
The Dodgers contacted Beimel’s agent Tuesday afternoon, and the Phillies are also thought to have some level of interest.
Phillies Rumors: Will Ohman, Dennys Reyes
Cameron Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the latest on the Phillies’ pursuit of a reliever.
Will Ohman‘s agent Page Odle spoke of a "real good positive conversation" with the Phillies over the past week, but GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the dollars would have to be "extremely modest." Odle said Ohman is open to a one-year deal with a contender. The Mets are the other main suitor, but they are also in bargain mode.
Smith spoke to Dennys Reyes, who said his agent has been talking to the Dodgers and A’s. But Reyes did talk to the Phillies back in December. He is also focused on signing with a contender.
The Phils do have in-house options, plus Amaro suggested he could find a righthanded reliever with the ability to retire lefties.
Giants Sign Rich Aurilia
8:03pm: Henry Schulman says the deal is done. Aurilia will earn $1MM if he makes the team.
11:54am: According to Ken Rosenthal, "Rich Aurilia will return to the Giants on a minor-league contract. Aurilia, 37, chose the Giants over the Cubs and Phillies. His deal is expected to be finalized on Monday." Henry Schulman learned that the Blue Jays were also in on Aurilia, and the Astros made a Major League offer early in the winter.
Aurilia hit .283/.332/.413 in 440 plate appearances last year, but he does handle lefties well for the most part. Though their deals are not guaranteed, the Giants having both Aurilia and Juan Uribe in camp may be another sign that they’re backing off on Joe Crede. At the least, Crede would have to come down from his $7MMish demand for the Giants to sign him.
Phillies, Ryan Howard Agree To Three-Year Deal
3:53pm: Jayson Stark chimes in, stating that the Phillies can trade Howard, without penalty, after Nov. 1, 2010. If traded before that date, Howard will receive an extra $1MM. Doesn’t sound like too much of a penalty to any team seriously looking at acquiring him.
2:35pm: Joel Sherman has the numbers: Howard will earn $15MM in 2009, $19MM in 2010, and $20MM in 2011. The base salaries for 2010 and 2011 will increase by $1MM if Howard wins the MVP award in the season prior, and $500K if he finishes second in the voting. He will earn $100K for any Gold Gloves, World Series MVPs, Silver Sluggers, or All-Star Game starts he receives. He’ll get $50K if he’s selected to the All-Star game or wins the LCS MVP.
11:14am: Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports the Phillies have agreed to a 3-year, $54MM deal with Ryan Howard today.
This meets Howard’s record arbitration submission of $18MM. The Phillies had submitted $14MM but apparently are fine paying the extra $4MM for the next three years. The two parties would’ve gone before an arbitration panel sometime in the coming week.
This buys out Howard for the remainder of his arbitration-eligible period, through 2011. As of now, it’s unclear how the contract breaks down.