Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column up in which he predicts destinations for ten of the top remaining free agents. A few worth noting:
- Rosenthal guesses the Cardinals will sign Matt Holliday for around seven years and $120MM.
- Rosenthal likes the Marlins for Aroldis Chapman.
- He sees the Cubs nabbing Ben Sheets, a possibility I hadn't really considered. It's unclear how much money the Cubs have left and how much Sheets will require.
- Rosenthal expects the Tigers to sign one of the available DH types (Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye, and Carlos Delgado are out there).
- Rosenthal's choice for Jose Valverde, the Tigers, makes more sense than my earlier A's prediction. Rosenthal admits that the Tigers surrendering their #19 pick would be "a significant obstacle," but one person I talked to noted that it might not be since the Tigers traditionally go over slot and could therefore get a big talent later in the draft.
Delgado would make a great DH
Agreed.
Is there any update on the status of Ben Sheets and his health? And is he still standing pat on the delusional $12 mil per year scenario?
Sheets would be huge for the Cubs. If nothing else, it would also give the fans a reason to believe Hendry made at least one more to actually improve the team this offseason…but I don’t see the Cubs having the money to give him. He isn’t getting 12, but I would imagine he’ll get a Harden like deal.
Jose Valverde to the A’s? That makes no sense at all since they have Andrew Bailey in the pen and 2 former closers as set up men. No way he is going to Oakland. And the Marlins have a outside chance at Chapman being that his pay keeps going up.
Uhh, the Cubs totally don’t make sense for Sheets! Why in the world would the Cubs pay more for Sheets when, they could have just resigned Harden for less who actually pitched last season? The only way Sheets ends up in Chicago is if noone else wants him and that ain’t happening!
Because if he is healthy, he’ll be able to pitch more than 4-5 innings.
I agree. I dont think the Cubs need starting pitching when they have a void at 2B. Fontenot, Blanco and Baker at second really sucks. Go get a second baseman like Lopez or Hudson – better value @ 4M-6M a year than 12M for Sheets.
I am intrigued with the idea of Sheets, but dont see how we will manage to come up with the money (unless all our arbitration cases end up on the low side and Ben doesnt sign until they are all settled).
What I am also worried about is this
Rotation – Zambrano / Lilly / Demspter / Sheets / Wells
Bullpen – Marshall / Gorzellany / Silva / Grabow / Guzman / Marmol / (open)
That is 3 long-men/spot-start guys in the pen, and greatly reduces our 7-9. If we are really planning on keeping all three, then it seems to me whatever money we scrounge up would be best spent on a back-up closer. (that back of the pen is pretty weak – Grabow is only average, Guzman is good but Lou doesnt seem to like using/relying on him much and Marmol is a complete 50/50 chance everytime he steps on the mound.)
Have you heard any talk/rumours about Fraser or Downs fronm the Jays?
Yeah, there are some reports floating around about Fraser, but not sure if they are old and still stem from talks around Christmas.
For what it’s worth, I think BleacherNation summed it up best
“Frasor, 31, is exactly the kind of reliever that seems to attract Jim Hendry’s attention: he had a dominant year in 2009 (2.50 ERA, 1.023 WHIP), but before that, he had five years of being decent, but not great. Perhaps he turned a corner, or perhaps *relievers are very prone to ups and downs from year to year and the truly consistent relievers become closers, which is why it is absurd to spend money or make trades for non-closing relievers.*”
bleachernation.com/2010/01/04/chicago-cubs-talking…
I’ve got Sheets on my keeper league fantasy team. Even though I’m a White Sox fan I’d love to see him on the Cubs. Lots of run support and defense behind him.
the more I think about it the more I see Johnny Damon ending up on the Braves and I am not disagreeing at all. Here’s my lineup.
McLouth CF
Damon LF
Chipper 3rd
Glaus 1st
McCann C
Escobar SS
Prado 2B
Diaz/Cabrera/Heyward/whoever RF
Pitcher
What do people think the rotation is gonna look like? My guess in this order
Hudson
Lowe
Jurrjens
Hanson
Kawakami
Hudson
Hanson
Jurrjens
Lowe
Kawakami
For the life of me I really do not understand why the Brewers aparently haven’t even talked to Sheets yet. Futhermore, with their window of oppertunity possibly leaving with Fielder after 2011, I would’ve been tempted to sign Harden and Sheets to one or two year deals instead of Wolf over three. It would’ve cost the same amount of money total and had a much greater upside
Ben Sheets is made of Glass… Unless he will play for the money he “stole” (the games he missed with hangnails and other ridiculous injuries) from us, it’s not in our budget. I’d like to think he’d have some loyalty, and if he’s “healthy” like the old Ben Sheets, he’d be great. Thats alot of uncertainty for a team with limited payroll flexibility…. But if we did somehow get him, I’d welcome him with open arms, anything to see the ‘Crew back in the playoffs!!!
Santana
Sheets
Pelfrey
Piniero/Garland
Ollie
Maine the swing man and preferably in the starting rotation and have Smoltz b your swingman with Escobar. Aroldis will go to Sox/Yanks/Angels/Mets/Marlins maybe…
I live in Miami and I can tell you that if the Marlins do end up signing Chapman, that would have a HUGE impact on attendance in the new stadium (that is if he’s ready and up in the bigs by then).. but I know the way my team works and I’m still not convinced that will happen
I’ll be glad when they get the heck out of Landshark … tired of seeing those games on dirt & it has played havoc on our FG percentage over the years
I think if the Braves are willing to spend as much as it would take to get Damon and have a bad defesive LFer then they should go after Dye who has more power and is righthanded.
This line-up would be pretty good I think:
2B-Prado
CF-McLouth
3B-Jones
LF-Dye
C-McCann
1B-Glaus
SS-Escobar
RF-Diaz/Schafer/Heyward
I agree this seems like a better option than overspending on Damon. Dye should be considerably cheaper than Damon as well. I figure we’d still see the lineup go McLouth the Prado like last year, but I’m fine with it either way. Also I’m not to excited about relying on Glaus to be in the lineup everyday. Can’t believe Wren wouldn’t fork out 6M a year for Derosa. He would’ve provided depth for our injury prone superstar as well, not sure if thats an option for Glaus or not after shoulder surgery.
The Tigers need a closer but probably work go after Valverde. They might try to trade for one.
Tigers get cheap closer to get their 75 wins into the clubhouse….Valverde gets a one year closer’s gig. Maybe the Tigers, in exchange for paying only $4M or so, commit not to offer him arbitration.
Don’t fully discount the Jays as out of the mix for Ardolis Chapman.
I think a big part of where he signs (lets assume money is a top one) is wether or not he wants to spend time in the minors. From what I have heard, he at first didn’t want to play at all in the minors, but now he may be open to some kind of rapid acceleration through the minors.
Anyone aware of his intentions?
The Yanks and Sox become even more in the mix if he is willing to do some minors time. The Jays would be into some minors time with a rapid timetable. Unlike the Sox and Yanks whose 1-5 are good, a non-contender like the Jays (maybe Marlins), could rush him a little easier if this is soemthing AC covets.
If he and Morales are buddies, the Angels are certainly in the mix.
Since I have read the Jays are willing to spend if the investment is worth it and that they are trying to stockpile guys they can control for as many years as possible, Chapman fits the mold, albeit, at a price, I personally think:
Jays
Yanks (cause they are the Yanks)
Angels (Assuming rumours of a Morales connection are true)
Sox (like the Yanks, always in the mix for the right play)
Marlins (the Cuban community baby!!!)
Thoughts?
Tigers get a cheap effective closer to get half their 75 wins into the clubhouse. Valverde closes for one year and tries again next year. In exchange for a low salary of $4M or so, Juan Cruz money, Tigers agree not to offer the poor wretch arbitration.
I know this may sound ridiculous, but maybe the Pirates nab Sheets? Obviously Sheets needs get off the drugs and realize that he will not get $12 million. A deal like this could work. Sheets gets $7 million dollars for pitching one season, with no incentives. If he goes on the 60 day DL at all, he only gets paid $2.75 million. There would be incentives in the deal that could make it worth up to twelve million. Thoughts?
Don’t get me wrong I’m all for signing sheets but why didn’t we offer arb to harden. Sometimes I think Hendry is working bass ackwards.
because offering Harden arbitration would have meant he would have made 10 MM in 2010. They knew he likely would have accepted, and they know his arm is not in good shape.
True but is sheets shoulder really in that much better shape than hardens arm. Plus there were reports that sheets was looking for 12 mill a year. Obviously if he came to Chicago it would be more like half of his asking price. Maybe he would come pitch for us cheaper to torment the brew crew. lol
“True but is sheets shoulder really in that much better shape than hardens arm.”
Honestly? Probably. Sheets shoulder was just fixed, with plenty of rehab time seen. Harden’s shoulder/elbow has been a mess for years, and he just keeps adjusting his game to try to get by with it.
And yeah, dont think he is coming here unless he is willing to sign like a 3-4 MM deal with incentives. And even then, not sure if we could afford it unless we also traded some cash away somehow.
I just hope somebody with a first round pick still available picks up Valverde, the Tigers seem like a logical place to me.
I doubt the Tigers would trade away talent to build for the future and then turn around and give away a 1st round pick for a closer to have for just one season. They also have some young power arms in the system that they’re counting on to close in the coming years. Doesn’t make long term sense to sign Valverde if you consider that.
A left handed bat might not be a bad idea, but I think they’d be looking to ship someone else if that were the case. Too many part timers to sign a guy to DH full time.
If I’m the Braves, I’d rather sign Damon then mess around with Dye whom is going to inevitably be hurt and horrible defensively.
As for Valverde, why would the Tigers do that unless they’re sure they end up in the playoffs. Going over slot is getting more and more difficult as more teams realize the value of picks.
sheets to the dodgers makes alot of sense on many different levels…
low risk (one year contract)
high reward (one of the best when healthy)
NOT A LONG TERM COMMITMENT
incentive laden deal
start as our 4 could be a 2 by the end of the season…
I’d love to see the Cubs take a chance on Sheets with a 1 year, incentive-laden contract. But it seems unlikely to me. His asking price is high and I haven’t heard the Cubs linked to him at all until now. It’s pretty rare for Hendry to have a plan without everyone knowing about it. If the Cubs do get him, I would think that it would be down the road when Sheets begins to realize that no one will sign him for the money he’s looking for. If his demands do come down, it’d be a great upside deal for the Cubs…something we’re not used to seeing here in Chicago.
Wow this one is kinda a shocker why would he think the cubs could afford sheets,and to come out right and say he see’s sheets to the cubs,gotta wonder if he has some sorta inside info about a deal that would shed some more payroll for the cubbies, or unless sheets has said he would make some concessions for the cubs possibly a way to stick it to the brew crew for not trying to resign him maybe some underlined grudge.Just seems pretty curios.
I agree. Tigers are not going to go and sign valverde, unless they are LITERALLY the only suitor and get significant money in return. I’d love to see him get a cheap annual salary deal but like 3-4 years with the Tigers. I think the Tigers could build a REALLY GOOD team in 2011 or 2012, since they have like over 50MM to spend in the next offseason. (Magglio 18MM, Bonderman 12MM, Robertson 10MM, Willis 12MM, Inge 6.5MM) if they unloaded Carlos Guillen as well, they’d have even more money. if they have to sign him for only an expensive one year deal, i will be extremely annoyed, seeing that they could have kept Granderson for that money.
Idea for the Cubs. You only need to sign 3 more players. Kiko Calero, Ben Scheets, and Chin-Mein Wang
If Detroit were to sign another DH-type I hope its either blalock or delgado. Personally I think another DH-type player is the last thing Detroit needs right now (after robertson and willis), but a lefty power bat couldn’t hurt.
If Detroit were to sign another DH-type I hope its either blalock or delgado. Personally I think another DH-type player is the last thing Detroit needs right now (after robertson and willis), but a lefty power bat couldn’t hurt.
I don’t mind the Cubs’ off season as much as most. They don’t have the money & they haven’t done anything crazy – yet. They’ll immediately get a lift by having Ramirez back. I challenge anyone to hit on one good leg like Soriano did last season. Using Bradley’s defense & production last season, it’s a stronger outfield than last year’s. I’m praying that Rudy Jaramillo is as good as people say he is as well. Hendry needs to focus on the arbitration cases ahead of him and get those taken care of reasonably.
Sheets would be a weird signing. He’s a Harden-type risk and will probably need to be overpaid to be signed. I *think* they have enough starting pitching – but the question mark there for me is Randy Wells and if he proves to be a consistent MLB-level starter. They didn’t have a consistently healthy rotation last year – and that has to change.
The potential disaster I see for the Cubs next year is Carlos Marmol. His stuff is great when it isn’t wild. Cubs fans are brutal on closers – and even when Dempster got the save, yet “made it interesting” – he was deeply criticized. That’s a ton of pressure for someone with Marmol’s track record. The Cubs should live with the “hole” at 2nd, find another bullpen arm internally, and save their pennies for what could be a glaring need for a closer down the road.
What most people either don’t realize or have forgotten starting pitching wasn’t the cubs undoing,in fact the starting rotation was in the top 5 in all of the major stats era quality starts opponents batting average and a few others…it was the bull pen and the offense stats the they were ranked in the bottom 20s.Losing harden does hurt but i still think it will be ok,they have a couple options for a fifth starter,I wouldn’t be against signing a low risk possible high reward guy,but to me what needs to be addressed first is a better option for second and a couple bench bats.when the cubs were having there most success on offense was when we had guys like ward, crafty vets who could come off the bench,and were good influence on the younger hitters.
Absolutely agreed on the quality of the starting pitching for the Cubs. To clarify, I think its improbable that the rotation can be as effective if they have consistent injuries like last year. If Wells hadn’t emerged like he did, I’d venture to guess things wouldn’t have gone as well. By “well”, I mean a winning record.
The hitting should get better if Ramirez & Soriano can stay healthy. I think on the latter, he’s got way too much pride not to try & make up for what happened last year. Or at least the fan in me thinks that way – but I’m not set for life with a ridiculous contract.
I’d say play Blanco. The kid’s got a glove.
I think that both Soto and Soriano have got something to prove and could surprise many next year. I also think A-Ram is due for a comeback. However, D-Lee is not going to repeat last years performance in my opinion. and nor is Marlon Byrd. The key is if Soriano and Soto and A-Ram make up for the underperformance of Dlee and Byrd. Also, cubs should at least think about Wang. If they can get him cheap, he may prove better than Harden which would be a great signing. They shouldnt get anywhere near Ben Sheets. Orlando Hudson would be a solid addition if theres money left for him. But I assume baker and fontenot will platoon.