Mar
31
2009
Updates from around the league…
Chipper Jones has signed a 3 year contract extension worth around 40 MM, plus an option for 2013. If Chipper is healthy, this is a huge steal for the production of Jones, who is worth 136 MM according to fangraphs.com over the life of his 92 MM dollar contract.
The Tigers have released Gary Sheffield. This is surprising considering Sheff is healthy and only one away from 500. He will surely find work, but who knows where? He says that he has a preference for the Rays. If he could play the OF he could work, but since Burrell is DH’ing it might be tough to find a slot there. They cut his entire salary of 14 MM to get rid of him. There has to be another underlying reason that has not been stated yet.
The Dodgers have signed Will Ohman to a 1 year minor league deal. It can be worth 1.35 MM if he makes the team plus another 200-250K of incentives.
Ken Takahashi was released by the Blue Jays and then just signed by the Mets. He was ok in Japan, having a 3.50 ERA last year, but he will be 40 in April.
Jason Hammel and Jeff Niemann are both out of options and out of options. There are multiple teams that are interested, but nothing has come about yet. They kept these guys up and optioned David Price instead to AAA. He will be up VERY soon.
Scot Boras is still speculating about 50 MM for his pitcher Stephen Strasburg, sure fire #1 pick next year. By one scouts eyes, “He is better than A.J. Burnett right now.”
John Lackey wants a 5 year deal worth 80-90 MM, but the ANgels balked at that price. They reportedly offered about 4 YR 50 MM, but it doesn’t help that Lackey is hurt right now for the 2nd straight year missing his opening day start.
Pedro Martinez STILL wants 5-6 MM and will wait well into the season. He is, in one word, NUTS.
Brett Garnder has officially won the Yankees CF job. Melky Cabrera is now on the bench and has also been mentioned in trade talks.
And one more thing I want to address. People are bringing up what if Cody Ransom falters, will the Yanks go find a 1 month replacement. It is not IF but WHEN he will falter. I think they have 2 capable in house options that strengthens their team. Option 1: Xavier Nady. He used to play 3rd briefly and that would allow Nick Swisher to move to Right and I rather have Nick Swisher hitting than Ransom hitting. Option 2: This may surprise some, but how about Mark Teixeira. He came up as a 3rd basemen when he was a prospect. He is an excellent defender, and would allow Swisher to play first base, so again Swisher > Ransom hitting. I think those 2 options are better than Cody Ransom and wouldn’t hurt the Yanks. If anything, it’ll give Swisher more at bats so when A-Rod comes back, Swisher can fill in for any OF or Tex when they need a day off and not be unseasoned and unprepared.
