Jayson Stark of ESPN.com points out that teams aren't handing out long-term contracts as liberally as they were a few years ago. We've seen just eight contracts of three-plus years this offseason, after seeing 13 such contracts in each of the previous two winters. The offseason before that? Players signed 29 contracts of three years or more. Here are Stark's rumors:
- Detroit doesn't seem that interested in Johnny Damon and the Braves haven't spoken with Damon's agent, Scott Boras, in a month and a half. The Rays have checked in, but they have little to spend.
- Erik Bedard and the Orioles have mutual interest in a reunion, Stark hears.
- The Phillies would like to add a veteran left-handed reliever on a minor league deal, but Alan Embree and Ron Mahay are holding out for big league deals at this point, despite the Phillies' interest.
- Kevin Gregg is high on the Rockies' shopping list. They're looking at infield options and hoping to save enough money to shore up their bullpen, too.
- The Blue Jays have told clubs that Scott Downs and Jason Frasor are available. The Cubs have checked in on the pair of relievers.
- The Royals have told teams they're "open minded" about moving Gil Meche or Brian Bannister.
- John Smoltz is in no rush to sign. He's open to waiting for a few months, since he'd like a starting job and some execs question his ability to start for an entire season.
- Ben Sheets will be the first A's pitcher to make $10MM (though some believe Sheets will be traded before the end of the year).
- Mark Prior is throwing off a mound and would like to make a comeback.
Didnt the Royals want Pagan? Move him in a deal for Meche, NOW
Why would the Royals, who signed three starting CFs this offseason alone, and have 7 on the 25 man roster (not even including Bloomquist), want Pagan, and why would we trade Gil Meche for him even so.
Not to mention, even this year Pagan only played half a year, he has never in his career shown that type of success, nor would I want him in the AL.
NOT Briannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. NOOOOOOOOOO!
I agree!!! Keep Banny in KC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
It makes no sense at all to trade Brian.
He makes under 2MM. He has shown massive success in 2006, 2007, and 2009.
Last year, before he got injured, he posted a 3.50 ERA in 20 starts. All of his stats were way better than a couple of ASG pitchers at the break (i.e Wakefield)
His trade value isn’t all too high due to his injury, and to what his stats show on paper. So it makes no sense.
You know Spring Training is fast approaching when the Prior comeback stories start surfacing
Aaahhhhhh!!! Baseball is coming back
The annual Mark Prior stories are appearing.
I remember hearing from my high school pitching coach that he would injure his arm… My favorite question for Cubs fans used to be “Who’s starting for you guys today, Wood or Prior?” That really got em mad
“the Braves haven’t spoken with Damon’s agent, Scott Boras, in a month and a half.”
Why would we when we have been done for quite a while and have no need for Damon. Writers and posters need to stop bringing up the Braves as a destination for Damon.
ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
And rightly so.
I wish the White Sox would sign Prior to a minor league deal.
I like the idea of shopping Downs and Frasor. I think Downs is breaking down and Frasor only had 1 good year so might as well trade them now while they have some value left.
If you cut off Downs’ big toe he’d be able to get through a season no problem.
Someone will sign Damon the problem for him is he will get nothing close to what he thought he should, no team I can see paying him over 5-6 million per season for a year, even if deferred. Why would they its not like clubs are knocking down his door in the first place. I liked Damon in New York but players come, players go, the Yankees rewarded him well for the past 4 seasons at 13 million per, that apparently fattened his eyes as to his true worth. If Damon could still play defense as say Cameron in CF he would have been snapped up by now, but the reality is his OPS 120 points lower outside of Yankee Stadium and teams notice that and wonder when the guy hit 7 homers on the road and 17 at home. Doesn’t mean he isn’t helpful to a team but not to the extent that he was with the Yankees in Yankee Stadium when combined with his terrible outfield defense and arm. To give you an idea between Damon and Randy Winn in the field. You have to see the numbers to put it into perspective. Damon had 5 errors vs 0 errors for WinnDamon’s arm is -4.2 runs below average vs Winn’s 1.4 runs above averageDamon’s range is -3.7 runs below average vs Winn’s 13.8 runs above averageDamon’s UZR is -9.2 runs below average vs Winn’s 16.5 runs above averageDamon’s UZR/150 games is -12.1 runs below average vs Winn’s 20.1 runs above averageAll those numbers in1117.2 innings for Damon and 220 putouts1191.0 innings for Winn and 282 putoutsLets just say Johnny needed to hit, because he wasn’t saving the Yankees any runs in the field with those defensive numbers.
And the Yanks will need Winn to play super defense, to make up for ….
Well when you improve your pitching and defense and was the best offense in baseball the season before you can afford to sacrifice some offense in having a #9 part platoon player who improves your defense in Winn to go along with Gardner over the course of the season. Its not like Winn will be in the heart of the Yankees order and asked to be a dominant offensive force at all. Whatever he does in the #9 hole on offense, be it get a hit (141 last season), be it get a double (he had 33 last season), get a steal (he had 16 last season) from the bottom of the order, to turn over the lineup back to Jeter and Nick Johnson at the top of the order is a bonus to go with the defensive improvement of him playing the corner outfield position. The Yankees have more than enough bats in Jeter, Johnson, Tex, Arod, Posada, Granderson, Cano, Swisher to cover the offense.
maybe mark prior need to get in contact with dave duncan , Prior used to be a filthy pitcher and i hope he does make a comeback
Prior won an awful lot of towel drill games.
I think Prior is the career leader in simulated innings pitched.
Prior should pitch for $0 guaranteed with incentives. AHe owes baseball. Actually Dusty should pay Mark’s base.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Jays get in on Damon. They are lacking a leadoff, and Bautista just doesn’t it cut as a guy that could see 300 ABs.
Move Snider to RF and Damon plays left. Lind 1B/DH.
Makes perfect sense for the Mets to be high on Smoltz, since he’s injured and probably couldn’t start the whole season.
That said, you have to wonder if Smoltz’s stubbornness/competitiveness have gotten the better of him. He may really and truly be done. And you hate to see a sure-fire HOFer repeatedly get his brains beat out.
Bedard should know that trying to revive his injury-plagued career in the AL east is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Why is LAD not in the mix on Bedard? They need the additional arm and he could run the NL if healthy. SFG is always a potential threat (still needs bats), Philly is still the better team, NYM could turn it around (pitching?), FLA is still a threat. I understand the McCourts are in a divorce, but even Harden was picked up for 7.5!
Yes Bedard is injury proned, but come on. 6.5-7.5 plus incentives?
gregg to the rockies? his stats will be even worse there then at wrigley where the wind can help him at least part of the time
I would love to see the Royals give Prior a chance meaning Minor League deal for at least 3 years. Make this happen Dayton.
Damon in the outfield with Snider and Wells ? OMG that would be horrible, good thing we have so many groundballers. Well if AA is not trying to win, then why use money we could use on the draft for a guy who is not going to help us contend ?
Jason Frasor – since he got his circle change – is an awesome RP and it would suck to see him go, but if were not gonna compete then their are other guys to take his spot.
Scott Downs is just sick when he’s on and could be a great SP in the NL.
Trading Bannister would be dumb.
does anyone know if noah lowry is open to be open to being a reliever?
I hope bedard comes to Baltimore that would make the Houston, and Seattle look bad i think it would be awsome to have them both back in a oriole uni. Sign bedard for 1 year wit a op for a 2nd