Perrotto’s Latest: Royals, Ibanez, Rauch, Gregg
It’s Sunday, which means that John Perrotto has his Every Given Sunday column up over at Baseball Prospectus. Here’s the highlights…
- Royals GM Dayton Moore will likely make a big splash in the free agent market once again. Two years ago, he signed Gil Meche to a five-year, $55MM deal. Last year, he signed Jose Guillen to a three-year, $36MM contract. This year, his big target appears to be Rafael Furcal, which would allow the Royals to move Mike Aviles to second base. Moore is also believed to be willing to trade anyone on the team with the exceptions of Meche, Zack Greinke, and Joakim Soria.
- Raul Ibanez isn’t likely to be back with the Mariners as a free agent next season. Perrotto feels that Ibanez is a good bet to become the Rays’ designated hitter for 2009.
- The Diamondbacks originally wanted to use Jon Rauch as their closer for 2009 and let Brandon Lyon leave through free agency. Rauch’s recent string of rough outings has them reconsidering that train of thought.
- The Marlins will try to trade Kevin Gregg this offseason, and will likely non-tender him if they don’t find match.
- The Braves are looking to add two starters for the 2009 campaign. General manager Frank Wren has traveled overseas to scout Japanese pitchers Koji Uehara and Kenshin Kawakami already this year.
- The Nationals have a crowded situation at first base with both Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young under contract, but they’ll still be looking to improve at the position in the offseason.
Odds and Ends: Pettitte, Hampton, Tazawa, Blalock
Let’s round ’em up…
- Chat today, 2pm CST.
- Andy Pettitte seems to want to play next year, but Peter Abraham believes he may have to take a pay cut.
- Gerry Fraley writes about the Rockies and Mike Hampton. It’s safe to rule out a return to Colorado for Hampton, who is currently auditioning for his next team.
- The Royals dismissed their scouting director Deric Ladnier, offering him another position in the organization. Craig Brown reflects on Ladnier’s tenure.
- More Royals linkage: Rany Jazayerli defends the Gil Meche signing and implores the team to lock up Zack Greinke this winter. Jazayerli would also like the team to pick up knuckleballer Charlie Haeger, recently designated for assignment by the White Sox.
- Patrick Newman continues to update us on Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa, who is coveted by several MLB teams. If Tazawa starts a trend, an interesting debate could follow. Newman also has a running list of Japanese free agents for this winter.
- Bobby Valentine may be clashing with his boss over in Japan.
- Will the Rangers cut Hank Blalock loose, or exercise his $6.2MM option? Blalock’s ability to play third base remains a question mark, but he will try to improve his arm strength this winter.
- Neither the Pirates nor Pedro Alvarez‘s people will be present at today’s hearing. ESPN’s Buster Olney says Alvarez can’t win – he’s either villified in Pittsburgh or forced into next year’s draft. In the latter case, Alvarez could lose money down the line.
Odds and Ends: Eaton, Tazawa, Royals, Jays
Today’s links…
- SI.com’s Tom Verducci ranks the five best midseason deals of the past 25 years.
- Peter Abraham thinks the Yankees should stick with Robinson Cano.
- Pat Gillick says there’s a slight chance the Phils acquire a reliever this month. He was not able to acquire Kyle Farnsworth in August.
- MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan doesn’t put much stock in the rumor that Nolan Ryan will clean house in Texas.
- Phillies GM Pat Gillick admitted signing Adam Eaton was a mistake. Many MLBTR readers thought so when the signing was finalized in November of ’06.
- The Red Sox hope to sign a Japanese amateur pitcher named Junichi Tazawa, which may not go over well with Nippon Professional Baseball.
- Gil Meche, Joakim Soria, and Zack Greinke are pretty much off-limits. Most other Royals are fair game in trade discussions. GM Dayton Moore intends to make changes this winter, and may also dive back into the free agent market.
- The Blue Jays have $15MM to spend, with needs at shortstop, first base/DH, and catcher. GM J.P. Ricciardi would prefer to fill those holes internally. Shysterball wonders why Ricciardi is talking about next year.
- Michael Rosenberg says Ivan Rodriguez is all about the money.
Royals To Stand Pat
Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star doesn’t expect the Royals to move anyone before the deadline because all of their pieces are under contract beyond this season and/or integral to their plan to contend in the future.
The Royals 2-prospect pricetag is too steep for Jose Guillen who’s signed through 2010 and leads the team in HR and RBI. Gil Meche has a no-trade clause and even so, the Royals feel he’s a key piece to their future chances. Even though the team isn’t discussing any long term deals with him, Zack Greinke is under control through arbitration through 2010 and the Royals are in no rush there. David Dejesus‘ contract, at $14.3MM for the next 3 years, is too good to trade away. And Ron Mahay is under contract through next year and filling a void left by Jimmy Gobble who continues to get worse.
Mark Grudzielanek remains the only name the Royals could deal, but there doesn’t seem to be much demand. Writes Dutton,
"’It will probably have to be a need-based thing for somebody,’ a club official said. ‘Somebody loses a second baseman and really needs to go get one. Otherwise, I don’t see it happening.’"
Odds and Ends: Meche, Horne, Manny, Uggla
Today’s random hot stove links…
- Gil Meche wants to stay with the Royals.
- Yankees pitching prospect Alan Horne may be injured. This could have hot stove ramifications – Horne could’ve been a top trade chip or even a rotation addition this year.
- Peter Abraham does not think Barry Bonds makes sense for the Yankees. Hideki Matsui will be out at least a couple of weeks with a knee injury, with surgery as a last resort.
- Manny Ramirez shoved the Red Sox’s traveling secretary. This is slightly different than the Shawn Chacon situation, in that Chacon had his hands around Ed Wade’s neck. But is Manny getting off easy because he’s Manny?
- CBS’s Scott Miller weighs in on the starting pitching market.
- Dan Uggla is in line for at least a tenfold raise in arbitration next year. The Marlins haven’t decided whether to talk extension with him.
Meche Available?
WEDNESDAY: Jon Heyman of SI.com says Meche is "expected to be shopped by the Royals at the trade deadline," tossing out the Cubs as a possibility. Who knows. On a related topic, Buster Olney says "some folks within the industry" believe the Cubs would be C.C. Sabathia‘s most aggressive suitor if he becomes available.
TUESDAY: Yesterday, ESPN’s Peter Gammons said the Cubs are "sifting through names that could be available," mentioning starters A.J. Burnett, Gil Meche, Randy Wolf, Paul Byrd, Joe Blanton, Erik Bedard, and Aaron Cook. Gammons notes that the Cubs tried to sign Meche in the winter of ’06 (as did the Jays).
The Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton spoke to Meche as well as a club official. It doesn’t seem that the Royals will shop Meche, and he wouldn’t necessarily waive his no-trade clause for Chicago anyway. Dutton’s club source indicated that Meche is expected to be a big part of the next winning Royals team. Meche earns $11MM this year, $11MM in ’09, $12MM in ’10, and $12MM in ’11.
Gil Meche Projection
I have a 2007 projection up at RotoAuthority for new Royals ace Gil Meche. I’ve also included projections from three other sources for comparison.
Royals Sign Gil Meche
Steve Phillips reports for ESPN that the deal is done, and it is for five years. I can see how that fifth year would seal the deal for Meche quickly. RotoWorld says it’s for $55MM with $9MM paid out in ’07.
The move may be shocking to some, but KC had roughly $15MM to burn this winter.
Meche turned 28 this year. He posted a career best 7.5 per nine strikeout rate. The team now has some starting pitching depth (2007 salaries estimated):
SP – Gil Meche – $9MM
SP – Odalis Perez – $1.7MM
SP – Brian Bannister – $0.38MM
SP – Luke Hudson – $0.38MM
SP – Jorge de la Rosa – $0.38MM
SP – Zack Greinke – $0.38MM
Note: Runelvys Hernandez was released this morning. Thanks to Royals Authority for the tip.
Cubs Still Pursuing Gil Meche
Jim Hendry said all along he wanted to acquire two, or even three starters this winter. True to his word, the Cubs are still pursuing Gil Meche after inking Ted Lilly. (By the way, Hendry is said to be fine and should be out of the hospital Thursday morning).
Keep in mind that Alfonso Soriano‘s contract is backloaded. Sori makes only $9MM in 2007, meaning the Cubs still have money to burn for Meche (note: I am unsure how Sori’s $8MM signing bonus is paid out). Hendry would probably have no problem tossing another $5MM to Cliff Floyd for old times’ sake, too. Hell, maybe the Cubs even go out and sign a third free agent starter to really cover themselves. It’s not like Lilly and Meche are horses.
Additionally, CubDumb spoke to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune today. Seems that the Cubs were going to get Lilly, no matter what it took.
Meche Still Undecided
John Hickey has an update as the Gil Meche sweepstakes seesaws back and forth between the Cubs and Blue Jays.
With the Yanks and Cubs chasing Lilly and the Jays and Cubs after Meche, one of the teams is going to be left standing when the music stops.