Carlos Pena Signs Three-Year Deal
According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, Carlos Pena has signed a three year deal worth about $24MM. The deal buys out one year of free agency.
If the amount is accurate, the Rays have a serious bargain on their hands. I was guessing this would cost $36MM. Despite all the concerns about Pena’s Boras representation, he’s staying in Tampa Bay through 2010.
Fernando Martinez May Be Key To Santana Deal
Nothing groundbreaking here, but Ken Davidoff spoke to "an industry offical familiar with Minnesota’s trade discussions," who believes the inclusion of young outfielder Fernando Martinez could close the Johan Santana deal for the Mets. Davidoff notes that some combination of Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra, Philip Humber, and Kevin Mulvey would have to be in there too. Perhaps the sides will ultimately agree on Martinez and all the rest except for Gomez.
The Yankees and Red Sox remain in the mix, though the Yanks seem ready to move on.
Signings Galore
Tons of one-year agreements were reached recently, which was to be expected. These are all players under team control rather than free agents, so we knew they weren’t signing elsewhere. The options are to sign a one-year deal, sign a multiyear deal, or go to a hearing if no agreement can be reached.
- Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, Brad Lidge, Mark Teixeira, Joe Crede, Juan Rivera, Huston Street, and others reached agreements recently.
- The Jays gave Scott Downs a three-year, $10MM deal. The deal buys out two years of free agency, which makes it a little more palatable than when I thought it was buying out one.
- Scott Kazmir may have to throw down with the Rays.
Rays Acquire Aybar, Fontaine For Ridgway
The St. Petersburg Times reports that the Rays acquired infielder Willy Aybar today along with Chase Fontaine for Jeff Ridgway. DRays Bay caught wind of this one several days ago.
Aybar is out of options, so he’ll stick with the big club as a super-utility guy. He can bridge the gap at third base if Evan Longoria needs a little time. Aybar would be most interesting at second; he’ll be 25 and sports a career OPS over .800. However a few years ago Baseball America questioned whether he could handle second base defensively long-term. Regardless, if Aybar can get past the substance abuse problems this could be a steal.
BA doesn’t expect the 22 year-old Fontaine to stick at shortstop; he might have to move to second eventually. He’s considered a line-drive hitter.
Ridgway is a 27 year-old southpaw reliever; Frank Wren sold low on Aybar if this is all he could get.
Reggie Sanders Ponders Future
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, free agent outfielder Reggie Sanders is looking at several options for 2008. He could continue his playing career; he’s discussed backup roles with the Padres and Dodgers. The Dodgers don’t seem to need more outfielders, while the Padres are looking to trade for a corner outfielder.
Other options for Sanders include retirement and/or a foray into a TV analyst career.
Introducing Karl Micka-Foos
We have a new addition to the MLBTR team. His name is Karl Micka-Foos. I’m not sure exactly how the team of additional writers will contribute yet, but I’m glad to have Karl aboard. A little about him:
Karl Micka-Foos is a senior at Princeton University, majoring in English and hoping to pursue a career in sports journalism. He has previously served as the sports editor of the student-run "Daily Princetonian" newspaper, and as a sports intern for "Metro New York" newspaper, covering the Mets and the Yankees. His favorite baseball card is a 1997 Pinnacle “East Meets West” insert, which features Pedro Martinez holding a paper umbrella while giving a grown man bunny ears.
Karl can be reached at mickafoos@yahoo.com.
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Odds and Ends: Aybar, Wang, Selig
How about some late morning odds and ends? You don’t really have a choice, do you.
- The Rays have talked to the Braves about acquiring Willy Aybar, according to Marc Lancaster. Aybar has had some off the field problems. But he turns 25 in March and could still be a useful player.
- Reader Yu Hsing Chen checks in from Taiwan with news that Chien-Ming Wang might be heading to an arbitration hearing with the Yankees. MLBTR had 228 visits from Taiwan yesterday – welcome! Taiwan is our fifth biggest traffic source, behind the U.S., Canada, UK, and Japan.
- According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers have spoken to free agents Mark Sweeney and Rudy Seanez about bringing them back, but the discussions have stalled.
- Bud Selig’s contract extended through 2012. Thoughts?
Olney’s Latest: Barrett, Cameron, Santana
Let’s take a run through Buster Olney’s blog today.
- Olney chatted with Kevin Towers recently. One learning: the Padres plan on keeping Michael Barrett. Never hurts to have a little catching depth.
- The Padres might’ve given Mike Cameron a two-year deal worth at least $17MM, more than he received from the Brewers. Did Cameron want out of San Diego, or did his agent make a miscalculation of the market?
- Olney talked to a talent evaluator who wondered whether the Twins might be concerned about Johan Santana‘s health. Reduced late-season velocity and less use of his slider could be signs.
Angelos Did Not Kill Roberts Trade
Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun checks in with a few Andy MacPhail quotes. Basically, MacPhail has only brought one trade to Orioles’ owner Peter Angelos, the Miguel Tejada deal. That was obviously approved; nothing else was presented. So the Brian Roberts and Erik Bedard talks remain just talks. No deal has been reached in either case.