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Bard, Estes Become Free Agents

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According to MLB.com’s Corey Brock, catcher Josh Bard and pitcher Shawn Estes have elected free agency and cleared waivers.  Both players were expected to join the free agent class, though perhaps not this early.

Bard is interesting – he will be 31 in March, and was injured for much of ’08.  In ’07 he hit pretty well away from PETCO.

Additionally, pitcher Dirk Hayhurst was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays.  Hayhurst’s claim to fame is writing a "non-prospect diary" for Baseball America.

Yankees Eyeing Peavy?

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There’s a lot being made of the Yankees signing CC Sabathia, but as Ken Davidoff of Newsday.com asks, "Whom would you rather have? CC Sabathia for six years and $150 million? Or Jake Peavy for four years and $63 million?"  Buster Olney reported on this possibility recently. Davidoff reports:

"Peavy’s agent, Barry Axelrod, who lives in the San Diego area and is very friendly with Towers, said: "My guess is, unless somebody knocks their socks off this offseason, I don’t expect that Jake will be moved. I would think that starting the middle of next year and into the next offseason, there could be a significant possibility of Jake being moved" because of Peavy’s significant raise from 2009 to 2010."

Peavy would need to approve a trade and it’s not sure thing he’d want to go to New York. On whether, Peavy is seeking a trade at all, Davidoff quotes Peavy:

"’I want to be here, but I want to be here with a chance to win a World Series. If someone says, ’Hey, we’re going to rebuild, that’s not going to be our top priority,’ you certainly would wonder what your other options are.’"

Olney’s Latest: Sabathia, Ellis, Embree, Giles

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Buster Olney brings the rumors:

  • If the Yankees want CC Sabathia, they will not lose in any bidding war now that a new ballpark puts them in the position to "throw unlimited dollars" at CC. Unless CC wants to play in the NL, or avoid the media circus of New York City, Olney seems convinced the Yankees will land him.
  • The A’s have begun contract negotiations with Mark Ellis. No details yet.
  • Before the trade deadline, no teams expressed interest in Alan Embree and his $2.25MM salary. This could indicate that the A’s will not pick up his $3MM option. The 38 year old lefthander struggled with a 4.96 ERA this season.
  • The Padres are going to pick up Brian Giles $9MM option at the deadline, shortly after the World Series, rather than buy him out for $3MM. This was expected.

Odds And Ends: Cardinals, Astros, K-Rod

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Links for Saturday…

  • It doesn’t sound like Jon Daniels has autonomy in Texas.
  • Ian Hunter of Country 103.9 in Ontario recently talked to MLBTR about the Blue Jays. Click here to download the mp3.
  • Reds GM Walt Jocketty has talked to three or four of the Reds’ nine free agents.  John Fay speculates those players are David Weathers, Jerry Hairston Jr., Mike Lincoln, and Jeremy Affeldt.
  • The Padres’ grievance against shortstop Khalil Greene won’t be heard until spring.  The case of Doyle Alexander may be a precedent; the Yankees were not able to recover any money after Alexander broke a knuckle by attacking a dugout wall in ’82.
  • Matthew Leach of MLB.com takes a look at the Redbirds’ upcoming offseason.  Leach estimates that after all the contract and arbitration items are settled, the Cards will have around $25MM to look for a middle infielder, a middle reliever, and perhaps a new closer or #4 or #5 type slugger.
  • Likewise, earlier this week Astros MLB.com beat writer Alyson Footer reported on GM Ed Wade’s offseason plans. Wade is expected to make some tweaks to the roster, but it’s unlikely he’ll make any major moves. Footer suggests the Astros could look for a couple of rotation arms, and speculates on the possibility of signing Ben Sheets.
  • The O.C. Register’s Mark Whicker doesn’t see Francisco Rodriguez coming back to the Angels.

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com and can be reached here: alexo05 {at} umpbump {dot} com.  Tim Dierkes also contributed to this post.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Holliday, Teixeira, Mussina

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A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…

  • MetsBlog recognizes that Francisco Rodriguez will improve the team and appease fans, but is not sure he is worth a four or five-year deal.
  • Mets Geek projects the Mets ’09 roster and looks at some options from outside the organization with Pat Burrell and Derek Lowe being the biggest offseason targets.
  • Was Watching says bringing back Brian Cashman was a mistake.
  • River Ave. Blues assesses the Matt Holliday market and feels that Phil Hughes and Robinson Cano for Holliday "doesn’t make much sense."
  • Sox and Pinstripes provides an in-depth preview of the upcoming offseasons for the Yankees and Red Sox and wonders if Theo Epstein can convince the Rockies to take J.D. Drew and a top prospect for Matt Holliday.
  • iYankees notes that Brian Cashman wants to make the Yankees’ OBP a priority this winter and feels Mark Teixeira fits the bill.
  • Oriole Post does not want to see Mike Mussina return to the O’s and would prefer they "stay the course" with young players.
  • C70 At The Bat takes a look at the Cardinals’ decision to sign Kyle Lohse and what it could mean for the offseason ahead.
  • Viva el Birdos projects the Cardinals ’09 roster and payroll.
  • McCovey Chronicles reacts to some quotes from Brian Sabean and what they mean for the Giants’ offseason.
  • Newberg Report thinks the price for the Rangers to acquire Jake Peavy would be too high, even if he’d waive his no-trade clause to go there.
  • Athletics Nation sees no point in signing Jason Giambi.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Vlad, Cano, Peavy, Hardy

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Today we have a fresh column from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

  • Vladimir Guerrero’s $15MM option for ’09 is a lock, but perhaps the Angels will reconsider extending him beyond that.  Some of the money could be used to make Mark Teixeira the next franchise player.
  • Rosenthal says "virtually every club with a need at the position" has shown interest in second baseman Robinson Cano.  If you give Cano a mulligan for April, he hit .297/.326/.448 in 2008.  That seems like a reasonable American League projection going forward.  Cano, 26 in a few weeks, is signed through 2011 with two club options beyond that.  The Yankees would look for a starting pitcher in return.
  • Rosenthal agrees the Padres will explore the trade market for ace Jake Peavy.  He expects Kevin Towers to wait until the big-name free agent starters sign, which will accentuate the relative affordability of Peavy’s contract (basically four years, $63MM).
  • Rosenthal says Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy knows he is likely to be traded to make room for prospect Alcides Escobar.  It’d be a reasonable move, but only if Escobar proves he is a capable replacement.
  • Pat Gillick told Rosenthal he will not be returning as Phillies GM next year, despite recent speculation.

Padres Rumors: Greene, Team Needs

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New Padres articles over at the San Diego Union-Tribune and MLB.com…

  • The Padres filed a grievance against Khalil Greene based on his self-inflicted broken hand bone.  They may seek to recover over $1MM.  The Padres must be really tight on cash, as I’ve never heard of a team doing this (especially against a player under contract).  Greene is owed $6.5MM in ’09.
  • GM Kevin Towers admitted payroll may be lower than $58MM in 2009.  Towers will surf the trade market for a veteran backup catcher and perhaps a reliever.

Olney: Young Starters On Trade Market

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ESPN’s Buster Olney names three young starting pitchers who might be available this winter:  Jake Peavy, Zack Greinke, Matt Cain, and Edwin Jackson.

Peavy is 27; his trade value is off the charts.  He’s under contract for the next four seasons at a below-market $59MM total.  In 2013, his $22MM club option could be seen as a discount as well – remember when A.J. Burnett at $11MM a year was crazy?  The A’s received a six-prospect bounty for three years of Dan Haren; Peavy suitors will have to top that.  Peavy will also need to be compensated to waive his no-trade clause.

Greinke would require a package of players rivaling return the Orioles received for Erik Bedard.  Middle infield, catcher, and center field could be areas the Royals look to address.

It’d be three years of Cain, so put his price somewhere between Greinke and Peavy.  Jackson is also under team control for three years, but he’d be the easiest to acquire of the four.

Padres Likely To Exercise Giles’ Option

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According to Corey Brock of MLB.com, the Padres are leaning toward exercising right fielder Brian Giles’ $9MM option as opposed to the $3MM buyout.  It’s been odd to see the Padres waver on this decision.  Giles hit .306/.398/.456 this year, his OBP ranking sixth in the league.  His defense was also a major plus.

Given the impending non-tender for Josh Bard, the Padres can probably retain both Giles and Trevor Hoffman without going too far past a $50MM payroll.  Still, it’ll be a shame if the Padres reduce payroll to that level.

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