By Tim Dierkes | at
MLB.com’s Corey Brock talked to Padres GM Kevin Towers, who said he plans to talk to closer Trevor Hoffman about a contract for next year before season’s end. The interest is mutual.
If the Padres decline Brian Giles’ option and trim payroll to $50MM, they’ll have about $7MM left to spend on Hoffman and other free agents.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Your 2009 San Diego Padres:
C – Josh Bard – $2.2375MM+
C – Nick Hundley – $400K
1B – Adrian Gonzalez – $3MM
2B – Matt Antonelli – $400K
SS – Khalil Greene – $6.5MM
3B – Kevin Kouzmanoff – $410K
IF – Edgar Gonzalez – $400K
IF – Brian Myrow – $400K
LF – Chase Headley – $400K
CF – Jody Gerut – $700K+
RF – Brian Giles – $9MM or $3MM buyout
OF – Scott Hairston – $406K+
OF – Will Venable – $400K
SP – Jake Peavy – $11MM
SP – Chris Young – $4.5MM
SP – Cha Seung Baek – $400K
SP – Josh Banks – $400K
SP – Wade LeBlanc – $400K
RP – Heath Bell – $420K+
RP – Cla Meredith – $415K
RP – Clay Hensley – $410K+
RP – Justin Hampson – $403K
RP – Joe Thatcher – $400K
RP – Mike Adams – $400K
RP – Kevin Cameron – $400K
That’s $44.2MM committed, plus arbitration raises for Bard, Gerut, Hairston, and Hensley. Maybe that’ll bring commitments to around $49MM. This estimate includes them retaining Giles at $9MM.
ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Padres want to be in the $50MM payroll range for ’09, and Giles’ option will probably be declined. The Padres could exercise his option and try to trade him, but Giles has 10-and-5 rights.
Olney also says the Padres will talk to Trevor Hoffman soon about a contract for ’09. They might agree on $5MM or so, but then the Padres wouldn’t have room in the budget for Giles.
It’ll be a shame if the Padres slash payroll next year. They were at $73.7MM in ’08; $20MM could buy a quality free agent or two for the rotation or infield. 2009 provides a nice window to field a competitive team in a weak division. The salaries of Gonzalez, Kouzmanoff, Gerut, Peavy, Young, and Bell jump another $12MM or so in 2010.
If the Padres are so cost-conscious that they must discard an effective hitter like Giles, it may make sense to go all-in and sell off the young veterans too. Gonzalez and Peavy are currently at peak value given their salaries, age, and performance. Kouzmanoff and Young also have good trade value, though Greene is at a low point.
Note: two changes were made from the original post – information about Giles’ no-trade rights was added and Peavy’s ’09 salary was corrected.
By Cork Gaines | at
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the Padres released Brett Tomko and Tadahito Iguchi following today’s game. The move was made to make room on the 40-man roster for prospects Matt Antonelli and Wade LeBlanc.
Tomko was 2-7 with a 6.30 ERA in 22 appearances (10 starts) this season. Iguchi was hitting .231/.292/.304 in 81 games this season. Tomko signed a 1-year deal prior to the season that paid him $3MM. Iguchi was given a 1-year extension that paid him $3.85MM this season.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
By Cork Gaines | at
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a source that claims the Player’s Association will only focus on the status of Pedro Alvarez’ contract and not on the contract of Eric Hosmer. Kovacevic says the MLBPA will argue that Hosmer’s contract was only delayed so the Pirates could have more time to negotiate with Alvarez.
However, Jonathan Mayo obtained a copy of the grievance filed by the union which suggests that Alvarez’ contract will not be the sole focus (emphasis Mayo’s).
The Commissioner’s Office, without notice to the MLBPA, unilaterally determined to permit Clubs to negotiate with drafted players after the August 15, 2008 deadline, and unilaterally determined to accept agreements by Clubs after the August 15, 2008 deadline.
Mayo feels that the use of plurals in the grievance indicates the union is contesting more than one contract. Mayo says the grievance, combined with MLB not allowing Hosmer to play until this issue is resolved, suggests that this is about more than just the contract status of Alvarez.
Mayo also speculates that part of the desire to make Alvarez the top-paid draftee, may stem from Buster Posey’s decision to go with an agent other than Boras. Mayo wonders if Boras is in-part driven to prove Posey made a mistake.
Other notes…
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks claimed lefty Wil Ledezma off waivers from the Padres. Ledezma, 27, posted a 4.47 ERA in 54.1 innings. Walks have been a problem for him. He’s under team control through 2010, if the D’Backs want to go to arbitration with him.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Let’s round ’em up…
By Sarah Green | at
A spot on the US Olympic team has thrown some extra attention on 20-year old San Diego State hurler Stephen Strasburg, likely to be the top pick in next year’s draft. As Thomas Boswell wrote today in the Washington Post, Strasburg’s fastball has been clocked at 101 mph and it’s not even his best pitch (that would be his curveball).
Boswell excited because his hometown Nats are so terrible, they just might be getting the No. 1 draft pick that would let them snag the 220 lb, 6’4" Strasburg. But Buster Olney rains on his parade:
Strasburg’s advisor is Scott Boras, and if the Nationals thought the asking price of Aaron Crow was high, well, they ain’t seen nothing yet.
Nonetheless, DC scribes are following the scouts’ lead and positively drooling over the big righty. In addition to his high-90s heater and his 70s curve, Strasburg has a slider in the 80s and struck out 23 batters in one game in April.
Washington has a .354 winning percentage as of right now. The only other teams under .400 are San Diego (.375) and Seattle (.367).
Sarah Green writes for UmpBump and the Boston Metro. She can be reached here.
By Cork Gaines | at
A few notes on from around the baseball Blogospehere…
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
By Cork Gaines | at
A few notes from around the MLBiverse…
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
By Tim Dierkes | at
11:51am: Tony Jackson says the Padres will pay about $1.3MM of Maddux’s remaining salary, with the Dodgers taking on $900K.
WEDNESDAY, 8:43am: Tom Krasovic has more. The Phillies apparently offered a better package for Maddux earlier this year, but he would not approve a trade there. So the Dodgers will pay a significant amount of Maddux’s remaining salary and the Padres will choose two low-level minor leaguers from a list by October 15th. They wanted James McDonald or Scott Elbert but the Dodgers wouldn’t do it.
8:52pm: Paul DePodesta weighs in on the Maddux trade. He mentions in the comments that the Padres want players as opposed to cash considerations.
4:28pm: The deal is done, for two minor league players to be named later or cash considerations. Still not sure how Maddux’s remaining salary will be split.
TUESDAY, 8:42am: The L.A. Times says Maddux has been traded for two players to be named later. The Dodgers will pay at least part of Maddux’s remaining Maddux’s remaining $2.35MM. Keith Law says the deal makes sense for both sides.
MONDAY, 11:25pm: The AP is now saying an agreement has been reached and the trade will be announced Tuesday. ESPN’s Rob Neyer wonders if one motive for the Dodgers is to save keep Clayton Kershaw’s innings down.
9:50pm: Through a team spokesman, GM Ned Colletti said a deal is not done. The L.A. Times still says an agreement has been reached, while the L.A. Daily News says they’ve agreed in principle but the deal has not been finalized.
8:31pm: Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News says the Dodgers and Padres are actively engaged in talks for Maddux, but isn’t sure how far along the discussions are.
8:09pm: According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers have acquired Greg Maddux from the Padres. Further details are not yet known. The Dodgers had been looking for starting pitching, since they’re not counting on much from Brad Penny.
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