The Astros signed Wandy Rodriguez as an amateur free agent 12 years ago today. The lefty, who turns 32 next week, is an extension candidate this winter. Here are today's links…
- Stop by at 2pm CDT for this week's chat.
- In his latest blog post for ESPN, Buster Olney suggests that Grant Balfour could return to Tampa on a one-year deal if the Rays assure him that they won't offer arbitration again if he's a Type A free agent after 2011. Teams other than the Rays have to give up a top pick to sign the reliever this offseason and it isn't helping his market value.
- Vernon Wells explains to Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star that he's a different person and teammate than he was a few years ago, when he first signed his $126MM extension. He also admits that he may not be a $100MM player. "Everybody would say I’m not worth the money and I would totally agree that I’m not worth that contract" Wells said.
- The Pirates are still looking for pitching, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
- Some within the Cardinals organization liked the idea of bringing Brad Penny back to compete with Kyle Lohse for the final rotation spot, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter). The Cards weren't willing to match the Tigers' $3MM guarantee, though.
I wish the Pirates didn’t sign Correia in the first place and instead would have signed Carl Pavano for some more money, who can be a real difference maker in the rotation.
I’m not simply referring to last year. If you follow his entire career (including the minors) with the exception of the year he pitched his home games in Petco he has never had success as a starter. The fact that they are already writing his name in ink for a rotation spot is a joke.
bigpat, no offense, but do the Pirates really need to sign someone like Carl Pavano? One arm isn’t going to keep them from finishing dead least in the NL Central. I think Correia was a decent pickup.
On the Grant Balfour topic – aren’t the Rays really strapped for cash this season. With all the picks they need to sign in the upcoming draft, and the last couple of holes they need to fill, why aren’t there any rumors of sign-and-trade out there? With Balfour, but especially Soriano, they could get the cash they need from the Yankees, and maybe a low-level prospect instead of the picks.
As a Yankee fan, I’d love to have either one of them or both. But the Rays know they probably can’t contend unless all their guys break out and show their potential. So with that being said, they’d rather have a supp and a draft pick than a low-end prospect and cash.
Also, why would the Rays have to agree to not offer arbitration to Balfour? What’s in it for them? Yes, the rule screws some players but they are the rules. He should have accepted arbitration and ask for a trade if he didn’t want to be in Tampa. There is value to be had for relievers getting paid reasonable money under team control.
He wanted to test his market value, but I agree. The Rays live off of getting draft picks, so doesn’t make sense he gets a 1 year deal with them with no offer of arbitration unless they plan to trade him.
I’m dreaming of the day when Lohse’s contract comes off the books…