Royals Avoid Arb With Jimmy Gobble
Left-handed reliever Jimmy Gobble has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Royals, according to the Kansas City Star’s Sam Mellinger.
Gobble, 27, posted a 8.81 ERA in 31 2/3 innings last season, but those numbers don’t tell the whole story. After spending six weeks on the disabled list to finally resolve a chronic back problem, he pitched eight straight scoreless appearances through the month of September and ended the season on a high note.
Gobble may as well be the poster child for lefty specialists who can’t handle right-handed hitters. If used correctly, though, he can be a fine reliever. Left-handed batters managed just a .200 batting average against him during the 2008 season, but righties batted at a .382 clip with eight doubles and four homers in 68 at-bats.
Marlins Avoid Arb With Cantu, Hermida
8:47pm: Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has the terms on Hermida’s contract: He’ll make $2.25MM in ’09 and can also earn up to $50K in performance bonuses.
8:19pm: Frisario is also reporting that the Fish have avoided arbitration with outfielder Jeremy Hermida, signing him to a one-year contract.
8:12pm: The Marlins have reached agreement on a one-year, $3.5MM deal with third baseman Jorge Cantu, according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro.
It’s a nice raise for Cantu, who made just $600K in 2008. The 26-year-old hit .277/.327/.481 with 29 home runs and 95 RBI for the Marlins last season. "Jorge is very happy, and he looks forward to the season," said his agent, Steve Canter.
Atkins Extension Appears Unlikely
Thomas Harding of MLB.com notes that arbitration-eligible third baseman Garrett Atkins might have to settle for a one-year deal this offseason.
The Rockies and Atkins’ representatives were thought to be working on a multi-year extension, but those talks have apparently fallen flat. Atkins settled for $4.3875MM last year around this time to avoid an arbitration hearing.
Astros Avoid Arb With Humberto Quintero
Astros GM Ed Wade revealed to the Houston Chronicle Monday that the club has signed catcher Humberto Quintero to a one-year, $610K contract.
The deal also includes performance-based incentives. Quintero, 29, hit .226 with two dingers and 12 RBI in 168 at-bats for the Astros last season. Unless the team makes a move within the next few months, he’s likely to split time behind the plate with J.R. Towles in ’09.
Pujols Not Concerned About Future Contract
Matthew Leach of MLB.com spoke with Albert Pujols Monday at the annual Cardinals Winter Warm-Up in St. Louis. According to Leach, Pujols "deflected questions about his future contract status" and "has hardly given a thought to what Mark Teixeira‘s contract with the Yankees means to his own situation."
"Ask me that question in 2011," Pujols said. "Right now I don’t really care about it. That’s [my agents’] job. That’s why they’re my agents. That’s why they’re getting paid. They got me the money that I got because they do their homework. So when that time comes, we need to take care of it. As of right now, I don’t even worry about it. I worry about getting ready for this year, next year and 2011 if I’m still here and they don’t trade me. Because they have the right to trade me wherever they want right now."
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was the first to make the Pujols-Teixeira contract comparison back in December. He described Albert’s 2011 free-agent value as simply "mind-boggling."
Freddy Garcia Close To Finding A Team
Scot Gregor of the Arlington Daily Herald expects free agent pitcher Freddy Garcia to make a decision sometime this week.
The White Sox, Mets and Rangers appear to be the only serious suitors. Gregor provides some analysis on the White Sox’ interest:
"There has been some speculation that the White Sox are no longer interested in Garcia after they signed another injury-prone veteran Bartolo Colon last week. That’s not necessarily true. Given Colon’s physical troubles over the past three seasons, there is still plenty of interest in Garcia on the South Side. And even if Colon does manage to stay off the disabled list, they still need a No. 5 starter… If they get Garcia, that buys more time to develop promising left-hander Aaron Poreda."
Gomes Signs Minor League Deal With Reds
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports that outfielder Jonny Gomes has signed a minor league contract with the Reds.
The deal will pay him $600K in ’09 and provides $200K in performance-based incentives. The Rays decided not to tender him a conract this offseason afer he hit just .182 with eight homers and 21 RBI in 77 games in ’08. He’ll have a shot at some outfield at-bats with the Reds if he impresses this spring. Gomes has flashed good power in the bigs in the past, and the Reds can control him for several years if he succeeds.
Adam Dunn’s Price Might Be Falling
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post spoke with an agent Monday who believes Adam Dunn "will get a max of $5MM per year" this offseason.
"Anything more than that and I’d be surprised," added the unnamed agent. Dunn is reportedly still seeking a four-year, $56MM deal. Harlan notes that there are no big market teams in the running and he’s highly unlikely to get those desired figures. "That’s why Dunn just might end up in Washington, the one team that unequivocally wants the guy," the report concludes.
Reds Unlikely For Abreu, Sheets, Oliver Perez
John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer talked to Reds GM Walt Jocketty, who is currently focused on hammering out one-year deals for arbitration-eligible players David Weathers and Edwin Encarnacion.
Fay inquired about free agents such as Bobby Abreu, Ben Sheets, and Oliver Perez. Jocketty indicated that all three are out of the Reds’ price range.
Rockies Avoid Arb With De La Rosa
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies avoided arbitration with pitcher Jorge De La Rosa by signing him for $2MM for ’09. He can make another $100K based on innings pitched. This is De La Rosa’s second arb year.