Corey Hart Hopes To Avoid Hearing
On Saturday, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel learned that a new offer was made to Corey Hart for ’09 and his agent turned it down. The sides remain $1.1MM apart ($3.8MM vs. $2.7MM) with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday. Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash thinks it will be difficult to avoid. Hart’s comparables are said to be Andre Ethier (Tuesday hearing) and Josh Willingham (Wednesday).
However, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy quoted Hart yesterday as saying:
"I think [a compromise] is going to happen. I’m trying to stay out of it as much as I can, but I think we’re all hoping that something is going to happen. Obviously, nobody wants a hearing and I love everything about Milwaukee from the owner on down. I have nothing to say to put them down because I’ve enjoyed it, and I think they know that."
Mark Buehrle May Consider Retirement After 2011
According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle "was talking about walking away from baseball after the 2011 season, when his contract expires." Buehrle wondered if he’ll prefer a one-year deal after his current contract ends. He spoke about missing his family deeply when he’s away and guaranteed that he won’t be pitching at age 40.
Speaking of Buehrle, MLB.com’s Scott Merkin has his line on the Sox signing Bartolo Colon: "I think they got him so I wouldn’t be the fattest pitcher on the staff."
Red Sox Rumors: Lugo, Bay, Varitek, Beckett
The latest on the Red Sox, courtesy of WEEI’s Alex Speier.
- Julio Lugo says he’s in the best shape of his career. The $9MM shortstop won’t be happy if he’s on the bench this year. Speier believes he’ll ask for a trade if he doesn’t win the competition with Jed Lowrie. Lugo was following the Tigers trade rumors earlier this winter.
- Jason Bay remains open to an extension, but admitted "it’s not the end-all, be-all." Bay will be part of the 2009-10 free agent class if the Sox don’t lock him up.
- According to the AP, catcher Jason Varitek spoke of spending the rest of his career with the Red Sox.
- WEEI’s Rob Bradford spoke to Josh Beckett, who hopes to remain in Boston past his current contract. The Red Sox have a $12MM club option for a $2MM buyout for 2010.
- Bradford also reports that the Brad Wilkerson signing is official; he’s in camp on a minor league deal.
Angels, Ervin Santana Agree To Extension
SUNDAY: Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times has details on Santana’s new deal: $3.8MM in ’09, $6MM in ’10, $8MM in ’11, and $11.2MM in ’12. The 2013 option for $13MM carries a $1MM buyout.
The Angels will pay Santana $17.8MM for his three arb years, up from the typical $14MM paid for that period in these types of deals. The Angels and Santana’s agent may have been looking at Scott Kazmir‘s deal as the model, the main difference being that Kazmir’s first arb year salary had already been determined before he signed long-term in May of ’08.
SATURDAY: According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Angels have agreed to a $30MM, four-year extension with Ervin Santana. There is a club option for a fifth year. The contract will prevent the two sides from going to arbitration. Heyman heard from WFAN’s Sweeny Murti that the option year is worth $12MM, if exercised. In that case, the deal would cover two of Santana’s free agent years.
Cruz, Diamondbacks Continue Talking
According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks and free agent reliever Juan Cruz continue to engage in dialogue about a possible deal.
"A solution that works for us and works for him is unclear," said GM Josh Byrnes. "We’re at least trying to see how to make this a favorable outcome."
Cruz, a 30-year-old right-hander, posted a 2.61 ERA in 51 2/3 innings last season. He also fanned 71 batters, but has drawn little to no interest this offseason from any team other than the D-Backs.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rumors: Sunday
9:03pm: Another interesting item from Bowman:
About a week ago, [Nick] Swisher seemed to be at the top of the wish list. But that was before Griffey called the Braves and campaigned for the opportunity to play for Atlanta.
As more and more information pours out, it really sounds like Junior wants to, and is going to, end up with the Braves.
5:38pm: According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, "It’s believed the Braves are willing to offer Griffey a one-year deal worth up to $1.5 million."
The Mariners can probably afford to make a counter offer that beats that number but, as was reported yesterday, M’s CEO Howard Lincoln is less than enthused about the idea of getting into a bidding war with the Braves.
3:12pm: Jayson Stark’s latest article discusses Griffey and Atlanta. Has he wanted to play there for years? The answer to that question is yes, according to Chipper Jones. And Chipper would love to have Griffey in Atlanta as well:
"He’s a guy who can still hit," said Chipper Jones, who would figure to find Griffey keeping him company in the middle of the lineup. "I played with him a few years ago in the [World Baseball] Classic, and he was our best hitter. He’s got a knack for being able to turn it up and prove people wrong."
Stark writes that Griffey has moved ahead of both Garret Anderson and Nick Swisher on the Braves’ list, and points out that Junior can still hit righties very well, making him an ideal platoon candidate with Matt Diaz.
11:04am: There were lots of rumors surrounding Ken Griffey, Jr. and the Braves yesterday. Jon Heyman puts it simply:
"It appears likely that Griffey and [Garret] Anderson will wind up in Atlanta and Seattle. The big question at this point is which player will end up with which team."
While Griffey lives in Orlando and has a daughter playing AAU basketball in Georgia, Anderson is a resident of Southern California with more recent success in the AL West. Still, Heyman notes Griffey is the prize here because of the draw he brings to the stadium, a draw that would even allow the M’s to stretch their budget for the added revenue Griffey brings in.
Albert Pujols Discusses His Future
8:22pm: MLB.com’s Matthew Leach gathered a ton of relevant quotes from Albert during the first baseman’s sitdown with reporters on Sunday.
"Do I want to be in St. Louis forever? Of course," Pujols said. "People from other teams want to play in St. Louis and they’re jealous that we’re in St. Louis because the fans are unbelievable. So why would you want to leave a place like St. Louis to go somewhere else and make $3 or $4 more million a year? It’s not about the money. I already got my money. It’s about winning and that’s it."
5:59pm: Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols was reluctant to speak about his future with the club during the annual Winter Warm-Up in St. Louis back in January. Well, Sunday morning he opened up a bit more to the Associated Press, via USAToday.com.
"It’s not about the money all the time," the first baseman said. "It’s about being in a place to win and being in a position to win. If the Cardinals are willing to do that and put a team (on the field) every year like they have, I’m going to try to work everything out to stay in this town. But if they’re not bringing championship caliber play every year, then it’s time for me to go somewhere else that I can win… When I signed my contract I was really happy with what I got. When that time comes (for another contract) then we’re going to figure it out."
MLBTR had a nice discussion on Albert’s free agent value earlier this winter. Barring an extension, El Hombre will be free to test the market after the 2011 season. A .334/.425/.624 career hitter, he is currently just 29 years old.
Three Teams Targeting Pudge
According to the Associated Press, via ESPN.com, Ivan Rodriguez said he plans to sign with either the Marlins, Astros or Mets.
- The Astros denied having interest in the 37-year-old catcher on Saturday, but maybe that has changed. They’re not comfortable with handing the reigns to J.R. Towles after he hit .137/.250/.253 in 146 at-bats last year, and Humberto Quintero isn’t a guy you want starting every day.
- The Marlins are only willing to offer Pudge the league minimum, which might not do enough to woo the free agent. Jon Heyman suggested in late January that the Fish are the best fit, but their tight budget is obviously going to be an issue.
- The Mets could be the darkhorse here. They haven’t been vocal with their interest in Pudge this offseason, but he would work well in a platoon with Brian Schneider. Of course, the Mets would probably then want to move Ramon Castro.
Rodriguez hit .276/.319/.394 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 115 games last season for the Tigers and Yankees. He also stole 10 bases.
Cards, Ludwick Working To Avoid Arb
Ryan Ludwick is set to fly to Phoenix on Monday afternoon in preparation for his Tuesday arbitration hearing. But he is still hopeful, according to MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, that a deal can be reached.
The Cardinals settled on a last minute agreement with fellow outfielder Rick Ankiel on Thursday. Ludwick is hoping for a similar push, but his gap is fairly large. He requested $4.25MM and the Cards made a $2.8MM bid back when arbitration figures were due.
"That’s exactly why I came down," Ludwick said. "And that’s why I say I’m optimistic. To see where they were and how his whole deal went down, I think that’s what leads to optimism on my side. Thinking, hey, they got his done, so hopefully we can get mine done before I have to leave on Monday. It would be nice."
Cardinals Aren’t Talking To Ohman
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold, the Cardinals are not currently engaged in discussions with lefty reliever Will Ohman.
Ohman supposedly has four offers on the table, and there was some speculation that an NL Central team might be involved. If Goold is correct, an offer didn’t come from St. Louis. That leaves the Astros, Cubs, Pirates, Brewers and Reds as possible suitors.
The Mets, Phillies and Dodgers have already denied having serious interest. The A’s are known to be looking for some left-handed bullpen help, but reportedly have their sights on Dennys Reyes.