- Ken Davidoff of Newsday thinks the Braves will shop Derek Lowe in the offseason. Lowe is owed $15MM per year through 2012.
- Despite seeing limited action this year, Chad Tracy will get the start at first base in Arizona's home finale tonight against the Padres, according to Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic. This is seen as a symbolic gesture as Arizona could pick up Tracy's $7MM option for 2010 but in all likelihood will buy out his remaining year for $1MM.
- The Associated Press reports that Ken Macha has discussed his status heading into next year with GM Doug Melvin. Macha is under contract through 2010 but a losing season has put his job in jeopardy.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince writes that Jose Veras, who will be arbitration eligible, might be on his way to earning a new contract with Cleveland. Veras has shined since being called up on September 1st, posting 12 Ks and allowing just one earned run in 9.2 IP.
Archives for September 2009
Royals Not Interested In Bradley
Royals officials told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that the organization has no interest in acquiring troubled outfielder Milton Bradley from the Cubs. The Royals have been mentioned recently as a possible destination for Bradley as Jim Hendry tries to find a taker.
Dutton speculates that Bradley has been linked to the Boys in Blue in part because they agreed to trade reliever Leo Nunez to Oakland for his services in 2006. However, the deal collapsed when Bradley was bitten by the injury bug.
Despite being owed $21MM on a contract that takes him through 2011, the Cubs already have a handful of suitors. Bradley earned that deal last season with his play in Texas where he hit .321/.436/.563.
What other teams might be willing to take a risk on Bradley this winter?
Odds & Ends: Byrd, Livan, Marlins
A couple of links to help you start off your Saturday night…
- Rangers' manager Ron Washington wants to see the team bring back Marlon Byrd next year, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Bryd has said he wants to return to the team next year, but Sullivan says it's uncertain if Texas will be able to re-sign him, presumably because of their uncertain financial situation.
- According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Livan Hernandez "believes he has six years left in his baseball career and wants those years to be with the Nationals." Livan's been a below league average pitcher for four years now, but if he can stick around for another six years, more power to him.
- Marlins' closer Leo Nunez figures to stick around next year, even though he'll earn a hefty raise in arbitration says Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald. The bigger question might be what to do with ex-closer Matt Lindstrom, who will also be arbitration eligible for the first time. Lindstrom has a 5.79 ERA and has battled injuries this season.
Could Garcia Return To White Sox In 2010?
After missing most of the last two-and-a-half years due to injury, Freddy Garcia has emerged as arguably Chicago's most reliable starter down the stretch. He's put up a 3.29 ERA in his last six starts, and opponents are hitting just .234/.283/.355 off the guy that was once traded for Randy Johnson. Garcia has already expressed a desire to return to the White Sox next year according to MLB.com's Jesse Temple, and the team holds a $1MM option for his services next year.
The front of Chicago's rotation is pretty well set with Mark Buehrle, Jake Peavy, John Danks, and Gavin Floyd, so Garcia would give the team a cheap and experienced option in the five-spot. Plus there's the old adage of "you can never have too much pitching." What do you guys think, picking up the option seems like a no-brainer, right?
Rosenthal’s Full Count Video: Pujols, Upton, Astros, Bradley
FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up, so let's see what he has for us…
- Albert Pujols is in no rush to sign a contract extension. A source "with knowledge of his thinking" tells Rosenthal that the chances of Pujols agreeing to an extension this winter are "slim and none."
- The reason is that Pujols wants to assess the Cardinals' long-term outlook before deciding on his future. Matt Holliday, Mark DeRosa, and Tony LaRussa are all unsigned beyond this season.
- Tampa Bay figures to explore the market for B.J. Upton this offseason. The Rays would be selling low, but they have needs behind the plate and in the bullpen, and it's possible a team could offer a package that would satisfy those needs. If they don't get an offer to their liking, Tampa will simply hold onto him.
- The Astros managing job might be Jim Fregosi's to lose, but don't be surprised if Red Sox first base coach Tim Bogar "gains momentum." Even though he's relatively inexperienced, Bogar is a former 'Stro who also managed in their minor league system, as well as in Cleveland's. Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio, and Jeff Bagwell all think highly of him.
- Teams have already called the Cubs about Milton Bradley. The Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rays, and Mets are among the clubs with possible interest. The Cubs are confident they can deal Bradley without paying the overwhelming majority of the $21MM still owed to him over the next two years. They could either trade Bradley's bad contract for another bad contract, or use the old sliding scale of "the more money we pay, the better the players we get in return."
Odds & Ends: Nationals, Ankiel, V-Mart
Another round of links as we head into the evening…
- Nationals team president Stan Kasten told Bill Ladson of MLB.com Saturday that he feels his organization is headed in the right direction. "I'm not happy about the season," said Kasten, "and it signifies a horrible year on the field, but it has not been a horrible year in terms of progress toward our goal." The Nats are hoping to find a veteran arm on the free agent market this winter.
- Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post Dispatch believes super agent Scott Boras will be able to convince a GM to "wildly overpay" Rick Ankiel in a new contract this winter. Boras is apparently trying to spin the outfielder as "a combination of Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio,[and] Duke Snider."
- SI.com's Jon Heyman calls the Red Sox's acquisition of Victor Martinez "the best move any AL team made this summer." V-Mart is batting .335/.403/.505 since arriving in Boston and has 102 RBI on the year.
The Giants And Freddy Sanchez
SATURDAY: Baggarly got the chance to interview Sanchez on Saturday afternoon about his injury, free agency, and many other topics. He suspects the Giants will attempt to re-sign the second baseman to a two-year contract this winter.
THURSDAY: The Giants expected more from Freddy Sanchez when they dealt highly-regarded pitching prospect Tim Alderson to the Pirates for him in July. Regardless, they will likely try to bring Sanchez back after the season, according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. The decision to turn down the second baseman's $8.1MM option will be "almost automatic" for the Giants, but there's still an "excellent" chance that the club will bring Sanchez back on a multi-year deal.
Sanchez started the season well and even represented the Pirates at the All-Star game, but since arriving in San Francisco, knee troubles have limited him to just 25 games and an OPS of .619. It looked like he would pick up the 600 plate appearances it would have taken for his $8.1MM option vest, but a torn meniscus sidelined him. Sanchez will have offseason surgery on his left knee, but the Giants should still have interest in him.
Elias Rankings Update
At the end of each season, The Elias Sports Bureau ranks all MLB players numerically based on a bunch of stats. Every player is categorized in one of five position groups and by league. The rankings cover a two-year time period. They are used to determine whether free agents are Type A, Type B, or neither. If you'd like a reminder on how draft pick compensation works, read up here.
Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts reverse-engineered the Elias Rankings last year. Eddie's incredible work was made possible in large part due to information provided by ESPN's Keith Law. Eddie is now providing the rankings exclusively to MLB Trade Rumors. Today's snapshot covers the beginning of the 2008 season through September 25th, 2009. The rankings will change over the remainder of the season.
View the latest Elias Rankings below.
Odds & Ends: Astros, Tribe, Tracy, Ricciardi
Another hearty batch of links…
- The Astros have not contacted Red Sox first base coach Tim Bogar about their vacant managerial position, according to the Boston Globe's Adam Kilgore. He's interested, but too focused on the 2009 season to consider such a major change at this time.
- MLB.com's Alyson Footer says Bogar is "at the top of everyone's speculation list," for the gig, but the "club isn't tipping [its] hand on anything."
- Larry Stone of the Seattle Times thinks the Indians' managerial post, assuming Eric Wedge is let go after this season, might fall to former Mariners skipper Mike Hargrove. Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell is also being mentioned for the job.
- According to Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star, the Diamondbacks aren't likely to pick up Chad Tracy's $7MM option for 2010. He's played in just 91 games this season and Brandon Allen has already arrived in the major leagues.
- Bruce Arthur of the National Post believes the Blue Jays have no choice but to fire GM J.P. Ricciardi this winter. "If Ricciardi's time is not over," Arthur writes, "then it will be nothing short of a betrayal."
Hawkins Willing To Return To Astros
Ever since being acquired just before the 2008 trade deadline, LaTroy Hawkins hasn't just been one of the most effective relievers in the Astros' bullpen, he's been one of the most effective relievers in baseball period. His 1.77 ERA in 81.1 IP since the trade is second only to Jeremy Affeldt's 1.74 mark among pitchers with at least as many innings pitched.
According to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, Hawkins would like to return to Houston next year, but doesn't seem to be in a rush to get anything done.
"I'll just sit and wait," he said. "I'm not in a hurry, and they're probably not in a hurry, either. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be four hours away from here in Prosper, Texas. Chilling."
Hawkins re-signed with Houston last offseason for $3.5MM with another $600K in performance bonuses. Any chance he gets a multi-year deal this offseason, maybe something similar to Affeldt's two year, $8MM contract?
