Jeff Suppan has a nice contract coming his way, and it seems more likely than ever he’s going to get it after his most valuable player performance in the National League Championship Series.
No veteran player has done more for less the last three seasons than the nondescript, rock-solid Suppan. He gave the St. Louis Cardinals 18 victories for $1 million in 2004, including a triumph over Roger Clemens in Game 7 of the NLCS; 16 victories for $4 million in ’05, and 13 victories (and counting) for $4 million in ’06.
That’s a mere $191,489 per victory; contrast that to $545,455 per for Greg Maddux over the same time frame.
The point isn’t that Maddux has been overpaid but how big a bargain Suppan has been for the Cardinals. Not surprisingly, a different set of agents (Scott Leventhal and Damon Lapa) will negotiate Suppan’s next deal. He fired the ones who got him the agreement with St. Louis after he split 2003 between Pittsburgh and Boston.
Entering the postseason, the Cardinals were hopeful, perhaps even optimistic, about being able to re-sign Suppan and Jeff Weaver after the season. Getting one of them to return could be essential because otherwise they are looking at only youngsters such as Adam Wainwright and Anthony Reyes as the only known commodities behind Chris Carpenter.
Between them, Suppan and Weaver have started six of St. Louis’ 11 playoff games, going 3-2 with a 2.00 earned-run average. Both have elevated their profiles considerably.
Weaver, however, has had big contracts in his past. The 31-year-old Suppan, who had the misfortune to establish himself with the Kansas City Royals, has not. In a shortsighted move, the Royals non-tendered him rather than engage in a costly arbitration case after 2002 and only now is he regaining his economic muscle.
Suppan has turned in eight consecutive seasons of 30-plus starts. His career ERA is an unimpressive 4.60, but he has been comfortably below the league ERA in each of the last four seasons, including 3.57 in 2005, his best season.
Suppan should benefit from the thinness of this year’s free-agent market. Beyond Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt and Japan’s Daisuke Matsuzaka, the beauty of the available pitchers will be in the eye of the beholder.
Mike Mussina, Tom Glavine and Andy Pettitte seem like clear second-tier prospects, and all could be re-signed. The Yankees are expected to give Mussina a $1.5 million buyout rather than his $17 million option but are interested in a multiyear extension, albeit for less. Glavine can exercise a $7.5 million option to stay with the Mets if the club doesn’t use its $14 million option (and he could return to Atlanta if he doesn’t). Pettitte seems unlikely to leave his hometown Houston Astros.
The names in the next tier include Suppan, Ted Lilly, Gil Meche, Jamie Moyer (he has a mutual option with the Phillies), Maddux (expected to stay in Los Angeles), Weaver, Tomo Ohka, Kip Wells, Mark Mulder and Tony Armas Jr.
According to sources, the Cubs will join the pursuit of the top free agents, hoping to nab Matsuzaka or Schmidt, possibly even Zito, but they know there are no guarantees. General manager Jim Hendry had his scouts tracking the other free agents in the second half of the season, knowing they must choose wisely to fill at least two holes in the rotation.
Piniella woos Trammell
According to major-league sources, new Cubs manager Lou Piniella could turn to former Detroit Tigers manager Alan Trammell to fill his bench-coach opening.
Piniella’s first choice was John McLaren, who had been with Piniella in Cincinnati, Seattle and Tampa Bay. McLaren accepted an offer to join Mike Hargrove’s staff with the Mariners instead, believing that would give him a better chance to become a manager in the future.
Trammell, a six-time All-Star shortstop with Detroit, was replaced by Jim Leyland as Tigers manager before this season. He spent the year at his home in Del Mar, Calif., and is looking to get back into baseball.
He told USA Today this week he would like to coach.
“If I have to re-earn my stripes, that’ll be fine and I can figure some things out,” Trammell said. “I would be very happy to get back on the field in some capacity.”
No experience required
Boston’s new pitching coach, John Farrell, is a former big-league pitcher, but the only coaching he ever has done is a short stint on the staff at Oklahoma State. He had been a highly respected farm director in Cleveland.
“We think he’s going to make a real impact in this organization,” GM Theo Epstein said. “Can’t wait to get started working with him.”
Farrell had been on the GM track but stepped aside to work for Terry Francona, whom he had played with in Cleveland in 1988. In his time with the Indians, USA Today twice named them the organization of the year.
“The `fast track’ to the front office that people referred to can be left up to the interpretation of the individual,” Farrell said.
“I can tell you that a daily competitive fire exists within me and the opportunity that has been presented here to help make decisions, and in-game decisions that have the potential to affect the outcome on a daily basis, is a tremendous opportunity.”
Farrell replaces Dave Wallace, who remains unhappy with the way Epstein treated him.
Whispers
Houston, eager to add a hitter to bat behind Lance Berkman, is a strong front-runner for Carlos Lee. The small left field and easy poke to the left-field bleachers figures to suit Lee, a native of Panama who has bought a ranch near Houston. Berkman drove in 136 runs this season; Craig Biggio was second on the team with 62. . . . The Rangers were unsuccessful in their attempts to re-sign center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. He figures his All-Star season should be worth a three-year deal at about $8 million a year. He and Juan Pierre figure to be the two top leadoff men on the market. Matthews set Texas records for the leadoff spot with 102 runs, 79 RBIs and 69 extra-base hits. . . .
Perry Hill, the Florida Marlins’ infield instructor, is a coach in demand. Florida GM Larry Beinfest refused to let Baltimore and Boston meet with him. . . . Longtime PR man Rick Cerrone (often confused with catcher Rick Cerone) was a casualty of the Yankees’ disappointing season. He had been on the job 11 years, a record under George Steinbrenner. . . . Fernando Valenzuela and his son, Fernando Jr. are teammates on the Mexicali team in the Mexican Pacific League. The younger Valenzuela played first base for the White Sox low-A team at Kannapolis this season. . . . The Phillies are looking to move left fielder Pat Burrell after trading Bobby Abreu in July. They almost certainly will have to eat some of the $27 million over two years left on his contract. . . . New name for White Sox fans to follow: Dewon Day. He stands 6 feet 4 inches, throws 95 m.p.h. and struck out seven in 4 1/3 scoreless innings in the Arizona Fall League. He could come fast as a bullpen candidate. . . .
Speaking of the Phillies, Charlie Manuel’s 2007 coaching staff will include three men who have big-league managing experience: Art Howe, Jimy Williams and Davey Lopes. That’s enough to make a man insecure. . . . Bob Geren is a favorite to replace Ken Macha in Oakland, but longtime third-base coach Ron Washington would be a popular choice. Washington is among the finalists in Texas. . . . Angels pitching coach Bud Black is receiving serious consideration in San Francisco after declining to interview for previous managerial openings in Boston, Detroit and Los Angeles. Dusty Baker would be an inspired choice for the A’s, who need all the help they can get pursuing a new stadium, but he is not believed to be on Billy Beane’s list.
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