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Market shaping up for Adam Dunn
Dunn, 29, also represents a fallback position for the Dodgers if they lose Manny Ramirez and the Angels if they lose Mark Teixeira.
The Yankees, too, could emerge as an option if they strike out on the top free-agent starting pitchers.
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The Diamondbacks declined to offer Dunn salary arbitration, so any team that signs him will not lose a high draft pick.
The Braves' focus remains starting pitching, but they also need a left fielder, and Dunn or Raul Ibanez could make sense depending upon their respective prices.
The addition of right-hander Javier Vazquez will cost the Braves $11.5 million in each of the next two seasons, and the signing of free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett would make the team less likely to spend big on a hitter.
CC's sleeping Giants
The Giants, one of the more active teams in free agency, still loom as a darkhorse for the top pitching prize, left-hander CC Sabathia.
The Giants have signed left-handed reliever Jeremy Affeldt. They continue to talk with free-agent shortstop Edgar Renteria. The additions of Sabathia and one more hitter could make them quite formidable in the NL West.
The obvious question is whether the Giants could afford Sabathia, even if he gave them a hometown discount (Sabathia is from Vallejo, Ca., near Oakland). Barry Zito is signed through 2013 at an average of $18 million per season. Sabathia figures to cost at least $22 million per season on a six-year deal.
Renteria, 33, also is drawing interest from the Cardinals and Dodgers, prompting one general manager to ask, "Am I missing something?" Well, Renteria had an .827 OPS after the All-Star Game after posting only a .627 OPS before it. His defense, however, remains a major concern. Renteria excels at going up the middle, but is among the worst in the game fielding balls in the hole.
Et tu, Brew Crew?
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| Teams looking for a SS should check in with the Brewers about JJ Hardy. (Jim McIsaac / Getty Images) |
The Brewers are not out of the Sabathia sweepstakes, either, but they will need to increase their offer to six years to stand a serious chance. Sabathia enjoyed playing in Milwaukee, and the Brewers could remain a contender if they successfully reconstruct their bullpen.
Right-hander Ben Sheets is likely to decline the team's offer of salary arbitration, according to a major-league source, but right-hander Yovani Gallardo will be healthy from the start of the season and the team could trade shortstop J.J. Hardy for an established No. 2 or No. 3 starter.
Hardy, who is two years away from free agency, would be worth that price. Not only is he a top defender, but he also ranked second among major-league shortstops in homers, fourth in slugging percentage and eighth in on-base percentage last season.
Think of how much better the Twins would be if they acquired Hardy for one of their young starting pitchers and signed free agent Casey Blake to play third base.
The Manny market
Manny Ramirez, who earned $20 million last season, probably would command at least $25 million on a one-year deal if he accepted the Dodgers' offer of arbitration.
The Dodgers would rejoice over such a development — it would mark the second time they've gotten ridiculously lucky with Ramirez, the first being when they acquired him last July 31.
But does anyone seriously think Ramirez and his agent, Scott Boras, will decide by the Sunday deadline that a lucrative multi-year deal is out of reach?
Such a move would be a concession by Boras that the faltering economy is inhibiting the free-agent market — a premise that the agent has disputed since the start of the offseason.
Ramirez, who wants at least a four-year contract, wouldn't be happy if he returned to the Dodgers on a one-year deal. And an unhappy Manny would be a problem for both Boras and the Dodgers.
Take it, 'Tek
Another Boras client, Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, is a strong candidate to accept arbitration. In fact, it would be an upset if Varitek rejected the team's offer and the chance to earn about $10 million on a one-year deal.
Varitek, 36, simply isn't in position to land the four-year, $52.4 million, free-agent contract that the Yankees awarded catcher Jorge Posada last offseason.
The economy, of course, is one reason, but Posada also was coming off a career year. Varitek batted .220 last season, and there is no obvious fit for him with a contending team.
The Tigers seem disinclined to pay a catcher big money. The Dodgers, who already have Russell Martin, are trying to fill too many holes.
Any team that signs Varitek also would lose a high draft pick — something that would be difficult to justify for a 36-year-old catcher in offensive decline.
Risky business for White Sox
Free-agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera had a tumultuous season with the White Sox, sparring with manager Ozzie Guillen and right fielder Jermaine Dye.
Why, then, would he want to return?
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Money.
The White Sox offered Cabrera arbitration to ensure that they would receive two high draft picks as compensation if he signed with another club.
Cabrera, though, could choose to accept the White Sox's offer, knowing he likely would receive a raise from his $9 million salary last season.
He then could go back into the free-agent market next winter, when the economy might be stronger — and the free-agent class at shortstop will be thinner.
The flaw in that scenario is that Cabrera would not start for the White Sox next season.
The White Sox already have decided to move Alexei Ramirez from second base to short. Cabrera might prefer to leave a team that doesn't want him.
Then again, he also could return and request a trade. By offering arbitration, the White Sox diminished Cabrera's value in the free-agent market, forcing any team that signs him to lose a high pick.
Around the horn
Add the Yankees to the list of teams interested in free-agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli. The Rays, Red Sox and Phillies also are pursuing Baldelli, who came back from a rare neuromuscular disease with the Rays last season. Baldelli, 26, could serve the Yankees as a right-handed hitting alternative to Hideki Matsui in the DH spot, and also play outfield against certain left-handed pitchers ...
Rather than pursue an older pitcher such as Randy Johnson, the Cardinals would like to add a younger starter with upside — someone similar to right-hander Kyle Lohse. Left-hander Oliver Perez, 27, is one free agent who fits that description. The Cardinals also are not ruling out a pursuit of a closer such as Brian Fuentes or Kerry Wood if the glut of closers starts to produce free-agent bargains ...
The Reds offered free-agent reliever David Weathers arbitration, a move that could spark discussions of a two-year deal. Weathers, 39, has averaged nearly 71 appearances per season over the last 10 years. He made $2.75 million last season, and his one-year salary in arbitration could rise above $4 million ...
In addition to Dunn, the Mariners also like free-agent left fielder Pat Burrell as a possible replacement for Raul Ibanez, who is virtually certain to decline the team's offer of arbitration. Like Dunn, Burrell was not offered arbitration, making him more attractive to a rebuilding team such as the Mariners, which could sign him without losing a draft pick. Burrell also is on the radar of the Angels and Giants.
Member Comments
TWINS were promised $25 mil added to payroll if fans approved a new ball park.<br />By the Pohlads who want a contender when TARGET CENTER opens in just a year fom now, 2010.<br />This would bring payroll budgets to 84 mil still average in the majors.<br />But they plan to add 4 players<br />1) Atkins, 3b from Rockies, he is 7 years young than Blake so Blake can stay with LA.<br /><br />Than Yankees will sign CC this week and that means Milwaukee will need a pitcher and Twins will trade one for SS Hardy.<br />Twins will concentrate on acquiring Dunn for DH and OF...they will trade Young and Cuddyher to make room.<br />Twins also hope to acquire Street for Rp.<br />And possible Kent for INF, DH.<br />This is for real and these additions would make the Twins the favorite to win it all day in new ball park which would be sold out every home game in 2010 and on!!!!
LOONY_BIN12/8/2008 20:42:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Mark0602: Manny Ramirez has ALWAYs been well paid on a WINNING team.<br /><br />In "reality," Manny only plays if he is HAPPY.
wpix12/5/2008 14:06:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I don't like sportstars like Manny Ramirez. They only play if they are well payed and on a winning team. In reality, all sports players are extremely well played. Why do they have to focus on million this or million that? Be a professional.
mark060212/5/2008 13:39:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Pats....<br /><br />You're right. A K with no one on is just the same as a line drive to the warning track with no one on. Both count as an out...nothing to show for it. <br /><br />But the Braves need a power hitter. Sure, Chipper, B Mac, and Francouer (if he figures out how to hit again) might hit 20+ homers and MIGHT knock in 100 if they're lucky. When your biggest power hitter has 23 HR and 87 RBI, that's a sign the offense is seriously lacking. The AVG is good for the lineup - most starters were over .280 and same with OBP - most starters were over .350 (Francouer excluded, of course). We can get guys on base, Dunn can drive them in.
BigRedBobRoss12/5/2008 7:23:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
BigRed, that's the point I was trying to make earlier. On a contender, big production is useful. On a loser, big production either detracts from how bad the team is or further exacerbates the player/fans BECAUSE of how bad the team is around this guy ("he's the only guy who can do anything f***ing right...").<br /><br />I can understand disliking strikeouts with men on, but a K with no-one on is exactly the same as any other out. If a player generally stirkes out with no-one on, who cares, right?
PatsAndRedSoxBlow12/4/2008 15:34:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey NYMETSTEVE...after they get finished doing what you recommend they should call medicare and see how many wheelchairs paid wheelchairs they are eligible for! Are you kidding...the team your putting together needs a year supply of geritol
Tommyeagle12/4/2008 12:51:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
"Raizer, you're high! Dunn has one of the lowest RBI per HR averages in MLB history. Dude hits 40+ a season and struggles to get 100 RBI's."<br /><br />So it is Dunn's fault that he played on crappy Cincinnati teams where the guy in front of him couldn't get on base! Wow!
DirtRacer2912/4/2008 9:59:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I'd much rather see the Braves get Dunn then Burnett. The Braves need a solid left-fielder - this platooning business has got to go. I'll take all those strikeouts for 40 Hr 100 RBIs. I doubt all the Braves outfielders combined didn't put those numbers up last year.<br /><br />Burnett is way too risky. Gets tons of money, yet only injury-free year is his contract year? Well, maybe if they sign him to one-year deals every single year. <br /><br />And nymetsteve, stop talking. I hate all that fantasizing crap, because that's what it is - fantasizing. No way that will ever happen. And besides, Johan was supposed to be the final piece in the puzzle last year, right? Put them in the World Series. Spent all that money, and for another choke. Whoever the Mets sign, they'll still choke come September.
BigRedBobRoss12/4/2008 7:07:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
omar minaya should:<br />1) sign K- Rod 3yr/ 39 million<br />2) sign D. Lowe 3yr/ 39 million<br />3) sign R. Ibanez 2yr/ 20 million<br />4) sign O. Perez 4yr/ 50 million<br />5) Trade: Church, Parnell, Evans, Kunz & R.Cancel<br />to W-Sox for: Dye & Dotel & AA prospect<br />6) sign B. Lyon 2yr/ 8 million<br />7) sign J. Biemel 2yr/ 6.5 million<br />8) sign K. Millar 1yr/ 2.25 million<br />9) trade: Heilman & Feliciano<br />to Rockies for H. Street<br />10) trade: L. Castillo & $4million<br />to Giants for M. Valdez & B. Copeland<br /><br />Lineup: Rotation: Bpen:<br />1. Reyes SS 1. Santana 1. K-Rod<br />2. Ibanez LF 2. Lowe 2. Street<br />3. Beltran CF 3. Perez 3. Dotel<br />4. Wright 3B 4. Maine 4. Lyon<br />5. Delgado 1B 5. Pelfrey 5. Biemel<br />6. Dye RF 6. Smith<br />7. Murphy 2B 7. Schoenweiss<br />8. Castro C<br /><br />Bench:<br />1. Tatis CI/OF<br />2. Schneider C<br />3. Chavez OF<br />4. Easley UTL<br />5. Millar 1B/OF
nymetsteve12/3/2008 23:27:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I just cant understand why any team would want to give a contract of any value to Varitek. Im not a sox fan and dont watch him everyday but cant you find a similar solution at catcher for a bag of balls?
sethera12/3/2008 23:13:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I know he is psuedo " productive' but I don't like watching this guy play, too many strikeouts!
Liquid_Peace12/3/2008 21:50:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Good comments everyone. If Varitek declines that offer, he's either delusional or greedy. 10 million for a guy who can't hit much anymore and claim to fame is his leadership? You tell me Sox fans. You think that guy is worth the dough if his greatest asset is something intangible?<br /><br />Anyway, casper, I see your point, but there isn't much to report on right now in baseball. So Rosenthal is just trying to throw out new ideas. <br /><br />As far as Dunn goes, the Sexson argument only makes sense if you hate low average and strikeouts, because Big S**y, who was frequently a victim of bad swings and .230 seasons, still could drive in 100 plus and hit 30 or 40 jacks. On the right team, that is MONEY production. Granted, it's superfluous if the team already stinks to begin with, which is why the Mariners went nowhere with him recently.
PatsAndRedSoxBlow12/3/2008 19:21:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
C.C. was spotted at a Warriors game with Bengie Molina and a Bay area rapper. He's is trying to be orange and black!! Maybe we can trade for bats!!!
maxD2312/3/2008 18:16:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Raizer, you're high! Dunn has one of the lowest RBI per HR averages in MLB history. Dude hits 40+ a season and struggles to get 100 RBI's. Imagine if the great power hitters only got 100 a year off 40+ hr's. And we haven't even brought up the 180+ K's per year. Dunn is not worth more than $6 mil/yr. Well, maybe if he'd sign for that then the D-Backs would take him.
BGQ8612/3/2008 17:32:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
joeycapecod: i agree with you Baldelli would surely be a large draw at the new stadium.
tomaso12/3/2008 15:47:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I feel good about rocco baldelli going to the yankees he is R.I. It would neat to see him play center for the first game in the new yankee stadium.I know he is no JOE D. But ive seen crazyer things happen.
Joeycapecod12/3/2008 14:25:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Varitek is worth nothing. Dunn strikes out waaaay too much to command a big payout, especially in this years market. Varitek can't hit anymore. I can't wait to make fun of whatever team get these guys.
scwarren812/3/2008 14:15:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Also, somebody tell Brian Sabean he is spending real money, and it's someone else's to boot: it's beyond ridiculous that they would even explore signing Sabathia. If you're gonna overspend do it on Texiera, and wait and stockpile some mid-level arms later on. You've already got the Cy Young, Cain who should bounce back, and Zito's contract
daphunckyfeelone12/3/2008 14:14:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Gil Meche to Milwaukee for JJ Hardy: Brewers would control Meche for 3 more years at a little over $10M/per, and Hardy would shore up KC middle infield and middle of the order. KC should include Teahen if they can get a power bullpen arm back (not Gagne for any price)
daphunckyfeelone12/3/2008 14:11:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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