Jose Mijares Rumors
Giants, Jose Mijares Avoid Arbitration
The Giants have avoided arbitration with left-handed reliever Jose Mijares, MLBTR has learned. The SFX client will earn $1.8MM in 2013.
Mijares, 28, joined the Giants this past August after they claimed him off of waivers from Kansas City. He posted a 2.56 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 56 1/3 total innings, setting himself up for a raise from his 2012 salary of $925K. Matt Swartz had anticipated a $1.6MM salary for Mijares in his projections for MLBTR.
The Giants have six remaining arb eligible players, as MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows. Joaquin Arias, Gregor Blanco, Clay Hensley, Hunter Pence, Buster Posey and Sergio Romo are San Francisco's other eligible players.
Quick Hits: Kemp, Mijares, Teagarden
The Tigers overcame a tense ninth inning to cinch a 2-1 victory in tonight's Game Three, taking a 3-0 lead over the Yankees in the ALCS. Justin Verlander allowed three hits and one run (a ninth-inning Eduardo Nunez homer) over 8 1/3 innings, while Phil Coke allowed two singles but held on to pick up the save. Here's the latest from around baseball...
- The Dodgers should explore moving Matt Kemp from center field in order to protect Kemp's long-term health, writes Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles. Saxon suggests Carl Crawford could take over in center in 2014, though I'm not sure Crawford would be able to physically handle the position himself given his injury history. Corner outfielders Crawford and Andre Ethier are both locked up through 2017 on contracts worth $187.5MM through 2017 and Adrian Gonzalez is the long-term answer at first base, so there really isn't anywhere for Kemp to move.
- The Giants' waiver claim of left-hander Jose Mijares in August has proven to be a key pickup, writes MLB.com's Tracy Ringolsby. Mijares posted a 2.55 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings for the Giants down the stretch.
- The Orioles will probably bring back Taylor Teagarden as backup catcher, opines Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com.
- With Jason Giambi a managerial candidate in Colorado, USA Today's Bob Nightengale lists 10 current players who he believes could easily transition to running a team. Derek Jeter can probably be eliminated from the list given Jeter's recent comments about the chances of him becoming a manager.
Giants Acquire Jose Mijares
The Giants have claimed left-handed reliever Jose Mijares from Kansas City, the teams announced. Mijares will provide Giants manager Bruce Bochy with a third lefty relief option to go along with Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez.
Mijares has a 2.56 ERA with 8.6 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and a 33.3% ground ball rate in 38 2/3 innings this year. The 27-year-old earns $925K, will be arbitration eligible following this offseason, and will remain under team control through 2014.
I identified Mijares as a midseason trade candidate in May. However, I wouldn't have predicted he'd go unclaimed by 13 American League teams and a number of National League teams given the season he's having and his modest salary.
Angels Interested In Mijares, Rzepczynski
The Angels have expressed interest in Jose Mijares of the Royals and Marc Rzepczynski of the Cardinals in their search for a left-handed reliever, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports (Twitter links). The Angels could also have some interest in Joe Thatcher of the Padres, DiGiovanna suggests.
Mijares, 27, has a 1.72 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 36 2/3 innings with the Royals so far in 2012. The midseason trade candidate earns $925K this year and will be arbitration eligible following the season.
Rzepczynski was traded to the Cardinals last summer in the deal that sent Edwin Jackson to St. Louis. The 26-year-old has a 5.06 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 32 innings this year. He'll be arbitration eligible for the first time following the 2012 season.
The Angels, who currently have left-handers Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi pitching out of the bullpen, are willing to offer Peter Bourjos in a trade for the right reliever. Here's MLBTR's preview of the trade market for left-handed relief.
AL Central Links: Tigers, Royals, White Sox
It's possible that tonight was the last start Francisco Liriano will make as a member of the Twins. Liriano entered with a 2.84 ERA with a 10.9 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 since May 30, but was shelled for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings. Here are some links surrounding the division...
- After swinging a major trade to acquire Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante earlier today, Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski says his team is "set at this point," according to Jason Beck of MLB.com (on Twitter).
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that Jonathan Broxton, Jose Mijares, Yuniesky Betancourt, and Jeff Francoeur have all been made available by the Royals.
- Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune passes along a video interview with White Sox GM Kenny Williams stating, "There's no sense" in acquiring a marginal upgrade to his rotation. Williams implies that his club will only be interested in adding a front-line pitcher, and that he's willing to look at prospect deals to improve his club in the short-term. Williams is also optimistic that John Danks, currently on the DL, can return and improve his team's rotation.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports speculates that Carlos Quentin's recent extension could push teams into overpaying the Twins to acquire Josh Willingham (video link).
- Morosi also discusses the impact of the trade that sent Brett Myers to the White Sox.
Trade Candidate: Jose Mijares
There’s a market for left-handed relief pitching every summer, and the 13-20 Royals are once again expected to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline, so Jose Mijares could interest general managers around the league if his rebound season continues in the coming weeks.
The Twins non-tendered Mijares last offseason following a difficult 2011 campaign in which his average fastball velocity dropped and he walked as many batters as he struck out (30). The 27-year-old signed a one-year, $925K contract with the Royals in December and the results have been promising to this point. He has a 2.45 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9 in 14 2/3 innings, an indication that last year’s struggles may be behind him.
Mijares has returned to his career norms so far in 2012 and his fastball has regained its zip (90.9 mph on average). Against left-handed hitters he has impressive career rates of 8.1 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9. When lefty hitters face Mijares fewer fly balls become home runs and fewer batted balls become hits or line drives.
But he is a true ‘loogy’ in that his managers need to limit his exposure to right-handed hitters (they hit .271/.357/.434 against him). He’s best used as a specialist, and his managers know it. He has averaged less than one inning per appearance and faced nearly as many left-handers as right-handers in his five MLB seasons.
The Royals aren’t under pressure to move Mijares, who’s affordable and under team control through 2014. But GM Dayton Moore won’t necessarily need Mijares for the next three seasons, as Tim Collins can neutralize tough left-handed hitters and the Royals have other potentially useful left-handed relievers in the minors. If the Royals can obtain a reasonably interesting prospect for Mijares while his value remains high, his tenure in Kansas City may be brief.
Photo courtesy of US Presswire.
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