Stark On Pirates, Royals, Bedard, K-Rod
Pirates GM Neal Huntington told Jayson Stark of ESPN.com that he wants “to fight that mentality of, 'We're .500, so we're really on our way.'" Huntington points out that it takes years to develop an elite team and an elite farm system and says one season of .500 ball isn't going to satisfy the Pittsburgh front office. Here are the rest of Stark's rumors from around the league:
- People in the game suggest the Royals' decision to call Eric Hosmer up early may mean they intend to compete in the AL Central this year. Stark hears that the Royals will have money to spend in July if necessary (remember that Gil Meche retired instead of collecting the $12MM he was scheduled to earn).
- The Royals believe Triple-A pitchers Danny Duffy and Mike Montgomery are nearly MLB-ready, so GM Dayton Moore may talk about moving Kyle Davies and Jeff Francis within a few weeks. The Royals probably wouldn't get much for Davies, but Francis could draw interest.
- Erik Bedard could be an attractive trade chip this summer, but one NL executive says the left-hander needs to “prove he can log innings.” Tim Dierkes suggested a month ago that Bedard could have lots of appeal at the deadline.
- Left-hander Randy Flores can opt out of his minor league deal on Sunday if the Padres don't call him up from Triple-A. Cory Luebke is the lone left-hander in the Padres' 'pen at the moment, so they could consider calling on Flores instead of cutting him loose.
- Teams are still skeptical of Francisco Rodriguez, despite his 10 saves and 1.10 ERA. K-Rod has walked 10 of the 73 batters he has faced (16 1/3 innings).
- Stark points out that it's been a while since Giants GM Brian Sabean made win-now midseason trades that cost him top prospects.
Trade Candidate: David Wright
It seems a foregone conclusion that the Mets will trade at least one of their high-priced stars this summer. Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Francisco Rodriguez have been the most-rumored candidates to leave Queens, but all three players carry risk for any trade partner.
Beltran is under contract just through this year, he has a full no-trade clause and is coming off of two injury-plagued seasons. Reyes can also be a free agent this winter, so an interested team might not be willing to trade much of value for the shortstop unless it is given a negotiating window beforehand. Rodriguez has little value as a closer due to the vesting option that would guarantee him $17.5MM in 2012 if he finishes at least 55 games this year, and no team is desperate enough for a stopper at that price.
The Mets do have one asset that carries no baggage — David Wright. The third baseman is just 28 and signed to a contract that would pay him roughly $27MM between now and the end of the 2012 season, plus a $16MM club option for 2013 (with a $1MM buyout). Wright has indicated he wants to stay in New York and wouldn't ask for a trade.
Losing a homegrown star like Wright would be an unpopular move amongst Mets fans, but if Sandy Alderson is committed to a complete rebuild, moving Wright would be the last step, but also the most lucrative in terms of what the Mets could demand in return. Here are a few of the teams that would likely get in on the bidding if Wright became available…
- Angels. Alberto Callaspo has been the bulk of playing time at third for the Halos, with the hot-hitting Maicer Izturis seeing a few starts at third and at shortstop. Wright would certainly be an upgrade, the Angels could afford him, and they probably have the prospect depth to get the New York's attention. (Though Mike Trout is untouchable.)
- Athletics. It isn't Billy Beane's style to make a big deadline move, but with the AL West as tight as it is and Kevin Kouzmanoff having seemingly lost his starting job at third, the A's could decide their time is now and make an offer for Wright. If the quest for the playoffs came up short, Oakland might also try to flip Wright this winter.
- Cardinals. David Freese got off to a great start but he will be out for at least the next two months with a fractured hand. With the Albert Pujols negotiations looming this winter, St. Louis is pretty unlikely to pick up another big contract, though the argument could be made that Pujols would be more eager to stay if Wright was also in the lineup.
- Marlins. Florida is right behind the Phillies in the NL East despite a revolving door at third base. The Fish aren't known for adding big contracts, but with their new ballpark opening next season and a real shot at the playoffs, an exception could be made. That said, it's hard enough to imagine the Mets trading Wright at all, and almost impossible to see them moving their franchise player to a divisional rival.
- Rockies. Ian Stewart was sent to Triple-A after a 2-for-26 (.077) start to the season and was recalled on Tuesday after hitting well in the minors. It's possible Colorado could look for outside help if Stewart continues to struggle, since their veteran infield depth (Jose Lopez and Ty Wigginton) has also been ineffective.
- Tigers. Brandon Inge has started 29 of Detroit's 32 games this season and while his defense at the hot corner remains above average according to UZR/150, he has managed just a .551 OPS at the plate. Inge has been an underrated source of power for the last few seasons but he has just one home run in 2011. He signed a two-year extension last October so the Tigers would have to eat some money if they acquired another third baseman, but if Detroit gets back into the pennant race and still needs hitting help, Wright could look awfully tempting.
2012 Vesting Options Update
It's the final day of the month, so let's check the status of the various vesting options around the league…
- Bobby Abreu, Angels: $9MM option vests with 433 plate appearances. Abreu is more than a quarter of the way there already; he has 116 PA after today's game.
- Rafael Furcal, Dodgers: $12MM option vests with 600 plate appearances. Furcal came to the plate 28 times before breaking his thumb. He's going to miss another three to five weeks, so he's unlikely to see the option vest.
- Jon Garland, Dodgers: $8MM option vests with 190 innings pitched. Garland started the year on the disabed list and has thrown just 20 innings so far. He should still get there if he stays healthy.
- Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: $17.5MM option vests with 55 games finished and if doctors declare him healthy at the end of the season. K-Rod has finished eight games so far, but you have to think the club will use him in a way to prevent the option from vesting.
- Koji Uehara, Orioles: $4MM option vests with either 55 appearances or 25 games finished. Uehara has appeared in eight games and finished four, putting him on pace for 54 and 27, respectively.
- Arthur Rhodes, Rangers: $4MM option vests with 62 appearances and if he's not on the disabled list at the end of the season. He's appeared in eight games so far, putting him on pace for 50. Injuries to the some of his bullpen mates could increase Rhodes' workload though.
- Joakim Soria, Royals: $6MM option vests with 55 appearances. He's already appeared in 12 games and is on pace for 75.
- Dan Wheeler, Red Sox: $3MM option vests with 65 games; increases to $3.25MM with 70 games. Wheeler has appeared in just eight games so far, so he'll have to start seeing more time for the option to kick in.
Adam Wainwright's 2012 ($9MM) and 2013 ($12MM) options will not vest because he will finish the season on the disabled list. Aramis Ramirez's option depends on MVP Award finishes and whether or not he's traded, not plate appearances or another counting milestone.
Mark Buehrle is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2011 season and although he doesn't have a traditional option in his contract, he gets an extra year at $15MM tacked onto his current deal if he's traded at some point this season.
Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts for the info.
Rosenthal On Reyes, Rodriguez, Nationals, Orioles
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports brings us some interesting tidbits in this week's installment of Full Count..
- The Mets will not sign Jose Reyes to a monster contract similar to the one given to Carl Crawford (seven-years, $142MM). However, despite the Mets' financial troubles, keeping Reyes is not out of the question if he's willing to accept a shorter deal in the vicinity of three-years, $45-50MM. Reyes, if healthy, will get more than that on the open market but it's still not a sure thing that the club will deal him. They'll have to consider their position in the standings, how it would impact attendance, and what the return in a trade would be versus the high draft picks they would get if Reyes left via free agency.
- The Mets won't have to worry about Francisco Rodriguez finishing 55 games if they deal him to a club that would use him as a set-up man as opposed to a closer. The Rangers, for example, have Neftali Feliz (if healthy) to finish games. K-Rod can block deals to as many as ten clubs as part of his deal but the Mets, to facilitate this deal, would gladly pick up the $3.5MM buyout to get rid of him.
- Nationals manager Jim Riggleman is one of a handful of managers whose future is uncertain beyond this season. The club has yet to pick up his option for '12 even though most in the game say that the Nats are on the right track. Riggleman's agent told Rosenthal that he is hopeful that the club will either exercise the option or sign him to a multi-year deal by Father's Day.
- The Orioles collected a number of veterans on one-year deals thinking that, at the very least, they'd have trade chips at the deadline. General Manager Andy MacPhail & Co. may need to think again as Derrek Lee and Vladimir Guerrero have done very little at the plate and J.J. Hardy has missed most of the year with an oblique injury. All of this could change, but Rosenthal wonders if manager Buck Showalter and owner Peter Angelos would even approve of a sell-off.
Trade Candidate: Francisco Rodriguez
The season is but a few weeks old,and we've already seen a fair amount of upheaval at the closer's role. That's not unexpected, of course; each year seems to bring a slew of injuries and demotion-prompting ineffectiveness among the league's closers. With such a high turnover rate, many teams understandably prefer to turn over closing duties to cheaper guys – it's just better business. Still, the lure of relying on a top-tier, tested closer can be tough to resist for a contending team.
With the Mets in the early stages of what many project to be a rebuilding mode, Francisco Rodriguez makes for an intriguing potential trade candidate. He could probably be acquired without giving up much in return, but between his pricey 2012 option and limited (10 teams) no-trade clause, it won't be easy. The $17.5MM option for '12 will vest with 55 games finished (and if K-Rod's deemed healthy). That's an unsightly price tag for a closer and would be especially garish if the Mets aren't contending. If the option doesn't vest, K-Rod will get a $3.5MM buyout.
We've heard that the Mets won't allow K-Rod to finish that many games, but in his first six seasons as a full-time closer from 2005-10, K-Rod averaged 59 games finished. With eight appearances and six games finished in the Mets' first 22 tilts this season, he's on pace for 59 appearances and 44 games finished. Those figures, however, could be a bit skewed by the Mets' slow start.
As unattractive as that vesting option is for the Mets, it's equally, if not more, unattractive to a potential trade partner. Typically, a contending team that's acquiring a pending-free-agent closer would like to use the pitcher as often as necessary – and not have to worry about financial ramifications. As well, Rodgriguez's season ended prematurely in 2010 after injuring his hand in a clubhouse altercation with his father-in-law. That won't reflect well under "makeup" on those scouting reports.
Between the specter of the vesting option and Rodriguez's limited no-trade clause, it figures to severely limit his trade market. A savvy buyer, though, could look into acquiring him as a setup man/secondary closer so as to circumvent the games finished.
Whether the Mets can deal K-Rod remains to be seen, but his games finished – and option – bears watching regardless. He won't be the most sought-after closer out there, as that distinction belongs to Heath Bell. The market for Bell could be fierce, though, and he won't come cheaply, at least not for a while. But a reliever like K-Rod – a 2.49 career ERA and 272 saves – should garner some interest.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Olney On The Bullpen Market
Teams like the Yankees and White Sox are already encountering bullpen problems and it won’t be long before other clubs are looking for relief help as well. The Yankees aren’t optimistic about the current relief market, while Chicago’s search for an effective closer has manager Ozzie Guillen dreaming of Bobby Thigpen. As one GM points out to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, lots of teams will be looking for bullpen help this summer and lots of effective pitchers should eventually become available.
Unless Heath Bell takes a massive discount to stay in San Diego, Olney suggests the Padres will deal him. The White Sox should be considered the early favorites to land Bell, Olney says.
Jonathan Broxton, Francisco Rodriguez and the Blue Jays and Rays relievers could also become available this summer. Jose Valverde will probably stay in Detroit unless the Tigers fall far out of the race, but Michael Wuertz (now on the disabled list) could be on the block even if Oakland contends.
Heyman On Manny, Mets, Yankees, Dodgers
Jon Heyman of SI.com points out that despite all of his antics, Manny Ramirez earned more than any players other Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. And unlike Jeter and Rodriguez, Ramirez was not a well-rounded player. Here’s Heyman’s latest from around the league:
- There’s ‘growing suspicion’ that the Mets will look to trade veterans such as Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Francisco Rodriguez if they are not contending midseason. Plus, Mike Pelfrey could find himself on the block.
- Though the Yankees maintain that Phil Hughes is healthy, it’s troubling for them to see him pitching with reduced velocity. It’s part of the reason they have continued adding starting pitching depth, most recently with Carlos Silva.
- Dodgers owner Frank McCourt had proposed a deal that would have seen FOX advance him $200MM, but MLB rejected it, according to Heyman. McCourt is losing the support of fellow owners, Heyman reports.
Quick Hits: Collins, Red Sox, K-Rod, Dodgers
Links for Thursday, as the minor league season opens and Bryce Harper and others make their pro debuts…
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan explains how 5'7" left-hander Tim Collins went from being an aspiring carpenter to a promising rookie in the Royals' 'pen.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports know the winless Red Sox aren't as bad as they've seemed for the first five games of the season, but he argues they aren't as good as they seemed in January.
- The Mets and Francisco Rodriguez continue to say they aren't worried about the reliever's vesting option for 2012, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post. Rodriguez finished his first game of the season last night and with 54 more games finished, he'll have his $17.5MM option vest.
- MLB’s main concern with the deal Dodgers owner Frank McCourt recently proposed is that it would relieve McCourt’s debt without necessarily improving the product on the field at Dodger Stadium, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney.
- ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick anticipates some milestones that players may reach in 2011.
Mets Notes: Rodriguez, Feliciano, Warthen
Here are some items on the Mets as they take on the Marlins at Sun Life Stadium..
- Skipper Terry Collins plans to speak with Francisco Rodriguez this weekend regarding the closer's usage in non-save situations, writes MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. K-Rod's contract has a $17.5MM option for 2012, which vests if he finishes 55 games. "I'm not going to let him go out there just to pitch an inning and jeopardize the game when I'm going to need him the next day," the manager said.
- Earlier today, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that the Mets "abused" Pedro Feliciano during his time in Queens. Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen disagreed with that sentiment, but added, "That was part of the reason we decided not to re-sign him," tweets David Lennon of Newsday.
- DiComo also writes that recent acquisition Chin-lung Hu will serve as the club's emergency catcher should Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas go down. Hu, whom the Mets acquired from the Dodgers this offseason, has no experience behind the plate.
NL East Notes: Rodriguez, Amaro, Manuel, Utley
Let's take a look at some items on the Mets and Phillies..
- The Mets are within their rights to limit the number of games closer Francisco Rodriguez finishes this year, opines Joel Sherman of the New York Post. If K-Rod finishes 55 games this year, his $17.5MM option for 2012 will vest. The player's union will reportedly keep a watchful eye on the situation.
- Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter) finds the timing of Ruben Amaro's four-year extension interesting, as it comes shortly after manager Charlie Manuel agreed to a two-year extension. Heyman wonders if the Phillies wanted to avoid giving Manuel "any ideas", presumably meaning that they didn't want to give him a deal of similar length.
- There has been a lot of talk about how the Phillies might look to replace the injured Chase Utley, but the club can survive without him, writes Rich Hofmann of the Philadelphia Daily News.
- Meanwhile, the club is still without a clear timetable for when their star second baseman will return, writes Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
- Mets skipper Terry Collins tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that his club has plenty of starting pitching depth.