Rosenthal On Junior, Twins, Cardinals
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears the Mariners will not reject Ken Griffey Jr. if he decides to return next season. Here are the details and the rest of Rosenthal's rumors:
- Junior will decide whether he wants to return for another season after this one ends.
- GM Jack Zduriencik says the Mariners will wait to hear from Griffey before proceeding with the rest of their offseason plans.
- One source tells Rosenthal that the team would bring Griffey back if the 13-time All-Star wants to return. A second source suggests Griffey may be willing to take on a reduced role for a reduced salary.
- Rosenthal suggests the Twins will need to add a veteran starter this offseason. He mentions Randy Wolf as a possible target for the club.
- Orlando Cabrera and Joe Crede are free agents, so the team will likely have to re-structure the left side of its infield.
- Rosenthal wonders how Cardinals pitchers will fare if highly-regarded pitching coach Dave Duncan moves on next year.
Crede Wants To Return To The Twins
Joe Crede told Kelsie Smith of the Pioneer Press that he wants to return to the Twins in 2010, though he's prepared for another long job search this offseason. The third baseman didn't sign with the Twins until Spring Training this year, partially because of concerns over his health. Crede has missed time because of back injuries over the years and the injuries forced him to the DL last month.
The Twins signed Crede to an incentive-laden deal that will pay him at least $4MM by the season's end. He could attract similar offers this offseason, but it would be a surprise to see any team commit significant dollars or years to Crede. The 31-year-old offsets his .229/.293/.421 batting line with strong defense (according to UZR/150), but Crede realizes he may have another tough offseason ahead.
Twins Rumors: Potential Free Agents, Mauer
We already know that the Twins weren't able to swing a deal with the Cubs for pitcher Rich Harden today, but the Minnesota rumors don't end there. Let's recap some miscellaneous items…
- Twins GM Bill Smith said there will be no negotiations with potential free agents Carl Pavano, Orlando Cabrera, Joe Crede, and Mike Redmond until after the season, according to Sid Hartman of The Star Tribune.
- After word got out that the team has the money to keep megastar Joe Mauer in Minnesota, R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs took a look at the math and says that "unless Mauer really loves the area and takes a team friendly deal, I’m not sure they can meet his market value, and maybe you could argue they shouldn’t given the risks associated with being a catcher."
One thing to remember is that the Twins have brand new Target Field set to open next year, and new stadiums are almost always a cash cow for at least the first few years.
Crede: Retirement Rumors Are False
Joe Crede tells MLB.com's Tyler Mason that in spite of some recent rumors suggesting he's considering retirement, he has no such intention.
"I know I have more years in me. I still love the game," Crede said. "I have no plans of retiring."
The Chicago Tribune reported Saturday that Crede might opt to retire after the season, but Crede says he has no idea how those rumors emerged. Crede has had back trouble throughout his career, but he's only 31 and he's managed 15 homers this year.
Joe Crede Considering Retirement?
According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, Twins third baseman Joe Crede might opt to retire after this season.
Crede has dealt with back issues for years and was placed on the disabled list Friday night after an epidural failed to relieve his ongoing lower back discomfort. At the young age of 31, it'd be a tragedy to see him go, but he's a free agent in the fall and obviously has the right to end his career on his own terms. Crede is a .254/.304/.444 career hitter. He won a Silver Slugger award in 2006 and was named an All-Star for the first time in 2008.
Odds And Ends: Draft, Francoeur, Crede
More links for your Friday afternoon…
- ESPN.com's Keith Law says next year's draft won't be as stacked as the 2011 edition and lacks one player who's clearly better than his peers.
- Todd Coppernoll of Brewerfan.net has a Rollie Fingers interview up, complete with Charlie Finley anecdotes and memories of the 1982 World Series.
- Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Atlanta Braves and Jeff Francoeur would be better off without each other. Almost 80% of the readers polled agree.
- Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press says Joe Crede, who now has ten homers, is on a pace to earn $4.5MM in incentives.
- Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune doesn't think Pedro Martinez is the answer for the Cubs.
- Check out my discussion with the Benchwarmers on KFNS 590 in St. Louis.
Heyman On Pedro, Manny, Crede
The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…
- Heyman sees the Pedro Martinez sweepstakes as between the Dodgers and Mets, but he might have to come down to the $2.5MM range. The Mets don’t seem thrilled with Tim Redding, who "came to camp with a sore shoulder and 20 pounds overweight."
- If Manny Ramirez opts out after the ’09 season, he’ll seek a three-year deal. Heyman suggests Manny may be better off staying in L.A. than signing with a New York team.
- Heyman spoke to one White Sox person who questioned Joe Crede‘s ability to play on the Minnesota turf.
Odds and Ends: Smoltz, Crede, Burnett
A few links for Sunday evening…
- Chicago Tribune reporters Todd Lighty and Oscar Avila have more info on the David Wilder bonus-skimming scandal.
- Terence Moore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talked to John Smoltz recently about players leaving or choosing not to sign with the Braves.
- SI.com’s Pablo S. Torre digs into Ken Griffey Jr.‘s decision.
- Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel learned that Marlins third baseman Dallas McPherson (42 home runs at Triple A last year) would like 500 at-bats, but a bench role is more likely. McPherson is out of options.
- Joe Crede talked about the White Sox going young, but Ozzie Guillen did not agree.
- Newsday’s Kat O’Brien talked to A.J. Burnett, who was leaning toward the Yankees well before he signed. He chatted often with Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon this winter.
- Speaking of Damon, River Ave. Blues points out a passage in Joe Torre’s book about how the Yankees chose Rondell White over him back in ’02.
- Nationals special assistant Jose Rijo is taking a leave of absence, partially because of the Esmailyn Gonzalez scandal. ESPN’s Jorge Arangure Jr. has much more on the situation, after talking to Gonzalez/Lugo’s trainer.
- South Side Sox takes a stab at fixing free agent compensation.
- Orlando Hudson could’ve had $24MM for 2009-11 if he’d taken an offer the D’Backs made before the ’08 season. Nick Piecoro says Hudson’s counteroffer was "so unrealistic that it actually upset people with the Diamondbacks."
Twins, Joe Crede Agree To Terms
SATURDAY, 10:48am: La Velle E. Neal III heard from a source that the Twins are expected to announce the signing this afternoon. Crede is apparently on a plane to Fort Myers.
Neal adds the terms of the contract. The Star-Tribune’s source suggest the deal guarantees Crede $2.5MM, but could pay him up to $7MM depending on how many plate appearances he makes. The incentives start at 250 PAs and continue until Crede comes to bat for the 525th time.
FRIDAY: Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune cites "a major league source" who says that Joe Crede and the Twins have agreed to terms. No details of the contract were available, but La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote earlier tonight that it appeared Crede "is willing to sign for less than the $7MM base that we believed he was seeking."
Even battling back issues, Crede’s third base defense is among the game’s best. Last year he saved 13 more bases than the average third baseman despite missing a third of the season.
Twins Closing In On Deal With Joe Crede
6:36pm: La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that there are indications that Joe Crede "is willing to sign for less than the $7MM base that we believed he was seeking."
Neal reached Boras, who would only say, "We are in discussions. Nothing has been finalized."
Neal adds that he spoke with another person with knowledge of the talks. "The sense I got was the that Smith and Boras could be one call from wrapping things up," Neal says. "But given the several weeks that talks have gone on – and with full-squad workouts set to begin – the Twins could decide to stick with what they have and move on."
6:04pm: According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, Giants sources say they are "not in last-minute negotiations" with Scott Boras regarding Crede. The Giants have told Boras they will not go beyond the one-year deal they have on the table.
4:11pm:According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Twins are closing in on a deal with third baseman Joe Crede.