Dodgers Nab Nomar
According to ESPN.com and other sources, the Dodgers have signed Nomar Garciaparra to a one-year deal worth between $6 and $8MM. He’ll play first base, a position he’s never played in his Major League career. The move from shortstop to first shouldn’t be a major hurdle. Grady Little will have an extra infielder on his hands when Cesar Izturis returns, but that’s not really a bad thing.
The Dodgers have begun to craft a solid veteran lineup. They will be relying on the health of players like Garciaparra, J.D. Drew, and possibly Reggie Sanders.
With Garciaparra off the free agent market, the options are slim for the Orioles and Astros. Both have vacancies they hoped to fill via free agency. The Astros will likely settle for Rondell White or Juan Encarnacion for their outfield. A signing would illustrate a lack of confidence in Jeff Bagwell‘s ability to play first base on a regular basis. A retirement would be a classy move by Bagwell that would save the team $17MM. Obviously he’s entitled to the full terms of his contract, but maybe the team can convince him to retire with a $10MM buyout. The Astros are already on the hook for Bagwell’s $7MM buyout for 2008.
This offseason, the Orioles managed to snag the best available catcher in Ramon Hernandez and upset Javy Lopez in the process. Look for Lopez to be shipped off in what’s become a buyer’s market. After all, Bengie Molina is still available and could take a one year deal at this point. Lopez will make $8.5MM in the last year of his contract in 2006. Lopez could be a decent fit in San Diego should the Padres realize that Doug Mirabelli is not a starting catcher.
A Damon signing doesn’t make sense for the Orioles at this point, who probably don’t have the players to place better than 4th in the AL East. The O’s should ship catcher Eli Whiteside and/or a mid-level pitching prospect off to Philadelphia for Jason Michaels. They can promote outfielder Nick Markakis by midseason to round out the outfield.
Astros Update: Garland, Garciaparra
Good stuff today from my main Astros guy.
First off, the Astros are talking to the White Sox about what it would take to acquire Jon Garland. It’s well known that Garland is on the market, and the Astros do have some interesting young arms that are sure to come up in the discussion. Southpaw Troy Patton had a nice run in high Class A this year, and righty Jason Hirsh righted the ship at Double A Corpus Christi. Both pitchers are very highly regarded by Baseball America. Assuming a well-rested Roger Clemens rejoins the Astros in June, the team could once again rest its playoff hopes on starting pitching.
My source also mentioned that Nomar Garciaparra has narrowed his suitors down to the Dodgers and Astros. I admit, the Astros didn’t cross my mind back in September as a possible destination for the game’s current best available free agent (Clemens excluded). I still think a two-year deal is in order.
Orioles Hot Stove Hearsay
All sorts of interesting hot stove boiling in the Baltimore area. Here’s the latest.
Published reports have said that the Orioles have made a two-year offer to 35 year-old starter Paul Byrd. My sources are saying that Byrd is very likely to sign with Baltimore, although it may take three guaranteed years.
Nomar Garciaparra at first base? The Orioles are not likely to sign Paul Konerko according to sources, and Nomar is expected to sign a one year deal with an option with the Orioles. Garciaparra would spell Melvin Mora at third and spend time at first and DH as well.
Erik Bedard is very much available and will probably be dealt this offseason. The team questions his tenacity after a knee injury limited him to 24 starts in 2005. If not packaged in a deal for Bobby Abreu, Bedard may be part of an Adam Dunn trade. The Orioles also have interest in Wily Mo Pena from the Reds if they decide to make a trade of less magnitude.
The Orioles could also make some room at first base for 23 year-old Adrian Gonzalez. The #1 draft pick in 2000, Gonzalez has yet to get the opportunity to translate his minor league success in the Majors. He has just 192 Major League at-bats under his belt and nowhere to play in Texas. The O’s would be happy to send soft-tossing Rodrigo Lopez over to the Rangers for him. However, Lopez projects terribly in Ameriquest and wouldn’t be enough to get a deal done.