Heyman’s Latest: Bowden, Helton, Maddux, K-Rod
Let’s take a look at the latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.
- Despite the headline "Nats GM in trouble," Heyman says Jim Bowden has the support of his bosses. They do not blame him for Aaron Crow and are not concerned with his possible connection to the scout skimming scandal.
- Heyman suggests the Rockies could shop first baseman Todd Helton this winter if he demonstrates a healthy back in September. Here’s the thing – if Helton was a free agent and you had to give him a three-year deal, what would you pay? $5MM a year maybe? Are the Rockies going to eat $40MM? Helton might have to be swapped for another bad contract.
- Heyman sees Ryan Dempster getting four years and $48MM, and Oliver Perez snagging $60MM over five. Are they worth that?
- People close to Greg Maddux are saying he wants to pitch next year. Heyman also sees John Smoltz and Tom Glavine back in ’09.
- "Some are expecting" the Reds to be big players in free agency this year. The Reds figure to be in the market for catching and outfield help. Manny Ramirez would be interesting.
- Heyman wonders if the Mets will be players for Francisco Rodriguez this winter.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: O’s. Holliday, Glavine, Maddux, Cardinals, Jeter
A few notes on from around the baseball Blogospehere…
- Camden Chat feels the Orioles are stuck with players like Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff, even though both have cleared waivers.
- Drunk Jays Fans thinks Matt Holliday will be too expensive in terms of contract and prospects for the Jays.
- Talking Chop does not want to see Tom Glavine back in a Braves uniform next season.
- Gaslamp Ball is not happy about San Diego trading Greg Maddux to the Dodgers and wonders why the Padres would want to help their divisional rival.
- Ducksnorts hates the Maddux deal as a fan, but is happy for Maddux and understands the move from a business standpoint.
- Viva El Birdos does not see the Cardinals signing any free agent starting pitchers for ’09, noting that would go against the organizational philosophy.
- Derek Jeter is not a free agent until after the ’10 season, but that hasn’t stopped Was Watching from discussing his future.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Odds And Ends: Glavine, Dunn, Draft, Tigers
A few more notes from around the MLBiverse…
- Tom Glavine will not need Tommy John surgery and Glavine puts the chances of an ’09 return "50-50 at best."
- Scott Bordow takes a look at how the Adam Dunn acquisition is affecting the D-Backs.
- In Peter Gammons’ latest piece he takes a look at how small-market teams ignored the slot recommendations from the commissioner’s office, noting that the slot system "only rewards big market teams."
- In the same article, Gammons says the Tigers may have to reduce their payroll by $40MM next season. Gammons believes it will be very difficult, noting they are already committed to more than $100MM for ’09.
- The Hardball Times takes a look at several players drafted using compensation picks that turned out to be much better than the free agent the team lost.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Odds And Ends: Angels, Glavine, Johnson, Santana
A few minor notes from around the MLBiverse…
- Ken Rosenthal spoke before yesterday’s national broadcast and said the Angels are looking for a veteran shortstop, though Rosenthal feels it will not be easy to find one.
- Tom Glavine may opt for retirement if Dr. James Andrews determines he needs Tommy John surgery. Glavine is a free agent at the end of the season.
- On the other hand, Nick Piecoro says another Hall of Fame-bound free agent-to-be, Randy Johnson, will most likely return in ’09.
- The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review takes a look back at the Mets-Twins trade for Johan Santana and how both teams have fared.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Odds and Ends: Heyman, Vidro, Glavine, Falkenborg
Let’s round up today’s links.
- Great interview with SI.com’s Jon Heyman at The Big Lead. He talks about scoops, Buster Olney, and his wife helping him do his job, among other things.
- Aaron Gleeman doesn’t understand why the Twins claimed Alan Embree but not Chad Bradford.
- Unsurprisingly, the Mariners weren’t able to find a trade partner for Jose Vidro.
- Richard Justice on what he’d have done as Astros GM.
- Tom Glavine‘s next six weeks will determine whether he’ll pitch in ’09.
- The Padres claimed reliever Brian Falkenborg from the Dodgers. Paul DePodesta likes his stuff.
- Danny Knobler writes about the Tigers’ numerous offseason needs.
- Tim Marchman doesn’t think the Yankees will have the money for multiple big-time free agent signings.
- The White Sox have signed seventh round OF Jordan Danks, brother of lefty pitcher John. Jordan hit .321/.444/.564 for the Texas Longhorns this year. The bonus is reportedly just north of $500K.
Braves Sign Tom Glavine
It’s now official: the Braves have signed Tom Glavine to a one-year, $8MM deal. There doesn’t appear to be any kind of second-year option. The Braves initially came in at $6.5MM. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says the Nationals and Phillies were in on him, but never really had a shot at making a deal. The Mets probably aren’t terribly concerned about the loss, since they get the Braves’ valuable #18 overall pick next June plus a supplemental pick as compensation.
After a 2007 lacking in rotation depth, the Braves have a slew of candidates to start. Even without counting on Mike Hampton for anything, they are in good shape. Pitching depth can unravel quickly, but things look good as of November 19th, 2007.
The Braves might be pretty much set this winter, assuming they like Josh Anderson as their starting center fielder.
Mets Give Castillo Four Years, $25 Million
UPDATE, 11-19-07: The AP confirms it. Seems like there were more creative ways to fill the second base vacancy. Castillo was playing it safe, and four years is too much.
UPDATE, 11-18-07: Now Ken Rosenthal has this one.
This one just came in from Tim. Dominican sports website Impacto Deportivo is reporting that the Mets and Luis Castillo have agreed to a four-year deal worth $25 million. They say to expect an official announcement shortly.
I got the summary from Tim. If anyone could head to the website and translate, it would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and just because it’s the same thing as we’ve been hearing since yesterday and I didn’t want to give it another post, Glavine’s agent is saying that his client and the Braves are "maybe one or two phone calls away" from a deal.
Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues.
Odds and Ends: Glavine, Rowand, A-Rod Clark, LoDuca
Hi. I’m Joe. Tim is busy today, so I’ll be filling in. You can send any tips right to my email. So onto a few morning tidbits.
- Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution hears that the Braves are "close" to a deal with
Tom Glavine. His agent, Gregg Clifton, thinks "it’s a good possibility" that a deal gets done today.
- Aaron Rowand’s agent Craig Landis says that the "interest is definitely mutual" between his client and the Dodgers.
- Since I run a Yankees site, I suppose I can’t finish an odds and ends post without a mention of Alex Rodriguez. Ed Price of the Star Ledger says that the soon-to-be MVP’s deal is "intricate," and that we shouldn’t expect a deal until "perhaps after Thanksgiving."
- The Twins are said to be interested in Tony Clark. Not quire sure adding another low-OBP bad in addition to Craig Monroe is very smart here. Plus, this would make Clark the de-facto DH, and we know he’s looking for a starting gig.
- Mike Puma of the New York Post speculates that recently displaced Paul LoDuca could swap with Yorvit Torrealba and catch on as the Rockies’ starter for 2008.
Joe Pawlikowski is a co-author of River Ave. Blues, a New York Yankees blog.
Braves Offer $7MM To Glavine
According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves have made a one-year, $7MM offer to free agent starter Tom Glavine. Glavine has already come back with a counterproposal, and O’Brien expects a deal shortly.
If Braves GM Frank Wren is to be taken for his word, the Braves may be done acquiring pitching after Glavine. He says they would have eight starter for five spots:
John Smoltz
Tim Hudson
Tom Glavine
Chuck James
Mike Hampton
Jair Jurrjens
Jo-Jo Reyes
Buddy Carlyle
I have to admit, that looks like decent depth to start the ’08 season. What would be next? One emailer speculated the Braves might go after Bill Hall. Are there enough center fielders already? Thoughts? It seems that Josh Anderson is the frontrunner but not a lock for the starting job.
Lefty relief help is also a supposed need. We knew Wren was considering bringing Ron Mahay back. O’Brien adds that they’ve looked into Jeremy Affeldt a bit as well.
Frank Wren Chat At MLB.com
Braves GM Frank Wren chatted with fans today at MLB.com. A hot stove summary is below.
- Wren is working on various short-term options for center field, as he does not want to block his two center field prospects.
- Rumors that the Braves would sign Mike Lowell or trade for Ken Griffey Jr., which were silly from Day 1, were shot down.
- Octavio Dotel wants a multiyear deal, and Wren doesn’t seem to expect him back. The Braves do have interest in re-signing Ron Mahay though.
- Wren says that he won’t go after any more starters if the Braves sign Tom Glavine.
- There haven’t been any talks with Mark Teixeira regarding a contract extension yet.