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Jason Jennings

Nats Like Andruw, Livan, Jennings, Colon, Glavine

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UPDATE, EVENING OF 11-6-07:  MLB.com’s Bill Ladson has some more good Nationals information.  His source says that both Livan Hernandez and Tom Glavine are interested in the club, but they only have the budget for one of them.  Glavine makes more sense.  Ladson also mentions that Bowden has his eye on Rocco Baldelli, and idea I like.  I can’t really think of a great match for a trade though.   

FROM MORNING OF 11-6-07:

According to the Washington Post, Nationals president Stan Kasten recently met with Andruw Jones at the center fielder’s home in Atlanta.  Kasten, of course, was formerly president of the Braves.

Kasten’s contact with Jones is described as "extremely preliminary."  That makes sense, since technically the two parties are not allowed to talk dollars and cents.  But come on – it’s not like Andruw’s house is bugged by MLB.  The Nationals’ open-minded pledge has already led them to contact Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand as well.

Barry Svrluga also reports that the Nats have touched base with three starters: Livan Hernandez, Jason Jennings, and Bartolo Colon.  The team’s desire to get a veteran starter on a one-year deal probably rules out a return of Livan.  But Jennings or Colon could definitely work.  I imagine Livan is going to wait until Carlos Silva signs before inking a contract.

Olney: Mets Asked About Jason Jennings

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According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Mets asked about Jason Jennings.  The Mets were known to have tried to trade for Jennings last winter.  Now they can get him at a reasonable price without surrendering players. 

So far in the young offseason, we’ve only seen the Rockies linked to Jennings.  If he can prove he’s healthy after having a torn flexor tendon repaired, many teams are going to view him as a potential bargain.  You have to respect the fact that Jennings battled tendon soreness and inflammation since the middle of the 2006 season before succumbing to surgery (per Baseball Injury Report). 

Rockies Have Jennings On The Radar

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Jason Jennings had a nice Rockies career.  He won the NL ROY in 2002 and posted a fine 3.78 ERA in 212 innings as their ace in 2006.  2007 was his last year before free agency, but he couldn’t come to an agreement on an extension with Dan O’Dowd.  Naturally, the Rockies shopped him in the winter of 2006-07.  Interest was extensive, with the Mets, D’Backs, Astros, Phillies, Cardinals, Cubs, and Twins getting involved.  Ultimately the Rockies scored big by getting Willy Taveras, Jason Hirsh, and Taylor Buchholz for one year of Jennings.

The aggressive move didn’t work out for the Astros, as Jennings was never healthy in 2007.  He did battle, however (Troy E. Renck called Jennings the toughest player he ever covered).  Jennings finally got the surgery he needed, having a torn flexor tendon repaired.  He expects to be ready for Spring Training, and will explore his options as a free agent.  The ’07 injury was not entirely out of nowhere – he made a 90 inning jump from 2005 to 2006.

The Rockies are looking to add one starter, and they’ve got interest in bringing Jennings back.  He says he won’t hold a grudge over the failed extension talks and trade.  He will, however, explore the open market.  A return to the Astros is a possibility.  I’m thinking Mark Mulder’s deal might be the standard for guys like Jennings.  Two years, $13MM guaranteed, but another $10MM or so based on games started.  That’s just a guess though.  Maybe Jennings or Freddy Garcia would prefer a simple one year, $8MM deal to re-establish value.  Jennings would’ve been in line for a massive payday to the tune of five years and $65MM if he’d been healthy and effective in ’07.

Odds and Ends

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Some random rumors and links for Tuesday afternoon…

  • The Rockies signed Mark Redman to a minor league contract.  It makes sense to add some depth, but I like the team’s plan of using high-octane arms Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales instead of the safe veteran options.
  • Rick Sutcliffe’s thoughts on showboating.
  • At one time, it seemed that Jason Jennings would be primed for a big payday this winter.  He still could get a Marquis contract despite his 6.45 ERA in 18 starts.  But prospective buyers have to be concerned that he replied "I don’t know" when asked if he is healthy.  By the way, that link details a failed ballpark marriage proposal that resulted in popcorn being dumped on the guy’s head.  On the Jumbotron.
  • It wouldn’t be the Kansas City Star without an enormous pixellated close-up of the player in question.  This time it’s Mark Grudzielanek, who’s been extended through 2008.  Grudz wouldn’t have reached the 500 PAs needed to guarantee his $4MM option for ’08.
  • The Red Sox still haven’t spoken to Mike Lowell about a contract extension.  He wants to stay, and Nick Cafardo suggests Jermaine Dye could be the comp at two years, $22MM.  That’d be a major concession for Lowell, who’d be the best free agent third baseman unless A-Rod opts out.  One scenario has Kevin Youkilis moving to third base and some sort of league average first baseman stepping in, like the newly acquired Chris Carter.  Another has the Red Sox signing Alex Rodriguez.  The middle ground to those extremes is just to agree on a two-year deal with Lowell.  It’d make sense for the Red Sox to hold off on Lowell until they see what A-Rod does.   
  • The Eric Byrnes contract may serve as a model for Jose Guillen.
  • Tom Koch-Weser of STATS, Inc. has a new WHIFF profile of San Diego’s Chris Young.  A must-read as always.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Dye, Lamb, Jennings

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Ken Rosenthal has a new article up.  Let’s see what’s in there beyond the Teixeira stuff.

  • The Angels have a few alternatives to Mark Teixeira in Jermaine Dye and Mike Piazza.  However, the team isn’t exactly bursting with open outfield/DH spots, especially once Juan Rivera returns.  Troy Glaus still makes a ton of sense, but the Blue Jays would want a lot.  Probably 2/3 of the Teixeira package.
  • Aside from Mark Loretta, the Padres would also like to acquire Mike Lamb from the Astros.  Even tossing aside his awful April, Kevin Kouzmanoff has been about average for his position offensively (.271/.328/.476 since May 1).  If the Padres instead used Lamb against southpaws and Kouzmanoff against lefties, they’d have a nifty platoon.
  • The Mets have inquired on Joe Blanton and Jon Garland but have found the price prohibitive.  It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that both are just innings eaters.  They’re just elevated by a terrible market for starters.
  • The Phillies also asked about Blanton, but are more likely to settle for Kyle Lohse or Jason Jennings.  Phil Garner decided to offer Jennings’ ERA up for sacrifice today, leaving him in to allow 11 earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.  That was a several million-dollar decision, as Jennings is a free agent after the season.
  • The Mets seem to have only mild interest in Luis Castillo and Mark Grudzielanek due to salary and injury concerns.    

Mariners Considering Kei Igawa, Al Reyes, Jason Jennings?

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Apparently the Mariners have some interest in twice-demoted Yankees starter Kei Igawa, according to an uncited TV report.  The report pleased Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima.

Igawa is locked up through 2011, which may or may not be a positive.  He earns another $1.5MM this year plus $4MM annually through the end of the contract.  The posting fee situation ensures that Igawa’s salary is  really cheap, the price a team might pay for a semi-utility guy like Mark DeRosa.  If Igawa can be league average in the comfy confines of Safeco, he’s a bargain.  More likely he’d have value to an NL team. 

The Mariners were in on Igawa this offseason, along with the Padres, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Braves, Mets, Cubs, Tigers, and Indians.  Igawa was said to prefer playing on the West Coast.  The 28 year-old had a decent strikeout rate but has otherwise been rocked in 62 innings as a Yankee.

Meanwhile Dan Graziano says the Mariners are entertaining practically every available starter.  He says they’re "hot on the trail" of Jason Jennings.  I still think Jennings stays put.

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has a few new names for us: the Mariners have "serious interest" in reliever Al Reyes and may go for Edwin Jackson as well.

Molony On Jennings, Slowey

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Jim Molony’s column today at MLB.com has many good trade rumors that I haven’t seen elsewhere.  Let’s discuss.

  • Molony says at least a dozen scouts watched Jason Jennings toss a quality start last night.  He needed it; I was beginning to think he wasn’t right.  Still, the performance probably isn’t enough to cause some team to offer a package for Jennings superior to two draft picks.
  • The Diamondbacks and Pirates had a scouting presence at the Astros-Dodgers game.  Interesting players appearing in the contest included James Loney, Andre Ethier, Wilson Betemit, Mark Loretta, Morgan Ensberg, Jason Lane, Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, and Brad Lidge. You connect the dots, I have no idea.
  • The Red Sox suggested sending Joel Pineiro to the A’s for Bobby Kielty in a swap of unwanteds; they were rebuffed.
  • The Phillies and Braves watched Matt Morris allow four runs in six innings on Tuesday.  They also may have been monitoring Steve Kline, who also pitched.
  • A Devil Rays scout watched the Twins in Toronto on Tuesday.  Ty Wigginton is thought to be a target for Minnesota.  Perhaps the Rays’ scout fancied Scott Baker, who started for the Twins and went seven innings.  Baker would be a stupendous return for Wiggy, in my opinion.
  • The Phillies had their assistant GM scouting Kevin Slowey’s start on Saturday.  Molony suggests Minnesota might want Pat Burrell.  That would involve a ridiculous amount of salary relief and a lack of Slowey.  Slowey allowed one run in six innings in the game.
  • UPDATE: Just realized that the above pair of bullets seem to have originated from La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.  The scout watching the Twins on Tuesday was Lee Elia.  Not sure why Molony didn’t cite this source, but I suppose he may have come across the info independently.

Best Option For Astros: Keep Jennings

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I once thought Jason Jennings would be the best available starter at the trading deadline.  However, he was terrible last night.  He’s really racking up the losses, even if some were undeserved.

With health and performance a major concern, I was wondering whether it would make more sense for the Astros to hang onto him this year, and take some draft picks if he leaves via free agency after the season.  So I asked ESPN’s Keith Law whether Jennings would earn the Type A designation.  His reply:

"Almost certainly yes. It would mean the signing team’s first-round pick (subject to the various rules on that) PLUS a sandwich pick."

Not too shabby, and I sincerely doubt the Astros would snag something better via trade this month.  So who’s the best available starter? 

Assuming the Erik Bedard whispers weren’t serious, I’d have to go with Bronson Arroyo.  Javier Vazquez doesn’t really seem available, and Matt Morris and Jose Contreras just aren’t good right now.  And I doubt any AL team would go after Arroyo.  The point many have been making bears repeating: the market for pitching is downright awful.  I wonder whether Billy Beane will take advantage of that and trade Joe Blanton for a king’s ransom.

Jason Jennings And The Padres?

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Here’s a connection to consider: Jason Jennings and the Padres.  The article is a few weeks old, but Kirk Bohls wrote that insiders say Jennings is hoping to be in San Diego next season.  Jennings seems like a tried and true Texas guy, but maybe he has a thing for the West Coast.

One could see the Padres snagging him this winter on one of those make-good, California discount type deals.  Kind of like the one Randy Wolf received from the Dodgers.  He’d also be a nice fit for the Padres right now, as they are said to be considering adding a starter. 

It’s tough to gauge Tim Purpura’s asking price for Jennings, as there haven’t really been any trade rumors.  It might be advantageous for the Astros to hold onto him and just collect some draft picks after the season.

State Of The Astros

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Astros GM Tim Purpura has finally admitted that the Astros should not be making player acquisitions with this year in mind.  A huge veteran firesale makes perfect sense right now.

As far as the huge blockbuster names – Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman, and Roy Oswalt – Purpura specifically says they will not be traded.  I have avoided wasting ink on the Oswalt rumors that have bounced around over the past few weeks, because I just didn’t believe them.  Oswalt’s 2008-11 total salary – $58MM – is about the same as Mark Buehrle’s and an equal-sized bargain. 

Oswalt mentioned his willingness to waive his no-trade clause if a deal would help the Astros, which I imagine would require the $16MM option for 2012 to be exercised.  Regardless, trading Oswalt would be silly.  A pitcher of his stature at a reasonable contract is a rarity. 

Fortunately for a website that specializes in trade rumors, Purpura still has plenty of parts to sell off.  I outlined all the trade candidates in this post.

Brad Lidge seems to be healthy now, and spending all of next week in the Majors closing games for the Astros would go a long way toward his trade value.  But maybe a nice run would convince Purpura to keep him.  We’ve heard conflicting messages on whether the Astros are willing to trade Lidge.  Today, Richard Justice mentions the Indians, Red Sox, and Tigers as "hot for" Lidge.

Right behind Lidge in trade value is Jason Jennings.  Jennings, who typically acts as a bullpen-saver, is on the road to re-establishing his health after missing most of April and May with elbow problems.  He had a decent June, making six starts and going seven innings in three of them.  Since the injury risk and impending free agency may keep his price down, Jennings might be the best realistic trade target among starters.

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