Astros Rumors: Pitching Targets, Valverde, Tejada
Houston Astros Senior Director of Digital Media Alyson Footer invited her Twitter followers to participate in a Q&A with Astros GM Ed Wade. The exchange resulted in too many tweets to individually link them all, but check out her Twitter account for some quotes from the conversation. Here are a few points of interest:
- If the team cannot retain Jose Valverde and/or LaTroy Hawkins, Wade notes that there are other back-of-the-bullpen options out there. He says the club would prefer to have Valverde return as their closer, but mentions Fernando Rodney, Kevin Gregg, Rafael Soriano, and Mike Gonzalez as potential alternatives.
- The Astros will "proceed with caution" when it comes to pursuing pitchers like Ben Sheets, who have questionable injury histories. Wade pointed to Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz as cautionary tales.
- Wade doesn't expect to have a whole lot of money to commit to any starting pitching additions, given the other holes the team needs to fill.
- The GM singles out Randy Wolf as one starter who is "probably not realistic" due to his expected price tag.
- As much as the team would like to bring back Miguel Tejada, the market for the veteran will dictate whether they'll be able to afford it.
- The team might acquire a stopgap behind the plate, but would prefer if one of their in-house options could step up and earn the starting job.
Cubs Do Not Offer Arb To Gregg, Harden
The Cubs did not offer arbitration to free agents Kevin Gregg (A), Rich Harden (B), Reed Johnson (neither), and Chad Fox (neither), tweets MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Dave Kaplan had written the same earlier today.
The Harden decision is worth questioning…was he really not worth risking a one-year deal on? In the Cubs' defense, as Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald writes, the team has more info on Harden than anyone.
Discussion: Kevin Gregg
Although he is admittedly not one of the sexier names on the free agent market, Cubs reliever Kevin Gregg should garner a fair amount of attention this offseason. The 31-year-old recorded a 9.3 K/9 and a healthy K/BB ratio of 2.37. Gregg's ERA of 4.72 was a career worst, but his xFIP was a respectable 4.20 – his best since his first full season in 2004.
After losing the role of closer mid-season, it doesn't sound as though re-signing Gregg is a priority of Jim Hendry's. However, less than a year ago, the Cubs avoided arbitration with Gregg by inking him to a one year pact worth $4.2MM.
Now that he appears likely to be changing uniforms, what teams should look to acquire his services? How much is he worth in a marketplace chock full of viable relief options? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments.
Rays Rumors: Crawford, Upton, Zaun
Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times has the latest on the Rays' offseason plans. The highlights:
- The Rays are said to be interested in discussing a long-term extension with Carl Crawford. If the team does decide to move him, however, the Mets and Braves have expressed interest.
- The Rangers and White Sox are among the teams interested in acquiring B.J. Upton.
- Executive VP Andrew Friedman on his team's offseason targets: "We have a list of guys on other teams we have an interest in, and a list of free agents as well. And depending on how the market evolves on both fronts, it will go a long way toward shaping our thought process…. We feel like there are a lot of talented names out there."
- Smith notes that the Rays have a history of signing relievers who are coming off injuries or down years. He mentions Kevin Gregg and J.J. Putz as a couple of possibilities in that realm.
- The club could be open to bringing back Gregg Zaun and giving last season's catching platoon of Zaun and Dioner Navarro another try.
Cubs Rumors: Piniella, Grabow, Johnson
A few 2010 Cubs notes…
- ESPN's Buster Olney says Cubs manager Lou Piniella "has told others that one way or the other, 2010 will be his last season managing." Olney wonders if Piniella may have just been speaking out of frustration.
- Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says Piniella wants a "top-of-the-order speed guy" as well as a "middle-of-the-order run producer." However, the Cubs' 2010 payroll under new owner Tom Ricketts is not yet known. Wittenmyer says Piniella and GM Jim Hendry will be back next year. Which players would you like them to target?
- Wittenmyer says the Cubs want potential free agents John Grabow and Reed Johnson back on the right terms, but may be less inclined to retain pitchers Rich Harden and Kevin Gregg. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune has a headline saying Johnson wants to return next year, but doesn't address it in the body of his article.
- Wittenmyer and Sullivan both reject the report from ESPN's Bruce Levine yesterday saying the Cubs have begun extension talks with Grabow. Pet peeve: Wittenmyer and Sullivan elected not to cite Levine's report specifically. Anyway, Sullivan says the Cubs "are expected to re-sign the left-hander to a two- or three-year deal" even if they're not talking yet.
Cubs Avoid Arb With Kevin Gregg, Mike Wuertz
TUESDAY: MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat says Mike Wuertz signed for $1.1MM.
MONDAY: According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs avoided arbitration with reliever Kevin Gregg by signing him for $4.2MM for ’09. Gregg will be a free agent after the season.
Orioles Trade Olson For Pie
5:20pm: Tom Krasovic notes the Padres’ previous interest in Olson. He examines the possibility of the Cubs and Padres making a Jake Peavy deal. Click here to read Jim Hendry’s thoughts on Pie. Bruce Miles also notes that the Cubs are close to deals for arb-eligible relievers Kevin Gregg and Mike Wuertz.
3:11pm: Roch Kubatko spoke with Andy MacPhail about the Pie/Olson trade. MacPhail says that this trade is not a precursor to any other move, and that it’s likely the Orioles will go with Huff at first base, Pie in left, and Scott at DH.
Earlier we’d heard the O’s being in on some possible first base candidates, including Richie Sexson, Adam Dunn, and Ty Wigginton, but it seems they’re comfortable with this lineup.
1:10pm: Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Orioles have traded Garrett Olson and Class-A righthander Henry Williamson to the Cubs in exchange for Felix Pie.
Olson figures to slot in as a middle-reliever for the Cubs or as a fifth starter, depending on what role they have planned for Sean Marshall.
Pie could start off the 2009 season as a backup for all three outfield spots, according to Rosenthal. Rosenthal also suggests Pie playing left field, with Aubrey Huff manning first base and Luke Scott becoming a full-time DH. That idea seems to make more sense to me.
If Pie can realize any of his potential in a new setting, the Orioles will have one of the more talented young outfields in baseball.
Kevin Gregg Trade Reactions
The Cubs acquired one year of reliever Kevin Gregg for six of Jose Ceda yesterday. Chicago teams apparently went 0 for 2 yesterday, as the reactions favor the Marlins.
- Dave Cameron says swapping out Kerry Wood for Gregg in the pen loses the Cubs one to two wins.
- MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo says Ceda resembles a young Lee Smith, and profiles as a future closer. Ken Rosenthal talked to an exec who drew an Armando Benitez comparison, in a good way.
- ESPN’s Keith Law calls the deal a "heist" for Florida.
- Paul Sullivan takes a look at Wood’s legacy in Chicago.
Cubs Acquire Gregg, Part Ways With Wood
4:12pm: Dave Cameron sees a net loss of 1-2 wins for the Cubs, swapping out Wood with Gregg.
2:18pm: GM Jim Hendry says the Cubs will part ways with lifetime Cub Kerry Wood. Replacing him with Gregg should save the team a good $6MM. The Cubs just couldn’t pony up a huge multiyear deal for Wood.
1:06pm: The Miami Herald’s Clark Spencer says the Marlins will receive relief prospect Jose Ceda in return. Seems pretty good for one year of Gregg.
12:57pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs acquired Kevin Gregg from the Marlins today. It seems that Gregg could become the Cubs’ setup man for Carlos Marmol if Kerry Wood departs.
Tigers Interested In Darren Oliver
Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press talked to Darren Oliver‘s agent, who said the Tigers and Angels are two of four teams interested in his client. Morosi says the Tigers have also contacted the agents for Trevor Hoffman, Brandon Lyon, David Weathers, and Arthur Rhodes while also expressing interest in Florida’s Kevin Gregg.
Oliver, 38, posted a 2.88 ERA in 72 innings. His strikeout rate wasn’t great, but he limited walks and home runs. He earned $2MM this year. As a Type A free agent, Oliver comes with the added tax of Detroit’s second-round pick in the June ’09 draft (assuming the Halos offer arbitration and he declines).
In other Tigers news, MLB.com’s Jason Beck says they’ve yet to contact Freddy Garcia‘s agent.