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Archives for January 2009

D’Backs Sign Jon Garland

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THURSDAY: The D’Backs’ signing of Garland is official; he was introduced today.

WEDNESDAY, 2:52pm: More details from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick: Garland gets $6.25MM in ’09 and the 2010 option for $10MM has a $2.5MM buyout if the D’Backs reject it.  If Garland rejects it it’s a $1MM buyout.  Bottom line: if he doesn’t return in 2010, he’ll have made either $7.25MM or $8.75MM for ’09.

1:49pm: Different take from Ken Rosenthal; he says Garland is guaranteed more than $8.5MM in total.  Heyman figures Arizona’s Garland signing makes the Dodgers the "heavy favorite" for Randy Wolf.

1:11pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman has contract details.  Garland will earn $6.25MM in ’09, with his ’10 buyout pushing the guaranteed money to about $7MM.  The 2010 mutual option is for about $10MM.

10:41am: According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks agreed to terms with starter Jon Garland on a one-year deal with an option (likely mutual) for 2010.  Garland’s guaranteed money is believed to be in the $6-8MM range.  The Diamondbacks probably could’ve re-signed Randy Johnson for a similar amount; did they make the right decision? 

Garland’s early December choice to decline the Angels’ offer of arbitration turned out to be a mistake.  The Angels will receive a supplemental draft pick for their loss.

The move uses up the D’Backs’ remaining payroll room, presumably taking them out of the mix for free agents such as Pedro Martinez and Braden Looper. 

Twins Sign Jason Kubel For Two Years

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1-29-09: The Kubel signing is official.  The contract details, according to Christensen: "The deal is worth $7.2MM. Kubel will make $2.75MM this year, $4.1MM in 2010, and his 2011 salary would be $5.1MM, with a $350K buyout."

1-27-09: Joe Christensen says Kubel’s two-year deal is for about $7MM, with a 2011 option for $5MM.

1-20-09: According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins signed Jason Kubel to a two-year deal with a third-year option, pending a physical.  The deal buys out Kubel’s final two arb years and gives the Twins an option on his first free agent season.

Stark On Greinke, Manny, Dunn, Swisher

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The latest from ESPN’s Jayson Stark…

  • The Cubs’ ownership situation is not close to the finish line, which is one reason the team won’t be acquiring Jake Peavy anytime soon.
  • One source of Stark’s suggested Zack Greinke nearly left his current agent John Courtright of SFX for Scott Boras, a whisper I’d heard as well.  But now Greinke is happy with his contract and agent.
  • Free agents such as Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez could reasonably wait until March to sign.  Not a bad thing for this website!
  • Adam Dunn would like Manny to sign earlier, as he’s waiting to see what the Dodgers (his preferred team) do.  The Nationals have been Dunn’s most aggressive suitor, the Orioles have mild interest, and the Braves have backed off.
  • Stark questions the idea of talks for Manny heating up lately, since the Mets, Yankees, and Angels are out and the Giants are only conditionally interested.
  • When Alex Rodriguez was a free agent last winter, Joe Torre advised the Dodgers against signing him.
  • The Phillies would like to move Geoff Jenkins for a right-handed hitting outfielder, but Jenkins is paid too much.  Jay Payton and Emil Brown are not on the Phillies’ radar; they still like Nomar Garciaparra.
  • The Yankees are apparently "softening to the idea of trading Nick Swisher," with the Braves the top suitor.

Marlins Sign Kiko Calero, Jason Standridge

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According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins signed pitchers Kiko Calero and Jason Standridge to minor league deals.

Calero, 34, was last useful in 2006 when he logged 58 innings of 3.41 ball for the A’s.  He dealt with a torn rotator cuff in 2008.  Calero was part of the 2004 trade that Daric Barton and Dan Haren to Oakland for Mark Mulder.

Standridge, 30, pitched in Japan last year.  He’s logged 127 innings in the Majors at various stops.  He was the Rays’ first round pick in ’97 (#31 overall).

Rosenthal On Abreu, Garland, Glavine, Sisco

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

  • The Mariners and Giants are interested in Bobby Abreu, if the price is right.  Yesterday Buster Olney suggested that Abreu is willing to take a one-year deal.  The A’s and Nationals have other targets, while the Mets, White Sox, and Braves are seen as long shots.
  • Rosenthal examines the nuances of Jon Garland’s December 7th decision to reject arbitration, saying that it wasn’t an obvious mistake at the time.
  • Tom Glavine’s agent Gregg Clifton did not attend yesterday’s meeting with Frank Wren; it was a health update and not a contract negotiation.  Rosenthal says Glavine figures to seek a Freddy Garcia-like deal.  The Braves need to save money to add an outfielder, with Nick Swisher atop their list.  The Yankees’ goal in moving Swisher or Xavier Nady would be to recoup prospects.
  • The Brewers are not interested in projects such as Kris Benson, Jason Jennings, Mark Redman, and Victor Zambrano.  They’re just lukewarm on Mark Mulder.  Benson is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Rangers, and Cardinals; one exec reviewed his audition as "so-so."
  • Rosenthal doesn’t seem to buy the idea that Jason Varitek and Scott Boras feared the Red Sox could cut him if he accepted arbitration, noting that Boras client Travis Lee was advised to accept years ago.
  • The Braves have reservations about re-signing Andruw Jones, who could be a Spring Training cut.
  • The A’s deal for Russ Springer will be worth more than $3MM plus incentives.  They’re also eyeing Brian Shouse and Andrew Sisco as possible pen additions.  Sisco, recovering from Tommy John, has also auditioned for the Rockies and Giants.

Pedro Remains On Mets’ Radar

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Matthew Cerrone discusses an AP report stating that the Mets remain interested in Pedro Martinez.  Omar Minaya met with Pedro in the Dominican Republic but did not make an offer.  Pedro has yet to receive any offers, though the Pirates are known to have had exploratory conversations.

Cerrone also notes this Jon Heyman report, suggesting that some baseball people expect Minaya to attempt to re-sign Pedro after the Oliver Perez situation is resolved.

Where’s Rich Hill Headed?

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ESPN Radio’s Bruce Levine wrote yesterday that the Cubs are weighing offers for lefty Rich Hill, who is out of options.  Hill, 29 in March, is clearly a change of scenery guy.  He did fine big league work in 2006-07, but lost his feel for pitching in 2008.  Teams hoping for a Cliff Lee-type renaissance are sure to inquire.

I don’t have the scoop on those teams, but it’s safe to say that Hill needs a smaller market and a team that can tolerate his peaks and valleys without demoting him.  My guess at the six candidates to acquire Hill: the Royals, Mariners, Padres, Pirates, Marlins, and Orioles.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Wednesday

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11:39pm: Dylan Hernandez and Ken Gurnick talked to Ned Colletti tonight about Manny, but there’s not much new to report.

3:50pm: Not sure where the rumor started, but you can cross the Cardinals off the list for Manny suitors.

8:39am: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times talked to Scott Boras, who anticipates that his client Manny Ramirez will be signed by Spring Training (February 14th).  Boras claims the Manny negotiations are taking shape and progressing and "the train has left the station."  Of course, we all recall Kevin Towers saying the same thing about a Jake Peavy trade.

Boras acknowledged that he’s still talking with the Dodgers and (of course) implied that he has more than one additional suitor.

In other Manny news, Mets manager Jerry Manuel said he’d like to add the slugger (despite the team’s lack of interest).

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