Red Sox Agree To Terms With Baldelli, Smoltz
7:00pm: Smoltz signed the offer sheet from the Red Sox, says Buster Olney. Olney’s story has contract details as well. There’s also an interesting quote from Theo Epstein:
"I think you’ll see us now turn to players who we can take chances on, players who represent potential impact players. We still have some things going on."
2:31pm: Gordon Edes provides details on the Braves’ offer to Smoltz:
The Braves would have paid Smoltz incrementally based on his health up to a maximum of $5 million if he remained on the major league roster for 60 days, and the guarantee was for no more than $3 million. The offer also included another $5 million in performance bonuses and $2 million in additional incentives. So Smoltz could have earned up to $12 million by staying healthy and pitching extremely well.
1:55pm: David O’Brien says the Braves would not exceed $3MM guaranteed for Smoltz. Braves CEO Terry McGuirk is "shocked and surprised" by his decision. Buster Olney says Smoltz is set to sign Boston’s offer sheet and was perturbed by McGuirk’s comments. In a statement, Smoltz said there were "large discrepancies" between the offers.
11:39am: Chad Finn of the Boston Globe sums up the reports: the Red Sox announced an agreement with Rocco Baldelli on a one-year deal and the AP says their one-year deal with John Smoltz will be finalized today. Both players are pretty much luxuries for the Sox, but they had money to burn. I never would’ve predicted Smoltz and Trevor Hoffman would be wearing new uniforms in 2009.
Baldelli’s deal has a $500K base with $1.75MM in roster bonuses and $5.25MM in performance bonuses. The Phillies, Reds, Pirates, and Orioles were in on him. Smoltz gets $5MM guaranteed with another possible $5MM in bonuses.
WEEI’s Alex Speier looks at Boston’s successful history of buying low, and the station also notes that Brad Penny‘s physical is scheduled for today.
Pettitte Return To Houston Is Unlikely
Astros GM Ed Wade admitted Thursday that an Andy Pettitte return to Houston is highly unlikely. Alyson Footer filed the report for MLB.com.
"We haven’t had any discussion with Andy or his representatives and we don’t see a scenario where he would fit into our payroll scenario at this time," Wade said. Most experts in the baseball industry believe Pettitte will eventually return to the Yankees. But he may now have to settle for less than the one-year, $10MM offer that the Yanks extended to him previously this offseason.
Nationals Discouraged On Dunn, Hudson, Wolf
According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, the Nationals will not sign any major free agents this offseason.
The Nats have fallen short on offers to Mark Teixeira and Milton Bradley, and aren’t intrigued enough by Adam Dunn or Orlando Hudson. Ladson claims the organization will instead focus on their minor league system and look to trade for some young players.
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says the Nationals are not out on Dunn, Hudson, and Randy Wolf, but they are discouraged about their chances given the players’ demands. Harlan shoots down the idea of the Nats pursuing Derek Lowe. In another post, Harlan says the Nationals have not had any formal talks with Tom Glavine‘s agent.
Colletti: Dodgers Still Want Manny
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti reaffirmed his club’s interest in Manny Ramirez Thursday. Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com says both sides have been talking since last Friday.
"We want Manny, and Manny knows it," Colletti told reporters. "We’ll just keep talking and see if something can’t be worked out." With no other serious potential suitor, the Dodgers have no reason to offer anything better than the two-year, $45MM deal they worked up in October.
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Dodgers Watch Kris Benson Throw
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, Dodgers assistant GM Logan White watched free agent starter Kris Benson long-toss today. Benson will work out for other clubs soon. Benson had rotator cuff surgery in March of 2007, and was not able to pitch effectively for the Phillies in ’08.
Cliff Lee Open To Extension
Anthony Castrovince talked to Cliff Lee‘s agent, Darek Braunecker (remember him?). Braunecker says his client is open to discussing a contract extension if the Indians are.
Lee is signed affordably at $5.75MM in ’09 with a $9MM club option for ’10. Lee will be free agent-eligible at age 32; what kind of extension would be reasonable?
Dodgers Sign Yhency Brazoban, Others
According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers signed Yhency Brazoban and 14 others to minor league deals today.
Milton Bradley Signs With Cubs
THURSDAY: The Cubs’ three-year, $30MM deal with Bradley was finalized today.
TUESDAY: Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says the deal could be announced Thursday. He adds:
His new contract is believed to contain language that protects the team on the back end of the deal if Bradley misses significant playing time on the front end.
MONDAY, 3:10pm: According to ESPN Radio’s Bruce Levine, the Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30MM contract "with some options in the deal." Ken Rosenthal has a similar story, noting that the two sides have to "work through language issues."
Bradley, 31 in April, had a monster .321/.436/.563 line this year for the Rangers, but he spent only 165 innings in the field. This is the first multiyear deal of his career. If he stays healthy, the switch-hitter will give the Cubs balance in the middle of their order.
The Rangers will get a supplemental pick for their loss.
Chat With Matthew Cerrone Of SNY
Yesterday I chatted with Matthew Cerrone of SNY. Check it out.