Misc. Free Agent News

[Post Count Padder]

Bullet dodged: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/02/giants-to-sign-ramon-ortiz.html

Phew. He's not awful depth to have (Ok, he might be) but he makes little sense when we just retained Rodrigo Lopez for the same reason. Good to see another team took the bait.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Scott Kazmir Considering Mets, Five Other Clubs

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [February 22 at 10:07am CST]

Free agent left-hander Scott Kazmir is considering six teams and could decide on his next club within a few days, ESPN.com's Buster Olney tweets. The Mets, who selected Kazmir in the first round of the 2002 draft, are among the interested teams.

 

Kazmir worked out in front of about ten scouts last week, throwing in the 86-89 mph range. The 28-year-old appeared in one game for the Angels last year, but got released after struggling at Triple-A. The Yankees are not interested, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets.

 

All signs seem to point to him being cashed, but he would be a very high reward reclamation project, and the type of target that Theo would go after. The Cubs haven't been linked to him, but there are 5 mystery teams. I'd take a look at Kazmir over scrap heap depth chart fodder like Robertson or Lopez any day of the week.

[NonProfitCow]

Scott Kazmir Considering Mets, Five Other Clubs

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [February 22 at 10:07am CST]

Free agent left-hander Scott Kazmir is considering six teams and could decide on his next club within a few days, ESPN.com's Buster Olney tweets. The Mets, who selected Kazmir in the first round of the 2002 draft, are among the interested teams.

 

Kazmir worked out in front of about ten scouts last week, throwing in the 86-89 mph range. The 28-year-old appeared in one game for the Angels last year, but got released after struggling at Triple-A. The Yankees are not interested, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets.

 

All signs seem to point to him being cashed, but he would be a very high reward reclamation project, and the type of target that Theo would go after. The Cubs haven't been linked to him, but there are 5 mystery teams. I'd take a look at Kazmir over scrap heap depth chart fodder like Robertson or Lopez any day of the week.

He's got a shredded shoulder, is throwing 86-89 and can't throw strikes. His upside is now LOOGY.

[Backtobanks]

Scott Kazmir Considering Mets, Five Other Clubs

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [February 22 at 10:07am CST]

Free agent left-hander Scott Kazmir is considering six teams and could decide on his next club within a few days, ESPN.com's Buster Olney tweets. The Mets, who selected Kazmir in the first round of the 2002 draft, are among the interested teams.

 

Kazmir worked out in front of about ten scouts last week, throwing in the 86-89 mph range. The 28-year-old appeared in one game for the Angels last year, but got released after struggling at Triple-A. The Yankees are not interested, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets.

 

All signs seem to point to him being cashed, but he would be a very high reward reclamation project, and the type of target that Theo would go after. The Cubs haven't been linked to him, but there are 5 mystery teams. I'd take a look at Kazmir over scrap heap depth chart fodder like Robertson or Lopez any day of the week.

He's got a shredded shoulder, is throwing 86-89 and can't throw strikes. His upside is now LOOGY.

 

So you agree that he's better than Robertson and Lopez. :lol:

[NonProfitCow]

So you agree that he's better than Robertson and Lopez. :lol:

fair enough

[Little Slide Rooter]

Mike Minor annoyed Braves people by suggesting he'd like a trade if he isn't in the rotation, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.

 

dibs.

[javy knows my name]

I want the Braves' problems.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

GetitdoneJed!

[NonProfitCow]

The Royals are cookin a somethin up...

[NonProfitCow]

The Royals are cookin a somethin up...

and that something is signing Salvador Perez to a 5 year deal. Odd.

[Guest]

5 years, 7 million, and 3 team options on the end. Someone fire his agent already, goodness.

[davell]

Mike Minor is an extremely interesting option. The Braves are the exact opposite of us too: they need hitting prospects as badly as we need pitching prospects. If we know(doubtful) that we're getting Soler, trading a guy like Szczur for Minor, makes sense for both teams. Of course, Szczur is a "love or hate" type guy, so it'd obviously depend which end of that the Braves fall into. If not Szczur, a guy like Sappelt, together with Vitters or Lake, and maybe a low level upside guy like Golden, could make it work.

[TruffleShuffle]

Mike Minor is an extremely interesting option. The Braves are the exact opposite of us too: they need hitting prospects as badly as we need pitching prospects. If we know(doubtful) that we're getting Soler, trading a guy like Szczur for Minor, makes sense for both teams. Of course, Szczur is a "love or hate" type guy, so it'd obviously depend which end of that the Braves fall into. If not Szczur, a guy like Sappelt, together with Vitters or Lake, and maybe a low level upside guy like Golden, could make it work.

 

trading a major-league ready starter for a guy like szczur would be absurd. the braves would be looking for someone like brett jackson in return, a (nearly) major-league ready offensive prospect.

[Outshined_One]

Mike Minor is an extremely interesting option. The Braves are the exact opposite of us too: they need hitting prospects as badly as we need pitching prospects. If we know(doubtful) that we're getting Soler, trading a guy like Szczur for Minor, makes sense for both teams. Of course, Szczur is a "love or hate" type guy, so it'd obviously depend which end of that the Braves fall into. If not Szczur, a guy like Sappelt, together with Vitters or Lake, and maybe a low level upside guy like Golden, could make it work.

 

trading a major-league ready starter for a guy like szczur would be absurd. the braves would be looking for someone like brett jackson in return, a (nearly) major-league ready offensive prospect.

 

I'm going to have to side with Truffle on this one. Minor isn't quite on the same level as Latos/Pineda/Cahill/Gio, but he still should command a solid return if the Braves decide to trade him. He's young, cheap, talented, and capable of contributing immediately to any team's rotation. It would probably take Brett Jackson plus a solid upside guy in the low minors (maybe Rhee or Torreyes) to get the discussions started, in my opinion.

[davearm2]

Mike Minor is an extremely interesting option. The Braves are the exact opposite of us too: they need hitting prospects as badly as we need pitching prospects. If we know(doubtful) that we're getting Soler, trading a guy like Szczur for Minor, makes sense for both teams. Of course, Szczur is a "love or hate" type guy, so it'd obviously depend which end of that the Braves fall into. If not Szczur, a guy like Sappelt, together with Vitters or Lake, and maybe a low level upside guy like Golden, could make it work.

 

trading a major-league ready starter for a guy like szczur would be absurd. the braves would be looking for someone like brett jackson in return, a (nearly) major-league ready offensive prospect.

 

I'm going to have to side with Truffle on this one. Minor isn't quite on the same level as Latos/Pineda/Cahill/Gio, but he still should command a solid return if the Braves decide to trade him. He's young, cheap, talented, and capable of contributing immediately to any team's rotation. It would probably take Brett Jackson plus a solid upside guy in the low minors (maybe Rhee or Torreyes) to get the discussions started, in my opinion.

Or even, Minor and so-and-so for Garza... or even Castro.

 

I'm sure the Braves want to get better at the MLB level if they're trading a guy like Minor.

[huff]

garza+byrd+barney for Jurrjens+Minor+Prado

 

 

fair? I just have this uneasy feeling of garza not staying healthy.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Mike Minor is an extremely interesting option. The Braves are the exact opposite of us too: they need hitting prospects as badly as we need pitching prospects. If we know(doubtful) that we're getting Soler, trading a guy like Szczur for Minor, makes sense for both teams. Of course, Szczur is a "love or hate" type guy, so it'd obviously depend which end of that the Braves fall into. If not Szczur, a guy like Sappelt, together with Vitters or Lake, and maybe a low level upside guy like Golden, could make it work.

 

trading a major-league ready starter for a guy like szczur would be absurd. the braves would be looking for someone like brett jackson in return, a (nearly) major-league ready offensive prospect.

 

I'm going to have to side with Truffle on this one. Minor isn't quite on the same level as Latos/Pineda/Cahill/Gio, but he still should command a solid return if the Braves decide to trade him. He's young, cheap, talented, and capable of contributing immediately to any team's rotation. It would probably take Brett Jackson plus a solid upside guy in the low minors (maybe Rhee or Torreyes) to get the discussions started, in my opinion.

Or even, Minor and so-and-so for Garza... or even Castro.

 

I'm sure the Braves want to get better at the MLB level if they're trading a guy like Minor.

 

Definitely no on Castro. As for Garza, the reason for the possibility of trading Minor would be a log jam of young, starting pitching, so there wouldnt be reason to trade him for another starter who's about to get very expensive.

[davell]

Hmm, I would think a little luster has fallen off of Minor. He was a top 40ish guy, heading into 2011 and I would have to think since he's had a less than stellar start to his major league career, he could be had for a little less now than if he were dealt this time even last year. My honest guess is Szczur is a top 125ish guy on most guys lists. BA has him lots higher obviously and we all know lists are fun, but not to be taken all that seriously. So, does a lefty starter with 2/3 upside have more value than a potential top of the order hitter with some pop, that plays a very solid CF? The more I think about it, I guess so. But not Brett Jackson type talent. Just more than Szczur. Maybe you send Szczur and Barney? Hell, they could use him, even if I think he's got little value. If not Barney, maybe Vitters or Lake with Szczur? I'm trying not to send trash over in this, so if I'm guilty, I don't realize it honestly. Bottom line though, is if we could land Minor without having to give up Brett, Rizzo, or Baez, I'm all for it.

[davell]

I do agree they'd prefer major league talent and all we've got to offer them realistically that fits them is Wood and Barney. Honestly, I know Minor is much more highly thought of than Wood, but I wouldn't want to make a lefty for lefty plus swap. Wood could easily have a better career, for all we know. Maybe we don't match up all that well. But, I'd offer Barney, Szczur, and give them their choice of Vitters or Lake and make sure they said no at least.

[davearm2]

How about an offer that improves the Braves' chances in 2012.

 

If ever there was a team looking for a deal that puts them over the proverbial top, this would be it.

[TruffleShuffle]

Hmm, I would think a little luster has fallen off of Minor. He was a top 40ish guy, heading into 2011 and I would have to think since he's had a less than stellar start to his major league career, he could be had for a little less now than if he were dealt this time even last year. My honest guess is Szczur is a top 125ish guy on most guys lists. BA has him lots higher obviously and we all know lists are fun, but not to be taken all that seriously. So, does a lefty starter with 2/3 upside have more value than a potential top of the order hitter with some pop, that plays a very solid CF? The more I think about it, I guess so. But not Brett Jackson type talent. Just more than Szczur. Maybe you send Szczur and Barney? Hell, they could use him, even if I think he's got little value. If not Barney, maybe Vitters or Lake with Szczur? I'm trying not to send trash over in this, so if I'm guilty, I don't realize it honestly. Bottom line though, is if we could land Minor without having to give up Brett, Rizzo, or Baez, I'm all for it.

 

it doesn't do much for them to add players who are a couple of years from making any impact at the big league level. barney doesn't have that much trade value because he's a lousy hitter, and szczur and vitters are extremely unlikely to be posting major league average numbers before 2014.

 

minor has averaged almost one K per IP in the big leagues during his age 22/23 seasons, and the reason his numbers appear mediocre is because he's had a .359 babip in the majors. his FIP and xFIP are a run lower than his ERA. he's major league ready and there's a good chance that he'll be a solid #3, so trading him for prospects who are still 2 years away and aren't that highly regarded would be seriously dumb.

 

it's worth keeping an eye on him in case the braves put too much weight on his big league ERA, but that organization generally is not run by morons.

[davell]

How about an offer that improves the Braves' chances in 2012.

 

If ever there was a team looking for a deal that puts them over the proverbial top, this would be it.

I'm working with what we've got man......It's not like we're trading Castro and it's not likely they've got an interest in Garza. We unfortunately don't fit that criteria. If there's a team with a solid SS or possibly an OFer that's not going to hurt their current team, by dealing them away, that's the trade partner the Braves need. Minor's not worth us giving up Brett for and obviously, Castro's not an option here. In the end, maybe we're not an ideal trade partner for them, but Minor isn't even all that likely to get a full season's worth of starts for them and their system needs an influx of hitting, so I hope we can entice them somehow. Even if it's not likely.

[Little Slide Rooter]

He may have lost a bit of luster, but he's still a 24 year old, potential front end starter. If the Braves trade him, it will be costly. Looking at their big league needs, all they seem to need is maybe a left fielder, as they don't seem all that confident in Prado going forward and an heir to Chipper. If nobody can fill those needs, an impressive prospect package will be the cost. Maybe McNutt, Szczur, and Lake or Vitters and we could perhaps get another piece out of it.

[MWV]

Not FA news, but certainly miscellaneous: The Astros are moving Brett Myers to closer.

[Cubswin11]

Not FA news, but certainly miscellaneous: The Astros are moving Brett Myers to closer.

Hasn't he been pretty good for them as a starter? Or did he just have a few good starts? I can't remember. Either way I find it hard to believe that the Astros have 5 guys who are better than him to take a starting spot away.