Juan Gutierrez Rumors

Diamondbacks Release Juan Gutierrez

By [October 13, 2011 at 8:11pm CST]

The Diamondbacks have released right-hander Juan Gutierrez, the club announced via its official Twitter page.  Gutierrez only pitched in 20 games for the Snakes this season (posting a 5.40 ERA but an impressive 23 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings) due to elbow and shoulder injuries that eventually required Tommy John surgery in September.

Gutierrez, 28, was part of the trade package that came from Houston to Arizona in December 2009 in exchange for Jose Valverde.  In three years with the D'Backs, Gutierrez appeared in 143 games and posted a 4.62 ERA and an 8.4 K/4 rate, though his effectiveness was undermined by his inability to avoid hits (a 8.9 H/9 rate) and the long ball (a 1.1 HR/9 rate).  Given the long recovery time associated with Tommy John surgery, we might not hear of Gutierrez signing with a new team until the 2012-13 offseason.

Gutierrez would have been eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter.  The righty earned $430.5K with the Diamondbacks last season.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Arizona Diamondbacks | Juan Gutierrez | Transactions

Diamondbacks Set To Add Payroll, Says CEO

By [November 17, 2009 at 2:41pm CST]

TUESDAY 3:41pm: D-Backs' managing general partner Ken Kendrick says the payroll will likely increase to north of $75MM next year, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. The payroll in 2009 was appoximately $73.5MM.

"We definitely have more than $10 million to spend in the market," Kendrick said. "There are other moves that we may make that could change the money landscape that have yet to be determined."

MONDAY 6:54pm: Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall said his team is "definitely adding to the payroll" during a web chat on MLB.com Monday.

Hall weighed in on a huge number of issues, including:

  • He wants to look at free agent starting pitchers, relievers, and a bench player. He expects most acquisitions to come through trades.
  • He believes both Juan Gutierrez and Esmerling Vasquez can pitch the sixth, seventh or eighth innings next season.
  • Only Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and Max Scherzer are guaranteed rotation spots in 2010. Billy Buckner, Kevin Mulvey, and possibly free agents could also be in the mix.
  • Stephen Drew "would be too tough to replace if we ever moved him."

Check out the full discussion. This is a great example of a team using new media to connect to fans.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Arizona Diamondbacks | Billy Buckner | Brandon Webb | Dan Haren | Esmerling Vasquez | Juan Gutierrez | Kevin Mulvey | Max Scherzer | Stephen Drew

Padres Looking For Pitching

By [March 9, 2009 at 10:00pm CST]

Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes about the Padres’ intention to add pitching to the organization.  He learned that the Nationals inquired about Padres first base prospect Kyle Blanks, but were not willing to trade their own top prospect Jordan Zimmermann.  Would’ve been interesting to see.

Krasovic says the Padres are focused on out of options pitchers, and in particular inquired on Arizona’s Juan Gutierrez.  Krasovic tosses out names of other out of options hurlers on the D’Backs and Angels: Jason Bulger, Shane Loux, Dustin Moseley, Yusmeiro Petit, and Travis Blackley.  Two more possibilities: Giants Rule 5 pick Luis Perdomo and Rangers veteran Jason Jennings.  I don’t know whether the Padres are interested, but a few more out of options pitchers include David Pauley, Hayden Penn, Dustin Nippert, Jeff Niemann, and Jason Hammel.

According to Krasovic, GM Kevin Towers is focused exclusively on pitching this month.  Krasovic adds:

Some Padres evaluators have become dismayed, according to other clubs, by a perceived dearth of power arms high in the organization and are wondering if the club’s four-year emphasis on “pitchability” got overdone.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Arizona Diamondbacks | Jason Jennings | Jordan Zimmermann | Juan Gutierrez | Kyle Blanks | Luis Perdomo | San Diego Padres | San Francisco Giants | Texas Rangers | Washington Nationals

Waivers Possible For Nippert, Medders?

By [March 22, 2008 at 9:35am CST]

The Diamondbacks are facing too much of a good thing this spring, with five relievers competing for just one remaining spot in the bullpen.

Righthander Dustin Nippert was the frontrunner, but has stumbled in Spring Training. Strong performances by young throwers Billy Buckner, Juan Gutierrez, and Yusmeiro Petit have also complicated the situation, as each has made a strong case for his inclusion on the big-league roster. However, Nippert and fellow righty Brandon Medders have both been with the team for three years, and are out of minor league options. If the Diamondbacks leave them off the roster, they’ll hit the waiver wire.

One thought is that if Randy Johnson isn’t ready to go, his absence will leave a second slot open for a pitcher. However, that could still leave Medders and Nippert disappointed.

Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.com; she can be reached here.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Arizona Diamondbacks | Billy Buckner | Brandon Medders | Dustin Nippert | Juan Gutierrez

Dissecting The Jose Valverde Trade

By [December 14, 2007 at 6:28pm CST]

Regular MLBTR readers know I have mostly been a harsh critic of Ed Wade’s short tenure as the Astros’ GM.  Well, not this time.  He made an excellent deal in acquiring Jose Valverde for Chris Burke, Chad Qualls, and Juan Gutierrez.

Valverde, 27, is a nasty shut-down closer with two seasons before free agency.  He gets strikeouts by the bushel and can handle the ninth in a tough hitter’s ballpark.

Burke was once the 10th overall pick in the 2001 draft, but he turns 27 in March.  His best year was a .765 OPS in 2006.  The D’Backs hope he can match that and take over for Orlando Hudson after the 2007 season. I have to think his trade value was minimal.

Qualls, 29, has three seasons before free agency.  He’s quietly compiled a 3.39 ERA in 284 career innings. He had a solid strikeout rate last year and also posted a strong groundball rate near 60%.  Josh Byrnes is gambling that Qualls is nearly Valverde’s equal, just without the fancy 40-save season.

Gutierrez, 24, didn’t impress as a starter in Triple A or the bigs this year.  Baseball America recently ranked him as the Astros’ fourth best prospect, with an excellent heater and sometimes plus changeup.  He may end up in relief, but is an intriguing arm.

This trade could definitely work out for Byrnes and Co. – they gave up two years of Valverde for 12 years of Burke, Qualls, and Gutierrez.  If Qualls can be 80% as good as Valverde, the D’Backs win the deal on service time alone.

I just question whether Byrnes got the best possible package for Valverde.  The Astros, meanwhile, did a nice job getting a possibly elite closer for a reasonable package.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Arizona Diamondbacks | Chad Qualls | Chris Burke | Houston Astros | Jose Valverde | Juan Gutierrez