Links for Monday night…
- Russell Branyan intends to play in 2012, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes tweets. Branyan posted a .197/.295/.370 line with the Diamondbacks and Angels in 2011, but hit 25 home runs in 2010.
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty said he hopes to lock Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips up long-term, even though doing so would require major commitments, MLB.com youth correspondent Meggie Zahneis reports. "Everyone has to understand that these are expensive deals and there is only so much we can do," Jocketty said. An extension for Votto would likely require one of the largest deals in MLB history.
- Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner argues that the Mariners should make another move or two, even if they don’t project to contend in 2012. There’s value in staying in the pennant race and the Mariners can maximize their chances of staying competitive by adding to the roster before Opening Day, Cameron writes.
- Ben Badler of Baseball America offers scouting reports on six intriguing international players not named Yoenis Cespedes. Outfielder Jorge Soler, lefty Gerardo Concepcion and right Armando Rivero are worth watching, Badler writes.
- Astros owner Jim Crane announced that the team will not be changing its name. “The Houston Astros are here to stay,” he said.
Wish I had a subscription to BA to read Badler’s piece. 🙁
too bad,,,,it’s a great piece
If all those commas are any indication I must be really missing out.
I wish BA wouldn’t charge and arm, a leg and a firstborn son for the subscription to their junk.
Thank god the Astros arnt changing their name. Still feel bad about the next decade in their new home of the AL West starting next year though. 🙁
Russell Branyan intends to play? River City Rascals or Japan?
Go to dave cammeron at USS Mariner. He’s a big old pile of BA and BS.
He´s not, he´s probably the best baseball writer I have ever read…
very sharp and often right, but D. Cameron is also the classic example of sabr-geek superiority. he opens his discussion (? — sabr-atriacs don’t usually discuss, they tell you) by saying batting orders don’t matter, then spends the rest of it pomposizing how the M’s batting order should be (using any and all sabr-stats that fit, of course). kind of counteracts/defeats it all, doesn’t it?
1. It’s spelled Dave Cameron.
2. I would go to him but then what; just stand there awkwardly looking at him? Something is missing here!
3. What is “BA?” Bachelor of Arts? Batting Average? Baseball America?
4. The NBA is a steaming pile. Beneath that pile are the Blazers.
Actually I think you hit all the major points
I could argue that the blazers are in better shape than any organization in the NBA. Expiring co.traxts, no contracts holding the team down, an owner with deep pockets, every game has been a sellout for the past 10 years, I could go on for days. You’re in over your head bro.
Dave Cameron is a tool. He’s like a cult leader or a wanna be billy bean. His sabermetrixs should be used as tools but instead people are now believing a championship team can be built without considering how important a clubhouse atmosphere, team work, etc. He completly dismisses anything that he can’t measure and as a result he shows his biggest flaw.
very sharp and often right, but D. Cameron is also the classic example of sabr-geek superiority. he opens his discussion (? — sabr-atriacs don’t usually discuss, they tell you) by saying batting orders don’t matter, then spends the rest of it pomposizing how the M’s batting order should be (using any and all sabr-stats that fit, of course). kind of counteracts/defeats it all, doesn’t it?
Branyan. Minor League deal. Indians again.
If they arn’t resigning Votto boy did they blow it. If they arn’t ready to pay him they should have traded him this offseason. Then they could have used that package to grab Latos while keeping Alonso for 1B.
I personally think they will extend Votto but not Phillips
How are they going to be able to pay Votto?
Team payroll for 2012 is expected to be $85 million dollars (with Votto making about $17 million of that). To be able to field the team they have, they have had to defer money for Arroyo and Madson and rework Rolen’s contract.
By 2014, to keep Votto, they will either have to raise team payroll to $100 million dollars (or more) or give Votto a big contract with a LOT of defered money.
So, the questions are:
1) Will Ca$htellini raise team payroll to $100 million dollars?
2) Would Votto accept defered money?
3) Most importantly, DOES Votto even want to STAY in Cincinnati?
I have read where Ca$htellini says he would like to lock Votto up long term. I have read where Jocketty says he would like to lock Votto up long term BUT I have NEVER read where Votto says he would like to stay in Cincinnatti long term.
Look, Votto had a chance to negotiate a long term deal which bought out some of his Free Agent years (like Albert Pujols, Evan Longoria, Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, carlos Gonzalez and even Jay Bruce did) but he ONLY negotiated a contract which covered his Salary Arbitration years. Why did he do that?
No, I think, like usual, Ca$htellini and Jocketty are talking about extending Votto’s contract just to keep the fans hope up and to keep them buying tickets (PR hype). Because they know in a couple of years that Votto will be gone.
Notice how a LOT of the deals the Reds have recently done are only for two years? Notice how Phillips has wanted an extension but one hasn’t been worked out yet? Ever think the Reds know if they give Phillips an extension they wont have the money to sign Votto? So, they are just keeping him around for one more year.
I am a Reds fan and have enjoyed B. Phillips, but you are right they should not re-sign him if they want a chance at Votto. Arroyo contract comes off Votto’s contract year too! That is roughly 24 million a year.
Votto is only on the books for 9.5m this year. next year it goes to 17m… but at the end of the day, your argument is correct.
The Reds can’t loose both… so they need a solid reading on Votto, they already know Phillips wants to stay, and what it will take to keep him…
I think your right… wow can’t believe I just typed that to your response cause normally I don’t agree with anything you say. haha.. sorry.
I too noticed the trend of signings leaning toward focus for the two years that Votto has left on his deal. I have a feeling we are going to see a very different team in 2014. I can’t see in any way how they could keep both Votto and Phillips. My question is this. Are we willing to find a different option to Votto come 2014. 1st Base seems to be a position that has a lot of options. Now I don’t know if that is the case in 2014.
I would love to keep both but like Ctown said unless they raise payroll to oh say 105 million or around that I can’t see Phillips and Votto being on the same team plus all the other guys wer have to fill roster spots for.
I have a feeling that we’re going to start seeing more and more $200 million deals. And your probably not gonna see many of them from the NL. If AGon hadn’t signed his extension, hit the open market, and signed after Prince and Albert… he probably would have stayed in Boston. But for about $230 million over 9 years. When Votto hits FA he’s probably looking at $225-230 million as well. Kershaw may be a $200 million pitcher. Money is really going to start to fly in the coming years, thanks to those Prince and Pujols deals.
No player contract will top Alex Rodriguez current contract unless it’s for +10 years and said player is 25 years old or less. That’s how bad the contract is. Votto’s contract will be similar to if Prince Fielder contract, and that’s if he keeps his production.
Come on Jack Z, you need to sign Edwin Jackson and Raul Ibañez or Manny Ramirez, we´ll need a DH when Montero is catching…
Carp will DH while Montero is catching.
I was at Mariners Fanfest on Saturday, and Jack Zduriencik sounded like he was basically done shopping. He talked about the possibility of adding a veteran, but nothing high risk. It sounded like possibly a Carlos Guillen caliber player. The M’s are still about 15M short on payroll compared to last season, and when a guy like Edwin Jackson is still available on the FA market.. it’s hard not to be discouraged.
I think the Mariners got some nice arms in the minors that will be making noise soon so a multi year contract for Jackson makes little sense. I think signing someone like Damon could help the team though. From what I have read the Mariners plan on playing Montero behind the dish so the DH spot is still open. With all the chatter about Ichiro batting somewhere else but 1 it seems like a solid move to bring in a guy like Damon who can lead off.
There is no such thing as too many good arms. Guys like Hultzen and Paxton will probably see the majors some time in 2012, but they still need time in the minors. And given that they are still about 15M short of matching last years payroll and the only real value on the FA market is in pitchers Oswalt and Jackson, the M’s should consider one of them (if the contract is right).
Glad to see Russell the Muscle intends to keep going.
The M´s should sign Russell Branyan, he can hit in Safeco, minor league deal…
The M’s need ML roster help, not AAA help.
Jorge, Russell Branyan played for the M’s for couple of years in 2008 and 2010 as his experiment in Seattle did not work out well. Jack Z needs to find a way to sign both Magglio Ordonez and Johnny Damon to one or two year contract helping to being back Sojo Mojo this season and into next year to contend w/ Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels in the division since Ichiro is getting up in age also. JJ Hardy to the Mariners from the Orioles for pitchers Danny Hultzen or James Paxton & Shawn Kelley, and Chone Figgins (then send him to the Nation League team looking for infield help). That may not be a bad move to make. Time for Refuse TO Lose once again.
Hardy for Hultzen. Hello Bavasi
wow
I hope for the sake of your family this is sarcasm.
Wasn’t aware that Bavasi was on this site under the alias John Rhee..
Just last year the M’s fans said no way they would trade Figgins to the A’s for a AAA player. Now they would pay to see him go. Only way the M’s lose Figgins is if they release him. Nobody would touch the bad contract unless they get a bad contract as bad back.
I don’t even know where to start …
— Bring in Maggs AND Damon? You realize that you neither should be allowed to own a glove and you have Carp available to DH. Spending money on FA DH’s when you have your own young talent to develop is rarely a winning strategy.
— You will NOT contend with the Angels or Rangers this year.
— Chone Figgins is a disaster that has some serious negative trade equity. The M’s really blew it with Figgins. After the first year they could have moved him to the Angels for a cost of maybe $3-$4m/season. After the 2nd year the only way he plays for a new team is if the M’s kick in 90% of his contract. Seriously – 188/241/243 is just horrid. The guy was worth -1.2 WAR last year and he only played half a season. He is done and the M’s are in a lot of trouble.
— Branyan played very well for the M’s (he played in 2009 and 2010 – 2008 was spent in MIL). In 2009 the guy posted an 867 OPS with 31 HR’s in 505 PA’s. In 2010 his BA dropped but he still managed an 802 OPS with 15 HR’s in about a 1/3rd of the season. That’s not MVP level but it’s a huge improvement over anything that Smoak has delivered. I’m not suggesting that the M’s should bring in Branyan but to suggest that he was some sort of bust is just silly.
I heard from sources that Roy Oswalt is still available in free agency market. Mariners can make up the loss of signing Prince Fielder by signing Roy Oswalt to a reasonable contract that will make both sides satisfied to help King Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas, Kevin Millwood, and teach those younger pitchers on life in the Major League level. They should acquire JJ Hardy or Mark Reynolds from the Baltimore Orioles for pitchers Erasmus Ramirez & either Charlie Furbush or Blake Beavan, and outfielder Michael Saunders or Casper Wells to compete in the American League West division race and Wild Card. It’s about time for Refuse To Lose to return in 2012 version.