Flexible Payroll For Giants?
New Giants managing partner Bill Neukom explained yesterday that his team is using an $80MM payroll as a placeholder, and GM Brian Sabean has been instructed to present him with several plans to field a competitive team in 2009. He would not rule out large contracts for players such as C.C. Sabathia or Mark Teixeira.
Neukom added that he will decide whether to keep Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy around after next season. Andrew Baggarly has the full transcript of Neukom’s comments here.
Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Hardy, Manny
Let’s take a look at Jon Heyman’s column from yesterday.
- The Yankees will go "all in" for C.C. Sabathia. Heyman sees the Dodgers, Mets, and Giants as other possible suitors.
- Heyman dismisses a rumor of J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, and another player for Matt Cain.
- He predicts a "feeding frenzy" for Hardy. I’m with Heyman though, I wouldn’t be quick to trade him this winter.
- Heyman talked to a GM who feels the Mets will go after Boras client Manny Ramirez. If the five-year demand is accurate, the list of suitors will probably shrink significantly.
- Manny quote: "I gotta thank Scott for bringing me to L.A." Hmmm.
Astros Rumors: Sabathia, Wolf, Hawkins
Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle has the lowdown on the Astros.
- Again the word "tweak" is thrown around in regard to the Astros’ offseason. So I would not expect a major signing or trade.
- Regarding C.C. Sabathia, owner Drayton McLane said, "That might be way out of our league."
- The Astros will try to re-sign Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins. It would still make sense to sign a starter if Wolf is retained. GM Ed Wade has flexibility to go past last year’s $90MM payroll.
- The ‘Stros will apparently go with internal options in center field. At catcher, they’ll look for someone to complement J.R. Towles. Pretty much all the catchers out there are short-term options anyway.
Odds and Ends: Mets, Royals, Sabathia
Links for Monday:
- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio wants to extend GM Doug Melvin beyond 2009.
- Royals GM Dayton Moore recognizes that his team has to win now. "We’re at a point now where you will never, ever hear me say again that we have young players who are improving. You will never, ever hear me say again that we are rebuilding. That stuff is over. I’m sick of all that."
- At Sabernomics, JC Bradbury examines what C.C. Sabathia will command on the market. Conclusion: six years and $144 million. Will any team go that high, though?
- Jim Callis reveals the 2009 MLB amateur draft order. The Nats pick first for having the worst record, and 10th for failing to sign Aaron Crow. The Mariners slot at 2 and 22, though they could lose the 22nd pick if they sign Josh Fields. The Yankees pick 26th and 31st, the latter for missing out on Gerrit Cole.
- Ken Davidoff looks at the Mets’ sunk costs.
- Jon Heyman tackles some Mets issues, too, including their interest in Manny Ramirez, and their thoughts on a few players who might play better outside of New York. The trick, of course, is convincing other GMs that this is the case.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Sabathia, McLouth, Fuentes
Here’s a look at the latest column from Ken Rosenthal.
- Rosenthal puts odds for various teams to sign C.C. Sabathia, with the Yankees, Angels and Red Sox on top.
- Rosenthal wonders whether the White Sox will consider trading Jermaine Dye for a starting pitcher, moving Carlos Quentin to right field, and acquiring an athletic center fielder somehow. The goal would be a more athletic club. The Sox will also look to add a second baseman, moving Alexei Ramirez to shortstop. I’m not sure if something as long-term as Orlando Hudson makes sense, though.
- The Pirates wouldn’t trade Nate McLouth for Robinson Cano, and won’t trade McLouth at all unless some team overpays.
- If the Orioles don’t reach an extension with Brian Roberts, he’ll go on the trading block.
- Rosenthal sees Brian Fuentes asking for Brad Lidge-type money, three years and at least $37.5MM. Pretty steep, but still half of K-Rod’s price.
- The Rangers "made a big offer" for Zack Greinke in July, and the Braves are also fans. But the Royals will need to be bowled over to move him.
Sabathia Open To All Teams
All kinds of quotes from C.C. Sabathia this evening, as the Brewers were eliminated by the Phillies. Sources: MLB.com, the AP, and SI.com’s Jon Heyman.
Sabathia will consider all interested teams, and isn’t focused on California:
All those who say I only want to go back to California to play, that’s not true.
Sabathia on New York:
I like it there, but we’ll have to see what direction the teams are going and would my family be uncomfortable being on a whole other coast? We’ll have to see.
He won’t be touring the country, and doesn’t want the process to drag out:
I want to get it done pretty quick. I try to be as less free as possible. All that is is stress, having it drag on through the winter. I can guarantee you I won’t be flying around going to different cities. I’ve pretty much been to every city. I’ve got a lot of friends around the league. They’re going to have to come to me.
Heyman says the Brewers will be in on Sabathia, and are willing to exceed $100MM. Sabathia enjoyed his time in Milwaukee and the NL quite a bit.
Olney’s Latest: Sabathia, Ellis, Embree, Giles
Buster Olney brings the rumors:
- If the Yankees want CC Sabathia, they will not lose in any bidding war now that a new ballpark puts them in the position to "throw unlimited dollars" at CC. Unless CC wants to play in the NL, or avoid the media circus of New York City, Olney seems convinced the Yankees will land him.
- The A’s have begun contract negotiations with Mark Ellis. No details yet.
- Before the trade deadline, no teams expressed interest in Alan Embree and his $2.25MM salary. This could indicate that the A’s will not pick up his $3MM option. The 38 year old lefthander struggled with a 4.96 ERA this season.
- The Padres are going to pick up Brian Giles $9MM option at the deadline, shortly after the World Series, rather than buy him out for $3MM. This was expected.
Indians Choose Brantley In Sabathia Deal
According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Indians have chosen 21 year-old outfielder Michael Brantley to complete the C.C. Sabathia trade.
Heading into the season, Baseball America saw Brantley as a "fourth outfielder who can be a useful pinch-hitter." Brantley proceeded to hit .319/.395/.398 in Double A.
Will Brewers Try To Sign Sabathia?
Back in July, most writers assumed the Brewers would not sign C.C. Sabathia after the season. However, ESPN’s Buster Olney is saying there’s a chance:
Others in the Brewers’ organization say Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio will try to make it very difficult for Sabathia to leave — maybe to the point of risking a colossal mistake.
You have to figure the Brewers will at least make their best offer to Sabathia. They’ll get a shot at him before he hits the open market – before the bidding war.
If the Brewers let Ben Sheets and Eric Gagne leave, that’s $21MM right there. Guillermo Mota clears another $3.35MM. Non-tendering Chris Capuano would wipe out another $3.75MM. That is $28MM off the books for C.C. in ’09. A six or seven-year deal for Sabathia would surely hamper the Brewers down the road, but it cannot be ruled out.
Odds and Ends: Lowe, Redmond, Timlin
Linkage for Friday…
- River Ave. Blues discovered that Mike Mussina‘s wife may be a bigger factor than we thought in regard to his retirement decision.
- David O’Brien tosses out some names for the Braves to consider: Derek Lowe, Matt Cain, Roy Oswalt, and Josh Willingham. Everyone likes Lowe…Anthony McCarron says the Yankees and Mets should consider him. Those clubs could also enter a bidding war for C.C. Sabathia, says Bob Klapisch. Will C.C.’s postseason record diminish his contract? I don’t think so.
- Greg Couch doesn’t want Javier Vazquez pitching for the White Sox again. Maybe Ozzie is right, Vazquez is not a big-game pitcher. But why say that publicly?
- Joe Christensen seems certain the Twins will exercise Mike Redmond‘s $950K option.
- Chris Carpenter‘s shoulder injury is unprecedented among pitchers. Do the Cardinals need to add veteran rotation insurance? Speaking of unprecedented procedures…Takashi Saito had platelet-rich plasma injected into his elbow in July.
- Joe Starkey thinks the Pirates should…non-tender Adam LaRoche?
- Mike Timlin could retire.
- Huge E-Ticket Manny Ramirez feature from Bill Simmons, wherein Scott Boras is blamed for his Boston exit. Good read.