Doug Davis Looking For A Three Year Deal
According to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert, southpaw Doug Davis is looking for a three year contract, something he's already presented to the Diamondbacks.
"I'm still looking for the three-year deal I was looking for two months ago," Davis said. "If I can't come to terms on that then I'll test the free agent market."
Gilbert says the club seems to prefer a one year deal with a club option, especially since they figure this year's free agent class will play out like last year's. Davis is going to remain in Arizona the rest of the season after the Brewers and D-Backs were unable to consummate a deal earlier deadline.
Davis is 7-10 with a 3.62 ERA this year, but he leads the National League with 73 walks.
Red Sox Agree To Terms With David Renfroe
Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Red Sox have agreed to terms with third round pick David Renfroe on a $1.4MM deal. A star quarterback in high school, Renfroe's bonus will be spread over five years under MLB's provisions for two sport athletes. Callis says the net present value of the deal is under the $1.134MM Boston gave first rounder Reymond Fuentes.
Selected 107th overall, the deal is worth considerably more than MLB's slot recommendation of $294,300. Callis says Renfroe is "a polished hitter with solid power and a plus arm that delivered fastballs that topped out at 95 mph."
Diamondbacks Sign Bobby Borchering
6:59pm: Gilbert tweets that Borchering signed for $1.8MM, so he got a couple hundred grand over slot.
6:30pm: The Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with first round pick Bobby Borchering, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. Terms of the deal are not yet known, but D-Backs scouting director Tom Allison told reporters earlier in the week "that the club had improved its offer from $1.5 million," but did not reveal specifics. The $1.5MM offer is essentially slot money.
Borchering is a switch hitting third baseman with power out of a Florida high school.
Odds & Ends: Strasburg, White Sox, Rangers
Here's a few links to the get night started right…
- Ben Goessling of The Washington Times reports that a "club source said managing principal owner Ted Lerner, team president Stan Kasten and acting general manager Mike Rizzo all flew to California last week to visit with (Stephen) Strasburg." It is unknown if Scott Boras was part of the meeting, or if Strasburg took the physical necessary to sign a Major League contract.
- Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse tweets that Erik Bedard had his "bursa debrided & labrum repaired" when he underwent shoulder surgery. He can resume baseball activity in 4-6 months, right in the middle of his impending free agency.
- Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune writes about the payroll challenges facing White Sox GM Kenny Williams in 2010. The team has $68.3MM tied up in ten players next year - including the recently acquired Jake Peavy and Alex Rios – and will owe considerable raises to Carlos Quentin and John Danks, both of whom are arbitration eligible for the first time. Gonzales says that "probably means the Sox will listen to offers for closer Bobby Jenks."
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that Rangers first round pick Matt Purke is in town for a physical, but no deal is imminent. The club just wants to get that part of signing process out of the way because negotiations might go down to the wire. GM Jon Daniels said "They are where you would expect them to be. We still have a gap, a divide, to bridge. That's not unusual three days before the deadline. They have been amicable discussions. He agreed to submit to the physical and get that completed just to get it behind us so we can focus on negotiations. We don't want any hurdles if we negotiate late."
- In news that involves players who have actually signed, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Rangers have inked 14th rounder Chad Bell to a $450K bonus. He's the third player Texas has signed for more than MLB's recommended $150K maximum after the fifth round.
- Chad Jennings of The Times Tribune mentions that Josh Towers is expected to return to the Triple-A Scranton rotation next week. The Yankees DFA'd Towers last weekend, but he apparently declined to become a free agent in favor of having a job.
Odds And Ends: Meche, Hall, Red Sox, Pirates
Time for another round of links…
- Via Twitter, Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Royals told the Yankees they don't want to trade Gil Meche.
- MLB.com's Mark Sheldon hears that the Reds have "some interest" in the recently-DFA'd Bill Hall.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Red Sox signed 26th rounder Miles Head for $335k, which is more than double MLB's recommended bonus.
- The Red Sox are also nearing deals with David Renfroe and Madison Younginer, whose could each sign for seven figures.
- Callis reports that the Pirates signed 12th rounder Jeff Inman for $425k. Yet another over-slot signing for the Pirates and now Callis says they've been more aggressive than any other team.
Tate, Boras Seeking $6.5MM Bonus
Lars Tate tells Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his son Donavan Tate and agent Scott Boras seek a $6.5MM bonus from the Padres. The younger Tate can play football at North Carolina if he doesn't sign, but his father, who had a standout college football career, has doubts about a life in the NFL.
Royals To Sign Wil Myers For $2MM
The Royals agreed to sign catcher Wil Myers for $2MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. The bonus is one of the biggest ever for a third round pick and is five times bigger than the bonus MLB recommends for the slot. Some clubs considered Myers a first round talent and some have compared him to former NL MVP Dale Murphy, who also began his career behind the plate.
Red Sox Acquire Alex Gonzalez
2:55pm: According to their team Twitter, the Reds are sending cash to Boston to help cover the remainder of Gonzalez's $5.4MM salary. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Reds are sending $1.1MM along. When you figure in the $500k buyout, there's a minimum of about $2MM remaining on Gonzalez's deal.
1:20pm: Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox are sending minor league shortstop Kris Negron to Cincinnati in the deal. The Red Sox selected the 23-year-old in the seventh round of the 2006 draft and he's now hitting .264/.338/.347 with 20 steals in high-A ball.
1:13pm: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe says the deal is complete, though the Red Sox have yet to make an official announcement.
1:03pm: Peter Gammons of ESPN.com reports that the Red Sox are finalizing a deal to acquire Gonzalez.
12:17pm: The Red Sox acquired shortstop Alex Gonzalez from the Reds, according to Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe. It's not known what, if anything, the Reds will receive in exchange for Gonzalez, who just cleared waivers. He makes $5.4MM this year and there's a $6MM option on his contract for next year that the Red Sox can buy out for $500k. Dzen expects the Red Sox to release Chris Woodward.
Odds And Ends: Dodgers, Davis, Prospects
More links for the afternoon…
- Jon Weisman of the LA Times reports that the Dodgers could be close to signing Garrett Gould.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic notes that it looks like Doug Davis is staying put, even though the Brewers claimed him on waivers.
- The recently-traded Josh Bell and Carlos Carrasco appear on this week's edition of Baseball America's prospect hot sheet.
- Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors says the Red Sox did well to acquire the sure-handed Alex Gonzalez, even if he's only a minor upgrade for them.
- Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports that Orioles manager Dave Trembley doesn't have to worry about his job security through the end of the season.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Deadline, Rios, Yanks
On this date two years ago, the Yankees and Padres failed to reach an agreement on a trade for Kei Igawa after San Diego claimed the pitcher on waivers. The Yankees also chose not to let Igawa go to the Padres for just the waiver claim. Since then Igawa has made two starts for the Yankees and has spent the entire '09 season in Triple-A. With several teams active in the waiver market this season, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Around the Majors takes a look at how the deadline deals have worked so far.
- The Blue Jay Hunter looks at what the Alex Rios move could mean for the Jays moving forward.
- The Sports Bank gives 11 reasons why Alex Rios was a good pick up for the White Sox.
- A Game Of Inches argues that the White Sox would have been better off acquiring a minor league center fielder.
- UmpBump makes the case that the Alex Rios move was good for both sides.
- Josh's Thoughts takes a look at what the acquisition of Alex Rios by the White Sox means for the Twins and the rest of the AL Central.
- The Pinstriper imagines what the Yankees roster would look like today had they signed Mike Lowell in '07.
- Jorge Says No! says the Jays still need to move Vernon Wells if they ever want to move forward.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.