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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Strasburg, Cordero, Swisher

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On this date 25 years ago, B.J. Upton was born. The second overall pick in the '02 draft, Bossman Junior made his big league debut in 2004, but will be arbitration-eligible for the first time following this season. The Rays prefer to lock up their young players to long-term deals, but there has never been an indication that Upton is willing to sign long-term. With the signing deadline for most draft picks now past, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • The Biz of Baseball looks at how the slotting system held up with this year's draft (not very well).
  • Capitol Avenue Club declares the winners and losers of this year's draft.
  • Nationals Pride notes that the Nationals are two-for-two in their decisions affecting Stephen Strasburg.
  • Center Field Gate likes the Stephen Strasburg deal, but wants to see what Strasburg can do before getting too excited.
  • Sully Baseball notes that Stephen Strasburg needs to get past Betty White before he is worth $50M.
  • Around the Majors looks back the Reds' decision to give Francisco Cordero a $46MM contract.
  • 6 Pound 8 Ounce Baby Joba revisits the deal that brought Nick Swisher to the Yankees.

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

Nady’s Season Over

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UPDATE 7:17pm: The New York Post's George A. King III says Nady needs Tommy John surgery and is done for the season. King adds,

"Quietly the Yankees were hoping to have Nady's right-handed bat to help out in right field, where switch-hitter Nick Swisher is playing every day. Now that won't happen. And though GM Brian Cashman said this week 'a bat isn't needed,' knowing that Nady isn't returning might change the Yankees' mind."

6:07pm: During an International league game in Syracuse, Xavier Nady reported "significant discomfort" in his right arm after completing two throws from the outfield. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com says Nady could be done for the season which, if true, would snuff out any flickering speculation that the Yankees would or should consider dealing him or Nick Swisher upon Nady's return.

"Yankees manager Joe Girardi exchanged text messages with Nady and said there is discussion of flying the outfielder to California to visit with Dr. Lewis Yocum, who performed Nady's original September 2001 Tommy John surgery. A repeat procedure would wipe out Nady's 2009 season."

Benjamin Kabak at River Ave. Blues has more. Buster Olney recently noted the Yankees were not looking to deal either Nady or Swisher.

Olney’s Latest: Dodgers, Yankees, Pedro, Strasburg

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ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes that it "is said by others" that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti is searching for pitching. Olney outlines the heavy workload endured by the Dodgers' bullpen early on, and wonders how it will hold up down the stretch.

Here's some other bits that Olney's heard:

  • The Yankees are unlikely to trade Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady when the latter returns from an elbow injury because of the club's needs. Olney also mentions that they wouldn't be able to get full market value for Nady because of his injury.
  • The Yanks did discuss Nady with other clubs during the offseason after signing Mark Teixeira.
  • Several teams walked away from Pedro Martinez's workout yesterday unimpressed and uninterested in signing him.
  • Olney says that several teams would be interested in the future Hall of Famer if he decides to pitch for something close to the pro-rated minimum with incentives, and is willing to work his way back up through the minors.
  • Early talks between the Nationals and first overall pick Stephen Strasburg "are off to a sluggish start."

Odds & Ends: Hunter, Keppinger, Swisher

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Links for Monday…

Odds & Ends: Swisher, La Russa, Twins

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Happy Easter to those celebrating.  Here are your Sunday links…

  • Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addresses the ever-popular question, "What if the Pirates had drafted Matt Wieters" in 2007?
  • Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star did some number crunching and determined that forking over major cash for a free agent pitcher is often far too risky.  30 pitchers regressed after inking new deals, while only 13 improved.  
  • The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan believes the Brewers might make a run at Jake Peavy later this season.    
  • Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has abandoned the idea of hitting his pitcher eighth for the last three games, and his club is suddenly on a winning streak. "Hitting the guy ninth we've got a winning record," said La Russa.  "I don't want to mess around with it." (Quote courtesy of Rick Hummel with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). 
  • Tyler Kepner of the New York Times examines the "evolution" of the trade that brought Nick Swisher to the Yankees.  As Kepner notes, it "looks like a steal" at this point. 
  • The Twins are considering a uniform design change for the opening of Target Field in 2010.  Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wants your suggestions.  
  • You're obviously a baseball buff if you're checking MLBTR daily, so let me direct you to a brand new site chock-full of streaming baseball-related content.  It's NBCSports.com's newest darling, "Circling The Bases," featuring the writing styles of Aaron Gleeman, Matthew Pouliot and Craig Calcaterra.  

Rosenthal On Cabrera, Cruz, Nady, Swisher

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Let’s take a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

  • The A’s are offering more at-bats to Nomar Garciaparra than the Phillies.  If the A’s sign Nomar, that wouldn’t stop them from adding Orlando Cabrera.  However, Rosenthal’s source says Cabrera and the A’s "are not even close" in terms of his value.
  • Nothing is close with the Juan Cruz situation; "New teams entered the mix after the sign-and-trade option became more realistic."  Rosenthal says it’s still possible that a team will simply sign Cruz and give up a draft pick.  La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says the Twins have made an offer to Cruz, but did not speak to his agent yesterday.
  • Even with the Orlando Hudson signing, Blake DeWitt still has a role with the Dodgers pitching in at second base, third base, and even shortstop.
  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman "didn’t particularly like" any of the offers he’s received for Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady.
  • Rosenthal leaves the door slightly ajar for the Astros and Pudge: "the team continues to indicate that it cannot afford free agent Ivan Rodriguez unless his price drops significantly."  Astros GM Ed Wade said on Wednesday: "We’re not signing Pudge.  Put that one to rest. We have no expectation to sign Pudge."

Braves Leaning Toward Internal Options In OF

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ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick talked to Braves GM Frank Wren, who says the Braves are more likely to try their young outfielders than acquire a veteran outfielder after failing to sign Ken Griffey Jr.

Crasnick adds that the Braves "aren’t very excited" about Garret Anderson and have little to no interest in Jim Edmonds and Luis Gonzalez.  He says the salaries of Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher might be prohibitive.  Pure speculation on my part – the Braves could definitely afford Luke Scott if he’s available for trade.

Braves Rumors: Glavine, Outfielders

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1:29pm: David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers thoughts on the Glavine situation.

10:42am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has the latest on the Braves.

Rosenthal believes the Braves have $6-8MM to work with, as they try to re-sign Tom Glavine and add an outfielder.  The outfield situation is of greater priority.

The Braves had a positive meeting with Glavine on Wednesday; Rosenthal says their offer gives the lefty "the chance to make $3MM — a $1MM guarantee, $1MM if he made the Opening Day roster and $1MM if he was on the roster 60 days."  Glavine is said to be seeking $3MM guaranteed plus incentives.  He wants to retire a Brave, and is intent on pitching in 2009.

As for the outfield, Rosenthal says the Braves are "checking into" free agents such as Garret Anderson, Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds, and Ken Griffey Jr.  ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick wrote earlier today that the Mariners are making progress with Griffey.  Rosenthal says a Nick Swisher trade "also remains possible, but the Braves almost certainly could land one of the free agents for less than the $5.3MM that Swisher will earn in 2009."  Swisher is guaranteed an additional $16.75MM for 2010-11, if his 2012 option for $10.25MM is declined.

Glavine, Braves Have ‘Positive’ Meeting

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8:36pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman heard from Glavine, who also described the meeting as "positive." He said he wants to sign with the Braves and sounds hopeful that he will. Frank Wren said he had a "good meeting" with Glavine.

Since Glavine’s willing to accept a contract with deferred money, Bowman suggests this deal could work: $2MM guaranteed with up to $4MM in deferred incentives over the next five years.

7:38pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Braves met with Tom Glavine today and offered him a deal that could be worth up to $3MM. Rosenthal’s sources confirm Jerry Crasnick’s earlier report: the deal would guarantee Glavine $1MM, pay him another million for making the team out of Spring Training and pay him the final million if he’s on the Braves’ roster for 60 days.

Glavine’s agent, Gregg Clifton described the meeting as "amicable and positive" and said the two sides are still exchanging ideas. The Nationals are an option for Glavine if he doesn’t reach an agreement with Atlanta.

The Braves have $6-8MM left to spend, but they’d also like to add an outfielder. Rosenthal describes Nick Swisher, who makes $5.3MM this year, as the Braves’ most likely option. If Atlanta expects the Yankees to pick up any of Swisher’s salary, they’d likely have to part with "higher quality prospects."

Rosenthal adds that Glavine could wait until March, when he turns 43, to sign. If injuries occur in Spring Training more teams could need starters.

Fallout From Abreu And Dunn Deals

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Let’s look at the fallout from today’s big news. The Angels have reached an agreement with Bobby Abreu and the Nats have done the same with Adam Dunn, but, as many of our commenters have noted, other teams and players are affected by these deals. Here’s a breakdown:

  • The Dodgers lose a lot of leverage in their negotiations with Manny Ramirez. Dunn was their preferred alternative to Manny, and Abreu was another possibility. Unless GM Ned Colletti wants to trade for a bat or sign a much lesser hitter, he may have to give in to Manny and offer three years or an enhanced one or two year deal.
  • Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras must be smiling tonight. The two strongest suitors for Manny, the Dodgers and Giants, still need bats, but Manny’s the only top-notch outfielder left.
  • The Braves lose leverage. They’ve considered trading for Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher, but with Dunn and Abreu off the board, and Manny out of reach, the Braves might have to give up more in a trade with the Yankees.
  • The Yankees, in turn, benefit from these two deals because they can demand more from the Braves. Peter Abraham thinks the Yankees should hold onto Swisher and Nady.
  • Garret Anderson and Ken Griffey Jr. are now the best remaining alternatives to Manny, so they could both benefit from today’s deals.
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