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Matt Stairs

Rosenthal’s Latest: Holliday, Burnett, Rauch, Ibanez

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Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up.

  • The Angels are not interest in Matt Holliday, while the Dodgers and Red Sox "could play" on him.  Rosenthal names the Nationals as an "intriguing dark horse," saying they’ve been checking up on Holliday.  They like the idea of having him for ’09, and could even entertain signing him long-term.
  • The Phillies have minimal interest in A.J. Burnett, plus they’re on his 15 team no-trade list.  Rosenthal notes that Burnett nearly signed with the Cardinals a few years back, but their interest is not mutual.
  • Jon Rauch is a hot commodity, drawing interest from the Rays, Red Sox, and Diamondbacks.  His price will exceed that of Brian Fuentes, since he’s under team control through 2010.
  • The D’Backs would like to add a left-handed hitting outfielder, and Raul Ibanez is under consideration.  Rosenthal suggests Matt Stairs or Tony Clark as possible bench additions.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Padilla, Manny, Beltre, Dunn

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Rumor man Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.

  • At least three teams have inquired on the Rangers’ Vicente Padilla: the Mets, Yankees, and Brewers.  Jon Daniels is looking for "quality young pitching."
  • Manny Ramirez’s $20MM option for ’09 isn’t a lock.  It’s a tough call – .900 OPS players on one-year deals don’t grow on trees.
  • Rosenthal suggests David DeJesus or Melky Cabrera would be nice fits for the Diamondbacks, who aren’t looking for a rental.  He also speculates on names like Brian Giles, David Dellucci, and Randy Winn.  Note: Rosenthal is playing GM here, not relaying inside info of trade talks.
  • Rosenthal believes Matt Stairs would be a nice addition for the Dodgers, and notes that the Dodgers and Blue Jays have spoken.  The Jays’ direction for ’08 is still uncertain though.
  • Still sounds like it’d take a "knockout offer" to pry Rich Harden loose from the A’s.
  • The A’s are said to like Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre.  He can block trades to eight unknown clubs though.
  • Adam Dunn isn’t generating much trade interest yet.
  • KC’s Ron Mahay is "drawing significant interest."  The trade market for lefty relievers is fairly robust.

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.

Blue Jays Sign Stairs For Two Years

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According to ESPN’s Amy K. Nelson, the Blue Jays have signed Matt Stairs to a two-year, $3.5MM deal.  The price seems about right.  J.P. Ricciardi has predicted a quite offseason, so we may not see much else.

Nelson says the plan is for Stairs to mainly platoon with Adam Lind in left field.  That seems to leave Reed Johnson as a non-tender candidate.  The arbitration-eligible Johnson made $3.075MM in 2007 but his a miserable .236/.305/.320 in 275 ABs.  That was a far cry from his ’06 performance of .317/.388/.477.  It should be noted that Johnson had back surgery in April, which probably explains the decline. 

Jays To Retain Stairs, Cut Towers?

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I feel like with two guys named stairs and towers I could craft some sort of amusing play on words.  Oh well.  Here’s the latest on the Blue Jays.

  • They’ll pass on A-Rod, says J.P. Ricciardi.  No surprise there, but now it’s official.  They could still stand an upgrade at shortstop though.  Unless Travis Hafner teaches John McDonald how to hit.  Hafner needs to get himself in order first though.
  • The Jays also hope to re-sign Matt Stairs, who wants a raise from last year’s $850K.  Maybe $3MM would get it done.  Stairs was shielded from southpaws a bit but raked .289/.368/.549 overall in 357 ABs.  As I noted before, signing Stairs could result in Reed Johnson being non-tendered.
  • Speaking of non-tendering, Allan Ryan says "Josh Towers’ time as a Jay has clearly passed."  Doesn’t he at least get a gold watch?  Towers earned $2.9MM this year while posting a 5.38 ERA in 107 innings.  Unless the price gets to the silly Jason Marquis territory Towers could be the bargain of the winter for a team like the Padres.  By the way, he’s from California.  Check out a list of other non-tender candidates here.  The Cubs, by the way, haven’t decided on Mark Prior but could cut him and then offer him a lower deal.
  • The Jays hope to retain Sal Fasano and Joe Kennedy.

Blue Jays, Stairs Talking Extension

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39 year-old 1B/LF/RF Matt Stairs is having a remarkable year – he’s hitting .310/.385/.591 in 303 ABs for the Blue Jays.  Granted, he’s been sitting against lefties most of the time, but he’s still been the Jays’ second-most valuable offensive player behind Alex Rios.  And he’s earning less than a million bucks this year.

Stairs, a Canada native, would like to return for 2008.  According to the Toronto Star, talks have begun.  It definitely makes sense to keep him around for $2-3MM.  He can help out at both outfield corners, first base, and DH.  Bringing Stairs back for ’08 might encourage the Jays to non-tender Reed Johnson, a possibility mentioned in the team’s Needs and Luxuries post.

Cubs Considering Outfielders

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Multiple readers have emailed me about a radio report on WSCR 670 The Score out of Chicago today. According to the report, the Cubs are considering multiple trade possibilities to fill the monthlog gap left by Alfonso Soriano’s quad injury.  On the radar: Craig Monroe, Matt Stairs, Jeff Conine, and Adam Dunn.  Additionally, Cubs GM Jim Hendry came out and said today that he’s working the phones to find some help.

Contract situations of each player:

Monroe – $1.5MM left in ’07, should earn $5MM+ in ’08 before reaching free agency
Stairs – $267K left in ’07, free agent after season
Conine – $630K left in ’07, free agent after season
Dunn – $3.3MM left in ’07, free agent after season if traded

Monroe is the right-handed Jacque Jones, contract situation and all.  He’d be a poor and mildly expensive addition.  He’d probably clear waivers.

Stairs is doing what he does best, mashing righties.  He’s having his best season since 2003.  He’s not earning much and has no ’08 commitment.  He played for the Cubs in ’01 and did a decent job. The problem?  He might be claimed off waivers before he gets to the Cubs.  Jim Hendry really should’ve made this deal in July.  Every AL team will have a crack at him first on waivers.  Plus the Jays might fancy themselves contenders at six games out of the wild card. 

Conine is on the last leg of his career and doesn’t really offer anything Matt Murton doesn’t.  I don’t really see the point but this pickup seems most likely.

Dunn is the most intriguing and also by far the least likely option here.  The Cubs would have to give up some good players and pay out a decent chunk of salary for less than two months of Dunn.  They’d also have to do something ugly like put him in right field when Soriano comes back.  I don’t see this happening. 

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