Rosenthal On Manny, Anderson, Kasten
The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Rosenthal wonders if Manny Ramirez could get a multiyear deal following a big/well-behaved ’09, in the vein of other Boras clients such as Kevin Millwood and Kyle Lohse (Ivan Rodriguez, too). Of course, Manny is a lot older than those guys were.
- Rather than money, Garret Anderson wants the 632 hits he needs to reach 3,000. If he gets there, he’ll make for some interesting Hall of Fame debates.
- Rosenthal spoke to an executive who knows Stan Kasten. This exec expects Kasten to surprise with his GM choice, and doesn’t see him hiring a "young up-and-comer" or Chuck LaMar.
- The Cubs are said to be "content with their bench players." Cubs manager Lou Piniella has talked a bit about wanting an "extra infielder who can play first and third." Rosenthal adds that the team’s new ownership "might not be willing to assume the remaining $63 million on Jake Peavy‘s contract in a reeling economy."
Offseason In Review: Washington Nationals
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Nationals. Click here to read what I wrote about the team on September 10th.
Additions: Adam Dunn, Scott Olsen, Josh Willingham, Daniel Cabrera, Javier Valentin, Alex Cintron, Wil Ledezma, Josh Towers, Freddie Bynum, Brad Eldred, Joel Guzman, Terrell Young, Gary Glover, Gustavo Chacin, Jorge Sosa, Jose Castillo, Corey Patterson
Subtractions: Jim Bowden, Tim Redding, Odalis Perez, Luis Ayala, Jon Rauch (midseason) Emilio Bonifacio, Felipe Lopez, Aaron Boone, Paul Lo Duca (midseason), Charlie Manning
Nationals starters tossed 880.6 innings last year, with Redding and Perez accounting for nearly 40% of that. The Nats paid those veterans $1.85MM. This year, they’ll spend $5.4MM on Olsen and Cabrera, younger hurlers with upside. It’s a solid swap. With the return of John Lannan and the emerging Jordan Zimmermann, it’s a younger, more interesting rotation.
I wrote in September:
Hopefully Jim Bowden won’t become too obsessed with Adam Dunn this winter (assuming Bowden keeps his job). Dunn doesn’t fit on this team. They’re in the beginning of a long rebuilding process.
It turns out Bowden kept his job just long enough to sign Dunn, who probably won’t be a part of the next good Nationals team. The money would’ve been better spent on the June draft – the Nats have the #1 and #10 picks. The Nationals’ new GM will have to hit a home run with that draft, and may also be charged with trading Nick Johnson and signing Ryan Zimmerman long-term.
If a $20MM commitment to Dunn was Bowden’s worst winter move, though, that’s not too bad in the grand scheme of things. And Bowden does deserve a parting gift for his acquisition of Olsen and Willingham.
Bottom line: Bowden’s out; 2009 is about finding the right GM and stocking the farm system.
Schuerholz Not Likely For Nationals Job
On Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that Braves president John Schuerholz was a subject of speculation for the Nationals GM job. Rosenthal added:
Schuerholz, 68, is from Baltimore, about 45 miles north of Washington, but might only leave the Braves if the Nationals offered him a percentage of ownership. Even then, he probably would be reluctant to make a career change; he has worked for the Braves since Oct. 1990.
Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked Schuerholz about the possibility today; here’s what he said:
"Other than the fact that it had no element of fact to it, I don’t know where he came up with it. It was completely baseless as it relates to me. Obviously it was his judgment or guess that it might be so because I happen to have been born in Baltimore and I worked for Stan (Kasten). Those two things are true. Other than that, end of story."
Barry Bonds Rejections
Yesterday Bob Nightengale of USA Today talked to Barry Bonds‘ agent Jeff Borris, learning that Borris will contact all 30 teams in hopes of landing a job for his client. Borris is not optimistic. In case it becomes a trend, we’ll use this post to note which teams have rejected the agent’s overtures.
- The Nationals will pass – manager Manny Acta told Chico Harlan of the Washington Post that "It’s not a match for us" while choking back laughter.
- Twins GM Bill Smith to the AP: "I would tell you that I don’t think it’s a very good fit for us right now."
- Reds manager Dusty Baker to John Fay: "I don’t [see] where. He might be better suited for an American League team."
- Pirates president Frank Coonelly: "We are not interested in inviting Barry to Spring Training."
- Nick Cafardo hears that the Red Sox won’t pursue Bonds either.
- Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reports that Angels GM Tony Reagins has no interest in Bonds.
Odds & Ends: Marte, Wilkerson, Bowden
Links for Wednesday as we enter the short post-Manny phase of the offseason…
- RotoAuthority has 18 undrafted players to watch for mixed leagues.
- WEEI’s Rob Bradford talked to Bill Lajoie, who was behind Boston’s acquisition of Andy Marte while Theo Epstein was on hiatus. Lajoie admitted he acquired Marte with the intent of flipping him.
- SI.com’s Melissa Segura writes about fraud involving Dominican prospects.
- Nothing cooking yet with the Red Sox and Jason Bay, says Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe.
- Jorge Says No! says shortstops Bobby Crosby and Khalil Greene are at the crossroads of their careers.
- WEEI’s Alex Speier notes that Boston outfielders Jeff Bailey and Brad Wilkerson have opt-out clauses if they’re not in the bigs by certain dates.
- Fire Jim Bowden has the ten best moves of their namesake GM.
- Nick Piecoro wonders if Randy Johnson took a subtle jab at Chris Snyder.
- Updated June draft order at Baseball America.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday looks at each team’s 2012 commitments.
“Principal Responsibilities” For Mike Rizzo
According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, Nationals assistant GM Mike Rizzo will take on "principal responsibilities when it comes to the Major League, Minor League, and scouting operations." The Nats apparently don’t want to stick an interim GM tag on Rizzo, saying that president Stan Kasten remains in charge. Ladson adds that the position vacated since former GM Jim Bowden resigned "will remain vacant for the foreseeable future."
Kasten Meets With Zimmerman’s Agent
According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, Nationals president (and acting GM) Stan Kasten met with Ryan Zimmerman‘s agent Brodie Van Wagenen today to discuss a contract extension. They’ll continue to talk with the goal of a deal before Opening Day.
Zimmerman will be paid $3.325MM for 2009, his first arbitration year. The 24 year-old third baseman is under team control through 2011.
Nationals GM Candidates
We’ve heard names like Mike Rizzo, Tony LaCava, and Deric Ladnier as candidates for the GM job in Washington. In talking with rival scouts and executives, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal adds several more possibilities. Rosenthal’s speculation includes Bob Boone, John Hart, Chuck LaMar, and John Schuerholz. He also notes previous GM interviewees such as Kim Ng, Tony Bernazard, Al Avila, and Peter Woodfork. Ben Goessling of the Washington Times says Schuerholz called Nationals president Stan Kasten to recommend Hart as well as Gerry Hunsicker.
For now, Kasten is the interim GM. Rosenthal describes this as "a decision perceived by some in the industry as a blow to Nationals assistant GM Mike Rizzo, who appeared the most logical choice to take over on an interim basis." Kasten said not to read into that decision.
Stan Kasten Performing GM Duties For Now
11:43am: Harlan says Nationals president Stan Kasten is performing the GM duties for the moment, at least as far as trades. Kasten didn’t offer much else regarding the search for Bowden’s replacement.
8:55am: The Washington Post has all kinds of reading material in the wake of Jim Bowden’s resignation.
- Thomas Boswell says Bowden shouldn’t blame the media. Bowden’s #1 job was to build a farm system, but the Nationals are in the bottom third of baseball in that regard.
- Barry Svrluga looks at Bowden’s significant moves as Nationals GM. Svrluga and Chico Harlan gathered quotes from many who worked with Bowden.
- Joshua Robinson and Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times note that baseball investigators have examined 6-8 teams’ dealings in the Dominican Republic – not just the Nationals.
- Harlan figures Mike Rizzo and Tony LaCava are candidates to replace Bowden.
Jim Bowden Resigns
7:52pm: According to Ladson, the Nationals were shocked by Bowden’s resignation. Manager Manny Acta and several players made complimentary remarks Sunday evening.
"The news caught me by surprise," Acta said. "It takes a lot of courage for him to do that. As a manager, I appreciate what he did if he felt that he was being a distraction here. I will always be grateful and have a soft spot for Jim."
9:48am: The Washington Post has provided a link to Bowden’s official statement.
9:04am: According to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, Nationals GM Jim Bowden has resigned.
ESPN.com has more, including quotes from Bowden. Most notably, Bowden says, "I’ve become a distraction," and, "my ability to properly represent the Washington Nationals has been compromised."
Finally, Bill Ladson of MLB.com captures a classic quote from the GM: "I have become a distraction. Unless you are Manny Ramirez, there is no place for distraction in baseball."