Dallas to Prior: Non-Tenders of Note (Updated)
TOWER GROVE — So before baseball gets knee-deep in performance-enhancing slop tomorrow — check out the late night Associated Press report; the P-D story with a local bent is up now — it’s time do a little trolling through the non-tender reports.
The deadline is tonight for teams to tender contracts for the 2008 season to arbitration-eligible players and others with renewable contracts. The process usually spits out a gem or two, including a certain World Series MVP that the Cardinals plucked out of the non-tender bin a few winters ago. Not sure if there are any David Ecksteins in this group, but there are some intriguing names.
And fittingly the best of the bunch might be another shortstop.
A instant look as reports start surfacing of the non-tenders, starting with a player that has to have caught the Cardinals’ eyes:
JOSH TOWERS, RHP: During the winter meetings it was mentioned that the Blue Jays were shopping Towers. Though there wasn’t a clear connection between the Cardinals and Toronto, we all know that the Cardinals are in the market for starting pitching — any starting pitcher. In a report on MLB.com, Towers mentioned a desire to seek a spot with San Diego (see below for another RHP of intrigue who could be a Padre). No other way to put it: He struggled the past couple seasons with Toronto. The promising righthander went 13-12 with a 3.71 ERA in 2005, but skidded through a 7-20 mark with a 6.20 ERA in his past 40 games, 13 of which were in relief. He lost his last four decisions and Toronto lost all of the final seven games Towers appeared in during the 2007 season.
But context, context, context. That was mostly in the American League East.
Several struggling pitchers have found a second wind in the National League after taking a pounding in the AL. Towers went 0-3 with a 7.80 ERA against the Yankees last summer and 0-3 with 6.98 ERA against the Red Sox the season before. But before you chalk Towers up as a guy whose career could use an NL salve, better check the numbers for the past two seasons:
Vs. NL opponents he’s 0-4 with a 8.01 ERA in 30 1/3 innings.
Still. Starting pitching being what it is this offseason and the Cardinals need being what it is for the 2008 season this could be a match. If not, maybe the other guy with an eye on San Diego will be interested … Maybe the Cardinals can woo him with the chance of retribution. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
ADAM EVERETT, SS: Not a surprise given Houston’s massive deal today for former MVP and ruffle-feathered Baltimore Oriole Miguel Tejada. MLB.com’s Alyson Footer reported an hour ago that Everett learned this evening that the Astros have a new shortstop and he’ll soon be looking for a new employer. I’ve made the case in here before that Everett is long overdue for a Gold Glove. His offense is seriously lacking and has seen a recent decline, but looks semi-familiar, what with that .299 career on-base percentage and .232 batting average last season. This past summer was his first since becoming a regular of Houston’s infield that he did not get at least 380 at-bats. He’ll be 31 before the start of next season.
DALLAS McPHERSON, 3B: It wasn’t too long ago that McPherson was the big-bopping third base of the future — not only for the Angels but for fantasy baseball gurus around the country. McPherson, 27, missed all of the 2007 season because of back surgery, which he had in January. McPherson has been bothered by back trouble since his first shot at being a major-league regular, but he’s not too far removed from being one of the best power hitters in minor-league baseball. In 2004, he hit 40 homers and had 126 RBIs, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A. He has 18 home runs in 360 career at-bats, but he hasn’t been able to stick with the big-league club in any of his chances. McPherson played some in instructional league for the Angels this past fall. Interest in him will rest solely on the health of his back. He was always more bat than glove, but if you’re a team who may have to move a third baseman sometime in 2008 or before 2009 then maybe there’s a chance here worth taking …
EMIL BROWN, OF: Not really a name for the Cardinals to jot down, because he’s already been a Cardinal (however briefly). Still, it’s interesting to see the Royals non-tender their RBI leader for three seasons running. The Kansas City Star reported the decision a few hours ago. Looks like the Royals are making room for the guy they hope will be their RBI leader in 2008, recently signed-and-suspended Jose Guillen.
MARK HENDRICKSON, LHP: Doesn’t have particularly eye-catching numbers. This was the first year since 2002 that he did not pitch at least 150 innings, but in three of his four years with at least 150 innings he allowed more than 200 hits. So he handles innings and hitters often handle him. Yet, in 2006 — which he spent with Tampa Bay and the Dodgers — Hendrickson had some interesting numbers. He held opponents to a .241 batting average while a Ray, and as a Dodger he had a 1.60 K/BB ratio. That ratio leapt to 3.17 this past season, part of which he spent as a reliever (92 Ks, 29 BBs). He made $2.925 million in 2007 and will get attention as a No. 5 starter or a depth pitcher, who can handle innings and has that look of a pitcher a team will give the ol’ change-of-scenery try.
… and …
MARK PRIOR, RHP: And that brings us to the news that came across just 15 minutes ago, according to this site here and confirmed by Mizzou alum Paul Sullivan at the Tribune. (Sullivan has one of the best ledes of the week there, folks.) Like Everett’s defense, Prior’s possible availability has been mentioned in this (cyber) space before. Prior is 42-29 in his career as a Cub with a 3.51 ERA. Prior is coming off more arm trouble. He has been limited to nine appearances since the start of the 2006 season and did not pitch all in the majors in 2007.
During a visit to Wrigley Field earlier this season, a few other reporters and I discussed how there wasn’t a pitcher out there who fit the profile of a Cardinals-type signing as Prior. Injury. Great promise. Let loose by a team tired of waiting, waiting, waiting. Cardinals have pounced on similar pitchers before. San Diego is probably the early favorite as the Padres will allow Prior to rehab and pitch close to home. Coming out of Southern Cal, Prior was 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA in 2003.
We’re all familiar with where his career went after that.
Eager to see where it and his towel drills go next.
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Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
Aaron Miles is better than Cesaer Izturiz and Adam Kennedy and a lot cheaper. Why would the Cards not sign him but sign Izturiz?
If the Cards sign Adam Everett, I will conclude that our general manager is incompetent. Having lived in Houston, I know firsthand that Everett hits worse than most pitchers and has a decent glove (but not enough to make up for his automatic out in the lineup).
I would take a chance on Prior. He has talent, unlike guys in our rotation such as Brad Thompson and Todd Wellemeyer.
A few random thoughts on non-tenders and other news…
Superficially, Adam Everett’s offensive numbers are astonishingly similar to Izturis. So that job is taken, I’d say. In that case, I’d rather resign Eckstein for one year (his market seems to have collapsed) to keep leading off, and play him opposite the most effective combination of Ryan, Izturis and Kennedy in the middle infield, though I might move David to second base for Izturis or Ryan.
Has anybody noticed that Tejada won his MVP in 2002 in Oakland, at a time when Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi (2000) were also in Oakland or across the Bay, and Balco was down the street, so to speak? That’s one way to account for Tejada’s erosion of skills at an early age, loss of range at shortstop, etc. With the Cubs and Houston making major additions, the Central Division could be getting pretty tough, but there’s some significant risk in these deals, particularly for the Astros.
Given that the one thing that was available in this winter’s free-agent market was center fielders, wouldn’t it have been possible to sign somebody like Hunter or Rowand (whose ships have sailed) and trade Rasmus for pitching? if you sign a long-term replacement for Edmonds (hopefully a right-handed hitter with either power or leadoff skills), Rasmus becomes expendable. It’s not a perfectly balanced transaction, because other prospects would have to be included with Rasmus, as many Post-Dispatch writers have pointed out (Rasmus plus plus). But I have yet to hear that strategy suggested, and it’s probably too late.
DODGERS — General manager Ned Colletti made clear his desire to sign Hiroki Kuroda, a 32-year-old pitcher from Japan. Several teams have expressed interest in Kuroda, who has a 103-89 record with a 3.69 ERA in 11 seasons with Hiroshima
Are the Dodgers likely to pickup Jeff Kent’s 2008 option for $9 million? He apparently wants to play next year and was still quite productive in 2007 (.302/.375/.500, 20 HR, 79 RBI in less than 500 ABs). He’s a right-handed bat with pop who could might accept a one-year deal. He also wouldn’t add to an already overcrowded outfield. Except, how do you solve a problem like Kennedy? (From “The Sound of Music” soundtrack.) A cheaper version of signing Kent might be Marcus Giles, who is coming off a Kennedy-esque season but is younger than Adam with more speed and power, and who would probably take a one-year deal.
If there Cardinals are still in the market for a right-handed bat in the outfield, why wouldn’t Emil Brown be an option? Did he have injury problems last year? He has some power and some speed, and could be had from the salvage heap for a cheap, short-term contract (and his moving expenses from KC wouldn’t cost DeWitt much). If Detroit olds onto Brandon Inge (who could be a third catcher and right-handed bat in the outfield while serving as insurance for a possible Rolen deal), Pedro Feliz might be a free-agent option. Feliz has very Encarnacion-esque production and played up to 75 games in left field in 2005, so he can’t be any worse than Chris Duncan.
Oops, that got longer than I meant it to. Lots of options.
GET MARK PRIOR!!! that way Rolen will have someone to hang out with:) Seriously, the dude just needs to be handled correctly and he’s probably been humbled enough by injuries and coming to the cards would complete the humility training. He would probably listen to the mastermind, Duncan, and he could yet survive.
Plus, imagine the 3 nights in august irony - Prior and veteran sensation with the CARDS and Ankiel, an all-star outfielder. That calls for a sequel! This should be a no-brainer, pick him up!
There’s a name on the Non-Tender list that I think will be in the Cardinals organization (minor leagues or majors).. Kiko Calero. When he was healthy, he had nasty stuff. I could see his career come back if reunited with Duncan
UPDATE: Everett sign a 1-yr deal w/ Twins. Probably for the best in my opinion. We don’t need any more light hitting infieders.
“Aaron Miles is better than Cesaer Izturiz and Adam Kennedy and a lot cheaper. Why would the Cards not sign him but sign Izturiz?”
Why are you comparing a second baseman to a shortstop? Also, Miles isn’t good, he’s terrible. His career OPS+ is 73. That’s 27 points worse than the average major leaguer, and is absolutely abominable, even for a second baseman. Finally, his defense is well below average at short.
Izturis isn’t going to knock in 100 RBIs any time soon (or ever), but at least he can play defense without making three errors in one inning.
Now, on topic, why did the Mets nontender Johnny Estrada? Didn’t the just trade for the guy?
The difference between Adam Everett and Cesar Izturis? About three wins with the glove, or thirty runs prevented. Considering he signed for the exact same amount and we rushed out to sign one of the worst players in baseball, this is what makes the GM look incompetent. Not the other way around.