Rosenthal On Manny, Anderson, Kasten
The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Rosenthal wonders if Manny Ramirez could get a multiyear deal following a big/well-behaved ’09, in the vein of other Boras clients such as Kevin Millwood and Kyle Lohse (Ivan Rodriguez, too). Of course, Manny is a lot older than those guys were.
- Rather than money, Garret Anderson wants the 632 hits he needs to reach 3,000. If he gets there, he’ll make for some interesting Hall of Fame debates.
- Rosenthal spoke to an executive who knows Stan Kasten. This exec expects Kasten to surprise with his GM choice, and doesn’t see him hiring a "young up-and-comer" or Chuck LaMar.
- The Cubs are said to be "content with their bench players." Cubs manager Lou Piniella has talked a bit about wanting an "extra infielder who can play first and third." Rosenthal adds that the team’s new ownership "might not be willing to assume the remaining $63 million on Jake Peavy‘s contract in a reeling economy."
Offseason In Review: San Diego Padres
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Padres. Click here to read our comments about the team from September 3rd.
Additions: Cliff Floyd, Henry Blanco, David Eckstein, Emil Brown, Walter Silva, Kevin Correia, Jae Kuk Ryu, Mark Prior, Chris Burke, Everth Cabrera, Mark Worrell, retained Brian Giles, full season of Cha Seung Baek
Subtractions (includes players subtracted during ’08 season): Khalil Greene, Tadahito Iguchi, Josh Bard, Paul McAnulty, Greg Maddux, Randy Wolf, Wil Ledezma, Trevor Hoffman, Shawn Estes, Justin Germano, Clay Hensley, Bryan Corey
For all the talk of the Padres slashing payroll, they kept Jake Peavy and exercised Brian Giles‘ option. The Giles decision, made November 7th, seemed like a good idea at the time.
I mentioned in September that 2009 provides a nice window for contention for the Padres, since many salaries for current players will increase significantly in 2010. While the Padres didn’t lose anyone terribly important, they also failed to do much to improve their lousy offense and bullpen or their middling rotation.
The offense could be a touch better, with Floyd plus more Headley and Gerut (and the subtraction of outmakers Greene and Iguchi). Adrian Gonzalez and Giles will have to maintain their offensive production. But this team needed a bat, and left fielders were affordable this winter.
Kevin Towers can probably cobble together a decent bullpen, but the rotation needs healthy years from Peavy and Chris Young plus multiple breakthrough/bounceback seasons from others. Sean Smith’s CHONE projection system suggests the Padres are an 80 win team, mainly because of promising forecasts for hurlers like Kevin Correia, Josh Geer, Wade LeBlanc, Cha Seung Baek, Chad Reineke, and Josh Banks.
Bottom line: After an offseason of bargain bin veteran additions, the Padres’ hopes rest on good health and breakthroughs from young players.
Padres Work Out Top Latin Prospects
The San Diego Padres held an invite-only camp for some of the top players eligible for the July 2 international signing date.
San Diego’s director of professional and international scouting, Randy Smith, and several front-office staffers were in the Dominican Republic last week for the two-day camp, which had about 21 players at the facility in Najayo.
Corey Brock of MLB.com notes the facility is considered the Taj Mahal of training facilities in Latin America.
Smith told Brock that this year’s class isn’t quite on par with the 2008 group, but there’s still plenty of talent.
The Padres’ camp for Latin American prospects helps the club identify players to pursue.
“Much like your draft, you get your guys in order, figure out who you want to pursue. It’s much like recruiting,” Smith said. “You sell them on your organization; sell him on your facility. The facility sells itself. It’s head and shoulders above everything else.”
Most players are between 14 and 16 years old. Only players who will turn 16 by the end of August are eligible to sign on July 2.
The Padres signed right-handed pitcher Adys Portillo (Venezuela), shortstop Alvaro Aristy (Dominican Republic), outfielder Luis Domoromo (Venezuela) and right-handed pitcher Elvin Tavarez (Dominican Republic), as well as an Australian outfielder, Corey Adamson on international signing day in 2008.
Cubs Rumors: Schilling, Peavy
Let’s talk about the Cubs’ connection to starters Curt Schilling and Jake Peavy.
- Schilling is undecided on pitching in 2009, but if he does he’d be interested in the Cubs and Rays, among other teams. As a reminder, here’s Schilling’s list of ten preferred teams from October of 2007. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times finds it a "long shot" that the Cubs would pursue Schilling, while Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune thinks the Cubs "probably would take a flier on him, at the right price."
- Wittenmyer and Sullivan have quotes from Peavy, who denied singing "Go Cubs Go" at a Vegas bar in December. Peavy had kind words for the Cubs, but the two teams are not talking trade currently.
- In a related story, Sullivan’s heard that Padres CEO Sandy Alderson could take a similar role with the Cubs once new owner Tom Ricketts takes over. Alderson declined comment.
Odds And Ends: Orioles, Bowden, Nathan
A few links for Sunday afternoon…
- According to MLB.com’s Spencer Fordin the Orioles used "number crunching and statistical analysis" to compare Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis to similar past and present players before locking them up to deals worth $40MM and $66MM, respectively.
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that Joe Nathan‘s happy to see Jonathan Papelbon making lots of money this year ($6.25MM) because it’s good for closers in general.
- Jayson Stark of ESPN.com points out the absurdity of the Manny Ramirez negotiations and suggests the structure of a deal that could work for both sides. It’s been nearly four months since the Dodgers made their initial offer of two years and $45MM.
- Pete McElroy of MASN Sports reports that Dmitri Young‘s "shocked" to see Jim Bowden resign. Young, who first dealt with Bowden on the Reds, spoke glowingly of his former GM.
- According to MLB.com’s Jason Beck Jim Leyland confirmed that the Tigers had some offseason discussions about Juan Cruz.
- The draft’s still three months away, but Keith Law of ESPN.com is already putting together scouting reports about some top amateur players.
- MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer dreams up a deal that sends Adrian Gonzalez and Jake Peavy to the Angels for 10 players.
Padres Sign 29 Pre-Arb Players
MLB.com’s Corey Brock reports that the Padres agreed to one-year contracts with 29 pre-arbitration players on Friday. Some of the bigger names on the list: Cha Seung Baek, Cla Meredith, Wade LeBlanc, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chase Headley.
All players on San Diego’s 40-man roster are now under contract.
Padres Invite Walter Silva to Spring Training
According to Corey Brock of MLB.com, the Padres will give right-handed pitcher Walter Silva a shot to earn a spot in the rotation out of Spring Training. He will be on loan from Monterrey of the Mexican League.
Tom Krasovic of The Sand Diego Union-Tribune reported yesterday that the teams had "reached terms on what basically amounts to a six-week tryout for Silva." Krasovic said that Monterrey stands to get about $400,000 if the Padres keep Silva.
Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, a teammate of Silva’s in the Caribbean World Series, first recommended Silva to the Padres. Silva went 7-8 with a 4.21 ERA for Monterrey last season. He pitched well in the Caribbean World Series, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts for Mazatlan.
Padres Closing In On Deal With Walter Silva
1:52pm: MLB.com’s Corey Brock says the Padres are closing in on a minor league deal with Silva.
11:29am: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Yankees and Padres are in the bidding for pitcher Walter Silva. Olney says the 32 year-old righty "had a strong showing in the Mexican Winter League" and must be purchased from the Monterrey franchise.
Odds and Ends: Pirates, Royals, Gagne
Links for Wednesday…
- Joe Torre plans to retire as a manager after the 2010 season, learned MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick.
- Braves blog Talking Chop talked to ESPN’s Keith Law about the farm system.
- Baseball America’s Jim Callis spoke to one assistant GM who believes teams will cut back in the international market, partially because they can do so without a major backlash from fans. Callis also has the ’09 draft order at that link.
- Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball looks at the $69MM+ teams spent on first-round draft picks last year.
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Pirates have anywhere from $41.75-$75.15MM tied up in Nate McLouth, Paul Maholm, and Ryan Doumit, all of whom were signed this winter. In a blog post, Kovacevic notes how the McLouth talks did a 180 when Frank Coonelly stepped in.
- Alex Speier of WEEI talked to Red Sox execs John Henry and Larry Lucchino about the salary cap idea as well as the team’s offseason.
- Aubrey Huff, a free agent after the season, isn’t worried about the future according to Roch Kubatko of MASN.
- Chris Forsberg of the Boston Globe relays quotes from Jonathan Papelbon about the long-term deal that did not materialize this winter.
- Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star discusses the idea of releasing Mark Teahen and John Buck to sign Orlando Hudson, which some Royals fans are pushing for.
- Pitcher Kevin Correia turned down better deals to sign with his hometown Padres, according to MLB.com’s Corey Brock.
- Newly signed Brewers reliever Eric Gagne hopes to atone for his 2008 season, says Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Brian Giles Likes Red Sox, Yankees, Angels
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune talked to Padres outfielder Brian Giles today. At $9MM, Giles is the Padres’ second highest-paid player behind Jake Peavy. He’s a trade candidate this season, though he has full no-trade rights. He carries the baggage of a lawsuit with his former girlfriend as well as an additional $2MM in salary if traded. The Padres exercised his ’09 option on November 7th last year, and I’m guessing they’re already regretting it.
Krasovic learned that Giles’ favored trade destinations would be the Red Sox, Yankees, and Angels. The Yankees and Angels have surpluses in the outfield currently, though Giles would love to stay in California. Giles vetoed a trade to Boston last year due to playing time issues and an expectation that Theo Epstein would’ve traded him after the season.