Links for Monday…
- John Smoltz and Pedro Martinez will likely eventually sign with National League clubs, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. He names the Cardinals, Phillies, Cubs, and Dodgers as potential players for the two veteran right-handers.
- Cardinals GM John Mozeliak tells MLB.com's Matthew Leach that his club is going to be patient about assessing their bullpen, and is not currently seeking right-handed relief help.
- Troy Percival is in Angels camp as a guest instructor, writes Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times. He has no plans to try another comeback.
- I named my undervalued hitters for fantasy baseball leagues over at RotoAuthority.
- Former A's and Padres exec Sandy Alderson has been tasked with revamping MLB's Dominican Republic office, reports ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr.
- Indians third baseman Jhonny Peralta told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports he'd like to remain in Cleveland beyond this year, though Morosi sees a good chance of a trade. Peralta earns $4.6MM this year, and has a $7MM club option for 2011 with a $250K buyout.
- Joe Posnanski profiles Joakim Soria, suggesting the Royals should've tried him as a starter at some point.
- ESPN's Rob Neyer learned from Michael Lewis that Jonah Hill has replaced Demetri Martin as the actor who will play Paul DePodesta in Aaron Sorkin's Moneyball movie. Brad Pitt is still slated to play Billy Beane.
Soria has been having shoulder problems (along with every other Royal), pitching from the pen. He’s not made to be a starter.
I don’t know why people can’t grasp this concept.
Ouch for DePo.
In other news, Jonah Hill grew six inches and lost 50 pounds? He’s the complete opposite of a match for DePodesta. At least Demetri looked the part.
The one thing that makes a team succeed is when they lock up their young players. Also when they lock up their already good players.
Even though Beckett and Martinez are free agents after this season and the Sox want to lock them up, Bucholz, Bard, and Ellsbury should be locked up assuming Papi and Lowell walk or are traded after this season.
Bucholz 4/18MM
Bard 3/7MM
Ellsbury 4/25
They could pull those contracts off next off-season assuming the 3 have solid seasons. The Sox will shed 25.5MM after Lowell and Papi walk.
As for Beckett, they will have the money for him and most certainly Bucholz and Bard.
The only question is Victor Martinez. I think if they could acquire Ryan Doumit or some one like mid-season he could spell Martinez if he walks.
I just think that the Sox will be able to lock Bucholz, Ellsbury, Beckett, and Bard up and still have a bit of money for Martinez. We’ll see.
What? The Cardinals need right handed relief help? They gave a whole bunch of their right handed relief pitchers away to various organizations last season. Maybe they should have kept a few.
That mark derosa trade still burns. But the draft picks will be worth it.
Man I hope Jason motte figured out his offspeed stuff..he tore it up in the minors in 08.
RIght handed relief prospects are a dime a dozen…Why wouldn’t you trade them away if you think you have a chance at a World Series? None of them would have key roles in the bullpen this year anyway! The bullpen will be fine…It’s basically the same as last year and they were pretty solid! No reason to think they can’t do the same again
I don’t know…I do agree with part of what you’re saying, but trading Chris Perez wasn’t a great decision.
I got this weird gut feeling that the derosa and holliday trades are going to end up like the. Dan haren trade for mulder
That one still burns to think about.
Theres that risk anytime you trade away prospects…but I really can’t see anything close to Haren in anyone we have traded! But if Holliday ends up anything like Mulder did in St. Louis, that would be BAD! But I don’t think that will happen. I think we will be satisfied with Holliday for years to come
And the only reason that Haren trade looks so bad is because Mulder broke down. At the time, there was no arguing w/ it. Mulder was a premiere pitcher & Haren looked promising but was still unproven.
I’ve never understood why the critics have been so high on Chris Perez. The guy has two pitches: hard & straight, harder & straighter.
Absolutely right on Mulder. And going 16-8 in 2005 was just as good as his averages in Oakland. Perez looked like the best homegrown closer since Worrell, who also had two pitches early in his career.
Pedro to LA please
sounds good to me
Unless DePodesta was much fatter, shorter, and dumber during his tenure with the A’s than I remember, this is a very poor casting.
Very odd indeed. What’s next, that Napoleon Dynamite guy as Jeremy Brown and Manute Bol as Joe Blanton?
That whole crew that Jonah Hill runs with – I’ve never found them funny & don’t get the lowest common denominator humour.
has anyone noticed how terrible the cubs team is?