Some links to check out on the 11th anniversary of the Indians signing Danys Baez to the largest amateur signing bonus in team history…
- Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets that Terry Collins' name has popped up in connection with the Mets' managerial search. Collins spent the 2010 season as minor league field coordinator with the organization.
- The Rockies have not expressed interest in Brandon Webb, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
- Armando Galarraga qualified as a Super Two, which puts him in a unique spot according to MLB.com's Jason Beck.
- Anthony McCarron of The New York Daily News reports that Royce Ring has elected free agency after being outrighted off the 40-man roster by the Yankees (Twitter link).
- Former Yankee right-hander Darrell Rasner has signed a one-year deal with an option for 2012 with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, reports Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. Rasner has played in Japan since 2008.
- Heyman spoke to Adrian Gonzalez's agent, who mentioned Joe Mauer, Mark Teixeira, and Ryan Howard are contract comparables (Twitter link). It's pretty clear that they're seeking upwards of $22MM annually.
- Meanwhile, Padres GM Jed Hoyer has spoken to Jerry Hairston Jr.'s agent about bringing the utility player back to San Diego next season according to MLB.com's Corey Brock. Hairston has indicated that he'd like to return to the team.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweets that a competing executive sees the Nationals signing Carlos Pena. The team is emphasizing defense, which Pena excels at, and GM Mike Rizzo has a strong relationship with his agent Scott Boras.
- Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post hears from a source close to the team that the Nats will in fact pursue Brandon Webb this offseason. We heard rumblings about potential mutual interest between the two sides last month.
- Boras indicated that he's received "a lot of early calls" about Magglio Ordonez according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. If the outfielder is going to return to Detroit, it won't happen quickly; he and Boras are going to see what the market has to offer.
Adrains probably going to get it to. I think a ryan howard type contract makes sense.
When has Boras had a client that he didn’t claim a lot of interest in?
Just remember that he’ll do anything, including lie, to have a bidding war for his client.
Boras is all about bidding wars. He also said that Magglio’s ankle isn’t an issue.
Yeah, right! It’s an issue to every GM that might sign him.
No kidding–appearently Boras didn’t learn his lesson last year with Damon. Maglio will resign with the tigers at a discounted rate and he will be yet another aging player that boras screws over by waiting too long and turning down the best offer I a pipedream hope that a better one will come through. Boras is an silly billy head and will lose more clients than he gathers, just like last year. There is a reason big names are dropping him as they hit free agency.
Don’t discount the Phillies if the price gets gets low enough. They desperately need a respecatble RH bat in that lineup, and the fact that Mags can still play RF makes him a good candidate to replace the soon-to-be departed Jayson Werth.
Crashburn Alley had a great blog about Werth-Ibanez-Brown a couple days ago, and he makes a very reasoned argument for the Phillies seeking a RH platoon for IBANEZ, not Brown.
Brown rocked lefties in AAA, and his cup of coffee last season in no way reflects the potential the kid has. If they want him to hit big-league lefties in 2012, he’s going to have to see them in 2011. Ibanez, on the other hand, sucks against lefties and pretty much always has (to some degree). HE should be the platoon candidate, regardless of his salary.
I personally think Brown has a longer way to go than most Phillies fans I suppose. Brown was flat out ABUSED by LHP last year in limited at bats, and he didn’t do much against RHP either. The idea of platooning two LH hitters in the same defensive position is ridiculous to me.
In addition, Brown’s defense is very suspect in my opinion, and the loss, or more accurately disposal, of Davy Lopes will only hurt the development of Brown’s running game. I think the kid needs at least a half of a season in AAA. Unless the Phils sign a vet RH like Mags to play RF for a year, I think Ibanez gets LF again, and Francisco/Gload platoon in RF. I’m not excited about that, but it’s better than over committing to some veteran player whose contract we will regret in two years. That type of thinking is what got us into this situation in the first place.
I was unclear – I didn’t mean Ibanez and Brown should platoon, I meant Brown should play full-time and Ibanez should be platooned with a righty.
Brown DID get abused last year, but the kid got barely any playing time and the Phils have too much invested to have him languish in AAA IMO. He proved last season he’s better than AAA…the question now is he a big-leaguer or a AAAA. Only one way to really find out.
I agree on Mags, but I think some team is going to offer him more than one year, even at his age and injury history. Someone will offer him a two-yr if the price is right…but I hope it isn’t the Phils.
Agreed on Lopes. Unless he was asking for REALLY ridiculous money, that’s a huge mistake by Amaro. Lopes is the best 1B coach in the game – on of the few that actually AFFECTS the team.
OK I got ya re: Ibanez. Brown really does not have much invested in him. He was supposed to go to “The U” to play WR and because of that fell very far in the draft. His signing bonus was only $200k.
Recent articles here in Philadelphia suggested that Lopes was asking for $250k. Allegedly he made $80k in past years, plus post season bonuses. I would have personally paid the man. As you said, he does impact the game. LOL, base on WAR, if he wins one game for the Phillies, he is worth over $4M, right?
Love what you wrote, and you hit it on the head. However, just for kicks (jabs, needling…) let me take the liberty of editing that a little:Just remember that he’ll do anything, especially lie, to have a bidding war for his client. 🙂
Sounds like a politician. Maybe he’ll run for Obamarama’s job :/
Dude to be honest i don’t think theres a polititician out there who isnt either trying not to do anything drastic for fear that they might not get reelected or are just absolutly crazy.
Or just promoting fear to make sure they keep setting themselves up as a potential hero…
I really shouldn’t debate politics, it just gets me angry.
So, Gonzalez wants Teixeira, Howard and Mauer money? Helloooooo Boston!
Prepare yourself Theo, you know what to expect, no excuses now.
Btw, haven’t we known for months now that Gonzalez wanted Teixeira money?
I doubt Adrian will get that kind of salary. If Tex is making $20.625, and is being slightly overpaid, then I can see $18mil per being more realistic.
Ryan Howard’s new contract is just horrible, and isn’t even close to being worth the $20mil he’s set to make in 2011.
Some GM’s are gullible, they can be fooled by HR, RBI’s and Raul Ibanez.
I’m sure if you looked up “mirage” in Websters dictionary, the description would be “see Raul Ibanez.”
Because he didn’t hit .280 with 31 bombs and 100 rbis…. Noooo those stats are worthless… Who wants a premiere slugger… Boy I sure don’t. You’re lying to yourself If you think he wouldn’t command that on the open market
Home runs? RBI? Batting average?
UGH!
dude homeruns are good if you have the OPS to back it up. And adrain has it
True, but a career .875 OPS and his career high is .958? Still doesn’t really translate to $22mil a year.
.263/.360/.440 /.800(AVG. OBP. SLG. OPS)303/.376/.568/.943 These are his career home and away spits(3 guesses what his away numbers are and the first two don’t count). Now just picture what he would do in say…… fenway park or wrigley field……. i would say at least his away stats would be fair. Then ad in his gg defence…… well there’s a player you break the bank for.
OPS+ is a better stat than OPS to use for evaluating Gonzalez performance (and worth) because it is adjusted for park factors. Take a look at Baseball Reference . com / Leaders & Records / Active Leaders OPS+ / Gonzalez is near the top of that list.
i would pay him 22-23 per year for 6 yrs! he is young and will flat out rake in fenway plus he is gg fielder!
He probably would rake with Boston, with Fenway and line-up protection. No argument there. 1B is overrated though.
Adrian will get the max contract. If you look at his numbers over the last three seasons combined, especially away from Petco Park, he’s as good or better than all of those guys. He’s still young, and is as good-natured as they come. He’ll end up at Fenway or Wrigley making at least $20 million per year.
There are no max contracts in baseball, voiceofreason75, although I think you might be being sarcastic.
**By max contract, I just meant that he would make as much as he’s looking
for, which apparently is over $20 million per year.
By max contract, I meant that he would get as much as he is seeking, and not less.
20MM per year for Gonzo well deserved, no discount I like that.
whats new?? boras is gonna wait till the last month for a player 2 sign.
I know the Tigers are cautious about resigning Magglio because they want to make sure his ankle is healed enough so that he can play RF again, as they need to utilize the DH position for a player with an ever bigger bat that either can not field well or their position is blocked. Magglio looked great last year at the plate, and he was not detrimental in RF, so I hope he resigns with the team. I know he does technically owe Detroit anything, but the organization has treated him very well (for example picking up his $18million option for 2010) and I would hope if he is offered a reasonable amount, such as $6 million plus incentives he will not let Boras draw out the process. Also, the team has several Venezuelan players with Cabrera, Carlos Guillen, and Armando Galarraga, and I assumed that would be a plus, as well.
A lot of teams will be in on Ordonez, because he can provide right handed outfield power at a far cheaper salary and for less years on the contract than Werth. I expect the Braves, for one, to heavily pursue him.