Payroll and some options for SP

[chansen]

Here are some more options that may be outside looking in on making the rotation for their respective teams.

 

Yankees- Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes

Blue Jays- David Purcey, Scott Richmond

White Sox- Clayton Richard, Lance Broadway

Indians- Aaron Laffey, Anthony Reyes

Tigers- Dontrelle Willis

Royals- Horacio Ramirez

Twins- Boof Bonser

Phillies- Adam Eaton, Kyle Kendrick

Reds- Homer Bailey

Diamondbacks- Yusmeiro Petit

Giants- Noah Lowry

 

 

These are just some guys to keep an eye out for in ST.

[Milltownhooker]

The more I think about it. Odalis Perez makes the most sense. I can't see anyway he gets over a couple million.

[RU Rah Rah]

"Lance Broadway" almost sounds like a porn star. (And, looking at his WHIP in the minors and majors, he sort of pitches like one.)

[phxMILWfan]

This might be childish but I don't want a guy named Boof. When your team doesn't get taken seriously I don't want one of our few appearances on national television to be with Boof Bonser as our starter.

[RU Rah Rah]

Lowry is intriguing, if his arm is OK. I read that Bochy hasn't yet settled on a #5 starter, so they could be looking to move him.

 

Per MLB.com: "People throughout baseball are beginning to believe that the Giants will, or should, hold onto Sanchez and trade Noah Lowry instead if the latter proves during Cactus League exhibitions that he has overcome the forearm trouble that sidelined him last year."

 

This could an interesting possibility (although his '07 numbers were a little wacky -- good ERA, horrible WHIP and K/BB).

[madrx]

I noticed on mlbtraderumors that Tampa's Jeff Niemann is also out of options. He had one good and one poor start early in the season last year. His numbers have been pretty good at AAA the past two years, with K/9 over 8. He still gives up a fair number of walks and some homers though. Tampa seems to have a lot of depth and maybe they would consider trading him at this point.

[bsglorydays]

Madrx, I think Niemann would be a nice target for the Brewers. As you mentioned, he is out of options. Barring a bunch of injuries in spring training, Niemann definitely does not have a rotation spot and likely won't make the bullpen either. He also has had trouble warming up quickly over the course of his career, so he is better suited as a starter. He's had a nice minor league career (career ERA of 3.58 and 9.12 K/9) and really has nothing left to prove in AAA.

 

The question is what it would take to get him. He's had some injuries, but he could be a good risk to take if the price is right. If he doesn't make the Rays, they would have to pass him thru waivers and TB would get nothing for him. If the Brewers could offer a decent prospect with options remaining, they might be able to get him. At best it could be a steal and at worst Niemann would add depth to a thin rotation and/or pitch in long relief.

 

Adding Niemann also would not change the financial outlook of the team in terms of players payroll, since he will make the league minimum or close to it. The Brewers would still have the flexibility to add a player during the year if they need to try to make a run.

[JohnBriggs12]

Nieman might not be able to replace CC as a pitcher, but I'd like the Brewer chances in bench clearing brawls with McClung and Nieman (6'9" 280). Seriously, he'd be a nice pickup.

[TheCrew07]

As far as depth moves go, I could get behind Niemann. I'm not sure the Brewers would even have to trade much for him if it's approaching opening day. TB has no room for him with Price in the rotation, wanted to move him last year at the deadline for a bat, and he's out of options. A reverse Gross trade might work here, we throw them an A baller who gets results but isn't really projectable in return. Niemann was way too high of a pick just to let him walk as a FA for nothing. Then again the Brewers would have to stick him in the rotation right away or they'd be in the same boat wouldn't they?

[logan82]

I really don't care who they get at this point. They need a 6th starter because the 5 guys we have now are not going to make it through the season.

[RU Rah Rah]

I really don't care who they get at this point. They need a 6th starter because the 5 guys we have now are not going to make it through the season.

Precisely. And DM has to know this. (At least I hope so.)

 

Niemann wouldn't be bad, either, as the de facto #6 guy.

[Teatoe993]

Less than two weeks to go and we still have no depth. I'd take Ben Hendrickson at this point. Come on Melvin! Do you even have a pulse?

[Oldcity]

There are still a handful of unsigned pitchers. Several teams don't have their rotation set yet. It will work out.

[chansen]

Hopefully we get someone before every team realizes they can get a pitcher for cheap $$$. I do agree with you, it will work out. I was mad when we didn't sign anyone, but now there are a lot of FA unsigned. I didn't think it would be this bad come February. In the coming week I think we see the market open up a little.

[chansen]

Jeff Niemann would be a great option in my opinion. 25 years old and has a huge upside.

 

9-5 with a 3.59 in 24 starts with the AAA team of the Rays. He also threw 3 complete games with one shutout. He did get some MLB experience last season with the Rays. His K/BB ratio is ok.

 

A little bit of information on Niemann:

 

Assets

Is a mammoth physical specimen at 6-9, 280 pounds and can intimidate batters when on the hill. Also boasts tremendous stuff.

 

Flaws

When he's around the strike zone too much, he tends to get hit hard. Must also avoid injuries in order to maximize his starting potential.

 

Career potential

A solid mid-rotation starter.

-----------------------------------------

 

His movement ratings are pretty good at 76-77.

Has 4 pitches (fastball 92.3mph, slider 79.2, curveball 74.4, and changeup 81.7)

18 mph difference in pitches

Projected to have an era around 4.5

[chansen]

Looking at the list of players out of options for 2009 done by MLBTR.

 

A few to look at:

 

Anthony Reyes

- we all know he posted a dismal 2-14 record in 2007

- he did decent last season

- 2007 fip= 5.25 vs actual 6.04 era

- 2008 fip= 4.15 vs actual 2.76 era

- projections are for him to do good this year (26gs, 4.20era, 4.50fip)

- has 3 pitches- fastball, curveball, and changeup

- 91mph fastball and a 79mph changeup

-

 

Boof Bonser

- was used out of the bullpen most of last season

- has good stats as a starter

- projected 4.50 era and fip

- actual era in 2008= 5.93 while fip was only 4.19

- even distribution of fly balls and ground balls

- has 4 pitches: fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup

- 92mph fastball with an 80mph curve

- velocity has not changed since 2006

- value was at 5.5M while he was paid 400K

[chansen]

Here are some more options that may be outside looking in on making the rotation for their respective teams.

 

Yankees- Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes

Blue Jays- David Purcey, Scott Richmond

White Sox- Clayton Richard, Lance Broadway

Indians- Aaron Laffey, Anthony Reyes

Tigers- Dontrelle Willis

Royals- Horacio Ramirez

Twins- Boof Bonser

Phillies- Adam Eaton, Kyle Kendrick

Reds- Homer Bailey

Diamondbacks- Yusmeiro Petit

Giants- Noah Lowry

 

 

These are just some guys to keep an eye out for in ST.

Clayton Richard

- Only one year in the Majors but is young (25)

- 2-5 with a 6.04era for the Sox last season but his fip was 4.10

- his k/9 is a little low at 5.5

- pitched 47.2 inn last season and had a ground ball % of 49.7 compared to fly ball 26.9%

- not an overpowering pitcher with his fastball at 89.9mph

 

Aaron Laffey

- Decent stats in the MLB last 2 seasons

- rather low strikeout ratio in MLB around 4.25k per 9 innings

- 54.9% to 26.3% ground ball to fly ball

- Not a monster of an arm at all- fastball of 87mph

- 3 pitches that tops out at 87 and low of 78

 

Dontrelle Willis

- was terrible last season after high expectations

- bothered by injury

- 35bb to 18 strikeouts

- 18 hits in 24 innings but gave up 25 er

- velocity is not the same after the injury of course and has declined since 2006

- 88mph fastball and low pitch of 80mph

 

Horacio Ramirez

- has mlb experience

- used out of the bullpen last season

- 3.13 k/9 last season

- encouraging only giving up 1hr in 37.1 inn

- career gb% of 49.7% to 28.1 fly balls

- actually raised velocity from 88.8 to 90.1 in 2008

- does use 5 pitches and low of 78mph

 

Adam Eaton

- projected 5.10 era

- k/9 have been on the decline (6.99 in 2005 to 4.79 last year)

- relatively the same gb/fb ratio

- 89.5mph fastball to 74.7mph curve

- not worth the 8million he earned in 2008

 

Kyle Kendrick

- 2 seasons in the MLB

- fip was higher both years

- 2007 era= 3.87 fip= 4.94

- 2008 era= 5.49 fip= 5.55

- k/9 is under 4

- only an 89mph fastball and uses 3 pitches with a low velocity of 81 (only a 8mph difference)

 

Homer Bailey

- 0-6 last season

- fip was 6.41

- k/bb is not good

- 43%-31% gb to fb

- 92mph fastball

- 4 pitches with a low of 77mph curve

 

Yusmeiro Petit

- last 2 seasons with arizona

- fip was higher than era last 2 years

- 6.5 k/9

- career 32 to 50% ground ball to fly ball (not good for MP)

- only an 86mph fastball

 

Of the list it seems Clayton Richard, Aaron Laffey, and Haracio Ramirez

[RU Rah Rah]

Sure, something will work out, eventually, but is the team going to get a good result simply waiting around and for a quality SP to fall into its lap a month before the season starts?

[TooLiveBrew]

That assumption is problematic, though. There really isn't a reason to assume the organization is "waiting around" -- things just haven't worked out yet, and that can be every bit as much a good thing as a bad thing

[sbrylski]

Odalis Perez signed a non-guaranteed, minor league contract with the Nationals - LINK. Must have liked it there, you would think someone would give him a major league deal (Hint: maybe the Brewers.) And I'm sure many other teams would have given him a minor league contract.

[chansen]

My thoughts as well. Good deal for the Nats.

[BADGERJOBOB]

There are still a handful of unsigned pitchers. Several teams don't have their rotation set yet. It will work out.

Ok but are any of those teams, a playoff team from last year with a legit chance of competing for the playoffs this year and is their current ace a pitcher, a pitcher who missed almost all of last year and still hasn't pitched an entire year in the big leagues???????

 

You win with pitching and defense and there are way too many question marks with this starting unit (along with no depth) to seriously consider this team as a legit playoff team. Than add the subpar defense at multiple positions and this team could be in a world of hurt this upcoming season.

[And That]

You win with pitching and defense

 

You win by scoring more runs than the other team.

 

Tom Glavine and the Braves might not be able to work anything out... according to MLBTR, he's looking for $3 mil guaranteed with another $3 mil in performance bonuses. It might be more for us, but it's something to think about the longer he goes unsigned.

[Invader3K]

Glavine might be nice to have as insurance. I'm not sure what shape he's in right now, but hearing him talk at the end of last season, he seemed really motivated to come back and have at least one more good season.

[And That]

If nothing else, Glavine might be able to teach Parra, Cappy, the Wright brothers, et al, something about lefty pitching even if he only gives us 150 innings or so. But he may not fit in the budget, so probably not.