Jon Heyman Hypocritical in Support of Jim Riggleman
sportsillustrated.cnn.comNationals manager Jim Riggleman was vilified in some circles for leaving a job when he had a contract. But Riggleman didn’t leave until well after it became obvious to him he was not wanted….
The move to quit with the Nationals a game over .500 was derided by many who believe that folks should fulfill their contracts (even though nobody believes the reverse, that the employer is obligated to allow an employee to fulfill one). Riggleman understood that he would be let go eventually, and rather than stay where he wasn’t wanted, he opted out. Good for him.
Heyman frames the situation as one of Riggleman vs. management, when the real story is his abandonment of his players
Manny Ramirez was roundly criticized for quitting on his Red Sox teammates midseason when his option year wasn’t being picked up by management.
He consistently quit on teams. And while he worked hard, it was only on his terms.
Why the disconnect in opinions? I have a few ideas, but I’ll keep them to myself.
Brewers a Likely Destination for Josh Hamilton?
Among the non-World Series related MLB buzz this week is talk of the Milwaukee Brewers being interested in pursuing Josh Hamilton to man its outfield alongside perrenial MVP threat Ryan Braun.
Hamilton’s contract with the Texas Rangers concluded once the Rangers were eliminated by the Orioles in the A.L. Wild Card game, and it’s unclear at this point what he plans to do. His disappointing finish to the season might prompt him to test the free agent waters and seek a fresh start somewhere else.
As Jon Heyman explains, Hamilton & Milwaukee might be a great idea:
The Brewers believe Milwaukee is a viable market for Hamilton, and it doesn’t hurt that their hitting coach is Johnny Narron, who is very close to Hamilton from their days together in Cincinnati and Texas. Narron was Hamilton’s original “life coach” with the Reds and Rangers. In Texas, he generally thrived and is credited for having only two relapses.
Any team taking on Hamilton should probably consider that aspect, since Josh so famously overcame tremendous odds to become one of the game’s elite players.
There’s no doubt we’ll hear more about this as soon as the World Series concludes, as Hamilton hitting free agency will likely be one of the most-discussed themes once the offseason rolls around.
“Asked about their budget, one Dodgers person responded on Monday, "What budget?”
—Jon Heyman, ‘What budget?’ Dodgers willing to open vault for Greinke
I can’t help it; I really, really love hearing this, with or without the context of Greinke.
Lets Talk | Trade Possibilities
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com is reporting that the Rangers are “expected to make right-handers Scott Feldman and Mark Lowe available at the trade deadline.” He goes on to suggest that “GM Jon Daniels will look for a right-handed hitting outfielder in return.”
If in fact this information is true, it reveals two things about the Rangers plan going forward…1) They plan on using Neftali Feliz in the bullpen…at least for this year, and 2) either way, Feldman will not be back next year.
One of the concerns I had with the signing of Roy Oswalt was whether or not that contract would hinder the Rangers at the trade deadline. This news tells me that the Rangers are thinking along the same lines. The fact that they would be willing to part with Feldman is no big surprise, but including Lowe in trade talks is a bit of a surprise. Lowe is only 28 and has pitched well this season…2.66 ERA with 8.9 SO/9 ratio. His salary is manageable at 1.7 mil, but he will be a free agent at the end of the season and will likely get at least 2-3 mil per season on the open market. Feldman has been up and down ever since his 17-8 season in 2009, but fills a role here as a spot starter/long relief man.
The problem with Feldman is his contract. There is a club option for 9.25 mil next season…which the Rangers will obviously decline. That leaves them with a 600K buyout to cut ties with Feldman, which is also a good bargaining chip in any trade talks because the team that takes Feldman will have an out after this season. I would imagine that the Rangers would be asked to take on part of Fledman’s contract, but that has been a sticking point in the past. If they would not have signed Oswalt, they could easily eat a portion of Feldman’s contract to help facilitate a trade. Now, I doubt that they will want to take on any of his contract. Best case scenario is that the Rangers would pay the 600K which in affect pays for the buyout.
In my mind, it would seem that both Lowe and Feldman would be a package deal. A team would most likely be more interested in Lowe and the Rangers would want to include Feldman to free up salary. I’m not sure that this plan will work. While there are teams that need a starter, I’m not sure how many teams would be willing to pay the remainder of Feldman’s contract just to fill a spot for 3 months. The Rangers really need Feldman to pitch well over the next 2-3 weeks. If he can show that he can in fact be a starter again, that will undoubtedly help the Rangers not only on the field, but in terms of a trade deadline deal.
Lets take a look at one possible trade option that I have in my mind
The Rangers trade Feldman, Lowe, and probably at least one prospect to San Diego for Carlos Quentin and Luke Gregerson. The salaries are close and this deal would help both sides. San Diego cannot afford to keep Quentin. He’s a two time All-Star that has hit at least 21 HR in each of the last 4 seasons. He will be a free agent after this year and will most likely be worth between 8-10 mil a year on the open market. I doubt a rebuilding team like San Diego will be willing to shell out that kind of money…and even if they are…there’s no way Quentin wants to play for a last place team. Gregerson is a reliever that has closed games in the minors.
Feldman could step into their rotation for 3 months and if he does well, there is a chance he could re-sign with San Diego if they can promise him a chance to start…which is what Feldman wants. Lowe is a young power arm that could develop into a closer. San Diego has Houston Street, but he can’t stay on the field. If they gave Lowe a chance to close, they would increase their chances to re-sign him…and at a reasonable price.
The question would be which/how many prospects would the Rangers have to include to get this deal done? I think Engel Beltre and/or Julio Borbon would have to be on this list. Beltre has been a solid prospect for a few years and Borbon has been passed up in the Ranger organization by Leonys Martin and Craig Gentry. Borbon is only 26 and is hitting well in Triple-A. On the season he’s hitting .304 with 5 HR, 24 RBI, and 10 SB. The Rangers would love to get something for Borbon and I’m sure he would love the opportunity to get back to the big leagues.
What do you guys think? Does this seem like a reasonable trade offer? Any other possible trade scenarios on your mind?
Derek Holland and Rangers Talking Extension
Jeff Wilson of the Ft Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that both sides will announce a deal sometime today. While the terms are not being disclosed as yet, it’s believed to be around 5 yrs $28 mil…according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
This is BIG news. Derek Holland looks poised to be a top of the rotation guy and I like that the Rangers are ready to lock him up for a while. I look for Holland to have a big year.
He can be silly and crazy off the field, but he also knows when to buckle down and take care of business…that’s a sign of a real leader and winner. People often think that leaders are these rah-rah in-your-face kind of guys but in my experience a true leader is someone that everyone can relate to. Holland seems to have “It”. His colorful personality keeps guys loose and helps them trust him…then they see his competitiveness and maturity on the mound which can only motivate the rest of the guys to step up their games. I like the way this starting to shape up.
Hey, Reality!!!!
paullebowitz.com.previewyoursite.comOwnership makes the final decision on who the new Red Sox manager will be. Period.
