Verducci On Hamels, Shields, Lowe, Manny
Let’s take a look at the latest from SI.com’s Tom Verducci.
- Interesting line: "One journeyman reliever, for instance, turned down a $2 million offer, saying he would retire before taking that kind of money." Many veterans will choose between swallowing their pride and retiring this spring.
- Verducci makes a comparison between Cole Hamels and James Shields, who were called up 19 days apart. The extra service time for Hamels gave him Super Two status, meaning he became arbitration-eligible four times instead of three. That decision probably cost the Phillies more than $10MM.
- The Mets were willing to give Derek Lowe $14MM per year.
- The Giants don’t believe Manny Ramirez is anywhere near a decision right now. He’s a special case for them (they’re not in the market for an outfielder) but they won’t enter a bidding war.
- The Blue Jays aren’t interested in Orlando Cabrera; they’re content with Marco Scutaro.
Rays Avoid Arb With Jason Bartlett
12:11pm: The noon filing deadline passed without an agreement for Navarro or Aybar, so Marc Topkin anticipates hearings for both.
10:50am: According to Marc Topkin, the Rays avoided arbitration with shortstop Jason Bartlett by signing him at $1.98125MM for ’09. Bartlett is under team control through 2011. The Rays’ other two arb-eligibles are Dioner Navarro and Willy Aybar; they’re making progress with Navarro. The Rays have a policy of not negotiating once figures are exchanged.
Arb Hearings For Aybar, Bartlett, Navarro?
According to Marc Topkin, three Rays players appear headed for February arbitration hearings: Willy Aybar, Jason Bartlett, and Dioner Navarro. The Rays have a policy of ending talks when figures are exchanged, and that happens Tuesday.
Rays Sign Lance Cormier
According to Marc Topkin, the Rays signed pitcher Lance Cormier to a $675K deal. They designated Dewon Day for assignment to make room. Cormier, 28, posted a 4.02 ERA in 71.6 innings for the Orioles in ’08. He did a fine job getting groundballs. Cork Gaines offers thoughts on the signing over at Rays Index.
Odds and Ends: Putz, Mitsui, Varitek
Links for Friday…
- Jacob Jackson proposes a new, simpler free agent compensation system.
- Jon Paul Morosi says the Mariners wanted Fernando Perez from the Rays in the failed talks that would’ve brought J.J. Putz to Detroit. The Rays were unwilling to do this in part because B.J. Upton will be unavailable to start the season.
- Koji Mitsui again failed to garner a bid from an MLB team.
- Aaron Gleeman discusses the Twins’ decision not to use certain advanced statistics.
- Tony Massarotti and Curt Schilling talk about the Jason Varitek situation.
- Former GM Woody Woodward is back with the Mariners, as a scout. The Pirates added former Tigers GM Bill Lajoie as a senior advisor to Neal Huntington.
- The Nationals have done little in the Japanese market, and they were never involved on Koji Uehara.
Rays Avoid Arb With Grant Balfour
According to Marc Topkin, the Rays avoided arbitration with reliever Grant Balfour by signing him for ’09 at $1.4MM. Balfour posted a 1.54 ERA in his breakout season.
Padres Claim Jae Kuk Ryu Off Waivers
The Padres claimed 25-year-old righty Jae Kuk Ryu off waivers from the Rays; here’s the MLB.com story.
On his personal blog, Padres executive Paul DePodesta writes that he likes the pickup because Ryu’s got good enough stuff to compete for a job in the Padres’ rotation or in their bullpen.
DePodesta writes that there’s "more activity forthcoming." Ken Rosenthal heard the Padres are likely to pass on Omar Vizquel.
Griffey Talking To Four Teams
John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer talked to Ken Griffey Jr.‘s agent, Brian Goldberg. They’re talking to four teams, two in each league. The Mariners are one; the Reds and Rays are not. Nick Cafardo suggested the Nationals back on December 7th.
Fay believes Griffey could be signed for $3-4MM on a one-year deal. His knee is said to be healthy now following offseason surgery.
Rays Avoid Arb With Gabe Gross
According to Marc Topkin, the Rays avoided arbitration with outfielder Gabe Gross by signing him to a one-year deal worth $1.255MM.
Paul Byrd To Sit Out First Half
According to Ken Rosenthal, free agent starter Paul Byrd will sit out the first half of the season and then possibly join a contender. Byrd said he had "nice, competitive" offers to play all year but wants to spend more time with his family.
It’s uncertain whether Byrd will draw interest midseason, but I imagine he will. Remember how many teams were eyeing Freddy Garcia last year? The Braves, Rays, or Marlins woud be Byrd’s preference.