Griffey Chooses Mariners Over Braves
9:36pm: C. Trent Rosecrans of 1530 Homer talked to Griffey’s agent Brian Goldberg, who confirmed the deal. It was a difficult decision for Griffey, who spoke to Willie Mays and Hank Aaron before deciding. MLB.com’s Jim Street has more on the Mays conversation.
8:55pm: Jerry Crasnick has a clarification on the financial details. Street’s numbers were just a bit off. Griffey can only earn $2.5MM in incentives — up to $4.5MM altogether.
8:14pm: Interesting tidbit from Mark Bowman:
Sources have indicated that Griffey’s tide turned shortly after he became upset with the fact that The Atlanta-Journal Constitution was reporting that he’d already decided to play for the Braves.
8:05pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street has some more information on the contract. It "includes a $2 million base salary and up to $4 million in incentives based on at-bats and attendance." The M’s are hoping he’ll draw an additional 200,000 fans to Safeco Field this season.
7:51pm: Geoff Baker has some of the financial details:
Ken Griffey Jr. is heading back to the Mariners on a one-year contract, reportedly for a base salary of roughly $2 million and incentive bonuses as well.
7:33pm: ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick has informed MLBTR that Griffey told the Braves of his decision less than an hour ago. He is indeed going to be a Mariner next season.
7:23pm: John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intellignecer has now confirmed it. Junior is headed back to Seattle.
7:19pm: WSB, an Atlanta-based television station, is reporting that the Ken Griffey Jr. has chosen the Mariners over the Braves.
3:10pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman has a bit of info, suggesting Griffey is sensitive about offending the Mariners and their fans.
1:17pm: Larry Stone of the Seattle Times says Braves GM Frank Wren expects Griffey’s decision "pretty shortly." Bobby Cox said it could be today or tomorrow. Griffey’s apparently already passed a physical for both the Braves and Mariners.
1:01pm: The Braves hope for an update from Griffey later today, says Bowman.
11:19am: A WSB-TV (Atlanta) report indicates that Braves officials believe Griffey is leaning toward the Mariners.
9:58am: David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an update. He believes Griffey has decided to sign with the Braves, and explains Chipper Jones‘ involvement in the process.
9:06am: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman does not believe Griffey has told the Braves his decision yet. It’s about time we wrap this thing up, in my opinion.
7:54am: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says Ken Griffey Jr. was to meet in the evening with the Braves and was expected to sign off on a deal. An announcement is expected today. Many reporters received similar indications yesterday, even with Griffey and his agent insisting nothing was decided.
Jays Terminate Shigeki Noguchi’s Contract
According to Sports Hochi, via Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, the Blue Jays have terminated their contract with left-hander Shigeki Noguchi.
Noguchi’s physical showed irregularities in his throwing elbow. He had been training in Florida in preparation for spring training, but has since returned to Japan. The 35-year-old wasn’t expected to make the Jays’ roster out of camp.
Braves Make Progress On Chipper Jones Extension
7:03pm: According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves are hoping to lock Jones up "until he has reached a stage in his career when he could be contemplating retirement." That could mean several years. As Chipper said Wednesday,
"I think I’m going to be as productive at 40 as I am now. You’re not going to be as spry in the legs as you were when you were 25, but you can still be productive."
3:17pm: David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution fills us in on a possible Chipper Jones extension:
Chipper and the Braves have made some progress toward a multi-year extension. He said a deal isn’t imminent, still work to be done, but he sounded encouraged by the talks they’ve had so far.
Jones, 37 in April, is eligible for free agency after the season.
Indians Might Be All Set
According to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Indians don’t plan on pursuing any more free agents, even in a sign-and-trade scenario.
With their 25-man payroll pushing $80 million, it would be hard for the Indians to take on any payroll, writes Hoynes.
The Indians expressed mild interest in Juan Cruz and Orlando Hudson early in the offseason, but that was before they dolled out a two-year, $20.5MM million contract to Kerry Wood and chose to take on Mark DeRosa‘s $5.5MM ’09 salary.
Esmailyn Gonzalez Falsified Identity
4:52pm: Stan Kasten talked about the situation, calling it an "elaborated, premeditated scheme no teenager concocted."
10:43am: Chico Harlan of the Washington Post has a few quotes from Rijo. He says the Nationals will have a conference call about the topic this afternoon.
8:32am: According to Melissa Segura of SI.com, Nationals shortstop prospect and 2006 signee Esmailyn Gonzalez falsified his identity and age. He’s actually named Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo, and he’s 23 rather than 19. The Nats had signed him for $1.4MM; the next highest bidder was the Rangers at $700K.
Lugo’s buscon, who brokered the deal for him, is a childhood friend of Nats exec Jose Rijo. Rijo and Nats GM Jim Bowden were under investigation last year in regard to the bonus skimming scandal.
Rays, Willy Aybar Agree To Multiyear Deal
3:01pm: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has the financial details of Aybar’s deal.
9:23am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Rays and infielder Willy Aybar avoided arbitration and agreed to a multiyear deal worth $2.6MM plus incentives.
Aybar’s likely deal has been known for a while now; it should be two years plus an option. I believe Aybar is a Super Two player, in which case the deal would not buy up all four of his arb years.
Thome Aims For Two More Seasons
According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, White Sox DH Jim Thome aims to play two more seasons. Thome’s $13MM option for ’09 vested last year. Thome ranks 14th on the all-time home run list with 541. He’s third among active players, with Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez ahead of him.
D’Backs Claim Bobby Korecky
MLB.com’s Kelly Thesier says the Diamondbacks claimed pitcher Bobby Korecky off waivers from the Twins today, a move that signifies the completion of Minnesota’s Luis Ayala signing.
Korcecky, 29, made his MLB debut in ’08 with 17.6 relief innings for the Twins. He did a nice job out of the pen in Triple A.
Orlando Hudson Rumors: Wednesday
MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick spoke to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, who said talks are ongoing with Orlando Hudson‘s agent. Colletti has the flexibility to sign both Hudson and Manny Ramirez. He also said he doesn’t lack confidence in Blake DeWitt despite the Hudson pursuit. Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News learned the same.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote yesterday that Hudson likes the Royals, but they probably do not have the payroll flexibility to sign him.
Astros Not Signing Ivan Rodriguez
Despite Toby Hall‘s sore shoulder, the Astros will not be signing Ivan Rodriguez. Said GM Ed Wade (MLB.com’s Alyson Footer reporting):
"We’re not signing Pudge. Put that one to rest. We have no expectation to sign Pudge."
Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post learned yesterday that the Mets are not interested in Rodriguez either. It seems that Pudge’s one option is the Marlins for near the league minimum.