Tigers Not Showing Interest In Joe Beimel
According to Steve Kornacki of MLive.com, the Tigers are not showing any interest in free agent left-hander Joe Beimel.
"Detroit’s absence of communication since the winter meetings (six weeks ago in Las Vegas) leads me to believe they are not interested," Beimel’s agent, Joe Sroba, said Wednesday.
The Tigers claim to be in the hunt for quality arms, so it’s a bit strange that they aren’t tyring to contact a guy like Beimel. He was 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA for the Dodgers last season and proved to be more than a lefty specialist after holding right-handed hitters to a .263 batting average in 95 encounters. Lefties hit .278 against him over 90 at-bats.
Tigers After Affordable Lefty John Parrish
According to John Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers are pursuing free agent left-hander John Parrish.
Parrish spent most of his time last season with the Blue Jays’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse. He was just 1-1 with a 4.04 ERA in six starts and seven relief appearances for the big league club in ’08. The 31-year-old represents a cheaper option than some of the other free agent lefties still on the market, including Joe Beimel, who the Tigers were reportedly courting in early December. Beimel’s agent said Saturday that he has not heard from the Tigers since the Winter Meetings ended.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Jays, Mets, Red Sox, Nats, Yankees
On this date 32 years ago, commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspended Braves owner Ted Turner for one year for tampering. Turner had announced publicly that the Braves would sign free agent-to-be Gary Matthews. Unfortunately, 30 years later, nobody was disciplined when the Angels signed free agent Gary Matthews Jr. to a $50MM contract. In the first two years of the deal, Matthews has been paid $15MM and his play has been worth -$600K (yes, that is negative) according to Fangraphs. With several big free agents still looking for new teams, will any of them be the next Matthews Jr? Only time will tell. In the meantime, let’s see what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- The Eddie Kranepool Society is not worried about Derek Lowe, feeling the deal will get done once the Mets add a fourth option year and sweeten the pot just a tad. They are also putting the Mets front office on notice about the possibility of letting Manny Ramirez slip through their fingers.
- Mets Geek feels the Mets still need to add one more piece to their revamped bullpen and suggest Wil Ohman or Joe Beimel are better options as a lefty specialist than what is already in-house.
- The Southpaw takes a look at some young players the Jays should try to target in the trade market, with Chin-Lung Hu at the top of the list.
- My Baseball Bias is not satisfied with just Mark Teixeira and wants to see the Yankees sign Manny Ramirez.
- Fire Brand of the American League makes a case for three players to be the Red Sox fourth outfielder, including Rocco Baldelli, Brad Wilkerson and Eric Byrnes.
- MLB Notebook takes a look at how the Nationals could spend the $20MM that would have gone to Mark Teixeira.
- River Ave. Blues says this offseason is proving to be a test of just how good Scott Boras can be.
- Sully Baseball is running a series of posts breaking down each team’s all-time home grown versus all-time acquired teams. Here he looks at the Astros.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Mets Make Offer To Lowe
TUESDAY, 7:03pm: It looks as though the first of the Mets’ offers has been issued.
According to Jack Curry of the New York Times, the Mets have offered Derek Lowe a three-year deal, worth a total of $36MM. I imagine half the teams in baseball would be willing to offer that amount to Lowe. The article maintains the current notion that Lowe is the Mets’ first choice to bolster their rotation. He had reportedly been seeking five years and $90MM.
MONDAY: MLB.com’s Marty Noble on the Mets:
They intend to make offers early this week to at least two and probably three free-agent pitchers — Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf — in hopes of signing one of them.
Noble says the Mets continue to rank the three in that order – Lowe, Perez, Wolf. The Mets haven’t shown any indication of wanting to sign more than one. Lowe and Perez should be ready to sign soon now that Scott Boras isn’t occupied with Mark Teixeira.
Noble adds that the Mets aren’t terribly concerned about having only one left-handed reliever on the roster (Pedro Feliciano). They’ll look for bargains rather than pursue a Joe Beimel type. Mets GM Omar Minaya does want to acquire a utility infielder, with Alex Cora atop the list.
Tigers Unlikely For Beimel
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, Joe Beimel‘s agent Joe Sroba is focusing elsewhere after the Tigers failed to make an offer at the Winter Meetings. The lefty reliever probably won’t sign until after the New Year.
Several of Beimel’s previous suitors already locked up their lefties – the Reds, D’Backs, and Rockies are probably out of the picture.
Odds and Ends: Sheets, Moeller, Yankees
Links for Saturday…
- As more teams lock up lefty relievers, Jon Paul Morosi sees the Tigers as more likely to land Joe Beimel.
- Tom Haudricourt has heard that Ben Sheets is more likely to sign with the Rangers, who have Mike Maddux campaigning for them, than the Yankees.
- Peter Schmuck hears that the Orioles have signed catcher Chad Moeller to a minor league deal.
- Ken Davidoff writes that the Yankees shouldn’t concern themselves with Andy Pettitte just yet.
- Dave Perkins of the Toronto Star doesn’t like the Yankees’ aggressive spending.
- Jack Curry of the New York Times writes that the Yankees are instant favorites for the World Series.
- Another New York Times writer, Ben Shpigel, writes that the Mets especially need Oliver Perez now that the Phillies have signed Raul Ibanez.
- RotoAuthority breaks down the re-vamped San Francisco bullpen for fantasy baseball purposes.
- Matt Clement‘s optimistic about his fresh start with the Jays.
- Two players re-signed with their clubs after being non-tendered: Norris Hopper of the Reds and Scott Mathieson of the Phils.
- Hideki Okajima will run a marathon Sunday, and the Red Sox aren’t thrilled.
J.J. Putz Rumors: Wednesday
2:04pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cardinals offered Rick Ankiel and a prospect for Putz. The Tigers remain interested as well.
9:23am: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, "the Tigers’ interest in acquiring closer J.J. Putz from Seattle appears stronger than ever." Morosi says the Mariners insist the Tigers include Jeff Larish and Matt Joyce in a deal. If the Ms acquire Larish and are convinced he can play third base, they may be motivated to shop Adrian Beltre. Morosi adds that Brewers and Cardinals have also inquired on Putz.
Brian Fuentes still seems too pricey for Detroit, and Kerry Wood is apparently off the board. Morosi says the Tigers have "mild interest" in Baltimore’s George Sherrill. Joe Beimel remains their top choice among lefty relievers, but the Tigers have yet to offer a contract.
D’Backs Rumors: Webb, Lopez, Jackson
10:25pm: The D’Backs met with Brandon Webb‘s agent for more than an hour last night. They discussed Webb’s desire to stay in Arizona but there is no extension offer at this time.
Also, the D’Backs could sign pitcher Mike Bascik to a minor league deal for depth.
7:55pm: D’Backs rumors for Tuesday…
- According to Nick Piecoro, the D’Backs met with Scott Boras on Monday to discuss Felipe Lopez. The D’Backs did not make an offer at that meeting. Lopez wants a multiyear deal, and figures to be out of their price range.
- Piecoro heard a Conor Jackson for Kelly Johnson trade was discussed, but it doesn’t have momentum.
- Joe Beimel does not seem to be a priority for Arizona.
- At least one team is looking at Brandon Lyon as a starter.
Tigers Bullpen Rumors
9:15pm: Jon Paul Morosi says Beimel still tops the Tigers’ list among lefties, but they’ve also expressed interest in John Parrish.
2:23pm: MLB.com’s Jason Beck says the Tigers talked to Joe Beimel‘s agent at the Meetings. They intend to sort out their closer situation first though. The Reds also like Beimel.
2:28am: For roughly $4MM in ’09 salaries, the Tigers filled two needs Monday with defensive-minded pickups Gerald Laird and Adam Everett. Now Dave Dombrowski will set his sights on a closer.
Jon Paul Morosi maintains that the Tigers are most interested in J.J. Putz and Kerry Wood. It may come down to how they’d prefer to pay – in prospects or in dollars. Morosi notes that Marcus Thames, expected to earn $2MM+ in ’09, could be shipped out to save additional cash.
Rockies Rumors: Taveras, Villone, Marquis
9:48pm: The Rockies are moving forward on a deal for Rusch, according to Tracy Ringolsby. Ringolsby adds that the Rox may explore a long-term deal with Ubaldo Jimenez after the holidays, but aren’t quite ready to do so with Chris Iannetta. Also, the Rockies like Josh Bard but they don’t have room for him.
1:00pm: Joel Sherman adds Eddie Guardado as a lefty of interest for Colorado.
2:07am: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post sums up the latest hot stove buzz around the Rockies.
- As you know, the Nationals are interested in Rockies outfielder Willy Taveras. Taveras might be just a step above a non-tender, so the price shouldn’t be too high. The real question is whether the Nats are planning on starting four players in the outfield.
- Joe Beimel is dropping out of the picture, but the Rockies still like Alan Embree, Ron Villone, and Glendon Rusch.
- The Mets’ asking price for Aaron Heilman was too high. Jason Marquis could be a trade target, he can at least eat innings at a cost of $6MM to the Rockies. Then again, a lot of guys can do that.
- No chance of multiyear contract talks between the Rockies and Brian Fuentes.