Japan series is cancelled; A top prospect; Gonzalez re-signs; Trade rumors

[nyy26wc]

1) The A's-Mariners season opening series, which would have been held in Japan on March 25-26, was cancelled, due to war concerns. The games were rescheduled for April 3 and June 30, both in Oakland.

2) Rangers 3B Herbert Perry says he doesn't expect to be ready for Opening Day and says when he's ready, it's more likely that he'll only play 1B and DH.

The news on Perry isn't unexpected. Meanwhile, top prospect Mark Teixeira's chances of making the Opening Day roster have grown.

Teixeira, who turns 23 in April, was ranked as the #1 prospect in baseball by Baseball America and the #1 hitting prospect by John Sickels (an A grade). He was the #5 pick in the 2001 draft and in 2002, his first year in the minors (perhaps his only year), he had a 1.004 OPS (.593 SLG, .411 OBA) in 38 games in Hi-A and a 1.006 OPS (.591 SLG, .415 OBA) in 48 games in AA. Teixeira is a 3B and could have his playing time rotate between 3B/1B/DH. According to Baseball America, "40 homers a year is no stretch" for the switch hitter.

3) Doug Glanville has won the Rangers CF and lead off jobs. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Rangers may try to the trade or release Carl Everett.

While moving Everett to DH is also an option, getting rid of him would open up more playing time and lineup flexibility for Teixeira.

Glanville's .344 SLG, .292 OBA, .636 OPS, -12 RCAA in 138 games with the 202 Phillies was his 5th double digit negative RCAA in his 6 years as a starter. He has a .707 career OPS, compared to his league average of .778, and -83 RCAA in 948 games.

4) A MRI on Yankees P Steve Karsay showed he has bursitis in his shoulder and he's now admitting that it's unlikely that he'll be ready for Opening Day.

5) The Redsox traded minor league P Javier Lopez to the Rockies for a player to be named later. Lopez was taken in the Rule 5 draft and the obligation of keeping him on the roster for the whole season or offer him back to the Diamondbacks gets transferred to the Rockies.

6) Cubs P Antonio Alfonseca strained his right hamstring and his status for Opening Day is in question.

After 4.24 ERA/2 RSAA and 3.06 ERA/8 RSAA seasons with the Marlins, Alfonseca had a 4.00 ERA/0 RSAA in 66 games in 2002. He has a 3.82 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.37, and 17 RSAA in 340 games.

7) Dodgers P Andy Ashby is in danger of losing his spot in the rotation and being sent to the bullpen.

Meanwhile, Kevin Brown and Darren Dreifort appear to be healthy enough, at least for now, to be in the rotation.

After spending almost all of the 2001 season on the DL, Ashby had a 3.91 ERA/-4 RSAA (Dodgers Stadium is an extreme pitchers park, with a 82 park factor in 2002) in 30 starts in 2002 and has a 4.08 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.26, and 0 RSAA in 286 games.

8) Expos P Orlando Hernandez has rotator cuff tendinitis and is expected to be given 7-10 days off. MGR Frank Robinson says if Hernandez doesn't improve, the DL and possibly surgery could become options.

Hernandez's 3.64 ERA/12 RSAA in 22 starts (24 games) with the Yankees in 2002 was the 3rd time in his 5 year career that he had a double digit RSAA. But, his career pattern has been a consistent roller coaster: 21, 7, 13, -4, 12 RSAA.

9) The Reds placed OF-3B Russell Branyan on the 15 day DL.

Branyan had surgery after tearing his labrum in winter ball.

10) The Devil Rays released 1B Lee Stevens.

Stevens's .377 SLG, .305 OBA, .682 OPS, -14 RCAA in 116 games with the Expos and Indians in 2002 was his 2nd consecutive double digit negative RCAA and the 5th of his 11 year career. He has a .772 career OPS, compared to his league average of .767, but an OBA 17 points under the league average, which has resulted in -53 RCAA in 1012 games.

11) The Reds named Jimmy Haynes as Opening Day starter.

Haynes's 4.12 ERA/7 RSAA in 34 starts with the 2002 Reds ended a streak of 4 consecutive years with a negative RSAA. He has a 5.24 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.56, and -90 RSAA in 204 games.

Haynes's -97 RSAA over the past 7 years is the 2nd worst figure in the majors--

RSAA  
1    Jaime Navarro              -101   
2    Jimmy Haynes                -97   
3    Kevin Jarvis                -76   
4    Jason Bere                  -74   
5    Doug Drabek                 -73   
6    Brian Meadows               -69   
T7   Don Wengert                 -65   
T7   Bobby Jones                 -65   
T7   Joey Hamilton               -65   
10   Jose Lima                   -64   

12) Chris Sexton, who was in the Padres camp as a non roster invitee, announced his retirement.

Sexton had a .605 OPS/-18 RCAA in 70 games with the 1999 Rockies and 2000 Reds.

13) The Braves sent 2B Nick Green, SS Wilson Betemit, INFs Ramon Castro and Adam LaRoche, Cs Mike Hubbard and Bryce Terveen and P Derrick Lewis to the minors.

Betemit, 21, was ranked as the Braves #2 prospect by BA and given a B grade by Sickels. His stock did drop a bit after a .682 OPS (.370 SLG, .312 OBA) in AAA in 2002, but if he returns to his 2001 form (.908 OPS--.514 SLG, .394 OBA--in AA), he'll jump right back in the best prospects in baseball discussion and could jump into the Braves starting INF.

14) Twins OF Bobby Kielty has a strained lefty hip flexor and might have to start the season on the DL.

Kielty hit .494 SLG, .405 OBA, .890 OPS, 22 RCAA in 112 games as a 25 year old rookie (or close enough to that status) in 2002.

Corrections from yesterday--Rangers minor league P Mario Ramos is 25, not 20. Twins P Adam Johnson ripped up his demotion papers last year, not "motivation papers."

[nyy26wc]

1) The Diamondbacks re-signed LF Luis Gonzalez to a 3 year, $30 million contract extension, covering 2004-2006, with a mutual option for 2007.

Gonzalez's .496 SLG, .400 OBA, .896 OPS, 30 RCAA in 148 games in 2002 was his 4th consecutive year with 30+ RCAA. He has a .852 career OPS, compared to his league average of .763, and 238 RCAA in 1747 games, while over the past 4 years, he's had a .978 OPS/206 RCAA.

2) According to the Chicago Sun Times, the Cubs deny a rumor, from ESPN, that says they are working on a 3 way deal with the Redsox and Marlins that would send Mike Lowell to the Cubs and also deny a rumor they considered trading for Expos 2B Jose Vidro.

3) According to the Boston Herald, the Redsox have intensified trade talks for 3B Shea Hillenbrand, with the Cubs being the frontrunner, and the Redsox having their eyes on P Juan Cruz. On the other hand, several reports from Chicago indicate Hillenbrand to the Cubs isn't on the front burner.

4) The trade talks between the Yankees and Padres, involving Yankees OF Rondell White, and maybe also Sterling Hitchcock, and Padres OF Bubba Trammell have reportedly intensified. According to the Newark Star Ledger, the Yankees would like the Padres to add P Brian Lawrence into a deal.

5) The Whitesox sent INFs Tim Hummel and Jorge Nunez, OFs Anthony Sanders and Mario Valenzuela and Ps Jon Adkins, Edwin Almonte, Arnaldo Munoz and Gary Majewski to the minors.

6) The Mariners released P Jamey Wright. Wright's release means Gil Meche won the 5th starter's job.

Wright's 5.29 ERA/-20 RSAA in 22 starts (23 games) with the Brewers and Cardinals in 2002 was his 2nd consecutive year with a double digit negative RSAA and his 3rd such season in his 7 year career. Wright has a 5.17 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.33, and -31 RSAA in 174 games.

Meche was once a top prospect, before having shoulder surgeries, including having a torn labrum. He missed the entire 2001 season and was in AA in 2002 while he tried to make his comeback. Meche had a 4.25 ERA/10 RSAA in 31 games with the 1999-2000 Mariners, at the ages of 20 and 21.

7) The Orioles named Rodrigo Lopez as their Opening Day starter.

Lopez is a journeyman who is a longshot to be able to duplicate the 3.57 ERA/18 RSAA season that he had as a 26 year old rookie in 2002.

8) The Angels placed P Matt Wise on the 15 day DL.

Wise is going to have Tommy John surgery and is out for at least the whole season. When the team needs to add someone to the 40 man roster, they'll move him to the 60 day DL.

9) Tug McGraw had 6 hours of surgery yesterday to remove tumors from his brain. According to the doctor, "His chances are excellent for recovery."

Meanwhile, McGraw also had a tumor between his left shoulder and rib cage, which was removed in 1975.

10) The Marlins sent Ps Rick Croushore and Dontrelle Willis to the minors.

Willis, 21, was ranked as the Marlins #4 prospect by Baseball America and was given a B+ grade by John Sickels, who ranked him as the 35th best pitching prospect in baseball. He hasn't pitched above Hi-A yet.

11) The Tigers sent INFs Danny Klassen, Warren Morris and Kevin Witt, OFs Craig Monroe and Ernie Young, Cs Robinson Cancel and Luis Taveras and Ps Shane Loux, Eric Eckenstahler, Fernando De La Cruz and Chris Mears to the minors.

12) The Rangers released minor league Ps Ryan Bradley, Carlos Figueroa and Royce Hampton.

13) Pirates C prospect J.R. House, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, reinjured his arm while throwing. House says the pain is as bad as it was before he had his surgery and he may be headed back to Dr. James Andrews.

14) The Phillies sent C Marcus Jensen and P Josh Hancock to the minors.

15) The Rockies placed SS Juan Uribe on the 60 day DL.

Uribe has a broken bone in his right foot and isn't expected to return until June.

[KCBOOMER]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
1) The Diamondbacks re-signed LF Luis Gonzalez to a 3 year, $30 million contract extension, covering 2004-2006, with a mutual option for 2007.

Gonzalez's .496 SLG, .400 OBA, .896 OPS, 30 RCAA in 148 games in 2002 was his 4th consecutive year with 30+ RCAA. He has a .852 career OPS, compared to his league average of .763, and 238 RCAA in 1747 games, while over the past 4 years, he's had a .978 OPS/206 RCAA.

I was in Phoenix when Gonzalez was re-upped. I must have been the only person in town who thought it was silly to sign a 35 year old player who had a serious shoulder injury last year. The locals just loved it. They felt this was a show of loyalty between player and the team.

Colangelo said they needed to get Gonzalez signed up before they turn their attention to re-upping the 40 year old Randy Johnson.