Yardbarker: Alan Embree

Looking Ahead at the 2009 Free Agent Market!

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:17:46 -0500

Now with some glaring holes going into next year. The Mets will have a new ballpark but they also will have to replace some parts.

Obviously the bullpen is a mess starting with Billy Wagner.

The second base position can be resolved with a veteran and that means that Castillo will be traded for a bag of balls.

The starting rotation is also very interesting thing to look at with Oliver Perez (who is only 27)who is going to be a free agent and has Scott Boris as a agent.

The Mets will have Pedro Martinez coming off the books. As well as Moises Alou, who has been a disappointment because he never plays.

Here are the 2009 Free Agents from those positions mentioned:

Second basemen
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Geoff Blum (36) - club option for '09
Jamey Carroll (35) - $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.15MM buyout
Craig Counsell (38)
Ray Durham (37)
Damion Easley (39)
David Eckstein (34)
Mark Ellis (32)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Nick Punto (31)

Starting pitchers
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33)
Bartolo Colon (36)
Ryan Dempster (32)
Shawn Estes (36)
Josh Fogg (32)
Freddy Garcia (33)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Kyle Lohse (30)
Braden Looper (34)
Rodrigo Lopez (33) - club option for '09
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for '09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Sidney Ponson (32)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32)

Closers
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Eddie Guardado (38)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Todd Jones (41)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Kerry Wood (32)

Middle relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Luis Ayala (31)
Joe Beimel (32)
Joe Borowski (38)
Doug Brocail (42) - club option for '09
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (30)
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Casey Fossum (31)
Keith Foulke (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Matt Herges (39) - club option for '09
Bob Howry (35)
Jon Lieber (39)
Jason Johnson (35)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) - $2MM club option for '09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Chan Ho Park (36)
Horacio Ramirez (29)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32)
Arthur Rhodes (39)
Juan Rincon (30)
Rudy Seanez (40)
Brian Shouse (40)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Timlin (43)
Ron Villone (39)
David Weathers (39)
Kip Wells (32)
Matt Wise (33)
Jamey Wright (34)

Deadline passes on the A's, or has it?

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:57:10 -0500

So the trade deadline has come and gone and many veteran A's players have probably taken the time to breathe a long sigh of relief. Even though it would be exciting to be part of a pennant chase elsewhere, many inside the clubhouse still believe that this team can make the playoffs. It's unknown if Billy Beane really believes that, or Bob Geren for that matter, but as long as the leaders in the clubhouse still believe it, then it must be true...

A's get clobbered to start weekend series: Ziegler ties 101 year old record

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:23:11 -0500

Very little good news is coming out of Oakland these days concerning the end result of games. The box scores can look equally as bad too. Since the A's have begun to sell off many of the experienced players on the roster, the last being the Joe Blanton trade, they've taken a nosedive in the standings. They've gone from a tight race in the A.L. West to 11 games out and sitting behind the Texas Rangers for the first time since A-Rod was playing there...

Top 11 MLB players that should be traded

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:23:44 -0500

by DMtShooter, Five Tool Tool

11. Rich Harden, SP, Oakland A's. He's dominant when healthy, and not nearly healthy enough for the small market A's to make a commitment to. Even though the team is 7 games above .500 and has an outside chance at the post-season this year, the plan is for 2009, and considering that they've got Chad Gaudin in the bullpen, Harden will go to a rich contender that's willing to overpay for a guy whose shoulder gives off a ticking sound. There's also this: his home park makes him look better than he is, not that he's not filthy.

10. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Seattle Mariners. He's better than you think -- it's no fun to be a right handed power hitter on a Mariner team that seems to be allergic to getting on base, and he's been battling nagging injuries to boot. Despite that, he's got 14 homers, plays very good defense, and even runs a little. If Ortiz and Youkilis are both out in Boston, he'd be a fine stopgap solution, and the Mariners are more than happy to move assets right now.

9. Ken Griffey Jr, OF, Cincinatti Reds. It's Fire Sale Time in Cincy, with everything but the youngest SPs wearing a red tag. Griff has hit his 600th, so there's no more attendance boost to get from him being around. With the team 13.5 games back, he's a prime target to go to any team that thinks he'll be rejuvenated by a pennant race. The only problem is that his .760 OPS might convince many that he's already done.

8. Randy Wolf, SP, San Diego Padres. Another historic injury risk, but a heck of a lot cheaper on the wallet and prospect list. Wolf could be especially effective in the AL, where they haven't seen him much before, and a once around the league novelty burst might give his new team a lot. The Padres being in last in the crowded NL West also might loosen their hold.

7. Erik Bedard, SP, Seattle Mariners. This spring's shiny new penny -- albeit one that took an ungodly amount of time to acquire -- is now the most attractive albatross on a team that loses two out of every three games and has just lost its general manager and coach. Moving Bedard now is sending him out at low value, but he's a proven AL East talent with a lot of upside. Besides, no one wants Carlos Silva.

6. Matt Holliday, OF, Colorado Rockies. The biggest hitter on the list is kind of like this year's Mark Teixeria -- a plus hitter from a hitter haven who's actually still really good. The only thing keeping him in Colorado is the plummeting Diamnondbacks, who have kept every team in the division in the hunt; the Rockies might just hang on to everyone and see if the return of Troy Tulowitzki can get them back in the race. In another week or so, we'll know if Holliday walks before his contract expires.

5. AJ Burnett, SP, Toronto Rockies. The Jays are a hard team to figure. On the one hand, you've got to think that general manager JP Riccardi is on thin enough ice that he's not interested in going out with kids and prospects. On the other, Burnett is clearly not getting better here, and the Jays are 10.5 back in what might be the toughest division in baseball. Burnett has always been a poor man's Josh Beckett, so maybe another team makes Riccardi an offer he can't refuse.

4. Adam Dunn, OF, Cincinnati Reds. Everything you can say about Griff goes double for the Three True Outcome hero, whose .219 batting average masks his reasonably useful .876 OPS. Even Dusty Baker has to be getting tired of playing veterans and ready to give the team entirely over to Jay Bruce and Joey Votto by now, right? Dunn seems to me to be the kind of guy that can help a team provided he's hitting 6th or 7th, and you just aren't counting on him carrying your team. (I realize Dunn is a sabermetric hero, but doesn't it matter that his teams never, ever win?)

3. Dmitri Young, 1B, Washington Nationals. A nice guy and a reasonable stick, but he makes no sense here, especially with Aaron Boone giving them good at-bats and Ryan Zimmerman eventually coming back from injury. By the time the Nats are in a playoff race, Da Meat Hook could be pushing 350 pounds, and probably still putting up above average numbers. The potentially season-ending injury to Nick Johnson (gosh, who saw that coming?) could keep him here, though.

2. Huston Street, RP, Oakland Athletics. Billy Beane loves to move closers for more then they are worth, and that really describes the ex-phenom, whose 4.32 ERA, good defesne and pitcher's park seems to say overrated... but his K/BB numbers, pure stuff and low HR allowed numbers could easily convince a team in need that he's just been pitching in bad luck. The A's have never bought into the ideat that pitching in the ninth is all that different from any other inning, and they'd happily go with Keith Foulke and Alan Embree if someone wants to put prospects in front of them.

1. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Cleveland Indians. Don't let the slow start fool you; he's been very solid recently, and he's an unrestricted free agent next year. With the Tribe 6.5 out and in fourth place in the Central, they are 1-2 weeks away from pulling the chutes on this deal and moving the big lefty for maximum benefit. Ceec is a horse, but he also eats like one, and that next contract is going to be costly.

Yanks 'pen a tired act? Is Street the Answer?

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:04:40 -0500

With Joba now solidified in the Yankees starting rotation and the combination of Hughes and Kennedy looking more like non-factors, is it time to worry about a bullpen that can't seem to keep it together? Marino Rivera blew a save the other night and, although the Yanks pulled out the win, the bullpen is looking more and more disturbing as the season rolls along. Time to start looking at options. The Yankees need a set-up man for the 8th and their in-house remedies don't look ready for the big show yet. The Oakland Athletics have a penchant for shipping out pitchers if the right haul of prospects is given in return, this is the logical place to find help. Huston Street: A shutdown closer with the confidence and grit to pitch in the big apple. Nasty fastball and a devastating slider. Street is having a great year but has become expendable with the emergence of Joey Devine and his similar stuff. The A's also consider Casilla, Andrew Brown and Alan Embree as possible candidates for the closer job if Street is moved. With a bullpen as deep as the A's have (Ziggy, Foulke and Gaudin included) it seems likely that they will be willing to give up Street who is under contract until 2010. The A's covet prospects and young outfielders. If Melky Cabrera is made available, along with Kennedy and another prospect, this trade could be done tomorrow. Would it be enough to help the Yankees get back into contention?

The Fantasy Baseball Weekly Roundup

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:47:17 -0500

The Boston Red Sox took on the Oakland Athletics for a two-game series in Japan. The much anticipated first game took place on Tuesday, March 25th. All of Japan was excited to see former Japanese phenom Daisuke "Dice-K" Matsuzaka take the hill against Oakland "ace" Joe Blanton. Instead of a pitcher's duel, it was left up to the bullpens to see who would take home the first victory of the season. In the end, Huston Street, the closer of the Athletics, blew the save, allowing Jonathon Papelbon to record his first save of the season (by the skin of his teeth). The Red Sox took the first game in the series, beating the Athletics 6-5.

Fantasy Bullpen Breakdowns - AL West Closers, Setup Men & Sleeper Middle Relievers

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:25:15 -0500

In the third installment of our Bullpen Breakdowns series, we take a look at the AL West teams focusing on who will be filling the roles of closer and setup man come opening day as well as sleeper middle relievers to keep an eye on.

A's Add Piazza, Embree

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 06:47:05 -0500

Mike Piazza will no longer be a catcher in the league anymore. After playing catcher for the Mets last year, Piazza is just getting too old. Consequently, Piazza signed a 1 year, $8.5 million deal with the Oakland A's, where he will play DH. Piazza will replace Frank Thomas in the DH position, who left to play DH for the Blue Jays this year. The A's also added lefty Alan Embree, who will add some veteran strength to their bullpen.

A's sign Embree, Piazza

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:48:18 -0500

According to the A's official website, Alan Embree is now the designated LOOGY for Oakland. He signed a two year deal, and it's not clear how much he's earning. I like this signing for two reasons. Most directly, he's a reliable leftie who is effective against both righties and lefties, though he has a reputation as just a LOOGY. Since 2002, Embree has had a ERA+ numbers of 204, 111, 118, 58, and 129. The 58 is a one year abberration that he spent with Boston and New York. Last year in San Diego, Embree posted a 3.27 ERA and struck out 53 in 52 1/3 innings. Secondly, the indirect benefit is that it frees up Joe Kennedy to compete for one of the open spots in the rotation, so the A's don't have to look for a starting pitcher on the wild free agent market. --- Also being reported is that Mike Piazza has agreed to a one year, $8.5 million deal to be the DH in 2007 for Oakland. Considering the market, and Piazza's age, I'd consider it a good deal. Bill James has projected Piazza to hit .267/.344/.467 with 16 home runs, but that's only over 315 at-bats. Only once in his entire career has Piazza had that few at bats. If you scale his numbers up to the 450 he's been averaging over the last few years, you get about 23 home runs. [follow the link to read the rest of the article]

List of Free Agent Relievers, Not Exactly Exciting

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:05:37 -0500

As the Beerleaguer puts it, "When it comes to free agent relievers, there's an unusually high level of rubbish this winter." This list comes on the heels of the Phillies walking away from a Joe Borowski signing after he and his bum shoulder failed to impress doctors during a physical. He's not the only one on this list that has an injury history or may be on the downside of his career. If your team needs to acquire bullpen help this winter, a trade might be the best option.