According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Braves avoided arbitration with second baseman Kelly Johnson by signing him at $2.825MM for ’09. The base salary is right at the midpoint of the filings, and Johnson can earn a bit more with awards incentives.
Archives for February 2009
Brian Giles Likes Red Sox, Yankees, Angels
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune talked to Padres outfielder Brian Giles today. At $9MM, Giles is the Padres’ second highest-paid player behind Jake Peavy. He’s a trade candidate this season, though he has full no-trade rights. He carries the baggage of a lawsuit with his former girlfriend as well as an additional $2MM in salary if traded. The Padres exercised his ’09 option on November 7th last year, and I’m guessing they’re already regretting it.
Krasovic learned that Giles’ favored trade destinations would be the Red Sox, Yankees, and Angels. The Yankees and Angels have surpluses in the outfield currently, though Giles would love to stay in California. Giles vetoed a trade to Boston last year due to playing time issues and an expectation that Theo Epstein would’ve traded him after the season.
Royals Avoid Arb With Mike Jacobs
According to the Denver Post’s Troy Renck, the Royals have agreed to a one-year, $3.25MM deal with first baseman Mike Jacobs.
Jacobs can make an additional $25K if he lands on the American League All-Star team. The 28-year-old hit .247/.299/.514 last season with 32 home runs and 93 RBI. He was acquired this offseason from the Marlins for reliever Leo Nunez.
D’Backs Avoid Arb With Conor Jackson
8:51pm: Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has the financial details; the contract is worth $3.05MM.
8:35pm: MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert reports that the Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Conor Jackson.
An arbitration hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, so the deal was struck just in time. Financial terms are not yet available, but the sides probably settled near the midpoint of the numbers that were filed at the end of January. The Diamondbacks submitted a $2.45MM bid and Jackson’s representatives countered with a request for $3.65MM.
GM Josh Byrnes has not required an arbitration hearing in his time with the Diamondbacks.
Nats Talking Long-Term Deal With Zimmerman
According to the Washington Post, the Nationals are working on a long-term contract with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
The two sides will continue to talk up until a scheduled arbitration hearing on Friday, February 20. If a deal isn’t reached by then, the hearing will be necessary to determine Zimmerman’s ’09 salary. He’ll either get the $3.9MM he requested or $2.75MM, the club’s offer.
Zimmerman, 24, missed 56 games last season because of a shoulder tear, but still managed to hit .283/.333/.442 with 14 home runs and 51 RBI. He’s a .282/.341/.462 career hitter over four MLB seasons.
Brewers Sign Eric Gagne
8:09pm: Haudricourt has the details on Gagne’s contract:
If he makes the Brewers’ roster, he will receive a $1.5 million base salary. He could make another $2 million in incentives, based on games pitched from 25 to 60. He’d get another $1 million based on games finished from 50-65, but something really bad would have to happen to Trevor Hoffman for that to happen.
5:02pm: Brewers GM Doug Melvin backed up the Gagne signing this afternoon in a conversation with Haudricourt, saying:
"He’ll have to come in and make the club. He pitched a lot better at the end of the year last year. He pulled me aside afterward and basically apologized for not performing the way we expected… We’ve got a long spring training this year. You never know when you might have an injury. Another veteran arm doesn’t hurt."
Gagne’s contract includes an opt-out near the end of Spring Training if he’s not on the 40-man roster.
3:45pm: Surprisingly, the Brewers signed Eric Gagne to a minor league deal today (Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporting). Perhaps Gagne wants to finish what he started, after the Brewers paid him $10MM in ’08.
The Scott Boras Corp. still has Garret Anderson, Joe Crede, Manny Ramirez, Ivan Rodriguez, and Ron Villone on the free agent market.
MLB Trade Rumors On Twitter
MLB Trade Rumors is finally on Twitter. Our name is @mlbtraderumors. Or, here. I’m new to this. How can MLBTR best use Twitter? I’ve set up Twitterfeed to show our new headlines.
Rays Ink Adam Kennedy To Minor League Deal
According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays have added infielder Adam Kennedy on a minor league contract.
Kennedy was released by the Cardinals about a week ago. St. Louis has to foot the bill for his $4MM ’09 salary, so it’s a fairly low-risk signing by the Rays. The 33-year-old hit .280/.321/.372 last season with two home runs and 36 RBI in 339 at-bats. He’ll earn just the league minimum ($400K) from the Rays if he makes the roster.
"We talk a lot about depth, and I think this move fits perfectly in line with that," Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said Tuesday. "He’s a tremendous defender, he does a lot of things well and we’re anxious to watch him play on a daily basis.”
Ken Griffey Jr. Rumors: Tuesday
7:33pm: Griffey’s agent sent a text to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer this evening stating that "nothing about the situation has changed." Apparently Junior’s camp is keeping quiet, maybe until tomorrow.
3:13pm: O’Brien explains why he believes Griffey denied his report:
I would suggest that Griffey and his agent had told the Mariners they would talk to them this afternoon before making any decision, and that they plan to do that before announcing any decision.
1:24pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Griffey is telling friends he’ll choose the Braves.
12:58pm: C. Trent Rosecrans talked to Griffey’s agent Brian Goldberg, who said it’s "not true" that the Braves have an agreement with his client. Griffey has not yet decided on a team. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman and Jim Street spoke to Griffey, who verified that he has not reached a decision. Look for that decision later today or tomorrow morning.
11:38am: O’Brien says Griffey chose the Braves and his agent will meet with Frank Wren today to finalize the deal. The Braves and Mariners both made offers with about $2MM guaranteed. O’Brien says Junior will platoon in left field with Matt Diaz for the most part.
10:41am: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
I’m told Ken Griffey Jr. has already agreed to terms with Braves, though no announcement yet, and agent is supposed to meet with Wren again today to finalize things. Don’t know about a physical, whether he’s getting it now or what.
Multiyear Talks For Lincecum?
7:24pm: MLB.com’s Chris Haft also spoke to Lincecum’s agent, Rick Thurman. Despite being at Giants’ camp Thurman has no immediate talks scheduled with the team. Thurman spoke about the possible length of a multiyear deal anyway:
Thurman explained that in Lincecum’s case, he and the Giants might negotiate by forecasting his performance and corresponding salary levels for the next five seasons, which would take him into his free-agency eligibility.
1:57pm: According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, Tim Lincecum’s agent is at the Giants’ camp and has already had preliminary discussions about a long-term deal for his client. Lincecum is likely to be a Super Two player, meaning he’ll be arbitration-eligible four times instead of the standard three. Cole Hamels’ deal could be a model, in my opinion.
