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Eric Chavez

Dodgers Nearing Deal With Marcus Thames

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The Dodgers are on the verge of signing free agent outfielder Marcus Thames, baseball sources tell MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.  However, the club declined to confirm that a signing of the 33-year-old is close.  Thames would provide the Dodgers with right-handed power and could platoon with Jay Gibbons in left field.

Sources say that the Dodgers are also looking at veterans Eric Chavez and Gabe Kapler as they search for a power bat.  The front office also is thinking about moving Matt Kemp from center field to right, Andre Ethier right field to left, and Tony Gwynn starting in center field.  That alignment would help fortify the Dodgers' defense but Gwynn must perform well at the plate in Spring Training in order to make that a possibility.

 

Eric Chavez Works Out For Blue Jays

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Eric Chavez recently worked out for the Blue Jays, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The 33-year-old has been doing hitting, running and fielding drills for interested teams in Arizona and at least one talent evaluator likes what he has seen from the six-time Gold Glover.

"He's going to have a chance to go to somebody's camp," a scout told Crasnick. "He's moving around pretty good."

The Dodgers and Mariners have also expressed interest in Chavez this offseason. He hit .234/.276/.333 in 123 plate appearances last year before hitting the disabled list with neck spasms.

Chavez has seen his seasons end early in each of the last four years and he has five stints on the disabled list over the course of the last four campaigns. The 13-year veteran had five surgeries over a 22-month span from September, 2007 to June, 2009.

If Chavez is healthy, he could allow the Blue Jays to keep Jose Bautista in right field and Aaron Hill at second base. Both players have said they're willing to play the hot corner if necessary. Edwin Encarnacion, who played third for the Blue Jays last year, will return as a first baseman/DH, the team has said.

Eric Chavez To Work Out With Dodgers, Two AL Clubs

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Eric Chavez will work out with the Dodgers on January 20, and has two other private workouts lined up with American League clubs, writes Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  The AL teams aren't named, but Slusser says the A's aren't one of them, and specifies that the Dodgers are the only southern Californian team in the mix.  (Twitter link)  We heard last month that Seattle had "checked in" on Chavez, so they could be one of the two mystery teams.

The Dodgers were rumored to have an interest in bringing Chavez in for a workout.  They fit Chavez's preference to remain in southern California and Slusser notes that Chavez has spoken to Don Mattingly.  The left-handed hitting Chavez could be a nice platoon partner with incumbent Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake, a right-handed hitter who only managed a .663 OPS against right-handed pitching last season.

The big question, of course, is Chavez's health.  He has undergone two back surguries and three shoulder surguries in his career and he has played in just 64 games since July 26, 2007.  Chavez told Slusser that his "throwing has been unreal" in workout sessions at the Athletes' Performance center in Arizona (which is of particular interest given Chavez's Gold Glove defense in his prime) but he "needs to see live pitching to judge the hitting accurately."

M’s Interested In Harden, Zaun, Chavez, Matsui, Cust

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11:16pm: The Mariners are also interested in Rich Harden, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link).

5:28pm: The Mariners are interested in a number of free agents, including two players whose 2010 seasons ended prematurely because of injury. Gregg Zaun, who is on the Cardinals' radar, has caught the Mariners' attention. The team will meet with his agents tonight or tomorrow, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times (on Twitter).

Like Zaun, Eric Chavez spent much of the 2010 season on the disabled list. The Mariners have checked in on the longtime Athletic, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).

In addition to Zaun and Chavez, the Mariners are interested in Hideki Matsui and Jack Cust as DH options, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

Eric Chavez Attempting Comeback

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We know Eric Chavez has pondered retirement, but his agent Scott Leventhal told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald the third baseman hopes to play in 2011.  Chavez is having strenuous workouts five days a week at Athletes Performance in Arizona and Leventhal says he's "completely healthy."  Chavez, 33 next month, has endured two back surgeries and three shoulder surgeries in his career.  Recently he dealt with bulging discs in his neck.

The Dodgers are one team that has considered asking Chavez to work out for them, reports Silverman.

Odds & Ends: Indians, Jeter, Ellis, Giants, Chen

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Happy 92nd birthday to one of baseball's all-time great pitchers, Bob Feller.  "Rapid Robert" piled up 266 wins and 2581 strikeouts in his Hall of Fame career.  In tribute to Feller, it's only appropriate that we start this batch of news items with something from Cleveland…

  • Infielder Drew Sutton is eligible for free agency after being outrighted to Triple-A by the Indians, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  The article notes that Andy Marte is expected to be removed from the Cleveland roster before the Rule 5 draft deadline.  Also from Hoynes (via Twitter), the Phillies claimed shortstop Carlos Rivero on waivers from the Tribe.  Rivero has a .676 OPS in 2156 minor league plate appearances, none above the Double-A level.
  • Hal Steinbrenner's recent comments about the Derek Jeter talks strike ESPN's Buster Olney "as if he's preparing the NYY fans for an ugly Jeter negotiation" (Twitter link).
  • Now that the A's have exercised Mark Ellis' option for 2011, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that the team will look into an extension for the veteran second baseman.
  • Buster Posey and Brian Wilson are the key reasons why the Giants have a chance to win another World Series, says Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com.  "How many teams can say, right now, they have zero interest in upgrading at the need-to-have positions of catcher or closer?", Morosi asks.  He cites just the Phillies and Twins, and even those two clubs come with question marks.
  • Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com thinks the Giants should sign Eric Chavez to a minor-league contract.  (Twitter link)
  • Bruce Chen wants a multiyear deal but the Royals are "unlikely" to make the left-hander such an offer, tweets The Kansas City Star's Bob Dutton.
  • It could be a bad omen for David Ortiz's $12.5MM option that another slugging DH (Vladimir Guerrero) had his $9MM option for 2011 declined by Texas earlier today, writes Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
  • Tampa Bay added Elliot Johnson to its 40-man roster, tweets Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.  Without the move, Johnson would've become a free agent.  Johnson had a breakout minor league campaign in Triple-A last season, posting a .319/.375/.475 line and winning the International League MVP award.
  • In response to a fan mailbag question about Adam Dunn, MLB.com's Bill Ladson warns about the dangers of the Nationals offering a long-term deal to a defensively-challenged slugger.  He points out how fans were also wishing the Nats signed Alfonso Soriano to an extension, but in hindsight Washington made the right move.
  • Nationals right-hander Collin Balester is looking for members to join his 'Movember' team.  Click here to sign up and join Balester in raising money and awareness in the fight against prostate cancer.

Odds & Ends: Hill, Sampson, Butler, Lewis

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On this day in 1977, Sadaharu Oh hit his 756th career home run, passing Hank Aaron for the (known) all-time professional record.  It's just the 'known' record since we don't know for sure how many homers Josh Gibson hit in the Negro Leagues.  Oh finished his Japanese career with a whopping 868 long balls. 

Some news items…

  • Andrew Stoeten of the Drunk Jays Fans blog and The Toronto Sun's Bob Elliott both recently outlined the Blue Jays' upcoming decision about Aaron Hill's 2012-14 club option years.  If the Jays decline to exercise all three options at once by next Opening Day, Hill can no longer be retained by the team on his $10MM club option for 2014.  It's very likely that Toronto will pass on the three-years-at-once option and then look at Hill's $8MM options for 2012 and 2013 after next season.  In short, Hill's lackluster play this year has cost him $10MM thus far.
  • Chris Sampson has accepted his minor league assignment from the Astros and will report to Triple-A Round Rock, tweets Alyson Footer of MLB.com.  Sampson could've opted for free agency, but will instead finish the season in Houston's system and pursue free agency in the offseason.
  • If Eric Hosmer continues to develop, ESPN.com's Jason A. Churchill suggests that Kansas City might trade Billy Butler to avoid paying him a significant contract.  Butler is a first-time arbitration candidate this offseason and could make 10 times his current $470K salary in 2011.
  • Cleveland manager Manny Acta says that Jensen Lewis' future with the Tribe may depend on how he looks in relief outings this September, writes Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Lewis will reach arbitration for the first time this winter and is out of options, so he's a possible non-tender candidate.
  • In a reader chat, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News gave his opinion on such Rangers hot stove topics as Cliff Lee's future with the club and whom the Rangers might target in free agency this winter.
  • Brandon Boggs has cleared waivers and been assigned to Texas' Triple-A affiliate, reports MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez.  Boggs was designated for assignment on Tuesday.
  • Eric Chavez "is not ready to announce [his] retirement," tweets MLB.com's Jane Lee, but would consider a post-playing career of coaching or broadcasting (also from Twitter).
  • Blogger El Lefty Malo looks at how the Giants have gotten better at acquiring "band-aid" veterans.
  • Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall tells FOXSportsArizona.com's Jack Magruder that money will not be a factor in hiring the team's new general manager, but admits "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't an issue."
  • Alex Rodriguez's recent split with agent Scott Boras may have been influenced by advisers from the entertainment business and Rodriguez's "infatuation with Hollywood stardom," reports ESPNNewYork.com's Wallace Matthews.  Somewhere, Ari Gold is yelling at Lloyd to place a call on his behalf…

Eric Chavez Again Considering Retirement

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Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez is pondering retirement, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Chavez, who is trying to recover from two bulging disks in his neck, told the newspaper in an e-mail that he is considering calling it quits.

"I've pondered retirement," the 32-year-old said. "I'd lie if I said I didn't. The truth of the matter is that I don't know what I'm going to do."

Chavez has undergone two back surgeries and three shoulder surgeries in an effort to rejoin the A's.  His most recent setback occurred in May when he suffered a neck injury, one that he was determined to bounce back from.

The six-time Gold Glove third baseman was relegated to designated hitter this season where he hit .234/.276/.333 with one homer in 33 games.  According to Baseball-Reference, Chavez has earned more than $75MM in his career, thanks in large part to the six-year, $66MM extension he signed with Oakland in March of 2004.

Eric Chavez Hopes To Avoid Retirement

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MONDAY, 8:05am: Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that Chavez emphasized he is not retiring.  He'll attempt to rehab his neck injury.  Chavez has a pair of bulging discs; Slusser has more in her May 22nd blog post.

SATURDAY, 2:09pm: The recent neck injury suffered by Eric Chavez may force him to retire, the A's slugger told Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group (link goes to Twitter). 

However, in a follow-up tweet, Stiglich cautions that he has yet to hear from the team trainer and therefore it's hard to say if the injury is even season-ending.  Furthermore, Chavez says that he wants to return.  The longtime third baseman is hitting .234/.276/.333 in 123 plate apperances this season.

The 32-year-old is in the final year of a six-year, $66MM extension he agreed to in March of 2004.  Chavez will earn an additional $3MM when he is bought out of the 2011 season.   According to Baseball Reference, the California native has earned more than $75MM in his big league career.

Possible Destinations: Andruw Jones

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Was a better bargain than Andruw Jones signed this winter? The White Sox added him on a one-year deal worth $500K, and all he's given them so far is a batting line of .260/.360/.604. Meanwhile, the man patrolling his old Atlanta center field home, Nate McLouth, checks in at .167/.302/.271, and Gary Matthews Jr., who will make twice what Jones does from the Mets this year (and next year!), is hitting .152/.235/.196.

The problem is, this hasn't allowed the White Sox to move into contention. Thanks to a 14-20 start, combined with Minnesota's 22-12 beginning, Chicago is already eight games out, with Memorial Day still weeks away. So it may well be that the White Sox can, and should flip Jones to a contending team down the stretch. And that reasonable short-term deal means some of the smaller-market contenders are likely to be in the Jones sweepstakes.

What are some possible destinations?

  • Washington could be a good fit. Willie Harris is hitting just .182/.313/.418, and with Willy Taveras also getting outfield at-bats, so Jones could be a good fit for regular corner outfield time. The Nationals have several pitchers set to join the big league team, but little in the way of outfield prospects at the top of their system. For now, the Nationals say they're content with Harris and Roger Bernadina.
  • Cincinnati has seen Drew Stubbs struggle in center field so far; he's hitting just .196/.283/.321. It shouldn't be hard to convince Dusty Baker to play the veteran Jones over Stubbs, either. It's not clear that Jones is still an every day center fielder, but Chicago has already played him there four times in 2010.
  • The Padres have Kyle Blanks in left field, Tony Gwynn Jr. in center field, and Will Venable in right field. Of the three, only Blanks profiles as a top prospect, so the other two could be vulnerable to a Jones acquisition, should San Diego remain in the race.
  • With Eric Chavez and Jake Fox struggling, and Rajai Davis reverting to form, the Athletics could use Jones in either center field or at designated hitter to support an imposing starting rotation. The move sounds a lot like acquiring Frank Thomas, doesn't it?
  • And don't fall asleep on Seattle, either. Currently 6.5 games out, the Mariners have the talent to climb back into the race, but their DHs, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Sweeney, simply aren't hitting. Jones could also slot into left field.

One thing's for sure: those who believed Andruw Jones' career was over- a sad thing for anyone who saw him dominate baseball in his 20s- appear to have been premature.

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