Tigers Notes: Ordonez, Guillen, Catcher, Jose Reyes
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski spoke to reporters today; here's the latest from John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press on Twitter.
- It's very unlikely free agents Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen will be back next year. Reliever Joel Zumaya would be on a minor league deal if he returns.
- Victor Martinez will be the Tigers' full-time designated hitter next year, so Dombrowski will seek a back-up catcher for Alex Avila.
- Dombrowski sees the arbitration eligible Delmon Young as his left fielder in 2012 on a one-year deal. Matt Swartz projects Young to earn $6.3MM next year through the arbitration process.
- "In so many words, Dombrowski ruled out any run at [Jose] Reyes," tweets Lowe.
- Most likely, Jacob Turner and other youngsters will compete for the Tigers' fifth starter job next spring, with a veteran on board for projection, tweets MLB.com's Jason Beck.
Mets Notes: Reyes, Harris, Hairston, Wright
The Mets announced that they're lowering their outfield fences and moving them in for the 2012 season. The wall will be as much as 12 feet closer to home plate in some places, which should make Citi Field — currently the 28th hardest park to homer in — more hitter-friendly. Here are some more updates on the club…
- MetsBlog has graphics of the new look for Citi Field.
- Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that the Mets don't expect Jose Reyes to sign in November. The Mets will decide whether to make a competitive offer for Reyes once other teams set the market for him. Martino reports that the Mets won't sign free agents Willie Harris or Scott Hairston until much later in the offseason, if at all.
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson asked Reyes' representatives how much it would take to lock him up, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). When Reyes didn't respond, the Mets decided to wait and see how the market develops.
- Alderson told reporters, including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, that he expects David Wright to return to the Mets in 2012.
- Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com gets the impression that the Mets' payroll could dip below $100MM on Opening Day (Twitter link). The Mets have had a payroll of at least $100MM every season since 2004.
Mets To Let Other Teams Set Market For Reyes
The Mets intend to allow other clubs to set the market for Jose Reyes this offseason, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Mets officials have suggested that the Nationals, Marlins and Angels could bid heavily on the free agent shortstop this offseason and the Mets would prefer that others clubs establish the market for him.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggested a week ago that the Mets don't want to offer Reyes more than four years and Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog hears from team sources who give him the same impression. If that’s the case, there’s a strong chance Reyes’ best offer will come from another organization. The 28-year-old finished the season well and may have a case for a $100MM contract.
Cafardo On Farrell, Red Sox, Rollins, Oswalt
When the Red Sox and manager Terry Francona parted ways, Blue Jays skipper John Farrell was the preferred candidate to manage the team, a major league source told Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe. There's conflicting information on how much the Red Sox have explored this possibility but they've internally considered a few managers and the one who would fit best would be Farrell. One source said the BoSox wouldn't want to give compensation to a division rival while another thought the issue already had been brought up and the discussions didn't get very far.
The Red Sox have been hesitant to turn to bench coach DeMarlo Hale for the job because of a feeling that he’s too close and tied into Francona, but Cafardo notes that Farrell also learned his managerial style from him. Farrell took the Toronto job because it appeared that Francona was deeply entrenched in Boston. Had he known that Francona and the team would part ways, Cafardo wonders if he would have stayed. Here's more from Cafardo..
- Free agent shortstop Jimmy Rollins will have to back off from his desire for a five-year deal for the Phillies to seriously consider re-signing him. They probably won’t be interested in free agent Jose Reyes because of his price tag. If they don't retain Rollins, the club may find a cheaper stopgap to replace him such as Marco Scutaro if the Red Sox don’t pick up his option ($6MM club/$3MM player, $1.5MM buyout).
- Phillies right-hander Roy Oswalt could become available in free agency as he is due $16MM on a mutual option and the team will likely either buy him out for $2MM or try to negotiate a lesser deal. If he becomes a free agent, one major league talent evaluator said that he would be a great acquisition for anyone on a two-year deal, but obviously not at a $16MM rate.
- In the event that the Red Sox decide on Farrell and reach agreement with the Blue Jays, there are an endless number of candidates the team could hire to replace him. Those options include current bench coach Don Wakamatsu and third base coach Brian Butterfield.
- Since the Padres have allowed Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod out of their respective contracts, Cafardo wonders if they'd let Bud Black walk to become the Red Sox's next manager. Black could straighten out the pitching staff and got the most out of John Lackey as pitching coach for the Angels.
- Francona probably needs to sit out a half-year before taking on another managerial job sometime next season. In the meantime, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he took on a job as a special assistant. An American League GM said that the former Red Sox skipper would have "an endless number of opportunities" along those lines.
- DeMarlo Hale has a year remaining on his contract and eventually he'll meet with new GM Ben Cherington to determine his fate. Hale hopes to interview for the Sox managerial job and could also could be a candidate with the Cubs under Theo Epstein. Davey Johnson is still expected to return to the Nationals job but there may be an interview process and Hale will likely be a candidate given the strong backing he’ll receive from Nats special adviser Bob Schaefer.
- Don't be surprised if Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum emerges as a top candidate for the Boston job.
Mets Notes: Reyes, Wright, Rockies
The Mets' offseason will revolve, in large part, around their pursuit of Jose Reyes. The latest Mets-related links:
- Five Mets executives gave Joel Sherman of the New York Post the impression that Reyes will sign elsewhere and one of them said "I don't think it is happening with the shortstop." Reyes' injuries and the Mets' financial problems may prevent them from winning the bidding on the free agent-to-be. Sherman gets the sense that the Mets don't want to offer more than four years with an option, though they would like Reyes back.
- The Mets will be open-minded when teams inquire about David Wright.
- One team official acknowledged that it would be foolish not to explore the market for the third baseman. "However, I expect actually pulling the trigger is a long shot," the person said. If traded, Wright can void a 2013 option for $16MM, so the acquiring team would be getting him for one year.
- The Rockies, who inquired on Wright this summer, will call if the Mets are willing to listen, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (all Twitter links). The Rockies wouldn't move Dexter Fowler or be willing to trade multiple prospects for one year of Wright, so Renck suggests the Rockies will want to extend Wright if they acquire him.
NL East Notes: Reyes, Johnson, Phillies, Sandberg
Some news from the NL East…
- Two Mets players "wouldn't be surprised to see" Jose Reyes sign with the Nationals this winter, tweets David Lennon of Newsday.
- The Nationals are conducting a managerial search to abide by MLB rules, but Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated tweets that the job is Davey Johnson's if he wants it.
- All six members of the Phillies' coaching staff have signed new contracts for 2012, according to a team press release. This includes bench coach Pete Mackanin, who has been mentioned as a candidate to become the next Red Sox manager.
- As Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out, the intact coaching staff means that Ryne Sandberg (who managed Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate last season) isn't getting a promotion. Gelb predicts that Sandberg will manage or coach somewhere in the Major Leagues next year, which would mean he'll leave the Phillies' franchise unless Mackanin gets the Boston job and Sandberg is promoted to bench coach.
- Also from Gelb, he examines Ruben Amaro's plan to sign a proven closer if Ryan Madson leaves and compares it to how the Cardinals relied on unproven (and cheaper) closing options like Jason Motte and Fernando Salas to great success this season.
- Despite the Braves' collapse in September, Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks the club is close to a World Series.
NL East Notes: Hanley, Phillies, LaRoche
MLBTR has offseason outlooks for the Nationals, Marlins and Mets with pieces on the Braves and Phillies coming soon. Here’s the latest on the NL East…
- Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen didn't rule out a position change for Hanley Ramirez, according to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Guillen says he's happy as long as Ramirez is on the field every day.
- One insider told Jon Heyman of SI.com that he could see Jose Reyes ending up with any NL East team. Ramirez has said he'd change positions for Reyes, who is a possible fit in New York and Washington. I can't see Reyes ending up with the Braves.
- Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out that the Phillies have some flexibility on their 40-man roster. Phillippe Aumont and Sebastian Valle are locks for 40-man roster spots this offseason, according to Gelb. Jiwan James could be on the bubble and may be exposed during this winter's Rule 5 draft.
- The Nationals didn’t promise Adam LaRoche that he’ll have the starting first base job in 2012, according to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson (on Twitter). Until Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols sign elsewhere, rumors and speculation will link them to the Nationals, who haven’t been afraid to spend in recent years and aren’t so far away from contending.
Quick Hits: Reyes, Darvish, Montero, Yankees
Some links as we look forward to Game 6 of the NLCS tonight..
- The only way Jose Reyes will sign in the exclusivity period is if the Mets blow him away with an offer, and that isn't happening, writes Steve Popper of the Bergen Record.
- With his team's spot in the playoffs already locked up, Yu Darvish will skip his start on October 18th, according to the Kyodo News Agency (Japanese link). Orioles player development director John Stockstill traveled to Japan to watch Darvish pitch in this game. (Translation provided by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker)
- The Yankees will look for in-house fixes this winter, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman wonders aloud if the club might deal Jesus Montero for a starter and further open the DH slot, but a team official said that it wouldn't make sense to throw more dollars and add risk to the offense. Sherman added that he doesn't sense that the club has a strong affinity for free agent left-hander C.J. Wilson.
- Some of the Red Sox coaches have been granted permission to explore other opportunities while awaiting their fate, multiple sources tell Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.
Braun: Team More Likely To Sign Reyes Than Fielder
Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun believes that the club is more likely to land Jose Reyes in free agency than re-sign Prince Fielder, writes Mike Puma of the New York Post.
Braun assumes that Fielder will likely command upwards of $150MM this winter whereas Reyes can be had for around $120MM. The four-time All-Star was quick to admit that he's a huge fan of Reyes.
"[Reyes] is dynamic, man — he is one of the most exciting players in the game," the 27-year-old said. "He plays with a lot of energy and a lot of emotion and I enjoy watching him play. He's one of my favorite players to watch. Whenever their games are on, I love watching him, man. He always plays the game the right way. He always plays hard. He runs everything out."
The Brewers can easily make room at shortstop this winter as they hold a $6MM club option on Yuniesky Betancourt's deal with a $2MM buyout.
Yankees Notes: Montero, Cashman, A-Rod, Sabathia
You knew there would be a lot of Yankee news the day after the Bronx Bombers were eliminated from the postseason. Ben Nicholson-Smith already gave us one batch of items out of New York today, and now here are a few more tidbits as the Yanks look ahead to next year…
- Jesus Montero may once again be trade bait this winter, writes John Harper of the New York Daily News. A group of scouts tells Harper that such pitchers as James Shields, Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, Mat Latos or Matt Cain could potentially be obtained in a deal featuring Montero. Harper also says "the early indications are the Yanks won't go to extremes to sign" C.J. Wilson as a free agent.
- Brian Cashman says that starting pitching is "always, always, always" the club's offseason focus and this year will be no different, reports Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger. Cashman noted, however, that he doesn't expect next year's roster to be drastically different from the 2011 edition.
- With Alex Rodriguez's weak postseason numbers fresh in everyone's mind, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post and Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal both express worry about the six years and $143MM remaining on A-Rod's contract.
- Locking up C.C. Sabathia for more years and more millions could turn the ace into a Rodriguez-esque albatross on the Yankee payroll, warns Johnette Howard of ESPN New York.
- Which of New York's two big free agents is a safer signing: Sabathia or Mets shortstop Jose Reyes? Ken Plutnicki of the New York Times asks the question.