Market For Adrian Beltre
The market for third baseman Adrian Beltre, 31 in April, remains difficult to decipher. You might expect a third baseman coming off an injury-shortened .265/.304/.379 line to take a make-good, one-year deal, even considering exceptional defense. For example, Joe Crede signed a one-year, $2.5MM deal in late February. Since both players are Scott Boras clients, why is Boras seeking a four-year deal worth at least $40MM for Beltre? (Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reporting).
One reason is that Beltre proved very durable prior to 2009, whereas Crede was not. Also consider that Beltre has a better offensive track record and played in a tough park for hitters. At the risk of doing Boras' bidding, it's interesting to note that Beltre hit .286/.330/.486 away from Safeco over the last three seasons. Considering that Beltre might be the game's best defensive third baseman, Boras' asking price doesn't seem so crazy.
As far as the current market, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says the Giants have remainined in contact. However, they are not finding common ground with Boras on the years or dollars. The Red Sox are known to like Beltre, but as WEEI's Alex Speier noted yesterday, signing him could push them over the luxury tax threshold. The Orioles, Twins, Angels, and Cardinals haven't generated much Beltre buzz, though the Mariners appear to be leaving the door open to re-sign him.
Multiple Teams Watching Kelvim Escobar
WEDNESDAY, 10:52pm: Peter Greenberg, Escobar's agent, informed FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi that representatives from the Yankees and Twins were also at the throwing session (via Twitter).
WEDNESDAY, 2:54pm: Zavarce tweets that the Rays, Cubs, Brewers, Giants, Pirates, Tigers, Mariners, and A's are on hand to watch Escobar throw. Several of those clubs are new additions to the list of suitors.
TUESDAY, 10:17am: If you speak Spanish and would like to read Zavarce's full article about Escobar, click here to download a PDF.
MONDAY, 1:08pm: The Mets offered a minor league deal to pitcher Kelvim Escobar, reports Efrain Zavarce for Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional. According to Zavarce, the Rays are also interested. We cannot find Zavarce's article online, but follow him on Twitter if you speak Spanish. Hat tip to ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr., who pointed followers to Zavarce's article and provided translation.
We learned during the Winter Meetings last week that the Mariners, Brewers, Orioles, Mets, and Yankees are other suitors for Escobar, who will pitch as a reliever in 2010 in hopes of preserving his shoulder.
Jason Bay Rumors: Tuesday
2:35pm: Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News hears that the Yankees have no interest in signing Bay long-term. They don't have confidence in his ability to play the outfield in a few years. Another source tells ESPN.com's Buster Olney that there's no chance the Yankees bid on Bay or Matt Holliday.
12:42pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that the Yankees did contact Bay's representatives. However, one source says the team isn't seriously interested in Bay right now.
Across town, the Mets are willing to offer a fifth year or increase their initial four-year offer. The Giants, Mariners and Angels have also shown interest in Bay according to FOX's sources.
8:38am: The Red Sox "officially" cut ties with Bay yesterday, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.
12:44am: The Yankees have reached out to Jason Bay's representatives, a source tells Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. While the Mets, Angels, and Mariners are said to be the frontrunners for his services, the article says that the Bombers are "lurking in the weeds."
Silverman stresses that the Yanks are not believed to have made an offer at this point and their level of interest is currently unclear.
Also, while it appears unlikely that there is a place for Bay in Boston, it should be noted that the club has yet to inform him that he is no longer in their plans.
As for the Yankees, do you think they're legitimately interested in Bay or just doing their due diligence?
Giants Non-Tender Ryan Garko
11:29pm: Baggarly writes that Garko did not see eye-to-eye with manager Bruce Bochy and likely wouldn't have seen much playing time in 2010. Now, the Giants have turned their attention to signing Nick Johnson or Adam LaRoche to play first base. Another option would be to sign Mark DeRosa to play third and move Pablo Sandoval to first.
San Francisco has made offers to all three of the aforementioned free agents, but couldn't agree on the dollar figures. It may take LaRoche a while to come around as he is seeking a three-year, $31.5MM deal.
11:00pm: The Giants elected to not tender Ryan Garko an offer, reports Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News (via Twitter).
After coming to the Giants in July, Garko was unable to get into a rhythm, posting a .638 OPS in 40 games. For his career, the soon-to-be 29-year-old has a slash line of .351/.441/.792.
Gammons On Bay, Beltre, Red Sox
Peter Gammons' departure from ESPN has become a story in itself during this busy off-season, and Gammons' media rounds continued today as a guest on the WEEI Sports Radio Network's Big Show. A full transcript is available here, but here are some of the hot stove items that Gammons had to share….
- Gammons said that Jason Bay "does not want to play in San Francisco, pure and simple," in spite of the fact that the Giants would be willing to offer Bay the five-year contract that he is apparently seeking.
- The Angels won't be players in the Bay sweepstakes, as Gammons predicted they will instead spend their money to re-sign John Lackey.
- Gammons thinks the Mariners might still make an offer to retain Adrian Beltre, though such a move might create some issues with the newly-signed Chone Figgins, who came to Seattle under the impression that he would be the new third baseman. Gammons reported that Beltre "hates" Safeco Field.
- Given Roy Halladay's injury history, Gammons said "it would be a disaster" for Boston to trade Casey Kelly and Clay Buchholz for Halladay and sign the Toronto ace to a long-term contract.
- If the Red Sox don't end up with either Bay or Matt Holliday, Gammons opined that Boston could pursue a defense-first strategy for a season by signing Mike Cameron and Xavier Nady. Or, Boston could just save their money now and stand pat until mid-season before making any trades.
- Even if the Red Sox add another big-money starter, the team would like to keep Josh Beckett because of the leadership he provides to the younger pitchers.
- Speaking of clubhouse leadership, Gammons said that Marco Scutaro's ability to mentor Jose Iglesias was a factor in Boston signing the former Blue Jays shortstop. Another reason was that Scutaro had a clean bill of health, unlike Mark DeRosa, who Gammons said the Red Sox were "a little bit cautious" on signing due to his wrist problems last season.
Torrealba, Rockies $400K Apart
The Rockies are just $400K apart on a new contract with catcher Yorvit Torrealba, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. Torrealba wants to match Ivan Rodriguez's deal (two years, $6MM) while the Rockies are at two years and $5.6MM.
With the Royals apparently focused on Jason Kendall, Torrealba's other options are the Mets and Giants. The Mets have an offer out to Bengie Molina, but Renck notes that Torrealba is "scheduled to travel to New York next week to resolve his pending grievance" with them. He says the Giants like Torrealba on a one-year deal, and also made an inquiry on Detroit's Gerald Laird.
Giants Talks For Uggla Getting Warmer?
Yesterday, asked about the Marlins' Dan Uggla by Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, Giants GM Brian Sabean spoke more generally:
I'll make a blanket statement: We're not in any trade discussions that are close to happening as compared to the free agents.
Things may have changed slightly – Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that the Giants' talks for Uggla have gotten warmer, though no agreement has been reached on names. He notes that it'd likely be Freddy Sanchez, not Uggla, switching to third base in the event of a deal. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets of a "general feeling" that Uggla will wind up a Giant, but no deals are expected until after tomorrow's deadline.
The non-tender deadline is tomorrow at 11pm CST. The Marlins have been a lock to tender Uggla a contract all along, but the team's baseball operations president Larry Beinfest told Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post that teams will probably want to gauge the non-tender landscape before trade talks pick back up. Garrett Atkins figures to be the main name joining the free agent third baseman class, with Jose Bautista not out of the question.
Giants Sign Tony Pena Jr.
The Giants signed Tony Pena Jr. to a minor league deal worth $650K in the Majors, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Pena, 29 in March, logged over 2,000 innings in his Royals career as a shortstop, but is now trying pitching. He tossed 19.3 solid minor league innings this year, and is currently working in the Dominican Winter League.
Mets To Offer Two Years To Bengie Molina?
5:56pm: The Mets confirmed that they made Molina and Jason Bay offers, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.
THURSDAY, 6:34am: Adam Rubin of The NY Daily News says the Mets do in fact plan to make Molina an offer before leaving Indianapolis later today, however they don't expect to reach an agreement by then.
WEDNESDAY, 7:12pm: The Mets haven't made Molina an offer yet, but expect to propose a contract by tomorrow afternoon, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.
11:17am: Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests the Mets will make their initial offer to Molina this afternoon.
9:38am: Newsday's David Lennon has heard Bengie Molina is the Mets' first choice at catcher, and "if he accepts a two-year deal, in the $12-million range, he figures to be a Met very shortly." Still, Lennon's "Mets closing on Molina" headline seems strong. Lennon says that if Molina insists on three years, the Mets could sign Yorvit Torrealba for one – even though Torrealba could get two years elsewhere. The Rockies, Giants, and Royals are also in on Torrealba, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. The Rockies are willing to give Miguel Olivo two years if they can't get Torrealba.
Molina was left out in the cold once before, in the 2005-06 offseason. He cashed in with the Giants the following winter, and should probably jump on this Mets offer.
Giants Make Offer To DeRosa?
3:30pm: Baggarly believes DeRosa is one of multiple offers the Giants have out to free agents. He's less certain that Johnson and Scott Podsednik received offers.
1:15am: Steve Henson of Yahoo! Sports says that DeRosa is the team's top third base target because he's cheaper then Beltre, and versatile enough to move if Pablo Sandoval can stick at third.
THURSDAY, 12:22am: Baggarly writes that the Giants "might be making a subtle misdirection play to get the Florida Marlins to take a lesser return" for Uggla.
1:07pm: MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets that we should not rule out the Giants on Uggla – "there is still smoke." He notes that the Marlins never asked for Madison Bumgarner in return.
WEDNESDAY, 12:59am: According to Baggarly, the Giants are hoping to sign one infielder from a group that includes DeRosa, Nick Johnson, and Adrian Beltre. Hudson is also a possiblity, while Adam LaRoche is a "back-burner option." Baggarly also notes that Sabean doesn't sound too enthusiastic about pursuing Jermaine Dye, despite previous reports of the Giants' interest in the veteran: "We want to stay young," Sabean said. "That's a blanket statement, not a comment against Dye."
TUESDAY, 7:50pm: Baggarly reports that the Giants are not a serious bidder for Dan Uggla. His salary (which could be $7MM or so) and his weak glove limit the team's interest.
6:50pm: Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has the latest on the Giants:
- Johnny Damon is not a fit for the Giants.
- Bengie Molina will not return: in the words of Giants GM Brian Sabean, "that ship has sailed."
- It's possible that Juan Uribe will reconsider the Giants' contract offer (for one year, plus an option).
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has more:
- The Giants will move Freddy Sanchez to third base if they sign Orlando Hudson.
- Mark DeRosa , however, would fit in at the hot corner if the Giants sign him.
- Rosenthal confirms that the Giants and Padres have discussed a Kevin Kouzmanoff trade, but says the Padres aren't enticed by the Giants' youngsters.
- Rosenthal hears that Sabean has at least considered signing Jason Bay.