Archive for November, 2008

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Red Sox send Coco Crisp to Royals

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

The Kansas City Royals picked up the leadoff hitter they had been seeking, acquiring center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez on Wednesday.

Kansas City was 12th among 14 AL teams in runs last season and added power last month, obtaining first baseman Mike Jacobs from Florida. The switch-hitting Crisp gives the Royals speed at the top of the lineup and a superb defender in center field who has World Series experience.

The 29-year-old was the subject of trade rumors for much of last season following the emergence of rookie Jacoby Ellsbury. The two split time in center, with Crisp hitting .283 with seven homers and 41 RBIs in 98 games. He also stole 20 bases in 27 attempts, the third straight season he’s reached the 20-steal mark. Ellsbury hit .280 with nine homers and 47 RBIs last season, proving to the Red Sox that he’s ready to be an everyday player. Boston also gains financial savings by trading Crisp, who’s due to make $5.75 million next season in a deal that includes an $8 million club option for 2010 with a $500,000 buyout.

The Royals got Ramirez, a 27-year-old righty, in a trade with Colorado before last season. They were so impressed with his stuff that they projected him to be their closer. With a fastball that reaches the mid-90s mph, Ramirez is a power pitcher who seems suited for the late innings. He was one of the primary setup men for closer Joakim Soria and flourished in that spot, going 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings.

Ramirez figures to play a setup role for closer Jonathan Papelbon and could send Justin Masterson back to the rotation, where he feels more comfortable.

Boston traded for Crisp after his breakout season — .333, 15 homers, 69 RBIs — with Cleveland in 2005. But a broken finger derailed Crisp’s first year in Boston and Epstein said his offense never fully recovered.

Crisp has always been a superb fielder and picked up his offense the last half of 2008, hitting .315. He also hit .417 (10-for-24) in the playoffs, driving in the tying run in the eighth inning to complete Boston’s comeback from a 7-0 deficit in Game 5 of the AL championship series against Tampa Bay.

Epstein said the Red Sox hope to replace Crisp with a right-handed fourth outfielder who can play center. He probably will look outside the organization.

Crisp is expected to be the starter in center and Jose Guillen, the highest-paid player in franchise history, is locked in at right. That means Kansas City will have to find a way to get enough playing time for David DeJesus and Mark Teahen.

The loss of Ramirez also creates a hole in the middle of the bullpen that will likely need to be filled from outside the organization.

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Dempster, Cubs agree to $52 million, 4-year deal

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs agreed Tuesday on a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option to 2012. He gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. Dempster has a 2012 option for $14 million.

Dempster was 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA for the Cubs last season, then became a free agent after making the switch from the closer to starter. As the Cubs’ closer from 2005-07, he saved 87 games in 102 chances. But after earning a spot in the rotation during spring training, Dempster returned to the starter’s role he held with the Marlins and Reds from 1998-2003.

Last week, the Cubs traded for Florida reliever Kevin Gregg and said goodbye to free agent Kerry Wood. General manager Jim Hendry said the Cubs couldn’t give him the long-term deal he deserved because they had more important priorities.

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Yankees get Swisher from White Sox, deal Betemit

Friday, November 14th, 2008

The Yankees have acquired first baseman Nick Swisher and Class AA right-hander Kanekoa Texeira from the White Sox. The White Sox will receive infielder Wilson Betemit and minor leaguers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez.

The Yankees view Swisher as a flexible, affordable option as they try to improve upon their third-place finish in the AL East last season, which marked the first time they missed the postseason since 1993. Swisher, who turns 28 on Nov. 25, hit just .219 with 24 homers and 69 RBIs last season.

Swisher, a switch-hitter, likely will play first base for the Yankees, replacing free-agent Jason Giambi, but he also provides depth in left and center field.

The Yankees are still looking for a center fielder, but as they are presently constituted, Xavier Nady could play left and Johnny Damon center.

If the Yankees sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, they can further reconfigure their outfield, going with Swisher in left, Damon in center and Nady in right.

Hideki Matsui is coming off knee surgery and could figure in left, enabling Nady to move to right or serve as a designated hitter.

Swisher is signed for $5.3 million next season, $6.75 million in 2010 and $9 million in ‘11 with a $10.25 million club option for ‘12. His contract leaves the Yankees ample flexibility to pursue starting pitching on the free-agent market, and the team is expected to be a major player for virtually all of the top starters available — most notably, left-hander CC Sabathia and right-handers Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett.

For the White Sox, the acquisition of Betemit, a switch-hitter, gives the team an additional option at third base, where Josh Fields is expected to replace departing free agent Joe Crede.
Betemit earned $1.165 million last season in his first year of arbitration eligibility, so the White Sox will gain financial flexibility with this move, perhaps freeing them up for other pursuits.

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Braves pull out of Peavy sweepstakes

Friday, November 14th, 2008

The Atlanta Braves are out of the Jake Peavy sweepstakes. “We have moved on,” Braves general manager Frank Wren told FOXSports.com on Friday. “We had our last discussion with San Diego yesterday and let them know that if the final names we were discussing wouldn’t get it done, we would move on to other opportunities, other possibilities.”

The Braves will now pursue starting pitchers on the free agent market, and their targets include right-handers Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett and Ryan Dempster.

Wren did not rule out a possible revival of discussions with the Padres, but if the Braves sign other players, their payroll flexibility would decrease.

The Cubs, the other team in the heaviest pursuit of Peavy, remain interested in acquiring him, sources say. The team is intent on adding one starting pitcher, whether it’s trading for Peavy, re-signing Dempster as a free agent, or finding another pitcher. Left-hander Randy Johnson is one of the free-agent pitchers in whom the Cubs are interested.

The Braves were offering a package of shortstop Yunel Escobar, either right-hander Charlie Morton or left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes, Class A outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, plus a fourth player, either reliever Blaine Boyer or a minor league pitcher.

Padres general manager Kevin Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday that he may seek to trade Peavy to the Yankees or Angels because of his inability to reach an agreement with the Braves or Cubs.

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Yankees Make Big Offer to C.C.

Friday, November 14th, 2008

New York made an initial offer to free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia on Friday, and the offer is worth more than the six-year, $137.5 million extension the Mets gave Johan Santana last offseason, according to major-league sources. Santana’s contract was the largest one ever given to a pitcher.

The Yankees also intend to make offers shortly to free-agent right-handers A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe, sources say.

While the Yankees’ initial offer to Sabathia is significant, sources indicate that he almost certainly will not accept it. Other teams that have shown interest in Sabathia include the Mets, Giants and Dodgers. The Angels could also figure into the Sabathia bidding if they are unable to re-sign free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.

Beyond the free-agent market, the Yankees may also enter into talks with San Diego over right-hander Jake Peavy. While the Cubs and Braves initially appeared to be the frontrunners in the Peavy sweepstakes, Braves GM Frank Wren told FOXSports.com on Friday that the team had “moved on” after not being able to reach a deal for the Padres ace.

The Yankees’ offer to Sabathia was first reported by SI.com.

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Peavy to Braves Deal Done?

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

The Braves are on the verge of a trade agreement with the Padres for Peavy, according to CBSSports.com, but the Padres have yet to communicate their acceptance of a Braves’ offer to Atlanta officials, major-league sources say.

The Cubs also have not heard back from the Padres, sources say. Manager Lou Piniella downplayed his team’s pursuit of Peavy on Wednesday, calling it “only talk,” but the Cubs remain interested in making a deal.

It is possible that the Padres have decided internally to proceed with the Braves, then finalize the details later Thursday. The teams spoke again on Wednesday, continuing discussions that have lasted for over a month.

The Padres, according to CBSSports.com, will receive shortstop Yunel Escobar, Class A outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, either right-hander Charlie Morton or left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes and either reliever Blaine Boyer or one of two minor-league left-handers, one of whom is Jeff Locke.

Most of those names have been under discussion since the beginning of the talks, and a source with knowledge of the conversations acknowledged that those players would form the approximate framework of a trade.

Peavy must waive his no-trade clause for any deal to be completed, but the Braves were one of five teams on a wish list that he submitted to the Padres at the start of the offseason.

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Marlins trade SP Olsen to Nationals

Monday, November 10th, 2008
The Nationals, carrying out their pledge to be aggressive this offseason, have acquired left-hander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham from the Marlins, according to major-league sources.

In return, the Marlins will receive second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers: Single A right-hander P.J. Dean and outfielder Jake Smolinski.

For the Marlins, the moves follow the team’s usual pattern, reducing payroll while adding young talent with strong potential. In this case, the Nationals are the beneficiaries. Both Olsen, 24, and Willingham, 29, are entering their first year of arbitration, and will be under the Nats’ control for the next three seasons.

Olsen, who pitched 201 2/3 innings last season while going 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA, immediately becomes the ace of a Nationals’ staff in desperate need of top-of-the-rotation help. He had also been the subject of trade discussions between the Marlins and Rangers

Willingham likely will take over in left, giving the Nationals additional depth in an outfield that already includes Lastings Milledge, Austin Kearns and Elijah Dukes — and possibly leading to another trade.

Without Olsen, the Marlins’ rotation will include right-handers Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad and Anibal Sanchez, along with left-hander Andrew Miller. The addition of Bonifacio will enable the team to trade Dan Uggla, move him to third base or keep him at second, where his value as an offensive player is highest. Under the latter scenario, Bonifacio could become a super-utility man, opening up the possibility of trading Alfredo Amezaga, who is coveted by many clubs.

Smolinski, 19, is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. He was the Nationals’ second-round pick in the 2007 draft and Dean was their seventh-round selection out of New Caney (Texas) High School that same year.

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A’s close to deal for Rockies star Holliday

Monday, November 10th, 2008
The A’s are close to acquiring left fielder Matt Holliday from the Rockies, according to major-league sources.

The players the Rockies will receive have not been decided, and the deal likely will not be finalized for approximately 48 hours, sources said.

Over the weekend, the teams discussed A’s outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, left-hander Greg Smith and reliever Huston Street, according to one source. Those are the players believed to be in the deal, though the names are subject to change. An official announcement will not be made until each of the players in the trade passes a physical, sources said.

Gonzalez and Smith are two of the six players that the A’s acquired from the Diamondbacks last offseason for right-hander Dan Haren and minor-league pitcher Connor Robertson.

Holliday will earn $13.5 million in 2009, then become a free agent.

The A’s are not acquiring him with the intention of flipping him or even trading him in July. The team is in position to increase its payroll to as much as $80 million, and plans to contend next season.

To that end, the A’s also are targeting free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, and have even requested medical records from his agent, Paul Kinzer. Furcal is drawing interest from about 10 clubs, according to Kinzer. The acquisition of Holliday could help persuade Furcal that the A’s are serious about competing for a postseason berth in 2009.

If the Rockies obtained Smith, they almost certainly would insert him into their starting rotation. The addition of Street would represent a buffer against the pending loss of free-agent closer Brian Fuentes.

Gonzalez could enter the team’s outfield mix, or the Rockies could flip him to another club for additional players. The Nationals are known to have interest in Gonzalez.

The Cardinals also made a run at Holliday at the general managers’ meetings, discussing a package that included outfielders Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker as well as right-hander Mitchell Boggs, according to a source. Those discussions failed to progress, however, enabling the A’s to emerge as the front-runner.

The 28-year-old Holliday, playing half his games at Coors Field, has 128 homers and 483 RBIs in five big league seasons. His best year was 2007, when he won the NL batting title with a .340 average and had 36 homers and a league-best 137 RBIs in helping the Rockies reach the World Series. He was runner-up to Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins for NL MVP.

Oakland was last in the majors leagues with a .242 batting average this season and last in the AL with 646 runs.

The A’s used eight starters in left field and finished 75-86, their worst record since 1998.

Street, a 25-year-old right-hander, lost his job as Oakland’s closer during season and finished 7-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 18 saves in 25 chances.

Smith, 24, went 7-16 with a 4.16 ERA in 32 starts during his first major league season. Gonzalez, 23, was also in his first big league season and hit .242 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 302 at-bats.

The news of the Holliday trade first was reported by SI.com.

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Coco Crisp Rumors

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Center fielder Coco Crisp, whom the Red Sox intermittently shopped last winter following the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury, is again being made available and drawing interest. One executive at the general managers meetings talked to the Sox recently estimated that “five or six” teams have shown a willingness to discuss a deal for Crisp. … The Chicago Cubs, a team periodically linked to Crisp, don’t seem as interested this time around. One Cubs official yesterday said that while Chicago does need a center fielder, the NL Central champion would prefer one with more extra-base power, citing the lack of power shown by current outfielders Reed Johnson and Kosuke Fukodome. Other teams with interest in Crisp might include the Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s, Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres. At 29, Crisp is in the prime of his career and his remaining salary ($5.75 million in 2009, $8 million club option for 2010 or a $500,000 buyout) is hardly off-putting, even for small market teams. — Boston Herald

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Braves after Ryan Ludwick

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

The Braves are still widely considered a frontrunner to land Jake Peavy, the 2007 Cy Young Award winner, but might have to part with shortstop Yunel Escobar and a few prospects to get a deal done. Frank Wren’s primary goals this winter are to acquire two proven starting pitchers and a power-hitting outfielder, and one enticing possibility is St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who finally stayed healthy in 2008 and hit .299 with 37 homers and 113 RBIs in a career-best season. Negotiations with the Cardinals could be held up by the Peavy situation, because the Cardinals want Escobar or second baseman Kelly Johnson, and the Braves won’t trade both of them this winter. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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