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Possible Replacements For Bavasi In Seattle

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John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting that the Mariners already have a list of names that they are considering to replace the fired Bill Bavasi.

Yesterday, we saw several sources that speculated on the next GM. Hickey spoke with a former GM who came up with a list of eight names that could possibly fill the post.

  • Kevin Towers, current San Diego Padres GM: Hickey notes that Towers has stuck with San Diego through a recent front office transition and may prefer to stay with the Pads.
  • Brian Cashman, current New York Yankees GM: The M’s wanted to talk to Cashman in ’03 but were rebuked. They may get a better chance this time to land a GM that once said "who wouldn’t want [The Mariners] job."
  • Kim Ng, Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM: Was previously a candidate for the Dodgers job and is considered ready to be a GM.
  • Jerry DiPoto, Arizona Diamondbacks director of player personnel
  • Tony Bernazard, New York Mets vice president of player development: Previously a candidate for the Pirates job, Hickey wonders if Bernazard might want out with the Mets in flux.
  • Chris Antonetti, Cleveland Indians VP of baseball operations: Hickey notes that Antonetti may prefer to stay in Cleveland, having previously turned down an offer from the Pirates to interview for their GM post.
  • Mike Rizzo, Washington Nationals assistant GM and VP of baseball operations
  • Dave Forst, Oakland Athletics assistant GM

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex and can be reached here.

Mariners To Release Sexson

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Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald is reporting that the Mariners will release Richie Sexson, and it could happen in the next week.

According to one person familiar with moves that are planned, Sexson will be let go, possibly within days. The timing is not set because the team is dealing with other personnel issues that go beyond the procedures for moving Sexson.

Sexson is still due about half of his ’08 salary of $14MM. This was the last year of a 4-year/$50MM deal.

This move shouldn’t come as a big surprise. After the firing of Bill Bavasi, the M’s are clearly ready to shake up the roster and Sexson’s contract was dead-weight.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Fujikawa, Inge, Haren, Jacque

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Today’s collection of links…

Possibilities For Seattle GM Position

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Who’s in the running to replace Bill Bavasi in Seattle long-term?

  • Interim GM Lee Pelekoudas is in the running.  But as Bavasi’s former righthand man and assistant GM, he’d be an odd choice.
  • Tigers assistant GM Al Avila was considered for the Mariners’ job back in ’03 and would love the opportunity.
  • Keep in mind that the long-term GM will probably not be hired until after the season.  Ken Rosenthal speculates on Brian Cashman, Kevin Towers, A’s assistant GM David Forst, and D’Backs director of player personnel Jerry Dipoto.
  • Statistically Speaking discusses the Chris Antonetti possibility (he’s Cleveland’s assistant GM).
  • Larry Stone has all sorts of ideas.  Aside from those already mentioned here, he tosses out Pat Gillick (unlikely), Gerry Hunsicker, Kim Ng, Dan Evans, Bob Watson, Peter Woodfork, A.J. Hinch, Tony LaCava, Jed Hoyer, Ben Cherington, Jim Duquette, and Paul DePodesta.

Bill Bavasi Fired

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4:30pm: Darrin Beene chronicled all of Bavasi’s transactions – check it out here.

2:10pm: The Mariners fired Bill Bavasi today.  According to the press release, "Vice President/Associate General Manager Lee Pelekoudas will take over as the interim General Manager."  Pelekoudas will be a candidate in the team’s permanent GM search.

I’m not going to list off Bavasi’s mistakes here; we all know he did a poor job.  Looking forward, you have to wonder if Pelekoudas will be more willing to trade Erik Bedard than Bavasi would’ve been.  He could also move quickly to release Richie Sexson.  Geoff Baker believes a housecleaning is much more likely now.

Odds and Ends: Astros, Reds, Mariners, Mets

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Light day for baseball today, with only five games on the docket.  Perhaps these links can fill the void.

Gammons’ Latest: Sabathia, Dunn, Harden

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ESPN’s Peter Gammons has a new blog post up.

  • The Indians are "thoroughly scouting" eight teams that may be interested in C.C. Sabathia, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, and Dodgers (the Mets may be another).  Gammons agrees with Ken Rosenthal that Mark Shapiro may trade Sabathia soon to maximize his value.  Gammons does not see the Yanks jumping in with Phil Hughes or a multi-prospect offer, unless Chien-Ming Wang’s injury forces their hand.  He does not think the Cubs or Phillies have the goods, but suggests the Rangers as a dark horse.
  • If the Cubs don’t have enough for Sabathia, Plan B could be Randy Wolf, Greg Maddux, or even Erik Bedard. The Padres and Mariners have been informed of the Cubs’ interest.
  • Gammons seems to indicate that Mark Teixeira could be available if the Braves fall out of the race (although Tex is not mentioned by name).
  • The Dodgers may have been open to trading Brad Penny, but his shoulder injury puts the kibosh on that.
  • Adam Dunn’s whifftastic ways scare the Red Sox, who might pass even if David Ortiz needs surgery.  Gammons suggests Josh Willingham would be a better fit.
  • Rich Harden could be a huge acquisition, one of the game’s most dominating pitchers.  It’s the same story though – will any team be willing to meet Billy Beane’s asking price given Harden’s injury history?

Odds and Ends: Bradley, Floyd, Threets

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Let’s round up some links.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sabathia, Durham, Bedard

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A few random musings from the Blogosphere…

  • In the wake of the recent C.C. Sabathia-to-the-Yankees rumors, River Ave. Blues lays down a few ground rules for commenting on trade rumors.
  • Bottom 9 insists that the Indians have the pitching to stay in the race and Sabathia is not going anywhere.
  • Indians Confidential is also emphatic that Sabathia is not going to be traded and is still holding out hope that the Indians and Sabathia can agree to a long-term extension.
  • Yankees Chick is not anxious to trade away Robinson Cano and/or Melky Cabrera but notes that if the Yankees are going to make a playoff push the pitching staff needs an upgrade.
  • Rivera’s Cutter speculates that the Yankees could just trade for Sabathia as a rental and let him leave after the season and take the free agency compensation draft picks.
  • Viva El Birdos would like to see the Cardinals upgrade at second base and believe Ray Durham would be a nice alternative if Brian Roberts is unattainable.
  • Phillies Nation is not convinced that Erik Bedard would be a nice addition to the Phillies rotation, noting that Bedard has been awful away from the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

Stark’s Latest: Holliday, Lofton, Hudson, Greinke

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Time to delve into Jayson Stark’s latest column for ESPN.

  • The Rockies are 9.5 games out, and if they slip further over the next month they may trade Matt Holliday or Garrett Atkins (not both).  If so, they’d be flexible on the number and ages of the players they’d want in return.  Aaron Cook will not be traded.
  • Stark talked to one team official who speculated the Pirates could keep their outfield intact in the name of a run at .500.  Presumably they’d be doing this for the fans, but diehards would probably prefer a sweet bounty of young players and a better ’09 draft pick.
  • As we’ve discussed here, the Mariners don’t have much to trade.  Raul Ibanez has decent value, but Erik Bedard will probably stay put unless a new GM is installed.    
  • The White Sox "made the most serious run yet" at Kenny Lofton, but he they balked at his $2.5-3MM asking price.  Kenny…c’mon.  We want to see you in baseball this year.
  • Orlando Hudson might’ve signed below-market to play in New York, but the Mets signed Luis Castillo through 2011.  How about the other New York team, in the event of a Robinson Cano trade?
  • One AL exec believes the Royals would be best served to trade Zack Greinke now, and get an influx of even younger talent.
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