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Nationals Decline Option On Austin Kearns

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The Nationals declined their $10MM option on right fielder Austin Kearns, according to the AP.  They'll instead pay a $1MM buyout.  Kearns signed his three-year, $17.5MM deal in January of '07, and gave the Nats one solid year for their money.  He represents the last of the day's multiple obvious option decisions.

Kearns, 29, hit .195/.336/.305 in 211 plate appearances this year.  He missed a chunk of the season due to thumb surgery.  Based on UZR, he still plays a strong right field.

Petit, Slaten Claimed Off Waivers

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According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, right-hander Yusmeiro Petit and left-hander Doug Slaten have been claimed off waivers.

Petit, 24, was scooped up by the Mariners.  He went 3-10 with a 5.82 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 74/34 K/BB ratio in 17 starts (89 2/3 innings) this season with the D'Backs.  As Piecoro notes, Petit has allowed 1.96 HR/9 through 229 1/3 major league innings, tied for the worst rate in MLB history.

Slaten, who turns 30 in February, was claimed by the Nationals.  He allowed five earned runs and 11 total baserunners in 6 1/3 innings with the Diamondbacks in '09, but posted a 3.09 ERA and a 40/15 K/BB ratio in 43 2/3 innings at Triple-A Reno.  He hasn't been the same since undergoing knee surgery at the end of 2007.

Odds & Ends: Mariners, Riggleman, Crisp, ‘Stros

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A few leftovers as the Phillies and Yankees do battle in Game 6…

  • According to ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure, recently-defected Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz has impressed scouts in workouts the past two weeks.  The Red Sox and Tigers are known to have some level of interest.
  • Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner thinks the M's should "kick the tires" on several undervalued starters this offseason.  He lists Ben Sheets, Rich Harden, Carl Pavano and Randy Johnson, among others, as possible targets.
  • MASN's Byron Kerr spoke Wednesday with Jim Riggleman, who's hoping to be named the Nationals' permanent manager shortly after the World Series ends.  He went 33-42 as Washington's interim skipper last season.
  • According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, the Royals have shown "little inclination" that they plan to pick up Coco Crisp's 2010 option worth $8MM.
  • Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle lays out some advice for Astros owner Drayton McLane, including this nugget: "Give GM Ed Wade a five-year extension and give him the freedom to reshape the roster and the organization. If there's any doubt he knows what he's doing, check out the 2008-2009 Phillies. Ed Wade acquired the core of those teams."

Odds & Ends: Lilly, Iwamura, Beckett, Marlins, Dunn, Cubs

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Here's some links to check out while waiting for what might be the final start in the great careers of Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez…

  • Ted Lilly had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder today, and the Cubs expect to have him back in their rotation "within the month of April," according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Might the Cubbies look for a little extra rotation insurance this offseason?
  • MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch mentions that the Pirates "began to show heavy interest" in Akinori Iwamura back in September. GM Neal Huntington confirmed that they had several scouts watch Aki after he came back from his knee injury.
  • WEEI.com's Rob Bradford mentions that Josh Beckett "isn’t likely to take a hometown discount" to stay with the Red Sox. Yesterday we learned that the two sides plan to meet in the coming weeks to discuss a contract extension.  
  • MLB.com's Joe Frisaro answers some hot stove related questions in his mailbag today. He thinks the Marlins will sign Josh Johnson to an extension this winter, and that they may explore trade possibilites for reliever Renyel Pinto.
  • In response to some weekend speculation that Adam Dunn could be a fit in St. Louis if Matt Holliday leaves as a free agent, ESPN's Keith Law says "just doesn't make a lot of sense for the Cardinals to consider it," noting that they'd be looking at a big drop-off by sticking Dunn in left field.
  • The Cub Reporter looks at what might happen on Chicago's north side in the coming weeks.

Discussion: Livan Hernandez

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According to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com's Twitter page, "Livan Hernandez's agent says his client 'would be interested in returning to the Nationals.'"

Hernandez's agent said the Nationals also like Hernandez.

It does raise the question: should they?

Hernandez got off to a strong start with the Mets in 2009, but was released after tossing 135 innings with a 5.47 ERA. Picked up by Washington, his ERA was only slightly better, at 5.36.

Over the past two seasons, Hernandez has thrown 363 2/3 innings- and has a 5.74 ERA to show for it.

On the plus side, he eats innings- hit-filled, run-scoring innings.

So would you bring him in? Is the ability to stay healthy valuable enough to make up for his performance?

Odds & Ends: Orioles, Rangers, Nationals

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Let us entertain you between World Series games…

  • Pitcher Rich Hill, outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and catcher Guillermo Rodriguez all rejected a minor league assignment by the Orioles and elected free agency instead. Alfredo Simon, who was also removed from the 40-man roster last week, accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Hill could draw some interest this winter.
  • MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that former Colorado manager Clint Hurdle is likely to be the next hitting coach of the Rangers.
  • Don Mattingly passed on a chance to interview for Washington's managerial opening, according to Alden Gonzalez and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

Odds & Ends: Schueler, Dunn, Yankees, Strasburg

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Some links for Tuesday…

  • The Nationals hired former White Sox GM Ron Schueler as a special assistant to Mike Rizzo, according to a team press release.
  • Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos must decide in the coming days whether to proceed with a payroll of about $80MM or ask ownership for more money, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
  • Phil Wood of MASN.com doesn't think it makes sense for the Nats to trade Adam Dunn away. 
  • ESPN.com's Rob Neyer says the Yankees will probably want to become younger this offseason, even if it's just a marginal change.
  • Former Rockies assistant GM Chris Rice tells Irv Moss of the Denver Post how "exciting and tense" the expansion draft was before the team's inaugural season.
  • As Danny Knobler of CBSSports points out, the Phillies' decision to go after Cliff Lee instead of Roy Halladay looks smart right now.  
  • Harry Pavlidis of The Hardball Times looks at Stephen Strasburg's performance in the Arizona Fall League and says the top pick "is proving to be everything he was hyped to be."
  • MLB.com's Matthew Leach guesses that Matt Holliday will not return to the Cardinals in 2010. 
  • Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports that the Rangers could decide today whether Thad Bosley, Rusty Greer, Clint Hurdle or Gerald Perry will become the team's next hitting coach. 
  • Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Twins outrighted Brian Buscher to Triple A. He can become a minor league free agent 16 days after the World Series. Aaron Gleeman doesn't expect Buscher to remain in the organization.

Rogers On Chapman, Vazquez, Valentine, Gonzalez

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Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune looks at a few hot stove topics from around the league in his latest article. Here are some of his thoughts:

  • He speculates that the Seattle Mariners' interest in Aroldis Chapman stems from their desire to still have a front-line starter if they eventually decide to move Felix Hernandez.
  • Rogers is skeptical that the two Chicago teams have the resources to compete seriously in the Chapman sweepstakes. Be sure to check out MLBTR's complete Chapman review.
  • With Tim Hudson on the verge of re-signing with the Braves, Ken Rosenthal indicated that Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe could be shopped for a bat. Rogers suggests it'll be Vazquez that's put on the trading block.
  • Bobby Valentine could be out of the mix for a major-league managerial spot this season, as the Washington Nationals look likely to give Jim Riggleman their full-time gig.
  • Rogers thinks it's "wishful thinking" to expect new Padres GM Jed Hoyer to deal Adrian Gonzalez to Hoyer's former employer, the Boston Red Sox.

Odds & Ends: Lackey, Rangers, Mets

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With about an hour to go before the start of Game Two, here are some items from around the majors….

  • During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show today, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said his club will be focused on finding second base help and starting pitching in the offseason, though Colletti played dumb when asked about the possibility of the Dodgers making a play for free agent starter John Lackey.
  • With the number of open managerial jobs quickly dwindling, some of the rumored candidates for the filled positions are looking at other options.  Former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle (who was up for the Cleveland manager's job that went to Manny Acta) is one of four finalists to be the Rangers' next hitting coach, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
  • Along those same lines, Bob Melvin may go from being a candidate to be the next Astros manager to being considered for the Mets bench coaching job, says Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News.  Rubin also reports that the Mets will name Chip Hale as their new third base coach after the World Series is over.
  • According to a team press release, the Pirates have claimed pitcher Justin Thomas off waivers from Seattle.
  • In a chat with MASN's Byron Kerr, Adam Dunn said he feels Washington is an attractive destination for free agents in part because Nationals Park is "a really fair ballpark."

Odds & Ends: Nationals, Braves, Blue Jays

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Some late-afternoon snacks for you…

  • The incomparable Thomas Boswell answers questions on a variety of subjects, including his belief that Jim Riggleman will return as manager of the Nationals next year. As Boswell puts it, "Has any manager in history ever not been retained after he improved a team's winning percentage by .125 and ended the season 7-0? Especially when the team likes him and he's born-raised in that town? I doubt it very much."
  • Rob Neyer discusses Atlanta's options, now that it appears they will bring Tim Hudson back.
  • And former Brave Mike Mordecai will be Toronto's roving minor league instructor, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
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