Looking for a fantasy baseball fix? Here are some posts to check out at RotoAuthority:
Sizing Up The Closers – AL East
Chris Young (Diamondbacks) Projection
While I have you, here are a few recommendations:
Archives for December 2006
Gammons On The Boston Closer
Peter Gammons, in his blog yesterday morning, mentioned a few options for the Red Sox’s closer vacancy:
"Would Seattle deal J.J. Putz for Manny? Dubious. Scott Boras would like to get Eric Gagne to Boston; problem is, are the medicals real or off the set of General Hospital? Joe Borowski has been calling now that his medicals were declined in Philly."
With Manny and Matsuzaka at the forefront, it’s easy to forget that Boston is also in the market for a closer. No sleep for Theo. Perhaps he’ll be speaking to Dave Littlefield in hopes of acquiring Matt Capps or Mike Gonzalez?
No Interest In Bonds?
John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle looks at every MLB team and tries to see which might have interest in free agent outfielder Barry Bonds. Bonds is the top offensive threat remaining among free agents, and he’d probably command a low-risk one-year deal. If teams are truly all saying no, they are basically saying that Bonds’s baggage outweighs the extra wins he provides.
I am still not on board with popular opinion, which seems to be that a fan would rather see his or her baseball team lose than have a known steroid user join up. I suppose that’s the moral high ground, but personally I want my team to load up with the best available players even if they are the scum of the Earth. That’s just me. (I’m a Cubs fan, maybe losing makes me desperate).
According to Shea and various newspapers, the following clubs are out of the running:
Dodgers
Indians
Rangers
Red Sox
Angels
Blue Jays
Tigers
White Sox
Cubs
Yankees
Mets
Shea names the Giants, Padres, and Orioles as the main suitors, with the Red Sox and Angels perhaps considering it later after things settle. In a strictly baseball sense, I think the Twins, White Sox, Rangers, Braves, Marlins, Dodgers, and Cards should be in on him. Perhaps one of those clubs will stomach the cheating and emerge as a dark horse.
Jacque Jones For Jason Jennings?
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Cubs have discussed a trade with the Rockies: Jacque Jones for Jason Jennings. The Rox would then spin off Jones in another deal.
While I am not a huge fan of Jennings (I project his ERA at 4.62 next year), this would be a fine move for the Cubs if complemented by a Julio Lugo signing. At the least Jennings would be likely to eat up 200 innings and go deep into games.
My guess is that Jim Hendry would need to include another player to make this work, given the scarcity of decent cheap pitching. It’s a good time to trade Jones, who has two years left on his deal for just $9MM total. He had his best season since 2002 last year.
Mariners To Sign Jose Guillen
I consider this to be one of the winter’s better free agent signings: the Mariners are close to getting Jose Guillen for one year and $5MM. The deal includes incentives for 2007 and an option for ’08.
Here’s U.S.S. Mariner’s take. The signing could leave Chris Snelling without full-time work next year, despite decent work in 100 ABs.
Indians Sign Roberto Hernandez, Aaron Fultz
The Tribe signed a pair of relievers today, Roberto Hernandez and Aaron Fultz.
Hernandez turned 42 last month. He posted a 2.93 ERA last year, but the 1.63 WHIP and 1.38 K/BB ratio are less than inspiring.
Fultz, a southpaw, turned 33 in September. After posting a sparkling 2.24 ERA in 2005, he regressed to a 4.54 mark this year. Fultz’s control slipped a bit, but the main difference was his hits per nine innings moving from a miniscule 5.9 to a batting practice-like 10.1. I suppose we could partially blame his BABIP shooting from .212 to .349.
Giants To Retain Feliz On One-Year Deal
Andrew Baggarly writes that third baseman Pedro Feliz will return to the Giants on a one-year deal worth $5-6MM. Given that Feliz is the only remaining free agent 3B who can flash a little leather, it’s odd that he’d sign for just one year. I know it’s not 1996 anymore but I’d think 96 ribbies would go further than this, also.
Perhaps one year truly was the best Feliz could find; there aren’t too many clubs still in the market for a 3B. I can’t think of one team that still absolutely must acquire a third baseman this winter. Feliz is going to work in the Dominican Republic this winter on his hitting approach and hopefully draw more than 33 walks next season.
Cardinals To Meet With Jason Schmidt’s Agents
Joe Strauss’s article from this morning confirms that Walt Jocketty will meet with the Hendricks brothers, who represent Jason Schmidt. About a week ago, Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz mentioned the Cards’ interest but seemed to think the switch to the Hendricks brothers will be a hurdle. Jeff at Lookout Landing had this to say on Schmidt:
"Jason Schmidt is a guy whose name value rather substantially exceeds what he actually brings to the table on the field."
As Larry from Viva El Birdos has mentioned to me, the Cardinals pursue a big-name pitcher every winter and usually fail. Examples include Mike Hampton, Pedro Martinez, Tim Hudson, and A.J. Burnett. They did snag a big fish in the Mark Mulder deal, however.
Giants Sign Dave Roberts
It’s official – the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the Giants have signed outfielder Dave Roberts to a three-year, $18MM deal. The report says Roberts is expected to play center field for San Francisco, apparently pushing Randy Winn to left.
Roberts will turn 35 in May of next year, so he’ll fit right in with the Giants. Roberts has been traded five times in his career, finally reaching free agency this winter. It will be tough to expect more than 130 games from him, especially if he plays a taxing position like center. Roberts posted a career high .360 OBP last year.
The market for center fielders is very thin at this point, consisting of Kenny Lofton and perhaps Julio Lugo. The Rockies, White Sox, Rangers, Brewers, and Cubs could be searching for a center fielder this winter.
Cubs Make Offer To Lilly
Cubs GM Jim Hendry has extended an offer to southpaw starter Ted Lilly. The Cubs still have to deal with competition from several other clubs, but they’re serious about Lilly.
I know Lilly is one of the better Tier 2 guys out there, but he seems like a bad fit for the Cubs. They should be searching for a durable innings eater, something Lilly is not. The vet has dealt with all sorts of shoulder injuries after his 1999 surgery. His career high in innings is 197, set in 2004. I’m also unsure whether the Cubs should be acquiring a flyball pitcher given a home park that inflates home runs by 18%.
