Wagner's Replacement

post from Baseball Musings on 09 December 2008 05:04:00 PM. © Baseball Musings

The first big free agent names falls: The Mets agreed to financial terms with free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez at the winter meetings on Tuesday, signing the record-setting former Angel to a three-year, $37 million deal, sources told the Daily News....

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http://www.baseballmusings.com/archives/030363.php

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RUMOR: CC declines offerYankees out of Sabathia
sweepstakes

post from Zell's Pinstripe Blog on 09 December 2008 04:39:50 PM. © Zell's Pinstripe Blog

The Yankees are rumored to be out of the sweepstakes. I haven’t heard anything else on this, but this is interesting. Hard to believe that he would reject the offer before getting any other offers. Don’t get crazy guys..this might not be true.Extra Baggs (Giants Beat Writer)Giants talk to Sabathia?s camp; Yanks rumored to [...]

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http://zellspinstripeblog.com/2008/12/09/yankees-out-of-sabathia-swwepstakes/

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Derek Lowe

post from The Chuck Knoblog on 09 December 2008 04:24:00 PM. © The Chuck Knoblog

Turns out their are a few Derek Lowe rumors going around after all.

Jon Heyman says that the Yanks and Boras are discussing a 4 year deal for about 65 million dollars. Lowe wants 5 years for 80 million. Somewhere in the middle here would be pretty fair and I`d be fine with it.

The Phillies and Yanks are the biggest competitors for him. Seeing as the Phillies hate giving away money, I like this. In fact, they`re denying that their is even a 3 year deal on the table. I doubt that measn they`re offering 4 years.

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http://thechuckknoblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/derek-lowe.html

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Welcome To New York, Mr. Rodriguez !

post from Dom D's Mets Fan Blog on 09 December 2008 04:23:48 PM. © Dom D's Mets Fan Blog

According to Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog, The Mets have signed closer, Francisco Rodriguez to a three year deal worth 37 million dollars. Cerrone also reports that there maybe an option for a fourth year provided K-Rod makes a certain number of relief appearances.

The deal is contingent on Rodriguez passing a physical.

Rodriguez made headlines last year as he shattered the MLB closer record by notching 62 saves in a single season while compiling an ERA of 2.24.

Obviously this is a big signing for the Mets, as the bullpen played a huge factor in the previous two years disastrous endings.

Although this is by no means the solution to the Mets late inning woes, it certainly is a huge step in the right direction, and could catapult the Mets back into the postseason.

Update: According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, The deal includes a $14 million vesting option for a fourth year that would raise the total value of the contract to $51 million.

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http://www.ddmetsfanblog.com/2008/12/welcome-to-new-york-mr-rodriguez.html

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Rockies could lose Wimberly in Rule 5

post from Purple Row on 09 December 2008 04:23:00 PM. © Purple Row

Rockies could lose Wimberly in Rule 5

Meanwhile, Tracy Ringolsby is reporting that Corey Wimberly is getting a lot of buzz as a possible loss in the Rule 5 draft.

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http://www.purplerow.com/2008/12/9/687802/rockies-could-lose-wimberl

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Rockies close to signing Embree

post from Purple Row on 09 December 2008 04:19:00 PM. © Purple Row

Rockies close to signing Embree

Troy Renck reports the left-hander's signing will be announced later in the week.

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http://www.purplerow.com/2008/12/9/687797/rockies-close-to-signing-e

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Pitching Rumors

post from The Chuck Knoblog on 09 December 2008 04:14:00 PM. © The Chuck Knoblog

I missed alot of different rumors today, mainly pitching ones so I`m going to adr ess each one in bullet form.

Joe Girarddi met with Ben Sheets, the Yanks may now be planning to offer him 26-30 million dollars over 2 years. I wouldn't mind that at first glance.
No movement on Sabathia's part. He has not declined the Yanks offer as was originally rumored. The Brewers are not raising their offer but have not ruled it out either. We`ve also heard some whispers that the Giants are getting serious.
This one scares me. The Yanks may be considering raising their offer to 5 years for Burnett

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http://thechuckknoblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/pitching-rumors.html

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Billy Williams & Ernie Banks Share A Piece Of
Cardboard

post from 30-year old Cardboard on 09 December 2008 04:06:05 PM. © 30-year old Cardboard

Billy Williams & Ernie Banks - #3/50This is card #8 of my recent 9-card purchase of modern-day Billy Williams cards.What’s not to like about this card? 2 of the greatest Chicago Cubs players of all time on the same card… And to be limited to just 50 cards made and I now own #3. SWEET!!!The [...]

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http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/billy-williams-ernie-banks-share-a-pie
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Freel traded for Ramon Hernandez

It looks like it's a done deal. From Rosenthal:

The Reds have reached preliminary agreement with the Orioles on a trade that will send catcher Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati for outfielder Ryan Freel and two prospects, according to a major-league source.
The deal is pending the approval of the commissioner's office, because it involves a cash transaction of more than $1 million.
On Monday, major-league sources said the deal would not be completed unless the Orioles picked up a significant portion of Hernandez's remaining salary.
Hernandez is owed $8 million in 2009 with a club option of $8.5 million or a $1 million buyout for 2010, meaning he is guaranteed $9 million.

The two questions are how much money and who are the prospects. We'll wait judgment on those two items until we have more information.

Three years ago, Hernandez was one of the top catchers in the game. The problem is that catchers don't tend to age well, and Hernandez is no exception. Here's his last 3 years numbers:

YearPA HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG wOBA RAR FRAR TtlVal 200656023911.275.343.479.35224.33.735.62007409
9
62
1.258.333.382.3144.5-2.18.42008507
15
650.257.308.406.3105.9-7.55.5

His projections aren't all that appealing as a hitter:

SystemAVG OBP SLGwOBA Bill James
.261.324.417.327Marcel.259.323.410.320

Compare those to Ryan Hanigan

SystemAVG OBP SLGwOBA Bill James
.275.357.382.333Marcel.267.345.403.329

It's hard to project defense at catcher - mainly because it's hard to measure defense at catcher - but I'd say that there is a very good chance that Hanigan will be a better defensive catcher than Hernandez next season.

All of this is to say once again that I don't mind Hernandez as a backup catcher, but I fear that is not how he will be used. There is this stigma that the higher paid player should start to justify the money, but I sure hope the Reds don't focus on that. The main reason is because I think that there is a much better chance of Hanigan matching Hernandez's power than the reverse happening with on base ability, and frankly the Reds project to not be very good at getting on base next year. Given his likely defensive superiority and the fact that he can actually get on base from time to time, there is no question in my mind that Hanigan should be the starter. Anybody think Dusty sees it that way?

As for Freel, well, he projects to be a worse hitter than Hernandez and that's assuming that he could actually stay healthy enough to be in the lineup. The trade does leave the Reds with a dearth of outfielders. At the point the starting outfield will be Bruce, Dickerson, and Norris Hopper. So, yeah, um, they need to fix that.

I don't think the addition of Hernandez is a large upgrade to the team, but it does help fill a hole. It's an awful lot of money to pay for a backup catcher, but it's not my money.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.redreporter.com/2008/12/9/687751/freel-traded-for-ramon-her

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Yanks Serious About Burnett

UPDATE 9:05 p.m. There are reports going around that Brian Cashman is MIA. He was supposed to meet with the NY writers and had to cancel because he was not at the hotel. Some people think he's meeting with Burnett, others think he's could be meeting with Derek Lowe.

From Tyler Kepner:

Just before Joe Girardi spoke with us, I ran into Darek Braunecker, the agent for A.J. Burnett. According to Braunecker, the Yankees are quite serious about his client.
?They?ve made it known what they think of him and what their priorities are,? he said. ?C.C. is their first priority, and he?s their second.?

Yankees players want Burnett, who overwhelmed them last season, as he has done all through his career against the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. In 11 career starts against the Yankees, Burnett is 6-3 with a 2.43 E.R.A. In eight starts against Boston, he?s 5-0, with a 2.56 E.R.A.
?That?s certainly one of the things that appeals to him about New York,? Braunecker said. ?He has a tendency to perform at the highest level on the biggest stage. The numbers speak for themselves.?

Also according to Braunecker, Burnett is as healthy as he's ever been:

?The medicals themselves say that,? he said. ?They?re as good as any they?ve seen.?

Fair enough, but we all know that can change on one pitch.

Either way it's good that the Yankees are pursuing their free agent targets and not waiting around for Sabathia to make a decision (like a lot of people think they're doing).

Jon Heyman is also reporting that the Yanks may be willing to add a fifth year for Burnett, and are supposedly negotiating a four-year deal for more than $65 million for Derek Lowe.