Nats Missed Chance To Shed Kearns’ Salary
By placing Austin Kearns on the DL earlier in the month, the Nats missed the chance to shed the $3.4MM remaining on his salary, according to Tom Verducci of SI.com. An unknown team claimed Kearns when the Nats placed him on waivers, so Washington was in a position to shed the remaining $2.4MM on his 2009 contract and avoid the $1MM buyout for next year. However, they placed him on the DL, meaning he could no longer be claimed.
Verducci hears that the $3.4MM won't be the difference between signing Stephen Strasburg and failing to, but as one source says, saving the money "couldn't have hurt."
Heyman On Strasburg, Boras, Rizzo
Jon Heyman of SI.com hears from people around the league who guess that Stephen Strasburg is in line for a bonus worth $12-30MM – if he signs, that is. Here are the rest of Heyman's Strasburg-related rumors:
- Agent Scott Boras says teams dictate a slow negotiating pace and he and his clients merely follow along.
- Boras doesn't see why Strasburg should get less than Daisuke Matsuzaka, who signed for $52MM.
- Boras says the draft currently penalizes Americans, who, unlike international players, are limited to the team that drafts them.
- The Nationals visited Southern California to make a presentation to Strasburg, but there's no evidence they made him an impressive offer. Ben Goessling of the Washington Times also reports that the Nats paid Strasburg a visit last week.
- Strasburg doesn't seem likely to play in Japan if he doesn't sign.
- Boras says Strasburg will ultimately decide whether to accept the Nats' offer.
- Some people around the Nationals believe that acting GM Mike Rizzo will get the permanent GM job. He's got a busy few days coming up.
Odds And Ends: Draft, Wagner, Pirates
Some more links as we near the deadline for signing draft picks…
- Jim Callis of Baseball America creates a handy chart to let us know how much money the unsigned draft picks are seeking.
- Callis reports that the Giants signed Brandon Belt for $200k and the Rangers signed Shawn Blackwell for $300k.
- Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News says the Phillies should at least consider making a run at Billy Wagner if he's healthy.
- Rockies manager Jim Tracy tells Karen Price of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he admires his former club, the Pirates, for boldly trying to acquire the talent to become an NL Central force and remain one for years.
- MLB.com's Doug Miller speaks to Jarrod Washburn and other major leaguers about the effect trades have on players and their families.
- Nats manager Jim Riggleman told Chico Harlan of the Washington Post that the negotiations between the team and Stephen Strasburg are likely to be too complicated for those in uniform to worry about.
Odds & Ends: Cubs, Strasburg, O’s
Some more links on a slow night in Rumorville:
- A reader points us to a report out of Korea that says two amateurs have been signed out of Korea. CF Kyung-min Na was signed by the Cubs for 725k and is called "the fastest player in Korean high school baseball," while IF Chan-jong Moon was signed by the Astros for 350k.
- According to MASN Sports' Steve Melewski, Orioles head of scouting Joe Jordan sees recent 22nd-round signee Cameron Coffey as "top two rounds" talent and expects him to pitch next season despite recent surgery.
- Count in Ryan Zimmerman as a fan of Stephen Strasburg. He hopes the Nationals sign the fireballer, says Bill Ladson at MLB.com.
- Roch Kubatko at MASN Sports says that Orioles president Andy MacPhail doesn't have much interest in the recently DFA'd Bill Hall.
- Kubatko also reports that the Orioles are set to determine the player to be named from the Rays in the Gregg Zaun deal this coming Monday.
Stark On Smoltz, Reds, Strasburg, Thome
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark adds the Astros to the list of teams interested in John Smoltz. Here are the rest of his rumors:
- The Cubs could look for another bat and another starter, but it depends on how healthy Aramis Ramirez, Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano are.
- Stark points out that Aaron Harang's 2011 club option becomes a more expensive $14MM mutual option if he's traded. The Reds haven't seemed willing to take on cash in a trade involving Harang or rotation-mate Bronson Arroyo.
- The Yanks don't appear to have interest in either Reds starter, or John Smoltz, for that matter.
- Don't expect any serious negotiating to occur between the Nationals, Scott Boras and Stephen Strasburg before the last minute. Most execs who Stark surveyed expect Strasburg to sign in the end.
- The Braves could re-sign Adam LaRoche after the season, when the first baseman will hit free agency.
- Jim Thome still impresses scouts and should be able to find work as a DH after the season.
- Some teams doubt Vicente Padilla's character because the Rangers are ready to part with him even though they need pitching.
- Some of Alex Rios' former teammates question the outfielder's work ethic and desire.
- Stark hears that Andy Sonnanstine and Jeff Niemann were claimed on waivers and quickly pulled back by the Rays.
- The Braves made a quick run at Victor Martinez before the Red Sox acquired him, but didn't get very far.
- Though their negotiations with Aaron Crow could theoretically continue into late spring, the Royals may impose a deadline of their own to sign their top pick.
Odds & Ends: Draft, Moyer, Cubs
Links for Thursday…
- RotoAuthority looks at the worst closers in baseball.
- Indians first-round draft pick Alex White is "seeking top five money," according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Hoynes says the Indians are optimistic about signing him before Monday's deadline.
- As you might expect, Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says the Stephen Strasburg talks between the Nationals and Scott Boras will go down to the wire. MLBTR will be covering the signing deadline intensely, as we did last year.
- Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer has a source saying the Phillies' bullpen demotion of Jamie Moyer was "not in any way influenced by money." The team's timing of the move was impeccable, regardless.
- Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times talked to Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who isn't anticipating any waiver moves for his team.
- ESPN's Buster Olney (Insider link) speculates on a handful of teams that could use recently-designated third baseman Bill Hall.
- Reliever Justin Speier was gracious about his release from the Angels, according to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times.
Heyman On White Sox, Mets, Bay, Holliday
Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Blue Jays asked for a player currently on the White Sox in exchange for Alex Rios before asking for a prospect and eventually settling for salary relief. Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi didn't get MLB talent back for his right fielder, but executives around the league say they understand the thought process behind the trade. Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- One GM says Rios would be a good gamble at $30-35MM, but the $60MM remaining on his deal is too much.
- White Sox GM Kenny WIlliams says he's fully confident that Jake Peavy will transition into the American League and help the White Sox down the stretch.
- It's uncertain whether Gary Sheffield and Pedro Feliciano were claimed off waivers. Two AL teams were interested in Sheffield before his hamstring injuries popped up.
- Teams are claiming more cheap, young players than ever.
- The Red Sox would love Marco Scutaro, but aren't likely to get the chance to acquire him since teams with worse records would presumably claim him.
- Heyman hears that Matt Holliday could press for a no-trade clause and may not take the biggest deal he sees as a free agent this offseason.
- Some estimate that Jason Bay could make about $60MM over four years when he hits free agency after the season.
- The Nats could name a new GM by the end of the month. Acting GM Mike Rizzo is receiving praise around the league for acquiring Nyjer Morgan.
- Most execs believe John Smoltz is more likely to land in the NL.
Nats Narrow Search For Next GM
According to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, the Nationals have narrowed their search for a permanent GM to three executives, one of whom is making the calls as the club attempts to sign pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg. Acting GM Mike Rizzo, Red Sox assistant GM Jed Hoyer and D'Backs executive Jerry Dipoto are the frontrunners, but we shouldn't expect the Nats to name a permanent GM until after the deadline to sign draft picks passes on Monday.
Odds And Ends: Webb, Tazawa, Morgan, Aurilia
A few links for the morning…
- Today's chat starts at 2pm CST.
- Brandon Webb says he'll pitch next year and he hopes it's with the D'Backs, according to Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic. The team has the option of paying Webb $8.5MM or buying him out for $2MM.
- MLB.com's Jason Beck says the Tigers, who had interest in Junichi Tazawa last Winter, now have to face the righty as he makes his first MLB start.
- How about this stat, from Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post: The Nats were 21st in the majors in runs before Nyjer Morgan's arrival. Since trading for him, they're third.
- MLB.com's Chris Haft wonders if the Giants may be about to release Rich Aurilia.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Red Sox agreed to sign 10th rounder Brandon Jacobs for $750k, which exceeds the recommended bonus by about $600k.
- Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the A's have budgeted first round money for fourth rounder Max Stassi. However, there appears to be a 50% chance he accepts a scholarship at UCLA instead of going pro.
Odds & Ends: Rios, Reds, Nationals
On this day last year, the White Sox acquired Horacio Ramirez from the Royals for minor-leaguer Paul Orlando. Today, they got Alex Rios for nothing.
- Matt Eddy at Baseball America has a useful guide to the past week's minor-league transactions.
- Tough break for the Nationals: According to Chico Harlan at the Washington Post, prized young arm Jordan Zimmermann has a torn ligament that will likely require up to 18 months to repair. Speculation, but perhaps this could further press the Nationals in the Stephen Strasburg negotiations?
- Ken Davidoff at Newsday likes the Alex Rios move for both teams.
- Game of Inches analyzes some metrics and sees the Rios move as a big win for J.P. Ricciardi.
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty tells MLB.com's Mark Sheldon that talks have fallen off between the team and first-round selection Mike Leake. Last week's above-slot signing of Mike Minor by the Braves didn't help matters.