Jack Wilson Staying Or Going?
Dejan Kovacevic and Rob Biertempfel both spoke to Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson recently. While the quotes gathered from each aren’t mutually exclusive, they don’t seem to gel when compared.
The main point of Kovacevic’s section on Wilson is that he would like to stay in Pittsburgh, mainly because of the change in management.
Biertempfel had an extended Q&A with Wilson. With him, Wilson speaks of a "very good possibility" this is his last season as a Pirate. The shortstop has been mulling over some kind of goodbye to Pirates fans at the last home game this year.
Wilson’s OPS was down to .641 on July 28th. But in 99 ABs since, Wilson hit .414/.474/.677 to raise his overall OPS to a more respectable .757. The hot streak might make the shortstop’s contract go down a little more easily for another GM. Wilson makes $6.5MM in ’08 and $7.25MM in ’09. He has an $8.4MM option for 2010 with a $600K buyout attached. Wilson can block trades to six clubs each year, but he told the Bucs in August he’d waive the clause for any trade. The Pirates were in negotiations with the Tigers at one point.
Pirates Fire Dave Littlefield
The reign of terror is over – the Pirates have fired GM Dave Littlefield. He’d been the team’s GM since July 31st, 2001 and his contract actually runs through 2008. A partial list of his bad moves is below.
- 1/2/02 – Agreed to terms with free-agent RHP Mike Williams on a two-year contract with a club option for 2004.
- 12/20/02 – Acquired RHP Matt Herges from the Montreal Expos in exchange for minor league pitchers Chris Young and Jon Searles.
- 1/31/03 – Designated RHP Bronson Arroyo for assignment.
- 7/22/03 – Acquired IF Jose Hernandez, minor league RHP Matt Bruback and a player to be named later from Chicago Cubs for 3B Aramis Ramirez, OF Kenny Lofton and cash considerations.
- 11/20/03 – Claimed off waivers: pitcher Matt Guerrier by Minnesota, pitcher Duaner Sanchez by Los Angeles.
- 12/16/04 – Acquired C Benito Santiago, along with cash considerations, from Kansas City in exchange for RHP Leo Nunez.
- 7/28/05 – Acquired Minor League INF J.J. Furmaniak from the San Diego Padres in exchange for C David Ross.
- 7/31/05 – Acquired OF Jody Gerut and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for OF Matt Lawton.
- 1/4/06 – Signed OF Jeromy Burnitz to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2007.
- 2/28/06 – Agreed to terms with SS Jack Wilson on a three-year contract extension (through the 2009 season) with a club option for 2010.
- 7/31/06 – Acquired OF Xavier Nady from the New York Mets in exchange for RHP Roberto Hernandez and LHP Oliver Perez.
- 2/1/07 – Signed RHP Tony Armas Jr. to a one-year contract, with a club option for 2008.
- 7/31/07 – Acquired RHP Matt Morris from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for OF Rajai Davis and a player to be named.
Draft picks:
- 2002 – Bryan Bullington at #1 overall (over B.J. Upton, Zack Greinke, Prince Fielder, Jeff Francis, Jeremy Hermida, Joe Saunders, Khalil Greene, Scott Kazmir, Nick Swisher, Cole Hamels, James Loney, Jeremy Guthrie, Jeff Francoeur, Joe Blanton, and Matt Cain).
- 2006 – Brad Lincoln at #4 overall (over Andrew Miller, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, Ian Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain)
I admit that showing only this stuff is not fair, hindsight is 20/20, and the Pirates had certain financial constraints. Littlefield made good deals and good draft picks too. However, these are the reasons he was fired as far as I can tell.
Pirates Could Trade Duffy
Remember Chris Duffy? Before the 2007 season began, fantasy leaguers looked at his September ’06 numbers (.336/.403/.458, 12 steals) and cast him as a possible 100 run, 50 steal leadoff man for the Bucs.
Indeed, Duffy entering ’07 with the Pirates’ starting center field job. He suffered a sore neck in Spring Training, but shook it off to post a respectable .350 OBP in April. He slumped in May and was moved to the #2 hole. Then in mid-June he sprained his right hamstring. That led to an ankle sprain later that month. Now he’s got a shoulder problem and may miss the rest of the season.
With Nate McLouth having a fine August and top prospect Andrew McCutchen coming on strong, Duffy’s window with the Pirates may have closed. According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are ready to move on from Duffy. The implication is that they’ll trade him.
Whenever young center fielders come available, the Marlins are always mentioned. Are the Fish still on the prowl for a center fielder? Most likely – the Miami Herald mentioned earlier this month that the team had casual internal discussions about moving Hanley Ramirez to center field, but the current plan is to keep him at shortstop.
Random Rumors And Signings
We have a bunch of rumor-related tidbits today, and for now I’ll put them into one post.
- There’s a mini-controversy afoot regarding Cubs lefty Will Ohman. Ohman has indicated that the Cubs have been letting him pitch while hurt, and the Cubs contend that he never visited the trainer. No matter who you side with, Ohman’s days in the organization are numbered.
- The Cubs indeed won the Scott Podsednik claim, but the White Sox want a legitimate prospect in return. I’ve heard Sean Gallagher mentioned. There’s not much time for posturing here as the teams probably have until today or tomorrow to make a trade. The White Sox were considered nontendering Pods last offseason, and he didn’t do anything this year that should’ve changed their mind. Ozzie Guillen even called him "unreliable" publicly. Kenny Williams should take what he can get and give the playing time to someone else.
- Casey Fossum‘s been released by the Devil Rays; he’ll hook on somewhere. The little lefty used to throw in the mid-90s with Boston. Not so much anymore, but he does boast one of the slowest curveballs you’ll find (slower than 50 mph). Back in ’03, the Red Sox offered him to Toronto for Kelvim Escobar, unwilling to give up Trot Nixon. He eventually went to Arizona in the Curt Schilling deal and later was traded to the Devil Rays for Jose Cruz Jr. Fossum’s battled shoulder woes for most of his career, having labrum surgery in ’06. He’s still only 29.
- The Rockies signed Elmer Dessens to a minor-league deal. They might have to throw the 34 year-old into the rotation for lack of better options.
- Carlos Silva wants to stay in Minnesota, and would sign at a discount before hitting the open market if the Twins are interested. Unfortunately, a discount for a Silva-type these days might be three years, $18MM. Jason Marquis‘s contract was something of a benchmark. If Silva backs it up to two years, $10MM, I can see the Twins going for it.
- Victor Zambrano now finds himself toiling for the Pirates’ Triple A affiliate.
Random Rumors: Erstad, Gagne, Podsednik
Here’s a smattering of random rumors.
- The Twins have tried and failed to acquire Mike Piazza, Jermaine Dye, and Kevin Mench. Instead of Dye, the White Sox offered up 33 year-old outfielder Darin Erstad, he of the .671 OPS. The Twins passed.
- Eric Gagne will apparently earn Type A status as a free agent, despite pitching only two innings in 2006. Rob Bradford has the details. This was apparently a big factor for the Red Sox in making the deal.
- The Chicago Sun-Times debunks a rumor that the Cubs are trying to trade for Scott Podsednik. How come I wasn’t told about this rumor previously? Who started it? I feel left out.
- The Pirates and Tigers are still talking about Jack Wilson. Apparently the deadline version of the deal died when the Bucs asked for Craig Monroe. Really? The deal died over that guy?
- Gordon Edes has a Major League source indicating that the Orioles are "the kind of team that might have interest" in Wily Mo Pena. That’s not the same as saying that they do have interest, however.
Jack Wilson Will Waive No-Trade Clause
Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson has a six-team limited no-trade clause, but he recently let the team know that he’ll waive it for any deal. Apparently he just wants out of Pittsburgh. Dejan Kovacevic isn’t sure if the team has placed him on waivers yet. But I’m sure they will and he should get through unclaimed. As far as I’ve read, almost every player in baseball is put on waivers in August just to mask those that the team is actually trying to trade. There’s no risk to this because you can pull a player back if he’s claimed.
Kovacevic says talks with the Tigers about Wilson are still ongoing. Bucco Blog had heard that Jair Jurrjens and Brent Clevlen were involved also.
Jack Wilson May Still Be Dealt
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported yesterday that the Tigers and Pirates continue to discuss shortstop Jack Wilson. Passing Wilson through waivers shouldn’t be a problem; no team would want his entire contract dumped on them. Kovacevic describes the current state of the deal:
"One source intimately familiar with the matter said that a deal was virtually done Tuesday and that the Pirates would receive two of Detroit’s top six prospects, including an unnamed pitcher ready to join the major-league staff. But the sides haggled on how much of Wilson’s contract the Pirates would pick up, the source added, and the delay was on."
Kovacevic’s report doesn’t mention it, but there has to be more going to Detroit than just Wilson. Probably one of the Pirates’ relievers, a group that was oddly retained at the deadline. Such an addition might compel the Tigers to take on most or all of Wilson’s contract. But who are the two prospects? Bucco Blog believes they’re starter Jair Jurrjens and outfielder Brent Clevlen, and Jake provides a scout’s take. Jake is not a fan of such a trade.
Personally I think Jurrjens would be a fantastic return on Wilson if he becomes a #3-4 starter one day. Clevlen seems a long shot to me to realize his potential. The two prospects might not become Pirates until after the season, as they might not pass through waivers.
Pirates Acquire Matt Morris For Rajai Davis, PTBNL
UPDATE: This was a pure salary dump – the Bucs are paying the entire contract. Why, Dave? Why? Props to Sabean, but on June 1st he might’ve gotten a good prospect plus the same salary relief.
The Pirates have acquired Matt Morris from the Giants for outfielder Rajai Davis and a player to be named later. I’m guessing they just wanted salary relief, because Davis isn’t much more than a speedy reserve outfielder. Brian Sabean made this deal about a month and a half too late. Morris had a 2.56 ERA in June 11th.
The Pirates seem to be trying that strategy that didn’t work for Allard Baird – third-division club acquires third-division overpriced veterans to give the appearance of respectability. Maybe a few years from now they’ll catch on to the Dayton Moore model.
Tigers Could Acquire Jack Wilson
UPDATE: My source may have jumped the gun here, because talks are still ongoing.
UPDATE: An insider tells me Wilson has indeed just been traded, though he could not confirm the recipient or any details yet.
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson may be traded to the Tigers today. Wilson and his agent were getting phone calls about possible deals all day yesterday, making a trade seem likely.
The Tigers wouldn’t assume all of the $16.3MM Wilson still has coming to him through the 2009 season. But they might eat a larger portion of it if the Pirates throw in one of their relievers – Shawn Chacon, Damaso Marte, or Salomon Torres.
The plan: use Wilson as a middle infield defensive replacement this year and make him the starting shortstop next year, moving Carlos Guillen to first base.
Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press adds that Wilson has a limited no-trade clause, but would probably wave it to finally player for a winner. Wilson can only block trades to six teams anyway; not sure if the Tigers are one of them.
Healey’s Latest: Wilkerson, Marte
Gotham Baseball’s Mark Healey has a new post up with some good trade rumors:
- The Mets are talking to the Rangers about Brad Wilkerson, not Eric Gagne. This makes sense, as Wilkerson has hit lefties well this year and can play right field.
- The Mets are also talking to the Reds; could’ve been about Ken Griffey Jr. or David Weathers. From what we’ve heard, though, Weathers is not available. And would Junior approve a trade to the Mets? He vetoed a trade there once before.
- The Pirates want Alan Horne from the Yankees for Damaso Marte. Given that Brian Cashman didn’t seem to want to give him up for Gagne, I don’t see this happening.
- The Orioles are shopping Chad Bradford, but the Yankees aren’t allowed in the store.