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Archives for August 2012

West Notes: Felix, Drew, Giants

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The Mariners have the best record in the American League since the All-Star break (23-13) after winning six consecutive games, as Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times writes. Here’s the latest from baseball’s two West divisions… 

  • In an appearance on on Sports Radio KJR this morning Felix Hernandez gave Mitch Levy a "promise" that there's nothing to worry about regarding a possible change in teams (quote via Baker). Hernandez is under contract through 2014 and Baker says the Mariners should extend him beyond that and build a better team around him.
  • The Athletics and Diamondbacks extensively discussed a possible Stephen Drew trade leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports. The Athletics acquired Drew last night in a move that will reduce Arizona's payroll and provide Oakland with a shortstop who should hit.
  • Manager Bruce Bochy said on MLB Network Radio that it's fair to say the Giants are looking for left field help, according to Jim Bowden (on Twitter). GM Brian Sabean is "working on it now," Bochy said, according to Bowden. Gregor Blanco is the Giants' left fielder for the time being. Sabean says all is quiet for now, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).

Free Agent Stock Watch: Nick Swisher

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After eight-plus seasons in the Major Leagues Nick Swisher is just a few months away from hitting free agency for the first time. While some players obtain major paydays on the strength of a single breakout season, Swisher will appeal to teams because of the consistent production he has provided since emerging as an MLB regular in 2005. 

Nick Swisher - Yankees (PW)

Swisher has never appeared on an MVP ballot or won a major award. He has never hit .300 or driven in 100 runs. And he has never generated five wins above replacement in a year.

What’s more, Swisher was a below-average defensive right fielder in 2011, according to a pre-season scouting report in The Fielding Bible: Volume III. He entered the 2012 season with average arm strength and accuracy, but below-average range, according to the publication. He turns 32 a few weeks into the offseason, so it'd be unreasonable to expect considerable defensive improvements at this stage.

Yet Dan Lozano of Icon Sports Group can make a strong case that Swisher is one of the game’s top outfielders. Since he played his first full season in 2005, Swisher and fellow 2013 free agent Josh Hamilton are tied for 10th in wins above replacement among MLB outfielders, according to FanGraphs. Just ten players have averaged at least 25 homers and 140 games played per season during that same eight-year period. Swisher’s one of them, along with noted power hitters Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Paul Konerko, Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Gonzalez, Carlos Lee, Mark Teixeira and Adam Dunn. It’s nothing more than trivia for now, but this sort of minutiae corroborates the point that Lozano will no doubt be making as he converses with team executives: Swisher is a durable player with an above-average bat.

To what extent will those attributes pay off? Swisher will surely decline when the Yankees extend him a qualifying offer following the season (qualifying offers are for one year and $13MM-plus). He can expect multiyear proposals as a free agent, so he’ll reject the Yankees’ offer, even though it’ll mean the team that eventually signs him will have to surrender a draft pick.

It appeared for a while that outfield depth would be a strength of the upcoming free agent class. But Melky Cabrera has been suspended for the remainder of the season and Carlos Quentin and Andre Ethier signed extensions. This means Swisher, Hamilton, Cody Ross and center fielders Michael Bourn, B.J. Upton and Shane Victorino will be among the best outfielders available. In theory, these outfielders should benefit from reduced competition.

Jayson Werth obtained a seven-year, $126MM contract after hitting .296/.388/.532 with 27 home runs and 82 walks in his age-31 season. Lozano and Swisher are expected to aim big and compare Swisher, now in his age-31 season, to Werth in the hopes of matching his $126MM deal. It would only take one unexpectedly aggressive MLB owner for Swisher to obtain $100MM so it makes sense to be aggressive, but a nine-figure contract seems unlikely.

Jason Bay, who signed for four years and $66MM following his age-30 season, and Michael Cuddyer, who signed for three-years and $31.5MM following his age-32 season, could also be points of reference in offseason discussions. As of now, it’d be a surprise if Swisher doesn’t eclipse the contract Cuddyer signed last winter.

We’re just three quarters of the way through the 2012 campaign, so there’s lots of time for Swisher’s free agent stock to rise and fall before the playoffs even start. With so many games remaining, it’s too early to predict the market for Swisher with much certainty. He won’t be the premier attraction of the offseason — that honor goes to Hamilton –  but it’s a safe bet that he’ll obtain a raise from his current $10.25MM salary on a contract of no less than three years. He could end up signing of the offseason’s largest free agent deals.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

Nick Swisher Expected To Seek $100MM-Plus

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Nick Swisher may look to match Jayson Werth’s seven-year, $126MM contract when he hits free agency after the season, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Some Yankees people have heard Swisher will at least shoot for a deal in the $126MM range, according to Heyman. The Yankees don’t appear to have had extension talks with Swisher, but he’s interested in re-signing.

"Everyone knows how much I love New York. I've been very vocal about that. This place has been so amazing for me,'' Swisher said.

Swisher said Werth’s contract is “a great deal for him,'' but MLB executives aren’t convinced it’d be appropriate for Swisher, Heyman reports. One executive laughed about the possibility and another said “the Werth deal is insane'' so it doesn’t matter that he and Swisher resemble one another statistically. Perhaps a three-year, $45MM contract or a four-year, $60MM contract would be more reasonable, the executive suggested.

Dan Lozano of Icon Sports Group represents Swisher. In my view he wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t push for a possible nine-figure contract. It may not be the most likely outcome for Swisher, but it’s a possibility an aggressive agent should be expected to pursue.

Managerial Notes: Scioscia, Valentine, Francona

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Brad Mills became the first MLB manager to lose his job this year when the Astros dismissed him over the weekend. More teams could make managerial changes in the coming months, so let’s check in on the latest rumors…

  • Angels owner Arte Moreno told Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com that he’s not contemplating a managerial change. “I signed Mike [Scioscia] long-term, and I'm invested in Mike long-term,” Moreno said. “We try not to make impulsive decisions,” he added. Scioscia is under contract through 2018, but he can opt out after the 2015 campaign.
  • Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggests Scioscia would be the perfect replacement in Boston if the Red Sox dismiss Bobby Valentine. And Scioscia’s job security “suddenly seems tenuous” given the Angels’ recent struggles, Nightengale writes. "It's been a tough time for all of us," Angels GM Jerry Dipoto said.
  • Former MLB manager Terry Francona wouldn’t rule out managing again. "If something down the road presents itself and it's the right job, I'd like to do it," said Francona, who’s now an analyst with ESPN. "But I don't want to manage just to manage." Francona told Nightengale he’d be "shocked as hell" if Scioscia is fired.

Athletics Acquire Stephen Drew

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10:56am: The Athletics are also responsible for the $1.35MM buyout on Drew's mutual option for 2013, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).

TUESDAY, 7:30am: The Athletics will pay the rest of Drew's 2012 salary, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (on Twitter). Assistant GM David Forst says the A's haven't yet decided whether to pick up their side of Drew's 2013 mutual option. "Let's see how the next six weeks go," Forst told Casey Pratt of CSN Bay Area (on Twitter).

MONDAY: The Diamondbacks have traded Stephen Drew to the Athletics for minor league infielder Sean Jamieson, the team announced (on Twitter).

The Athletics were linked heavily to the 29-year-old Drew at this year's non-waiver trade deadline, but no deal was reached. Drew suffered a massive ankle injury last July that ended his season and cost him the first three months of this year's campaign. Batting just .193/.290/.311, Drew has yet to rediscover his stroke at the plate. That line is remarkably similar to the .191/.260/.304 batting line produced by Oakland shortstops as a whole this season, however. And, as a career .270/.330/.442 hitter entering this season, Drew presents considerably more upside.

It became apparent that Drew would be a trade candidate earlier this season when Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick openly expressed his disappointment with Drew's lengthy recovery time in the media. Drew has roughly $1.9MM of his $7.75MM salary remaining this season. His contract contains a $10MM mutual option for 2013, though Oakland will presumably opt for the $1.35MM buyout instead.

Jamieson, 23, was Oakland's 17th-round selection in the 2011 draft. The Ontario native is batting .234/.343/.379 in 540 plate appearances for Class-A Burlington this season, appearing almost exclusively at shortstop.

Steve Adams contributed to this post.

Rosenthal On Swisher, Brewers, Dodgers

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The Pirates know what it’s like to fall out of contention after playing well for four months and they hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s late-season struggles. “Our young players have been through it once,” Pirates GM Neal Huntington told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. “They don’t ever want to go through it again.” Here are the rest of Rosenthal’s notes from around MLB…

  • The Yankees aren’t ruling out keeping Nick Swisher when he hits free agency after the season, but it seems more likely that he’ll sign elsewhere. It appears that Swisher will be tied to draft pick compensation this winter.
  • The Blue Jays will likely discuss an extension with manager John Farrell this offseason so he doesn’t enter the 2013 season without long-term security. If Farrell isn’t ready to commit to an extension, the Blue Jays could look to work out a deal with the Red Sox, who previously employed Farrell as their pitching coach.
  • Rosenthal points out that Marco Scutaro has provided the Giants with offense and versatility since San Francisco acquired him from Colorado last month.
  • Though the Brewers’ season has generally been disappointing, the team has developed Mike Fiers into a promising starting pitcher, found a second catcher in Martin Maldonado and traded for shortstop Jean Segura. The Brewers are impressed by Aramis Ramirez’s leadership, according to Rosenthal.
  • Rosenthal suggests we shouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers make another waiver trade before the month of August ends. They already acquired Joe Blanton from the Phillies in one waiver deal.
  • Could the Rays trade David Price to the Rangers for a package of players built around Elvis Andrus and Martin Perez this winter? Rosenthal speculates about the possibility, but there’s no indication the sides are discussing a deal.

Marlins Considering Extension For Stanton

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Marlins president David Samson acknowledged that the Marlins have had some internal discussions about a possible long-term extension for 22-year-old outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post reports. However, Samson declined to say whether the Marlins intend to approach Stanton about an extension this coming offseason.

"I don’t think it it has been anything concrete," Samson said.

Stanton will be arbitration eligible following the 2013 season (assuming he doesn’t qualify for super two status this year) and he’ll be eligible for free agency after 2016. Recent extensions for the likes of Carlos Gonzalez ($80MM), Andrew McCutchen ($51.5MM), Jay Bruce ($51MM) and Justin Upton ($50MM) could figure in to extension talks for Stanton. However, Stanton's power numbers could separate him from that group altogether.

The Marlins discussed the possibility of presenting Stanton with a "big, crooked" contract offer before the 2012 season, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported. MLBTR's Mike Axisa examined the possibility of an extension for Stanton during the offseason.

Wasserman Media Group, the agency that represents Stanton, is currently wrapping up a long-term extension for another talented 22-year-old National Leaguer, Starlin Castro.

Quick Hits: Melky, Cruz, Red Sox, Cardinals

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Four teams have at least a 98% chance of reaching the postseason this year, according to Baseball Prospectus' Playoff Odds Report. The Yankees, Rangers, Nationals and Reds look like playoff teams now, but they all saw what happened to the Braves and Red Sox last year, so I doubt any contending teams intend on coasting from this point on. Here are today’s links…

  • The chances that Melky Cabrera will appear in a potential postseason game or re-sign with the Giants this offseason are "close to nil," according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. 
  • Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters, including Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, that the team wouldn't attempt to retain Juan Cruz if he clears waivers (Twitter link). The Bucs have younger players who have passed Cruz, according to Hurdle. Cruz was designated for assignment earlier today.
  • The Red Sox "weren't trying very hard" to trade Josh Beckett before the non-waiver trade deadline, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. The Rangers and Braves are believed to be among the teams that spoke to Boston's executives about Beckett, Heyman writes. One unnamed GM said "Boston's first priority has to be to trade Josh Beckett'' this August. Another executive suggested the Rangers could make sense for Beckett, who would have to be placed on waivers to be traded this month.
  • The Cardinals signed 16-year-old right-hander Ronald Medrano, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. Medrano has touched 90-91 mph with his fastball and has shown good feel for his secondary pitches. He had been considered one of the top Nicaraguan prospects available, according to Badler.
  • Nationals first rounder Lucas Giolito re-injured his pitching elbow and will be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum, ESPN.com's Keith Law reports. Giolito, who was at one point a candidate to be selected first overall, signed for $2.925MM after the Nationals drafted him 16th overall in June.

Red Sox Notes: Crawford, McClure

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The latest news on the Red Sox who, at 59-63, are currently on pace to suffer their first losing season since 1997…

  • Clay Buchholz told the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham that he was surprised by the decision to let McClure go (Sulia link). Buchholz said he had a good relationship with McClure and spoke to him daily.
  • Carl Crawford will undergo Tommy John surgery on Thursday, the team announced via press release. The surgery will be performed by Dr. James Andrews. Two seasons into the seven-year deal Crawford signed with Boston, he'll have appeared in just 161 games and batted .260/.292/.419. As a position player, Crawford will likely have a shorter recovery time than pitchers who undergo the procedure. For example, Reds shortstop Zack Cozart had Tommy John last August and was ready for Spring Training this season.
  • In a second press release, the Red Sox announced that they've fired pitching coach Bob McClure. Assistant pitching coach Randy Niemann will take over the position in the interim. Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal tweets the following quote from Boston GM Ben Cherington: "This wasn't working out. We felt like we need to make a change. The best thing to do was to give everyone a fresh start." Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com adds that the decision was performance-based, not because of clashes with manager Bobby Valentine (Twitter link).
  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post tweets that McClure will be a candidate to take over the Rockies' pitching coordinator. As Renck points out, McClure is familiar working with pitchers at an altitude. McClure spent seven years as a pitching coach with the Rockies between Triple-A and the Major League club from 1999-2005.

Astros Watched Clemens’ Workout

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Earlier today, Roger Clemens signed a contract to pitch for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters. Clemens had a full workout today, during which he hit 87 mph on the radar gun despite now being 50 years of age. The Skeeters weren't the only team in attendance, however. The Houston Chronicle's Zachary Levine reports that Astros scouting director Mike Elias was on-hand for The Rocket's workout as well (Twitter link). Levine and his colleagues David Barron and Jose de Jesus Ortiz offer the following quote from Astros owner Jim Crane:

“We don’t have any plans, we haven’t had any requests. We’d like to check and see where (Major League Baseball) is on the subject matter before we would do anything.”

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports adds, also via Twitter, that former Astros president and current Skeeters executive Tal Smith wouldn't put an attempted Major League comeback past Clemens. In this video piece for FOX Sports, Rosenthal notes that a 2012 return to the Major Leagues would reset Clemens' Hall of Fame clock. As it is, Clemens is eligible for the ballot following this season; pitching in 2012 would delay that eligibility for another five years.

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