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John Smoltz

Stark’s Latest: Teixeira, Lamb, Ibanez, Blake

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Hot stove highlights from Jayson Stark’s latest…

  • Stark sees the Mets picking up Carlos Delgado’s $12MM option for ’09, taking them out of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes.  He sees the Yankees in the mix for Tex.  Will Teixeira top the $140MM the Rangers offered him?
  • The Yanks will also pursue a top flight starting pitcher, with C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets as Plans A and B.
  • Stark does not see the Braves diving into megadeals for Sabathia, Sheets, or A.J. Burnett.  They’ll have payroll room, but could pursue trades or mid-tier free agents.
  • Stark says friends of Tom Glavine and John Smoltz indicate they both want another go at it in ’09.  They’re hoping the Braves will offer low-base incentivized deals.  If the Braves spurn Glavine, I wonder if he’ll sign with the Nationals.
  • Mike Lamb and the Phillies have mutual interest.  A trade might make more sense than awaiting his release, so that he’d be eligible for the postseason roster.
  • A friend of Raul Ibanez says the Mariners are unlikely to convince him to re-sign.  They’ll snag a couple of draft picks if they offer arbitration and he signs elsewhere.  The prospect of losing a draft pick makes Ibanez less attractive to other teams though.
  • The Dodgers are considering re-signing Casey Blake and moving Blake DeWitt to second base.

Heyman Predicts ’09 Options

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THURSDAY: Reader Christopher G. alerted me to the fact that Smoltz will be a free agent after this season.  According to this MLB.com article, he has a vesting option for ’09 based on pitching 200 innings in ’08.  Obviously Smoltz is unable to reach that total.

WEDNESDAY: SI.com’s Jon Heyman weighs in on 12 players with options for ’09, speculating on whether they will be exercised.  Most of the dozen are easy to predict, except for John Smoltz at $12MM and Brad Penny at $9.25MM with a $2MM buyout.  Heyman sees both of those being picked up.

You can browse all of the options in our 2009 MLB free agents list.  Some players that Heyman did not discuss:

  • Rod Barajas ($2.5MM option, $0.5MM buyout) – He was awful in July, but overall he’s had a solid offensive year.  They’ll exercise it.
  • Hank Blalock ($6.2MM option, $0.25MM buyout) – Another lost year for Blalock, who is not capable of playing third base currently.  He’s only 27, so figure the Rangers will try one more time to get value out of him.  Blalock was almost traded for Josh Beckett back in the day.
  • Cliff Floyd ($2.75MM option, $0.25MM buyout) – There’s been some retirement chatter, but I see both sides wanting one more year.
  • Wily Mo Pena ($5MM club option or $2MM player option) – The club will decline, but Pena should exercise accept his option.  He had shoulder surgery in July and hopes to be ready for spring training.
  • Brian Giles ($9MM option, $3MM buyout) – This seems like an easy call to exercise, but there have been rumblings that the Padres might decline due to payroll concerns.
  • Tim Wakefield (perpetual $4MM option) – Easy call to exercise once again.
  • Salomon Torres ($3.75MM option, $0.3MM buyout) – Torres’ surprising emergence as the Crew’s best relief acquisition means he stays.
  • Tom Gordon ($4.5MM option, $1MM buyout) – If Gordon needs Tommy John surgery, this will be declined and then he may retire.
  • Damaso Marte ($6MM option, $0.25MM buyout) – At one point I might’ve said the Yanks would exercise this, choosing to pay extra for the short commitment.  But now it looks like he’ll become a free agent.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Kotsay, Fuentes, Glavine, Smoltz

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On August 18th, Rosenthal mentioned Mark Kotsay had cleared waivers, and that Brian Fuentes had not yet been placed.  Here’s an update, from today’s Inside Pitch video:

  • The Brewers and Red Sox are both showing interest in Kotsay.  The Brewers would only pursue a trade if Ryan Braun’s ribcage injury worsens, and so far he looks more than fine.  The Sox made a play for lefty-hitting Brian Giles before Giles vetoed the deal, so it makes sense that they’d exert similar effort toward Kotsay. Even more so now that J.D. Drew has a herniated disc.
  • Fuentes is expected to be put on waivers this week, a process that’s not usually made public, let alone announced, so the Rockies must be keen to see if they can do better in a trade than the two first round draft picks they get by keeping Fuentes.  According to Rosenthal, as things stand, the Dodgers currently have waiver priority.  If they pass for salary reasons, the Phillies could be a roadblock for the Mets.
  • Rosenthal also mentions a delicate situation in Atlanta: Tom Glavine and John Smoltz both want to pitch next year, and Glavine only wants to pitch for the Braves.  The Braves are faced with re-signing the inevitable Hall of Famers without being as reliant on their health as they were this year, or letting them go despite their long history with the team. Toss Mike Hampton’s arm into the mix as well.

Heyman’s Latest: Bowden, Helton, Maddux, K-Rod

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Let’s take a look at the latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

  • Despite the headline "Nats GM in trouble," Heyman says Jim Bowden has the support of his bosses.  They do not blame him for Aaron Crow and are not concerned with his possible connection to the scout skimming scandal.
  • Heyman suggests the Rockies could shop first baseman Todd Helton this winter if he demonstrates a healthy back in September.  Here’s the thing – if Helton was a free agent and you had to give him a three-year deal, what would you pay?  $5MM a year maybe?  Are the Rockies going to eat $40MM?  Helton might have to be swapped for another bad contract.
  • Heyman sees Ryan Dempster getting four years and $48MM, and Oliver Perez snagging $60MM over five.  Are they worth that?
  • People close to Greg Maddux are saying he wants to pitch next year.  Heyman also sees John Smoltz and Tom Glavine back in ’09.
  • "Some are expecting" the Reds to be big players in free agency this year.  The Reds figure to be in the market for catching and outfield help.  Manny Ramirez would be interesting.
  • Heyman wonders if the Mets will be players for Francisco Rodriguez this winter.

Talking Retirement: Smoltz, Trachsel, Mercker

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Today we’ve got a trio of pitchers who may be ready to call it quits.

  • John Smoltz will have season-ending shoulder surgery.  Retirement is not out of the question, but right now he’s got his eye on returning in ’09.
  • Jeff Zrebiec talked with Steve Trachsel in spring; he’ll probably retire if the Orioles release him.
  • Hal McCoy expects Kent Mercker to hang it up.  He’s on the 60-day DL with a sore back.

Smoltz Situation Could Prompt Trade

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John Smoltz is planning to return from the DL as a reliever in three weeks or so.  This leaves the Braves with question marks in the rotation beyond Tim Hudson, Tom Glavine, and Jair Jurrjens.

The fifth starter job is often in flux for a lot of teams, but it seems the Braves need to figure out one more long-term starter for the year.  The Braves do have some arms to bring up from Triple A, namely lefties Jo-Jo Reyes and Chuck James.  Reyes has a 1.17 ERA in five starts.

In my opinion, the Braves need an innings eater if anything.  Two trade possibilities come to mind: Joe Blanton and Kevin Millwood.  I wonder if Billy Beane would demand top prospect Jason Heyward.

Odds and Ends: Thames, Sosa, Inge, Crisp

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Here’s today’s link roundup.

Braves Extend John Smoltz

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John Schuerholz, the Braves’ "homeboy upstairs," came through with a contract extension for ace pitcher John Smoltz today.  A March report questioned whether Smoltz would remain a Brave, and the pitcher publicly considered moving on from the Braves last August.  But now he’ll finish his career with Atlanta, which just feels right.

Basically Smoltz is guaranteed a fair-market $14MM next year, with additional options based on innings pitched.  He said in the past he wouldn’t sign any more team-friendly deals, but this one does lean towards the Braves.  They’re only obligated to him if he stays healthy and makes 30+ starts.  He probably could’ve gotten two years guaranteed on the open market despite his age.

Smoltz seems a lock for the Hall of Fame, as he’ll have 200+ wins and 154 saves to his name.

There’s one less free agent starter to be had; check out the updated list here.

Yankees Won’t Renegotiate With A-Rod

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In case you missed Jon Heyman’s scoop yesterday: Brian Cashman won’t renegotiate Alex Rodriguez’s contract after this season.  I imagine he went public with it in attempt to put the onus back on A-Rod when he leaves after the season.  For once, Rodriguez is not biting and won’t discuss it further with the media.  Heyman reiterates that Rodriguez will not consent to a trade if the Yankees are in contention.  Other notes from the column:

  • Out of all the relievers on the market, Jorge Julio seems the most likely to be dealt.
  • Heyman thinks John Smoltz is done with team-friendly contracts and will leave the Braves after 2007.  Could the Red Sox replace Curt Schilling with him?
  • Devil Rays "second baseman" Jorge Cantu is on the block.  I think he has been for some time.  I believe there is a federal law mandating mention of his 117 RBI season in any Cantu trade rumor.  Ooh boy, look at all those ribbies!  Perhaps the Rays would shift Akinori Iwamura or B.J. Upton to second base.  In any case, I don’t think Cantu is part of the long-term plan.

Smoltz Chats With Schuerholz

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One thing I forgot to mention when quoting John Smoltz a couple of days ago was his reference to Schuerholz as "the homeboy upstairs."  Didn’t seem newsworthy.  However, there has been some minor debate within the Braves community.  Was it offensive, was it part of an agenda, stuff like that.  To see Smoltz and Schuerholz’s take on that, check out David O’Brien’s blog for the AJC.

More importantly, O’Brien mentions that "the Braves are surely going to pick up the option."  As I mentioned before, it’s a no-brainer.  The more interesting question is whether the two parties will hammer out a contract extension to allow Smoltz to finish his career as a Brave.  He’s stated his desire to do so publicly.

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