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• Vlad Guerrero released by Blue Jays

  June 12, 2012 by KenRosenthal

   The Blue Jays have released Vladimir Guerrero at his request, according to his agent Bean Stringfellow. Vlad wanted the opportunity to play at the major-league level. He is not retiring

  According to Stringfellow: Vlad "is in great shape. He is hitting very well and running very well.”

  Guerrero went 4-for-5 with a triple Monday for the Blue Jays’ Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate. In 33 plate appearances since moving to Triple-A, he is batting .303/.314/.424.

  — Ken Rosenthal

   

   

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• Big Papi: Next winter's Vlad?

  February 02, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Vladimir Guerrero’s struggles on the free-agent market raise the question:

  What happens next offseason to David Ortiz?

  Both Guerrero and Ortiz are designated hitters. Both turn 36 this year. Both share the same agents, Fern Cuza and Diego Benz.

  Could Ortiz misread the market as badly as Guerrero seemingly has?

  Well, he misread Guerrero’s market, that’s for sure.

  “I guarantee he will go back and play for Texas and get good money,” Ortiz told ESPNBoston.com in November. “You can put that down right now.

  “I’m going to tell you one thing — he’ll get more than one year, too. You wait and see.”

  Guerrero, barring a major surprise, is not going to land a multi-year deal. He also figures to take a significant pay cut from his $6.5 million salary despite coming off a 29-homer, 115-RBI season for the American League champion Rangers.

  The Rangers offered Guerrero a one-year, $8.5 million contract early in the offseason, according to a major-league source. Guerrero, however, rejected the deal.

  The Orioles, the team with seemingly the most current interest in signing Guerrero, are offering him between $3 million and $5 million, sources say.

  Ortiz, too, could have become a free agent this offseason, but the Red Sox exercised his $12.5 million club option. He is coming off an even better season than Guerrero — Ortiz had an .899 OPS, Guerrero an .841. But few DHs in their mid- to late 30s command big money on the open market these days.

  Guerrero, if he had accepted the Rangers’ offer, would have been an exception. Hideki Matsui, 36, signed with the A’s for $4.25 million. Jim Thome, 40, went to the Twins for $3 million. Manny Ramirez, 38, joined the Rays for $2 million.

  Each of those players received only a one-year contract. Guerrero, Ortiz and Bobby Abreu, 36, could join them as free agents next offseason, creating an even more crowded market.

  — Ken Rosenthal

   

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• Johnny, Manny . . . and Vlad?

  February 01, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Johnny Damon has made seven career appearances at first base, none since 2008, none as a starter. The Rays have not indicated he will play any position but left field. But let’s play the what-if game.

  What if the Rays grew comfortable with Damon at first, creating room for one more offensive piece? And what if that offensive piece was free-agent designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero?

  

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  The Rays’ current first-base options are Dan Johnson and Casey Kotchman. But imagine a lineup that had Damon at first, Manny Ramirez in left field and Guerrero at DH.

  Interesting, to say the least.

  The Rays, mind you, have given no indication that they are considering such a plan. Guerrero seems more likely to sign with the Orioles, or maybe the Angels or Blue Jays. But stranger things have happened.

  The Tampa Bay front office is progressive, routinely considering every available big name. Few expected the team to sign Damon and Ramirez. But the Rays, playing in the AL East, understand the need to take occasional risks.

  Using both Damon and Ramirez in the field would be a considerable risk, a 180-degree departure from the team’s previous defense-first philosophy.

  Kotchman, though, could replace Damon in the late innings. Sam Fuld, another outstanding defender, could substitute for Ramirez. If there is any manager who could make such an arrangement work, it’s the ever-creative Joe Maddon.

  The Rays have other needs — another reliever, a backup infielder. But Guerrero would make a bigger impact than any other player they could acquire.

  If the Rays could land Guerrero for, say, $5 million, they would have three potential Hall of Famers — Damon, Ramirez and Guerrero — for the shockingly low price of $12.25 million combined.

  Granted, Ramirez might throw a fit if the Rays paid Guerrero more than twice his new $2 million salary. But they already cut such a deal with Damon, didn’t they?

  The Orioles appear a cleaner fit for Guerrero — they play on natural grass, not artificial turf, and would require less defensive shuffling to accommodate him. The Rays, though, offer a greater chance to win.

  Damon at first? Ramirez in left? Maybe those are just two square pegs in round holes. But if the goal is to outscore the opponent, the Rays might want to explore the idea. If they haven’t already.

  — Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

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• Damon and Manny or Vlad for Rays?

  January 21, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  If the Tampa Bay Rays sign free agent Johnny Damon, the natural assumption is that they would be out on Manny Ramirez or Vladimir Guerrero.
  
  Not necessarily.
  
  For the right price, the Rays could add Damon plus Ramirez or Guerrero, major-league sources say — and Ramirez would seem to be more likely, given that he probably will cost less.
  
  Under such a scenario, Damon would get most of his at-bats in left field. Ramirez or Guerrero would be the primary DH. And the boost to the Rays’ offense could be significant.
  
  The additions of two veteran hitters would protect the Rays against injury and inconsistency by some of their less accomplished players — outfielder Matt Joyce, shortstop Reid Brignac, infielder Sean Rodriguez and first baseman Dan Johnson.
  
  Imagine: Damon and Ramirez, two former Red Sox, doing battle against Boston in the AL East.
  
  It’s not out of the question.
  
  — Ken Rosenthal
  
  

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• Latest on Yankees' search for a bat

  January 17, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Andruw Jones remains a logical free agent for the Yankees. He hits right-handed. He crushed left-handed pitching last season. He easily could take over the part-time role that previously belonged to Marcus Thames.

  The Yankees, though, are balking at Jones’ current asking price, major-league sources say. Thus, the team remains interested in another of Scott Boras’ free-agent clients, Johnny Damon.

  An agreement with Jones is more likely; a financial compromise shouldn't be difficult, and Damon would prefer to play every day. Damon, a left-handed hitter, still handles left-handed pitching reasonably well. He batted .275/.365/.375 against left-handers last season, while Jones batted .256/.373/.558.

  The Rays, too, are interested in Jones, but rank him behind other free-agent options, sources say. Damon, Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez, Troy Glaus, Jason Giambi, Russell Branyan, Nick Johnson and Jermaine Dye are all still on the market.

  — Ken Rosenthal

   

   

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• How long might the A's wait on Beltre?

  December 01, 2010 by KenRosenthal

  If the A’s indeed made an offer to free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre – and no one has denied they have – it stands to reason the team will want an answer soon.

  Thursday's the deadline for teams to offer contracts to players under their control. The A’s can “tender” third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff (and likely non-tender third baseman Edwin Encarnacion) even if they don't know where they stand with Beltre. Kouzmanoff, working on a non-guaranteed, one-year contract, would remain expendable.

  Yet, even then, the A’s wouldn't want to continue waiting. As much as they like Beltre, they eventually would want to move onto other pursuits.

  The team’s immediate goal is to sign free agent Lance Berkman, with whom club officials met Tuesday night. DH types such as Hideki Matsui, Vladimir Guerrero and maybe even Adam Dunn loom as possible alternatives if Berkman chooses another club.

  The A’s reported offer to Beltre, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes.com, was five years, $64 million – the same terms Beltre received when he joined the Mariners as a free agent six years ago.

  Beltre’s agent, Scott Boras, is extremely unlikely to recommend that Beltre accept such an offer so early in the offseason. Beltre, 31, not only is coming off a terrific season with the Red Sox, but the game’s revenues also are higher than they were six years ago.

  Still, a five-year, $64 million proposal would represent a major commitment for the A’s, a low-revenue team. They'd presumably want to redirect at least some of the Beltre money toward other areas even if they signed Berkman or another hitter.

  Perhaps the A’s would pursue another offensive piece. Perhaps they'd make a renewed push for Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, with whom they're negotiating exclusively. Perhaps they'd do both.

  One thing seems certain: The A’s would not want Boras to use their offer to Beltre as a benchmark in the agent’s negotiations with other clubs.

  If the A’s indeed made an offer, it would figure to come with an expiration date. And that expiration date would figure to be coming soon.

  -Ken Rosenthal

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• Francisco likely to accept arbitration from Rangers

  November 28, 2010 by KenRosenthal

  Free-agent right-hander Frank Francisco is likely to accept the Rangers’ offer of salary arbitration, giving the team additional late-inning relief options, major-league sources say.

  Francisco, 31, is a Type A free agent. By accepting arbitration, he'd opt for a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with a near-certain raise from his 2010 salary of $3.265 million.

  Other teams have shown interest in Francisco as a closer. However, in recent years, clubs have been reluctant to surrender a high draft pick for Type A relievers who aren't established ninth-inning specialists.

  Of the 14 Type A free agents offered arbitration, right-handers Jason Frasor and Grant Balfour are the most similar to Francisco. Both could accept arbitration, returning to the Blue Jays and Rays, respectively.

  Francisco, who didn't pitch after Aug. 28 last season due to a muscle strain in his right side, likely would resume a prominent role for the Rangers, either as a setup man or closer.

  The Rangers are trying to retain free-agent left-hander Cliff Lee. If they lose him, they might be more likely to move right-hander Neftali Feliz to the rotation, opening the closer’s role for Francisco or someone else.

  The team's also discussed making right-hander Alexi Ogando a starter or closer, depending upon what it does with Feliz.

  Yet another option, if Lee departs, would be to sign free-agent closer Rafael Soriano.

  The Rangers, though, are more likely to spend big on a free-agent hitter such as Vladimir Guerrero, Paul Konerko or Adam Dunn – and supplement the bullpen with a more inexpensive reliever.

  Right-hander Bobby Jenks could be one possibility if he is non-tendered by the White Sox. Free-agent righty Kerry Wood could be another.

  Francisco, 31, posted a 3.76 ERA in 52 2/3 innings last season, striking out 60 and walking 18. He lost the closer’s role to Feliz after blowing saves in his first two opportunities.

  -Ken Rosenthal

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