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Yusei Kikuchi To Meet With Seven MLB Teams

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NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman has the latest on amateur lefty Yusei Kikuchi, based on reports from Nikkan Sports and Sanspo.  Kikuchi still hasn't decided whether to start his career in MLB or NPB, but he's meeting with teams starting Friday.  He'll first meet with a dozen NPB teams, followed by seven MLB clubs.

Nikkan's list of MLB suitors: the Giants, Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, Rangers, Mariners and Indians.  MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince confirms the Indians' interest.  Newman tells us all about Kikuchi in this post.

Red Sox Rumors: Bay, Baldelli, Papelbon

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Boston's season may have ended prematurely, but that just means the New England hot stove fires up sooner. Here's some notes from Amalie Benjamin of The Boston Globe and Joe McDonald of The Providence Journal:

  • To no one's surprise, Jason Bay indicated that he'll dip his toe in the free agent waters, saying he'd be doing himself "a disservice" if he didn't look around.
  • Alex Gonzalez's $6MM club option "might be a little rich for the Sox," so the two sides are likely to sit down and find a more palatable number. Nick Green could also come back, though it would strictly be a depth signing.
  • Unless Boston attempts to rekindle talks with the Mariners about Felix Hernandez, their 2010 rotation looks fairly settled.
  • As Benjamin notes, Boston's farm system doesn't offer much at the upper levels of the minors, so instead the team is "faced with re-signing their players, checking out a less-than-stellar free agent market, or going the trade route."
  • Rocco Baldelli's future with the club is up in the air, as GM Theo Epstein said they'll "sit down and talk about what the fit looks like next year –– if there is one."
  • In a radio appearance this morning, ESPN's Steve Phillips said he expects Boston to dangle Jonathan Papelbon, perhaps for an impact bat, according to WEEI's Alex Speier. The free agent market for closers isn't great, and at least Papelbon offers two years of club control. Those will be two expensive years, though.

Odds & Ends: Rangers, Hawpe, Griffey, Matsui

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Are you over that back-and-forth, edge of your seat Yankees-Twins game yet? If not, here's some links to calm you down…

  • Jeff Wilson of The Dallas Morning News provides a quick breakdown of each of the three bidders that are considering purchasing the Rangers. He notes that there is still no timetable for a sale to be complete.
  • Jim Armstrong of The Denver Post wonders about Brad Hawpe's future in Colorado after Jim Tracy used three lefthanded pinch hitters during Game Two of the NLDS, none of whom was Hawpe. With several younger, more athletic, and (perhaps most importantly) cheaper outfielders on the roster, Hawpe could be the odd man out.
  • When asked if he wanted to play in 2010, Ken Griffey Jr. replied "Um, yeah," according to Phil Rogers of The Chicago Tribune. Junior also qualified that by saying he'll do what's best for his family and for the Mariners.
  • Could Hideki Matsui stay in New York next year? Newsday's David Lennon thinks it may be possible, with the Mets instead of the Yankees. The one they call Godzilla has insisted he could play the outfield all season, yet the Yankees have only used him at DH because of his surgically repaired knees. Lennon notes that Matsui has also "told people he would consider trying first base," which would fit great for the team from Flushing.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Bradley, Burrell, M’s, Jays

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On this date 43 years ago, Frank Robinson accounted for the only run in game four of the World Series with a home run, completing a four game sweep. It was Robinson's first season with the Orioles, having been traded to Baltimore the previous winter for Jack Baldschun, Milt Pappas and Dick Simpson. With the regular season over, rumors of trades that could impact next season's World Series have already begun. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Jorge Says No! sees the Mariners as a nice fit for Milton Bradley.
  • Blue Jay Hunter looks at what it might take for the Blue Jays to land Bradley.
  • Trop Talk breaks down the arguments for Bradley, and yet still wants the Rays to stay away.
  • Dock of the Rays explains why the Rays are so eager to rid themselves of Pat Burrell.
  • Rays Index notes that the Burrell-for-Bradley rumor still has a number of unanswered questions, even if the deal comes down to just money.
  • The Rays Party is not thrilled with the idea of the Cubs dumping a player on the Rays because of personality issues.
  • Cubs Locker wants Bradley out of town, even if it takes cash and a relief pitcher.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Bradley, Burrell, M’s, Jays

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On this date 43 years ago, Frank Robinson accounted for the only run in game four of the World Series with a home run, completing a four game sweep. It was Robinson's first season with the Orioles, having been traded to Baltimore the previous winter for Jack Baldschun, Milt Pappas and Dick Simpson. With the regular season over, rumors of trades that could impact next season's World Series have already begun. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Jorge Says No! sees the Mariners as a nice fit for Milton Bradley.
  • Blue Jay Hunter looks at what it might take for the Blue Jays to land Bradley.
  • Trop Talk breaks down the arguments for Bradley, and yet still wants the Rays to stay away.
  • Dock of the Rays explains why the Rays are so eager to rid themselves of Pat Burrell.
  • Rays Index notes that the Burrell-for-Bradley rumor still has a number of unanswered questions, even if the deal comes down to just money.
  • The Rays Party is not thrilled with the idea of the Cubs dumping a player on the Rays because of personality issues.
  • Cubs Locker wants Bradley out of town, even if it takes cash and a relief pitcher.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Griffey Earned $3.15MM In 2009

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The AP has a few notes on free agent DH Ken Griffey Jr.  The report says Junior earned $3.15MM in total this year – a $2MM base plus $1.15MM in incentives for playing time and team attendance.  The Mariners kindly played Griffey often in the season's final week, causing him to earn an additional $250K.  As for 2010, Griffey will talk to his family and decide within a few weeks.

Griffey, 40 in November, hit .214/.324/.411 in 454 plate appearances this year.  A bench role might make sense if he does return next year.

Discussion: Adrian Beltre

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MLB.com's Jim Street talked to Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre about the player's upcoming free agent experience:

"It will be different this year, no doubt.  I didn't put up the numbers everyone expected and then I had shoulder surgery. I am 100-percent healthy right now, but there may be some questions about that. That is something I am going to find out.  I don't know what to expect. Last year, it was a tough free agency for some players because of the economic climate. I don't know what to expect, but for me, it's not about the money anymore. I have already made a lot of money in the sport. I would like to play in the World Series and win one." 

Beltre, 31 in April, hit just .265/.304/.379 in 477 plate appearances this year amid injuries.  He still plays stellar defense at the hot corner.  To his benefit, Beltre projects as a Type B free agent.  Should he turn down an arbitration offer from the Mariners, he won't cost his new team a draft pick.  Another Scott Boras client, Joe Crede, signed for a one-year $2.5MM guarantee in February.  Will Beltre command more?  And where might he land?  Aside from the Ms, the Orioles, Marlins, Astros, Angels, Twins, A's, Pirates, and Cardinals face uncertainty at third base in 2010.

Discussion: Adrian Beltre

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MLB.com's Jim Street talked to Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre about the player's upcoming free agent experience:

"It will be different this year, no doubt.  I didn't put up the numbers everyone expected and then I had shoulder surgery. I am 100-percent healthy right now, but there may be some questions about that. That is something I am going to find out.  I don't know what to expect. Last year, it was a tough free agency for some players because of the economic climate. I don't know what to expect, but for me, it's not about the money anymore. I have already made a lot of money in the sport. I would like to play in the World Series and win one." 

Beltre, 31 in April, hit just .265/.304/.379 in 477 plate appearances this year amid injuries.  He still plays stellar defense at the hot corner.  To his benefit, Beltre projects as a Type B free agent.  Should he turn down an arbitration offer from the Mariners, he won't cost his new team a draft pick.  Another Scott Boras client, Joe Crede, signed for a one-year $2.5MM guarantee in February.  Will Beltre command more?  And where might he land?  Aside from the Ms, the Orioles, Marlins, Astros, Angels, Twins, A's, Pirates, and Cardinals face uncertainty at third base in 2010.

Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Dye, Varitek

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Links for Monday…

Bidding On Jason Bay

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WEEI.com's Alex Speier hears from multiple sources that the bidding for Jason Bay will reach at least four years at $14-15MM per season. The 31-year-old outfielder has been "pleasantly surprised" by his first contract year. Bay didn't know what to expect at the beginning of the season, but he's produced, as usual.

He has 36 homers and a .266/.385/.538 line that overshadows his 159 strikeouts and below average defense (according to UZR/150). A return to Boston appears to be a "legitimate possibility," but other teams will have interest if the two sides can't agree to a deal.

As Speier notes, the Angels, Cardinals, Giants, Mariners, Mets, White Sox and Yankees could all have interest in Bay and the resources to sign him.

Yahoo's Gordon Edes and MLBTR's Mike Axisa each compared Bay to Matt Holliday last month, so check out their articles to see how Bay fits in to the rest of the free agent market.

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