THURSDAY, 7:54pm: Hawpe has been designated for assignment by the Rockies, rather than released outright, tweets Renck. Colorado now has 10 days to trade him which makes Renck think there's "a chance" of a deal in the works, though Renck doesn't think the club would hurt Hawpe's chances of signing with another club by making him wait the full 10 days while they explore trades. The DFA move is "a formality" and come Tuesday, Hawpe is free to sign with anyone (all Twitter links).
Renck (also via Twitter) hears from a source that the Giants, Rangers, Rays, Red Sox, White Sox all have "potential interest" in Hawpe.
WEDNESDAY, 8:51pm: The Rockies will release Hawpe after tonight's game, making him a free agent, tweets Renck.
WEDNESDAY, 7:15pm: Hawpe appears likely to be either traded or released within the next 24 hours, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. If and when the Rockies make a roster move, the Rangers are one team that would have interest in acquiring Hawpe.
WEDNESDAY, 3:03pm: Brad Hawpe cleared waivers today, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter links). The Rockies can now trade the 31-year-old to any team. Hawpe has spent most of his career in right field, where his UZR numbers have been below-average, and he has appeared in six games at first base this season. His home run total (7) has dipped for a third consecutive year, but his batting line is about average: .252/.341/.430.
Hawpe projects to be a Type A free agent, but draft pick compensation isn't necessarily a factor, since the Rockies would have to offer arbitration to get any picks. Just under $2MM of Hawpe's $7.5MM salary remains this year and there's a $500K buyout for the team's $10.15MM option for next season.
The Rockies could take on salary in a potential deal and, as MLBTR's Tim Dierkes pointed out, Hawpe could draw interest from a number of teams because he has hit well in recent years. The Red Sox, White Sox and Rays are potential fits, but that's speculation at this point.
Here is MLBTR's complete list of players to clear waivers.
Any chance Hawpe for Figgins makes sense?
Only if the Rox a) have a place for Chone to play (Ian Stewart and EY2 seem likely to be locked in at 3B and 2B going into 2011), b) think he’ll recover with a move from one of the worst offensive parks to MLB’s best, c) are willing to pay him about twenty-six million over the next three years to find out, and d) can find another team willing to send prospects to Seattle in exchange for Hawpe, who would be of absolutely no use to the M’s this year, and a prime non-tender candidate this offseason.
So, no, not much chance.
Hawpe’s past arbitration. He has a club option next year for $10 million with a 500k buyout.
He’s not “past arbitration” — or, rather, he wasn’t until he was let go. First, that option was obviously going to be declined. Second, any player under contract whose current contract is up (where said contract does not specifically prohibit this, anyway) can be offered arbitration by his current team. If the player has at least six years of service time, he can choose to refuse that offer, but he can’t prevent the offer from being extended. Obviously, though, he wasn’t going to be offered arb, either.
And if the team offers arbitration and he accepts, don’t they have the right to walk away from the arbitration amount? (or am i thinking of a different sport). If so, hardly seems like a gamble.
In hockey, they can walk away. In baseball, they have to at least pay him 30 days’ worth of the deal if they cut him with more than 16 days left before the start of the season, 45 days’ worth if they cut him between that point and the end of spring training, and a full season’s worth if he makes it to opening day.
I was actually talking about you saying they would non-tender him, not that he wasn’t going to be offered arbitration as a Type A free agent.
Whoops – bad info on my end.
If he was mashing RHP you might take on this kind of money for ’10 and then do the 500k buyout for ’11. But you could never offer arbitration. So you’d get no picks. He can’t hit LHP and he’s a -RF.
The Red Sox may be interested if DelGado doens’t work, but I don’t think it’s likely.
I liked Hawpe a couple of years ago, but it seems that he’s just developed way too many holes in his swing to make it in the AL, which is the only league he can play in with his awful defense; irony. I’m sure someone will take a chance at him.
He injured his ribs earlier this year. He has a lot of movement in his swing so it really damaged his timing. The Rockies cant afford to play him enough to get it back
As a Rockies fan it’s been tough to watch Hawpe go from a very productive player to a guy who just hasn’t hit a lick following his selection to the 2009 All-Star Game. For a while I thought he was going to be the guy to take over for Helton at 1B starting next season, but that’s not going to happen (nor should it).
I wish him well, but I’m also glad the Rockies won’t be on the hook for his $10 million salary for 2011. Now if O’Dowd can just make a good move or two with that money (Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith) he can really help position this team to win for the next 3-4 years.
He always killed the Dodgers, so as a Dodger fan it is somewhat refreshing to see him go… I have to admit, before his disappointing season, I was hoping the Dodgers would nab him this off-season to replace Manny.
they still could but it wudnt be for much use but i could see a team like the nationals claiming him nd offering him arbritration nd letting him go so they can get the 2 draft prospects
AZ should think about this.
The D-Backs need this guy next season. Parra is awful and there’s no promising OF’s in the minors.
Agree with you.. Parra is a decent OF, no more… a good backup
He’s a terrible hitter (wRC+ of 77 in 763 PA) with a career ML OF UZR/150 of 6. He isn’t even any good on the basepaths. There are at least a dozen guys the club could sign right now that would give more as a PR and on defense than this schlub =and= bring as much or more to the plate. He offers nothing to the big club at this point in his career, and should be working on his game at the AA level instead. He’s just 23 and has some clear physical tools, but he has absolutely no idea how to translate them into production yet.
love to see the braves have him. just because
It’d be nice if Matt Miller finally gets a chance now that Hawpe’s getting released.
If he is fully healthy I would love for my Rangers to bring the home town boy back home.
He’s fallen a bit. Any team that picks him up will get vale out of this.
San Diego should sign Hawpe to a minor league deal, release Stairs, and make Stairs a clubhouse manager.
Detroit should take a chance on Hawpe, since Ordonez is out. They need a bat to protect Miggy Cabrera.
Please Dave Dombrowski take a chance!
Bless your heart for still thinking this season can be saved. In reality though Hawpe would make no sense for the tigers.
No I don’t think the season can be saved. I just know the Tigers will need an OF next season and realistically, unlike other Tiger fans, I don’t think that Detroit will sign Carl Crawford despite $60 million in contracts is coming off the books. A Hawpe acquisition would be a flier this year for the intention of signing him for next next season. If he played for the last month, the Tigers could see if he was worth even offering him a contract. He is more realistic in 2011 in the OF at Comerica than Crawford, as Damaon alluded to earlier this week.
Matt Holliday should get on his cell phone and get Hawpe to STL, then get the Cardinals to sign him. The Cardinals could use Hawpe in RF. Then use Jay as the 4th OF, and use Winn at times. Lopez, Hawpe, Pujols, Holliday looks good to me. Then just get a real 3B, and move Lopez back to the postion he plays best; which is 2B.
all that and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee
He’s a lefty that no other teams seem interested in. Ruben Amaro is probably parked outside of his house right now.
He’s gonna give him a three year deal
I want to see Boston take a chance on him. Delgado has had a setback and this guy can go over to third base. It’s worth just taking a chance.
On what planet do left handed OF1B play 3B….?
Very true.
If the Giants have no desire to attempt an acquisition for Jayson Werth then I think Hawpe should be a priority for the Giants. He’s not the slugger but hes similar to Huff so it’s an improved offensive. I’m not sure who is gonna get resigned out of Burrell or Guillen but one of them will, so should Uribe but not 100% on him either.
1.Torres – CF
2.Sanchez – 2nd
3.Huff – 1st
4.Posey – C
5.Hawpe – RF/LF
6.Burrel/Guillen – RF/LF
7.Sandoval – 3rd
8.Uribe- SS
With Werth, the pitching staff and assuming Huff, Uribe and Burrell come back the 2011 Giants should def be playoff contenders if not World Champs.
1.Torres-CF
2.Sanchez-2nd
3.Posey-C
4.Werth-RF
5.Huff-1st
6.Burrell-LF
7.Sandoval-3rd
8.Uribe-SS
Ugh. I would love for the Reds or the cards to get him. I mean yeah the reds have bruce, but a tandem of Gomes/Hawpe in left would be beastly.