Uncategorized News & Rumors

Click here to listen to my recent chat with SNY’s Matthew Cerrone.

ESPN.com passes along the AP’s report that the players’ association has decided not to run a training camp for unsigned free agents this spring. After the 1994-95 strike, the union opened a training camp for its players. Donald Fehr, the union’s leader, said it’s not necessary this year:

"We don’t think that it’s essential to do that and we still remain hopeful that players will be signed."

19 free agent starters remain, with about a week to go until Spring Training.  Let’s take a look.

• Kris Benson (33) – Last we heard from Ken Rosenthal’s source, Benson looked so-so in throwing sessions (he had rotator cuff surgery two years ago).  The Dodgers and Cardinals appear to be suitors; the Rangers may be out, having signed Jason Jennings.
• Paul Byrd (38) – The Red Sox will miss out on a supplemental draft pick, as Byrd intends to sit out the first half and then possibly sign with a contender.  He’d prefer the Braves, Rays, or Marlins.
• Shawn Chacon (31) – In December, Chacon’s agent said he was drawing interest from a few teams.  Chacon was released in June after a physical confrontation with Astros GM Ed Wade.
• Tom Glavine (43) – He wants to return to Atlanta, but may seek a big league deal worth $2-3MM guaranteed.  He had minor elbow and shoulder surgeries in August.  The Nationals have been kicked around as a distant Plan B, though they just signed Odalis Perez.
• Scott Elarton (33) – He worked out for the Padres, but they declined to sign him.  Ditto Steve Trachsel and Brian Lawrence.
• Livan Hernandez (34) – Apparently remains on the Padres’ radar.
• Orlando Hernandez (43) – We learned from Ken Davidoff in November that not only does El Duque want to pitch in ’09 after missing all of ’08, he wants to close.
• Chuck James (27) – James, only 27, was non-tendered by the Braves in December.  He had rotator cuff and labrum surgery in September, so he won’t be ready until the second half.
• Jon Lieber (39) – We haven’t heard anything about Lieber all winter.  He suggested in June that he was mulling retirement after the season.
• Braden Looper (34) – Despite interest from the Orioles, Looper prefers the NL.  If the Dodgers sign Randy Wolf, maybe he’ll turn to the Pirates.
• Rodrigo Lopez (33) – All quiet on the Lopez front; last I checked he was a Scott Boras client.  The Braves declined his ’09 option.  Lopez had Tommy John and flexor tendon surgery in August of ’07.
• Pedro Martinez (37) – Pedro intends to showcase himself in the World Baseball Classic.  The Pirates were involved at one point.
• Mark Mulder (31) – Mulder’s audition was set for early February.  The A’s and Brewers were linked to him at one point but subsequent stories made those teams sound less interested.
• Sidney Ponson (32) – Aside from settling his grievance with the Orioles in December, we haven’t heard much about him.
• Kenny Rogers (44) – He’s a candidate to retire.
• Curt Schilling (42) – When last reached in January, Schilling had been working out but hadn’t decided whether to play in ’09.  The D’Backs were linked to him around that time.
• Ben Sheets (30) – Sheets had an agreement with the Rangers called off when his physical revealed the possible need for flexor tendon surgery.  He’s having the surgery and aiming for a second half return, likely leaving the Brewers without draft pick compensation.
• Kip Wells (32) – He didn’t pitch well with the Rockies or Royals in ’08, and it’s been a quiet winter.
• Randy Wolf (32) – Wolf is expected to sign with the Dodgers soon.

On Wednesday I chatted with SNY’s Matthew Cerrone.  Check it out.

TypePad, my blogging service, recently made a change where a maximum of 50 comments per page are shown.  If a post exceeds 50 comments you need to hit the Next link to see the next batch.  So if it seems like your comment didn’t show up, it may be that you just need to hit Next.

This also seems like a good time to remind everyone of the commenting policy.  Until I get something better in place, I’m hoping those who read the comments can help out by dropping us a quick line if any inappropriate comments are made.

Looking for a lefty reliever?  Here are the available free agents:

• Joe Beimel – Beimel is a Type B free agent, but the Dodgers did not offer him arbitration.  His walk and strikeout ratios are not great but he’s somehow managed to allow only one home run in the past two seasons.  Lefties hit .278/.330/.311 against him in ’08.
• Randy Flores – Flores was non-tendered by the Cardinals in December.  He had surgery in September for a cyst as well as fraying of the labrum.  In the Majors in ’08 lefties hit .314/.422/.549 against him.
• Tyler Johnson – The youngest of the group, Johnson was also non-tendered by the Cards.  He missed the entire ’08 season with shoulder problems.  He held lefties to a .224/.307/.418 line in 2007.
• Will Ohman – Ohman was traded to the Braves in December of ’07 along with Omar Infante.  He held lefties to a .200/.257/.314 line.  The Braves have had an offer on the table for him since November, and the Phillies recently backed off.
• Dennys Reyes – Reyes is a Type B who was offered arbitration by the Twins.  He’s bounced around in his career.  Lefties hit .202/.250/.287 against him last year and the Dodgers may be interested.
• Ricardo Rincon – He pitched in the Mexican league for most of ’08 and hasn’t done much in the Majors since ’05.
• Ron Villone – Held lefties to a .176/.311/.318 line for the Cardinals in ’08.

The Tigers, A’s, Phillies, Braves, Dodgers, and Mets are known to be in the market for lefty relief help.

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News is light tonight — and likely due to a big game happening in another sport — so let’s rank the remaining free agents.

SI.com’s Jon Heyman offered his list a few days ago. Check it out, and add in the comments here your top 10 remaining FAs. In parenthesis next to the players’ names, write the team you believe will sign each player.

Here is a Remaining Free Agents List from right here at MLBTR. (It’s updated.)

Interesting column from Ken Rosenthal this morning. He wonders if one way for top free agents such as Ben Sheets, Orlando Hudson, and Orlando Cabrera to swing the market back in their favor is to wait until after the season begins.  We’ve seen the massive in-season demand for guys like Roger Clemens and Freddy Garcia in years past.  New team needs open up midseason due to injuries and ineffectiveness, and free agents are usually superior to trades.  Plus, waiting until mid-June eliminates the draft pick issue for Type As who were offered arbitration.

Click below to hear my recent chat with SNY’s Matthew Cerrone.