Posted on November 3, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Hot-Stove Dispatches
(and now we’re up to date). From Rotoworld:
Armando Benitez stands to benefit the most if the Giants opt to hire Bobby Valentine as their new manager. Although it’s a remote possibility, Valentine is apparently on a list of fall-back candidates should the Giants decide they don’t want to hire any of the current men up for the job. Benitez and Valentine were very close when they were both in New York, and having him aboard could do wonders for the enigmatic closer. The Giants have since hired San Diego’s Bruce Bochy.
New Phillies first base coach Davey Lopes could help Shane Victorino become a better basestealer. Victorino has tremendous speed, twice stealing 45 bases or more in the minors, but he’s yet to show he can be a threat in the majors. How much of a sleeper Victorino will be next year will depend on what happens with Pat Burrell and David Dellucci.
There continues to be a lot of speculation in Cincinnati that the Reds will try to trade Adam Dunn this offseason. Reds GM Wayne Krivsky, who worked with the Twins for 11 years, wants to cut down team strikeouts, increase average and doesn’t mind losing some home runs in the process. With that mindset, Dunn is definitely a good candidate to be moved. Krivsky has already traded away three of the five hitters who struck out 100 times in 2005 - Wily Mo Peña, Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez. Given his propensity for striking out, a dwindling batting average and his skaky defense, the Reds could use their 40-homer man to land a much-needed starting pitcher, the paper suggests. Reportedly, Houston (Dunn’s hometown), the Cubs and the Dodgers would all be interested.
Jason Vargas pitched two hitless innings and struck out three in his appearance for Escogido of the DWL on Friday. Due mostly to wildness, Vargas was a major disappointment in 2006. Not only did he have a 7.33 ERA in five starts and seven relief appearances in the majors, he actually finished at 7.43 in his 13 starts at Triple-A Albuquerque. He should yet have a future in a major league rotation, but his next opportunity with the Marlins may come as a reliever.