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Tough Decisions For Tigers

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes about the tough decisions faced by the Tigers this spring.

First, they have to decide whether to let 20 year-old phenom Rick Porcello break camp with the team, even though he has yet to pitch above A ball.  GM Dave Dombrowski seems open to it.  He says the issue of delaying Porcello’s arbitration will not come into play.

The Tigers also have to decide what to do with veterans Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson, and Gary Sheffield.  Will their contracts lead to roster spots?  Robertson (4 ER in 4 IP) is owed $17MM through 2010.  Willis (4 ER in 3 IP) will make $22MM in that time.  And Sheffield (.167/.423/.500 in 18 ABs) earns $14MM in ’09.  Spring Training stats don’t mean much anyway, but these samples are especially small.  And Rosenthal says Willis and/or Robertson could be sent to the minors or bullpen if necessary.

Sheffield Staying Put For Now

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According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers don’t expect to deal for Gary Sheffield. A Rangers official said the club would “consider it” if the Tigers took on enough of Sheffield’s $14MM 2009 salary, but the Tigers aren’t going to give him away.

Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski thinks that Sheffield “can still hit,” so he’s in no rush to trade him.

The Rangers inquired on Sheffield yesterday, but Sullivan says it “was not a serious conversation.”

Rangers Inquire On Sheffield

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5:25pm: Jon Paul Morosi confirms the interest from the Tigers side.  He says the Tigers and Rangers have yet to have any serious trade talks about Sheffield.  Also, it’s not clear whether the Rangers are covered in Sheffield’s no-trade clause.  Morosi wonders whether the Rangers could try to take on Frank Catalanotto and the $6MM he has coming.

5:04pm: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan talked to a Rangers official who said they would be willing to consider Sheffield if the Tigers want to give him away.

3:19pm: According to Gerry Fraley, the Rangers inquired with the Tigers on the availability of Gary Sheffield. The Tigers probably wouldn’t mind moving Sheff’s $14MM salary for ’09.

Odds and Ends: Springer, Sheffield, Bonds

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How about some weekend odds and ends?

  • Free agent reliever Russ Springer intends to pitch next year, and he prefers the Cardinals.  The Cards haven’t discussed a contract with him, though, and they might prefer their younger (and cheaper) righthanded relievers.
  • Dave Cameron thinks Nate Robertson might be a sleeper, based on his peripheral stats.  Boof Bonser is another pitcher whose ERA didn’t match up with his other numbers this year.
  • Peter Woodfork apparently bowed out of the Mariners GM job competition after his interview.  The Ms could decide between Tony LaCava, Jerry DiPoto, Kim Ng, and Jack Zduriencik by Tuesday.
  • Scott Boras won a $550K decision against former client Gary Sheffield.  Will Sheff make good on his February promise to say "ugly things" about Boras now?
  • Phil Rogers speculates on Manny Ramirez in a Cubs uniform, but admits they’d have to somehow move Alfonso Soriano first.  Small obstacle: $106MM owed to Soriano over the next six years, plus his full no-trade clause.
  • Yahoo’s Tim Brown says Barry Bonds could be awarded $100MM or more if the players union wins its collusion case.  Bonds would like to play in 2009, but no one expects it.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Tigers, Teixeira, Burnett

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A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…

  • MVN Outsider takes a look at some potential offseason moves for the Tigers, including trading Magglio Ordonez and Gary Sheffield and signing Brian Fuentes.
  • Baseball Banter takes a look at the five teams most likely to go after Mark Teixeira this winter.
  • River Ave. Blues wonders if the Yankees should consider signing A.J. Burnett because of his strong career numbers against the Red Sox.
  • Pending Pinstripes takes a look at the Yankees 40-man roster and some potential offseason changes.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Players Who Cleared Waivers

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I will make this post a permanent sidebar link.  This is a running list of players who have cleared waivers, based on published reports.  Once a player clears waivers, he can be traded to any team (barring a no-trade clause).

Updated 8-25-08 at 9:00am.  Latest to clear in red.

  • Paul Byrd – Byrd cleared waivers, but then was traded to the Red Sox.  They were the only team willing to pay his remaining $2MM.
  • Frank Catalanotto – Catalanotto, 34, is hitting .272/.337/.389 in 267 plate appearances.  He’s played first base and left field this year.  He’s not helpful against lefthanded pitching.  His contract is a problem – $765K this year, $4MM in ’09, and a $2MM buyout in ’10.
  • Eric Gagne – Gagne has been awful this year, as his walks and home runs skyrocketed and he dealt with rotator cuff tendinitis.  Understandably, no one wanted to pay the $2.15MM remaining on his contract.
  • Aubrey Huff – Huff’s .909 OPS ranks 10th in the league, but surprisingly no team wanted to take on his $10.1MM commitment through ’09.
  • Mark Kotsay – Ken Rosenthal says he cleared and a number of teams are interested.  Kotsay clearing is a bit of a surprise since the A’s are paying most of his salary.  Kotsay can block trades to eight teams.  The center fielder is having a nice comeback season with a .782 OPS in 324 plate appearances.
  • Greg Maddux – Maddux is earning $10MM this year and will only accept a trade to a West Coast team.  The Dodgers wanted him but asked the Padres to pay more than 80% of his remaining salary according to Peter Gammons.
  • Kevin Millar – Millar has been OK this year; he may reach 20 home runs.  He is owed about $710K from here on out.
  • Kevin Millwood – Millwood, 33, has a 5.24 ERA in 122 innings this year.  He’s dealt with a groin injury for much of the season, as well as a hamstring issue in spring.  Millwood will earn another $1.6MM this year and $11MM in ’09.  His 2010 salary of $12MM becomes a club option unless he pitches 180 innings in ’09.
  • Melvin Mora – Mora has raised his numbers and stock significantly by hitting .378/.421/.652 since the beginning of July.  He has a full no-trade clause and is owed $9MM next year and $1.79MM more this year.
  • Vicente Padilla – Padilla, 31 in September, has a 4.98 ERA in 148.1 innings.  Home runs have been his main problem.  He spent time on the DL with a strained neck.  He’ll earn another $2.1MM this year and $12MM in ’09.  He has a $12MM club option for ’10 with a $1.75MM buyout.
  • Jay Payton – Payton is the O’s regular center fielder with Adam Jones out for the season.  He is owed $1.3MM for the rest of the season.  He’s been lousy offensively, though he can hit lefties and play all three outfield positions.
  • David Riske – Riske is owed $860K more this year, $4.25MM in ’09, and $4.5MM in ’10 plus a $250K buyout for a total of almost $10MM.  Walks have been a problem this year, as well as elbow pain.
  • Dave Ross – Ross had cleared waivers prior to being designated for assignment.  He is earning $2.525MM this year.
  • Duaner Sanchez – His velocity is down 3.6 mph from ’06.  Sanchez is under team control through ’09.
  • Scott Schoeneweis – His strikeout rate is down, but so is his ERA.  Apparently no team wanted to risk taking on his contract – $910K more this year, $3.6MM in ’09.
  • Gary Sheffield – No surprise here. Sheff is owed around $17.5 million between this year and next.
  • Jamie Walker – The 37 year-old southpaw has a 5.00 ERA in 27 innings this year.  As usual, home runs have been a problem.  He spent time on the DL with elbow inflammation and is set to earn $4.5MM next year.
  • David Weathers – Weathers is owed only $610K on the season, and he has a 2.52 ERA and 2.78 K/BB since the beginning of June.  I am quite surprised he cleared waivers.

Cafardo’s Latest: Ausmus, Towles, Mariners, Giants, Sheffield, Salty

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a few items in his Sunday column…

  • Cafardo says that the Red Sox, despite being in the market for a catcher, are not interested in Brad Ausmus.  They did inquire with the Astros about J.R. Towles, who is currently in Triple A, but were told he is unavailable.
  • One executive told Cafardo that the Mariners continue to demand other teams take entire contracts and give up prospects for players like Raul Ibanez, Jarrod Washburn and Adrian Beltre.  In the cases of Ibanez and Beltre, that position is defensible.
  • Cafardo interviewed Brian Sabean about several topics: 1) When asked about trading veteran players, Sabean responded "There’s still time"; 2) When asked whether the Giants would "go young"  or target free agents in the offseason, Sabean was noncommital but said they will look for free agents and trade pieces to fix problems, specifically mentioning the bullpen and first base; 3) When asked if he was tempted to sign Barry Bonds, Sabean would not answer.
  • Cafardo was just musing on a few players, but feels that Gary Sheffield could help the Rays, but only if the Tigers pay some of the salary. He also thinks Jarrod Saltalamacchia would be a nice fit in Boston next season.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here .

Rays Not Interested In Bonds

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Just to hammer the point home, Barry Bonds’ agent Jeff Borris told Ken Rosenthal today that Rays GM Andrew Friedman failed to respond to his text message.  The Rays would like to add a hitter, but they’ve never had serious interest in Bonds.  Borris believes his client has been "blackballed" by MLB.

Rosenthal says the Rays would only consider Gary Sheffield if the Tigers picked up the majority of his contract, understandably.  They’re not interested in Kenny Lofton or Jose Vidro.

Odds and Ends: Kendall, Laird, Giles, Manny

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Today’s linkage…

  • A friend pointed out to me how strange it is that the Twins were willing to take on Jarrod Washburn’s salary and give up Boof Bonser but chose to trade Johan Santana before the season.  If Bill Smith could go back in time, would he still make that deal?
  • A Gary Sheffield acquisition by the Rays is "unlikely but not impossible," according to one Buster Olney source.
  • As expected, Jason Kendall’s option for ’09 vested.  He’s off the list!
  • The Rangers were willing to trade Gerald Laird and a solid prospect to the Marlins for Chris Volstad.
  • The Padres are wavering on Brian Giles’ 2009 option.  Scott Miller also wonders if they’ll be able to take on Trevor Hoffman for another year.
  • Miller says the Marlins had a deal for Manny Ramirez worked out, but the commissioner’s office killed it because the Marlins would’ve been getting draft picks rather than a second player.  Manny would’ve vetoed it anyway.
  • Rob Neyer thinks the Yankees will exceed a $200MM payroll if need be next year.
  • There seems a good chance Randy Johnson pitches next year.
  • Randy Winn and Bengie Molina may be traded this winter.
  • Missed this one from Monday – the White Sox acquired reliever Franklyn German from the Pirates for a player to be named later.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Millar, Sheffield, Dunn, Rangers, Salty

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A few random notes from around the baseball Blogosphere…

  • Beerleaguer feels that Kevin Millar would make a nice addition to the Phillies’ bench.
  • MetsBlog says Gary Sheffield is the right-handed outfield bat the Mets need and this is the best time to add a player with something to prove.
  • True Blue LA is angered that the Dodgers did not block the D’Backs’ claim of Adam Dunn.
  • Newberg Report discusses which players the Rangers must be willing to part with if they are to land an "All-Star level, legitimate number one" pitcher or even a pitcher from the next level of starters.
  • Over The Monster wonders if the Red Sox will replace Jason Varitek with Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

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