Levine On Fukudome
Interesting stuff from ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine this morning regarding Kosuke Fukudome.
- The Rangers offered the most money.
- The White Sox were not outbid – they offered about the same as the Cubs. However, Fukudome did not want to displace Jermaine Dye from right field.
- Fukudome was just intrigued by the Cubs, and liked the idea of being their first Japanese player.
Jermaine Dye Signs Contract Extension
Another below-market deal for the White Sox – they’ve signed right fielder Jermaine Dye to a two-year, $22MM contract extension. The deal also includes a mutual option at $12MM for 2010 with a $1MM buyout attached. At one point it seemed Kenny Williams would surely unload both Mark Buehrle and Dye, but instead he’s extended the veterans.
It’s hard not to like the deal. The free agent alternatives – guys like Kosuke Fukudome, Milton Bradley, maybe Geoff Jenkins – are not decidedly better. Fukudome might be able to challenge Dye, but he’ll get a larger, riskier contract.
The main concern is that Dye’s contract covers his age 34-35 seasons, though the White Sox have a crack medical staff. They probably won’t have an open DH spot until 2010, as Jim Thome‘s $13MM option for ’09 is reasonable and has a $3MM buyout attached. The White Sox have to hope Dye doesn’t follow the career path of top PECOTA comparable Dave Henderson.
Looking at 2008, the White Sox have over $92MM committed if Joe Crede is retained.
Random Rumors: Erstad, Gagne, Podsednik
Here’s a smattering of random rumors.
- The Twins have tried and failed to acquire Mike Piazza, Jermaine Dye, and Kevin Mench. Instead of Dye, the White Sox offered up 33 year-old outfielder Darin Erstad, he of the .671 OPS. The Twins passed.
- Eric Gagne will apparently earn Type A status as a free agent, despite pitching only two innings in 2006. Rob Bradford has the details. This was apparently a big factor for the Red Sox in making the deal.
- The Chicago Sun-Times debunks a rumor that the Cubs are trying to trade for Scott Podsednik. How come I wasn’t told about this rumor previously? Who started it? I feel left out.
- The Pirates and Tigers are still talking about Jack Wilson. Apparently the deadline version of the deal died when the Bucs asked for Craig Monroe. Really? The deal died over that guy?
- Gordon Edes has a Major League source indicating that the Orioles are "the kind of team that might have interest" in Wily Mo Pena. That’s not the same as saying that they do have interest, however.
Failed Trades
Let’s take a look at some deals that almost happened yesterday.
Kyle Farnsworth for Bob Wickman. This would’ve been fun, reunions with former teams for both players. However, the Braves wanted the Yankees to pick up all of Farnsworth’s salary, apparently. Brian Cashman didn’t want to make him go away that badly, and Wickman would probably be a nonfactor back in the AL.
Mariners acquire Mark Loretta. Eh. Let’s not overstate the abilities of Loretta. It sounds like Tim Purpura wanted some kind of legitimate prospect for him.
Rockies send Jeff Baker and others to Tampa Bay for Dan Wheeler. We can’t really evaluate this one without knowing who else would’ve been involved. And the Rays don’t really have a place to play Baker; they’re already squeezed finding playing time for Jonny Gomes. If Rocco Baldelli ever gets healthy they’ll really have a pickle. I mentioned in a recent interview at D-Rays Bay – Wheeler would probably be one of the ten best relievers available if he was a free agent after the season. The Rays can pump up his value and get a promising young pitcher next year, as the Royals did with Octavio Dotel.
Brewers send Tony Gwynn Jr., Zach Jackson, and another minor league for Eric Gagne. This could’ve been the difference-maker that Scott Linebrink ain’t in a tight NL Central race. But it doesn’t seem like Doug Melvin got a chance to counter the Red Sox offer, so you can’t really fault him.
Red Sox send Wily Mo Pena and Craig Hansen to White Sox for Jermaine Dye. Well, there has to be some statistical way to evaluate whether this pair beats two draft picks. You’d have to know the attrition rates of first/second rounders, and get some scouts on Pena and Hansen to see if they can ever reach their potential. If I was the Kenny Williams I probably would’ve made the deal. I think Pena gets docked in value from where he was two years ago, but still has pretty much the same upside if you manage him right. Who knows, maybe Williams will go after Pena again this winter.
White Sox Talking Extension With Dye
It sounds like the White Sox will truly entertain a contract extension for right fielder Jermaine Dye, but only if they get him at a discount price once again. They’ve paid just $16.75MM for Dye to hit .280/.344/.542 for them over 381 games so far since 2005. Among right fielders, only Vladimir Guerrero has slugged higher from 2005 to present.
Dye says "Something can probably get done." Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times believes Dye wants three years, but the White Sox are hesistant to even do two. I get the impression the Sox want to do one year with a reasonable option for 2009, but might guarantee the second year if the price is right. A decent comparable might be Jim Edmonds‘ two-year, $19MM extension. However, Dye wouldn’t get the no-trade protection Edmonds did. And the Edmonds contract might actually serve as a cautionary tale for Kenny Williams.
The White Sox will have some offseason alternatives for right field – Kosuke Fukudome, Bobby Abreu, Milton Bradley, Geoff Jenkins, Trot Nixon, and Shawn Green. They’ll have to weigh those players against Dye. Teams often pass on the in-house option just to get some fresh blood, even if it’s not logical. We’ll have to wait and see what the White Sox decide.
Dye To Boston May Be Dead; Extension Coming?
UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal’s source says the Dye to Boston deal is "seemingly dead." He lists the Cubs, Angels, and D’Backs as possible alternatives.
UPDATE 2: Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune still thinks the White Sox might hammer out some kind of two-year extension with Dye. But Kenny Williams has a half hour to see if he can get something better than Pena and Hansen.
According to Jayson Stark’s sources, the Boston’s latest offer for Jermaine Dye was Wily Mo Pena and Craig Hansen. The White Sox want Manny Delcarmen instead; perhaps the Red Sox will be more willing to do that if they complete the Eric Gagne trade. Otherwise, the White Sox may just take Pena and Hansen over the two draft picks they’d get if they kept Dye.
Yankees Discouraged On Gagne, Cubs Still In?
UPDATE: Peter Abraham confirms that the Yankees seem unlikely for Gagne. He says the Red Sox are offering David Murphy and Kason Gabbard, while the Cubs are still quietly involved. Not sure whether Gagne would have to consent to a trade to the Cubs, but he could be used as their closer without a major uprising.
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Yankees aren’t liking their chances to get Eric Gagne. That might mean he’s going to the Red Sox, Mets, or Brewers, or that he’s staying put.
The Mets don’t seem likely given some previous reports and the Rangers’ demand for Carlos Gomez.
The Red Sox would probably give up David Murphy and the Brewers would surrender Tony Gwynn Jr. If the Rangers would settle for Gwynn, a deal could happen quickly because Gagne cannot veto a trade there. However, he can block a move to Boston and that would present another obstacle.
Speaking of the Red Sox, Rosenthal sees their chances for Jermaine Dye faded. After all, that deal would have a no-trade obstacle too.
Dye Not Asked To Waive No-Trade Yet
The Boston Globe’s Gordon Edes spoke to Jermaine Dye‘s agent, Robert Bry. It seems that certain concessions will have to be made for Dye to approve a trade to Boston – most likely money rather than playing time.
However, Bry has yet to be contacted regarding Dye waiving the no-trade clause. That implies that the Red Sox and White Sox still haven’t reached an accord. If they are to pull off a Dye trade, it might go down to the wire.
Jermaine Dye Travels With White Sox
This is barely a rumor or anything, but the Tribune’s Mark Gonzales notes that Jermaine Dye accompanied the White Sox to New York to play the Yankees. Of course, Dye could hop a plane to Boston pretty easily if a deal goes down.
Tim Brown’s Latest
Yahoo’s Tim Brown has a new post up; let’s take a look.
- Brown ran all types of starting pitchers by a "large-market assistant," and confirmed that no one good is available. However, Joe Blanton might be switched from "not available" to "available but expensive" on Brown’s list.
- The Diamondbacks have turned their focus to starting pitching. Good luck with that – they should’ve just pushed harder to get Mark Teixeira.
- The D’Backs aren’t interested in Jermaine Dye, although he would seemingly be a nice fit for them.
- The Blue Jays are listening to offers for Troy Glaus, but interest is surprisingly low. I have to say, I’m really surprised that we’re not hearing more about Glaus and Adam Dunn right now with Teixeira off the market. The Padres, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, and others could all use a power bat.