Mets Exercise Jose Reyes’ 2011 Option
The Mets exercised Jose Reyes' 2011 option and will pay the shortstop $11MM in salary instead of a $500K buyout. The 27-year-old has said he'd like to sign in New York long-term, and GM Sandy Alderson told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that he's open to working out an extension.
“A long-term deal is not out of the question,” Alderson said. “It is something we can certainly discuss at a future date.”
Reyes hit .282/.321/.428 with 30 steals and 50 extra base hits in 2010.
Rockies Decline Option For Octavio Dotel
The Rockies declined their 2011 option for Octavio Dotel, according to the AP (via the Miami Herald). The club will pay the righty a $250K buyout instead of a $4.5MM salary.
Dotel split the 2010 season between the Pirates, Dodgers and Rockies. He posted an overall ERA of 4.08 with 10.5 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 68 appearances. Dotel is a Type B free agent, so the Rockies could technically obtain a compensation pick if they offer arbitration and the 36-year-old turns it down to sign elsewhere.
Rangers Decline Option For Guerrero
The Rangers declined their side of Vladimir Guerrero's $9MM option for 2011, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Instead, Texas will pay a $1MM buyout.
Guerrero, 35, hit .300/.345/.496 with 29 homers last season, his first in Texas. The Rangers would like to keep him, but he is a Type A free agent, so they will obtain a pair of top picks in next year's draft if he declines arbitration to sign elsewhere.
D’Backs Unlikely To Bring Webb Back In 2011
WEDNESDAY: Maurer tells the Associated Press that Webb "loves Arizona" and would be open to re-signing with the Snakes. The D'Backs released a statement strongly suggesting that Webb won't re-sign in Arizona. “Although we have not entirely closed the door on Brandon returning to the D-backs next season, I understand the process he and his agent are going through at this time as a free agent,” D'Backs GM Kevin Towers said.
"I certainly understand Brandon's decision to test the free agent market and I wish him well,” said Arizona President & CEO Derrick Hall. “He has meant so much to this franchise and provided this team and our fans with magical memories. His contributions both on and off the field are greatly appreciated and should be recognized. His wife and children have been beautiful additions to our D-backs family and we will always consider them members of it."
TUESDAY: The Diamondbacks haven't discussed a new deal with free agent right-hander Brandon Webb and the team does not plan to initiate talks with him, according to Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com. Webb made three Instructional League appearances this fall after rehabbing from the rotator cuff and labrum injuries that sidelined him for most of 2009 and all of 2010. His fastball topped out in the low-80s, which could limit interest.
Jonathan Maurer, the agent for the former Cy Young Award winner, told MLBTR that his client will be looking for a significant base salary in 2011. Though the D'Backs don't appear likely to retain Webb in 2011, plenty of teams could have interest in upside starters this winter.
Hurdle, Banister Finalists For Pirates Job
The Pirates now have just two names on their list of managerial candidates, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). Rangers hitting coach and former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and internal candidate Jeff Banister are the finalists. Heyman suggests Hurdle is "probably" the favorite for the position.
Dale Sveum, Ken Macha, Bobby Valentine, and Carlos Tosca have all been linked to the managerial opening. The Pirates also considered John Gibbons and Bo Porter before the pair took jobs with other organizations.
Aramis Ramirez Exercises Player Option
Aramis Ramirez informed the Cubs that he is exercising his player option instead of testing the free agent market, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com. Late in the season Ramirez declared his intention to remain in Chicago, so this announcement is just a formality.
Ramirez has a 2011 player option for $14.6MM and the Cubs will have to pay him $2MM more even if they buy him out in 2012. The 32-year-old struggled early in 2010, but hit better as the year progressed and finished with a .241/.294/.452 line and 25 home runs.
Nationals Decline 2011 Option For Adam Kennedy
The Nationals declined the 2011 option for Adam Kennedy, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (on Twitter). Washington held a $2MM option for the infielder's services with a $500K buyout.
Kennedy, 34, batted .249/.327/.327 in 389 plate appearances for Washington this year. He joins a free agent market filled with some solid regulars and others who will have to battle for playing time. Kennedy is not a ranked free agent, so the Nats have no shot at draft pick compensation.
Reds Finalize Option Decisions As Expected
The Reds picked up Jonny Gomes' 2011 option and declined the options for Orlando Cabrera and Aaron Harang, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Gomes' option is for $1.75MM, Cabrera's buyout is for $1MM (instead of a $4MM salary) and Harang's buyout is for $2MM ($12.75MM salary). As expected, the Reds exercised their 2011 for Bronson Arroyo earlier today.
Harang is an unranked free agent, but Cabrera is a Type B, so the Reds could technically obtain a draft pick if he turns down arbitration to sign elsewhere. It seems unlikely that the Reds would offer arbitration, since they turned down Cabrera's option.
Mariners Decline Options; D’Backs Claim Sweeney
The Mariners declined their 2011 options for Erik Bedard, Russell Branyan and Jose Lopez. The Mariners had a $5MM mutual option with Branyan and an $8MM mutual option with Bedard. Lopez is still arbitration-eligible, but he’s a candidate to be non-tendered next month.
The Mariners also announced that the Diamondbacks claimed righty Brian Sweeney off of waivers. Kevin Towers’ bullpen reconstruction has begun. Sweeney, 36, pitched for the Padres in 2004 and 2006 when Towers was the GM in San Diego. More recently, the right-hander posted a 3.16 ERA with 3.4 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 in 37 innings for the Mariners this year.
Outfielder Ryan Langerhans and catcher Guillermo Quiroz elected free agency after the Mariners outrighted them to Triple-A. The Mariners also outrighted lefty Ryan Feierabend, lefty Chris Seddon and righty Sean White to Triple-A and all three can become free agents.
Braves Claim Joe Mather
The Braves claimed Joe Mather off of waivers from St. Louis, according to the Cardinals' Twitter account. Atlanta has had interest in Mather for a while, reportedly offering Rafael Soriano for him two winters ago and discussing a different trade involving Blaine Boyer.
Mather, 28, has a .233/.287/.415 line in 211 career plate appearances. He can play all three outfield positions, so he gives the Braves some depth in case they don't retain non-tender candidate Matt Diaz and free agent Eric Hinske.