White Sox Targeting Eckstein
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, shortstop David Eckstein is the #1 target of the White Sox this offseason. An Eckstein signing would then result in the team paying $300K to buy out Juan Uribe‘s $5MM option for ’08.
Eckstein signed a three-year, $10.25MM deal with the Cardinals after being non-tendered by the Angels in December of 2004. He’ll be 33 heading into the ’08 season, and injuries have been increasing over the years. Another three-year pact for $15-18MM would be fairly risky for the White Sox. Especially for a player whose value is tied so closely to his batting average.
A coworker of mine, Mike, mentioned that the Sox might be trying to assemble an all-grinder type team. They could conceivably have Eckstein, Darin Erstad, Jerry Owens, and Aaron Rowand in the lineup next year.
However, they won’t be signing Rowand if, as Cowley claims, he demands a contract similar to Torii Hunter‘s. Ken Rosenthal recently talked to an exec who set the floor for Hunter at 5/75, with 6/102 certainly within reach. I imagine the White Sox will top out with an offer around 3/33, a little more than Eric Byrnes received. I could be wrong though.
Padres Inquire On Eckstein
According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Padres have asked the Cardinals about impending free agent David Eckstein. They’d use him at second base. However, the Cardinals aren’t prepared to sell off parts after a recent winning streak.
Red Sox Scouting Eckstein?
UPDATE: A few Cardinal fans have emailed me, suggesting that Hrabosky’s comments about Eckstein may have been misconstrued as a trade rumor. Apparently he was just discussing scouting and how Eckstein was a talent from the Boston system. I have to be careful with broadcast rumors I did not hear myself; my aplogies.
Tonight, color commentator Al Hrabosky mentioned on the FSN Midwest broadcast that the Red Sox were scouting David Eckstein. Eckstein led off tonight in the Cardinals’ defeat of the Brewers.
Eckstein is hitting .298/.339/.362 this year for the Cardinals, not too far from career levels. He’s spent some time on the DL this year with back pain. The elfish 32 year-old is part of a weak free agent crop for shortstops that also includes Omar Vizquel, Juan Uribe, and Cesar Izturis (most likely).
The Red Sox, however, are locked in with Julio Lugo through 2010. Lugo hasn’t been hitting much in the past week but his bat finally came alive this month with an .875 OPS.
Eckstein Contract Talks Tabled
The Cardinals and David Eckstein would like to continue their relationship, but it sounds like Walt Jocketty will wait until after the season to hammer things out.
If Eckstein has a poor season and Jocketty lets him walk, the team’s options will be limited. There’s never a surplus at shortstop. If 25 year-old shortstop Brendan Ryan can stay healthy and have a big year at Triple A, he could inherit the job. Otherwise Jocketty will have anywhere from zero to three free agent options.
The Cubs and Sox have similar situations, as both have club options for around $5MM on their slick-fielding shortstops. Juan Uribe‘s option will probably be picked up but Cesar Izturis is a question mark. Omar Vizquel could be available, but the Giants have already met with his agent about an extension.
Most likely Jocketty will retain Eckstein, but the backup plan may have to be the trade market. Cristian Guzman, Miguel Tejada, Orlando Cabrera, Erick Aybar, Edgar Renteria, Ben Zobrist, and Clint Barmes could be options there.