Odds and Ends: Darvish, Giles, Teixeira
Today’s link roundup…
- I was a guest on Get Sports Radio yesterday to talk about the Reds. Click here to download an mp3 of the show.
- NPB Tracker notes that 21 year-old phenom Yu Darvish threw 165 pitches last night.
- GM Dave Dombrowski says the Tigers are definitely not sellers. They’re undecided on whether to buy or stick with internal options. The Tigers’ approach to the relief market may hinge on Freddy Dolsi‘s fatigued shoulder.
- Buster Olney says the Mets and Padres have discussed right fielder Brian Giles. He’d earn $11MM in ’09 if traded. However, Joel Sherman doesn’t think Giles is on the Mets’ radar.
- Learn about the PITCHf/x system in a Josh Kalk Q&A.
- D’Backs beat writer Nick Piecoro doesn’t think there’s much to the Mark Teixeira rumors.
- ESPN’s Keith Law isn’t impressed with Emilio Bonifacio. He’s also not a fan of the Cristian Guzman extension.
- RotoAuthority finds a Tim Lincecum–Johnny Cueto parallel for fantasy baseball players to consider.
Cristian Guzman Signs Extension With Nationals
According to the Washington Times, the Nationals signed shortstop Cristian Guzman to a two-year extension today for a reasonable $16MM. It’s a discount both in years and amount, based on comparable deals for shortstops. Nice signing by the Nationals.
Rosenthal’s Latest: K-Rod, Maddux, Wolf, Street
Rumor guru Ken Rosenthal is at it again.
- Angels GM Tony Reagins is doing his due diligence on available hitters. Rosenthal admits his own suggestion of a Mark Teixeira/Will Ohman blockbuster acquisition is unlikely.
- Rosenthal believes Francisco Rodriguez‘s expected asking price to be five years, $75MM. The Angels would not bite on that.
- Greg Maddux only wants to be traded to a West Coast team. He might accept a trade back to the Dodgers, if Ned Colletti and Kevin Towers want to go down that road.
- The Orioles would trade George Sherrill if someone wants to overpay. Tons of teams are looking for lefty relievers, and many are available. Rosenthal notes that the Orioles have plenty of players likely to clear waivers, making August trades quite possible.
- The Dodgers are apparently interested in Toronto shortstop John McDonald. Talks for Cristian Guzman and Jack Wilson have stagnated. An extension is more likely than a trade for Guzman.
- Randy Wolf and Cla Meredith are the most popular Padres in trade talks. Wolf’s no-trade clause doesn’t include the teams that like him, so that won’t be an issue. If the Friars were to move Kevin Kouzmanoff, they’d ask for a young outfielder back.
- Even with their second base surplus, the A’s want to sign Mark Ellis to an extension.
- A Milton Bradley deal is unlikely, but the Rangers are getting calls on Marlon Byrd and Nelson Cruz. In return, they might be looking for young starting pitchers.
- The Royals are said to be "actively shopping" Miguel Olivo and Mark Grudzielanek. However, it’s been suggested that the Royals might not have the catching depth to move Olivo.
- Rosenthal’s list of Huston Street suitors: Mets, White Sox, Dodgers, and Brewers.
Heyman’s Latest: Street, Durham, Holliday
SI.com’s Jon Heyman just posted a new column.
- The Brewers and White Sox inquired on A’s closer Huston Street. However, A’s GM Billy Beane said "there is nothing going on" in regards to Street. The Sox were linked to both Street and Jon Rauch today, so Kenny Williams is clearly monitoring the relief market.
- Heyman says the Rays have not discussed Street with the A’s, and the Dodgers "aren’t believed to be heavily involved."
- Heyman is on board with the recent rumors about Ray Durham and Jack Taschner possibly heading to Milwaukee.
- Heyman also confirms Ken Rosenthal’s report of the Phillies’ interest in Matt Holliday. He agrees that these talks have cooled, but notes a good relationship between GMs Dan O’Dowd and Pat Gillick. Gillick and O’Dowd have matched up for three deals, two occuring while Gillick worked for the Mariners.
- The Dodgers continue to consider shortstop a priority. Heyman wonders if Cristian Guzman would be a fit, especially if extension talks sour. Jack Wilson and David Eckstein are other possibilities.
Nationals Rumors: Guzman, Rauch, Holliday
MLB.com’s Bill Ladson has the goods on the Nationals.
- The Nationals are currently negotiating with Cristian Guzman‘s agent on a possible extension. Last month, the Nats proposed a two-year extension. It’s thought that Guzman might make some concessions given how little he gave the Nats in the first three years of his current contract. But if the two sides can’t reach an agreement soon, the Nats may choose to trade Guzman.
- Ladson also reports that the White Sox and Rays are scouting closer Jon Rauch. Rauch, you may recall, came up as a starter with the Sox and was traded to the Expos in ’04. Kenny Williams made that deal with Omar Minaya.
- Ladson’s source confirmed mild interest in Colorado’s Matt Holliday. Ladson notes Jim Bowden’s fondness for Adam Dunn as well. However, the source considers the infield a greater need for the Nats.
Molony’s Latest: Mahay, Loretta, Erstad, Guzman
Let’s check in with MLB.com’s Jim Molony.
- The Rays are scouting lefty relievers Brian Fuentes and Ron Mahay. The issue? The price for Fuentes seems exorbitant, and Mahay may not be available. Troy E. Renck names the Yankees, Mets, Cardinals, and Marlins as the main suitors for Fuentes aside from the Rays.
- A few contenders have inquired with the Astros as to the availability of Mark Loretta and Darin Erstad.
- As you might imagine, the Rangers are open to trading Frank Catalanotto. We mentioned yesterday that his contract is a bit of a burden.
- It seems that Jim Bowden is listening to offers for Cristian Guzman while also trying to sign him to an extension. From Guzman’s point of view, it might make sense to enter a weak shortstop market this winter.
- The Matt Capps injury apparently affects Damaso Marte‘s availability.
- The Marlins may make Mark Hendrickson available. The big lefty was replaced in the rotation by top prospect Chris Volstad.
Nationals Close To Signing Cristian Guzman?
FRIDAY, 12:43pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Nats "reportedly are close to signing" Guzman to a two-year extension.
Here’s the thing though – usually when a journalist says "reportedly" he or she means that the info comes from someone else’s published report. So maybe Rosenthal is just reading into the below MLB.com article about the Nats’ offer. Or, maybe he has his own source saying an agreement is close. I’m not sure.
WEDNESDAY, 7:28pm: According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals have offered shortstop Cristian Guzman a two-year extension. This comes as a surprise, as the two sides were expected to wait until after the season. Guzman, 30, is hitting .312/.334/.433 in 351 plate appearances.
Ladson once suggested Guzman might cut the Nationals a break since he was injured for much of his current four-year deal. Ladson says Guzman’s camp was not insulted by the team’s two-year offer.
There are only a handful of respectable shortstops in the next free agent class. Orlando Cabrera and Rafael Furcal are the main two.
Cristian Guzman To Wait On Contract Talks
MLB.com’s Bill Ladson has some info on impending free agent shortstop Cristian Guzman. Apparently there will be no extension talks with the Nationals until after the season, a decision made by both sides. Ladson’s source indicates that Guzman might be willing to cut the Nats a break since he was injured for much of his current four-year deal. That break might translate to a two-year contract.
We’ll see if Guzman still feels the same after the season. In my Free Agent Stock Watch post on Guzman, I mentioned him as a cheaper alternative to Rafael Furcal. Furcal is looking questionable, and Guzman should be popular. Will he really forego a third year out of gratitude to the Nationals?
Free Agent Stock Watch: Cristian Guzman
Time for the first edition of Free Agent Stock Watch. Today we’ll look at the rising stock of 30 year-old Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman, who is eligible for free agency after the ’08 season.
Jim Bowden was heavily criticized for signing the switch-hitting Guzman to a four-year, $16.8MM deal in November of ’04. He was considered an all-glove, no-hit player. Guzman was awful for most of ’05, though poor eyesight was suggested as one explanation.
Guzman then missed all of ’06 with shoulder surgery. The following season was cut short by hamstring and thumb problems. But since ’07 he’s been a surprisingly respectable hitter in a half-season of ABs. He may be the slightly more affordable alternative to Rafael Furcal and Orlando Cabrera next winter. If Guzman stays healthy and somehow posts an .800 OPS (with 90+ runs scored) he could be in line for a three-year, $21MM deal.
Nats Shopping Rauch For A Shortstop?
The Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga says the Nationals are listening on Felipe Lopez, as you might expect. However they’re hesitant to leave Cristian Guzman as the only person on the roster who can play shortstop. With that in mind, Jim Bowden is shopping Jon Rauch with at least one team in hopes of getting a shortstop. By the way, only one of Rauch/Cordero will get traded, if any.
Trying to think of Rauch scenarios. To the Cubs for Ronny Cedeno? To the Dodgers for Chin-Lung Hu? To the Red Sox for Jed Lowrie?