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Heyman’s Latest: Gillick, Pedro, Dempster, McLouth

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Here’s a look at the latest column from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

  • Heyman is hearing "scuttlebutt" that GM Pat Gillick may not leave the Phillies after all.
  • Theo Epstein’s new deal is worth about $7MM over three years, which might be highest among GMs.
  • Pedro Martinez’s agent insists Pedro will pitch next year.  In May, Martinez said he wanted to pitch two or three more years a couple days after suggesting retirement was an option.
  • Moises Alou is undecided on 2009.
  • Cubs GM Jim Hendry expects to re-sign Ryan Dempster after the season.
  • Heyman says the Yankees "will likely make a big play" for Nate McLouth.  The Pirates center fielder is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, meaning he’s under team control for three more seasons.  McLouth’s defense does not rate well (-21) under the previously discussed plus/minus system.  Carlos Gomez is tops among CFs at +16.  Rumored Yankees target Matt Kemp is a +1.

Odds and Ends: Patterson, Lowry, Alvarez

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Today’s linkage…

Pedro Alvarez Grievance Resolved

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5:47pm: Alvarez’s contract is signed.

3:26pm: MLB just issued a press release…the dispute has been resolved.  Alvarez and Eric Hosmer are free to play ball.

10:06am: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pedro Alvarez and Scott Boras are in downtown Pittsburgh this morning.  The union’s grievance might be dropped today (testimony has been postponed), and Alvarez should take his physical and sign the contract soon.

A few questions to ponder.  If Alvarez wins ROY in 2010, will all be forgiven in Pittsburgh?  And will the Pirates be willing to use their early first-round pick next year on a Boras client?

Odds and Ends: Santos, Blalock, Lo Duca

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Let’s dig through today’s rumor bin…

Pedro Alvarez Details

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Jim Callis of Baseball America and Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have all kinds of details on the Pedro Alvarez situation.

  • After Bud Selig testified on the first day of the hearing, Scott Boras and the Pirates got in touch (it’s not known who broke the ice).  The Pirates renegotiation doesn’t look great for president Frank Coonelly, who was publicly against the idea.
  • Callis implies that MLB and the Pirates may have made a calculated move by finishing the Alvarez deal after the deadline.  Maybe Boras and Alvarez aren’t the villains here, after all.  Unlike the Julio Borbon signing in ’07, the Pirates didn’t contact the players union for approval of the extension.  Hopefully Alvarez is given a fair shake by baseball fans. 
  • Callis considers the new deal an improvement for Alvarez and Boras, despite the present-day value of $5.67MM.  The Pirates save face with the lower number, but ultimately it looks like Boras and Alvarez won this battle.

Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Roberts, Cain

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Here’s a look at the latest column from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

  • One "Yankees person" believes it will take "crazy money" to convince C.C. Sabathia to pitch in New York and in the American League.
  • The following three names are being bandied about in the Yankees’ clubhouse for center field next year: Nate McLouth, David DeJesus, and Matt Kemp.  DeJesus seems the most reasonable target, though Robinson Cano could be part of a package for Kemp.  DeJesus, it should be noted, played a poor center field this year according to the plus/minus system.
  • Heyman doesn’t see the Yankees re-signing Jason Giambi or Bobby Abreu due to defensive concerns.
  • Heyman says the Brewers’ efforts to acquire Brian Roberts were more under the radar than the Cubs’.  GM Doug Melvin admitted Roberts’ name came up last spring, as the Orioles "were wanting to get [the Brewers] involved."
  • Heyman speculation…could the Giants send Matt Cain and another player to Milwaukee for Prince Fielder, and then sign Sabathia?  Or could the Rockies jump into the bidding for C.C.?

Pedro Alvarez Agrees To New Deal

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1:08pm: Kovacevic has more.  He says talks have begun toward resolving the grievance filed by the players union.  He also indicates Alvarez has yet to take his physical.  Meanwhile the Royals hope this means they can get Eric Hosmer back out on the field soon.

8:42am: Good news for Pirates fans – top draft pick Pedro Alvarez agreed to terms on a new contract with the Pirates.  It’s a four-year Major League deal worth $6.355MM, with a couple of option years after that.  The union’s grievance may no longer be an issue. 

Dejan Kovacevic says that with interest and inflation Alvarez is getting around $5.67MM (less than the $6MM minor league deal he originally signed). On the other hand, Alvarez will now be added to the 40-man roster. 

On deadline day, Alvarez and other players did not receive big league deals partially because the two parties no longer had time to conduct a physical.  I’m wondering if the Pirates and Alvarez met up and did this recently.  And when did they find the time to do this post-deadline renegotiation?  I’m surprised it was allowed.

Pirates Rumors: Wilson, Sanchez, LaRoche

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More Pirates stuff courtesy of Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

  • Shortstop Jack Wilson played very little since breaking a finger on August 31st, but he wanted a plate appearance in front of the die-hard season ticket crowd yesterday at the team’s final home game.  Wilson received a standing ovation, with fans knowing his Pirates career may end with a trade this winter.  Kovacevic says Wilson is a "highly likely trade target," while GM Neal Huntington insists he is not trying to trade his shortstop.  He will definitely listen though.
  • Kovacevic adds Freddy Sanchez as a trade candidate, but feels Adam LaRoche will stay put.  If the Bucs move both middle infielders, they could have a $30MM payroll in ’09.

Perrotto’s Latest: GMs, Angels, Offseason Moves

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John Perrotto at Baseball Prospectus has his Every Given Sunday column up, let’s take a look at what he has to say:

  • Perrotto believes that there’s a good chance that the only GM change baseball will see this offseason may be the one we already know about, as Pat Gillick has already announced his retirement. Perrotto cites Assitant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. as a likely replacement. The most likely other change is in Seattle, and cites Dodgers’ Assistant GM Kim Ng as a possible replacement, which would make her the first female general manager in the game’s history. Perrotto believes Cashman and the Yankees will work something out, though notes that if Cashman leaves, he will ascend to the top of both the Mariners’ and Phillies’ lists.
  • Angels’ owner Arte Moreno says that the 2009 club will not exceed the current $123MM payroll. This leaves the Angels with hard decisions on Mark Teixeira, Francisco Rodriguez, Garrett Anderson, Juan Rivera, and Jon Garland. Of all those options, I see Teixeira as the top priority, as well as the most likely to return. Garland and Rivera seem like certainties to be gone, with Garland being one of the more appealing starters on the free agent market.
  • The Robinson Cano trade rumors continue, as Perrotto expects the Yankees to make a run at Orlando Hudson. Giving up on Cano seems like a mistake to me, but he certainly hasn’t lived up to the expectations he set when he nearly won a batting title in 2006. The Yankees are also not likely to re-sign Jason Giambi or Bobby Abreu.
  • The Tigers feel they have a good chance at re-signing Freddy Garcia for 2009. Garcia could potentially be a nice rebound candidate in a rotation that desperately needs help. Perrotto mentions that Detroit has considered Derek Lowe as a possibility, but I don’t see how that could work with the Tigers trying to cut payroll at the same time. One thing seems certain: Kenny Rogers will not be pitching for Detroit in 2009.
  • The White Sox have removed the nameplate from Joe Crede’s locker. Doesn’t seem like he’ll be back in 2009, not that that’s necessarily a new revelation.
  • The Royals/Jeff Francouer rumors continue in Perrotto’s column. It’s been written all over the site, but doesn’t it seem like the Royals should actually be pursuing people who have a career OBP that isn’t lower than several good hitters’ career average?
  • The Giants are willing to trade Matt Cain for a solid power hitter in return. Again, I think keeping a rotation headed by Cain and Tim Lincecum for the next few years is a far better option than trading Cain.
  • The Pirates have said that the only guarantee for their rotation next season is Paul Maholm. It’s been a rough season for Ian Snell, but I don’t see why he wouldn’t be guaranteed a spot as well, unless they’re not positive he’ll still be with the club.
  • The Mariners will likely non-tender Erik Bedard, completing the downward spiral on what has been one of the worst trades in recent history. Bedard will have shoulder surgery and likely miss a good portion of 2009.
  • Speaking of disappointing moves: Both Greg Maddux and Kosuke Fukudome are in danger of being left off their respective teams’ postseason rosters.

Olney’s Latest: Cardinals, Snell, Milledge, Maine, Fuentes

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Buster Olney’s latest offering is packed full of links:

  • Bernie Miklasz notes that the Cardinals have only three starting pitchers (Adam Wainwright, Todd Wellemeyer, and Joel Pineiro) locked up for next year (he’s not expecting Chris Carpenter to contribute in 2009), and no prospects waiting in the wings. His solution? Pry open owner Bill DeWitt’s wallet, "and please, no el cheapo deals for rehabbing pitchers, medically risky pitchers, broken-down pitchers."
  • The Pirates have it a little bit tougher. According to pitching coach Jeff Andrews, it consists of Paul Maholm and "a blank sheet." Here’s one vote for adding Ian Snell, "on the verge of becoming the best right-handed pitcher to come from Delaware since World War I," according to DelwareBaseball.com, who sponsors his Baseball Reference page.
  • According to GM Jim Bowden, the Nationals will explore ways to upgrade their defense for 2009, including the possibility of moving Lastings Milledge from center field back to a corner spot. Left fielder Elijah Dukes could move to center.
  • Despite going through a difficult divorce, Padres’ owner John Moores is not planning on selling the team—which he bought because of his soon-to-be ex.
  • The Mets seem to be rushing John Maine back from the DL in an attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive.
  • Dave Krieger is amazed that the Rockies aren’t doing anything to try and keep free-agent closer Brian Fuentes.

Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and Umpbump.

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