So, what did we learn last week at the winter meetings? Pitching is in high demand. Very high.But we already knew that, didn't we?
Every team is looking for pitching, and anyone crazy enough to trade it wants major-league-ready prospects. There are no bargains in the free-agent pool, which, for a third straight year, is ridiculously weak. There wasn't even much buzz in the lobby about Carlos Silva or Kyle Lohse. I heard more about injury reclamation projects Kris Benson and Glendon Rusch, who likely will sign one-year, incentive-laden contracts.
In The News Journal's Sunday MLB notes, I examined why there's such a supply-and-demand problem for pitching. Several people, including Rockies scout (and Milford, Del., resident) Will George, hypothesized that the best pitchers are getting long-term contract extensions before they can hit the free-agent market. The Cubs locked up Carlos Zambrano over the summer. The Phillies locked up Brett Myers last winter. The Padres are working on a deal for Jake Peavy, and the Rockies are close to an agreement with Aaron Cook. Chances are, the Phillies will discuss extending Cole Hamels after the 2008 season.
The moral of the story: If you're looking for pitching, the best place to turn is your own farm system. So, the Phillies can pursue short-term options like Benson, but they better hope Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery and Josh Outman continue to develop and Kyle Drabek recovers from Tommy John surgery. Going forward, those pitchers may be their best hopes.
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As expected, Aaron Rowand didn't accept salary arbitration. If he had, he would've been considered a signed player for 2008. Rowand may not get the five-year contract he's looking for, but he'll certainly get more than a one-year deal. And, coming off a career season, his value never will be higher than it is right now.
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Spoke with a White Sox executive and asked what they were going to do about third base. He said the situation hasn't been resolved. It's conceivable Chicago could take Joe Crede and Josh Fields to spring training and trade one before the season starts, but you know the asking price will be high. Or, they could move Fields to left field and keep Crede at third. "It's a good problem to have," the executive said.
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Just a hunch, but I think the release of the Mitchell Report this week (probably Thursday) will be a good thing for baseball. Anyone agree with me? Anyone care?
1 comment:
I hope the Mitchell report will be sort of a Cathartic event for baseball. Although, I think the suspensions of Guillen and Jay Payton set a strange precedent of suspending players for distant past violations. I love baseball, but there are a lot of things wrong with the sport, hopefully getting this out in the open will clarify the steroid era and let us all move forward.
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