Tim Hudson’s Option
TUESDAY: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick spoke to Hudson’s agent Paul Cohen today, who said Hudson’s 2010 option is mutual. Hudson can void it if the Braves exercise it (info came via an email from Crasnick).
FRIDAY: David O’Brien fills in readers on Tim Hudson‘s 2010 option:
I asked about Hudson’s option today, and found out it’s not a mutual option, but a club option. Yes, they fully intend to exercise it, barring some unexpected turn of events.
That option is for $12MM with a $1MM buyout. Since Hudson had Tommy John surgery in August of ’08, he could make a second-half impact for the Braves this year.
Nady, Papelbon, Jackson Avoid Arb
Dylan Hernandez has three new ones: Xavier Nady ($6.55MM), Jonathan Papelbon ($6.25MM), and Edwin Jackson ($2.2MM plus $200K in incentives). Papelbon tops Bobby Jenks‘ first-year arb reliever record of $5.6MM, set yesterday. ESPN’s Jayson Stark has more; he says Papelbon and the Red Sox discussed multiyear deals but couldn’t find a match. It may be revisited.
Odds and Ends: Arb, Royals, Compensation
Links for Tuesday…
- Chat today, 3pm CST (one hour later than usual).
- 16 starters were chosen within the first seven rounds of 2008 fantasy drafts. How many were worth it?
- Confused about all this arbitration stuff? Read this.
- Fred Claire notes that teams continue to sign pitchers to long-term deals.
- Just for the fun of it, Joe Posnanski envisions a Royals alternate reality where they drafted perfectly in 1999.
- Mike Axisa attempts to fix the free agent compensation system.
- Rinku and Dinesh hang with Barry Bonds.
- Ken Davidoff suggests the Mets sign Ben Sheets, Jon Garland, and Ty Wigginton.
- We’ve been doing many entries lately so be sure to check Page Two and Page Three for more.
Rangers Avoid Arb With C.J. Wilson
According to Richard Durrett, the Rangers avoided arbitration with reliever C.J. Wilson by signing him at $1.85MM plus incentives for ’09. Marlon Byrd is the team’s remaining case.
Pirates Sign LaRoche, Duke, Grabow, Yates
1:21pm: Kovacevic says the Bucs also avoided arb with Zach Duke ($2.2MM plus $100K in incentives), John Grabow ($2.3MM plus $75K in incentives), and Tyler Yates ($1.3MM plus $25K in incentives).
9:28am: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Pirates avoided arbitration with first baseman Adam LaRoche by signing him for $7.05MM for ’09. He can make another $100K based on plate appearances. Dejan Kovacevic reports the same.
LaRoche will be eligible for free agency after the season. 2009 would be a fine time to overcome his April/May inadequacies.
Rockies Avoid Arb With Buchholz, Grilli, Barmes
According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies avoided arbitration with Taylor Buchholz ($1.055MM plus $40K in incentives), Jason Grilli ($800K), and Clint Barmes ($1.625MM). The case of Garrett Atkins remains unresolved.
Verducci On Hamels, Shields, Lowe, Manny
Let’s take a look at the latest from SI.com’s Tom Verducci.
- Interesting line: "One journeyman reliever, for instance, turned down a $2 million offer, saying he would retire before taking that kind of money." Many veterans will choose between swallowing their pride and retiring this spring.
- Verducci makes a comparison between Cole Hamels and James Shields, who were called up 19 days apart. The extra service time for Hamels gave him Super Two status, meaning he became arbitration-eligible four times instead of three. That decision probably cost the Phillies more than $10MM.
- The Mets were willing to give Derek Lowe $14MM per year.
- The Giants don’t believe Manny Ramirez is anywhere near a decision right now. He’s a special case for them (they’re not in the market for an outfielder) but they won’t enter a bidding war.
- The Blue Jays aren’t interested in Orlando Cabrera; they’re content with Marco Scutaro.
Dodgers Avoid Arb With Martin, Broxton
12:40pm: MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger says the Dodgers also reached an agreement with Jonathan Broxton ($1.825MM plus $200K in incentives), leaving Andre Ethier as the team’s lone arbitration case.
11:50am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers avoided arbitration with catcher Russell Martin by signing him for ’09 at $3.9MM. It’s a record for a first-year arb catcher, though a smaller amount than I was anticipating.
Marlins Avoid Arb With Ross, Nolasco, Amezaga
According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins avoided arbitration with Cody Ross ($2.225MM), Ricky Nolasco ($2.4MM plus $50K in incentives), and Alfredo Amezaga ($1.3MM). They’re headed to a February hearing with Dan Uggla.
Royals Avoid Arb With John Buck, Joel Peralta
According to Sam Mellinger, the Royals avoided arbitration with John Buck and Joel Peralta ($640K) by signing both for 2009. The cases of Brian Bannister, Zack Greinke, Mike Jacobs, and Mark Teahen remain unresolved. Dayton Moore has yet to go to a hearing as Royals GM.