Nationals Extend Livan Hernandez
4:21pm: MLB.com's Bill Ladson tweets that Hernandez received an incentive-laden contract with a $1MM base salary. If he can come anywhere near his 2010 performance, he'll be a steal at that price. Livan's been a 2.7 WAR pitcher so far, and Fangraphs values his performance at $10.7MM.
3:44pm: The Nationals have signed Livan Hernandez to a contract for 2011, tweets MASN's Ben Goessling. The team has confirmed the deal through a press release.
Hernandez has been a pleasant surprise for the Nationals in 2010, to say the very least. Expected to be a marginal innings eater at best, he's instead posted a 3.49 ERA through 175.1 innings. His minimal strikeout totals (4.7 K/9) are expected, but complemented with Hernandez's usual strong control (2.8 BB/9).
The Nationals can use all the rotation help they can get, on the heels of the news that phenom Stephen Strasburg has a significant tear of his ulnar collateral ligament and will likely undergo Tommy John surgery.
It may be unfair to expect an encore performance of the reborn Hernandez in 2011; he's allowing his fewest number of hits (almost exactly one per inning) since his All-Star campaign in 2004 with the Washington franchise when they were still based in Montreal. Still, if he can continue to limit the walks and home runs, he's a low-risk option to be a serviceable rotation arm at a reasonable price.
Leyland Optimistic About Offseason
The Tigers can't be happy with how this season has gone. Plagued by injuries and inconsistency, the club has fallen to 11 games out of first place as we get set to enter the season's final month. John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press tells us though, that manager Jim Leyland feels his club can "get real good, real quick:"
“I think this will probably be the most interesting winter for our ball club since I’ve been here, I would think, because our club has a chance to get real good real quick,” Leyland said. “It appears that we have some money to spend. I’m not talking about foolish money.”
Lowe mentions the contracts of Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis, and Nate Robertson coming off the books; those contracts total $34MM, but that's only the beginning. Magglio Ordonez's $15MM option is sure to be declined, Johnny Damon and his $8MM are off the books (though he'd like to return to Detroit), as are the contracts of Brandon Inge, Bobby Seay, Gerald Laird, and Jhonny Peralta (what little amount they're paying him anyway). In total, the Tigers will have an astounding figure of around $70MM in contracts coming off their books.
Detroit figures to be set in some areas, with Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson, and Brennan Boesch having earned spots in the 2011 lineup. The rotation will likely feature Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, and Armando Galarraga. Jose Valverde will still be closing games out in the ninth. You can put Carlos Guillen just about anywhere on the field. Scott Sizemore struggled in the Majors but has found his stride in Triple-A Toledo, with an overall line of .299/.379/.463. He'll likely get another look at the very least.
Still, they'll have a number of holes to fill through free agency and trades, but as you can tell, they've got the funds to do it and do it well. Notable free agents include Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, Adam Dunn, Victor Martinez, Adrian Beltre, Orlando Hudson, and Manny Ramirez to name a few. With their rotation nearly filled out, and some promising bats penciled into the order, Leyland's prediction is certainly one that can come true with some wise spending from general manager Dave Dombrowski.
Padres Looking At Starters, Interested In Millwood?
As improbable as many may have believed it to be prior to the season, it's August 29 and the Padres hold a six-game lead on the NL West. According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, Kevin Millwood is just "one of many" possibilities for the Padres as they look to upgrade their rotation.
Millwood's overall numbers certainly don't inspire confidence at first glance — a 5.34 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and 1.5 HR/9 (his highest mark since 2001) through 160 innings don't mix well with his league-leading 194 hits allowed.
Over his last five starts however, Millwood's posted a 2.83 ERA through 35 innings, and while he's faced some very poor offenses in there, he also has two very good starts against the White Sox and Angels to his name. Some of his peripherals, such as his .329 BABIP and 4.60 xFIP, suggest that he's been the victim of some bad luck as well.
Rosenthal states that the Pads aren't necessarily optimistic about acquiring a starter; they only want one who would be an upgrade, and Millwood obviously isn't a clear-cut improvement. The Padres also could turn to Tim Stauffer, who's having a fine season of his own (1.40 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 through 45 innings), or Cory Luebke, who holds a 10-1 record and a 2.68 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A if they decide against making a trade.
The Padres may not feel they need a veteran upgrade so much as they simply would like someone to take some of the workload off their young rotation arms. It goes without saying that moving to a more spacious park like Petco would do any starter a favor, especially someone like Millwood who's been plagued by the long ball. Pitching the NL West as opposed to the AL East wouldn't hurt either.
Millwood is making $12MM in 2010, though the Rangers picked up $3MM of that when he was shipped to the Orioles last winter. Baltimore is on the hook for the remaining $1.76MM of Millwood's salary, which would also be an obstacle in any trade.
Odds & Ends: Twins, K-Rod, Marlins, Soriano
Sunday links, as Charlie Morton hopes to avoid becoming the Pirates' fifth pitcher this season with double-digit losses….
- Jon Paul Morosi tweets that he spoke with a source who believes that the Twins are done trading, following their acquisition of Brian Fuentes from the Angels, but notes that it's hard to be 100% certain. Morosi suggested they could be a fit for Troy Glaus earlier today.
- While trading Francisco Rodriguez would be good for the Mets, it won't be easy, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman stops short of labeling K-Rod an "untradeable player," but says he's pretty close.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider-only link) praises the Twins' acquisition of Brian Fuentes and suggests the government ought to formally investigate whether the Marlins lied to taxpayers about their finances.
- Alex Speier of WEEI.com details Rafael Soriano's unlikely path to Tampa last winter, noting how crucial the closer has been to the Rays' success.
- In his weekly Baseball Notes piece, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe discusses Manny Ramirez, Dusty Baker, and the Indians, among other topics.
Multiple Teams Interested In Troy Glaus
Multiple American League teams have some interest in Troy Glaus, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Glaus has been on the disabled list since August 18th, but has been hitting well on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Gwinnett.
When Glaus returns from the DL, the Braves plan to give him some playing time at third base and as a pinch-hitter. However, given his defensive limitations, he would make more sense for an AL contender in need of some power at first base or designated hitter. The Red Sox, Rays, Twins, White Sox, and Rangers could all be fits, particularly at Glaus' affordable price – he has about $340K remaining on his $1.75MM deal.
We've yet to hear whether or not Glaus has passed through waivers already in August. Buster Olney of ESPN.com reported earlier in the month that players could not clear waivers while on the disabled list, but Morosi later indicated that, as long as the player exhibited good health, he could be placed on waivers prior to being activated. Given Glaus' .391 average and two homers on his rehab assignment, he appears to be healthy, so that shouldn't be a roadblock.
Brewers Will Prioritize Pitching In Offseason
The Brewers' number one goal this winter will be upgrading their pitching staff, Mark Attanasio told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Specifically, the team hopes to improve their starting rotation, according to the Brewers' owner.
"We know we've got a problem, which is starting pitching," said Attanasio. "We, as an organization, need to face that reality and address it, as opposed to shrink from it or excuse it."
Attanasio goes on to say the free agent market isn't "the perfect answer," and that the team may have to look into trading a position player for pitching. Haudricourt interprets Attanasio's comments to mean the Brewers will explore the possibility of moving Prince Fielder for an impact arm. 2011 is the slugger's final arbitration-eligible season, and GM Doug Melvin has said in the past that he prefers to trade position players in the offseason, when there are more potential suitors.
If the Brewers don't receive any offers they like for Fielder, turning to the free agent market should still be an option. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe estimates that Milwaukee may clear as much as $47MM off the books this winter, which could make them "huge players" in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes. Cafardo adds that the club also "should be in on Bronson Arroyo," who has an $11MM club option for 2011.
Earlier this month, MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith examined the Brewers' 2011 rotation, touching upon potential trade and free agent options.
Rangers Continue Search For Right-Handed Bat
Teams have just two more days to acquire postseason-eligible players, but the Rangers haven't yet given up their search for a right-handed hitter. Richard Durrett of ESPN.com writes that, after missing out on Manny Ramirez, Jon Daniels and the Rangers continue to "work the phones" in hopes of landing a bat.
Our list of players that we know have cleared waivers is noticeably lacking in right-handed options, with switch-hitters Carlos Beltran and Geoff Blum the only healthy possibilities. Durrett, however, lists a few names he thinks may be available, including Ryan Spilborghs, Reed Johnson, Jeff Francoeur, and Marlon Byrd. It's also possible that the Rangers are the unknown team that won a waiver claim on Mike Napoli, though he would have had to make it past the Tigers and White Sox, among other clubs.
The Rangers were hoping Jorge Cantu would provide the right-handed pop they needed, but the 28-year-old has struggled since Texas acquired him a month ago. Cantu has yet to record a homer or RBI for the Rangers, hitting .226/.281/.283 in 58 plate appearances.
Odds & Ends: Johnson, Figgins, Pineda, Ross
Saturday night links, as Joey Votto, Adam Dunn, and Paul Konerko belt their 32nd home runs…
- Nick Johnson's 2011 option is very unlikely to be exercised, as Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News writes. Heading into the season, controlling Johnson for $5.5MM in 2011 looked reasonable for the Yankees. But a disappointing, injury-plagued season for the 31-year-old means that money could be better spent elsewhere.
- Joe Girardi and Doug Melvin told Chad Jennings of The Journal News and MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, respectively, that they're not expecting their clubs to make any trades.
- Chone Figgins, the subject of a few trade rumors this summer, tells Doug Miller of MLB.com, "I don't want to go anywhere. I chose to come here, because I like the direction and I like the guys that are here."
- The Mariners have shut down pitching prospect Michael Pineda for the year, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. Pineda is fine physically and will compete for a spot in the rotation next spring, according to Jack Zduriencik.
- Cody Ross told Jim Bowden on Fox Sports Radio (Twitter link) that he was "shocked" the Marlins moved him.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer conducts a Q&A with Drew Pomeranz, the Indians' fifth overall pick in this year's draft.
Jermaine Dye Aiming To Return In 2011
With September fast approaching, Jermaine Dye has conceded that he won't be playing major league baseball this season. "This season is over for me," the 36-year-old told MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
As Merkin writes, however, just because Dye didn't play in 2010 doesn't mean that the former White Sox has retired. Dye has stayed in playing shape and will likely try to catch on somewhere this winter.
Dye's inability to secure a contract this season was somewhat surprising. Although UZR rated his 2009 defense as the league's worst among qualified outfielders, the veteran still belted 27 homers and slugged .453 for the Sox. That offensive production could have helped a few clubs this year, but none were willing to meet Dye's reported asking price, either prior to or during the season.
Negotiations Slow Between Uggla, Marlins
Dan Uggla told Jim Bowden on Fox Sports Radio today that negotiations for a contract extension with the Marlins are moving "really slow." Bowden suggests (via Twitter) that Uggla is unsure at the moment whether he and the team will be able to reach an agreement.
Last we heard, the Marlins and Uggla were far apart on both years and money. The 30-year-old is seeking a five-year deal worth close to $60MM, while the Fish were reportedly willing to offer about $30MM over three years. Based on Uggla's comments, it appears the two sides have made little headway toward a compromise.
Even if an extension can't be worked out, Uggla remains under team control next year, his final arbitration-eligible season. The Marlins avoided going to arbitration last winter, signing their second baseman to a $7.8MM contract for 2010. The 30-year-old has responded with perhaps the best year of his career (.284/.368/.515) and will certainly be in line for another raise this offseason.