Misc. Free Agent News

[apete6]

I was just checking out the Ryan Howard contract again. I can't believe Ruben Amaro, Jr. thought that was a good idea. What an idiot.

 

In 4 years, they will be paying a 35 year old Madson and a 36 year old Ryan Howard a combined $36 million. That's worse than anything the Cubs have done besides maybe Milton Bradley. What a [expletive] joke. Hopefully they aren't rewarded with any titles between now and then to "justify" the stupidness.

[UK1679666180]

We have scouts in the Domincan that can watch that, though.

 

Sure, but if the hitters are still overly aggressive isn't it difficult to judge from the stands whether a guy is actually throwing strikes that would be considered good strikes in a more patient league? It's not like they have Fox broadcasting with the K zone or anything.

It's not perfect, but it's not that bad, either. If nothing else, you can tell by the hitter's swing path and how much the have to reach, pull their hands in, etc.

 

I always loved Cabrera. One of many odd likes of pitchers throughout the years.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I was just checking out the Ryan Howard contract again. I can't believe Ruben Amaro, Jr. thought that was a good idea. What an idiot.

 

In 4 years, they will be paying a 35 year old Madson and a 36 year old Ryan Howard a combined $36 million. That's worse than anything the Cubs have done besides maybe Milton Bradley. What a [expletive] joke. Hopefully they aren't rewarded with any titles between now and then to "justify" the stupidness.

 

It's also really going to jack up the market for Heath Bell, K Rod, Lidge, and maybe even Nathan and Broxton. For a team in need of offense and limited available payroll, it really doesn't seem like money well spent.

[MWV]

Ryan Madson reportedly close to signing a 4/44 deal with a 13 mil option for a 5th. He's pretty bad ass, but that's one hell of a commitmant to a 31 year old reliever.

 

Remember how I said it was disconcerting that Gillick's hand-chosen successor wasn't very good?

Does he even remember the 3 yr $36 million contract he gave to Brad Lidge? The one that he just declined the $12.5 million 2012 option on?

[CubColtPacer]

Ryan Madson reportedly close to signing a 4/44 deal with a 13 mil option for a 5th. He's pretty bad ass, but that's one hell of a commitmant to a 31 year old reliever.

 

Remember how I said it was disconcerting that Gillick's hand-chosen successor wasn't very good?

 

I have to think the Phillies believe their payroll is going to be at the Yankees level soon. Or maybe they think they are too far gone at this point for the future and so are just gearing up to try to win in 2012 and maybe 2013, because it's looking uglier and uglier for them after that.

[jersey cubs fan]

apparently amaro doesn't have authority to do this on his own and has yet to get approval from the chairman.

[Guest]

apparently amaro doesn't have authority to do this on his own and has yet to get approval from the chairman.

 

Yep.

 

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com was told by sources Wednesday morning that the Phillies are "reconsidering options" in regard to a contract for Ryan Madson.

[Guest]

Ryan Madson reportedly close to signing a 4/44 deal with a 13 mil option for a 5th. He's pretty bad ass, but that's one hell of a commitmant to a 31 year old reliever.

 

Remember how I said it was disconcerting that Gillick's hand-chosen successor wasn't very good?

 

I have to think the Phillies believe their payroll is going to be at the Yankees level soon. Or maybe they think they are too far gone at this point for the future and so are just gearing up to try to win in 2012 and maybe 2013, because it's looking uglier and uglier for them after that.

 

$114.1M already committed to 10 players for next year. And that's not including Cole Hamels (made 9.5M in 2011) and Hunter Pence (6.9M), both of whom are arbitration eligible. Also doesn't count the potential Madson deal.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Ryan Madson reportedly close to signing a 4/44 deal with a 13 mil option for a 5th. He's pretty bad ass, but that's one hell of a commitmant to a 31 year old reliever.

 

Remember how I said it was disconcerting that Gillick's hand-chosen successor wasn't very good?

 

I have to think the Phillies believe their payroll is going to be at the Yankees level soon. Or maybe they think they are too far gone at this point for the future and so are just gearing up to try to win in 2012 and maybe 2013, because it's looking uglier and uglier for them after that.

 

$114.1M already committed to 10 players for next year. And that's not including Cole Hamels (made 9.5M in 2011) and Hunter Pence (6.9M), both of whom are arbitration eligible. Also doesn't count the potential Madson deal.

 

Hopefully they price themselves out of Cole Hamels and Epstein and Hoyer jump all over him.

[17 Seconds]

wow 4/44 for madson is bad even when you don't consider the phillies situation. when you take into account lee/howard and the looming halladay/hamels decisions, it's mind boggling.

[Guest]

Just saw Amaro talking about how they base their decisions on the hearts of their scouts when asked about their use of analytics on Clubhouse Confidential.

 

LOL.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm really excited to see the Phillies become the early 2000s Orioles.

[Guest]

Figured this would work best here.

 

Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon has hired agent Scott Boras and may be posted in time to spend the 2012 season with a Major League team, according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.

 

If the 25-year-old decides against the posting system, he’d hit free agency a year from now. Yoon, who throws a 93 mph fastball with a slider and a change, posted a 2.45 ERA with 9.3 K/9 in 172 1/3 innings for the Kia Tigers this season.

 

Thoughts? Anybody know anything about this kid or another Boras client, Hyun-Jin Ryu, who could be posted after 2012?

 

BA's scouting reports from the 2009 WBC:

 

Hyun-Jin Ryu, lhp, Korea

 

When scouts see Ryu's portly frame, his goofiness and his knack for rising to the occasion, it's not hard to see why he's compared to David Wells.

 

In South Korea, Ryu became the first player to be named the league's rookie of the year and MVP in the same season, as he went 18-6, 2.23 with 205 strikeouts in 202 innings in 2006, leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

 

Ryu was the star as Korea surprised everyone to beat Cuba and win gold at the 2008 Olympics. He went 2-0, 1.04 in the tournament, including a masterful 8 1/3 innings in the gold-medal winning 3-2 win over Cuba.

 

Ryu played a very important, but slightly subordinate role to Jung Keun Bong at the World Baseball Classic, as the more veteran lefthander was called on to face Japan on three separate occasions (going 2-1) on his way to a World Baseball Classic all-tournament team selection.

 

But Ryu was impressive again at the WBC. He just turned 22, but he already pitches like a veteran. Ryu has four average to above-average pitches, includes a 86-93 mph fastball with late life that he can add and subtract from when needed, a slow curve (75 mph), a tighter slider and a changeup. Already extensively tested in international play, Ryu's biggest asset is his feel for pitching. Scouts have said that he would be a first-round pick if he was in the U.S., and would likely need only a brief period of acclimation before stepping into a big league rotation.

 

WBC TOP 20 PROSPECTS

While we profiled 10 players, there was so much talent at the WBC that we ranked 20.

1. Yu Darvish, rhp, Japan

2. Aroldis Chapman, lhp, Cuba

3. Hisahi Iwakuma, rhp, Japan

4. Masahiro Tanaka, rhp, Japan

5. Hyun-Jin Ryu, lhp, Korea

6. Yoennis Cespedes, cf, Cuba

7. Norichika Aoki, of, Japan

8. Youleski Gourriel, 2b, Cuba

9. Kwang-Hyun Kim, lhp, Korea

10. Hiroyuki Nakajima, ss, Japan

11. Hector Olivera, ss, Cuba

12. Vladimir Garcia, rhp, Cuba

13. Frederich Cepeda, of, Cuba

14. Takahiro Mahara, rhp, Japan

15. Kyuji Fujikawa, rhp, Japan

16. Shuichi Murata, 3b, Japan

17. Alfredo Despaigne, of, Cuba

18. Suk Min-Yoon, rhp Korea

19. Hyun-Soo Kim, of, Korea

20. Toshiya Sugiuchi, lhp, Japan

[davell]

Iwakuma is coming over as well, isn't he?

[dew1679666265]

BA's scouting reports from the 2009 WBC:

 

Thanks! I think I'd have a lot of interest in Ryu in the little bit I read there. If there are multiple players being posted all in the same offseason, it seems it would drop the overall bidding on those posting fees. Maybe making Darvish or Ryu a little cheaper to win the rights to negotiate with them.

[dew1679666265]

Very, very minor news but still may be of some interest on here:

 

The White Sox announced that they signed left-handers Donnie Veal and Jose Quintana. Veal, 27, posted a 4.22 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 in the Pirates' system this past season. Quintana, 22, posted a 2.91 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 for the Yankees' Class A team in 2011.

[Clem Fandango]

Very, very minor news but still may be of some interest on here:

 

The White Sox announced that they signed left-handers Donnie Veal and Jose Quintana. Veal, 27, posted a 4.22 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 in the Pirates' system this past season. Quintana, 22, posted a 2.91 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 for the Yankees' Class A team in 2011.

 

I know 22 is a little old for Class A... but Quintana's numbers aren't that terrible. Why did the Yankees let him go?

[UMFan83]

Some radio guy in Miami is saying that Reyes to the Marlins is close to a done deal.

 

@SedanoShow

Jorge Sedano

Marlins returned from Cespedes workout. Source tells me Reyes "almost a done deal." Team also inquiring about A's Gio Gonzalez availability.

[El Duderino]

There was also a rotoworld blurb about the marlins meeting with pujols.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Carroll Nearing Multiyear Deal With Unknown Team

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [November 11 at 7:38am CST]

Jamey Carroll is nearing a multiyear deal with an unknown team, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter links). The Tigers, Rockies, Dodgers and Indians have been mentioned as potential suitors for Carroll, a Millenium Sports Management client who is expected to sign within a few days.

 

The 37-year-old infielder played shortstop and second base for the Dodgers in 2011, posting a .290/.359/.347 line in 510 plate appearances. He hasn't posted an on-base percentage below .355 in any of the past four seasons and he has a career mark of .356 after a decade in the Major Leagues. Carroll, who also has experience at third base and in the outfield, stole ten bases without getting caught this past season. He is not a ranked free agent and won't cost his new team a draft pick.

 

 

He plays the game the white right way. Sorry, freudian slip.

[jersey cubs fan]

Somewhat strange bit of info.

 

At a fundraiser for ALS research this week David Wright was honored. He was sitting at a table with Jeff Loria, and when speaking he said something to the effect of "I would like my teammate to stay to my left, but I'm not sure if that will be possible with Mr. Loria around."

[Guest]

Somewhat strange bit of info.

 

At a fundraiser for ALS research this week David Wright was honored. He was sitting at a table with Jeff Loria, and when speaking he said something to the effect of "I would like my teammate to stay to my left, but I'm not sure if that will be possible with Mr. Loria around."

There's been speculation of Florida signing pretty much everyone this winter. Signing Reyes might finally allow them to convince Hanley to move to another position.

[davell]

I guess it just adds to the rumors of Reyes to Florida.

[SouthSideRyan]

Somewhat strange bit of info.

 

At a fundraiser for ALS research this week David Wright was honored. He was sitting at a table with Jeff Loria, and when speaking he said something to the effect of "I would like my teammate to stay to my left, but I'm not sure if that will be possible with Mr. Loria around."

 

Reyes going to die and go to hell or something?

[jersey cubs fan]

Somewhat strange bit of info.

 

At a fundraiser for ALS research this week David Wright was honored. He was sitting at a table with Jeff Loria, and when speaking he said something to the effect of "I would like my teammate to stay to my left, but I'm not sure if that will be possible with Mr. Loria around."

 

Reyes going to die and go to hell or something?

 

No he's leaving the Mets.