Weekend Update

Here’s a little weekend round up of items in baseball news. Some have a fantasy bent, some have a Giants bent, and some are just bent. Here is Sour Grapes post #350:

Free agent Mike Lieberthal said he's retiring after 14 big-league seasons. The Dodgers declined to bring Lieberthal back for $1.5 million. "If they would have picked up my option, I probably would have played one more year," Lieberthal said. "But I didn't want to go anywhere else. ... I'm totally in a very happy place now." Lieberthal, who turned 36 last month, finishes his career with a .274/.337/446 line, 150 homers and 610 RBI in 4,218 at-bats. The two-time All-Star had his best year in 1999, hitting .300 with 31 homers and 96 RBI.

=> We at the Pickled HQ have always had a fond spot for Mike Lieberthal. We discovered him in BABI. He was actually on our list in 1996 for a $1 backup catcher slot. We ended up picking him up during the season, and bought him in the 1997 draft for about $6, which earned us 20 homers, 77 RBIs and even 3 steals. Lieberthal was a pretty solid hitter for a while, but he was injury prone, so he was quite inconsistent. But he showed enough hitting ability that he was always overpriced in his later years, including 2007 when he went for $2. That 1999 season kind of smells of steroids, doesn’t it? We forgive him, because we like Mike.

The Mets have no plans to sign Livan Hernandez or another starter before resolving the Johan Santana situation, according to the The Daily News.

=> Rototimes says that Livan is about to turn 33. If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge I’d like to sell you cheap. He had over 200 innings last season with a 1.60 WHIP. The Mets need just that kind of player to keep them from a September collapse this season.

The Brewers are planning on giving Mat Gamel another year at third base before they consider moving him. Gamel, the MVP of the Hawaiian Winter League, made 53 errors on lousy infields in low-A ball last year. He's one of the Brewers' top prospects, but he may end up in the outfield.

=> Who the heck?? He’s 22 and just finished a season with the Brevard County Manatees. He’s got pop (only 9 homers, but 37 doubles and 8 triples) and he stole 14 bases while hitting .300. I like blaming the lousy infields in low-A ball. Isn’t 22 old for low-A? I think you guys should draft him high, but beware: his family couldn’t afford the second “t” in Mat.

Free agent Trot Nixon has been working on his defense at first base in order to increase his versatility. The Red Sox are looking for a left-handed hitter capable of backing up at first base, and Nixon has his agent asking whether they're interested. They'd probably prefer someone with more power, but it's possible they'll consider him if they can't land Brad Wilkerson.

=> I don’t want to write about Trot. I want to write about Brad Wilkerson. What the hell happened to him? He’s been playing for the Rangers, but is a free agent. Remember when he was a monster prospect? He had 32 homers and stole 13 bags for the Expos in 2004 at the age of 27. He’s 30 now, and is coming off a season when he hit 20 homers, but only had a .234 BA. He seems like the kind of guy the Giants should take a chance on.

At the Twins' request, Boof Bonser said he has lost about 20 pounds since the end of last season.

=> While dieting, he also lost the “f” at the end of his name.

The Dallas Morning News believes the Rangers turned down an offer of Matt Murton for Marlon Byrd.

=> I’d love to see the Giants make a run at Matt Murton. First of all, he has the second “t” in his name. Second, he’s 27, and he had the lowest BA of his career at .281, which doesn’t exactly stink. I had forgotten about ol’ Marlin Byrd when he headed to the AL last year, but he did hit .307 and 10 homers, albeit, in Arlington. In my mind, Byrd does stink, though I guess I can be wrong. Nahhh. I would have made that deal in a second if I were the Rangers’ GM.

Jason Bay isn't happy with the Pirates' direction, but he'd still prefer to stay with the team. "No, not at all," said Bay when asked if he wanted out. "I've always wanted to be a Pittsburgh Pirate. But I've wanted to play for a winning group of Pittsburgh Pirates. Hopefully, we can turn this team into a winner."

=> Why would anyone always want to be a Pirate? They suck, and they’ll always suck.
Bay only has $13.25 million left on the last 2 years of his contract. I know he had a bad year in 2007, but how can you not want to give him a shot? Come on, Sabes, go make a deal.

Pirates president Frank Coonelly said Friday that his team has offered Freddy Sanchez a long-term deal. There was no indication that the two sides were close to getting a deal done. Sanchez is asking for $4.9 million in arbitration and was offered $4.1 million. He'll be eligible for free agency after 2009.

=> See Jason Bay above.

Giants GM Brian Sabean said it's becoming increasingly unlikely that he'll add a first baseman prior to the start of spring training. The Giants have been rumored to be after Tony Clark, but Sabean doesn't seem interested in going there. "I don't know that we could marginally improve ourselves with anybody out there," he said. If the Giants don't add a first baseman, Dan Ortmeier would be the favorite to start at the position over Rich Aurilia. They'd have to be projected to have the worst first base production in the majors.

=> I have nothing to say except that this is your Giants’ front office. There is nobody out there who can marginally improve us over Rich Aurilia (5/33/0/.252) and an unproven Ortmeier? Nobody?

MLB.com reports that Paul Lo Duca suffered a right knee injury while working out at a New York gym earlier this week. The injury is being described as a "tweak," but he's expected to be examined further by Nationals team doctors after undergoing an MRI on Friday.

=> Yeah, that tweak in his knee is nowhere near as bad as the tweak in his head.

Free agent Damian Miller is leaning towards retirement at age 38. Miller was hoping to stay close to home and has turned down chances to compete for reserve jobs elsewhere. The Brewers, though, have decided to go with Eric Munson or Mike Rivera.

=> I’m no particular fan of Miller, but Munson has a lifetime BA of .214 and Rivera is at .239. What exactly was wrong with Johnny Estrada last year, who hit 278 with 10 homers?

The Yankees and Robinson Cano have agreed to a four-year, $30 million contract with two option years, according to SI's Jon Heyman. The option for 2012 is for $13 million and the option for 2013 is believed to be for about $15 million. Those would cover his first two years of free agency.

=> I don’t get why someone would sign a contract with 2 gigantic option years. Either he’s going to be worth a hell of a lot of money after 4 years, in which case he can sign a gigantic contract, or the Yankees are going to pass. I feel that Cano is shortchanging himself one way or the other. Remind me to check on this in 2012.