Phillies Sign Jayson Werth To Multiyear Deal
11:40am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman has the details – Werth gets a two-year, $10MM deal. He’ll get $3MM in ’09 and $7MM in ’10, which would’ve been his first free agent year.
10:09am: According to CSN Philly, the Phillies avoided arbitration with outfielder Jayson Werth by signing him to a multiyear deal. Werth was set to reach free agency after the season. Scout.com’s Chuck Hixson has a source saying it’s a two-year deal worth around $9MM, while Scott Lauber heard $8MM.
Rosenthal On Sheets, Cruz, Cabrera, Reyes
The latest from Ken Rosenthal…
- Rosenthal recommends the Yankees sign Ben Sheets and Juan Cruz, partially because they’d pay less of a cost in draft picks than any other team. One exec predicted Sheets would require a $6-8MM base with the potential to earn at least $14MM, and possibly a "lucrative club option." Despite Rosenthal’s recommendation, the Yanks remain focused on Andy Pettitte (who is not weighing an offer from the Astros).
- Industry sources tell Rosenthal that the Red Sox have kept their payroll flexible in case mid and low-revenue teams need to dump contracts.
- The A’s probably cannot afford both Nick Johnson and Orlando Cabrera, so they’ll wait to see what happens with Cabrera before pursuing the trade with Washington.
- Prince Fielder filed for $8MM against the Brewers’ $6MM; Rosenthal indicates the team feared he’d file higher.
- One chatter mentioned yesterday that Cory Sullivan and Jeremy Reed are the exact same player; one GM said the same to Rosenthal.
- Dennys Reyes has backed off his demand for Jeremy Affeldt money (two years, $8MM). Affeldt seemed like a bargain at the time.
- Expected to be in attendance at Kris Benson‘s upcoming throwing session: the Dodgers, Rangers, Padres, Rockies, and D’Backs. Looks like an NL West affair.
Arbitration Figures Submitted
In this post we will attempt to keep a record of arbitration figures submitted by teams and players. Hearings will be held in February if the sides can’t agree beforehand. If it reaches a hearing, an independent panel chooses either the player or the team’s figure. This list is ordered by player request amount.
- Ryan Howard: $18MM. Phillies: $14MM. Diff: $4MM.
- Prince Fielder: $8MM. Brewers: $6MM. Diff: $2MM.
- Garrett Atkins: $7.95MM. Rockies: $6.65MM. Diff: $1.3MM.
- Dan Uggla: $5.35MM. Marlins: $4.4MM. Diff: $950K.
- Jayson Werth: $4MM. Phillies: $3MM. Diff: $1MM.
- Justin Duchscherer: $4.6MM. A’s: $3MM. Diff: $1.6MM.
- David Weathers: $4.6MM. Reds: $3MM. Diff: $1.6MM.
- Zack Greinke: $4.4MM. Royals $3.4MM. Diff: $1MM.
- Ryan Ludwick: $4.35MM. Cardinals: $2.8MM. Diff: 1.55MM.
- Justin Verlander: $4.15MM. Tigers: $3.2MM. Diff: $950K.
- Jeff Francoeur: $3.95MM. Braves: $2.8MM. Diff: $1.15MM.
- Ryan Zimmerman: $3.9MM. Nationals: $2.75MM. Diff: $1.15MM.
- Mark Teahen: $3.85MM. Royals: $3.05MM. Diff: $800K.
- Corey Hart: $3.8MM. Brewers: $2.7MM. Diff: $1.1MM.
- Mike Jacobs: $3.8MM. Royals: $2.75MM. Diff: $1.05MM.
- Paul Maholm: $3.8MM. Pirates: $2.65MM. Diff: $1.15MM.
- Nate McLouth: $3.8MM. Pirates: $2.75MM. Diff: $1.05MM.
- Andre Ethier: $3.75MM. Dodgers: $2.65MM. Diff: $1.1MM.
- Edwin Encarnacion: $3.7MM. Reds: $2.55MM. Diff: $1.15MM.
- Conor Jackson: $3.65MM. D’Backs: $2.45MM. Diff: $1.2MM.
- Josh Willingham: $3.6MM. Nationals: $2.55MM. Diff: $1.05MM.
- Scott Olsen: $3.5MM. Nationals: $2.5MM. Diff: $1MM.
- George Sherrill: $3.4MM. Orioles: $2.2MM. Diff: $1.2MM.
- Rick Ankiel: $3.3MM. Cardinals: $2.35MM. Diff: $950K.
- Kelly Johnson: $3.3MM. Braves: $2.35MM. Diff: $950K.
- Casey Kotchman: $3.25MM. Braves: $2.475MM. Diff: $775K.
- John Maine: $3MM. Mets: $2.2MM. Diff: $800K.
- Wandy Rodriguez: $3MM. Astros: $2.25MM. Diff: $750K.
- Rickie Weeks: $2.8MM. Brewers: $2MM. Diff: $800K.
- Geoff Geary: $2.1MM. Astros: $1.425MM. Diff: $675K.
- Brian Bannister: $2.025MM. Royals: $1.45MM. Diff: $575K.
- Chad Durbin: $1.95MM. Phillies: $1.35MM. Diff: $600K.
- Pedro Feliciano: $1.95MM. Mets: $1.35MM. Diff: $600K.
- Matt Guerrier: $1.75MM. Twins: $1.2MM. Diff: $550K.
- Melky Cabrera: $1.7MM. Yankees: $1.2MM. Diff: $500K. UPDATE: signed.
- Brian Bruney: $1.55MM. Yankees: $1.1MM. Diff: $450K.
- Brian Tallet: $1.3MM. Jays: $950K. Diff: $350K.
- Shawn Camp: $950K. Jays: $700K. Diff: $250K.
- Shawn Hill: $775K. Nationals: $500K. Diff: $275K.
Dewon Day Clears Waivers
According to Bill Chastain of MLB.com, right-hander Dewon Day cleared waivers earlier today and was outrighted by Tampa Bay to Triple-A Durham.
Day, 28, spent the 2008 season in the White Sox organization, posting a 6.61 ERA in 13 starts in Double-A Birmingham and a 4.56 ERA in 21 relief appearances in Triple-A Charlotte.
He was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox in October and then by the Rays on Friday. He has an invitation to Major League Camp in Spring Training.
Pudge Still Looking
As reported by Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, Pudge Rodriguez has encountered limited interest in his services thus far, and is hoping that a strong showing in the World Baseball Classic will change that.
"I’m in great shape," Rodriguez said. "Whoever gets me, it’s going to be a lot like hitting the lotto. I’m back in the shape I was in 2004. I’m at 195-200 (pounds), and I’m ready to go."
In 2004, Pudge went .334/.383/.510 in 575 plate appearances; in 2008, he went .276/.319/.394 in 429.
Diamondbacks Continue to Strike Out
As Nick Piecoro reports, Randy Wolf is the latest free agent starting pitcher to decline an offer from the D’backs this off-season. Brad Penny, Randy Johnson, and Jon Garland are some of the others who have already indicated their desire to pursue other options.
Not much is known about the offer made to Penny, but Johnson was apparently offered a one-year deal in the $2-3MM range, and Garland is rumored to have been offered both a one-year deal that included two option years and a guaranteed two-year deal worth at least $13 million.
Piecoro notes that the rapidity with which Arizona appears to be cycling through its options could turn out to be an effective strategy for getting the right player at the right price. Pedro Martinez, perhaps? Of course, this is all assuming that they can get someone to actually say yes.
Glavine Progressing Rapidly
Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that Tom Glavine’s second session throwing off the mound went significantly better than his first, and that the veteran lefty now feels that he could be ready for the start of the regular season.
Working out his surgically-repaired elbow and shoulder for the second time in four days, Glavine mixed in changeups for the first time, and reported no pain. "If you’d have told me that in the middle of January I would have thrown off the mound a few times and seen this kind of improvement in arm strength, I’d have certainly taken it," Glavine said.
As for whether or not he anticipates returning to the Braves, Glavine admitted uncertainty. "There’s always a chance that it might not work out because of finances or that they want to go in another direction. I’m not worried about that. I’m just worried about getting to the point where I can pitch again." The 42-year-old had a 5.54 ERA in 63.1 innings with the Braves in 2008.
Long-Term Deal Coming for Heath Bell?
By agreeing to a one-year, $1.225MM deal earlier today, the Padres and Heath Bell avoided the potentially distasteful process of exchanging figures, and Bell avoided the always distasteful process of getting dressed up.
Now, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports that the two parties may soon come to terms on a multi-year extension.
Regarding the likelihood of such an extension, Padres GM Kevin Towers stated, "We explored it in September for probably about a month. It’s something we’re still open to. I imagine that’s something we will explore in the next couple days. I don’t see this thing dragging out."
Bell, set to replace Trevor Hoffman as the Padres’ closer in 2009, had a 3.58 ERA in 78 innings in 2008.
Multi-Year Deal Remains a Possibility for Papelbon
According to Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe, both the Red Sox and Jonathan Papelbon remain interested in pursuing a multi-year contract extension for the All-Star closer.
Although the parties agreed to a one-year, $6.25MM deal earlier today, Red Sox assistant GM Jed Hoyer said of the chances of a long-term deal, "I would say, certainly, those discussions are open and we may pick them up going forward. I think both sides felt like in the interest of time and not exchanging numbers, the best thing to do was to agree on a one-year number today. But we are certainly open to exploring those ideas, and I think their side is, too."
Paul DePodesta’s Arbitration Primer
Paul DePodesta posted a very straightforward primer on the arbitration process on his blog this evening. In addition to explaining the process quite clearly, it underscores the extent to which both parties in a given case are usually interested in resolving things amicably.
No word on whether any of the 111 players who filed for arbitration this year – or any of the teams or players listed in our Arbitration Figures post – will be swayed by the primer or its sentiment.