Yadier Molina Rumors
Odds & Ends: Miller, Laird, Fielder, V-Mart
As the Giants pick up a major win over the Rockies tonight, here are some news items....
- The Marlins face a tough decision with the out-of-options Andrew Miller, writes Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post.
- Gerald Laird is looking for regular playing time next season, so it could mean the end for his time in Detroit what with Alex Avila having locked down a regular catching job, reports MLB.com's Jason Beck.
- "I think there’s probably a better chance that [Prince Fielder]’s not with us than he is [next season]," Ryan Braun said to Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel before what could be Fielder's last home series as a Brewer.
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post (via Twitter) predicts that Miguel Olivo will return to Colorado next season even if he doesn't reach his vesting option.
- C.C. Sabathia doesn't think his friend and former Indians teammate Victor Martinez will re-sign with Boston this winter, tweets Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman.
- Matt Cerrone of the MetsBlog would like to see Bobby Valentine managing the Mets next season, with Wally Backman (who's been rumored as another managerial candidate) as the team's bench coach.
- Now that we know Stan Kasten won't be back as Washington's president next season, MASNSports.com's Phil Wood thinks Kasten would be a prime candidate to be baseball's next commissioner. Wood also thinks the Nationals will promote their next president from within the organization.
- With Yadier Molina shut down for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thinks the Cardinals should look for a veteran backup for the workhorse catcher over the winter.
- A number of Padres coaches are being interviewed for open managerial jobs, writes MLB.com's Corey Brock.
The 2012 Free Agent Class
Jeff Euston of Cot's Baseball Contracts recently posted an unofficial list of players who will become free agents after the 2011 season. That free agent class will be highlighted by a trio of first basemen: Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, and Ryan Howard, though there's a chance Albert Pujols will join them if he and the Cardinals can't work out an extension.
Some other notable players scheduled to become free agents after 2011 include Jason Bartlett, Carlos Beltran, Mark Buehrle, Edwin Jackson, Heath Bell, and Jonathan Papelbon. Robinson Cano, Yadier Molina, Grady Sizemore, and Matt Cain may also become free agents if their club options for 2012 are declined.
Obviously a lot will change between now and then, but it's never too early to look ahead!
Yadier Molina Signs Extension With Cards
The Cardinals signed catcher Yadier Molina to a four-year deal today. The 25 year-old defensive whiz hit .275/.340/.368 in '07.
The specifics: the package is worth $15.5MM. The salaries are $1.75MM in '08, $3.25MM in '09, $4.25MM in '10, and $5.25MM in '11. The 2012 option is for $7MM. It's hard (at least for me) to place a dollar value on catcher defense. But we know Molina is very good, and there are signs he could even become a plus with the bat. This seems a decent signing by John Mozeliak.
Cardinals Rumors: Ankiel, Molina
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a new column up this morning regarding the Cardinals' arbitration-eligible players. This year they have Rick Ankiel, Yadier Molina, and Todd Wellemeyer.
Goold spoke to Scott Boras regarding Ankiel's situation, which is definitely a unique one. Salaries for arb-eligible players are often determined by looking at comparables, but Ankiel doesn't really have any (Babe Ruth doesn't quite fit). Ankiel has four years of service time; he'll be a free agent after the 2009 season.
Molina has three years of service time, so he's under team control through 2010. Goold says a multiyear deal for Molina is likely to be discussed.
|
|
