There are two news items today concerning the St. Louis Cardinals’ attempt to identify a second left-hander in the bullpen to pair with free agent signee Trever Miller.
Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch reports an increasing level of concern from the coaches over the low-budget, low-results candidates in camp, with Tony La Russa and his staff expected to give general manager John Mozeliak an earful when the group meets on Thursday morning.
The current group of contenders in camp consists of Charlie Manning, claimed off waivers from Washington last November, Royce Ring (pictured), a castoff from the Atlanta Braves, Ian Ostlund, a minor league free agent from the Detroit Tigers system and Katsuhiko Maekawa, who had a tryout with the Nats two years ago. The latter two have yet to make their major league debuts and based on very early action, probably aren’t going to do so anytime soon.
Later on Wednesday morning, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal confirmed from “major league sources” that the Cardinals are indeed back in the market for left-handed relief. Rosenthal did not identify Mozeliak’s primary target, but highlighted three options in his article – Dennys Reyes, Joe Beimel and Will Ohman. For more on each, check out Dustin Mattison’s Scout.com article from October.
Depending on the rumor source, any of the three could be had for an amount estimated between $1 million and $2 million for the 2009 season. If that is the case, here’s hoping Mozeliak does not pass go. After all, given the club was willing to spend in the vicinity of $9 million per season for then-free agent Brian Fuentes earlier in the winter, this looks like pocket change.
With the elongated spring training, any new lefty should have plenty of time to get ready for the 2009 regular season, but there is competition. Rosenthal identifies at least five clubs other than the Cardinals that are on a similar search – the A’s, Phillies, Pirates, Marlins and Padres.
In this game of musical chairs, with six contestants and only three places to land, Mo needs to ensure he is one of the winners this time.
Ye Gods! Please, pretty please sign Will Ohman or Joe Beimel. They are probably each a full win over replacement, easily worth $2 million.
Maekawa was not signed with an expectation he could fill a ML roster slot.
Ring seems a not bad roll of the dice.
The Cards can outbid the Padres, Marlins, and Pirates.
This seems like a replay of the Matt Clement story from last spring. Duncan looks over who is in camp and then can appeal for more help, based on what has been observed.
Could it be time for Odalis Perez?
I’m not sure that there is any right time for Odalis Perez. I mean, unless it were time for the Cubs to sign him.
I still like Beimel…maybe i just like his NO HR stats…or maybe it is his beautiful (and possibly the best in MLB) pickoff move to 1st… I’d hate to be a baserunner with him on the mound and Yadi behind the plate…might as well stand on the bag
Brian,
I’m assuming Ring’s contract is not guaranteed — sort of like Deivi Cruz’s a couple of springs ago. They never announce that on FA signings, but I was surprised they gave him a major league contract, and figured it had to be nonguaranteed.
sf, I don’t know positively, but like you, I would expect it. I too was surprised Ring was given a major league contract at all.
Brian and s.f.,
I tried researching the question raised but couldn’t find a definitive answer. I am pretty sure that a player on a one year contract released before a certain date in Spring Training (not exactly what the date is) receives either 25% of the contract or one month’s pay. If I’m not mistaken, this has happened to a couple of players that won their arbitration cases.
DD, I understand that rule, but what it does not answer is if Ring has a guaranteed contract. I would hope not.
If a player is released on or before the 16th day prior to the start of the regular season, then he receives 30 days of salary. If it is between the 16th day and the start of the season, he gets 45 days of termination pay. Since the MLB opener is on Sunday, April 5, my count puts the magical 16th day on Friday, March 20.
News flash: Reyes signed by the Cardinals!
Reyes is a finesse LOOGY. Nice slider. Kind of works like Romero of the Phillies. He is Tony’s style of lefty. AL to NL shouldn’t hurt.
If Reyes performs like he did last year, we will have a great lefthand side. Nice signing, too. At $3 million for two years, you’re basically signing him for 1/2 of his VORP.
Reyes also has $500,000 in incentives, but even $3.5 million is fine – if he delivers. In my Scout.com article, I couldn’t help but comment on the many similarities to the Ricardo Rincon signing in 2006. (LHR, Mexican, competing in WBC, two-year contract, about $3 million.) Here’s hoping there isn’t a repeat of the shoulder injury part that made Rincon useless to the Cardinals…
I remember when Reyes first made it to the majors as a 20 year old with the Dodgers, he was (naturally) being compared to another Mexican lefty, Fernando Valenzuela. IIRC, he said Fernando was his hero and, despite being right-handed, he even taught himself to pitch left handed because of Fernando.
I’ve watched him with Minnesota. When he is making his pitches he can be effective. Thats a pretty tough division to make a living in. I’m watching the W Sox beat the Cubs. Fontaneu is a stick. Cubs have scored 3 in the ninth, now its 4/3 Sox.
The walks make me a bit nervous…
As recently as late January, Reyes was holding out for $8 million over two years like Jeremy Affeldt got from the Giants.
I like the way that Mo is both decisive and patient.
He is decisive at certain moments like early October, when he signs Lohse, and last fall Springer and Pineiro (not that I am keen about Joel). Or when the Padres called up about Khalil, the deal did not take long to strike. Last spring, it was Lohse and this spring it is Reyes. When the Cards choose to make a move, it happens pretty quickly.
Examples of patience. After 2007, we did not offer arbitration to Miles, but then signed him later, saved a few bucks that way. The Cards could have gotten impatient, like their adoring fans, and bid up one of these lefty relievers in November; but no, they sat tight, until March, before now finally pulling the trigger on Reyes. I guess we spent less than Cinci spent signing Arthur Rhodes.
Those walk numbers are just flat out weird. Two of the last three years, they’ve been less than one per three innings and two od the last four years they were more than two walks per three innings.
I haven’t seen him pitch for the Twins but perhaps he was just pitching around guys when the walk totals were high. Of course his career numbers come out to more than a walk every other inning.
One thing I noticed at baseball-reference.com is that his number one comp for three years running was Affeldt. I feel a little bad for Ring because his audition was pretty short.
Brian the walks are about not giving in. He does not challenge. When he is good, he is very good, when hitters aren’t fishing, get him out.
I feel a little bad for Ring and Manning, but much better for the team. I’m sure if Ring would like to LOOGy in Memphis he could do that.
Red, its likely that everyone will get a look eventually.
I’m happy with the signing but as soon as I read the part about Mr. Reyes pitching for Mexico in the WBC . . . .. .well it makes me a bit nervous. If he is healthy and effective the next two years it will be a great signing .
It will be interesting to see who the bullpen lefties in Memphis/Springfield are.
Manning most likely will be there due to having options and probably Ostlund. I just don’t see a place for Ring. Fiske deserves a shot a Memphis but there seems to be no room. If Maekawa pitches well would they drop him all the way to AA just to keep him?
I agree, CC. Barring injuries to him or others, Ring may opt for free agency rather than report to Memphis. He’ll likely have to assess his chances of getting a prompt recall. There is also Joe Rogers in the picture. I can’t imagine there will be room for him in the Memphis rotation. We may be seeing more releases than usual this spring.
B-R also indicates that Reyes was only one game away from leading the AL in pitching appearances in 2008. Very nice.
The Cards gave Reyes $1MM for 2009, $2MM for 2010. We have a lot of money coming off the books after 2009, so prefer to add salary for the latter year. The Cards are being careful about 09 spending.
Ring signing in early January enabled the Cards to sit tight until the salary expectations came down for established southpaws. If so, investing money in Ring saved money on Reyes, a paradox of sorts, like a jumboshrimp.