Odds and Ends: Fujikawa, Inge, Haren, Jacque
Today’s collection of links…
- SI.com’s Jon Heyman does not believe Omar Minaya’s job is in jeopardy.
- New blog to check out: NPB Tracker. Patrick’s goal is to provide a reliable source of information on Japanese leagues to an American audience. He’s already got a name for us to watch: reliever Kyuji Fujikawa. He’d like to be posted, but that’s up to the Hanshin Tigers.
- Brandon Inge is up for full-time catching in ’09, even if it’s not his preference.
- The D’Backs discussed an extension with Dan Haren, but talks broke off. They could rekindle. He’s signed cheaply through 2010 already.
- The Tigers would’ve been interested in Barry Bonds if they didn’t have Gary Sheffield, according to Jim Leyland.
- Jacque Jones has cleared waivers but hasn’t decided whether to accept a minor league assignment from the Marlins.
- RotoAuthority looks at Chase Headley from a fantasy perspective.
- Pretty interesting comments from Bill Bavasi on Erik Bedard. Watch video of Bavasi’s press conference here.
Possibilities For Seattle GM Position
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
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
Light day for baseball today, with only five games on the docket. Perhaps these links can fill the void.
- Despite the recent MLB.com article about the Astros’ hunt for starting pitching, two Houston Chronicle writers (Richard Justice and Brian McTaggart) are wondering whether the ‘Stros should wave the white flag.
- Interesting post from Larry Stone – he quotes John McLaren calling Erik Bedard a "100-pitch pitcher."
- Tim Lincecum on his birthday dinner plans: "Give me McDonald’s or Pizza Hut." Both fine choices.
- Joel Sherman busts out a few speculative paragraphs on potential trades for the Mets if they become sellers.
- Walt Jocketty denies Sherman’s report that he wants to clean house.
- RotoAuthority discusses expected win totals for starting pitchers.
Gammons’ Latest: Sabathia, Dunn, Harden
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
Let’s round up some links.
- Juan Rincon rejected the Twins’ Triple A assignment. Anyone want him?
- The Reds received a 23 year-old righty named Henry Arias from the Royals to conclude the March Brad Salmon deal.
- I had forgotten about this…the Royals almost acquired Milton Bradley a year ago for Leo Nunez but the deal was voided.
- Paul Hagen offers some pitching ideas for the Phillies.
- David Cameron explains why the Mariners are so bad.
- The international signing period begins on July 2nd; pitcher Michel Inoa heads the class. It’s been suggested the A’s could offer him $4MM.
- Jon Heyman says this might be Cliff Floyd‘s last season. Floyd has a $2.75MM club option for ’09.
- Howard Megdal considers Scott Schoeneweis and Brian Schneider the Mets’ most tradeable commodities.
- Erick Threets is shocked no team was willing to pick him up and keep him in the Majors. For El Lefty Malo, this serves as a reminder that fans often overvalue their team’s players.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sabathia, Durham, Bedard
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
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.
Jays Cool On Bedard?
There’s a long-running rumor that Canada native Erik Bedard will sign with the Blue Jays when he reaches free agency after the ’09 season.
However, Geoff Baker writes today:
But sources in Toronto indicated on Monday that the team has cooled on Bedard and may no longer be interested in acquiring him — now or later. The Jays have had some public-relations issues the past few seasons with A.J. Burnett, a pitcher expected to use an escape clause to opt out of his five-year deal with Toronto after this season.
Baker is suggesting the Jays may be reluctant to do another long-term deal with a media-unfriendly pitcher. Burnett and Bedard both tantalize, underachieving despite ace repertoires. Bedard’s next contract will be a risky one, perhaps five years at top dollar like Burnett’s.
Back in February, John Hickey wrote that he expected the Mariners to sign Bedard to an extension. Bedard’s mediocre results through 11 starts may give them pause.
Erik Bedard Speculation
So far, we haven’t read any actual rumors suggesting the Mariners will shop Erik Bedard. However, it’s become a prevalent discussion topic among the team’s beat writers. John McGrath even suggests Phillies GM Pat Gillick should acquire Bedard as his last hurrah. The Phils do have a history of interest in the lefty.
Though they don’t get much press, the Phillies have three Top 100 prospects in Carlos Carrasco, Adrian Cardenas, and Joe Savery. Gillick could certainly pull off a trade, though it’s interesting to note that the Phils have used the same five starters all year.
Almost half the teams in baseball had interest in Bedard last winter. That list has narrowed, but there should be healthy competition for his services if the Mariners make him available. I wonder if Bill Bavasi would get to call the shots this time around.