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Discussion: Akinori Iwamura

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Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura faces a $4.85MM club option for 2010 with a $550K buyout, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.  Topkin notes that under the terms of his contract, Iwamura will become a free agent if the Rays decline the option (despite not having six years of service time).

A healthy Iwamura should easily be worth that amount; he was in 2007 and 2008.  However, he was limited to 260 plate appearances this year due to a knee injury.  What's more, the Rays are tight on payroll and have other strong options at second base.

Topkin noted that Iwamura would discuss renegotiating the option at a lower price, because he loves the Tampa area.  That might be hard to resist.  But if the Rays prefer to move on, they could attempt to exercise the option and then trade Iwamura.  According to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, Japanese newspaper Sanspo is already speculating on the Dodgers as a fit.

Iwamura still appears capable of a .350 OBP and acceptable defense at second base (he also played third base in '07).  If he reaches free agency or becomes available in trade, which teams make sense?  Aside from the Dodgers, the White Sox, Indians, Tigers, Twins, and Diamondbacks could consider him.

Odds & Ends: Tigers, Pedro, Rays, Dodgers

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Some links to peruse while you eagerly await Game Six of the ALCS…

  • Lynn Henning of The Detroit News suggests some salary figures for the Tigers' four key free agents: Fernando Rodney, Brandon Lyon, Placido Polanco, and Adam Everett. He also says there's no way to the team will bring back Aubrey Huff or Jarrod Washburn, nor "is it fathomable that either player will be offered salary arbitration for 2010."
  • The Phillies' braintrust has already met about offseason decisions according to Andy Martino of The Philadelphia Inquirer, and a person familiar with the team's thinking tells him that they haven't ruled out offering Pedro Martinez a contract longer than one year.
  • Steve Slowinski at DRaysBay.com took a look at the Rays' projected payroll for 2010, and concludes that salary escalations and arbitration raises don't leave the team with too much wiggle room next year, even though they have/will shed some expensive contracts.
  • Dodgers' GM Ned Colletti said he "doesn't anticipate any cutbacks in resources" despite the drama between the McCourts, according to the AP (via ESPN).
  • Dylan Hernandez of The LA Times says that impending free agents Orlando Hudson and Randy Wolf are expected to "depart to greener pastures."

Offseason Outlook: Tampa Bay Rays

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The Rays are next in our Offseason Outlook series.  Their likely commitments for 2010:

C – Gregg Zaun – $2MM (club option, Zaun can void)
C – Shawn Riggans – $414K
1B – Carlos Pena – $10.125MM
2B – Ben Zobrist – $416K
SS – Jason Bartlett – $1.98MM+
3B – Evan Longoria – $950K
IF – Willy Aybar – $1.35MM
IF – Reid Brignac – $400K
LF – Carl Crawford – $10MM (club option)
CF – B.J. Upton – $435K+
RF – Matt Joyce – $410K
OF – Fernando Perez – $403K
DH – Pat Burrell – $9MM

SP – James Shields – $2.5MM
SP – Matt Garza – $433K+
SP – Jeff Niemann – $1MM
SP – David Price – $1MM
SP – Wade Davis – $400K

RP – J.P. Howell – $434K+
RP – Dan Wheeler – $3.5MM
RP – Grant Balfour – $1.4MM+
RP – Lance Cormier – $675K+
RP – Randy Choate – $400K+
RP – Andy Sonnanstine – $430K
RP –

Other commitments: Akinori Iwamura – $250K buyout, Brian Shouse – $200K buyout

Non-tender candidates: Dioner Navarro, Gabe Gross, Jeff Bennett

I have uncertainty with the Rays, given the options and non-tender candidates.  Zaun hopes to return in 2010, and if he does the Rays would be less inclined to tender Navarro a contract for $1.68MM+.  On the other hand, the Rays have talked about expecting Navarro to rebound, so it's difficult to guess their plan.  As for the options, Crawford is an easy decision at $10MM.  Cases could be made for retaining Iwamura and Shouse, but I have the Rays paying them $450K to leave rather than $6.25MM to stay.  Under this scenario, the Rays have about $50MM committed before arbitration raises to Bartlett, Upton, Garza, Howell, Balfour, Cormier, and Choate.  These raises should cost at least $10MM, putting the Rays in the low $60MM range for the second year in a row.

The Rays can probably expect more out of Upton, Burrell, and the catcher spot in 2009.  Trading Upton is a possibility, though his value is at a low point.  A successful first half could allow the Rays to trade Upton and promote Desmond Jennings for center field.  Offensively, the Rays also have to worry about Zobrist and Bartlett coming down somewhat from their excellent numbers. 

Right field should be a competition.  Gross may be non-tendered, with Kapler leaving as a free agent.  Zobrist, Joyce, and Perez could be in the mix, plus any possible imports.  One affordable plan could be to use Zobrist in right and Sean Rodriguez at second base.  Iwamura has value at $4.25MM, so the Rays could exercise his option and then trade him.

With Davis looking good and Jeremy Hellickson waiting in the wings, the Rays appear to have rotation depth for 2010 despite trading Scott Kazmir, Edwin Jackson, and Jason Hammel in recent years.

The Rays may not add a closer, but they're planning to bring in two or three late-inning arms.  Whatever payroll space they have will likely be used here.  Interesting free agents are plentiful.

Even without major moves, it's not difficult to envision improvements in the offense and starting rotation next year for the Rays.  It's an important year to pounce, with Pena and Crawford entering contract years.

Odds & Ends: Torre, Braves, Blue Jays

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In the midst of a tight Dodgers-Phillies game, here are some news tidbits from around the baseball world….

  • Before Game Five, Joe Torre said he wants to (and believes he will) be the Dodgers' manager next season, reports Mike Jensen of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
  • Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Frank Wren is in a bit of a Catch-22 when it comes to re-signing Tim Hudson and Adam LaRoche, and/or trading Kenshin Kawakami or Derek Lowe for hitting help.
  • MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports that new Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has spent his first few weeks on the job talking to the team's coaches and players.  After talking to pending free agents Marco Scutaro, Rod Barajas and John McDonald, Anthopoulos said he wants to speak to their respective agents in the coming weeks.
  • As reported by Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Mark Cuban told a group of Pitt students that he won't be buying the Pirates.
  • Speaking of Pittsburgh natives looking to be involved in MLB ownership, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan said that Pittsburgh lawyer Check Greenberg's investment team made with members of the Hicks Sports Group on Wednesday to discuss buying the Rangers. 
  • Tommy Rancel of the DRaysBay blog outlines why he thinks the Rays should look into signing Kelvim Escobar this off-season.

Odds & Ends: Yankees, Cardinals, Astros

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Here are some links to take you through the end of your workday, instead of, you know, working.

  • The Yankees aren't satisfied to simply win the 2009 World Series. They are concurrently planning to take 2010 as well, with Jon Heyman reporting that they are atop Matt Holliday's preferred list of teams, and Lohud.com's Chad Jennings writing that the Yankees should be meeting with Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman soon, though GM Brian Cashman wouldn't confirm it.
  • Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Jason LaRue would be a good fit for the Cardinals in 2010, and breaks down the other catching candidates as well.
  • Manny Acta had his second interview for the Astros' managing job, while Bobby Valentine and Bob Melvin are candidates to take Acta's former position as skipper for Washington.
  • Tim Wakefield had successful back surgery for the Red Sox, who have a number of 2010 contract options to consider, include Wakefield's. Alex Speier of WEEI.com runs it down nicely.
  • The Rays hired Derek Shelton as their new hitting coach. Shelton had been the hitting coach for Cleveland.
  • Former Mets' first base coach Tom Nieto is the new manager for Rochester, Minnesota's Triple-A farm team, among other minor-league hires.

Odds & Ends: Sano, Towers, D’Backs, Fehr

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Links for Wednesday…

  • Kevin Towers has a standing offer from the Red Sox, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.  For now, Towers plans on taking a few months off.  In contrast, a week ago ESPN's Buster Olney wrote that "there would appear to be excellent odds that Towers will land with the Yankees as a special assistant sometime in the months ahead." 
  • The Cubs' contract with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo is official.
  • Miguel Angel Sano received his U.S. work visa, according to SI's Melissa Segura.
  • The new Rays hitting coach is Derek Shelton, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.
  • Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic crafts an offseason plan for the Diamondbacks, who have a decent amount of money to work with.  We did our Offseason Outlook for the team back in September.
  • J.C. Bradbury of Sabernomics says tendering a contract to arbitration-eligible right fielder Jeff Francoeur is probably worthwhile for the Mets.  I don't sense that non-tendering him is a serious consideration.
  • Donald Fehr will receive an $11MM parting gift when he steps down from his MLBPA position, says ESPN's Amy K. Nelson.  The players were mostly in favor of the decision, according to Curtis Granderson.
  • The Rangers met with Jim Crane's group Tuesday, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  Two more potential investing groups are scheduled.
  • Backup catcher Mike Redmond told MLB.com's Kelly Thesier he plans on playing next year, whether or not it's with the Twins.
  • 41-year-old righty Keiichi Yabu also hopes to play in 2010, says NPB Tracker's Ryo Shinkawa.
  • Reliever George Sherrill has no hard feelings about the Orioles trading him to the Dodgers, says Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
  • MLB.com's Dick Kaegel talked to Zack Greinke, who was characteristically blunt.
  • In a Saturday post, Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts said he'd like to see how GM Ned Colletti handles the decreased payroll flexibility once his young players reach arbitration.  Weisman is even-handed in his assessment of Colletti, but here's a funny quote: "I don't laud him for retaining the young core of the team: Kershaw, Kemp, Billingsley, Broxton, Martin, et al. Knowing not to dump those guys is like knowing not to show up to work in your underwear."

Odds & Ends: Saito, Jaramillo, Marlins

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More Monday linkage…

  • Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies want catcher Yorvit Torrealba back, but not at his $4MM option price.
  • WEEI's Alex Speier explains that outrighting Takashi Saito makes a Boston re-signing more feasible.
  • Rudy Jaramillo will likely reach an agreement soon with the Cubs for their hitting coach position, according to SI's Jon Heyman.  Heyman says Jaramillo will be near the top of the coach pay scale, at $800K a year for multiple years.  The Cubs are hoping Jaramillo can help Alfonso Soriano. Milton Bradley hit well in Texas, though he's a trade candidate.
  • MLB.com's Joe Frisaro talked to first baseman Nick Johnson, who is approaching free agency for the first time in his career.  Johnson seems unlikely to stay with the Marlins.  (Check out our discussion post on him here).  Frisaro says the Fish could further shake up the infield corners by trading Jorge Cantu.
  • Newsday's David Lennon reminds us the Mets chose Oliver Perez over Randy Wolf last winter.  Wolf supplied 214.3 innings of 3.23 ball for the Dodgers for $8MM.
  • MLB.com's Jordan Bastian talked to Blue Jays defensive whiz/impending free agent John McDonald about the future and his popularity in Toronto.
  • MLB.com's Bill Chastain feels the Rays will at least talk to free agent reliever Billy Wagner.  Nice fit, though VP Andrew Friedman found it unlikely they'd sign a closer when asked a few weeks ago.  It won't help if Wagner turns down an arbitration offer from the Red Sox, which would attach a draft pick cost.

Rays Rumors: Zobrist, Iwamura, Kapler

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MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez provides the latest on a few Tampa Bay Rays:

  • If Ben Zobrist becomes the team's everyday second baseman, the club may decide to bring free agent-to-be Gabe Kapler back as a backup outfielder. Kapler made $1MM this year and hit .239/.329/.439 in 245 trips to the plate.
  • If the club keeps Zobrist at second, it appears highly unlikely that the Rays would pick up Akinori Iwamura's $4.25MM option.
  • Other club options to watch: Carl Crawford at $10MM, Gregg Zaun at $2MM and Brian Shouse at $1.9MM.
  • It's likely that the team will look for affordable late-inning relief help. 

Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Bell, Acta, Rays

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Another October day without baseball?  Drown your sorrows in some links…

  • Peter Abraham, in his new gig with the Boston Globe, thinks the Red Sox will tread cautiously with Japanese players like Yusei Kikuchi because of the "tug-of-war" they've gone through with Daisuke Matsuzaka concerning his conditioning methods.  The Sox are among several teams scheduled to meet with Kikuchi in Japan later this week.
  • MLB.com's Corey Brock fields a question about arbitration-eligible closer Heath Bell in his latest inbox.  Bell is set for a substantial pay raise after tallying 42 saves in 2009.  Should the Padres try to deal him this winter?
  • Former Nationals skipper Manny Acta had a phone interview with Indians GM Mark Shapiro last week to discuss the Tribe's managing vacancy, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Acta will also interview Friday for the Astros' opening.
  • According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays have hired former Astros pitching coach Dewey Robinson to their minor league staff.

Odds & Ends: Jaramillo, Varitek, D’Backs

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Links for Wednesday…

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