We've added three new writers to the staff: Howard Megdal, Mike Axisa, and Eddie Schmid. Thanks to all those who applied. We are all filled up now. I apologize if I was not able to reply to you. It was painful to have to turn down so many quality writers. I am keeping the applications on hand in case something opens up down the road.
Archives for May 2009
2010 Options: Cincinnati Reds
Let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the Reds.
- Ramon Hernandez – $8.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout. The 33 year-old backstop is off to a .286/.351/.361 start, and he's been better in May. Still, it probably makes sense to turn to Ryan Hanigan full-time next year rather than exercise Hernandez's option.
- Alex Gonzalez – $6MM mutual option with a $500K buyout. Gonzalez wasn't signed for his bat, which is good since he's been awful offensively this year. The 32 year-old missed all of 2008 with a knee compression fracture. It's a small sample but he's been below-average defensively this year according to metrics like plus/minus and UZR. This option will likely be declined, though prospect Chris Valaika hasn't shown anything in Triple A yet.
- David Weathers – $3.7MM club option with a $400K buyout. Weathers, 39, wisely accepted the Reds' offer of arbitration back in December. In January, the team hammered out his one-year deal with an option. Weathers' control has been poor this year and if it continues I expect the Reds to decline.
Jack Wilson-Yuniesky Betancourt Not Happening
THURSDAY: Baker has an update: the Pirates find Betancourt too pricey. Baker is surprised by this, but it seems reasonable to me that they would not want to take on an additional $4MM+ for that kind of project.
MONDAY: According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, the Pirates and Mariners have discussed swapping shortstops Jack Wilson and Yuniesky Betancourt. Let's break down the details.
- Wilson, 31, is hitting .254/.289/.310 in 77 plate appearances this year; he missed time with a sprained finger. He's owed another $5.59MM this year plus a $600K buyout for 2010, for a total of about $6.2MM. He has a limited no-trade clause that applies to six teams. Wilson approached the Bucs in March about a possible extension. John Dewan of The Fielding Bible rated him as the third-best defensive shortstop in the game.
- Betancourt, 27, is hitting .264/.290/.368 in 132 plate appearances this year. Earlier this month, manager Don Wakamatsu benched Betancourt to send him a message. In his book, Dewan rated Betancourt the fourth-worst defensive shortstop in baseball. Under his contract signed in April of 2007, Betancourt will earn $1.53MM more this year, $3MM in 2010, $4MM in 2011, and a $2MM buyout in 2012 for a total of about $10.5MM.
- Given the $4.3MM difference in guaranteed money, I can't see why the Pirates would entertain a deal like this. Betancourt would be more appealing if he was not locked up. Even then, he's a project.
Stark On White Sox, Bedard, A’s, Penny
A new Rumblings and Grumblings column from ESPN's Jayson Stark…
- Even if they don't acquire Jake Peavy, the White Sox are apparently "open for business." Stark takes that to mean names such as Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Octavio Dotel, and A.J. Pierzynski could hit the market.
- The Mariners are not quite yet at the point of making Erik Bedard available. They figure to price him like an ace if they do so.
- If A's GM Billy Beane decides to fold on 2009, he could make veterans such as Matt Holliday, Orlando Cabrera, Jason Giambi, and Russ Springer available.
- It's very unlikely that the D'Backs shop Brandon Webb this summer, since he'll be coming off a shoulder injury.
- Indians GM Mark Shapiro seems to be leaning toward hanging on to Cliff Lee for now. Shapiro may look to add pitching by trading Mark DeRosa or an outfielder.
- The Red Sox are "actively listening" on Brad Penny. My opinion: the Phillies, Indians, White Sox, or Mets could make sense.
Brewers Acquire Jody Gerut For Tony Gwynn Jr.
1:58pm: According to Craig Elsten of 619 Sports, the Brewers acquired Jody Gerut from the Padres for Tony Gwynn Jr. MLB.com's Corey Brock confirms it.
Gerut, 31, had a fine comeback year in '08 but is off to a .221/.248/.381 start in 121 plate appearances this year. He's played center and right field for the Padres. His defense rates as a plus. Since he has decent service time he's up to a $1.775MM salary.
Gwynn cleared waivers in April, so the Padres could've had him for nothing at that time. He didn't hit much in Triple A last year.
1:24pm: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel passes along a tweet from Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash:
The Brewers will have a press release on a player transaction in the next hour.
That message was posted at about 1pm CST. Haudricourt says it is not Jake Peavy.
Dayton Moore – GM Trade History
Next up in our GM Trade History series, Dayton Moore of the Royals. Thanks to Brendan Bianowicz for putting this together. Click here to download the spreadsheet. Be sure to check out the different tabs at the bottom.
Mets Interested In Mark DeRosa
According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, the Mets have been talking to the Indians about acquiring Mark DeRosa. With Jose Reyes' injury last night, Price says "now that move makes even more sense."
What would it take to get DeRosa, who is hitting .255/.322/.427 in 174 plate appearances this year? First off I'd guess full relief of the $4.1MM still owed to him. Beyond that the rumor yesterday was pitching that could help the Indians this year.
Braves Talk: Infante, Francoeur
MLB.com's Mark Bowman has a new blog post about the Braves' current situation.
- Utility man Omar Infante is out six to eight weeks after Manny Corpas broke a bone in his hand with a fastball. There is a trickle-down effect on the trade market – the Braves have less depth now, and probably can't move a guy like Kelly Johnson.
- Bowman adds that the Braves are likely to shop Jeff Francoeur, but the prospects are grim given his performance in recent times. The Braves are still hurting for power at the corner outfield spots.
Oakland A Fit For Mark DeRosa?
According to the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser:
Oakland is likely to talk to the Indians about Mark DeRosa, who is on the block. The A's had some interest in the infielder after the 2006 season. The Indians are believed to be looking for pitching, but the A's won't trade any of their hotshot young pitchers.
Second baseman Mark Ellis should be back in June, but the A's are getting a .177/.270/.300 line over at the hot corner. The A's are currently 7 games out and in last place, though, so they might be the ones shopping veterans a month from now.
Speaking of DeRosa, Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders if a deal involving him, Jamey Carroll, and J.J. Putz could be worked out between the Mets and Indians. He says Carroll is an Omar Minaya favorite.
Cardinals Could Acquire A Third Baseman
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talked to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who said the Cardinals could look outside the organization for a third baseman if they get bad news about Troy Glaus next month. The team's current third basemen, mainly Brian Barden and Joe Thurston, have provided a .243/.323/.357 line. Mozeliak says top prospect Brett Wallace is not under consideration.
Who might be available for trade? Mark DeRosa, Garrett Atkins, Melvin Mora, and Adrian Beltre seem like possibilities.
