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Archives for March 2010

Discussion: Is A Howard-Pujols Swap Realistic?

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The Phillies organization has internally discussed proposing a swap of Ryan Howard for Albert Pujols, sources tell Buster Olney of ESPN.  Philadelphia GM Ruben Amaro shot the notion down, saying, "That's a lie.  I don't know who you're talking to, but that's a lie."  Olney stresses that it is not fully clear whether the Phillies have actually approached the Cardinals with the idea.

Both sluggers are 30 years-of-age and both are eligible for free agency following the 2011 season.  Pujols is owed $16MM in each of the next two seasons.  Howard, meanwhile, is set to make $19MM in 2010 and $20MM the following year.  While Pujols comes at a slightly cheaper rate in the next couple of years he (in all likelihood) would cost more to retain than Howard.

Olney points out that Howard is a St. Louis native, meaning that the Cards may be able to sell their fans on such a deal.  However, the Cardinals faithful have more or less adopted their three-time NL MVP, who is entering his 10th big league season with the club.

While owner Bill DeWitt wants to keep Pujols in red and white for life, an A-Rodesque $275MM deal might not be financially prudent for the organization.  One has to wonder if the Cardinals will have to consider trading their megastar.  If so, could a deal centered around Ryan Howard make sense?

Odds & Ends: Ortiz, Smoltz, Sandoval, Westmoreland

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Some links to browse, as teams continue to make spring cuts….

  • Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe writes (via Twitter) that the Red Sox will not pick up David Ortiz's $12.5MM option for 2011 regardless of what he does this season.
  • Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas reports that the Rangers have kept in contact with Khalil Greene, even after voiding his contract last month, though assistant GM Thad Levine says "there were no overtures about coming back and playing."
  • Murray Chass interviewed John Smoltz about his future, and the result is an interesting read. "I don't know if I’m going to pitch, but I haven't ruled it out," Smoltz said. "I have a lot of options, and I don't want the options to rule me." Smoltz adds that he laughs at all the "rumors and speculation that’s out there." We won't take it personally.
  • In his ESPN Insider blog, Buster Olney expands on a couple tweets he made yesterday, about the Twins' closer situation and the possible appeal of Smoltz.
  • John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that the Giants haven't entered into any long-term contract negotiations with Pablo Sandoval yet, since he's still a couple years away from being arbitration-eligible.
  • Nationals GM Mike Rizzo says that "money has nothing to do with who's going to play and who's not going to play," according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. This stance is relevant not only for Stephen Strasburg's ETA in the majors, but also for determining Ian Desmond's role. Rizzo suggested that Desmond "is in the running to be an everyday guy."
  • Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland will undergo brain surgery, writes Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. Best of luck to Westmoreland.

Mauer Talks Still Progressing

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Talks between Joe Mauer and the Twins are not stalled despite an absence of news on the topic, a source with knowledge of the discussions told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  Opening Day, which is the likely deadline for Mauer, is still three weeks away. 

In November, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports wrote that Mauer would shut down talks at the end of Spring Training.  However, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's La Velle E. Neal III, no deadline has been set.

Rosenthal writes that Mauer is still expected to sign an extension of at least seven years for $20MM per season.

Benson Threw For D’Backs

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SUNDAY, 1:50pm: Gregg Clifton, the agent for Benson, says that his client is willing to accept a minor league deal, writes Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.  Clifton hopes to speak with the Diamondbacks today.

FRIDAY, 10:31pm: The club will probably make a decision in the next 24 hours on what type of deal to offer Benson, a source tells Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

2:43pm: Kris Benson threw for the D'Backs today, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. D'Backs GM Josh Byrnes confirmed that Benson was in camp, but declined to say how hard he threw. Piecoro says Benson faced minor league hitters for five innings in a simulated game. Byrnes told MLB.com's Steve Gilbert that the club will stay open-minded about adding pitching.

"Every club is always wanting to ensure pitching depth," Byrnes said. "It's an evaluation worth doing. We'll see how we proceed."

Benson was connected to the Nationals for much of the winter, but last we heard, he's no longer in touch with them. Benson's agent, Gregg Clifton, said in January that his client felt good and had thrown for two unnamed teams.

The 35-year-old right-hander pitched 22.1 innings for the Rangers last year, his first stint in the majors since 2006. His 4.4 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 contributed to his 8.46 ERA. The first overall pick of the 1996 draft, Benson had some solid seasons for the Pirates but ran into injuries, including elbow tendinitis last year.

Rosenthal On Beckett, Lee, Gardner

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports examines the Red Sox' negotiations with Josh Beckett and the Yankees' center field decision in a pair of new columns. Let's check out some noteworthy points:

  • Rosenthal points to the lack of top starting pitching talent available in the next two or three free agent classes, suggesting that this could make signing Beckett more important for the Red Sox.
  • Although the Sox generally don't like committing long-term contracts to pitchers, Rosenthal opines that keeping Beckett might be less risky than losing him, due to the lack of viable replacements.
  • The other top starting pitcher whose contract expires this season is Cliff Lee, who "most baseball people agree" will go to the highest bidder. That may end up being the Yankees, who could use Lee to replace Javier Vazquez.
  • At least four teams (the Royals, Reds, Padres, and White Sox) attempted to acquire Brett Gardner this winter, hoping to start him in center field.

Cafardo’s Latest: Mauer, Beckett, Wood, Sonnanstine

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The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo has his usual Sunday column up, kicking it off by entertaining the unlikely possibility of Joe Mauer playing in Boston. If the Twins and Mauer can't work out a long-term deal, Cafardo thinks the Red Sox would be one of a handful of teams that could afford the superstar backstop. Here are a few other highlights from Cafardo's piece:

  • One possible roadblock in the Josh Beckett negotiations is the Red Sox' desire to incorporate injury protection into the contract. If Beckett has a good year in 2010, he will likely have suitors that won't include health clauses in their offers, which could appeal to the right-hander.
  • The Cubs have some interest in Kerry Wood. Cafardo notes that the Indians closer would also be a good fit for the Twins, but that the Tribe would have to pick up a significant chunk of the $10.5MM Wood will earn this season.
  • The Rays may entertain trade offers for Andy Sonnanstine, who is having a solid spring.
  • Billy Wagner says that returning to Boston was "tempting" but that with Jonathan Papelbon firmly entrenched as the ninth-inning guy, the lefty went where he'd have a better chance to close.

Odds & Ends: Ortiz, Brewers, Salcedo, Miller

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Links for Saturday…

Twins, Span Agree To Long-Term Deal

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The Twins and centerfielder Denard Span agreed to a five-year deal worth $16.5MM today, including a club option for a sixth year. The deal buys out both of Span's remaining pre-arbitration years, plus all three arbitration years. The option would cover his first year of free agency.

The 26-year-old Span has hit .305/.390/.422 with 41 stolen bases during his two seasons in the big leagues, a considerable improvement over his .287/.357/.358 minor league performance. UZR rates his defense as below average in center, where he'll presumably play for the life of the contract, but above average in the corners.

Minnesota will pay their leadoff hitter $750K in 2010, $1MM in 2011, $3MM in 2012, $4.75MM in 2013, and $6.5MM in 2014. The option for 2015 is worth $9MM with a $500K buyout attached. Grady Sizemore's deal may have been used as framework; he will earn $14.45MM for the same portion of his career.

Joe Christensen of The Star Tribune first reported the deal, then later added the money (both links go to Twitter). Kelsie Smith of The Pioneer Press tweeted some details. 

Discussion: Are The Padres Tipping Their Hand?

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It's no secret that the Padres are thinking about moving Adrian Gonzalez in the near future.   Gonzalez, or, the "Human Trade Rumor" as Scott Miller of CBSSports.com refers to him, is owed just $4.75MM in 2010 and $5.5MM on a club option for 2011.  Yet, it appears that the Padres have already given up on keeping him for the long-haul.

John Boggs, the agent for Gonzalez, told team CEO Jeff Moorad and GM Jed Hoyer that his client will seek a contract similar to the $180MM deal Mark Teixeira signed with the Yankees last offseason.  That course of action brought discussion to a halt.  

While the Padres appear to have up to a dozen suitors for Gonzalez's services, they may not be keeping their cards close to the chest.  In his aforementioned piece, Miller writes that Gonzalez – inarguably San Diego's biggest star – will not be one of the six players featured in promotional nights this summer.  Neither will closer Heath Bell, who has also been rumored to be on the trading block.

This comes just two months after Hoyer assured a reporter that the club was not looking to move the 27-year-old.  Bobbleheads and replica jerseys aside, one has to wonder if the Padres' transparency in recent weeks might hurt them in the long run.  Are the Padres tipping their hand or is it already obvious to everyone in baseball that the Friars have to consider moving their star first baseman?

Could Smoltz Be A Fit For The Twins?

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The Twins are looking at a giant hole in their bullpen with closer Joe Nathan on the shelf thanks to a torn elbow ligament, though they haven't rushed into finding a replacement. ESPN's Buster Olney notes (via Twitter) that there is some hope Nathan will be able to pitch though the injury, but they won't know for sure until he tries to throw. 

In a second tweet, Olney opines that there's an experienced, veteran closer available on the free agent market that might be a good fit for Minnesota, and his name is John Smoltz. The caveat is that he and his surgically repaired shoulder/elbow would work a Trevor Hoffman-like schedule, pitching just 50 or so innings, far below the 70 IP per season Nathan has averaged since joining the team.

The now 42-year-old Smoltz last worked out of the bullpen full-time in 2004, and as you know his performance while pitching in relief is quite good. He has said he's content to wait for the right deal, even if that means waiting until mid-season. Minnesota has some decent in-house options with Matt Guerrier, Jon Rauch, Jose Mijares, and even Francisco Liriano, so they have the luxury of letting things play out early in the season. If no one steps up, Smoltz could be attractive to pass up during the summer.

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