Reds Sign Humberto Cota
According to C. Trent Rosecrans of AM 1530, the Reds signed catcher Humberto Cota to a minor league deal. Cota, 30 in a few days, hit .319/.342/.493 in 37 Triple A games last year. He served a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Mets, Oliver Perez Agree To Terms
2:50pm: Sherman says the Mets floated various packages that could total $44MM over four years, but Boras and Perez preferred the shorter term at the higher salary.
1:18pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Mets and Perez have agreed to terms on a three-year, $36MM deal (no fourth-year option). Sherman says the signing "all but assures" Pedro Martinez will not be re-signed. You have to figure Ben Sheets is also out.
You know the story with Perez: only 27 years old, with a strong strikeout rate but plenty of walks and home runs allowed.
12:44pm: Matthew Cerrone’s sources say the Mets are "close to finalizing" a deal with Perez, perhaps for three years at no more than $12MM per. Jon Heyman terms it as "on the verge."
11:42am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mets are "moving closer" to signing free agent lefty Oliver Perez. The Mets hope for a three-year deal but a fourth-year vesting option "remains possible." Rosenthal says the Mets are "cautiously optimistic" about re-signing Perez. If Perez has another serious suitor, it hasn’t been leaked to the public.
Odds and Ends: Hearings, Anderson, Selig
Links for Monday…
- MLB.com’s Tom Singer looks at the effects of arbitration hearings on players. He found that most players don’t experience a post-hearing performance decline, but they do change teams at the first opportunity.
- MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer says the Angels and Ervin Santana are $725K apart with a hearing scheduled for later this month and "no progress" according to GM Tony Reagins.
- The Tigers are hopeful about bridging the $950K gap with Justin Verlander.
- Athletics Nation’s conversation with MLB.com’s Mychael Urban, Part 2.
- Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald wouldn’t be surprised to see the White Sox trade Brian Anderson.
- Murray Chass reflects on the Homestead camp for unsigned players heading into the 1995 season.
- Commissioner Bud Selig earned $18.35MM in the last fiscal year, according to Eric Fisher of Sports Business Journal.
- The latest minor league transactions from Baseball America, including the Nationals’ signing of Alex Cintron and the Rockies’ addition of Scott Munter.
- Even with a new stadium, the Marlins will continue to prefer going year-to-year with most players.
Blue Jays Make Offer To Kevin Millar
MONDAY: Schmuck mentioned this on Thursday; J.P. Ricciardi confirmed it today: the Blue Jays have a minor league offer out to Millar currently.
THURSDAY: Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun talked to free agent first baseman Kevin Millar, who will not be offered a contract from the Orioles for ’09. Millar is surprised and frustrated by their lack of interest, saying:
"Yeah, the bottom line is, obviously, they want to go in a different direction. Now, what that means, I don’t know. Are they going to win games this year? No. Obviously we know that going in. You’ve got to be realistic."
True, the team isn’t quite ready to contend, but it’s rare to hear a player say it so bluntly. Millar has drawn interest from the Blue Jays and Giants so far this winter. He hit .234/.323/.394 in 610 plate appearances in ’08.
Athletics Acquire Michael Wuertz
1:05pm: Bruce Miles notes that Wuertz is out of options, and the Cubs saved over $2MM with their recent roster-cleaning. Meanwhile, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle talked to an NL advance scout for his opinion on Wuertz.
12:32pm: According to a press release from the Cubs, they’ve sent Wuertz to the A’s for minor leaguers Richie Robnett and Justin Sellers. Given all the additions to Oakland’s farm system, neither player ranked in their Baseball America top 30 list this year.
In BA’s 2008 Handbook, Robnett, a 25 year-old outfielder, ranked 15th among A’s prospects. He was said to have "huge raw power," but that hasn’t come through in his minor league numbers.
Sellers, a 23 year-old infielder, ranked 14th in the ’08 Handbook. He was described as "a solid-average defender who’ll hit at the bottom of a lineup."
12:18pm: According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio:
The Cubs continue to get inquiries regarding Michael Wuertz. I expect the team to trade him today or tomorrow, with Oakland the team most likely to send young players back to the Cubs.
Wuertz, 30, posted a 3.63 ERA in 44.6 innings for the Cubs this year with a 6.04 K/9. He’s signed at $1.1MM for ’09 and will eligible for free agency after the 2011 season.
Sheets-Rangers Talks Slow Down?
Free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets, another option for the Mets, could end up with the Rangers, but his talks with Texas have "less momentum" than they did 10 days ago, according to a source. The Rangers want Sheets only on their terms, the source said.
A week ago, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan wrote that Sheets wants two years while the Rangers prefer one year and a club option. The Rangers also continued to have concern about his medical reports.
Orioles Acquire Rich Hill
10:36am: According to a press release from the Cubs, they’ve traded Hill to the Orioles for a player to be named later. A sensible low-risk move for the Orioles, who can afford to let Hill take his lumps at the big league level. The AL East may not be the ideal environment for him, but it’s worth a shot.
Roch Kubatko says Brian Burres was designated for assignment to make room for Hill.
10:16am: We learned yesterday from Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun that the Orioles are close to acquiring pitcher Rich Hill from the Cubs for a player to be named later. The deal is not done, but it could be completed early this week. Today Roch Kubatko of MASN adds that the player to be named later the Cubs receive would likely be a "low-level minor leaguer." The Orioles could add Hill and still sign Braden Looper for additional rotation depth.
Phillies Still Talking Contract With Ryan Howard
Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer talked to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who said the team is still involved in contract negotiations with Ryan Howard‘s agent Casey Close.
This is Howard’s second arbitration year; he’s requested $18MM while the Phils countered at $14MM. A panel of three people will decide whether Howard earns $18MM or $14MM in 2009, unless the two sides reach an agreement prior to the hearing. Salisbury believes the hearing is scheduled in the February 9-13 range.
ESPN’s Jayson Stark wrote last week that the previous request record for a second-year arb player was Derek Jeter‘s $10.5MM in 2000. Howard is in uncharted waters once again.
Out Of Options 2009
Our list of players who are out of options for 2009 (and who have less than five years service time). Out of options means these players have to clear waivers before being sent to the minors. Please let me know if you have additions for the list (a link is required).
Athletics
Mike Wuertz, Santiago Casilla
Braves
Josh Anderson, Blaine Boyer, Phil Stockman
Brewers
Tony Gwynn Jr., Brad Nelson
Cardinals
Skip Schumaker, Ryan Ludwick, Brendan Ryan
Cubs
Angel Guzman, Chad Gaudin, Joey Gathright, Esteban German
Dodgers
Hong-Chih Kuo, Delwyn Young
Giants
Travis Ishikawa, Fred Lewis, Nate Schierholtz
Indians
Andy Marte, Anthony Reyes
Mariners
Ronny Cedeno, Franklin Gutierrez, Mike Morse, Wladimir Balentien, David Aardsma
Marlins
Robert Andino, Leo Nunez, Dallas McPherson, Alfredo Amezaga, Cody Ross, Dan Meyer, Jesus Delgado, Renyel Pinto, Logan Kensing
Mets
Brian Stokes, Fernando Nieve
Nationals
Joel Hanrahan, Kory Casto, Mike Hinckley, Steven Shell, Josh Willingham, Willie Harris, Daniel Cabrera, Anderson Hernandez, Wily Mo Pena
Orioles
David Pauley, Hayden Penn, Dennis Sarfate, Scott Moore, Felix Pie, Jeremy Guthrie, Rich Hill
Padres
Cha Seung Baek, Eulogio De La Cruz
Pirates
Phil Dumatrait, Sean Burnett, Craig Hansen, Tyler Yates, Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss
Rangers
Joaquin Benoit, Marlon Byrd, Nelson Cruz, Frank Francisco, Josh Rupe, Dustin Nippert, Jimmy Gobble
Rays
Jeff Niemann, Jason Hammel, Lance Cormier, Grant Balfour, Gabe Gross, Willy Aybar
Reds
Jeff Keppinger
Red Sox
Javier Lopez, Ramon Ramirez, Manny Delcarmen, Wes Littleton, George Kottaras
Rockies
Jeff Baker, Clint Barmes, Jorge de la Rosa
Royals
Ross Gload, Tony Pena Jr., John Bale, John Buck, Albert Callaspo, Shane Costa, Brayan Pena, Ryan Shealy, Robinson Tejeda, Anthony Lerew
Tigers
Bobby Seay, Edwin Jackson, Macay McBride, Ramon Santiago, Mike Hessman, Marcus Thames
Twins
Boof Bonser, Philip Humber
White Sox
Jerry Owens, Gavin Floyd, Wilson Betemit
Yankees
Melky Cabrera, Jose Veras
Ken Takahashi Signs With Blue Jays
According to Kyodo News, lefty Ken Takahashi signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. Takahashi, 40 in April, posted a 3.50 ERA and 5.52 K/9 in 115.6 innings (20 starts) last year in Japan.
NPB Tracker profiled Takahashi back in December. Patrick Newman adds a few details: the Jays will evaluate Takahashi as a starter, and he could earn up to $1.5MM.