Gregg Zaun
Rumors

Back in October, we posted the 2010 MLB Draft Order.  Since October, there have been plenty of free agent signings which have impacted where teams will make selections based on compensation picks.  Below is the complete draft order with all compensation picks included.

Protected First-Round Picks
1) Nationals (59-103)
2) Pirates (62-99)
3) Orioles (64-98)
4) Royals (65-97)
5) Indians (65-97)
6) Diamondbacks (70-92)
7) Mets (70-92)
8) Astros (74-88)
9) Padres (75-87)
10) Athletics (75-87)
11) Blue Jays (75-87)
12) Reds (78-84)
13) White Sox (79-83)
14) Brewers (80-82)
15) Rangers (compensation for failure to sign Matt Purke)
16) Cubs (83-78)
Unprotected First-Round Picks
17) Rays (84-78)
18) Angels (compensation from Mariners for Chone Figgins)
19) Astros (compensation from Tigers for Jose Valverde)
20) Red Sox (compensation from Braves for Billy Wagner)
21) Twins (87-76)
22) Rangers (87-75)
23) Marlins (87-75)
24) Giants (88-74)
25) Cardinals (91-71)
26) Rockies (92-70)
27) Phillies (93-69)
28) Dodgers (95-67)
29) Angels (compensation from Red Sox for John Lackey)
30) Angels (97-65)
31) Rays (compensation for failure to sign LeVon Washington)
32) Yankees (103-59)

When teams finish with the same record, the tiebreaker (and higher pick) goes to the club with the worst record the previous year.

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The deadline for teams to offer arbitration to free agents was this past Tuesday and Keith Law of espn.com gives us his analysis of teams varying decisions to either offer or decline arbitration with their free agents.

• Billy Wagner was offered arbitration by the Red Sox and then signed with the Braves, giving the Red Sox the 20th overall pick in the 2010 draft along with a compensation pick.  Law loves that decision, but questions the Braves move, wondering how much value they'll get out of Wagner at the expense of the draft picks.  However, it seems likely that the Braves are anticipating losing Rafael Soriano or Mike Gonzalez making the draft picks a wash.  
• The Dodgers did not offer arbitration to Randy Wolf or Orlando Hudson, a clear indication that the team is in desperate financial difficulty and are afraid of the players actually accepting arbitration.  Both are Type A free agents meaning the Dodgers essentially gave up four draft picks if neither signed with LA. 
• Law agreed with the Giants decision not to offer Bengie Molina arbitration and hopes this means that the Buster Posey era - 5th overall pick of the 2008 draft - will start soon.

Is the Buster Posey era beginning in SF?

• Milwaukee did not offer Felipe Lopez arbitration, a curious decision.  Lopez only made $3.5M in 2009, did not have impressive HR, RBI or run totals and is represented by Scott Boras, so it seems unlikely that Lopez would have agreed to arbitration anyway.  Lopez is a Type B free agent and would have netted the Brewers two draft picks. 
• Similarly, the Angels raised some eyebrows by not offering Darren Oliver arbitration.  Oliver had a good year last year, likely would not cost much and as a Type A, if he left, would have netted the Angels two draft picks.  It's good news for Oliver, however, who might have had trouble finding suitors willing to give up a draft pick for him.
• Gregg Zaun and Brian Shouse were both offered arbitration by the Rays who would be ok whether the players accepted or rejected the offer.  Neither would have an unreasonable salary in 2010, but both are Type B free agents and would give the Rays a supplemental draft pick if they left. 
• The Twins have turned a "fringe prospect" into either 1.5 years of Carl Pavano or a half season of Pavano and a sandwich pick in the 2010 draft. 

A number of Rays rumors to look at in Joe Smith's article from the St. Petersburg Times.

• The Rays would like to sign star outfielder Carl Crawford to a long term extension.  Crawford will likely make about $11.5M in 2010 with escalators and could command quite a bit on the open market.  There's word in the article that the Mets and Braves have expressed interest in acquiring Crawford if the Rays look to move him, however it is likely that almost every team in baseball would be interested.
• BJ Upton is rumored to be available and the Rangers and White Sox have already inquired.
• Smith feels like the Rays will be interested in signing Kevin Gregg or JJ Putz this off season.
• Gregg Zaun is currently a free agent, but the team might look to bring him back and try the Zaun/Dioner Navarro platoon that worked in 2009.

Carl Crawford will command a lot in a trade if the Rays are unable to extend him

Below is a list of catchers who are eligible for free agency for the 2010 season, their age, current team, current contract and whether the player falls into a Type A or Type B free agent compensation status.

Free agent first basemen
Free agent second basemen
Free agent third basemen
Free agent shortstops
Free agent left fielders
Free agent center fielders
Free agent right fielders
Free agent starting pitchers
Free agent middle relievers
Free agent closers

Brad Ausmus, 41, Dodgers - 09: $1M
Paul Bako, 38, Phillies - 09: $725K
Rod Barajas, 34, Blue Jays - 08: $1.2M 09: $2.5M (Type B)
Josh Bard, 32, Nationals - 09: $600K
Michael Barrett, 33, Blue Jays - 09: $600K
Henry Blanco, 38, Padres - 09: $750K
Ramon Castro, 34, White Sox - 08: $1.85M 09: $2.5M
Sal Fasano, 38, Rockies - 09: minor league contract
Toby Hall, 34, Astros - 09: minor league contract
Ramon Hernandez, 34, Reds - 06: $4.5M 07: $6.5M 08: $7.5M 09: $8M 10: $8.5M club option ($1M buyout) (Type B)
Jason Kendall, 36, Brewers - 08: $4.25M 09: $5M (Type B)
Jason LaRue, 36, Cardinals - 09: $950K
Bengie Molina, 35, Giants - 07: $4M 08: $6M 09: $6M (Type A)
Jose Molina, 35, Yankees - 08: $1.75M, 09: $2M
Miguel Olivo, 31, Royals - 08: $2.M 09: 2.7M (Type B)
Mike Redmond, 39, Twins - 07: $950K 08: 950K 09: 950K
Ivan Rodriguez, 38, Rangers - 09: $1.5M (Type B)
Brian Schneider, 33, Mets - 06: $2.7M 07: $3.5M 08: $4.9M
Yorvit Torrealba, 31, Rockies - 08: $2.75M 09: $3.5M
Javier Valentin, 34, Mets - 09: minor league contract
Vance Wilson, 37, Royals - 09: minor league contract
Gregg Zaun, 39, Rays - 09: $1.5M 10: $2M club option ($500K buyout)

The deadline to offer a free agent arbitration is tonight at 11pm CST (1pm EST). Here's a list of players who are eligible for arbitration, their team's decisions and any commentary.

• Trevor Hoffman was not offered arbitration by the Padres.
• The Angels have offered arbitration to Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Jon Garland and Darren Oliver.
• Manny Ramirez, Derek Lowe and Casey Blake were offered arbitration by the Dodgers. Joe Beimel, Brad Penny, Jeff Kent and Greg Maddux were not.
• Brian Fuentes has been offered arbitration by the Rockies.
• The Blue Jays offered arbitration to AJ Burnett but not Greg Zaun.
• The Royals offered arbitration to Mark Grudzielanek.
• Russ Springer, Braden Looper and Jason Isringhausen have not been offered arbitration by the Cardinals.
• The Yankees did not offer arbitration to Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu or Mike Mussina.
• Dennys Reyes has been offered arbitration by the Tigers. The Tigers also declined to offer arbitration to Edgar Renteria.
• The Brewers offered arbitration to CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Brian Shouse.
• The Mariners have offered arbitration to Raul Ibanez.
• John Smoltz was not offered arbitration by the Braves.
• The Mets have offered arbitration to Oliver Perez, but Luis Ayala and Moises Alou did not receive offers.
• The Red Sox have offered arbitration to Jason Varitek and Paul Byrd.
• Kerry Wood and Bob Howry were not offered arbitration by the Cubs.
• The As have declined to offer arbitration to Alan Embree and Frank Thomas. 
• As Ken Rosenthal suggested yesterday, the Diamondbacks did not offer arbitration to Adam Dunn.  They did, however, offer arbitration to Juan Cruz, Brandon Lyon and Orlando Hudson.
• The Rangers offered arbitration to Milton Bradley.

Toronto Blue Jays general manager, JP Riccardi, recently told the Toronto Star that he does not expect to spend very much money this off-season, depsite the glut of potentially available 2009 free agents. Riccardi did mention, however, that the Blue Jays do need to improve at DH/first baseman, shortstop, and catcher, but hopes to fill those needs from their minor league system. The recently called up Travis Snyder is expected to take over in left field with Adam Lind becoming their DH.

AJ Burnett is expected to opt out of his contract at the end of the season and his departure along with Gregg Zaun means that the Blue Jays will have about $15M to spend this off-season.

Riccardi's most telling comments, however, come from his approach to 30-something players:

• "Look at the offensive numbers this year. It's like, bizarro. There's a lot of guys whose numbers have been good in the past, bu they're not as good this year. So I think until we get to the point where we've seen those guys play another year or so, get a little bit of a track record, saying, `Okay, this is what those guys really are.' You can fill in the blanks. I'm not going to say the words. There's been a lot of false numbers in the past."

This feeling makes it seem like the Blue Jays will not be too involved in the 2009 free agent market.

The Jays approach will be contrasted by their division rivals, the Yankees, who are expected to make a push for Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets amongst others.