Ah, the life of a blogger. Bobby Abreu didn't play out for a stinkin' news cycle before he went and signed up with the Angels for a year at $5M guaranteed and another $3M worth of incentive carrots bobbing in front of his nose.
We can't even fantasize about Adam Dunn manning the middle of the lineup. He went and inked a 2 year deal for $20M with the Nats. The Nats!!! Oh, the humanity!
The inning eater they were looking for to anchor an underachieving staff? Well, scrub Braden Looper from the list. He's about to ply his trade for division rival Milwaukee after agreeing to a year at $4.75M and an option for 2010.
That pretty well throws a pail of ice water over the embers of the Pirate's Hot Stove season. They never did come up with that righty power bat or veteran arm to gobble up some innings.
Can you blame the Bucs? Sure, they didn't want to drop a dollar on someone to help keep the team afloat for the short term. You gotta pay to play.
And you can blame the market, too. There were LH corners galore, but not much from the right side. The pitching? Heck, we have more back-of-rotation guys than you can shake a stick at. Why overpay another one, especially a dinosaur?
Thank God for Ramon Vazquez, Eric Hinske, and, uh, Donnie Veal. And hey - Manny's still out there...
Showing posts with label hot stove 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hot stove 2009. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Monday, November 24, 2008
Hot Stove Embers...
According to a report on MLB Trade Rumors based on a report from the NPB Tracker that came from a report on Yahoo!Japan, the Bucs have signed Indian whiz kids Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh to minor league deals. And you thought Ronald Uviedo was obscure?
Patel, 20, and Singh, 19, were discovered on the “The Million Dollar Arm”, a reality TV show in India. More than 25,000 contestants vied to see who had the best baseball arms, and Patel and Singh took the honors.
They collected a few rupees, and got a trip to Southern Cal to get a six-month mechanical tuneup at the hands of Tom House. They picked up an agent while they were there, Jeff Borris, and had a try-out in front of a couple of dozen scouts.
RHP Patel hit 90 on the gun, while LHP Singh registered at 84. We hope he's a crafty lefty, 'cause he sure ain't gonna blow anyone away.
Neal Huntington was coy when Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com asked him if he had indeed signed the pair, just saying "We have seen the pitchers and are very interested in signing them," before eventually confirming that they had indeed inked Pirate contracts.
"The Pirates are committed to creatively adding talent to our organization," Huntington said in a release. "By adding these two young men, we are pleased to not only add two prospects to our system but also hope to open a pathway to an untapped market."
Hey, if nothing else, the Bucs picked up a couple of GCL pitchers, and with the signing of South Africa's Gift Ngoepe, the scouts will have frequent flier miles out the wazoo. The Pirates have jumped into the brave new world of international ball with both feet.
You can read Singh and Patel's story at ESPN.com & at MLB.com.
Our take on the Jack Splat to Detroit rumors? The Tigers are the likeliest club, along with LA if Furcal is too expensive for their taste, that would have much interest in Wilson right now, needing someone to hold down SS until wunderkind Cale Iorg is ready for the show in a season or two. His glove and contract make him a perfect fit for Motown.
We're not sure how the rumored three-team deal with the Marlins makes any sense; if they send us C Matt Treanor to flip to Detroit, then the Fish need a catcher to back up John Baker.
So the Pirates have to give up a backstop either way. We think Ronny Paulino should be attractive to either club - he's young, experienced, and cheap.
But unless Treanor is part of a bigger deal, which is possible, or is who the Tigers really want, it's simpler to just add one of our posse of catchers to the Detroit ante.
The possible payback? The Bucs could be looking at the other Tiger SS prospect, 22-year old Danny Worth, 2007's second round draft pick who was in AA this year. He hit .254, and is considered a superior glove guy.
Right now, GW thinks it's all sizzle and no steak. But the Pirates claim that they're looking to add young talent across the board, and if they can get a couple of pups out of the deal, the suits may eventually cobble something together.
Besides, it's all the action we have so far.
Patel, 20, and Singh, 19, were discovered on the “The Million Dollar Arm”, a reality TV show in India. More than 25,000 contestants vied to see who had the best baseball arms, and Patel and Singh took the honors.
They collected a few rupees, and got a trip to Southern Cal to get a six-month mechanical tuneup at the hands of Tom House. They picked up an agent while they were there, Jeff Borris, and had a try-out in front of a couple of dozen scouts.
RHP Patel hit 90 on the gun, while LHP Singh registered at 84. We hope he's a crafty lefty, 'cause he sure ain't gonna blow anyone away.
Neal Huntington was coy when Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com asked him if he had indeed signed the pair, just saying "We have seen the pitchers and are very interested in signing them," before eventually confirming that they had indeed inked Pirate contracts.
"The Pirates are committed to creatively adding talent to our organization," Huntington said in a release. "By adding these two young men, we are pleased to not only add two prospects to our system but also hope to open a pathway to an untapped market."
Hey, if nothing else, the Bucs picked up a couple of GCL pitchers, and with the signing of South Africa's Gift Ngoepe, the scouts will have frequent flier miles out the wazoo. The Pirates have jumped into the brave new world of international ball with both feet.
You can read Singh and Patel's story at ESPN.com & at MLB.com.
Our take on the Jack Splat to Detroit rumors? The Tigers are the likeliest club, along with LA if Furcal is too expensive for their taste, that would have much interest in Wilson right now, needing someone to hold down SS until wunderkind Cale Iorg is ready for the show in a season or two. His glove and contract make him a perfect fit for Motown.
We're not sure how the rumored three-team deal with the Marlins makes any sense; if they send us C Matt Treanor to flip to Detroit, then the Fish need a catcher to back up John Baker.
So the Pirates have to give up a backstop either way. We think Ronny Paulino should be attractive to either club - he's young, experienced, and cheap.
But unless Treanor is part of a bigger deal, which is possible, or is who the Tigers really want, it's simpler to just add one of our posse of catchers to the Detroit ante.
The possible payback? The Bucs could be looking at the other Tiger SS prospect, 22-year old Danny Worth, 2007's second round draft pick who was in AA this year. He hit .254, and is considered a superior glove guy.
Right now, GW thinks it's all sizzle and no steak. But the Pirates claim that they're looking to add young talent across the board, and if they can get a couple of pups out of the deal, the suits may eventually cobble something together.
Besides, it's all the action we have so far.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Fire Up the Hot Stove
Hey, maybe time to throw out some names for the hot stove league, Pittsburgh-style (i.e., on the cheap). Looking for that fourth outfielder with a little pop? How about Rocco Baldelli?
Yah, he's got that fatigue thing, but he's 27 and knows that he can't play everyday because of his condition. He can be had for less than Jay Michael's money, and would only have to pick up a couple hundred at bats or so. Pittsburgh should be kicking his tires, anyway.
The Angel's 29-year old Juan Rivera is another guy worth a look. He hit .246 with 12 HR and 45 RBI in 256 AB last year. The Venezuelan made $2M last year, and seems to fill the bill for a fourth Bucco OF.
His best year was in 2006, when he hit .310 with 23 home runs and 85 RBI as a starter. But he broke his leg and missed most of 2007.
The Brew Crew's Gabe Kapler is another likely suspect. He hit .301 with 8 HR and 38 RBI in 229 AB. The 33-year old was making $800K in Milwaukee, and may be just the kind of bargain bin acquisition Huntington is looking for as an extra OF and pinch hitter.
Then again, Jay Michaels might bite the bullet and return to the flock for lots less lucre. That .228 batting average is scary, but he does hit in the clutch and fields OK.
And if you're combing through the infield FA market, three names top the list of guys that Pirates can afford - Juan Uribe and Cesar Izturis if Jack Wilson is indeed gonzo, and Joe Crede.
The 30-year old Uribe lost his PT to Alexei Ramirez and Orlando Cabrera. He hasn't hit above .250 since 2005, but he can field and does a pretty good job of driving in runs. Uribe logged quite a few innings at second and third, too.
GW thinks he brings more to the table than Izturis, though Cesar is lots cheaper - he made $2.85M in 2008 to Uribe's $4.5M. Still, they make as much together as Jack Splat does alone and probably give you just as much in the field.
If they decide not to break up the infield, Nick Punto and Mark Loretta are capable spot guys up the middle, better than Luis Cruz, anyway.
GW kinda likes the speedy, switch-hitting Punto. He's a Punch and Judy guy at the dish, but a hard worker with a solid glove. Punto plays every infield position well, and could take up the slack, at least short term, if Wilson/Sanchez move along. Like Wilson, he's hit out of both the two and eight holes.
Joe Crede has been battling back problems, and a gig sharing the hot corner with LaRoche the younger until Pedro grows up could be just the thing for both he and the Bucs. His price tag is likely in the $2.5-3M range, and he did hit 17 HR last year. The only caveat is to make sure your docs run him through every test known to modern medicine before inking him to a deal.
Russell Braynan is also a possibility at third. The 33-year old could spell LaRoche and provide a LH bat off the bench.
Pitching? Fuhgetaboutit. Maybe Paul Byrd, Jason Jennings, Odalis Perez, Glendon Rusch, or someone of that ilk fits in the budget. Do the Pirates need leadership that badly? Freddy Garcia on a one-year deal could make sense, though. Braden Looper and Brad Penny would be an upgrade, too, but are probably priced out of the Pirate's plans.
Get a 7th inning bridge guy if you need a vet on the staff to housetrain the Pirate puppies - someone like, oh, Damaso Marte. Let the kids in the rotation pitch and don't block them unless you're willing to bring in an arm that's a difference maker.
(Rob Biertempfel of the Trib has a list of players he's identified as on the Pirates Free Agent Watch. Yahoo!Sports has their Free Agent Tracker up and running, too. Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com gives up Neal Huntington's Free Agent Game Plan. )
Yah, he's got that fatigue thing, but he's 27 and knows that he can't play everyday because of his condition. He can be had for less than Jay Michael's money, and would only have to pick up a couple hundred at bats or so. Pittsburgh should be kicking his tires, anyway.
The Angel's 29-year old Juan Rivera is another guy worth a look. He hit .246 with 12 HR and 45 RBI in 256 AB last year. The Venezuelan made $2M last year, and seems to fill the bill for a fourth Bucco OF.
His best year was in 2006, when he hit .310 with 23 home runs and 85 RBI as a starter. But he broke his leg and missed most of 2007.
The Brew Crew's Gabe Kapler is another likely suspect. He hit .301 with 8 HR and 38 RBI in 229 AB. The 33-year old was making $800K in Milwaukee, and may be just the kind of bargain bin acquisition Huntington is looking for as an extra OF and pinch hitter.
Then again, Jay Michaels might bite the bullet and return to the flock for lots less lucre. That .228 batting average is scary, but he does hit in the clutch and fields OK.
And if you're combing through the infield FA market, three names top the list of guys that Pirates can afford - Juan Uribe and Cesar Izturis if Jack Wilson is indeed gonzo, and Joe Crede.
The 30-year old Uribe lost his PT to Alexei Ramirez and Orlando Cabrera. He hasn't hit above .250 since 2005, but he can field and does a pretty good job of driving in runs. Uribe logged quite a few innings at second and third, too.
GW thinks he brings more to the table than Izturis, though Cesar is lots cheaper - he made $2.85M in 2008 to Uribe's $4.5M. Still, they make as much together as Jack Splat does alone and probably give you just as much in the field.
If they decide not to break up the infield, Nick Punto and Mark Loretta are capable spot guys up the middle, better than Luis Cruz, anyway.
GW kinda likes the speedy, switch-hitting Punto. He's a Punch and Judy guy at the dish, but a hard worker with a solid glove. Punto plays every infield position well, and could take up the slack, at least short term, if Wilson/Sanchez move along. Like Wilson, he's hit out of both the two and eight holes.
Joe Crede has been battling back problems, and a gig sharing the hot corner with LaRoche the younger until Pedro grows up could be just the thing for both he and the Bucs. His price tag is likely in the $2.5-3M range, and he did hit 17 HR last year. The only caveat is to make sure your docs run him through every test known to modern medicine before inking him to a deal.
Russell Braynan is also a possibility at third. The 33-year old could spell LaRoche and provide a LH bat off the bench.
Pitching? Fuhgetaboutit. Maybe Paul Byrd, Jason Jennings, Odalis Perez, Glendon Rusch, or someone of that ilk fits in the budget. Do the Pirates need leadership that badly? Freddy Garcia on a one-year deal could make sense, though. Braden Looper and Brad Penny would be an upgrade, too, but are probably priced out of the Pirate's plans.
Get a 7th inning bridge guy if you need a vet on the staff to housetrain the Pirate puppies - someone like, oh, Damaso Marte. Let the kids in the rotation pitch and don't block them unless you're willing to bring in an arm that's a difference maker.
(Rob Biertempfel of the Trib has a list of players he's identified as on the Pirates Free Agent Watch. Yahoo!Sports has their Free Agent Tracker up and running, too. Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com gives up Neal Huntington's Free Agent Game Plan. )
Saturday, October 4, 2008
On the Links
OK, GW is lazy today. He got up early and played some golf - poorly, sad to say - and stopped at the nineteenth hole in an effort to keep Iron City Brewery alive and kickin'. Imbibing some courage from a keg is not the best way to prep for a post, so...
Here's a handful of links to help feed your Bucco baseball appetite:
George King III/The New York Post - No Talk on McLouth Trade Yet
Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com - Pirates Will Count on Growth from Core
Alan Robinson/Associated Press - Poor '08 Finish May Be Bad Omen For '09 Pirates
Joe Starkey/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Sign LaRoche? You Kiddin' Me?
Rob Biertempfel/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Bucs Continue to Clean House
Jamal Corner/Reuters - Boston's Bay Bidding to Avoid Comparisons With Ramirez
Here's a handful of links to help feed your Bucco baseball appetite:
George King III/The New York Post - No Talk on McLouth Trade Yet
Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com - Pirates Will Count on Growth from Core
Alan Robinson/Associated Press - Poor '08 Finish May Be Bad Omen For '09 Pirates
Joe Starkey/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Sign LaRoche? You Kiddin' Me?
Rob Biertempfel/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Bucs Continue to Clean House
Jamal Corner/Reuters - Boston's Bay Bidding to Avoid Comparisons With Ramirez
Friday, October 3, 2008
As Long As We're Talkin' Rumors...
Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors writes that "Yankees 2B Robinson Cano's name comes up a lot (as trade bait), and NY will probably seek starting pitching in return (though a center fielder could also make sense). Cano won't necessarily be traded, but let's discuss some possible suitors."
One of the teams he mentions, among many, is the Pirates. He says "They might move Freddy Sanchez this winter. I could almost see Ian Snell being floated for Cano, but not Paul Maholm or Nate McLouth."
Hmmmm...Snell for Cano. Well, first Sanchez would have to go, and any deal would entail trading low on him after this season, though he did hit .348 for the last two months. Age and injuries will certainly drop his value.
But let's say for the sake of argument the suits are blowing up the team. Would that be a good deal for Pittsburgh to make?
According to the Elias ratings, as conjured up by Eddie at Tiger Thoughts blog, Snell is our top starter, just missing B status and tucked between Jason Marquis and David Bush. Pretty average ranking, overall. He scores 58 out of a possible 100.
Snell's worked 372-1/3 innings over the past two years, with a 16-24 record and 4.50 ERA. Nasty stuff, and he does eat some innings, but not very productively. Some think with his stuff and temperment that he should be a closer, not a starter, and his pitch counts would seem to agree even if his innings worked don't.
He'll be 27 at the end of October. Snell's contract is worth $8.6M through 2010, and the club has two option years after that, when the real money kicks in. His 2011 salary would be $6.75M and $9.25M in 2012.
Cano has put up a .289-33 HR-169 RBI-163 RS line in the past two years, and that's awfully solid for a middle infielder. His fielding average is .984, just about the league average, and his range is a little above average.
He'll turn 26 later this month, and has two arbitration years - 2009 and 2010 - left. Cano would fit nicely into that 2010-2011 window the Pirates are looking at now. He'd cost the team a big contract after that, though we think they'd try to tie him up at least into his first free agent year if they landed him. Cano made $3M in 2008.
Dealing Freddie would be a big PR hit for the Bucs, and losing Snell would take the guy with hands-down the best stuff on the club out of the rotation, and one who is under club control until 2012. And ya know what? We'd make the move in a New York minute. Would you?
Deaner wouldn't. For an alternate view of Cano, check out his links at Blue Collar Baseball.
One of the teams he mentions, among many, is the Pirates. He says "They might move Freddy Sanchez this winter. I could almost see Ian Snell being floated for Cano, but not Paul Maholm or Nate McLouth."
Hmmmm...Snell for Cano. Well, first Sanchez would have to go, and any deal would entail trading low on him after this season, though he did hit .348 for the last two months. Age and injuries will certainly drop his value.
But let's say for the sake of argument the suits are blowing up the team. Would that be a good deal for Pittsburgh to make?
According to the Elias ratings, as conjured up by Eddie at Tiger Thoughts blog, Snell is our top starter, just missing B status and tucked between Jason Marquis and David Bush. Pretty average ranking, overall. He scores 58 out of a possible 100.
Snell's worked 372-1/3 innings over the past two years, with a 16-24 record and 4.50 ERA. Nasty stuff, and he does eat some innings, but not very productively. Some think with his stuff and temperment that he should be a closer, not a starter, and his pitch counts would seem to agree even if his innings worked don't.
He'll be 27 at the end of October. Snell's contract is worth $8.6M through 2010, and the club has two option years after that, when the real money kicks in. His 2011 salary would be $6.75M and $9.25M in 2012.
Cano has put up a .289-33 HR-169 RBI-163 RS line in the past two years, and that's awfully solid for a middle infielder. His fielding average is .984, just about the league average, and his range is a little above average.
He'll turn 26 later this month, and has two arbitration years - 2009 and 2010 - left. Cano would fit nicely into that 2010-2011 window the Pirates are looking at now. He'd cost the team a big contract after that, though we think they'd try to tie him up at least into his first free agent year if they landed him. Cano made $3M in 2008.
Dealing Freddie would be a big PR hit for the Bucs, and losing Snell would take the guy with hands-down the best stuff on the club out of the rotation, and one who is under club control until 2012. And ya know what? We'd make the move in a New York minute. Would you?
Deaner wouldn't. For an alternate view of Cano, check out his links at Blue Collar Baseball.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
It's Never Too Soon To Start Looking...
OK, the Pirates have their sights set on a RH outfielder with some pop and a vet starter for the bottom of the rotation. We're assuming that they're not looking at the top guns, and that leaves precious few ballplayers that won't want Jay Bay money for Jay Michaels performance.
We took a peek at the upcoming FA crop. Assuming they want to stay at the $5M or under mark, there's not that much out there.
Outfielders? Maybe Juan Rivera and certainly Cliff Floyd and Gabe Kapler are in their bracket, or Rocco Baldelli if he's able to play. That's a huge if. If the list gets expanded to the infield corners, Casey Blake and Hank Blalock should be on the radar, though Blalock has a club option and may not hit the market.
Pitching? The Big Unit? A popular choice, but probably still overpriced for the Bucs, though we'd love to see him in the locker next to Dirt Dog Doug. Do you think that would lift the Buc's intensity level up a decibel or three?
Maybe Freddy Garcia and Odalis Perez, or if they take a risk, McCandless Township's achy Matt Clement are in play. Clement's another big question mark, medically.
Now we admit we're just taking a grope in the dark. We really don't know how much they're going to allocate for free agency, and that will affect the list. But we see them trying to sign someone to a Xavier Nady priced contract, and not much more.
There's not a lot of depth to the pitching after the top dogs, unless you think Kip Wells looked good in a Pirate uniform. And as we saw last season, that gap drives up the going rate for arms. Teams like to lock up the middle of the rotation; it's the smart play.
But hey, it's fun to play GM. Look at the list and throw your log into the hot stove. It makes the off-season a lot more bearable, even if CC and Mark Teixeira don't sign here. Well, we can dream, can't we?
We took a peek at the upcoming FA crop. Assuming they want to stay at the $5M or under mark, there's not that much out there.
Outfielders? Maybe Juan Rivera and certainly Cliff Floyd and Gabe Kapler are in their bracket, or Rocco Baldelli if he's able to play. That's a huge if. If the list gets expanded to the infield corners, Casey Blake and Hank Blalock should be on the radar, though Blalock has a club option and may not hit the market.
Pitching? The Big Unit? A popular choice, but probably still overpriced for the Bucs, though we'd love to see him in the locker next to Dirt Dog Doug. Do you think that would lift the Buc's intensity level up a decibel or three?
Maybe Freddy Garcia and Odalis Perez, or if they take a risk, McCandless Township's achy Matt Clement are in play. Clement's another big question mark, medically.
Now we admit we're just taking a grope in the dark. We really don't know how much they're going to allocate for free agency, and that will affect the list. But we see them trying to sign someone to a Xavier Nady priced contract, and not much more.
There's not a lot of depth to the pitching after the top dogs, unless you think Kip Wells looked good in a Pirate uniform. And as we saw last season, that gap drives up the going rate for arms. Teams like to lock up the middle of the rotation; it's the smart play.
But hey, it's fun to play GM. Look at the list and throw your log into the hot stove. It makes the off-season a lot more bearable, even if CC and Mark Teixeira don't sign here. Well, we can dream, can't we?
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