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Archives for September 2012

Managerial Notes: Girardi, Dodgers, Marlins

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The Astros are the only team currently looking for a manager, but within a few weeks there’s a good chance other MLB teams will be in the market for managers of their own. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports lists those who could be managing for their jobs between now and the end of the regular season. Here are the highlights…

  • Joe Girardi of the Yankees is a good manager who doesn’t deserve to be fired, Rosenthal writes. However, Girardi’s job security will be in question if the Yankees don’t win the AL East.
  • It’d be reasonable to ask if Jim Leyland got enough out of the Tigers roster if Detroit misses the postseason. The Tigers could decide it’s time for a change after seven seasons under Leyland, Rosenthal writes.
  • Though Mike Scioscia is under contract through 2018, Angels owner Arte Moreno would be disappointed to miss the playoffs after an offseason of aggressive moves.
  • The Dodgers will likely pursue a contract extension with manager Don Mattingly no matter how their season ends, Rosenthal reports.
  • Bobby Valentine won’t be back in Boston. If the Red Sox can’t pry John Farrell away from the Blue Jays, they’ll have to look elsewhere for a replacement.
  • Some Marlins people believe their season started deteriorating when Guillen spoke publicly about Fidel Castro in April. However, it appears more likely the Marlins will re-structure their front office than fire Guillen.
  • Rosenthal suggests Terry Francona could be a fit in Cleveland if the Indians dismiss Manny Acta following their disappointing second half. Francona will likely have options elsewhere and he might be prohibitively expensive for Cleveland.
  • Fredi Gonzalez probably won’t have to worry about his job security as long as the Braves make the playoffs.

Orioles, Showalter Expected To Discuss Extension

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Not only have the Orioles officially ended their streak of 14 consecutive losing seasons, they retain a share of the AL East lead with an 81-62 record. Manager Buck Showalter is under contract for 2013, but the Orioles could look to sign him to an extension that covers additional seasons, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. 

The Orioles want Showalter to stay and though there’s no timetable for extension talks, they could take place over the winter or during the 2013 season. Neither side has broached the subject of an extension so far, Kubatko reports. However, Showalter has no interest in discussing an extension with just 19 games remaining in the regular season. A high-ranking Orioles official told Kubatko Showalter has done enough to earn an extension when the time comes to discuss one. 

"We don't want him to leave,” the person said. “We want him to stay and he's going to stay. He's a special guy."

Showalter joined the Orioles toward the end of the 2010 season and led the team to a 69-93 record last year. His contract runs through 2013.

East Notes: Villanueva, Red Sox, Nationals, Strasburg

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Last night, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told reporters that he isn't sure if impending free agent Carlos Villanueva could last as a starter across the course of an entire season.  Villanueva, who has a 3.58 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 13 starts this year, told reporters that he isn't happy with the lack of public support, according to Tony Ambrogio of Sportsnet (via Twitter).  The right-hander is looking to be a full-time starter going forward, which would call for a more lucrative contract.  Here's more from the Eastern divisions..

  • Villanueva told reporters, including MLB.com's Chris Toman, that he took some time to speak with Anthopoulos following his comments to the media.  "It's OK for him to have that doubt. It's OK for him to have his own opinion, because there are 29 other teams that might have a different opinion — that's why we battle to get to free agency, so we can see what else is out there," Villanueva said.
  • A person who is familiar with the Red Sox's ownership group told Peter Gammons of MLB.com (Twitter link) that the rumors of the club being for sale aren't true.  Earlier today, Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino took to the Boston airwaves to deny the rumblings.  Owner John Henry also shot down the speculation of a sale.
  • The Astros are set to interview Nationals third base coach Bo Porter for their vacant managerial position, writes Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.  Porter, 40, is the first name to surface as having interviewed for the position.  Tony DeFrancesco has been managing the club on an interim basis since Brad Mills was let go last month.
  • Rany Jazayerli of Grantland argues that the Nationals were wrong to shut down Stephen Strasburg.  Jazayerli looks back at how other promising young pitchers were used it the past and also questions why the Nats imposed an innings limit on Strasburg rather than a pitch limit.

Scutaro Hopes To Return To Giants

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While Marco Scutaro seemed less-than-enthused about leaving the Rockies when he was traded in July, the veteran now says that he hopes to return to San Francisco next season, writes Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com. 

“I would love to come back here,” Scutaro said. “I really love it here. There are great fans, it’s a great place to play. More important, it’s a place where you have a chance to win every year.” 

The infielder went on to say that he would be open to re-signing during the exclusivity window after the season, before he would hit the open market.  Baggarly hears that the Giants will work hard to re-sign Scutaro after the season as they're in need of someone to handle second base for a year or two before Joe Panik is ready.

In 139 games for the Rockies and Giants this season, Scutaro has a slash line of .293/.336/.388 with six home runs.  Yesterday, Ben Nicholson-Smith broke down Fangraphs' list of the top free agent infielders, which included Scutaro.

New York Notes: Collins, Mets, Yankees, McLouth

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Here's a look at a couple of items on the Mets and Yankees..

  • Terry Collins will be back to manage the Mets next year despite the club's second-half slide, people familiar with the situation tell Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  Despite the fact that the Nationals and Braves have won more games at Citi Field than the Mets in the second act of the 2012 season, all of Collins' bosses support him.  It was reported last month that the Mets were prepared to stand behind Collins, though the club had hoped for a third-place finish in the NL East.
  • The only question now appears to be whether Collins is given an extension of a year or two to avoid lame duck status in 2013, Heyman writes.  Wally Backman, currently managing the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, is seen as a possible heir for Collins.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that the Yankees offered Nate McLouth a minor league deal after he was released by the Pirates in June.  McLouth instead opted to go with the Orioles as he felt that he had a better shot of reaching the majors.  The outfielder is hitting .279/.350/.418 in 35 games for the O's this year.

Samson Talks Ozzie, Beinfest, Hanley

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Marlins president David Samson said executives, coaches and players share responsibility for the team’s disappointing season, Barry Bloom of MLB.com reports. Samson also discussed the team’s recent trades and potential next moves in the interview with Bloom. Here are the highlights:

  • Samson characterized manager Ozzie Guillen’s first year on the job as disappointing. “It just didn't turn out the way we thought it would when we drew it up,” he said. “That's how life goes sometimes.”
  • Samson said he can’t “imagine being in the game" without president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest. However, he stopped short of saying Beinfest has complete job security. Owner Jeffrey Loria will evaluate all of his employees after the season, Beinfest included.
  • The Marlins traded Hanley Ramirez, their longtime star, because they felt it was time to move on without him. “We just realized we couldn't win with him. It was that simple,” Samson said.
  • Owner Jeffrey Loria said he’s asked his staff for recommendations and will start making evaluations toward the end of the season. Loria declined to speak about Guillen and Beinfest in specifics earlier in the week.

Rafael Soriano Likely To Opt Out

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There’s a good chance Rafael Soriano will exercise the opt-out clause in his contract with the Yankees after the season and hit free agency early, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Soriano must choose between another year in New York with a salary of $14MM and opting out for a $1.5MM buyout and the uncertainty of the open market.

Yankees people believe they have a very solid relationship with Soriano, who’s a client of the Boras Corporation. Team executives aren’t convinced he’d opt out and pass up $14MM, according to Heyman. If Soriano opts out, the Yankees can still make him a qualifying offer valued at $13MM-plus and link him to draft pick compensation.

Mariano Rivera will hit free agency this offseason, but if he re-signs with the Yankees he’d presumably have the closer’s job and push Soriano into a setup role. The sides could also work out a multiyear deal with the idea that Soriano could set up in 2013 and close after that, Heyman writes.

Soriano, 32, signed a three-year, $35MM contract with New York following the 2010 season. He has a 2.17 ERA with 9.3 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and 37 saves in 58 innings so far in 2012.

Red Sox Notes: Henry, Lucchino, Youkilis

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The Red Sox aren’t for sale despite some rumors to the contrary. Here’s the latest from Boston…

  • Red Sox owner John Henry insisted that the team is not for sale, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports. "A sale of any kind is so far from our thinking it hasn't even come up apart from technical planning issues involving death or disability. [The FOX Business Network] report is completely without foundation," he said.
  • Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino said on WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan Show that he intends to continue with the team after 2012. "This is the place I call home," Lucchino said (transcript via Kirk Minihane of WEEI). "I hope to be here for the foreseeable future. I've got no plans to go anywhere else."
  • Henry said on WEEI that Lucchino has signed a contract extension, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports (on Twitter). Lucchino's contract had been set to expire following the 2012 season.
  • The Red Sox are without a long-term solution at first base after trading Adrian Gonzalez to Los Angeles, so Alex Speier of WEEI.com previews the free agent market at the position. Speier suggests it's unlikely Kevin Youkilis would re-sign with the Red Sox, even if Bobby Valentine is no longer the team's manager. Youkilis will hit free agency if the White Sox decline their $13MM club option after the season.

Lucchino: Red Sox Not For Sale

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The owners of the Red Sox are considering selling the team and have quietly started shopping it to possible buyers, Charlie Gasparino of the FOX Business Network reports. However, Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino said on WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan Show said the team’s owners are not contemplating a sale.

"Nonsense," Lucchino said (transcript via Kirk Minihane of WEEI). "As I said, they feel the same kind of competitive juices that the fans feel, that I feel. There's an opportunity here to put the team back on the track it was on for a decade. … There has not been one word, one word of discussion regarding that. We are committed, better or worse."

The Red Sox would be seeking $1.3 billion for the team, according to Gasparino’s sources. The Padres recently sold for $800MM and Dodgers recently sold for a record $2 billion. In that context it'd be surprising if the Red Sox didn't seek to match the Dodgers' sale price of $2 billion. A group led by John Henry & Tom Werner has owned the Red Sox since 2001.

Jonathan Lucroy Projected To Miss Super Two Cutoff

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Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy projects to fall short of super two status by three days this coming offseason. It would cost him the chance at $2MM. The structure of Lucroy’s contract would change if he qualifies as a super two player this offseason, but it doesn’t look like he’ll have enough service time to earn the designation and the money that accompanies it. 

Lucroy will finish the 2012 season with two years and 134 days of service time and while it appeared that would be enough to qualify as a super two, CAA announced this morning that the cutoff now projects to be two years and 139 days. In other words Lucroy probably won’t earn the additional $2MM, according to the agency’s latest projections.

Before the season began Lucroy and the Brewers agreed to a five-year, $11MM contract that includes an option for a sixth year. The 26-year-old Sports One Athlete Management client has since posted a .322/.377/.512 batting line in 285 plate appearances. He also spent time on the disabled list with a broken hand.

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