Rumors for October, 2010
Tigers decline Mets request to speak with Assistant GM Al Avila
Posted by: | Comments
According to the Bergen Record’s Steve Popper, the New York Mets have been denied a request to speak with the Detroit Tigers’ assistant general manager Al Avila. The Mets were hoping to add additional candidates to their first-round of general manager interviews.
A source close to Popper says that the team has yet to narrow the initial group down and invite any of the candidates back for a second-round. This contradicts the report from earlier Sunday by ESPN’s Buster Olney that said that Sandy Alderson had been invited back for a second interview.
In addition to Alderson, the team has already interviewed former Kansas City Royals GM Allard Baird, Chicago White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, former Arizona Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes, and Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM Logan White.
Giants GM leaves impression that they will tender Cody Ross a contract
Posted by: | Comments
According to the San Jose Mercury News’ Andrew Baggarly, San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean left a strong impression that Cody Ross will be tendered a contract for the 2011 season.
For those not familiar with the term “tendering” or “non-tendering” a contract, I’ll make my attempt to explain it to you as simple as possible:
Each team has a 40 man roster that consists of active players in the Major Leagues, players on the disabled list, and player in the Minor Leagues. The 40 -man roster is like a protective cover over the team’s best 40 players. Every December, each team has to decide which of their 40 players on their roster they want to keep for next year. For most of the 40 players, the decision is simple. You already have a contract and are living the good life, or the team values you enough that they will pay you a fair market value for a contract for the upcoming season. For those players on the 40 man roster that have performed poorly or may not be worth the investment for the next season, a team will non-tender them or not give them a contract. The player then becomes a free agent and is removed from the team’s roster.
Prior to the post-season, Ross was a likely candidate to be non-tendered a contract. Now that he’s hit four home runs, with three of them in the first two games of the NLCS, he’s likely changed the minds of the Giants.
Ross made $4 million this season, and will likely receive a raise in his final year of salary arbitration.
“His number isn’t going to go off the map,” Sabean said. “His platform year was last year, not this year, so it’s a very affordable situation if we go that route.”
DeMarlo Hale getting second managerial interview with Blue Jays
Posted by: | Comments
The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo says via Twitter that the Red Sox’s bench coach DeMarlo Hale is getting a second interview for the vacant Toronto Blue Jays managerial position.
Hale’s name was previously mentioned as a possible candidate for the Seattle Mariners and Florida Marlins position. The Mariners have since hired Eric Wedge.
The Blue Jays have a long list of possible candidates including, according to Cafardo: Don Baylor, Tim Bogar, Brian Butterfield, John Ferrell, Sal Fasano, Nick Leyva, Bob Melvin, Rick Renteria, Ron Roenicke, Luis Rivera, Rob Thomson, Bobby Valentine, Joe Cora, Clint Hurdle, Pat Listach, Dave Martinez, Juan Samuel, Ryne Sandberg and Don Wakamatsu. The team has already eliminated Tim Wallach and Brett Lawrie from consideration.
Should the Boston Red Sox go after Cliff Lee?
Posted by: | Comments
With left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee on the verge of getting upwards of a nine-figure contract on the open-market, the Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman wonders if the Red Sox should be “all-in” on the pursuit of the most sought after free-agent of the winter. Although it’s likely the New York Yankees will land Lee, it may be worth a shot for the Red Sox to go after the pitcher for the sake of not having to face the dominant left-hander in six series every season.
Silverman adds that the Red Sox have a more pressing need in the outfield and then a corner infielder and then a reliever. The team’s rotation is locked-in through 2014 with Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Josh Beckett.
Silverman does hold out hope that a surprising addition of Lee combined with an addition or free-agents Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth would be “enormous”.
Yesterday it was learned that Lee may prefer his old team, the Phillies, over the Rangers or Yankees or any other city in free-agency. Churchill speculates that it may not necessarily take the most money to get him to sign a long-term deal in Philadelphia.
New York Mets and Sandy Alderson to have second interview
Posted by: | Comments
According to sources close to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Sandy Alderson has been invited back for a second interview with the New York Mets. Alderson, the former Oakland Athletics’ GM and San Diego Padres’ executive is considered the front-runner to land the Met’s GM position. The interview could occur on Thursday.
The Mets could continue with additional first-round interviews with new candidates. Once the second round of interviews occur, team owner Fred Wilpon and president Saul Katz will likely become involved.
The team has already interviewed former Kansas City Royals GM Allard Baird, Chicago White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, former Arizona Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes, and Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM Logan White.
St. Louis Cardinals making a strong push to re-sign Jake Westbrook
Posted by: | Comments
According to sources close to FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal, the St. Louis Cardinals are making a push to re-sign right-handed pitcher Jake Westbrook. Rosenthal said the Cardinals have a “high level of interest” in retaining him.
Westbrook recently had surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama on his shoulder, and the pitcher was told that his rehab should not impact his throwing program this winter. The Cardinals have not been able to comment on Westbrook’s recent surgery to correct a minor tear in the labrum of his left shoulder due to rules about pending free agents.
Westbrook is eligible to become a free-agent after the World Series, but the Cardinals have an exclusive five day negotiating winter before he hits the market. Westbrook previously said that he would be open to discussing a new deal with the Cardinals before he hears from other teams.
The 33-year-old pitcher was 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts since coming over in a three-team trade from the Cleveland Indians. He made $11 million in the final-year of a three-year, $33 million contract.
Could surgery for Adrian Gonzalez affect his trade value?
Posted by: | Comments
Adrian Gonzalez underwent two MRI exams on his right shoulder last week and now Gonzalez and the San Diego Padres are assessing the next steps, according to the North County Times’ Dan Hayes.
Gonzalez’s agent, John Boggs, says (via ESPN’s Jason A. Churchill) that it would be a simple procedure to clean out the labrum area and Gonzalez would be ready for Spring Training whether he has the procedure or not.
Padres’ owner Jeff Moorad has previously acknowledged that signing Gonzalez to a long-term deal “doesn’t appear to be practical from a financial standpoint,” leading to speculation that San Diego could move their first baseman this winter. The team has picked up the $5.5 million 2011 option for Gonzalez, so rather than let one of baseball’s premier sluggers walk away for nothing they may salvage their remaining trade leverage and deal him this winter.
There’s always a risk when teams trade players with any kind of injury such as his labrum problems. Having this information public could reduce Gonzalez’s perceived value and give the Padres the short end of the stick.
Update – Tony La Russa could sign a new contract with Cardinals soon
Posted by: | Comments
10/17 10:34: According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post, Tony La Russa’s return to St. Louis is “almost certain” at this point. The only thing that is still unknown is what members of La Russa’s coaching staff will return.
There was speculation that if Sandy Alderson was chosen as the Mets new GM, that he might turn to La Russa to manage the Mets. Alderson was the A’s GM when La Russa was the manager. The connection between the two and the Cardinals silence led many to believe that La Russa may have been waiting to see if Alderson won the Mets job. La Russa did say during a recent radio interview with a New York radio station that his conversations are only with St. Louis, which should help silence these rumors.
10/16 13:32: According to a source close to CBSSports.com, manager Tony La Russa is in daily discussions with the St. Louis Cardinals about a new contract and a new deal could be done soon. GM John Mozeliak when contacted by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Bernie Miklasz, assured them that both sides continue to have positive discussions and everything was proceeding smoothly.
The Cardinals made a formal offer to La Russa to manage the club for the 2011 season last week, but the manager was hesitant to accept at the time because he felt that 15 years in one place was too long and the organization may benefit from a new leader.
The CBSSports.com source adds that sticking points in La Russa’s contract could include security for his coaching staff. La Russa’s pitching coach, Dave Duncan said that he would like to return to the Cardinals for three more years, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss.
“There’s 25 guys in here that want him back and that’s not sugar coating anything,” shortstop Brendan Ryan said after the season finale. “He’s our leader, he’s the captain of the ship.”
Update – Negotiations between the Rockies and Jorge de la Rosa progressing slowly
Posted by: | Comments
10/17 10:22: Buster Olney of ESPN, added this in regards to the negotiations with Jorge de la Rosa and the Rockies. “The negotiations between the Rockies and P Jorge De La Rosa are progressing slowly. Colorado wants to re-sign the lefty.”
10/8 08:13: There are strong indications that the Rockies began contract talks with free agent Jorge de la Rosa this week, reflecting GM Dan O’Dowd’s comments last week, that re-signing De La Rosa was a “top priority.” This according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
When healthy, de la Rosa served as the club’s best starting pitcher behind ace Ubaldo Jimenez.
The Rockies have opened their piggy banks in the past for core players, including a three-year, $22.5 million deal for closer Huston Street last winter. The issue is more likely to be the term of the contract than the yearly salary.
The Rockies offered De La Rosa a two-year, $8.75 million deal with an option over the winter, but it never gained traction. Armed with a 95-mph fastball and effective secondary pitches, the left-hander could reach the neighborhood of $10 million per season on the open market.
Cafardo on managerial candidates, Matt Stairs, Johnny Damon, Carlos Delgado
Posted by: | Comments
Here’s the latest from The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:
– Cafardo puts together a list of of the Toronto Blue Jay managerial candidates (take a deep breathe, it’s a doozy): Don Baylor, Tim Bogar, Brian Butterfield, John Ferrell, Sal Fasano, DeMarlo Hale, Nick Leyva, Bob Melvin, Rick Renteria, Ron Roenicke, Luis Rivera, Rob Thomson, Bobby Valentine, Joe Cora, Clint Hurdle, Pat Listach, Dave Martinez, Juan Samuel, Ryne Sandberg and Don Wakamatsu.
– The Blue Jays have eliminated Tim Wallach and Brett Lawrie, but not many others.
– Cafardo lists those that have interviewed for the vacant Pittsburgh Pirates job: Bo Porter, John Gibbons, Carlos Tosca, Ken Macha, Jeff Banister and Dale Sveum. Cafardo says that Macha might be “the best choice,” but cautions that the candidate list could grow.
– Matt Stairs wants to play one more season before thinking about being a hitting coach or manager. Just a few weeks ago, he said he wanted to play through 2012. In a perfect situation he would love to go back to Boston, but he added “I’d play anywhere.”
– Johnny Damon does not regret saying no to the Boston Red Sox at the trading deadline.
– Free agent A.J. Pierzynski will be rated behind Victor Martinez and John Buck among available catchers this winter. One National League scout said, “With A.J., you know he’s not going to throw people out, but there’s nothing wrong with his receiving and he can still hit. I know the fire he has can rub people the wrong way, but I think that’s great for a team.’’
– Possible relief pitching targets for the Boston Red Sox include Joaquin Benoit, Jesse Crane, Matt Guerrier, Jason Frasor, Scott Downs and Brian Fuentes.
– The Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks could be interested in Lance Berkman when he hits the open market.
– Carlos Delgado believes he can play in 2011.
