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Lyle Overbay

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Overbay, Halladay, Peavy, LaRoche

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On this date 45 years ago Barry Bonds was born. And even though he hasn't played in a game since September 26, 2007, Bonds has not yet retired. We are one week from the trade deadline, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Statistician Magician makes a case for the Braves going after Lyle Overbay.
  • The Oriole Report lists the players most likely to be dealt by the O's before the deadline.
  • The Phrontiersman feels the Phillies can win without Roy Halladay but still feels Philadelphia should make the deal.
  • The Fowl Balls says the Mets made the right decision in passing on Roy Halladay.
  • We're The Team To Beat looks at how Jake Peavy's injury is impacting the current trade market, driving up the price for Roy Halladay.
  • SoxSpace dissects what the Adam LaRoche deal means for the Red Sox.
  • Around the Majors takes a look back at Oakland's offseason moves and what went wrong.
  • Hot Foot examines the Mets' expiring contracts.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Morosi’s Latest: Blue Jays, Sanchez, Correia, Holliday

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Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com suggests the Blue Jays might want to set their sights on 2010, after which they stand to lose Lyle Overbay, Scott Downs, Scott Rolen, and Roy Halladay to free agency. Not to mention Cito Gaston and J.P. Ricciardi, whose contracts will both expire barring an extension. Morosi writes,

"Six pitchers currently reside on the disabled list, and ace Roy Halladay was a recent visitor. Vernon Wells and Alex Rios, signed through 2014, haven't been hitting. The team is in fourth place and would probably need to climb the standings quickly in order to convince ownership that additions to an $80 million payroll are warranted this month."

Morosi adds the following:

  • Halladay is not going anywhere.
  • Ricky Romero and Scott Richmond are most likely staying put, says Morosi, and I doubt anyone here disagrees.
  • Pitching is not a need for 2010 with the anticipated return of Jesse Litsch, Shaun Marcum, and Dustin McGowan.
  • The Jays are almost certain to keep Downs, who has become a premier reliever in the American League.

Morosi suggests, the Jays trade a pitcher or two to boost their team OPS which lags in the AL East behind the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays. Given the above, Morosi suggests Brian Tallet as a trade chip. "Tallet could be looked upon as a viable option for teams looking for a mid-rotation left-handed starter, particularly if the Mariners stay in the race and elect not to move Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn."

They may also look at dealing from their collection of right-handed setup men, such as Casey Janssen, Jeremy Accardo, Brandon League, or Jason Frasor. Just speculating here but Janssen may be the most attractive since he can start. As a reliever in 2007, Janssen had a 2.35 ERA in 72.2 IP with 6 saves before missing 2008 with a torn labrum.

Morosi has a few more bullet points to discuss:

  • Freddy Sanchez's contract contains an $8MM option for 2010 that automatically vests after 635 PAs, or only 600 if he makes the All Star team. So, it stands to reason that Sanchez will either make the All Star Team or see his trade value increase. This may be moot given Sanchez is on pace for 660 plate appearances. Morosi says one Mariners official doesn't think Pittsburgh is considering trading Sanchez. The M's have need for a pure hitter as well as a second baseman given concerns about Jose Lopez ability to stay at 2B long term.
  • The M's asked about Jeremy Hermida, but there wasn't a lot of movement. Morosi notes Hermida's trade value has fallen significantly.
  • Kevin Correia is pitching fantastically but the Padres haven't put him on the open market. Morosi doesn't report much excitement among other clubs.
  • Morosi says "one person in the industry who knows Oakland general manager Billy Beane well," guessed Matt Holliday will stay with the team so Beane could collect the compensatory draft picks. Morosi quotes the source: "Billy loves the draft."

Jays Not Looking To Add Arms Or Deal Overbay

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Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail reported yesterday that the Blue Jays are not looking outside the organization for pitching help or trying to deal Lyle Overbay. The Jays are hanging on to first place in the AL East by a half game after losing four straight. Here are the details from Blair's blog entry:

  • The Jays plan to rely on pitchers within the organization such as Casey Janssen and Ricky Romero (both returning to the team).
  • The Jays aren't even scouting Mark Mulder. 
  • The Jays would listen to offers for Lyle Overbay, who has an OPS of .867 and as many walks as strikeouts (17). However, they don't have the depth to deal Overbay because, as Blair points out, Kevin Millar "is not an option" as an everyday player. 
  • Overbay makes $7MM this year and the same amount in 2010, but he plays good defense. Last year he was the seventh-best defensive first baseman in the majors according to the plus/minus system.
  • Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi says he hasn't been proactive on the trade front.  
  • He says he's under no pressure to lower payroll. 

Blue Jays To Sit Out Free Agent Market?

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Beyond attempting to re-sign starter A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi does not intend to dabble in free agency this year.  He told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian he’d probably stay in-house.  Ricciardi shot down rumors of interest in Jason Giambi, Milton Bradley, and Rafael Furcal.  Drunk Jays Fans doesn’t buy the talk, though.

Trades are Ricciardi’s ideal route, though Richard Griffin notes J.P. has rarely dealt prospects for Major Leaguers.  Griffin believes big league trade chips may include B.J. Ryan, John McDonald, and Lyle Overbay.  Jason Frasor could be another.

Jays Hope To Send Overbay To Seattle?

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11:16am: Larry LaRue of The News Tribune speaks of a "decided lack of enthusiasm" for Overbay from the Mariners.

9:28am: A rumor from Larry Stone of the Seattle Times:

Word out of Toronto is that the Jays want to trade Lyle Overbay to Seattle and are willing to pick up some of his salary. According to one source, Overbay was part of the package (along with reliever Jason Frasor) for Raul Ibanez that was nixed by the Mariners at the trade deadline.

Overbay, 32 in January, hit .270/.358/.419 in 630 plate appearances.  He’ll earn $14MM over the 2009-10 seasons.  Also at that link, Stone puts on his GM cap and suggests some players for Jack Zduriencik.

Law: Top 10 Trade Candidates

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Keith Law, a favorite here at MLBTR and at home home, River Ave. Blues, has posted an article on 10 potential trade candidates off-season. It seems that if anything big does go down this off-season, it will be in the form of a trade, since the FA market is particularly weak. So who does Law have in mind?

The most surprising name on the list is the Blue Jays’ Adam Lind. Law believes that with the next year’s financial commitments to Frank Thomas, Lyle Overbay, and now Matt Stairs, there is no obvious spot for Lind, and he’ll have to win a job in Spring Training — which he could most certainly do. It seems a bit foolish to trade a 24-year-old because of a couple of short-term financial commitments, most notably in the case of Stairs, who will be making a paltry $1 million in 2009. J.P. Ricciardi has done stranger things, though.

Another strange name is Ben Broussard, who figures to at least have a shot at being non-tendered. Law notes his favorable platoon splits against righties and figures he can help a team fill out a position. But since the Mariners already have Richie Sexson and Jose Vidro under contract, and are looking to get Adam Jones some more playing time, there doesn’t seem a logical spot for Broussard.

Law also brings up David DeJesus and Coco Crisp, often mentioned around these parts, as well as Andy LaRoche and, despite the trade of Jacques Jones, Matt Murton.

As a Yanks fan, I have to be at least a little curious at the inclusion of Cliff Lee. With Andy Pettitte’s career at the most a year from ending, and with the further possibility that he’s thrown his last pitch, the Yanks are going to need a lefty starter. Might as well inquire on Lee, as his not-so-stellar 2007 has significantly decreased his value.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog.

Overbay Gets Four Year Extension

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The Blue Jays extended first baseman Lyle Overbay for four years and $24 million, a reasonable price for the 30 year-old.  It’s nice to buy out a few years of free agency at a reasonable rate.

Overbay slugged a career-high .508 in 2006, though he may have been aided by his home park.  He hit .325/.383/.583 at home and .297/.361/.430 on the road.  He’s known for a good glove but limited range. 

It should be noted that the bar is set pretty high for an AL first baseman – .280/.352/.467 was average last season.

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

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