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Odds and Ends: Burrell, Pedro, Fukudome

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Today’s link collection.

  • Jon Heyman notes that Pat Burrell only wanted to go to the Yankees or Red Sox when the Phillies tried to trade him a few years ago.  They’re not great fits, but perhaps Burrell will have those two clubs at the top of his list when he hits free agency.
  • Ross Newhan looks at the Dodgers’ trade of Pedro Martinez for Delino DeShields.  He rates it the worst in franchise history.  He also names the Brad Penny acquisition as the fourth-worst.
  • Josh Kalk takes a look at Kosuke Fukudome’s hot start for RotoAuthority.
  • The Dodgers and Juan Castro have mutual interest.

2008 Draft: Philadelphia Phillies

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We’ll be looking at the 2008 draft over the next few months here at MLBTR. Mike Arbuckle, the Phillies assistant GM, took some questions from fans regarding the draft and the team’s farm system. Here are the highlights:

  • When asked what positions the Phils are seeking, Arbuckle gave the right answer. "You have to be very careful about trying to draft toward a particular position, simply because of the time it takes to develop players to get to the big leagues…So you try to draft the best available player in each round, the guy that we would view as having the highest ceiling."
  • On the slotting system: "I think generally we have been a club and are a club that tries to do what’s best for the industry." The Phillies have generally stayed within the vicinity of slot.
  • On college players vs. high school players: "In comparing high school to college players, generally the college player is nearer to being the finished product. So you can’t project as much on a college player as you would a high school player."
  • On the Phillies farm system: "I think the strength is double-A down, so I think our better prospects are younger kids."

Arbuckle was noncommittal when asked about what the team plans to do with Pat Burrell when the season is over. He also gives some takes on specific players in the Phillies system.

Posted by Joe Pawlikowski .

Odds and Ends: Tejada, Howard, Johnson

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Couple more odds and ends this evening…

  • Orioles executive VP Mike Flanagan admitted he wouldn’t have signed Miguel Tejada to a six-year deal if he knew the shortstop’s proper age.  But he still would’ve signed him (if possible).  People are debating whether ESPN ambushed Tejada with his birth certificate…of course they did.
  • Ken Rosenthal believes the optimal course of action for the Phillies is to just let Ryan Howard play out the string and then let him walk as a free agent after the 2011 season.
  • Rays Index says the Dan Johnson acquisition signals a "win-now" attitude for the Rays.

Stark’s Latest: Stanton, Hamels

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings column up.

  • The Rays may have a pitching surplus when Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza return in May.  Teams will probably be eyeing Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, and Andy Sonnanstine – not that the Rays are anxious to give them up.  Jackson seems least likely to go.  If I had to pick a team deficiency perhaps it would be their middle infielders.
  • The Phillies have "mild interest" in Mike Stanton, who would like to play for them.  The Phils already inked Steve Kline to a minor league deal though.
  • The Braves are looking for relief help, as you might expect.  Here’s my available relievers list from April 7th; one addition might be Derrick Turnbow. 
  • Stark sees little chance of the Phillies signing Cole Hamels to an extension.  He notes that Hamels’ agent has demonstrated an aversion to club options for free agent years.  If the Phils just want to buy out the three arbitration years, the going rate is $13.75MM for young starters.
  • For the first time this year, top-rated amateur players will be tested for drugs prior to the draft.  It will be nice to nip the problem in the bud with some guys. 

Free Agent Stock Watch: Pat Burrell

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Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell was awesome in July and August of last year.  Outside of that, he was just decent.  He’s off to a blazing start in his first 14 games of 2008.  He turns 32 in October and can explore free agency after the season.

Burrell is earning $14MM this year.  Which players might serve as comparables for Burrell’s next deal?  Carlos Lee is similar, though he was a few years younger when he reached free agency in ’06.  Lee received $16.6MM per year for six years.  Burrell could be compared to Alfonso Soriano, who received an even bigger contract.  Hideki Matsui’s average annual salary of $13MM seems like the floor for Burrell.  If he has a typical Burrell year, I expect him to want something in the range of four years and $60MM (similar to Travis Hafner’s current deal). 

The Tigers, Mariners, Rangers, Braves, Mets, Reds, Padres, and Giants are teams that may have left field vacancies after the season.  The Rays could have room at DH.  If first base becomes an option, even more teams enter the mix.  The Phillies haven’t ruled out bringing him back and he’d love to re-sign.  Burrell will face competition from Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn, Raul Ibanez, Bobby Abreu, and perhaps Manny Ramirez.

Odds and Ends: Schilling, Piazza, Howard

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Tax day roundup…

Snyder Accepts Minor League Assignment

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MONDAY: Snyder has cleared waivers and accepted his assignment to Triple A, as suggested by Sarah Green back on April 5th.

FRIDAY: According to Jeff Horrigan of the Boston Herald, the Tigers, Rays, and Phillies have interest in recently-designated pitcher Kyle Snyder.

Snyder, now 30 years old, was the seventh overall pick by the Royals in the 1999 draft.  He was tolerable as a middle reliever for the Red Sox last year, though his control was poor.  He had two labrum surgeries in ’03 and ’04, and that injury reoccurred in ’05.  The Royals designated him the following year, and the Sox claimed him off waivers. 

Here’s a look at Snyder’s pitch type data from last year.  Most projection systems predict an ERA around 4.80 this year for him.

By the way, the Red Sox will also be designating Bryan Corey tonight.

Phillies Sign Steve Kline

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According to Scott Lauber, the Phillies signed veteran lefty Steve Kline to a minor league deal.  Kline had been released by the Giants.  The Phils recently added Rudy Seanez to their bullpen as well.  Might as well stock up and hope that a few guys work out.

Kline, 35, had a career low strikeout rate in ’07.  Lefties hit .318/.375/.365 off him.  Kline is known for his colorful personality.

Marlins Acquire Wes Helms

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TUESDAY: The Fish are only taking on Helms’ $750K buyout; the Phillies will cover the other $2.15MM.

SATURDAY: According to an FSN broadcast via RotoWorld, the Marlins acquired Wes Helms from the Phils for cash.  So I guess that means the Fish were willing to take on the $2.9MM owed to him?  If so, quite a commitment for them.

Helms, 32 in May, had his best year with the Marlins in ’06.  He posted a .965 OPS in 240 ABs, facing lefties almost half the time.

Olney’s Latest: Lidge, Shields, Eveland, Lahey

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Here are some trade-rumor-tidbits from Buster Olney this morning:

  • For the first time in his career, Scot Shields was activated from the DL and rookie pitcher Rich Thompson was sent down to Triple A.  The Angels had hoped to keep the kid around but last friday’s 1 inning, 5-run meltdown assured his ticket out.
  • A likely story:  Dana Eveland is making Billy Beane look smart.  He shut down the Indians for 7 innings yesterday, striking out 7.  When Dan Haren was sent to Arizona for 6 prospects, Tim thought the Dbacks won and suggested Eveland could be a back of the rotation starter of the David Wells-variety as was the common consensus around the league.  Eveland hadn’t shown anything at the major league level; however, it seems Eveland might be realizing his potential (413 minor league IP, 8.84 K/9).  Then again, it’s been one start and Olney notes Jhonny Peralta just thinks Eveland got lucky.  Time will tell, but Beane has a funny way of making time work in his favor.
  • As Brad Lidge comes back, reliever Tim Lahey is designated for assignment to make room.  Lahey’s path is a bit of a head-scratcher.  He was selected by the Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft from the Twins before being claimed off waivers by the Phillies.  He’s now back on waivers, and if he clears, he’ll have to be offered back to the Twins who apparently do want him back.  So an imminent Twins/Phillies deal could be in the works.

By Nat Boyle

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