Another round of links for Tuesday, with 11 days remaining before the deadline…
- The Pirates are getting calls about Joel Hanrahan, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Not surprisingly, they're asking a lot for the reliever.
- Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com hears that the Phillies would still like to add a top starter. Earlier today, before Jamie Moyer strained his left elbow, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. hinted that the club could trade for an arm.
- Lance Berkman tells MLB.com's Brian McTaggart that he realizes he may hit free agency after the season. The Astros can buy Berkman out for $2MM or pay him $15MM next year.
- Former big league player and minor league manager Pat Listach would have interest in managing the Cubs next year, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman tells Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger that he doesn't like the looks of the current trade market and isn't optimistic about making major deals.
- MASN.com's Ben Goessling explains that offering Adam Dunn a four-year deal would be risky.
- USA Today considers some potential replacements for Lou Piniella, starting, of course, with Ryne Sandberg.
- The Cubs will have a new manager next year, but Jim Hendry is still the team's GM going forward, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter).
- The Pirates signed eight Latin American players and Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com has the details.
- An AL executive tells ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick that teams are demanding a ton for their relievers (Twitter link). Here are some of the arms teams can consider.
For what it’s worth, Todd Zolecki (Phillies beat writer) said that the said acquired starting pitcher would start on Saturday, to replace Kyle Kendrick. Coincidentally or not, Roy Oswalt is also scheduled to start on Saturday. Ed Wade also has a history of dealing with the Phils, and knows them pretty well.
Phillies beat writer Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly has been reporting on the radio and tv in Philly that a Oswalt and Haren trade is very likely to happen within the next few days, as Carpenter will not be starting in Kendrick’s place. He said to expect a newly acquired pitcher to start on Friday. He also mentioned James Shields (perhaps in a Werth trade?)
James Shields would be an interesting trade for both clubs. If I was the Rays, I don’t think that I would trade Shields for Werth straight up, and I don’t think the Phils’ would want to give up Werth+ for Shields. That would be interesting. I think Roy Oswalt is the best possibility. He’s scheduled to start on Saturday (Dan Haren tomorrow), and the Phillies and Ed Wade have a long history together. Granted, scheduled starts mean little as they could be scratched, but I think it’s interesting. Haha
more like Werth++ for Shields
I wonder what kind of package good ole Eddy wants for Oswalt
Hey Derek… They don’t want Werth in Houston so we are looking to try a 3 way trade for Oswalt… We need to find a 3rd person Houston to take Werth and give them prospects… I am looking forward to watching D. brown when he is on the team… Lets go Fightin Phillies…. Nathan
Shields has one of the most team friendly contracts in baseball, with umpteen club option years. Trading him would be worse than trading any of their prospects.
are you sure he didnt say unlikely? because it is.
A name the Cubs need to consider is Mike Quade. He has field managing experience, knows the Cubs system and would be used to managing around an odd schedule. I’d say the the Cubs need to hire from within whether it be Quade, Sandberg or even Bob Brenly. The Cubs need to find someone who knows his way around the Cubs organization. Hiring someone like Torre will just be another Lou Piniella experience. Lou had to do a lot of on the job learning.
What about Tramell for consideration?
i’d be for brenly managing as long as it gets mark grace to come over as color commentator.
Mark Grace is one of the worst color commentators out there…. thats probable why the Arizona Diamondbacks are one of worst teams and they all want traded… Nathan
intresting point about oswalt….but i think we’d be more likely to see carpenter start saturday then the new pitcher start next week
Carpenter’s role is long relief, he will not be starting, so sayeth the powers that be.
well then maybe someone will start on short rest…..i just dont see a newly acquired pitcher starting a day or 2 after he has been acquired
Cliff Lee started the day after he was acquired for the Rangers this year and I’m pretty sure CC started the day of for the Brewers in ’08.
Dunn is a victim of circumstance. Seems like he’s always on the verge of being traded and expected to drop off any season, any contract, hence he’ll never get that massive long-term deal he seeks. I predict 2 years/$35 million or somewhere in that neighborhood. OR if he gets a bigger contract it’ll be 3 years/$40 million but on a descending scale; $20MM in ’11, $15MM in ’12 and $5MM in ’13.
I don’t see a problem with Dunn getting a 4-year extension. Look at that ridiculous contract the Philthies gave Howard. Howard is going to be vastly over paid and Dunn won’t get 4 years? That’s crazy.
Ryan Howard is a career .282 hitter, with an MVP, three RBI titles, two home run crowns, is 10th career in slugging, has never finished lower than 7th in that category, plays every day at first base, and plays league average defense. The only thing Adam Dunn has led the league in is strike outs, hits about 10 less HR a year with about 40 less RBIs, was among the league’s worst corner outfielders, and is in the running for the league’s worst fielding first baseman. There’s a reason Dunn’s comparables are Jay Buhner, Richie Sexson, and Pat Burrell. I’m a Phillies fan, yes, but to say Dunn should get a four year deal based solely on the reason that Howard is signed long term is ridiculous. Howard is an extra base hit machine, as evident in his slugging, doubles, home runs, on base percentage, and on base plus slugging numbers where as Dunn will hit you enough to be in the top 10 in HRs and is guarenteed to strikeout nearly 200 times a year and play horrible defense.
…and Ryan Howard has had the likes of Chase Utley and Shane Victorino hitting in front of him the past few years while Dunn gets guys like Nyjer Morgan (.315 OBP this year) and Ian Desmond (.292). Sure, we’d all take Howard over Dunn, but to compare them on the basis of MVPs and RBIs is ridiculous.
As for fielding, I believe Dunn is a first baseman, and a better one than Ryan Howard this year, so not sure how his corner OF defense is relevant. As for K’s, you do know that Howard strikes out 180-200 times a year, right?
It isn’t just MVPs and RBIs. Howard is 10th ALL-TIME in slugging. You can’t manipulate that number. In response to who Dunn has had in front of him, in 2003 he had career years for Jiminez, Guillen, and Aaron Boone, in 2004 career years from Ryan Freel, Wily Mo Pena, and Sean Casey, in 2005 5 starters at .282 BA or higher, 2006 he had nothing but hit .234 himself, in 2007 there were 5 Reds starters at .277 or better, and I’ll give you 2008 and 2009. Howard himself was the 6th hitter for most of 2006 hitting in front of such great hitters as Mike Leiberthal, David Delucci, Pat Burrell, and an injured Aaron Rowand. This was Utley’s breakout year, yes, and Rollins did well but that’s all he had and won the MVP. He had a better supporting cast from there on. As “flawed” as RBIs are, he hits well with RISP, is the active leader in HR per AB, and is among the leaders in slugging percentage.About Dunn’s fielding, he was -27.5 UZR last year at first base and Howard was .2. You’re right, this year Dunn is doing better, with a fielding rating of -.6 v. Howard’s -3.2, meaning they are both below replacement level but both adequately at position adjusted replacement level. And yes, Howard does strike out as frequently, but who has a higher OPS by 50 points? Ryan Howard.
Please don’t tell me you just brought up Wily Mo Pena as reason for Adam Dunn’s success.
Finally, some Howard fans. Where were you guys this morning when a bunch of these armchair GMs decided to use some article about Adam Dunn and the White Sox to gang up on the big man?
It’s not saying Howard sucks! It’s saying Dunn is an underappreciated star.
Dunn’s career slugging is about sixty points below Howard’s. Dunn’s OBP is ten points higher. Surely Howard doesn’t deserve less than half the contract.
Also, UZR doesn’t work in one year samples, and doesn’t work well on first basemen. And RBI are beyond useless for this argument. Put Ryan Howard on a team with Wily Tavares batting leadoff, then talk about RBI.
I think the point that guys like Wily MO and Ryan Freel are having career years hitting in front of Dunn speak in Dunn’s defense, and against Howard. Dunn makes hitters in front of him better…
Still agree that Howard is a bit better but I think it is closer than you think. Baseball Musings had an interesting article on the comparison, and the fact that Dunn is only looking for $15 mil a year and Howard is getting what $25 over more years, i’d probably chose Dunn for any team but the Yankees.
the only difference is that howard gets to play in a lineup that can hit… put dunn in there are he sees more pitches to hit, gets more at-bats with runners on base.
Dunn is more versatile in the field. (other difference)
Dunn and howard are strike-out kings, play poor defense, and can’t hit lefties…
Dunn has played in the outfield yes, but may I remind you that his career average defensive value per season is -11.65 and that he has not, not including this season, played league average defense adjusted for position since 2004? If you put Ryan Howard in left field, I don’t think there would be that big of a downgrade from Adam Dunn. Ryan Howard has been better than league average adjusted for position every year that he has been in the league. (Source: FanGraphs)
And if you read my other posts, Adam Dunn has been in quite a few line ups that can hit, specifically ones where over half the starting line up hit .277 or better, or even .282 or better. He just didn’t drive in the runs.
OBP, not BA, is significant here.
not really… look at some of the people in sports… 1 to start it is great to has a team that they all stay around….. 2. Look at Boston, and the yankees… yes I will say we have good money but its not like we can choose who we want durning the year of trades or go and sign them with there 200 million caps… 3. you are never going to see the Donkey … Adam Dunn in the hall of fame 4. and I will let Ian Riccaboni take it from here… Go Fightin Phillies…. Nathan
Howard was given that contract as an extension from his home team whom he’s played for his entire career with as a player who averages 45 HR’s a year, got ROY and MVP back to back and is part of a WS team who’s gone to the Championship twice since he arrived in Philly from the minors. Dunn is a journeyman with a lot of power and not much else to recommend.
moyer just left the game with an injury…..call ed wade please
moyer down, oswalt in…
starting to seem more and more likely
I’m down with Oswalt, just a little weary. Moyer being down puts us over the barrel a bit in a potential trade.
I think we’ve been over a barrel for a while now. We need an upgrade in the rotation to fill in for Happ and a real middle infield and corner infield option on the bench. I think this year has shown that Amaro was not ready to be a GM. He has failed to react when needed. When your 3 hitter all-star 2b goes down for 6-8 weeks you do not hope that a couple guys that are marginal aaa players can make up for that loss of production. When your 3b 2hole hitter goes down at the same time you absolutely must make a move! We’ve been without or No. 3 starter (Happ) for how long now? The fact that we’re only this far back is a tribute to the guys, but Ruben has left us in a bad place.
well put ian, not to mention the power numbers that Howard has put up in his career thus far has only been done by one other man….yeah his name is babe ruth, so dont go comparing dunn’s situation to howard…if you think that howard is overpaid or overrated surely you are not watching him play enough…
He may be slight overrated, I can see where people say that. But when folks start putting the Mo Vaughn regression model on Ryan Howard, that’s where I get upset. Howard produces and while, in many eyes, his contract may be more than many teams would have given him, the man has shown the dedication to get more physically fit each year, his walks are up, strikeouts down, he’s hitting the ball to all fields, and is reliable every day in the field.
We get that you like Howard, but at least get your facts straight.
His walk rate has declined in each of the last three years and he’s a below average defender so far this year.
his contract makes Pujols worth 50 mil a year… and we all know who the better player is
That’s not the way salaries work. They are not directly related to production. Anyone who reads a player’s salary as if it were a baseball statistic doesn’t know much about economics, baseball, or statistics in general.
not really sure what his contract has anything to do with you, me or pujols(but to be honest if pujols is twice the player howard is I am blind, he is better no doubt but give me a break)…the fact is that the Phillies organization felt he was worth 25 million a year and to be honest I cant see why they are wrong…The guy produces in every way a power hitter can…If you knew anything about Philadelphia or this organization and the way it was before then you would get the value behind him…He led this team to being a top team where they are now, where were they before he got here…the ballpark sells out everynight, how about before he got called up??? its going to be comparable to what Derek Jeter is going to get this offseason from the Yankees, will he be worth more than 15 million a year, clearly no…but to that franchise, what he has done and what he still draws, you cant put a pricetag on….really dont get what the obsession is about what this player is making, what that player is making…the only time a fan should be concerned about money is when an organization is to cheap to shell out the money from getting a player they want or keeping a player from leaving that they need…………….As a lifetime Phillies fan that has seen the drek that they have thrown out infront of my eyes for most of my life(27) I am thankful they signed Howard, regardless of the money(which I think is well deserved)
The Phillies, or any team’s payroll (Even the Yankees) is not unlimited. To say it shouldn’t matter to fans what a player makes is ludicrous. If you’re paying Howard 25 million, you better be sure he puts up these stats year in and year out. If most of us who believe he will under-perform his contract are right, the Phillies could be crippled for years.
To hit on your other point, Pujols is probably 3x the time player Howard is, not twice the player. Pujols does literally everything excellently. He walks, he hits, he fields, and he’s easily the best player of this generation. Don’t take it too hard, he’s 10x the player most are.
No you are correct, no team’s payroll is unlimited. But most teams have designated positions where a bulk of their payroll is slotted at, for the phillies it is 1b, 2b, sp. My point about what howard is making is clearly one that went over your head, if he walks to free agency keeps putting up the numbers(last time I checked he has been. He leads the league in RBI’s, a few off the home run pace, and is batting damn close to 300. Wait also with basically a makeshift offense in front of him) tell me he wouldn’t get at least 20 million by a team via free agency. So if by overpaying by 5 mil a year the phillies made sure they locked down perhaps the most influential superstar they have ever had in their organization(perhaps second to Michael Jack) for the rest of his career and certainly before he tested free agency you can criticize then than clearly you are missing the point…..and yes fat albert is probably the greatest baseball player I have ever seen with my eyes, but he is not 3x, not 2x better than Howard, thats an ignorant statement, and clearly an uneducated one….
and to further that point if money is hindering the phillies and holding them back from being a contender for a few years down the road, it certainly wont be because of Howard’s deal, but perhaps deals like they have done in the past which they clearly have not learned from i.e. Lidge, Blanton, Moyer, Ibanez……
I can see Dunn getting a 4 or 5 year deal, especially if it’s from an AL team. You can’t on Dunn to play 150+ games a year, walk about 80-100+ times a year, hit 25-30 and 40+ hrs. That’s pretty good offensive production. If you can limit him to being a DH or are willing to accept lousy defense then he’s a pretty good bet to give you solid numbers year in and year out. As a Yankee fan I wouldn’t mind seeing him as our DH year end year out if it weren’t for the fact that we need to keep the DH spot open for our older players to rest, especially Jorge who I think will be a 50/50 guy next year (C/DH).
What do you think about Manny being signed to DH if he’ll accept a 1 year deal in the 6-9MM range? The guy is still OPSing .900+.
Edit: Meant to add that he’s doing it while playing half his games in Dodgers Stadium, put him in NYS and I’m sure he’s got the power to go out to RF.
Phils need a SP either way. It may be too little, too late to overtake both N.Y. & ATL. Besides, N.Y.’s lookin’ for SP too, ATL is more of the offensive mindset.
Just read a report that the Pirates asked for Neftali Feliz for Hanrahan? Good luck with that one. “Hey, how about you trade us a better, younger reliever under team control for our guy?” I mean, why would ANYBODY take that trade? It doesn’t even make you better this year.