Latest On Rios Negotiations
12:24pm: J.P. Ricciardi is optimistic the Rios extension will get done, and the two sides are pushing their deadline back a few days.
8:17am: According to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun, the holdup in the Alex Rios negotiations is the amount of money for the option year. It might be the salary or the buyout amount. Sounds like a minor stumbling block before completing the six-year, $65MM pact.
J.P. Ricciardi is cautiously optimistic; the Jays kick off their season in less than four hours. That is supposedly the deadline, but stretching it another day or two doesn’t seem like a big deal. The Jays are getting a solid price relative to other recently signed right fielders.
Odds And Ends: Quintero, Rios, Pierre
A few random notes from around the MLBiverse…
- Henry Schulman says the Giants are in need of a backup catcher and a logical choice may be Astros backup Humberto Quintero, whom Bruce Bochy is familiar with from his days with the Padres. He also notes that the Rays have two experienced catchers that were just reassigned to the minor leagues in Josh Paul and Mike DiFelice.
- The Jays and Alex Rios are closer today to an agreement on a long-term extension than they were yesterday. That according to Rios’ agent, Paul Kinzer. Yesterday it was reported that the Jays had offered a six-year, $65MM deal. No word yet on what any new offers might look like. Kinzer reasserted that a deal needs to be done by tonight or negotiations will be put off until after the season.
- Bobby Kielty initially accepted his demotion to Pawtucket, but he is now having second-thoughts and will wait a few days to see if any other teams are interested in a switch-hitting outfielder. With all the rumors swirling recently about teams in need of outfield help, I have to believe that Kielty will land a major league gig. PECOTA projects a line of .253/.331/.418 based on 159 plate appearances and Kielty can play all three outfield spots.
- The Dodgers made it official today, giving Andre Ethier the left field job. This puts one more nail in the coffin of one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory. The move means that Juan Pierre will be a reserve, one year after signing a five-year, $44MM deal. The Dodgers will certainly look to trade Pierre, but will have to swallow a good portion of the $36.5MM remaining on the deal.
- A couple of big names have made major league rosters after only earning non-roster spring training invites prior to spring training. The Rockies have given a job to Scott Podsednik, while the Rays did the same with former Rookie-of-the-Year Eric Hinske. In fact, Hinske will start on Opening Day and will be the Rays’ right fielder against right handers to begin the season.
- Phil Sheriden notes that Adam Eaton was named the Phillies’ fifth starter, but that may not last long as Pat Gillick will certainly be looking for a better option. Sheriden feels that Gillick is much better at making moves in-season than during the offseason.
Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.
Jays Close To Long-Term Deal With Rios?
SATURDAY, 9:41am: The six-year, $65MM offer is on the table for Rios. If the sides can’t make a deal this weekend, the talks will be pushed until after the season.
TUESDAY, 11:57am: This deal remains close, but not done. The Jays have a firm Sunday deadline with their offer to Rios.
MONDAY, 11:02pm: Ken Rosenthal reports that the Blue Jays are nearing a long-term extension for right fielder Alex Rios. The six-year deal would cover two arb years and four of free agency, starting with the ’09 season. The amount would be around $65MM, apparently with a 2015 option for about $15MM. The Vernon Wells-Rios outfield tandem would be together through 2014 at least.
It seems like a discounted price for Rios, who is only 27. He’s an above average hitter for his position, and may play the best right field defense in the game. Those last two arb years may have cost the Jays $20MM going year to year. So it’s kind of like buying out Rios’ first four years of free agency at a reasonable $11.25MM per. Right fielders Kosuke Fukudome and J.D. Drew received higher average annual values on their deals.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Gross, Weaver, Encarnacion
Ken Rosenthal is on the scene with some new rumors.
- Astros president Tal Smith arguing other teams’ arbitration cases. Rosenthal finds it a bit awkward, while Keith Law finds it to be a hilarious conflict of interest.
- Possible trades of Matt Murton to the Padres or Rangers seem to have fizzled. The Padres may turn to the Brewers’ Gabe Gross, a player who previously caught the eye of the A’s, Indians, and Braves. Our good friend PECOTA sees a .267/.366/.467 line from Gross this year. With Gross and various veteran starters, the Brewers have some surpluses to work with.
- Rosenthal believes the Cardinals’ interest in Jeff Weaver to be not especially serious. They’ve got in-house candidates to start, and Matt Clement needing some time is not a revelation.
- We’ve read about extension possibilities for Matt Capps and Alex Rios. To that mix, Rosenthal adds Edwin Encarnacion. The Reds might want to do it now; he seems primed for a big year.
Jays To Talk Long-Term Deal With Rios
Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail spoke to Alex Rios‘ agent Paul Kinzer today. Blair learned that Kinzer will meet with Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi early this week to talk about a long-term contract extension. Rios recently agreed to a $4.835MM contract for ’08. Rios, eligible for free agency after 2010, seeks at least a three-year extension (buying out one or more years of free agency).
Rios, 27, hit .297/.354/.498 for the Jays in ’07. The average AL right fielder hit .288/.359/.465 by comparison. Additionally, the Fielding Bible’s panel of experts ranked Rios as the best defensive right fielder in all of baseball, ahead of Austin Kearns. Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA system projects a decline to .280/.339/.468 for Rios in ’08.
I was thinking Michael Cuddyer‘s extension could serve as a framework, but Rios’ status as a SuperTwo player throws off the comparison. Jeremy Sandler of the National Post wrote on January 15th that Rios might command a four-year, $40MM deal to buy out his arb-eligible years and first of free agency. So maybe now a three-year, $35MM extension would do the trick.
Sabean Takes Lincecum/Cain Off The Table
The Aaron Rowand signing has led Brian Sabean to pull his young starters off the market (to the extent that they were ever available). Specifically, the idea of an Alex Rios for Tim Lincecum swap is dead.
The Giants are still looking for help at the infield corners and in the ‘pen. It’s hard to figure out what Sabean is doing – is he trying to win in 2008?
Giants Interested In Rowand, Fukudome
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has a few new tidbits concerning the Giants.
- They’re considering a late push for Kosuke Fukudome. Baggarly notes that Fukudome is expected to get at least 4/44. I think Fukudome makes a bit of sense for the Giants; he could be a draw.
- Baggarly says the Giants are in more heavily on Aaron Rowand. This makes less sense to me, as Rowand probably isn’t going to put butts in the seats. He is, however, going to require four or five years at $12-14MM per. Indeed, Buster Olney heard the Giants could be the one team willing to give Rowand five years. It would be a contract the Giants might regret. They’re not expected to be in contention until at least 2010.
- Nothing new on the Tim Lincecum for Alex Rios front. The general vibe, though, is that Brian Sabean will pass.
White Sox Like Alex Rios
What team wouldn’t like to have Alex Rios? Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times notes the White Sox’ interest, but admits that the Sox don’t really have what the Jays would want in return.
Not that the White Sox can spare pitching at all, but Javier Vazquez would be quite valuable as a trade chip. He earns a reasonable $34.5MM over the next three seasons, and he’s always healthy. Rios has another three years under team control also, though he’ll be significantly cheaper. If the Sox hadn’t traded Jon Garland, you could almost see this as a slight possibility.
Then again, if J.P. Ricciardi can get Tim Lincecum for Rios, more power to him.
Jays Waiting On Rios For Lincecum Offer?
UPDATE, 12-08-07 at 3:12pm: Brian Sabean spoke on the radio about making this decision within a few days; there’s even a rumor the Giants could pursue the Tigers’ Dontrelle Willis to replace Lincecum.
UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 12:17pm: George King talked to a Blue Jays source who said "there was nothing to reports the Giants were talking to Toronto about Alex Rios for Lincecum or Cain." Who’s right here, Blair or King?
FROM 12-5-07 at 11:36pm:
According to Jeff Blair, it’s in the Giants’ hands: Alex Rios for Tim Lincecum. A Jays official suggested to Blair that Brian Sabean might sit on this for a few weeks, mulling it over.
Blair says Sabean is hesitant because he’s scared of making a mistake of the same magnitude as his Liriano/Nathan move four years ago.
It’s easy to bash Sabean for that trade. But you should ask yourself – would you have bashed him at the time he made it?
The Giants and Hideki Matsui
As we learned earlier this week, the Giants and Yankees have talked about a Hideki Matsui trade. Let’s discuss.
- According to Andrew Baggarly, talks are still in the early stages but the teams will meet again soon on the topic. A source close to Matsui indicated that he’d waive his no-trade for San Fran. However, the Giants are said to prefer adding a right-handed slugger. Baggarly thinks the Giants would readily part with Jonathan Sanchez and Brad Hennessey, with Noah Lowry a possibility. The Giants won’t part with Brian Wilson, their closer of the future.
- Other notes from Baggarly – the Giants are over Miguel Tejada and were told Jay Bruce is untouchable.
- Pete Caldera says the Yankees like Lowry but considers a deal a long shot.
- Ed Price reports that Matsui’s agent hasn’t had a request about waiving the no-trade, and the agent won’t comment on Matsui’s willingness.
- Don’t expect the Giants to acquire both Alex Rios and Matsui. Tim Lincecum would stay if Lowry goes. At this same link Mark Feinsand notes that subtracting Matsui’s contract might create more flexibility to acquire Johan Santana.