Rumors for December, 2009
Pittsburgh Pirates sign sidearmer Javier Lopez
Posted by: | CommentsDejan Kovacevic, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tweets: #Pirates sign pitcher #Javier Lopez to minor league deal. He then goes on to Tweet: Javier Lopez not a minor league deal. He’s on the 40-man
Javier Lopez, 32, pitched last season with the Boston Red Sox before he was designated for assignment on May 10, 2009 and then released. He was 0-2 with a 9.26 ERA in 14 games. In 2008, he was 2-0 with 2.43 ERA in 59 1/3 innings in 70 games. He’s a left handed pitcher known for his sidearm delivery. You can see Lopez’s complete stats here.
San Francisco Giants learning from last year's mistakes
Posted by: | CommentsThe San Francisco Giants have been relatively quiet despite a large number of rumors involving Johnny Damon, Mark DeRosa, Nick Johnson and Dan Uggla. There hasn’t been anything to it other than being a rumor. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports wrote about the Giants taking a different approach to the market this off season. According to Rosenthal, General manager Brian Sabean has told rival executives that he acted too quickly last off-season when he signed relievers Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry and shortstop Edgar Renteria. This year Sabean will wait for the price to drop before he signs a few players.
This is a double edged sword. The GM’s job is to build a team. They have a budget, and they want to maximize it. Ownership wants to a GM stretch every single penny. GM’s hope to wait it out and get a bargain price as players drop their demands. However, each GM has their own price point, and they’ll pounce on a player once they reach a realistic number. If you wait too long as a GM, before you know it only the leftover will be on the table. If you miss your player, it could cost you your job.
Milton Bradley Secrets: Cubs to trade Bradley to Mariners?
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 13:39: Cubs22 caught my error. Thank you. Silva has a mutual option in 2012 (which the Cubs probably won’t pickup) and it has a $2 million buyout. That gives Silva $25 million guaranteed. So now that the math has been recalculated, the Mariners will be out $30 million ($25M for Bradley + $9M paid to Cubs) and the Cubs are only responsible for Silva’s $25M. The Mariners are getting a better player is is more consistent in his game effectiveness, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the headache.
| Year | Salary for Carlos Silva (see complete details here) |
| 2010 | $11.5 million |
| 2011 | $11.5 million |
| 2012 | $12 million (mutual option if not exercised $2 million buyout) |
| Total | $25 million owed (guaranteed) |
| Year | Salary for Milton Bradley (see complete details here) |
| 2010 | $9 million |
| 2011 | $12 million |
| Total | $21 million owed |
Update 11:01am: The $9 million that Seattle sent to Chicago was meant to offset Silva’s salary. After all these contracts are done, the Mariners will be out $30 million and the Cubs will be out $35 million. I guess the $5 million difference is devaluation based on Bradley’s behavior. Here’s my math:
| Year | Salary for Carlos Silva (see complete details here) |
| 2010 | $11.5 million |
| 2011 | $11.5 million |
| 2012 | $12 million |
| Total | $35 million owed |
| Year | Salary for Milton Bradley (see complete details here) |
| 2010 | $9 million |
| 2011 | $12 million |
| Total | $21 million owed |
Update 10:54am: The Seattle Times reports that everything is official. “We have been looking to add offense to our club and in Milton have a player who has always gotten on base and has the ability to drive in runs,” Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said in a release by the club. “He is passionate about winning, as we are, and we believe he’ll be a good fit here.”
Update 10:50am: Everything right now is pending Bud Selig. Breaking it down:
| Team | Acquires |
| Cubs | P Carlos Silva $9 million from Seattle |
| Mariners | OF Milton Bradley |
Update 10:46am PST: Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune Tweets: Cubs getting $9 million from Seattle, so Mariners wind up paying them $6 million plus Silva when salaries offset.
Update 10:46am PST: Jayson Stark of ESPN Tweets: If Bradley-Silva deal goes down, Cubs would turn quickly to CF market. Free agents on their menu: Marlon Byrd, Rick Ankiel, Scott Podsednik (see below)
Update 10:35am PST: Buster Olney of ESPN Tweets: The Bradley trade is not good for the FA outfield market, because Seattle was perceived as being a team that could bid high for OFer.
Update 10:34am PST: Tim Brown of Yahoo Tweets: Source confirms Bradley to M’s looks like a go.
Update 10:13am PST: Jon Heyman of SI.com Tweets: bradley for silva deal is going to happen, sources confirm. looks like things sped up this a.m. good job by @StoneLarry
08:25am PST: SI.com reports that the Chicago Cubs have been discussing a trade with the Seattle Mariners where troubled outfielder Milton Bradley. to goes to Seattle for pitcher Carlos Silva. SI.com goes to say that the contracts are a near-wash, with Bradley owed $21 million over the next two years and Silva owed $24 million. Bradley has been rumored for weeks to head to destinations such as Texas, Kansas City, Tampa Bay or Detroit.
Three executives have confirmed this, one said, “Seattle would be perfect for Bradley.”
The Cubs want to move Kosuke Fukudome from center field to right field, where he is superb defensively, and had interest in Mike Cameron to play center field before Cameron went to the Red Sox. If they can dump Bradley, Marlon Byrd might be another center-field possibility for the Cubs. It was rumored the other day that the Cubs were pursuing Byrd.
The Mariners need to fill their left field hole with Bradley as their favorite at the moment. If they cannot acquire Bradley, they could internally use prospect Michael Saunders in left field.
Silva was 1-3 with an 8.60 ERA with the Mariners after going 4-15 with a 6.46 ERA his first year there. He signed a four-year, $48-million contract following four solid seasons with the Twins. You can see Silva’s complete contract history and statistics here.
Nick Johnson Secrets: Talking with the Yankees?
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 12/18 11:39am PST: Buster Olney of ESPN Tweets: Nick Johnson will make $5.5 mill in 2010, plus PA-based incentives, and has a 2011 mutual option for $5.5 mil; oth sides have to activate.
Update 20:00 PST: Tyler Kepner of the New York Times quotes Damon in his Tweet: Johnny Damon on Yankees: “It’s part of baseball. Teams try to make moves in hopes to improve their club. I wish them all the best.”
Update 17:18pm PST: Jon Heyman of SI.com reports The Yankees would use Johnson as a DH and occasional first baseman if the contract can be completed. It is expected to pay him at least $5 million. He goes on to say that Johnny Damon’s chances to return to the Yankees will be severely diminished.
Update 16:13pm PST: KenDavidoff of NewsDay Tweets: #Yankees and Nick Johnson are wrapping up a one-year deal for about $5.5 million. Pending a physical.
Update 15:18pm: KenDavidoff of NewsDay Tweets: The #Yankees and Nick Johnson are engaged in serious discussions, but Johnson hasn’t taken a physical exam yet.
Update 10:57am: Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports, “the Giants have increased their offer and the Mariners remain in the mix, according to a major-league source.” The Giants, too, are offering one year, but have raised their offer to the $5.5 million to $6 million range, the source said. The Mariners also want to sign Johnson for one year, but the level of their financial interest is not known. Johnson would prefer a two-year deal.
George A. King III, of The New York Post, quoted Nick Johnson’s agent Rex Gary when commenting on his talk with the New York Yankees, “We have had dialogue, things are moving forward. Something could happen to speed things up, but it’s hard to predict.”
Jon Heyman, of SI.com, Tweets: “nick johnson talk “real,” i’m told. .425 OBP. plus, nice of #yanks to consider the infirmed”
It was rumored last week that Johnson was offered a contract by the San Francisco Giants. Johnson, 31, hit 8 home runs, drove in 62 RBIs, hit .291 and had a .426 OBP with the Marlins in 2009. He earned $5.5 million last season in the final year of a three-year $16.5 million deal. Johnson began his career in 2001 with the Yankees. After the 2003 season, he was traded with Juan Rivera and Randy Choate to the Montreal Expos for Javier Vazquez. You can read Nick Johnson’s complete statistics here.
Jimmy Rollins' option picked up for 2011
Posted by: | CommentsNoah Coslov, MLB.com on-air reporter, Tweets: Rollins’ option picked up for 2011
Jimmy Rollins, shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies, had a mutual option for 2011 with the Philadelphia Phllies. His base salary is expected to be $8.5 million. His 2010 contract, his fifth year of a five-year contract, for $7.5 million is guaranteed.
Rollins hit 21 home runs, drove in 77 RBIs and had a batting average of .250 in 155 games for the 2009 Phillies. You can see Rollins’ complete contract and statistic details here.
Angels looking at trade for Javier Vazquez
Posted by: | Comments12/18 10:16am PST: Mark Bowman of MLB.com Tweets: A source close to J. Vazquez said it is “highly unlikely” that he would approve a trade to Angels or any of the other West division clubs.
12/17 15:29 PST: According to ESPN, the Angels are turning their attention to a starter in Atlanta, and it isn’t Derek Lowe. ESPN’s Jayson Stark reports that the Angels are focused in on starting pitcher Javier Vazquez. Starks goes on to say, “But here’s the hang-up: Vazquez has a limited no-trade clause that blocks the Braves from dealing him to a team on the west coast, a clause he negotiated in his 2007 contract extension (with the White Sox) because of his desire to remain within geographical proximity of his family in Puerto Rico.”
Two executives that are aware of the developments believe that Vazquez will not waive his no-trade clause to any west coast team even if the Braves and Angels can workout a deal.
Vazquez, 33, was 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts with the Braves in 2009. He made $11.5 million 2009 and has the same salary for 2010. You can see Vazquez’s complete contract and statistics history here.
ESPN reports that word of the Angels’ interest was first reported by Angelswin.com.
Top 4 positions to fix in the Mariner's infield… okay just 3
Posted by: | CommentsSeveral reports have indicated that the Seattle Mariners are aggressively putting their infield together. Given there are so many question marks, it may involve a complex series of trades and sifting through what’s left in the free agent pool. Breaking it down:
First base: Nick Johnson’s deal with the Yankees is almost complete, so that removes one player that the Mariner’s were interested in. Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports reports that the Mariners may trade right-handed pitcher Brandon Morrow for a hitter at first base, third or DH. ESPN.com reports that they are interested in bringing back Russell Branyan or signing Adam LaRoche. Both have been contracted by the club.
Second base: The team has interest in Orlando Hudson and Felipe Lopez, both free agents, according to ESPN.
Third base: You would think that the signing of Chone Figgins would satisfy the Mariner’s needs at third base, but Adrian Beltre re-signing is a possibility. Figgins agreed to a position switch in the event the team re-signs Beltre.
Shortstop: Jack Wilson, you’re safe. You just signed a new contract and make enough money to make them play you.
There are several other free agent infielders who are still on the market. Some are willing to move out of their natural position to get the starting job. You can take a look at the list here.
Mariners discussing contract with Franklin Gutierrez
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the the Seattle Mariners are “making progress” in securing a long-term deal for center fielder Franklin Gutierrez.
Gutierrez, who is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time, likely would sign a three-year deal with one club option or a straight four-year contract. The four year contract would cover Gutierrez’s three arbitration years and his first year of free agency. If this goes through, he’ll be eligible to hit the open market in 2014.
Gutierrez hit .283, 17 home runs and drove in 71 RBIs in his first season with the Mariners in 2009 after spending 4 seasons with the Cleveland Indians. You can see his complete contract and statistic history here.
Mark DeRosa Secrets: Giants? Yankees?
Posted by: | CommentsStltoday.com reports that the Giants are the leading contender for free agent Mark DeRosa. The St. Louis Cardinals are also candidates for DeRosa, but have been focused on signing Matt Holliday. They see DeRosa as a plan B in the event that they cannot sign Holliday.
“We have had continuous dialogue with the Cardinals and with other ballclubs about Mark. Waiting on the Cardinals is not going to stop him from signing a deal,” DeRosa’s agent, Keith Grunewald, said Thursday.
Another destination the DeRosa could land is the Bronx. Buster Olney of ESPN Tweets: If (Nick) Johnson passes physical,NYY will move on to next targets — definitely a starting pitcher, and quite possibly Mark DeRosa, if $ are right.
You can see Mark DeRosa’s complete statistics here.
