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J.J. Putz

Phillies, Pirates, Astros Eyeing J.J. Putz

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The Phillies, Pirates, and Astros have inquired on free agent reliever J.J. Putz, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.  Earlier today, Crasnick named the Rangers as a suitor.

It was a lost season with the Mets for Putz, who pitched only 29.3 innings due to an elbow problem.  Back in 2006-07, Putz was one of the game's best relievers, striking out 186 and walking just 26 while compiling a 1.86 ERA.  His '06 season led to a three-year, $13.1MM extension with the Mariners.  He joined the Mets a year ago as part of a three-way trade.

While Putz would prefer to close this year, he'd be open to an eighth-inning job.

Rangers, Astros Eyeing Brett Myers

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The Rangers and Astros have interest in free agent righty Brett Myers, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.  Myers, 29, posted a 4.84 ERA in 70.6 innings this year, working around hip surgery.  We learned last month that the Phillies won't be re-signing Myers, who is open to starting or relieving in 2010.

For the Astros, using Myers in the rotation would probably mean bumping Felipe Paulino.  The Astros' rotation actually isn't too bad, but added depth would be nice.  The Astros could use back-end bullpen help as well, with the statuses of Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins up in the air.

Crasnick names Myers and J.J. Putz as pitchers on the Rangers' radar; they're apparently hoping to sign a pitcher to an incentive-based deal.  The Rangers have good rotation depth, so Myers might fit better in the bullpen.

Rays Rumors: Crawford, Upton, Zaun

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Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times has the latest on the Rays' offseason plans. The highlights:

  • The Rays are said to be interested in discussing a long-term extension with Carl Crawford. If the team does decide to move him, however, the Mets and Braves have expressed interest.
  • The Rangers and White Sox are among the teams interested in acquiring B.J. Upton.
  • Executive VP Andrew Friedman on his team's offseason targets: "We have a list of guys on other teams we have an interest in, and a list of free agents as well. And depending on how the market evolves on both fronts, it will go a long way toward shaping our thought process…. We feel like there are a lot of talented names out there."
  • Smith notes that the Rays have a history of signing relievers who are coming off injuries or down years. He mentions Kevin Gregg and J.J. Putz as a couple of possibilities in that realm.
  • The club could be open to bringing back Gregg Zaun and giving last season's catching platoon of Zaun and Dioner Navarro another try.

Tigers Notes: Laird, Putz, Lyon

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While the Edwin Jackson trade rumors are the biggest item out of the Motor City today, here are a few other Tiger-related tidbits…

  • The FOX Sports team of Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal are reporting that Detroit is also shopping Gerald Laird.  The catcher hit .225/.306/.320 last season while making $2.8MM, and the Tigers would like to save some money by finding another catcher who can hit the same (or, as they surely hope, better) for a lesser contract.
  • Michigan native J.J. Putz would be an attractive local-boy candidate for the Detroit bullpen, but Putz told MLB.com's Jason Beck that he is interested in playing for several teams, not just his home-state club.  Putz and his agent said they had yet to be contacted by the Tigers.
  • MLive.com's Steve Kornacki reports there is "mutual interest" between the Tigers and free agent reliever Brandon Lyon about the right-hander returning to Detroit.  Lyon had a strong 2.86 ERA in 65 appearances for the Tigers last season and said that they are "the first team [he] will talk to," though he stressed that he wants a multi-year contract.

Rosenthal And Morosi On Harden, Putz, Wagner

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3:35pm: More from Rosenthal and Morosi:

  • The White Sox are expected to add a leadoff man, but Chone Figgins still seems too expensive.
  • John Smoltz is open to starting or relieving next year. He figures to end up in the NL after his failed stint with the Red Sox.
  • Phillies officials "strongly downplayed" the idea that they could trade for Roy Halladay. The NL Champs will focus instead on third base and the bullpen.

12:38pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi are constantly updating their blog at FOX Sports with more info from the GM meetings. Here are some highlights from today:

  • Rich Harden could be a good fit for the Seattle Mariners, especially given his past success in the American League West and the close proximity of his hometown (Victoria, British Columbia) to Seattle.
  • Given their need for some offensive punch, the Mariners will also "kick the tires" on Jason Bay, says one major league source. As ESPN.com's Jason Grey points out, the Mariners have Dustin Ackley and Michael Saunders coming up through the system, so signing an outfielder like Bay to a long-term deal may not appeal to Jack Zduriencik.
  • J.J. Putz's agent Craig Landis says that his client wouldn't mind accepting a setup role. "He has a preference to be a closer, but absolutely will not rule out an eighth-inning job depending upon many factors," says Landis. The factors Landis mentions include location, coaching staff, team strength, and, of course, money.
  • Bean Stringfellow, Billy Wagner's agent, claims that six teams have called about the left-hander, and that all of them are interested in Wagner as a closer. We heard earlier today that Wagner's value could be hurt by his Type A status, but if you believe Stringfellow, it's not looking like a problem so far.
  • The Yankees are "taking it slow" in their discussions with Hideki Matsui.

Discussion: J.J. Putz

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We learned this week that, as expected, the New York Mets declined J.J. Putz's pricey 2010 option. Now that the righty has filed for free agency, tonight's discussion topic focuses on where he might land.

Putz last signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners, following a strong 2006 campaign as the team's closer. The deal was for $13.1MM over three years (plus incentives), and it looked like the club might have themselves a bargain when Putz posted a 1.38 ERA and 40 saves in 2007. Unfortunately, the next two seasons, one with the Mariners and one with the Mets, were marred by injuries, raising doubts about Putz's current worth.

Given his health problems, it would be very surprising to see Putz regain his 2007 form. However, his value has taken such a hit that teams could view the former closer as a less expensive gamble this offseason.

The Detroit Tigers might be a good fit. They pursued Putz aggressively a year ago and are faced with decisions on whether to bring back Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney. If Putz wanted to stay in the NL East, the Philadelphia Phillies will probably be looking for bullpen options. It's easy to imagine either team, or a handful of others, attempting to sign the 32-year-old to an inexpensive (but incentive-laden) short-term deal.

Where do you see Putz playing in 2010, and what kind of contract do you expect him to sign?

Tigers Talk: Rodney, Lyon, Polanco, Everett

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The Tigers already removed Marcus Thames and Matt Treanor from the roster today, making both players free agents, and now Lynn Henning of The Detroit News has some more hot stove talk for us… 

  • GM Dave Dombrowski replied "Nothing hot and heavy" when asked if there was any trade dialogue ongoing.
  • The Tigers would "likely bite on an affordable two-year deal" for Fernando Rodney, but would probably not want to gamble on anything longer.
  • Brandon Lyon's agent, Barry Meister, emphasized that his client wants to know what his job description in 2010 will be ahead of time. The Tigers may not be willing to commit to him as closer, and Lyon knows that's where the money is.
  • Placido Polanco "has all but been consigned to free agency."
  • Henning thinks the "best bet" is that Adam Everett and the team agree to a "mutually pleasing" contract.
  • Detroit will make no effort to sign either Jarrod Washburn or Aubrey Huff. Washburn has already said that he isn't expecting to get an offer from his post-trade deadline employer.
  • The Tigers have already traded away their most expendable minor league arms, so they aren't blessed with much trade ammo.
  • John Lowe of The Detroit Free Press says the Tigers weren't involved in trade talks for J.J. Hardy. Brewers' GM Doug Melvin said he was looking for a centerfielder or cost efficient pitching, and he "did not see a match."
  • MLB.com's Jason Beck notes that the Tigers were deep in talks with the Mariners for Michigan native J.J. Putz last offseason, but they can now take him on as a "low-risk, high-reward signing" if they so choose.

Mets Decline Option On J.J. Putz

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FRIDAY: The Mets officially declined Putz's option, according to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News.  Rubin adds that the Mets exercised an option to pay Mike Pelfrey $500K in 2010, after which he'll be arbitration-eligible.

THURSDAY: According to Bart Hubbuch of The New York Post, the Mets have informed reliever J.J. Putz that they will not pick up his $9.1MM option for 2010, instead paying him a $1MM buyout. Hubbuch says the club cited health concerns when breaking the news to Putz.

The 32-year-old righthander appeared in just 29 games for the Mets before going down with an elbow injury that eventually required surgery. Putz's velocity was down all year, and his walk rate has jumped nearly four walks per nine innings pitched in the last two seasons.

Odds & Ends: Holliday, Putz, Lopez, Teahen, Reds

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It's been a busy first day on the hot stove, so here's another batch of links…

  • Derrick Goold of The St. Lous Post Dispatch says there are eight teams "that have the need and the financial wherewithal" to sign Matt Holliday. It's the usual suspects (i.e. big market clubs), and Goold explains why each may be interested in Holliday.
  • Craig Landis, agent for J.J. Putz, said that his client "hasn't ruled out returning to the Mets with a cheaper, incentive-laden deal," according to Bart Hubbuch of The NY Post. Earlier today we learned that the Mets informed Putz that they wouldn't be picking up his 2010 option.
  • MLB.com's Adam McCalvy says the Brewers are waiting to see whether Felipe Lopez qualifies as a Type-A or B free agent, and that will likely play a role in their decision whether or not to offer him arbitration. Eddie Bajek's work projects Lopez to be a Type-B, but he's right on the cutoff.
  • ESPN's Keith Law loves the Mark Teahen trade for the Royals, noting that they traded one average player close to free agency for two average players with several years of team control left.
  • John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Reds' relievers Nick Masset and Jared Burton are arbitration eligible as Super Two's, but Micah Owings is not.
  • Meanwhile, the Reds are expected to decline Ramon Hernandez's $8.5MM option for 2010, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. 
  • David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal Constitution has some quotes from Tim Hudson about his contract extension.
  • Did you catch Mariano Rivera saying that he wants to play another five years during the Yankees' World Series celebration last night? It turns out he wasn't kidding. Chad Jennings of The Journal News quotes the Yanks' closer as saying “I’m serious. I hope the organization does whatever it takes to bring me back.”

Rosenthal On Vazquez, Hairston, Teahen

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Javier Vazquez has more value than any available hitter. Here are the details and the rest of Rosenthal's rumors:

  • Not even Matt Holliday or Corey Hart would be fair value for Vazquez, so Rosenthal asks why the Braves would want to trade him at all.
  • The Mets inquired on Scott Hairston, who could have been an affordable stopgap, but balked when the Padres asked for Bobby Parnell.
  • The Marlins offered Gaby Sanchez for Manny Delcarmen, but the Red Sox weren't interested.  
  • The Mariners, Tigers and Rays weren't far from agreeing to a deal that would have sent Edwin Jackson to Seattle and J.J. Putz to Detroit last offseason.  
  • Kevin Towers compares Rule 5 pick Everth Cabrera to Rafael Furcal. 
  • The Royals "do not seem terribly inclined" to deal Mark Teahen.  
  • The Pirates covet Eric Young Jr. of the Rockies.  
  • Some predict that the distribution of amateur talent- through the draft and international signings- will be the biggest issue in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement.
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