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Phillies Re-Sign J.C. Romero

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According to Ken Rosenthal, the Phillies have signed lefty reliever J.C. Romero to a three-year, $12MM deal.  There’s a club option for a fourth year that would bring the total to $16.75MM.

This is a terrible signing.  Is it really this hard to find a competent lefty reliever?  The Phillies seem to be demonstrating an ignorance of basic pitching statistics.  Romero’s contract is based on 36 innings.  I admit: Romero is fairly tough to hit, and he keeps the ball on the ground (which limits home runs). 

But his control is awful – he’s walked almost five batters per nine innings in his career.  And while he has allowed fewer than a hit per inning in his career, his 2007 success with the Phillies is based on him allowing just 3.72 hits per nine innings.  Limiting hits to that degree is simply not a repeatable skill, and the Phils are paying him as if it is.   

More On Mike Lowell

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Michael Silverman has a little detail on Boston’s three-year offer to Mike Lowell: it’s between $12-15MM per season.  It’s all guaranteed, and it doesn’t seem to be a "take it or leave it" offer, but they won’t add a fourth year.  So it’s for $45MM on the high end.  If you agree with Jon Heyman’s 4/52 prediction, Lowell would be leaving a minimum of $7MM on the table.

Silverman adds that the Red Sox won’t go nuts trying to replace Lowell with a big name if things don’t work out.  They figure that if Kevin Youkilis can win a Gold Glove at first, he might be adequate at third base.  They peeked their head in on Miguel Cabrera and balked at the price of Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz.  Joe Crede might be someone for the Sox to consider. 

The Yankees, Angels, and Phillies will be in on Lowell if he can’t come to an agreement with Boston.  However, Phils GM Pat Gillick has stated his focus is pitching rather than third base.

Rockies Rumors: Atkins, Barrett, Fukumori

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What are the Rockies up to as they plot to defend their NL pennant?  Tracy Ringolsby and Troy E. Renck have the latest.

  • Ringolsby says Garrett Atkins is staying put, which should help the third baseman relax a little bit.  This echoes Renck’s sentiments yesterday.  Renck also noted that the Rox won’t be offering Atkins a multiyear deal anytime soon.
  • Yesterday Renck said that after Yorvit Torrealba, the Rockies were considering Jose Molina, Paul Lo Duca, Jason Kendall, and Ramon Castro for catcher.  However Ringolsby says today that Michael Barrett and Kendall are the main targets.  Renck has come on board with that today, noting that Dan O’Dowd has contacted the agents for Barrett, Kendall, and Lo Duca.
  • Ringolsby adds that the Rockies are exploring the Japanese reliever market, namely Hitoki Iwase and Kazuo Fukumori.  Fukumori might appeal as the cheaper of the two.
  • Meanwhile the Indians, Brewers, Phillies, and Mets like Brian Fuentes.  We’ve also read about the Tigers’ interest.  The Rockies’ willingness to trade him may depend on the progress of 2007 top draft pick Casey Weathers.
  • Jason Jennings might be leaning toward signing with the Padres.  This echoes an obscure article we found back in July.
  • Renck says that if the Rockies don’t hear by Tuesday about their offers to Kaz Matsui, Matt Herges, LaTroy Hawkins, and Torrealba, they’ll start looking at other options. 
  • Renck adds that the Rockies have checked in with Ron Mahay’s people.  He’s getting popular.
  • The Rockies are out on Jon Garland – they can’t fit his $12MM salary into the 2008 budget.  Matsui moving on would clear $3MM though.
  • The idea of locking up Troy Tulowitzki long-term is being entertained.  It probably wouldn’t happen until after the 2008 season though.

Odds and Ends: Lowell, Sabathia, Polanco

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I’m going to start up a catch-all Odds and Ends post for smaller rumors and notes today.  Refresh to see it grow.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Andruw, Rowand, Castillo

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Ken Rosenthal has cranked out another rumor-filled column.  A summary is below.

  • The Marlins are insisting on Howie Kendrick in a Miguel Cabrera deal.  The Angels are understandably reluctant.
  • The Nationals could sign Andruw Jones long-term if they felt it was a bargain – say, $13MM a year.  The Giants, White Sox, and Padres may be in the mix as well.  Hmmm, White Sox and Boras?  And if Scott Boras changes his tune and hunts for a one-year "rebuild value" contract for Jones, the Red Sox could get involved. 
  • The Phillies think Aaron Rowand will end up getting a 4/52 contract, though Rosenthal expects him to get the fifth guaranteed year.  It’s previously been reported that Rowand is looking for a six-year, $84MM deal. Yikes.
  • Aside from the Astros and Mets, the Indians, Padres, and Dodgers could get in on Luis Castillo.  In the Tribe’s case, it would involve a scenario where Jhonny Peralta was dealt.
  • Interesting note on Curt Schilling’s $2MM in weight incentives – the target weights are aggressively low, and the weigh-ins will be done randomly.  So, no cheating the system.  By the way, isn’t it ridiculous that one Cy vote gets him $1MM?  Sportswriters have given out single votes on a whim for much dumber reasons.
  • The Red Sox are apparently asking a lot for Coco Crisp, more than the Twins are ready to give up.
  • The Indians and Brewers have an excess of starters.  Names that could hit the market include Cliff Lee, Dave Bush, and Chris Capuano.  The Nationals have their eye on Lee.  He came up as an Expo through Double A.
  • The Nationals might be able to get something good for outfielder Ryan Church.  In general, Jim Bowden desires a young MLB-ready starter like Kevin Mulvey or Kevin Slowey.

Phillies Close To Deal With Romero

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According to Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phils are close to a multiyear contract with southpaw reliever J.C. Romero.  Two years, $6MM would be one thing but I would hope they didn’t go three years.

Zolecki adds that the Phillies don’t believe Adam Eaton will require surgery for his shoulder issues.  It still wouldn’t hurt to add a starter to the group of Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick, and Eaton.  Hamels and Kendrick may be considered injury risks.

Phillies Acquire Brad Lidge For Michael Bourn

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A major trade was struck tonight, as the Phillies acquired Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Mike Costanzo.

The makings of this deal surfaced earlier today, as it was revealed the Astros had interest in Francisco Cordero.  The ’Stros had been talking about bringing in a center fielder, though no one expected Bourn.

Phillies fans have to be happy to hear that the acquisition will allow Brett Myers to move back into the starting rotation.  We were hearing just yesterday that Myers would remain in the pen.  Perhaps Pat Gillick surveyed the market for a top-rotation starter and didn’t like the prices. Besides bolstering the bullpen for 2008, Gillick should snag a draft pick or two if Lidge leaves for a multiyear deal via free agency (assuming he has a good 2008 season).

Bourn is obviously the key to the deal for Ed Wade and the Astros.  He’s a burner and prototypical leadoff man as well as a plus on defense.  The move seems to give Wade a new trading chip, right fielder Luke Scott.

Ricciardi Willing To Listen On Burnett

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UPDATE, 11-7-07: This isn’t really an update.  Ricciardi kind of clarified his comments, saying that the Jays aren’t shopping Burnett.  But he never said they were in the first place.  He originally said if he was blown away, he’d trade Burnett.  The only people confused were those who didn’t closely read his original comments.

FROM 11-6-07: Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi has said something interesting things to the media in recent times, from lying to the public about B.J. Ryan’s injury to questioning A.J. Burnett’s manliness.  It’s not that his actions and opinions are astounding; it’s just odd to see a GM so publicly frank about things.

Today, Ricciardi was upfront with ESPN about the possibility of trading Burnett.  If he’s blown away by an offer, he’ll trade him.  It’s not really a groundbreaking assertion.  I imagine most GMs feel that way about most players.

In Burnett, another high impact arm enters the trade market.  His opt-out clause after the 2008 season effectively makes his contract worse than a one-year deal, as we discussed here.  Jerry Crasnick says the Cardinals, Phillies, and even Orioles are possible fits.  I could imagine the Braves, Mets, Astros, and Diamondbacks expressing interest as well.  Burnett has no-trade protection against 15 teams, so that might require compensation.  He’ll earn a reasonable $12MM in 2008.   

Hiroki Kuroda Interests Phillies, Dodgers

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It’s tough to decide who the best available free agent starter is now that Curt Schilling is off the market.  One could make a legitimate case it’s Hiroki Kuroda, who could dazzle in his first few months in MLB.

While Kuroda prefers to play on the West Coast, he’s on the Phillies’ radar.  Paul Hagen notes that Pat Gillick previously ventured into the Japanese market to snag Ichiro several years back.  Kuroda has filed for free agency.  So far the Mariners, Rangers, and Cubs have shown interest.  He could earn north of $8MM per season over three or four years.  According to Tony Jackson, the Dodgers are also expected to make a bid.  Expect this list to grow.

Hagen’s article names former Phils Jon Lieber, Randy Wolf, and Kyle Lohse as other possibilities for Gillick.  A trade for Jon Garland remains an option as well.  Also, Adam Eaton recently had an MRI.  If he needs some kind of surgery, the Phils could import two starters. 

In other Phillies news, Gold Glover Aaron Rowand is still partial to the Phillies and hopes to come back.  Don’t count on it.  He also indicated that his other former team, the White Sox, have an advantage. 

Phils Won’t Focus On Third Base

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Third base was a gaping hole for the Phillies in 2007.  But because the team scored a lot of runs that year, GM Pat Gillick does not see the need to upgrade at the position.  Instead, he will focus on adding pitching whether via trade or free agency.

I have to say that I don’t agree with the logic.  Runs are runs, whether you score more of them or let in fewer.  The goal is to create the largest differential between runs scored and allowed, doesn’t matter whether you try to move the top or bottom line.  That’s my opinion at least.  I still think the Phils should acquire Joe Crede or Mike Lamb.  Trading for Crede might help prevent runs because of his fine glovework.  Another option for a defensive boost is Coco Crisp, who the Phillies reportedly like.

The Phillies are still intent on signing lefty reliever J.C. Romero before November 13th.  Hopefully it doesn’t take three years to sign Juan Carlos…the man has a major walk problem and his success was predicated on an unsustainable hit rate of 3.72 per nine innings.  Additionally the Phils have their eye on Colorado’s Brian Fuentes, who is signed next year for $3.5MM.

Though it’s easier to find a good reliever than a good starter, Brett Myers will stay in the pen for ’08.  With Curt Schilling off the table, Gillick could turn back to his buddy Kenny Williams to try to pry away Jon Garland or settle for Jose Contreras.  I imagine Contreras is starting to seem a bit more attractive to teams because they haven’t seen him pitch for a few months.

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