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Non-Tendered Players

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The deadline for teams to offer contract to their players with less than six years of service time is midnight ET tonight, so let's keep track off all the non-tenders here in one post. Make sure you check back in, we'll be updating this post throughout the day.

Odds & Ends: Mets, Braves, Red Sox, Cust

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Some Saturday links:

  • The Mets have yet to make an offer to John Lackey and continue to focus on Jason Bay, according to David Lennon of Newsday (via Twitter).
  • Meanwhile, Jon Heyman tweets that the Mets would be willing to give Bay a five-year deal if necessary.
  • Braves GM Frank Wren said the club is open to retaining Kelly Johnson at a lesser salary, he said that he would be better suited to an opportunity where he could get more at-bats, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  • While Wren continues to explore other options on the open market, the club is leaving the door open for Jason Heyward to win the job in right field, writes David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  • Prior to being selected by the Mets in the Rule 5 draft and sold to the Dodgers, Carlos Monasterios told Bravos de Margarita that both the Dodgers and the Tigers were in contact with him (passed along by Diamond Leung).
  • The Red Sox trade of Mike Lowell to Texas has not been officially completed as Rangers officials are looking over the third baseman's thumb, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
  • Recently non-tendered Jack Cust could be a fit for the White Sox, writes Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
  • Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick told Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic that the club still has room to spend this winter.
  • Dodgers GM Ned Colletti says that barring something that's not currently on the team's radar, the second baseman job will go to Blake DeWitt plus a veteran, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
  • Matt Eddy of Baseball America brings us the latest minor league transactions.  Most notably, former Seton Hall Prep standout and Yankees' first round selection Eric Duncan has landed with the Braves.

Braves Non-Tender Kelly Johnson

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1:32pm:  The Braves will not tender Johnson an offer, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter).  Johnson made $2.8MM in a disappointing year for Atlanta.

11:48pm:  The Braves are trying to trade second baseman Kelly Johnson according to FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. If they can't work out a trade by midnight ET tonight, Johnson will be non-tendered. 

Earlier this week we learned that Atlanta was getting nibbles on Johnson, however we haven't heard anything since. The 27-year-old hit just .224/.303/.389 last season, and has seen all three triple-slash stats decline for three straight years. UZR/150 has consistently rated Johnson's defense as below average.

Braves Notes: Lowe, Johnson, Church

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The Braves are "really pushing" for a Derek Lowe trade, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The righty has three years and $45MM remaining on his contract, so the club would prefer to part with him than Javier Vazquez, who's more affordable ($11.5MM salary in 2010) and more effective.

The Braves are also getting "nibbles" on Kelly Johnson and Ryan Church. There's more interest in Johnson than Church.

Twitter Rumors: Doumit, Mahay, Wolf, Jenkins

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Collecting some tweets I couldn't quite turn into posts…

  • Four unknown teams are in on Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit, says Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
  • The Nationals have interest in free agent catcher Brad Ausmus, says MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
  • The Red Sox have interest in free agent lefty Ron Mahay, says Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. The 38-year-old posted a 4.29 ERA, 7.5 K/9, and 3.9 BB/9 in 50.3 innings for the Royals and Twins this year.  Two years ago he was quite a hot commodity on the free agent market.
  • ESPN's Jerry Crasnick says Brett Myers is seeking a two-year deal.  The Rangers and other teams are interested at one year.  Crasnick wrote a few days ago that the Astros are also interested, while Andrew Baggarly named the Giants as a suitor today.
  • Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times shoots down Danny Knobler's rumor that the Pirates have interest in Juan Pierre.  Nonetheless, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets of interest from the Pirates, White Sox, and a third team.
  • ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Yankees want to resolve the Andy Pettitte/Johnny Damon situations before moving on to Hideki Matsui and other starting pitcher options.
  • White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune that the Sox are not in the market for a pure DH.
  • The Brewers are making a "strong run" at Randy Wolf, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
  • Ruben Amaro Jr.'s comment that "those are guys we will probably count on" implies relievers Chad Durbin and Clay Condrey will be tendered contracts by the Phillies (Andy Martino reporting).
  • Crasnick says Geoff Jenkins wants to make a comeback in 2010 and has been working out at first base and outfield in hopes of landing a bench role.
  • Crasnick says to expect the Cubs to tender a contract to Mike Fontenot on Saturday.
  • Bill Shanks quoting Braves manager Bobby Cox: "clubs are knocking on the door for Kelly Johnson."  I imagine Johnson will be dealt by Saturday.
  • ESPN's Gordon Edes says that while Red Sox owner John Henry is a big fan of Miguel Cabrera from their Marlins days, the Red Sox "don't have the Major League-ready position players Detroit wants in return."
  • Crasnick expects Elmer Dessens to re-sign with the Mets, though the pitcher has talked to the Dodgers and Padres.
  • Yahoo's Steve Henson says the Braves want to move Derek Lowe or Javier Vazquez, but not Kenshin Kawakami.
  • Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer says the Phillies will meet with Chan Ho Park's agent today "and attempt to resolve their differences over Park's value."  The Phils did not offer arbitration to Park, a Type B free agent.  Park craves another shot at starting, which won't happen in Philly.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Phillies like Brandon Lyon, but aren't "willing to pay the price for him."  Lyon is said to be seeking a multiyear deal.  He is expected to turn down the Tigers' offer of arbitration today.  The Yankees have been named as another suitor.
  • Crasnick says the Astros "have very little money to spend, unless Drayton McLane suddenly has a change of heart."

Olney On Potential Non-Tenders And Bradley

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In today's blog post at ESPN.com, Buster Olney indicates that there is belief among general managers that the "financial restructuring that has been occurring across the landscape is about to hit the arbitration-level players like a tidal wave." He mentions underperforming, but well paid players like Garrett Atkins and Kelly Johnson are prime non-tender bait, especially since their clubs have replacements ready and it's unlikely they'll be able to trade them. Make sure you check out MLBTR's list of non-tender candidates.

Olney also talks about some bad contracts the Cubs could acquire in exchange for Milton Bradley, adding that this morning's Vernon Wells rumor "would be a stunner" if it happened. Some of the players he mentions as possible fits include Carlos Silva, Derek Lowe, Gary Matthews Jr. (who said he wants out of Anaheim), Barry Zito, Aaron Rowand, Oliver Perez, and Dontrelle Willis, among others. Any other ideas?

Odds & Ends: Pirates, Mets, Johnson

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A fresh batch of links for Saturday afternoon…

Braves Rumors: Soriano, Gonzalez, Hudson

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David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talked to Braves GM Frank Wren yesterday.  Hot stove highlights:

  • Wren considers the Braves' biggest needs to be the bullpen and the offense.
  • O'Brien is certain the Braves won't try to re-sign both Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez.  O'Brien explains why it's in the Braves' best interest to stay tight-lipped about possible arbitration offers for any Type A or B free agents (Soriano and Gonzalez both project as Type As).
  • O'Brien guesses the Braves will try to work out a multiyear extension with Tim Hudson at less than $10MM per year.  Decisions on Hudson's $12MM mutual option within five days of the conclusion of the World Series.
  • Wren implied Martin Prado will enter Spring Training as the Braves' starting second baseman.  We talked earlier this month about Kelly Johnson as a trade candidate.
  • As you learned from Baseball America's Matt Eddy a week ago, righties Jorge Campillo, Buddy Carlyle, and Vladimir Nunez were granted free agency.  Wren says the Braves still need to make decisions on whether to attempt to re-sign any of them.

Kelly Johnson A Trade Candidate

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Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson is drawing trade interest from other teams, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.  Bowman thinks the Braves will be able to trade Johnson before the mid-December tender/non-tender decision comes due.

Johnson, 28 in February, slipped to .224/.303/.389 in 346 plate appearances this year.  He lost his starting job to Martin Prado in July, and hit the DL with a wrist injury shortly thereafter.  Johnson earned $2.825MM last year, so he'll have to be paid at least $2.26MM in 2010 if tendered a contract.

The Braves switched Johnson from left field to second base before the 2007 season.  Johnson had played shortstop in the minors and was coming off Tommy John surgery at the time.  His second base defense these past few years has ranged from below average to average, according to UZR and plus-minus.

Which teams might be interested in acquiring Johnson?  The White Sox, Tigers, Dodgers, Twins, and Pirates could be potential fits.    

Braves Talk: Infante, Francoeur

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MLB.com's Mark Bowman has a new blog post about the Braves' current situation.

  • Utility man Omar Infante is out six to eight weeks after Manny Corpas broke a bone in his hand with a fastball.  There is a trickle-down effect on the trade market – the Braves have less depth now, and probably can't move a guy like Kelly Johnson.
  • Bowman adds that the Braves are likely to shop Jeff Francoeur, but the prospects are grim given his performance in recent times.  The Braves are still hurting for power at the corner outfield spots.
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