Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for 2010

Heyman On Werth, Jeter, Mets

By | at

Conventional wisdom says Jayson Werth won’t be playing for the Phillies in 2011, but someone familiar with the team’s thinking tells Jon Heyman of SI.com that he expects the Phillies to try hard to re-sign the outfielder. Here’s the latest on Werth, plus other updates from around the league:

  • Heyman hears that the Phillies suggested a Jason Bay-like contract to Werth this summer (four years, $66MM) and he rejected the idea.
  • Some baseball people say they would not be surprised to see Derek Jeter seek a six-year deal this offseason. Heyman hears hints that the Yankees are thinking about offering a three-year contract. Hal Steinbrenner said yesterday that negotiations could get messy with Jeter.
  • The Mets will have one of baseball’s most expensive front offices. Omar Minaya earns over $2MM, Sandy Alderson makes an estimated $2-3MM and J.P. Ricciardi won’t be cheap either.

Reds Exercise 2011 Option For Bronson Arroyo

By | at

The Reds officially exercised their 2011 option for Bronson Arroyo, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). GM Walt Jocketty said last month that he would pick up the option, so the decision was expected. The Reds have expressed interest in extending the deal to keep Arroyo in Cincinnati beyond 2011.

Arroyo, 33, logged at least 200 innings for the sixth consecutive season in 2010, posting a 3.88 ERA with 5.0 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9. He will earn $13MM in 2011.

Puerto Rican Links: Beltran, Delgado, Listach

By | at

'Tis the season for Puerto Rican players to head back to the island for winter ball and home cooking. Links are in Spanish…

  • At the opening of a baseball academy yesterday, Carlos Beltran told Fernando Ribas Reyes of El Nuevo Dia that the Mets have invited the center fielder to meet with new GM Sandy Alderson. Beltran was non-committal about his approach, saying, "It doesn't matter what I think. The organization is going to do what they think is best for them. The way I can control it is to have a good year. If I do, I know there will be teams interested in me. For my part, I'd like to play in New York a few years more."
  • In a separate piece, Carlos Delgado told Reyes he hasn't been approached by any major league teams so far this offseason. Delgado insisted he has no preferences about where he plays, and admited that he has had a few doubts about his ability to return to the majors.
  • Pat Listach, former Nationals third base coach and recent candidate for the Brewers managerial opening, told Junior Lugo Marrero at Periodico La Perla that making the jump from base coach to manager remains one of his goals. At the moment, Listach is managing the Ponce Lions in Puerto Rico, and he described his style as that of "an aggressive manager who likes the hit and run and moving players around the bases." In the shorter term, Listach will be joining the Cubs as bench coach, reported Rhett Bollinger at MLB.com two days ago.

Beltre Declines Player Option, Hits Free Agency

By | at

Adrian Beltre officially declined his player option for 2011 and hit the open market, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). Because he reached his plate appearance incentives in Boston, Beltre could have earned $10MM by exercising his 2011 option. As the top free agent third baseman, he is in position to sign for considerably more than that.

Beltre batted .321/.365/.553 this season with 28 homers and a league-best 49 doubles. At 31, he is relatively young and he is considered one of baseball's best defensive third basemen. Only his career .328 OBP and his tendency to play especially well in contract years will limit interest.

If the Red Sox offer arbitration as expected and Beltre turns the offer down to sign with another team, Boston gets two top compensation picks for losing a Type A free agent.

A’s Exercise Ellis’ Option; Decline On Chavez

By | at

The Athletics exercised Mark Ellis' 2011 option, and declined their option for Eric Chavez, according to the team. The A's chose to pay Ellis $6MM next year instead of buying him out for $500K and they chose Chavez's $3MM buyout over his $12.5MM salary. Oakland picked up Coco Crisp's $5.5MM option earlier today.

Ellis, 33, batted .291/.358/.381 in 492 plate appearances in 2010. He posted an above-average UZR/150 for the seventh consecutive season and made just three errors on defense. If Ellis had turned down an offer of arbitration to sign elsewhere, the A's would have obtained a supplementary round pick as compensation for losing a Type B free agent.

Chavez, a former fixture with Oakland, has had five stints on the DL over the last four years and has appeared in just 64 games since 2008. He had five surgeries between September 2007 and June 2009. 

Marlins Hire Edwin Rodriguez

By | at

First it was Bobby Valentine, then it was Ozzie Guillen. Edwin Rodriguez always seemed to be trailing someone as he attempted to prolong his big league managerial career. But he'll be back in Miami; the Marlins officially announced that they have extended Rodriguez through 2011.

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reported yesterday that the team was expected to retain Rodriguez and noted (on Twitter) today that the deal became official. Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported yesterday that the Marlins had offered the job and that Rodriguez had accepted. 

Rodriguez, a rookie manager in 2010, led the Marlins to a 46-46 record this year. He is the first Puerto Rican-born manager in big league history.

As soon as Bo Porter, another candidate for the job, accepted a job with the Nationals, it became apparent that Rodriguez was the leading candidate for the Marlins' opening. 

 

Jocketty Named Sporting News Executive Of Year

By | at

Cincinnati GM Walt Jocketty won the 2010 Sporting News Executive of the Year Award after leading the Reds to their first winning season in a decade and their first playoff berth since 1995. Jocketty, who took over the Reds in 2008, is now a three-time winner of the award. He also won in 2000 and 2004 as Cardinals GM.

Jocketty outbid a number of teams for Aroldis Chapman, acquired Scott Rolen and Orlando Cabrera and showed faith in Mike Leake as Joey Votto and Jay Bruce played at an elite level.

Rangers GM Jon Daniels, Giants GM Brian Sabean and Twins GM Bill Smith are some of the execs who also had a legitimate chance of winning the award this year. Dan O'Dowd (Rockies, '09), Andrew Friedman (Rays, '08), Sabean (Giants, '03), Doug Melvin (Rangers, '96) and Andy MacPhail (Twins, '91) are among the current GMs/presidents of baseball operations who have won the award.

A’s Exercise Coco Crisp’s 2011 Option

By | at

The A's exercised Coco Crisp's 2011 option, according to the outfielder's Twitter account. Oakland will pay Crisp $5.75MM next year instead of buying him out for $500K.

Crisp, 31, batted .279/.342/.438 with 26 extra base hits last year, though he appeared in just 75 games. He missed months with a pectoral strain and also battled finger and knee injuries. He was an unranked free agent, so the A's could not have obtained compensation if he had turned down an offer of arbitration to sign elsewhere.

The A's also have 2011 options for Mark Ellis and Eric Chavez. It looks like they'll pick up Ellis' $6MM option and they'll certainly choose to pay Chavez a $3MM buyout instead of a $12.5MM salary. 

Braves Decline 2011 Options For Ankiel, Farnsworth

By | at

As expected, the Braves declined their 2011 options for Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth, according to the AP (on CBS Sports.com). Ankiel's buyout cost $500K (his 2011 salary would have been $6MM) and Farnsworth's buyout cost $250K (his 2011 salary would have been $5.25MM).  Atlanta acquired both Ankiel and Farnsworth from the Royals at the trade deadline. The Braves won't obtain compensation picks for either player, since Farnsworth and Ankiel are unranked free agents.

Earlier today, the Braves picked up their 2011 options for Omar Infante and Alex Gonzalez and agreed to a one-year deal for 2011 with Scott Proctor.

MLBTR's Tim Dierkes recently pointed out that Ankiel won't have an easy time finding a deal worth more than $1MM in 2010, especially if he wants regular playing time. Farnsworth isn't in line for a big free agent deal either, but he's coming off a season in which he posted a 3.34 ERA with 8.5 K/9 so he should draw some interest.

Odds & Ends: Crawford, Thome, Rowand, Greinke

By | at

On this date in 1974, the Braves traded Hank Aaron to the Brewers for Dave May. Today, the Braves made some less memorable moves. Here are the day's links…

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows scroll to top