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Odds and Ends: Weathers, Montero, Springer

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Links for Friday…

Stark’s Latest: Abreu, Arroyo, Hudson

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark is back with a look at needs and plans for all 30 teams.  I highly recommend you read the article, but here are a few highlights.  He’s also got a fresh blog post here.

  • The Phillies are eyeing Doug Brocail and Russ Springer.
  • The Mets like Bobby Abreu, but not his three year, $45MM asking price.
  • The Reds are quietly listening on Bronson Arroyo, and the Rangers may be interested.
  • Contrary to previous reports, Stark believes the Mets’ first order of business is getting a starting pitcher.
  • Here’s a new one – the Marlins are interested in Orlando Hudson?
  • The Astros may be trying to move money, and Stark implies trading Miguel Tejada or Jose Valverde could be one path.
  • The Rockies have "actively explored" signing Jeremy Affeldt, who could also wind up back home with the Mariners.  A few more interesting names for Seattle: Joe Crede (if Adrian Beltre is traded), Jason Giambi, and Ken Griffey Jr.

Cardinals Rumors: Pujols, Payroll, Needs

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Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the latest Cardinals buzz…

  • The Cards are going to stand pat with their starting rotation until they learn more about Chris Carpenter’s injury.  He’ll be examined in late November.  Strauss says a swing man type acquisition is possible as insurance.
  • The Cardinals are likely to approach Albert Pujols about an extension before he enters his 2011 option year.  Pujols will earn just $16MM in each of the ’09, ’10, and ’11 seasons.  Teams must be salivating at the prospect of Pujols on the free agent market, but the Cardinals will try to prevent that.  Pitchers Hit Eighth recently did a roundtable about this very topic.
  • The ’09 payroll is projected in the $106-108MM range.  The Cardinals have $20MM+ to spend, with the exact number depending on several arbitration cases.
  • The Cardinals need middle infielders and lefthanded relievers.  Strauss says, "The club prefers to deal from its surplus of righthanded relievers, outfielders, minor-league pitching and corner infielders."  I have argued about this in chats a bit…is there really a surplus here?  To me a surplus in baseball means more starters than positions (rather than just good depth).  The Cards have a starting outfield of Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel, and Skip Schumaker, with Colby Rasmus coming on fast.  Rasmus will be a rookie, while Ankiel is a Boras client eligible for free agency after ’09.  There are other interesting players on the roster (Brian Barton, Joe Mather, Chris Duncan), but the Cards aren’t overflowing with starters.
  • Viva El Birdos contests the idea of a surplus of righty relievers, and would like to see Russ Springer re-signed.
  • Strauss says the Cardinals have yet to talk to the agents for Cesar Izturis and Felipe Lopez.  He sees players such as Rafael Furcal and Khalil Greene as possible middle infield targets.

Odds and Ends: Springer, Sheffield, Bonds

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How about some weekend odds and ends?

  • Free agent reliever Russ Springer intends to pitch next year, and he prefers the Cardinals.  The Cards haven’t discussed a contract with him, though, and they might prefer their younger (and cheaper) righthanded relievers.
  • Dave Cameron thinks Nate Robertson might be a sleeper, based on his peripheral stats.  Boof Bonser is another pitcher whose ERA didn’t match up with his other numbers this year.
  • Peter Woodfork apparently bowed out of the Mariners GM job competition after his interview.  The Ms could decide between Tony LaCava, Jerry DiPoto, Kim Ng, and Jack Zduriencik by Tuesday.
  • Scott Boras won a $550K decision against former client Gary Sheffield.  Will Sheff make good on his February promise to say "ugly things" about Boras now?
  • Phil Rogers speculates on Manny Ramirez in a Cubs uniform, but admits they’d have to somehow move Alfonso Soriano first.  Small obstacle: $106MM owed to Soriano over the next six years, plus his full no-trade clause.
  • Yahoo’s Tim Brown says Barry Bonds could be awarded $100MM or more if the players union wins its collusion case.  Bonds would like to play in 2009, but no one expects it.

Odds and Ends: Sabathia, Price, Reds, Mariners, Cardinals

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Ken Rosenthal says that the Brewers’ decision to start CC Sabathia on three days’ rest could hurt the free-agent hurler right before he hits the open market. And he says David Price, coming out of the bullpen, could do for the Rays this posteason what Francisco Rodriguez did for the Angels in 2002.

Dusty Baker likes the Reds’ chances in 2009. Even though they’ve got nine free agents, Baker likes their "young nucleus" and speed.

Mariners’ watchers are looking forward to the day 19-year old prospects Phillippe Aumont and Michael Pineda join the rotation—but according to that article, they may still have to wait two or three years. Three years seems excessive to me, considering that Aumont already has four pitches and that Pineda, who admittedly is still working on his third pitch, possesses an excellent command of the strike zone.

The Cardinals are dealing with some pitching uncertainty: 40-year old Russ Springer is thinking of retiring, and they’re still waiting for the results of Chris Carpenter’s MRI.

Lou Piniella says every team is built to win the World Series: "some get a chance to, and some don’t."

Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.

Cardinals Face Decisions On Relievers

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It seemed Jason Isringhausen’s career was in jeopardy less than a year ago, but he’s fully returned to form and re-established himself as a successful closer.  He’s been ridiculously hard to hit this year, allowing a career-best 4.85 hits per nine innings. 

The Cardinals hold a very reasonable $8MM club option for 2008, with a $1.25MM buyout attached.  So there’s no doubt Izzy will be donning Cardinal red once again next year.  He’ll probably reach his 300th save, too.  The Cardinals may do that one better, though, giving him a contract to cover 2008-09 as they did Jim Edmonds.  I admit I liked the Edmonds deal at the time, but the Cardinals could’ve minimized risk by simply exercising his ’07 option and leaving waiting on ’08.  The same may apply here.

Additionally, it seems Cards reliever Russ Springer has scrapped retirement plans and would like to come back in 2008.  It’s known that Springer has his son attending a specific school in St. Louis and would like to keep him there.  So look for the Cards to ink him for $3MM or so.  Surely he could get a two-year deal on the open market, so the length will depend on Springer’s plans.

Walt Jocketty already locked up Ryan Franklin, another member of the St. Louis pen having a fine season.  Franklin is signed for 2008-09 for $5MM, with a club option for 2010. 

Coming into the season, who would’ve thought the three righties would form perhaps the best relief trio in the game?  The surprising nature of this speaks to the volatility of bullpens, which makes you wonder whether the Cardinals will want the same three pitchers under more expensive contracts in 2009.      

Molony’s Latest: Willis, Encarnacion, Sowers

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MLB.com’s Jim Molony has his daily rumor summary up; check it out.  New rumors:

  • Molony’s sources say the Marlins are now listening to offers for Dontrelle Willis.  Might as well – what if the Mariners decide to offer Adam Jones?  Many folks remain enamored of Willis’s talent, if not his recent numbers.
  • The Cardinals could shop Russ Springer or Juan Encarnacion.  Springer is unlikely to be traded, however, because he has his son going to a specific school in St. Louis and the Cardinals respect that.  Encarnacion is hitting decently at .293/.329/.471; it might be high time to unload the $6.5MM he’s owed next year.
  • Something seems to be going on in Cleveland; GM Mark Shapiro has been in Buffalo watching Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey.  Laffey was nearly called up recently.  Not much talk about trading Sowers previously, but he might be an interesting chip.  He’s similar to Kevin Slowey. They might find success in the NL.
  • The Tigers sent scouts to watch Joe Koshansky and Ian Stewart of the Rockies (rumor originated in the Denver Post).  Not sure how those two teams match up, but a cheap Koshansky might be worth a look for Detroit at first base next year.  Unless Carlos Guillen moves over.

Relief Is On The Way

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Couple of reliever signings occurred today.

The Cards inked righty Russ Springer to a one-year deal for $1.75MM.  Can’t complain about that one in a world where Mike Stanton got two years.  The Devil Rays may have to focus on David Riske now.

Meanwhile, the White Sox locked down Mike MacDougal for three years and $6.45MM with a club option for 2010.  The idea here is to buy out his arbitration years and perhaps first year of free agency.  If healthy, he provides a viable alternative should Bobby Jenks be unable to pitch the ninth inning.

Devil Rays Target Relievers

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Marc Topkin writes that after losing out on free agent closer candidate Octavio Dotel, the Devil Rays are now focused on signing either Russ Springer or David Riske.

Springer turned 38 recently, while Riske turned 30.  Springer has been tough to hit in recent seasons out of the Astro pen, but has been prone to the gopher ball.  Riske’s always been very difficult to hit, despite a significant strikeout rate decline starting in 2005.

It seems likely that if one of these relievers is signed, he would become Tampa Bay’s new closer.  Fantasy leaguers, take note.

Topkin also mentions that Rocco Baldelli is drawing interest from the Braves, Orioles, White Sox, and Tigers, but no deal is close.

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