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Archives for December 2007
Yankees Done With Santana?
Newsday’s Kat O’Brien recently spoke to a source with knowledge of the Yankees’ talks with the Twins for Johan Santana. According to the source:
"I don’t see it happening with us. We pulled out in Nashville, and we haven’t put an offer back on the table."
O’Brien always has Hank Steinbrenner’s ear, and Hank was noncommittal this time when asked about the Yanks’ chances. It sounds like the Yankees would need to crack and put Ian Kennedy into the deal, which just doesn’t seem wise. They’d be better off just calling off the whole thing, and it sounds like that’s the likely path.
White Sox Sign Alexei Ramirez
UPDATE, 12-22-07 at 6:00pm: Ramirez can earn another $3.25MM in incentives.
UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 10:57pm: Ramirez gets a mere $4.75MM over the four-year pact. That’s an excellent move right there, in my opinion. Dirt cheap – low risk, decent reward.
FROM 12-21-07 at 5:35pm:
The White Sox made an interesting move today, signing Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez to a four-year contract. The presence of Jose Contreras should be helpful for him. Ramirez probably profiles as Chicago’s center fielder, though he could also play second base. Here’s what Baseball America had to say about him a few months ago.
It’s tough to judge this signing until we hear the money involved. He was apparently highly sought after, as ESPN says he worked out for the Red Sox, Indians, Reds, Cubs, Mets, Yankees, Twins, and A’s too. Ramirez is apparently 26 years old. I think he’s going to need some time in the minors, as Clay Davenport has equated Cuban baseball with our short season A ball.
As a means of comparison, Yuniesky Betancourt signed for four years and $2.826MM in January of 2005. Kendry Morales signed a four-year deal worth around $10MM in December of 2004.
Rangers Trade Volquez For Hamilton
Today we had another bold swap of young players. The Rangers sent young pitchers Edinson Volquez and Danny Ray Herrera to the Reds for outfielder Josh Hamilton.
You all know the story with Hamilton. Former first overall pick by the Rays in ’99, immensely talented. Derailed by drug problems for many years, then posted an incredible half season in the Majors for the Reds despite little experience above A ball. He put up a .922 OPS for the Reds, and seems like a great gamble by Jon Daniels despite health concerns. He’ll turn 27 in May; hopefully the Rangers let him stay in center. Hamilton leaves a park that inflates left-handed home runs by about 28% to a park that inflates them by 24%. His departure clears a path for top prospect Jay Bruce.
Volquez, 24, is also immensely talented. He kept stalling at the big league level but finally seemed to figure it out in September. Baseball America calls his stuff "electric," describing a mid-90s heater paired with a mid-70s change-up. One concern here is that Volquez is a flyball pitcher. Wayne Krivsky took an interesting route to add an intriguing starter; I wonder if the move takes them out of the Erik Bedard sweepstakes. It’s been speculated that the Reds could go after Mike Cameron to fill their new center field void.
Herrera, 23, is a southpaw relief prospect. Check out this info from Baseball America. He barely registers 5-foot-7, 145 pounds. He tops out at 84mph but throws some kind of screwball to offset the weak heat. This trick helped him post an 11.0 K/9 in Double A this year.
Baseball America rocks, check them out by the way. They’ve already got analysis of this deal up here.
Rangers Rumors: Guardado, Cameron, Hamilton
MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan has all the latest hot stove buzz around the Rangers.
- The Rangers are nearing a deal with Eddie Guardado. Everyday Eddie might be a dark horse to close, if he can flash his late season form again. The Reds decided in October that he was not worth $3.5MM, and declined his option. Guardado is 37.
- The Rangers hope to add some kind of veteran starter. Bartolo Colon and Jason Jennings are still options, but Mark Prior and Freddy Garcia pretty much are not. Sullivan names Mike Maroth, Mark Hendrickson, and Josh Towers as pitchers of interest.
- Mike Cameron could be an option for center field if he’ll take a one-year deal. A multiyear demand would also take the Rangers out of the running for Corey Patterson.
- Sullivan notes that the Reds want Edinson Volzquez for Josh Hamilton, a possibility he first mentioned three weeks ago. Jamey Newberg doesn’t think Volquez would cut it. Other trade options could include Andre Ethier, Coco Crisp, and Juan Pierre.
- The Rangers will pass on a Kevin Mench reunion.
Odds and Ends: A-Rod, Morrow, Cabrera
The daily, and sometimes twice daily, odds n’ ends roundup…
- A site called You Been Blinded got its hands on the huge A-Rod binder Scott Boras handed out in 2000.
- The Mariners are highly unlikely to trade young hurler Brandon Morrow or start him in Triple A.
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski stated his desire to sign Miguel Cabrera long-term. The lack of an extension window was a big reason why the Angels dropped out on Cabrera.
- Talking Chop breaks down the Braves’ payroll and finds they have about $83MM committed.
Padres Leading For Prior, Rangers Out
UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 11:02am: The Rangers took a look at Prior’s meds, and they are "completely out" on him according to T.R. Sullivan. Rosenthal had said they were aggressively pursuing him.
FROM 12-21-07 at 9:55am:
Yesterday we outlined the 14 teams involved in the Mark Prior Derby. Last night, Buster Olney provided an update to the situation.
Olney’s article was published around 8:15pm CST, and he said Prior may choose his new team within 24-48 hours. So perhaps we will know by Saturday evening.
According to Olney, the Padres "appear to be the frontrunner." They’ve apparently offered Prior a package heavy in incentives, and of course they have the draw of being near his home. Olney does believe one of the other dozen or so teams could jump in and get Prior with an aggressive offer, though. The Astros seem to be a good possibility.
Brewers Like Lofton?
UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 10:50am: Brewers GM Doug Melvin says he hasn’t spoken to Lofton’s agent for weeks.
FROM 12-20-07 at 11:51am:
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that the Brewers have their eye on free agent center fielder Kenny Lofton. Such a signing would allow them to shift Bill Hall to third base and Ryan Braun to left field. How much of a defensive gain would they get from this? One reader suggested to me that the Crew might instead just use Lofton in left and leave Hall and Braun where they are.
Lofton is terrible against southpaws, so the Brewers would need to find a platoon partner. Corey Hart could be that guy but that would open up right field. The Brewers’ interest in Lofton dates back to July, according to Evan Grant.
Crasnick says the Brewers are also considering Luis Gonzalez, if they decide not to move Braun. Previously we’ve heard the Giants, Rangers, Twins, and White Sox could be interested.
Phillies Sign Chad Durbin
UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 9:34am: Well, Durbin only got $900K. It’s hard to complain about any signing at that price; this could definitely be a profitable move for the Phils. The bigger concern is that this move ends their starting pitching search and leaves little behind Hamels and Myers. An injury to either, and the Phillies seem done.
FROM 12-19-07 at 6:18pm:
According to Dejan Kovacevic, starter Chad Durbin has reached an agreement with the Phillies. The Bucs missed out on another targeted free agent.
Durbin, a 30 year-old journeyman, posted a 4.72 ERA in 127 innings for the Tigers. His numbers were below-average across the board; I’m not sure how much he’ll help the Phillies’ starting pitching woes. They’re looking at a rotation of Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer, and Durbin (no one’s counting on Adam Eaton). Beyond the front two that rotation is going to be pretty bad.
Real Grimsley Names Revealed
Remember when the L.A. Times got a peek at the Grimsley affidavit? They named Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts, Jay Gibbons, David Segui, and Roger Clemens. Now the affidavit has been completely unsealed, and the real names are a bit different.
I guess it’s not a huge deal, since all six of these guys have been implicated independently. But U.S. District Court Judge Edward Voss was not amused with the "irresponsible reporting." The real Grimsley affidavit links a few new names to performance-enhancers, but there’s nothing earth-shattering.
