Mets Notes: Wilpon, Minaya, Jaramillo
According to Peter Gammons, Mets COO Jeff Wilpon is the general manager of the Mets, not actual GM Omar Minaya.
Gammons went on to describe Minaya as "the one out there to take the heat” on Michael Kay's 1050 AM radio show Wednesday.
This has implications for how the Mets will proceed this winter, of course. The good news is that if Wilpon wants to spend money on a player, he doesn't need to run it by ownership, since he is, in fact, ownership. The bad news is, no one knows exactly how much baseball expertise Jeff Wilpon has.
The quote from former Mets' co-owner Nelson Doubleday in 2003 isn't encouraging:
“Mr. Jeff Wilpon has decided that he’s going to learn how to run a baseball team and take over at the end of the year… Run for the hills, boys. I think probably all those baseball people will bail… Jeff sits there by himself like he’s King Tut waiting for his camel.”
This has ramifications for recently-jettisoned Texas Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo as well. After all, Jaramillo has been linked to the Mets before, and the well-respected coach once managed a young minor leaguer named Omar Minaya.
While a failure to bring in Jaramillo doesn't prove much, if the Mets do bring him in, it goes a long way toward showing that Minaya still has some power with the Mets.
Odds & Ends: Lansford, Rangers, Jaramillo
A few more links, including big news out of L.A. and San Francisco…
- According to the Los Angeles Times' official Twitter account, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife, CEO Jamie McCourt, have separated in "a move that could place the future ownership of the team in doubt." Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports notes that a similar situation in the Moores family resulted in the sale of the Padres last spring.
- Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports the Giants have fired Carney Lansford as hitting coach. Giants manager Bruce Bochy informed him of the news with a phone call Wednesday night.
- According to Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News, Rangers fans who bought playoff tickets this season were told they won't see a refund until November because it's "tied up with MLB." Clearly the club is having serious financial issues and it'd be a surprise to see them chase any major free agents this offseason.
- As Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post points out, highly touted hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo has been represented by agent Scott Boras in the past and Jaramillo is likely to use Boras again this winter. The Cubs, Mets and Astros are thought to have interest in adding him to their coaching staff.
Odds & Ends: Jaramillo, Varitek, D’Backs
Links for Wednesday…
- Longtime Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo turned down a one-year offer from the team and will explore free agency, according to Evan Grant. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune thinks Jaramillo would be a perfect addition to the Cubs.
- According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, the Royals re-signed three players eligible for minor league free agency: Scott Thorman, Kelvin Villa, and Carlos Rivas.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs says this year's free agent class is pretty darn interesting, even if it lacks top-level talent.
- Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald considers free agent alternatives should the Red Sox fail to sign Jason Bay.
- McAdam's colleague Michael Silverman talked to agent Scott Boras, who had this to say about Jason Varitek's future: "Theo and I will be talking about Tek whenever he deems the time appropriate."
- The Giants don't have much money to spend this winter unless they raise payroll, says Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the Diamondbacks aren't likely to change their core, but the clubhouse could use a dose of veteran leadership.
- The Rays ought to target free agent reliever Kiko Calero, in the opinion of Tommy Rancel of DRays Bay.
- Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff has no control over his future, but wants to stay in San Diego according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
- Dodgers manager Joe Torre doesn't anticipate working past his current contract, which runs through 2010 (according to the AP).
- Jose Cruz was shocked to be dismissed from his coaching job with the Astros, according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle.
Yusei Kikuchi To Meet With Seven MLB Teams
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.
Odds & Ends: Rangers, Hawpe, Griffey, Matsui
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.
Odds & Ends: Henry, Kikuchi, Accardo
Links for Friday…
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tells us via Twitter that the Astros released pitchers Chad Paronto and Billy Sadler.
- The Nationals interviewed longtime Braves scouting director Roy Clark, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- The Blue Jays fired J.P. Ricciardi advisor Dick Scott, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.
- Interesting note from WEEI's Alex Speier. Back in 2002, upon purchasing the Red Sox and selling the Marlins, John Henry attempted to have Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett transferred to the Sox.
- NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman says NPB is lobbying Japan's High School Baseball Federation to have Yusei Kikuchi appear in person for meetings with NPB teams but not MLB clubs. Newman still likes the Rangers as Kikuchi's top suitor, based on reports.
- Newman also tells us that pitcher Koji Mitsui, who was posted twice last winter but received no bids, has been released and will attempt to sign with an MLB team.
- Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times has a plan for the Cubs that includes signing Chone Figgins and avoiding long-term free agent deals.
- Padres exec Paul DePodesta explains the team's recent roster moves.
- Via Twitter, ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. passes along info from Miguel Angel Sano's agent Rob Plummer.
- In an MLB.com chat, Blue Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo says that his first choice is to stay with Toronto for his entire career, but his second choice is to pitch on the West Coast.
Odds & Ends: Henry, Kikuchi, Accardo
Links for Friday…
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tells us via Twitter that the Astros released pitchers Chad Paronto and Billy Sadler.
- The Nationals interviewed longtime Braves scouting director Roy Clark, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- The Blue Jays fired J.P. Ricciardi advisor Dick Scott, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.
- Interesting note from WEEI's Alex Speier. Back in 2002, upon purchasing the Red Sox and selling the Marlins, John Henry attempted to have Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett transferred to the Sox.
- NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman says NPB is lobbying Japan's High School Baseball Federation to have Yusei Kikuchi appear in person for meetings with NPB teams but not MLB clubs. Newman still likes the Rangers as Kikuchi's top suitor, based on reports.
- Newman also tells us that pitcher Koji Mitsui, who was posted twice last winter but received no bids, has been released and will attempt to sign with an MLB team.
- Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times has a plan for the Cubs that includes signing Chone Figgins and avoiding long-term free agent deals.
- Padres exec Paul DePodesta explains the team's recent roster moves.
- Via Twitter, ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. passes along info from Miguel Angel Sano's agent Rob Plummer.
- In an MLB.com chat, Blue Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo says that his first choice is to stay with Toronto for his entire career, but his second choice is to pitch on the West Coast.
Odds & Ends: White Sox, Feliz, Baylor
A few tidbits while everyone is watching the Twins-Yankees game…
- ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine reports that the White Sox may look to the trade market moreso than free agents given that the Pale Hose aren't planning to spend any extra money in 2010. Levine singles out Jermaine Dye, Bobby Jenks and Octavio Dotel as the most likely departures from Chicago roster, noting that Dotel mentioned the Cubs as a preferred next destination (along with either New York team).
- It "wouldn't surprise" Rangers president Nolan Ryan if second-year right-hander Neftali Feliz goes into spring training preparing to be a starter, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Feliz posted a 1.74 ERA and a 4.88:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 20 relief appearances in his rookie season.
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tweets that Don Baylor is a possibility for the Houston manager's job.
Rangers Talk: Payroll, Byrd, Pudge
Rangers president Nolan Ryan talked to reporters today. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan and has the story.
- Ryan said to expect payroll to remain in the same range next season, meaning around $68MM. By my calculations the Rangers have about $44MM committed before arbitration raises to Josh Hamilton, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Feldman, C.J. Wilson, and Frank Francisco. GM Jon Daniels should have around $15MM with which to work.
- Ryan doesn't plan on the Rangers signing a big-name free agent to a long-term deal. The team wants to re-sign Marlon Byrd and Ivan Rodriguez while adding a right-handed bat and multiple pitchers (veteran starter, left-handed reliever according to manager Ron Washington).
- Ryan doesn't believe the team's unsettled ownership situation "impacts us at all."
Odds & Ends: Fredi Gonzalez, Giants, Beane
Links for Tuesday…
- Chat today, 2pm CST.
- The Marlins will retain manager Fredi Gonzalez, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets will look to take on overpriced players via trade this winter.
- A must-read from Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: his ten steps to re-boot the Pirates for 2010. Kovacevic again notes that closer Matt Capps will be on the trading block.
- RotoWorld's Matthew Pouliot looks at the performance of a couple of Alex Anthopoulos fantasy teams from ten years ago. My best pick from '99 was definitely Mike Sweeney.
- Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has a transcript of yesterday's Brian Sabean/Bruce Bochy sit-down. Lots of good stuff in there.
- Tyler Bleszinski of Athletics Nation has part two of his Billy Beane chat. Beane seems interested in retaining free agent infielder Adam Kennedy.
- ESPN's Buster Olney wrote yesterday that "rival executives are already speculating about Kevin Towers' possible connection to the Texas Rangers if — and it's a big if — Dennis Gilbert's group wins the bidding for the team."