Mariners Sign Jeff Weaver
UPDATE: The Seattle Times says it’s a done deal at one year, $8MM. Weaver can earn another $1.4MM in incentives.
Larry Stone of the Seattle Times indicated today that the Ms and Jeff Weaver are nearing a one-year contract, as the pitcher would like to re-enter the free agent market after the season. (However, Adam Rubin says it’s for two years and about $16MM).
The signing would push southpaw Jake Woods to the bullpen. The Ms signed another southpaw, Arthur Rhodes, to help in the pen as well. Rhodes pitched for Seattle from 2000-03 before leaving as a free agent.
Both the Times and the PI indicate that Seattle’s second choice would be Mark Redman if the Weaver deal falls through. The Cardinals had offered Weaver a base of $6MM per season over two years, plus incentives, but they appear out of the mix. Same goes for the Bucs.
Mariners In Lead For Jeff Weaver
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mariners are the frontrunners to sign free agent starter Jeff Weaver. An agreement could be reached tonight once the number of years is decided.
This would be a Bill Bavasi signing I actually wouldn’t mind. Pushing Baek/Woods out of the rotation is a good thing, and the commitment to Weaver shouldn’t be huge. It’s a revamped rotation for Seattle, though Weaver doesn’t fit the groundball mold of a lot of their other offseason acquisitions (Ramirez, Batista, Reitsma).
Pirates Interested In Weaver
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Pirates are battling with the Cardinals for the services of Jeff Weaver. Weaver could reunite with his former manager and pitching coach in Pittsburgh and thankfully push Shawn Chacon out of the rotation. The Cards are still in the lead, however. The Mariners or Dodgers could be involved also.
You have to wonder if Boras could convince Weaver to take another one year contract, maybe in the $7MM range. He could stick in the NL all year and parlay it into a nice three-year pact if he pitches decently. His best bet is probably St. Louis; they’re offering two years.
Jeff Weaver Info
Viva El Birdos has some inside info concerning free agent Jeff Weaver. Larry writes that Scott Boras plans to hold out for 4/40, but Weaver really wants to return to St. Louis and is getting antsy.
The Mariners or Dodgers could still make a play for Weaver as well. The Dodgers would really be stacked in the rotation, but maybe it would be to complement a trade.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch mentions this morning that the Cards have a two-year offer out to Weaver and expect a decision on that this week. Joe Strauss adds the Mets to the list of other possible suitors.
Cards Still In On Weaver
UPDATE: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says negotiations have "intensified" between Weaver and the Cards. Walt Jocketty indicated that Weaver is the only possible addition to the rotation at this point. His limit for Weaver is two years.
With Carpenter, Wells, Reyes, Wainwright, Thompson, Mulder, and Franklin, I think the Cardinals can cobble together a respectable rotation in the NL Central this year. However, Walt Jocketty said today that he’s still in conversations with Jeff Weaver‘s people.
On one hand, the Boras group drives a hard bargain. On the other, St. Louis may be the best place for Weaver to get his career back on track. My guess? Jocketty probably wants him for something like two years and $16 million.
Mets Consider Remaining Free Agent Starters
According to the New York Times, the Mets are interested in Tomo Ohka or Tony Armas Jr. to fill in the middle of their rotation. Both pitchers played under Minaya when he was GM of the Expos. Ohka would likely require a two-year deal, while Armas might be had for one year and $5MM or so.
Meanwhile, the New York Post adds that the Mets could give Jeff Weaver a second chance in New York. They’d be unlikely to exceed a two-year deal, and I have a hunch someone could offer three. Once again, Scott Boras and Weaver are signing a contract late in the free agent season.
Post-Dispatch Cardinals Update
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently spoke to Cards GM Walt Jocketty, and has an article full of updates.
The Cardinals are still trying to bring back Mark Mulder and/or Jeff Weaver, but aren’t interested in other free agent pitchers. Jeff Suppan would have to offer a discount, which is unlikely. The Cards have a two-year offer out to Mulder. Weaver might wait out both Zito and Suppan before signing. Outside options like Brian Lawrence and Tomo Ohka might be out of the picture.
It also appears that Jocketty doesn’t have any trades on the horizon despite their earlier interest in Carl Pavano. Right now, the rotation appears to be Carpenter, Wells, Reyes, Wainwright, and Looper.
The Cards will bring back Rick Ankiel on a minor league deal. Preston Wilson hopes to return as well.
Cardinals Tidbits
Several good items from Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
- Scott Spiezio is resigned to a 2-year deal.
- Jocketty’s focus seems to be on pitching at the moment: talking about Vincente Padilla, Adam Eaton, and Kip Wells, and trying to bring Jeff Weaver back.
- Also looking for a Mark Mulder-like rotation filler–a nice thought, but I would think that a pre-FA starter would be incredibly pricey in this market.
- Luis Gonzalez and Julio Lugo are unlikely.
By Jeff Sackmann
Jeff Weaver Traded To Cardinals
Breaking word is that Jeff Weaver has been dealt to the Cardinals for minor league outfielder Terry Evans plus cash considerations.
Evans is a 24 year-old outfielder currently hitting .307/.369/.640 in 75 ABs for the Cards’ Double A affiliate. He struggled in High Class A last year, but mastered the level in two months this season. He’s been described as the "out of nowhere prospect who mashed his way out of A ball" by Viva El Birdos.
Weaver is expected to join the team in Houston. News of this trade comes courtesy of Fox Sports Midwest. A week ago, I wrote about how Weaver has had terrible luck and his strikeout and walk rates are similar to expectations.
Special thanks to the St. Louis Swarm Softball organization for passing this along.
HalosHeaven: White Sox Interested In Figgins
Interesting post by our good friends at Halos Heaven. I can vouch that the author of this site has several solid, independent sources close to the organization.
A lot of interest in utility superstar Chone Figgins, who is hitting just .253/.322/.347 this year. Figgins draws a walk about 9% of the time, which is fine for a leadoff hitter if he can hit .290. Halos Heaven notes that if Ozzie Guillen elects Orlando Cabrera (.305/.364/.436) to the All-Star game, the relationship between the two teams could improve enough to facilitate a trade.
The Angels view Figgins as more expendable than Adam Kennedy, who has become the clubhouse leader. I’m told Kennedy desperately wants to stay in Southern California, and will offer the Padres or Dodgers a huge discount after this season. It does seem that Kennedy could block Howie Kendrick for the rest of the season.
The latest on Jeff Weaver is that he’ll be gone before the All-Star break, possibly back to the Dodgers. The Angels will eat his entire salary to get a decent bat in return.