Odds and Ends: Gallardo, NPB, Braves
Today’s link collection…
- Check out the latest MLB Roundup video. The crew hands out April awards, assesses Billy Beane’s gameplan, and looks at Jeff Ma’s third-place Tout Wars team.
- RotoAuthority helps Yovani Gallardo owners pick up the pieces and find a replacement (he has a torn ACL). The Brewers have guys they can plug in but Gallardo seemed primed for a stellar season. They’ll keep an eye on the trade market.
- Mike Hampton could retire, but it’s highly unlikely that he’ll abandon the rest of his ’08 salary.
- Nippon Professional Baseball might shorten the tenure needed for free agency, except for those looking to go overseas. Players hoping to jump from Japan to MLB would still have to serve nine years or be posted.
- In the sidebar of this article, Ken Rosenthal suggests that Frank Wren will explore the trade market for starting pitching but won’t overpay for mediocrity. Tracy Ringolsby wonders whether the Braves will consider re-acquiring Kevin Millwood.
Jason Botts Designated
WEDNESDAY: Botts wants out of Texas; he’d like a fresh start with another team. GM Jon Daniels will attempt to find a taker, but otherwise Botts will have to go to Triple A.
TUESDAY: The Rangers have given up on Jason Botts, designating him for assignment. Botts, 27, played first base and various other roles in 15 games for the Rangers this year.
I can see him passing through waivers unclaimed. Botts may have earned the dreaded Quad-A label. He’s failed to produce in 282 big league ABs but has raked Triple A pitching.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Crede, Lofton, Millwood, Dunn
Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up; let’s discuss.
- Despite his .268/.330/.537 start, the White Sox would still entertain trading Joe Crede if it’d help the big league team. This is a change from their apparent springtime willingness to deal him for prospects. The most likely desire would be pitching, if the Sox can find a suitor.
- Jake Peavy put on his GM hat, suggesting the Padres sign Kenny Lofton. Rosenthal likes the idea, but notes that Kevin Towers will first turn to his farm system. I discussed some future trade candidates for San Diego in my latest video mailbag.
- Rosenthal suggests Kevin Millwood‘s contract will be an obstacle in trading him. He earns $8.5MM this year, $11MM in ’09, and a fairly achievable $12MM vesting option for ’10. Plus there’s a limited no-trade clause.
- Walt Jocketty’s biggest test this year might be deciding whether to trade Ken Griffey Jr. and/or Adam Dunn. They both have no-trade clauses to deal with; even after June 15th Dunn’s includes most high-revenue teams.
Rangers Expected To Be Sellers
At 7-15, the Rangers have the worst record in the American League. Team president Nolan Ryan doesn’t seem ready for a fire sale yet, but you have to figure the Rangers will be clear sellers come June.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post recently suggested Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Hank Blalock, Frank Catalanotto, and Milton Bradley as trade candidates. As Sherman says, Millwood could be a hot commodity. He looks healthy and would certainly help a contender. Gerald Laird, Marlon Byrd, Jamey Wright, and Joaquin Benoit could also be dealt.
The Rangers already have the fourth-best farm system in baseball according to Baseball America; Jon Daniels’ team could climb even higher with another bountiful July.
No Offers For Bonds
Jon Heyman recently spoke to Barry Bonds‘ agent, Jeff Borris. Borris said no team has made any kind of offer to Bonds, even at the league minimum. Borris might not take $400K for Bonds, but he’d listen.
Tony La Russa and Ron Washington pushed for Bonds for their respective teams, but management passed. Heyman notes the Rays’ flirtation as well. That’s it though. No front office wants anything to do with Bonds, despite the possibility of a 1.000 OPS at a bargain basement price.
I still expect Bonds to play this year. A month or two from now some team is going to crack and decide that the production outweighs the baggage.
Odds And Ends: Crede, Morris, Thomas
Just a couple of lingering posts in my browser this morning.
- It looks like Joe Crede is sticking by Scott Boras’s side as he enters free agency after this season. I can’t blame him. It’s one thing for a superstar like A-Rod or an established veteran like Kenny Rogers to do what they want. But Crede certainly benefits from being repped by Boras.
- If Pirates GM Neal Huntington has plans to ditch Matt Morris, he’s not tipping his hand. The 33-year-old righty has been downright horrible since coming over to Pittsburgh, a gaffe made by who else by Dave Littlefield.
- While Tim mentioned yesterday that Jon Daniels is leaning away from Frank Thomas, Manager Ron Washington is enticed. "I’ll take him in a heartbeat. Once he reaches 100 at-bats, he really does start hacking."
Posted by Joe Pawlikowski.
Frank Thomas Suitors
The Blue Jays are on the hook for the rest of Frank Thomas‘ salary this year, making him a fine bargain for a team looking for a DH. It seems that the signing team will not be liable for his 2009 vesting option. As an injury-prone DH with clubhouse concerns, Thomas has similarities to Barry Bonds. The Big Hurt will come more cheaply, offering less production but no steroid baggage. As far as suitors:
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi will talk to his scouts about Thomas. Question for Mariners fans: does Thomas offer more at DH than Jeff Clement, who is raking at Triple A?
- Rangers GM Jon Daniels didn’t rule Thomas out but seems to be leaning away from it. The Rangers have plenty of DHs on hand already.
- The A’s will at least have an internal discussion about Thomas, but they aren’t tipping their hand.
- Rays manager Joe Maddon was noncommital when asked about Thomas. They did just add Dan Johnson.
- Could the Mets follow suit and release Carlos Delgado?
Robinson Tejeda Clears Waivers
WEDNESDAY at 6:29pm: Surprisingly, Tejeda passed through waivers unclaimed. He’s headed to Oklahoma.
TUESDAY at 9:07am: We discussed 26 year-old starter Robinson Tejeda here. Imagine Carlos Silva with poor control and mid-90s heat (hmm, doesn’t sound too much like Silva actually). Anyway, the Rangers designated Tejeda for assignment last week and have until Wednesday to trade him. Jon Daniels doesn’t expect a deal, meaning Tejeda may simply be plucked off waivers. He’s a project, so he might make more sense for a rebuilding team. Jayson Stark saw no indications that the Mets were after Tejeda; David Lennon did.
The above-linked article from Anthony Andro also notes that outfielder Nelson Cruz passed through waivers unclaimed and is headed to Triple A. The 27 year-old seems to have earned the Quad-A tag.
Don’t Count Bonds Out
Last we checked, Barry Bonds was determined not to retire. Rangers beat writer Jim Reeves has this to say about the basher:
"Fact is, if the Rangers are somehow a surprise contender by midseason and Bonds is still out there… let me just suggest that the Bonds issue might well be revisited again by the powers that be at The Ballpark in Arlington."
Reeves is not advocating the signing. In fact, he’s urging Rangers owner Tom Hicks not to bend when he responded to the question of signing Bonds with a vehement, "No way" that put this rumor to sleep almost a month ago. However, Rangers Manager Ron Washington is vocally in favor of bringing Bonds on board.
"’I’d do it,’ Washington said. ‘I would. I’m a Barry Bonds fan. I’ve always been a Barry Bonds fan… He’s going to help you win a lot of ballgames. That’s what it’s all about … He has his own attitude, but that don’t bother me,’ Washington said. ‘The bottom line is what does he do for us between the lines?’"
By Nat Boyle
Stark’s Latest: Bonds, Howard, Vargas
ESPN’s Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings up; let’s take a look.
- Stark surveyed execs from three teams about why Barry Bonds remains unemployed. They provided the answers you’d expect, and collusion isn’t one of them. One of the team officials believes a major injury to one of the 14 DHs could very well result in a Bonds signing. Related note: Gary Sheffield just tore a tendon in his finger. Meanwhile, Joel Sherman speculates that Bonds would be a nice match with the Blue Jays.
- There are signs that Ryan Howard wants an unprecedented contract – he won’t be using Miguel Cabrera as his model. A trade before he reaches free agency (after the 2010 season) seems likely.
- Stark says the Mets are eyeing Claudio Vargas but would want him to work at Triple A for a while first. They’re not showing interest in available guys like David Wells, Jeff Weaver, or Robinson Tejeda. David Lennon of Newsday counters by saying the Mets do have interest in Tejeda, though nothing is close.