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http://www.examiner.com/x-2910-Hous...12d1-Astros-offer-closer-Valverde-arbitration
Astros offer closer Valverde arbitration
December 1, 11:45 PM
Houston Astros Examiner
Stephen Goff
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Closer Jose Valverde was the only Houston Astros free agent to get offered arbitration Tuesday, meaning he can accept the offer and return to Houston in 2010, or reject arbitration to sign with another team. (AP Photo)
Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade announced in a press release Tuesday that the organization decided to offer Type A free agent Jose Valverde arbitration, but declined such an offer to six-time All-Star Miguel Tejada, setup man LaTroy Hawkins, reliever Doug Brocail and reserves Darin Erstad and Jason Michaels.
With Valverde ranking as the top closer on the free-agent market, the Astros want to re-sign the 2007 NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year, but realistically, can't afford him since owner Drayton McLane, Jr., intends to trim payroll.
Valverde officially has until Monday to accept arbitration and return to the Astros for the 2010 season, or decline it in order to have an opportunity to sign with another team.
Sources indicate that Valverde will likely reject the arbitration offer and attempt to test the free-agent market with the hope of landing a multi-year deal somewhere in the $10-12 million per season range.
If Valverde departs via free agency, the Astros will automatically receive two draft picks in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft as compensation.
The Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays have all been rumored to be interested in Valverde. At the same time, even if Valverde rejects arbitration, he can still re-sign with the Astros.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., informed MLB.com Tuesday of the organization's willingness to give up its No. 27 pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft for the purpose of signing the right Type A free agent -- possibly Valverde, Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano or Rafael Betancourt.
FOXSports.com reports the Yankees intent to express interest in all the top late-inning relievers on the market, since they struggled with consistency in the bullpen (other than Mariano Rivera) during their 2009 World Series run.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has already discussed the possibility of signing Brandon Lyon, but may also target Fernando Rodney, Gonzalez, Soriano and Valverde, especially if the organization commits to Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes as starting pitchers in 2010.
If the Astros lose Valverde, they will attempt to re-sign Hawkins as a potential option at closer, despite not offering him arbitration.
It's being speculated that Houston didn't want to put Hawkins through the arbitration process, and already has a prospective deal on the table for him to accept.
By not offering Hawkins arbitration, it does increase the possibility for interested teams to jump in and pursue the 36-year-old right-hander, since they won't have to surrender a top draft pick to the Astros as compensation.
Still, the Astros can offer Hawkins something nobody else will -- an opportunity to be a closer.
Just in case the Astros lose both Valverde and Hawkins this offseason, Wade could explore the option of bringing back six-time All-Star closer Billy Wagner to Houston.
Signing Wagner would cost the Astros a draft pick, since the Boston Red Sox offered the left-hander arbitration, but it only nets a second-rounder.
With the Astros possessing the No. 8 pick in the 2010 Draft, as well as the possibility of obtaining an additional first-round pick and supplemental pick for Valverde, Wade may be more willing to give up the lower pick to sign Wagner.
In addition to Wagner, Octavio Dotel, Gonzalez, Eric Gagne, Kevin Gregg, Lyon, Rodney, Takashi Saito and Soriano could all be potential targets for Wade.
Although Houston didn't offer arbitration to Tejada, Wade remains optimistic that the organization can re-sign the 35-year-old veteran at a discount salary.
According to sources, the Astros, Orioles, Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers have already expressed interest in Tejada, who led the NL with 46 doubles while hitting .313 with 14 homers and 86 RBI in 2009.
Realistically, the Phillies, Giants and Rangers won't make a strong pitch at signing the 2002 AL MVP, leaving the Orioles and Cardinals as Houston's major competition.
"We would love to retain Valverde, Hawkins and Tejada, and continue to negotiate with all three," Wade said Tuesday in a statement. "However, we have to be realistic in our arbitration offerings because of the uncertainty of the process. We plan to continue talks with all three players."
Astros offer closer Valverde arbitration
December 1, 11:45 PM
Closer Jose Valverde was the only Houston Astros free agent to get offered arbitration Tuesday, meaning he can accept the offer and return to Houston in 2010, or reject arbitration to sign with another team. (AP Photo)
Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade announced in a press release Tuesday that the organization decided to offer Type A free agent Jose Valverde arbitration, but declined such an offer to six-time All-Star Miguel Tejada, setup man LaTroy Hawkins, reliever Doug Brocail and reserves Darin Erstad and Jason Michaels.
With Valverde ranking as the top closer on the free-agent market, the Astros want to re-sign the 2007 NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year, but realistically, can't afford him since owner Drayton McLane, Jr., intends to trim payroll.
Valverde officially has until Monday to accept arbitration and return to the Astros for the 2010 season, or decline it in order to have an opportunity to sign with another team.
Sources indicate that Valverde will likely reject the arbitration offer and attempt to test the free-agent market with the hope of landing a multi-year deal somewhere in the $10-12 million per season range.
If Valverde departs via free agency, the Astros will automatically receive two draft picks in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft as compensation.
The Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays have all been rumored to be interested in Valverde. At the same time, even if Valverde rejects arbitration, he can still re-sign with the Astros.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., informed MLB.com Tuesday of the organization's willingness to give up its No. 27 pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft for the purpose of signing the right Type A free agent -- possibly Valverde, Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano or Rafael Betancourt.
FOXSports.com reports the Yankees intent to express interest in all the top late-inning relievers on the market, since they struggled with consistency in the bullpen (other than Mariano Rivera) during their 2009 World Series run.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has already discussed the possibility of signing Brandon Lyon, but may also target Fernando Rodney, Gonzalez, Soriano and Valverde, especially if the organization commits to Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes as starting pitchers in 2010.
If the Astros lose Valverde, they will attempt to re-sign Hawkins as a potential option at closer, despite not offering him arbitration.
It's being speculated that Houston didn't want to put Hawkins through the arbitration process, and already has a prospective deal on the table for him to accept.
By not offering Hawkins arbitration, it does increase the possibility for interested teams to jump in and pursue the 36-year-old right-hander, since they won't have to surrender a top draft pick to the Astros as compensation.
Still, the Astros can offer Hawkins something nobody else will -- an opportunity to be a closer.
Just in case the Astros lose both Valverde and Hawkins this offseason, Wade could explore the option of bringing back six-time All-Star closer Billy Wagner to Houston.
Signing Wagner would cost the Astros a draft pick, since the Boston Red Sox offered the left-hander arbitration, but it only nets a second-rounder.
With the Astros possessing the No. 8 pick in the 2010 Draft, as well as the possibility of obtaining an additional first-round pick and supplemental pick for Valverde, Wade may be more willing to give up the lower pick to sign Wagner.
In addition to Wagner, Octavio Dotel, Gonzalez, Eric Gagne, Kevin Gregg, Lyon, Rodney, Takashi Saito and Soriano could all be potential targets for Wade.
Although Houston didn't offer arbitration to Tejada, Wade remains optimistic that the organization can re-sign the 35-year-old veteran at a discount salary.
According to sources, the Astros, Orioles, Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers have already expressed interest in Tejada, who led the NL with 46 doubles while hitting .313 with 14 homers and 86 RBI in 2009.
Realistically, the Phillies, Giants and Rangers won't make a strong pitch at signing the 2002 AL MVP, leaving the Orioles and Cardinals as Houston's major competition.
"We would love to retain Valverde, Hawkins and Tejada, and continue to negotiate with all three," Wade said Tuesday in a statement. "However, we have to be realistic in our arbitration offerings because of the uncertainty of the process. We plan to continue talks with all three players."
