Olney On Qualls, Balfour, Damon, Pavano, Soriano
Ivan Nova, Craig Kimbrel and Madison Bumgarner are among the young players who will play major roles in determining their teams’ fates in 2011, as ESPN.com’s Buster Olney points out. Here are the rest of Olney’s rumors, with the latest updates up top:
- Olney hears that Chad Qualls is looking to re-establish his value with a one-year deal (Twitter link). With all due respect to Qualls, finding a mutliyear deal might never have been an option, since he posted a 7.32 ERA and allowed 85 hits in 59 innings last year.
- Teams believe Grant Balfour's asking price is dropping, according to Olney (Twitter link).
- Once Jim Thome signs, other first base/DH types will likely follow. There are lots of them out there, as MLBTR’s Free Agent Tracker shows. Vladimir Guerrero, Jason Giambi, Russell Branyan, Johnny Damon, and Manny Ramirez are still available.
- Olney says Damon “probably made a mistake in not following up on the Yankees' overtures last winter about a two-year deal.”
- Carl Pavano and the Twins continue to make progress toward a deal and the sides could reach an agreement by the end of the week.
- Rafael Soriano is prioritizing money over his 2011 role, Olney writes. Olney suggests that “if some club was willing to pay him to be its bullpen catcher for $45MM over the next three years, Soriano would consider it.”
Quick Hits: Darvish, Balfour, Torre, Sale
Links for Sunday….
- Yu Darvish officially renewed his contract with the Nippon Ham Fighters this week, as NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman writes. Darvish, who may play in MLB in 2012, will earn the equivalent of about $6MM this season in Japan.
- One AL scout tells Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that Grant Balfour remains unsigned in part due to a dip in velocity over the last year, but adds: "He’s developed good command of his secondary pitches. He can pitch in the AL East, he’s a competitor, and if you use him as a complementary piece, he’s worth pursuing for your bullpen." I looked at some possible fits for Balfour last weekend.
- We heard yesterday that Joe Torre was talking to Bud Selig about potentially becoming MLB's next executive vice president of operations. However, Ken Davidoff of Newsday doesn't expect Torre to take such a position, and says "other people in the loop" don't either.
- Jim Margalus of South Side Sox examines how Chris Sale's role with the White Sox will be affected by Will Ohman's arrival.
Yankees Will Not Surrender First Round Pick
Yankees GM Brian Cashman says he intends to hold onto his 2011 first round draft choice, according to Chad Jennings of the Journal News. That means the team won’t sign any of the three remaining free agents tied to draft pick compensation: Rafael Soriano, Carl Pavano and Grant Balfour.
“I will not lose our No. 1 draft pick,” Cashman said. “I would have for Cliff Lee. I won’t lose our No. 1 draft pick for anyone else.”
Since Soriano, Pavano and Balfour turned down their teams’ offers of arbitration after being ranked as Type A free agents, clubs have to surrender a top 2011 pick to sign them. The Yankees’ first round pick (31st overall) is unprotected.
Though the Yankees were in contact with Soriano and agent Scott Boras, they are not pursuing him. It's hardly shocking to hear that the Yankees are out on Pavano, who spent four injury-plagued seasons in the Bronx and earned nearly $40MM in the process.
Yankees Rumors: Burnett, Pettitte, Balfour
Here's the latest on the Yankees as they continue to explore ways of improving their pitching staff…
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild will travel to Maryland within a couple of weeks to work with A.J. Burnett on some of the right-hander’s mechanical problems. A bounceback season from Burnett in 2011 would make the Yankees’ rotation considerably more threatening.
- Cashman told Newsday’s Ken Davidoff that the uncertainty surrounding Andy Pettitte’s future is not hurting the team. "Andy isn’t holding us up from doing anything else," Cashman said. Two of Pettitte’s friends tell Davidoff that they think the 38-year-old remains competitive enough to want to play. The left-hander appears to be close to deciding on his plans for 2011.
- The Yankees don’t like the idea of giving up a first round pick to sign Grant Balfour or Rafael Soriano, two Type A relievers who turned down offers of arbitration and are now tied to draft pick compensation.
Possible Fits For Grant Balfour
Earlier this week, MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith noted that only four free agents who'd cost a draft pick to sign remain on the market. Because Adrian Beltre, Rafael Soriano, Carl Pavano, and Grant Balfour were Type A players who turned down offers of arbitration, teams signing them will have to surrender a high pick in the 2011 draft.
While parting with a draft pick wouldn't be a huge price to pay for signing Beltre, Soriano, or Pavano, the same can't necessarily be said about Balfour. The right-hander ranks 12th among our top 15 remaining free agents, whereas Beltre, Soriano, and Pavano grab the top three spots, respectively. Even in an offseason that has featured many lucrative deals for bullpen arms, giving up a first- or second-round pick for a reliever who's just one year removed from a 4.81 ERA is risky.
Which teams will be willing to take that risk and pursue Balfour anyway? Let's try to find some potential fits….
- Orioles: They are said to have a "definite interest" in the righty, and their first-round pick in 2011 is protected, meaning they'd send a second-rounder to the Rays if they signed Balfour. They've been linked to Kevin Gregg in recent weeks as well, and seem unlikely to add both pitchers, so an agreement with Gregg could potentially take them out of the running.
- Rays: It was no sure thing that Balfour would turn down their arbitration offer – they appeared willing to bring him back. They're still in the market for late-inning relief help, and Balfour would be a fit if the price was right.
- Nationals: Draft pick compensation shouldn't be a concern for Washington; they added extra picks when Adam Dunn signed with the White Sox, and have already parted with their second-rounder due to the Jayson Werth signing. As such, they'd be giving up a third-rounder if they added Balfour, and MLBTR's Tim Dierkes identified the bullpen as one area the team could still address this winter.
- Athletics, Pirates: Both clubs have a little money to spend, as shown by Oakland's pursuit of Beltre and bid on Hisashi Iwakuma, as well as Pittsburgh's handful of free agent signings. They also both have protected first-round picks. Billy Beane hinted after the Josh Willingham trade that the A's might look to add a reliever, while the Pirates had some interest in Octavio Dotel before the veteran agreed to sign with Toronto.
- Yankees, Twins: Both teams would have to surrender their first-rounder to sign Balfour, which makes them unlikely suitors. Still, the Twins have already lost Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier to free agency, so they could use some relief help. The Yankees don't necessarily have a pressing need, but they've been linked to at least one reliever recently, in Brian Fuentes, and it's never safe to write them off on any free agent.
Last week, over 56% of about 5800 MLBTR readers voted that Balfour would land a multiyear deal somewhere. I agreed when I examined Balfour's free agent stock on the heels of Joaquin Benoit's $16.5MM deal, expressing optimism about the 33-year-old's chances of landing a multiyear contract worth at least $10MM or so. Although that's still a possibility, many of the teams we expected to be in on Balfour have addressed their bullpen in other ways. And as Tim pointed out when discussing Fuentes, a shift toward a buyer's market may occur as the spring approaches.
Orioles Interested In Grant Balfour
The Orioles have "definite interest" in free agent reliever Grant Balfour, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko. Kubatko notes that signing the Type A-designated Balfour would require the Orioles to hand over their second-round pick to the Rays. A year ago, the Orioles were willing to give up the 53rd overall pick to sign Mike Gonzalez. This pick would be later in the draft.
Other former Balfour suitors such as the Red Sox and Rockies have filled bullpen needs, so the Orioles have some leverage. The O's still have lingering interest in Kevin Gregg, a situation that's starting to drag. Kubatko says they'd also like to sign a lefty reliever, and "the door still hasn't closed" on Mark Hendrickson and Will Ohman.
Rays Notes: Bullpen, First Base, DH
The Rays find themselves in a difficult position as the 2011 season approaches. Forced to cut payroll, they've lost Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford, (presumably) Rafael Soriano, and most of their bullpen to free agency, and traded Jason Bartlett as he approaches his final arbitration year.
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times looks at some of the issues left to be addressed as the Rays begin bargain shopping this offseason:
- The Rays have added some bullpen pieces in Joel Peralta, Adam Russell, Cesar Ramos, J.P. Howell, and Rule 5 pick Cesar Cabrel, but they'll still need someone to pitch the ninth and probably the eighth, Topkin opines. He lists some potential candidates as Jon Rauch, Octavio Dotel, Kevin Gregg, Trevor Hoffman, Grant Balfour, and Chad Qualls as options. Remember, the Rays also have Jake McGee.
- There's not much in terms of affordable names for the Rays on the market. Some clarity will be brought to the issue once Adam LaRoche and Derrek Lee sign. Topkin mentions Casey Kotchman as a speculative option. Dan Johnson is a fallback if the team can't find an upgrade.
- Johnson is also a backup plan at designated hitter, but the Rays have options at designated hitter, with Johnny Damon, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, and Jason Giambi on the market.
Odds & Ends: Montanez, D’Backs, Rays
A year ago today, the Yankees acquired Javier Vazquez from the Braves for a group of players led by Melky Cabrera. Neither headliner did much in 2010, but the two lefty relievers in the deal – Michael Dunn and Boone Logan – did well and the Braves acquired a promising young arm in Arodys Vizcaino. As we await the next big trade of the 2010-11 offseason, here are today's links…
- Cardinals assistant GM John Abbamondi is leaving for San Diego, where he'll be a VP with the Padres, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter links).
- Luis Montanez told Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com that he has drawn interest from some AL East teams and some Japanese teams. The 29-year-old outfielder posted a .223/.257/.323 line in 266 plate appearances for the Orioles from 2008-10.
- The D'Backs have avoided incentive-based contracts in the past, but as MLB.com's Steve Gilbert explains, GM Kevin Towers has been creative with the contracts he's worked on this offseason. Click here for more contract details from around the majors.
- Cork Gaines of Rays Index explains that Tampa Bay's Opening Day payroll projects to be much lower in 2011, perhaps under $40MM.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports explains that former Ray and Type A free agent Grant Balfour could end up returning to Tampa Bay, though it seems unlikely.
- The Phillies will have almost no flexibility to acquire players next summer unless they trade Joe Blanton to free up salary, according to Rosenthal.
Rockies Looking At Aardsma, Balfour, Coffey
The Rockies have spoken to the Mariners about a possible David Aardsma trade, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link). Colorado has also shown interest in right-handers Grant Balfour and Todd Coffey, though Renck tweets that Balfour would have to be acquired in a "sign-and-trade" arrangment since the Rockies don't want to lose their first round draft pick as compensation for signing the Type A free agent.
Aardsma, who is known to be on the market, would be used in a set-up role with the Rockies since Huston Street is established as Colorado's closer. Balfour's Type-A status isn't the only hindrance to a possible signing, as he reportedly wants a three-year contract. The Rockies may be hesitant to give a middle reliever that kind of long-term commitment, though Joaquin Benoit, Jesse Crain, Scott Downs and Matt Guerrier have all signed three-year deals this winter.
Coffey, non-tendered by the Brewers earlier this month, comes with the smallest price tag but is also coming off the least-accomplished season (4.76 ERA, 9.4 H/9 rate) of the three pitchers. Renck adds that Colorado's "wish list" also includes Jon Rauch and Chad Qualls (Twitter link).
Cafardo’s Latest: Red Sox, Pavano, Buehrle, Millwood
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe names the winners and losers of the Winter Meetings in his newest piece, with the Red Sox, Nationals, and White Sox topping his list of winners. Cafardo also shares a handful of hot stove notes. Here are the highlights:
- Before they signed Carl Crawford, the Red Sox "did a ton of work" on Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Beltran.
- Carl Pavano figures to wait for Cliff Lee to sign, so he can see the type of offers he receives as the top pitcher on the market. Cafardo thinks Pavano could be a backup plan for the Rangers if they don't land Lee, though the Twins still remain the favorites for the 34-year-old. Texas has also inquired on Matt Garza and James Shields.
- The White Sox will listen to offers for Mark Buehrle, whose contract expires after the 2011 season. Buehrle earned ten and five rights this year, so he'd have the option of vetoing any trade.
- Agent Scott Boras says a strong market is developing for Kevin Millwood.
- Team officials that spoke to Cafardo had mixed opinions on free agent backstop Russell Martin. One opined that Martin "can't call a game," while another raved about the enthusiasm the catcher brings each day.
- According to Cafardo, the Red Sox were the only team to discuss Justin Upton with the Diamondbacks, balking at Kevin Towers' insistence that Daniel Bard be included in a potential deal.
- The Astros would have interest in trading Matt Lindstrom and Jeff Keppinger.
- Grant Balfour is seeking a three-year contract. The Red Sox have looked into him, but are hoping Matt Guerrier will accept their offer. As Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston noted today (via Twitter), Guerrier is one of the top relief targets for Boston, along with Brian Fuentes and Jesse Crain.