Rumors for October, 2010
Giants will try to keep team together in 2011
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San Francisco Giants president and chief operating officer Larry Baer said on Saturday that ownership hopes to do what it can to keep the team intact for 2011, according to The San Francisco Chronicle’s Henry Schulman.
“We’re always going to want to be somewhat creative,” Baer said. “We’re not going to have a doubling effect, or a double-digit massive increase. That’s not who we are. The good news is, who we are is not going down in payroll either.”
Schulman says there should be no repeat of 2002 where the team had to sell off some players such as Russ Ortiz for budgetary reasons.
“I think that the way this team has galvanized, the fan base, the clubhouse dynamics and everything, I think we’re going to work hard to preserve that, whatever that means,” Baer said. “There are so many positive stories this year. We want to keep those positive stories alive when everybody reports to Scottsdale for spring training.”
The Giants payroll was just under $100mm this season and should cross that number next year. They will have about $20 million coming off the books in 2011, but some of that will be given as raises or to those that are arbitration-eligible.
Hisanori Takahashi and the Mets are working on a new contract
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According to David Waldstein of the New York Times, the Mets and Hisanori Takahashi have been discussing a new contract. Waldstein points out that due to a unique clause, the Mets have only one week left to negotiate with Takahashi before he will become a free agent. If the Mets fail to reach an agreement by then (Oct 31), the earliest they could re-sign him would be May 15th. Its a unique clause but was inserted into his contract as Takahashi and his people felt he was undervalued when he signed his minor league contract last year.
Takahashi’s agent, Peter Greenberg, said negotiations with the Mets were under way, although he would not characterize what stage they were in. “We have been talking,” Greenberg said. “Hisa loved his time in New York, and hopefully, something can be worked out. If not, then he will have to look elsewhere.”
Further complicating the issue is that the Mets do not have a general manager. The assistant general manager, John Ricco, has been handling the negotiations.
Takahashi’s preference would be to be a starter but would not rule out a return to the bullpen due to the success he had this year.
Nick Cafardo on Greinke, Peña, Arroyo, Uggla, Ortiz, Varitek
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Here’s the latest from The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:
It would take a lot to trade for the Kansas City Royal’s Zack Greinke. The Boston Red Sox will do their research and it helps that assistant GM Allard Baird was the GM with the Royals during Greinke’s early years. However, the Sox may be storing up their trade chips in case the Padres make Adrian Gonzalez avaialble.
Possible trading chips the Sox have for Gonzalez include Jacoby Ellsbury, Anthony Rizzo, Jed Lowrie, Felix Doubront and Casey Kelly.
Carlos Peña could have suitors in the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. The Rays could also re-sign Peña on a one-year deal.
The Rays will entertain offers for B.J. Upton, Jason Bartlett and possibly James Shields.
The Red Sox will be in the market for a new pitching coach and Cafardo has a list of possible candidates.
The Cincinnati Reds are trying to work out a contract extension for Bronson Arroyo.
Dan Uggla could help out a team like the Red Sox at first base, third base or left field. Uggla and the Florida Marlins are currently negotiating a long-term deal.
The Red Sox and David Ortiz have had some contract talks. There’s no decision as to whether or not the team will pick up his $12.5 million option.
Adam Dunn wants to play the field (rather than be a DH) and the Chicago Cubs seem to be calling his name.
Jason Varitek may soon get an idea if the Red Sox want him back for 2011.
Red Sox owner confirms hiring of John Farrell
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The Boson Red Sox’s owner, John Henry, has confirmed that the team’s pitching coach John Farrell has been hired by the Toronto Blue Jays as their new manager, according to The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham and Nick Cafardo.
“The Jays are getting a great baseball man and a great person,’’ Henry wrote in an e-mail to the Globe. “We were able to keep John as a part of our organization longer than a couple of other teams would have wanted, but it really is time for John to step up to the next level.
“He will be an effective, excellent manager. I expect him to manage in MLB for as long as he wants to. He’s going to an excellent young team with a strong and smart hierarchy. The Blue Jays are going to be a force in the AL East for some time to come. I am grateful for the years John Farrell gave to the Red Sox. He will be missed.’’
Sources close to CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam said on Friday evening that the Blue Jays have offered Farrell the manger’s job, and Farrell needed to only come to an agreement on a contract. The Boston Globe says the Blue Jays will introduce Farrell on Sunday as their new manager.
Are the Reds giving Votto a long-term deal?
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After Joey Votto’s MVP-type season on 2010, the Reds will have to make an important decision regarding Votto’s future. According to Cincinnati Inquirer’s Paul Daugherty, the Reds have team control over Votto, but they could negotiate next year’s salary.
Two agents told Daugherty that Votto could make as much as $7 million in the 2011 season if he decides not to go to arbitration. The problem here isn’t the money, but the long-term control over Votto.
A club insider suggested that Votto could get a deal that starts at four-years for around $40 million and should that option be available, the Reds could go that route. The question is if Votto will be interested in taking it.
Another agent told Daugherty that Votto should wait for a long-term contract for at least one more year. “If you do a four-year deal now, you can expect raises in increments of $2 million a year”. “…If he waits and has another monster year next year, those (raises) will be $4 million a year”.
The downside is that Votto could risk his long-term security if he waits another year. This could lead to a bad year or an injury. If he pulls out another successful season he could be in Albert Pujols or Ryan Howard contract territory.
Pettitte and Rivera’s future uncertain for 2011 Yankees
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The Yankees veteran hurlers Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera do not know if they’re coming back for next season. The New York Post’s Brian Costello wrote an article today about the future of both players.
Pettitte as usual is unsure about coming back. “I wish I could tell you, I really do. I wish I knew. I’m just not sure”. Pettitte said “…The only thing I would know right now is I love taking the mound every fifth day. Unfortunately there’s a lot of other stuff at this point, at this stage of my life I don’t like about baseball. Obviously, it just has to do with the family. I’ll just go home, let this settle in and try not to think about this for a little while and just figure out what I want to do.”
Pettitte, 38, is going home right now to Houston to be with his wife Laura where he will discuss his future. “The kids are getting to an age where I want to be home but I also know how important what I do is,” Pettitte said. “I’m a man and this is my job. This is all I’ve ever known as an adult, so like I said last year I want to make sure I fully exhaust myself of this and run it out”.
Rivera on the other hand said: “I’m going home. I’ll tell you that when the time comes”. Rivera, 40, added that the thought of pitching his last game of his career on ALCS game 6 has crossed his mind.
Both pitchers are part of the Yankees “core four” in addition to Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.If they decide to retire the team will have to search the open-market for replacement. As a replacement for Pettitte, the Yankees will likely make a push for Cliff Lee who is entering free agency this winter. However, replacing Rivera could be a more difficult task.
Jeff Bagwell will not return to Astros as hitting coach
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According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, Jeff Bagwell will not return to the Houston Astros as the team’s hitting coach. MLB.com’s Alyson Footer adds that Bagwell will return to the team to resume his duties as a special assistant to GM Ed Wade. Footer adds that there is no word on his replacement in the immediate future and a search for a new coach starts now.
There were questions as to whether or not Bagwell would return to the team this season. Manager Brad Mill signed a contract extension earlier this month to take him through 2012 to align him with the rest of his coach staff. Prior to that, all the coach signed extensions except for Bagwell.
Mets looking for experience from their future GM
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The New York Mets have selected Sandy Alderson and Josh Byrnes as their finalists for their vacant GM position, and according to a source close to FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal their decision to go with either Alderson or Byrnes came down to experience rather than going with first-time GM. Alderson and Byrnes both have GM experience from the Oakland Athletics and the Arizona Diamondbacks, respectively.
The only other experienced candidate for the position would be Allard Baird, previously with the Kansas City Royals. However, with three 100-loss seasons under his belt, it might be tough to sell him to a frustrated crowd even though he presented several interesting “outside-the-box” ideas.
Alderson is perceived as the front runner for the position, but the Mets continue to be open-minded. Both Alderson and Byrnes presented the Mets with possible managerial candidates and coincidentally named Class A manager Wally Backman.
Javier Vazquez would be interested in playing for the Nationals
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According to a source close to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, New York Yankees right-handed pitcher said he would be interested in playing on an East Coast team, including the Nationals.
Ladson speculates that it could be a good if if Vazquez came at a reasonable price. Vazquez made $11.5 million in 2010.
Vazquez has made it known that he wants to stay on the East Coast since it’s closer to his home in Puerto Rico. The right-handed pitcher went 10-10 with a 5.32 ERA in 31 games (26 starts) for the Yankees this season. He was not on the team’s postseason roster in either the ALDS or ALCS.
San Diego Padres looking for top-of-the-order batter this winter
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San Diego Padres general manager Jed Hoyer will be looking for a top-of-the-order batter, according to The Union-Tribune’s Don Norcross. The Padres ranked 28th out of 30 for on-base percentage (.306) in the lead-off spot while their number two hitter was not much more successful in getting on-base with a .316 which ranked 24th out of 30.
“To score four or more runs, you need people on base,” Hoyer said. “Adrian (Gonzalez) didn’t have enough opportunities to drive in runs.”
Norcross says that the higher on-base percentage will likely have to come from a middle of the field position such as shortstop or center field.
A few free-agent shortstops that could fit the Padres need include Jose Reyes or Orlando Cabrera. The Mets hold a $2.5 million team option on Reyes while the Reds have a $4 million option on Cabrera, but they will likely try to renegotiate a new deal.
Possible top-of-the-order candidates that play center field include Willie Bloomquist, Melky Cabrera and Coco Crisp. The Oakland Athletics hold a $5.75 million option on Crisp and he’s previously mentioned that he would like to return to Oakland next season.
