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A User’s Guide To MLBTR’s Transaction Tracker

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MLBTR is introducing a database that sorts transactions by player, date, team, transaction type, GM, agency and more. Here are some guidelines to the transaction tracker:

Features & Tips

  • Hover over the leftmost column for more detailed info on a transaction, such as who a player was traded for and a link to the MLBTR post on the deal.
  • You can link to results or share them on Facebook and Twitter by clicking on the “Link Results” button once you complete a search. 
  • You can search for transactions between teams or GMs with this database.
  • We highly recommend searching for different contracts. For example, if you want to know how many teams handed out two-year extensions worth at least $10MM and no more than $12MM between 2008 and 2010, this is the tool for you.
  • Some searches yield hundreds of transactions and they don’t all show up at once. Click “Load More Transactions” at the bottom of the page to ensure you’re seeing complete results.
  • Click on the columns to sort according to different categories.

What The Database Can And Cannot Do

  • We have made every effort to add as much data as possible, but the database does have limitations.
  • We have extensive trade, signing, release and waiver claim data that dates back to 1900 thanks to the help of Sean Forman and Baseball-Reference.com. We don't have complete data for that entire period, though.
  • We have GM data from 1980 on, thanks to Baseball America’s fantastic executive database.
  • Signings before 2006 do not all have dollar figures attached.
  • We have non-tender data from 2007 on.
  • Extension data for non-current players is incomplete.
  • International signing data is incomplete.
  • Agent data is incomplete.

Feedback

  • Send questions or corrections to mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.

Acknowledgements

  • Many thanks to Mike Melusky, Cale Cox, Daniel Lowenstein and Tony Bennett. Without their considerable skill and hard work, Tim Dierkes and I would not have come close to completing this database.

Trade Market For Right-handed Starters

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It's a murky trade market for right-handed starters.  We can assume certain pitchers with burdensome contracts can be had, but the availability of the more interesting names is unknown.

Bad Contracts

Derek Lowe ($30MM through '12), A.J. Burnett ($49.5MM through '13), Daisuke Matsuzaka ($20MM through '12), Aaron Cook ($9.75MM through '11), Carlos Zambrano ($35.875MM through '12), Kenshin Kawakami ($6.667MM through '11), and Gil Meche ($12MM through '11) fill out this group.  Some contracts are worse than others, and names like Lowe and Zambrano are not necessarily on the market.

Are They Available?

We've got six interesting righties who could hit the market: Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Jeremy Guthrie, Matt Garza, James Shields, and Jeff Niemann.  Greinke would really shake up the pitching market, though the price would be huge and he has a partial no-trade clause.  The Rays are at least six-deep in their rotation, causing many to wonder if Garza, Shields, Niemann, or at least Andy Sonnanstine could be available.  The Orioles might prefer the stability Guthrie adds, though this could be a sell-high opportunity.  Marcum is under team control for two more years; is there any good reason to flip him?

The Marlins' Ricky Nolasco could be a name to watch this summer, as could Chicago's Edwin Jackson.

Non-Tender Candidates

We mentioned Kyle Davies, Brian Bannister, Jeff Karstens, Dustin Moseley, John Maine, Sergio Mitre, and Brandon McCarthy as non-tender candidates earlier.  If a team is willing to tender a contract, we could see trades in advance of the December 2nd non-tender deadline.

Summary

The free agent market for right-handed starters is uninspiring, but names like Greinke, Garza, and Shields would spice up the landscape considerably.

Free Agent Market For Right-handed Starters

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The free agent market for right-handed starters features an array of mediocrity.  Let's break it down.

The Best Available

Five healthy right-handed starters jump out from this year's free agent class: Carl Pavano, Bronson Arroyo, Jake Westbrook, Jon Garland, and Hiroki Kuroda.  Arroyo is expected to be retained by the Reds, however.  All five pitched 195+ innings, with Pavano actually tallying 227 including the playoffs.  Pavano also leads free agent righties in innings per start by a wide margin at 6.91.  As a Type A free agent, he'll likely carry the added cost of a draft pick.

Out of this group no one posted an ERA above Westbrook's 4.22, but Baseball Prospectus' cool SIERA stat suggests no one deserved one below 4.00 except Kuroda.  Aside from Arroyo, they're all groundballers.  Kuroda is the only thing close to a strikeout pitcher here, and his control and groundball rate were strong too.  Though he turns 36 in February, Kuroda is my pick from this group.  They're all capable innings eaters, though.

Teams willing to spend $8MM+ per year on one of these guys should look at Japanese righty Hisashi Iwakuma.  He may require a $16MM posting fee plus a contract, but he's only 30 and had pretty good numbers in Japan this year.

Back-End Rotation Types

Rodrigo Lopez, Kevin Millwood, Dave Bush, Jeremy Bonderman, and Freddy Garcia profile as 4.75 ERA, back-end rotation types.  Lopez and Millwood can chew up innings better than the others.  All five are prone to the longball.

Bounceback Candidates

Javier Vazquez, Kevin Correia, Aaron Harang, and Rich Harden are a year removed from useful seasons.  All four had attractive strikeout rates as starters this year.  Correia, with a 48.9% groundball rate, could be a sleeper.

Injured In 2010

Vicente Padilla (forearm) and Brad Penny (back) had strong but abbreviated seasons.  Brandon Webb (shoulder), Justin Duchscherer (hip), and Chris Young (shoulder) barely pitched at all.  Many millions will be guaranteed to these guys in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle.

Non-Tender Candidates

Kyle Davies, Brian Bannister, Jeff Karstens, Dustin Moseley, John Maine, Sergio Mitre, and Brandon McCarthy are candidates to be cut loose next month by their teams.  They've all had their moments.

Outside The Box Options

Pedro Martinez and Braden Looper sat out the 2010 season; perhaps they could still help at the back-end of an NL rotation.  Koji Uehara spent the year as a reliever but would be an interesting starting candidate if he could stay healthy.

Fighting For Innings

Jeff Suppan, Todd Wellemeyer, Brian Moehler, Ian Snell, and Micah Owings will have to battle for opportunities and will have to be open to the bullpen or minor leagues.

Summary

As always, there's a handful of pitchers coming off solid seasons and a larger group of injured or ineffective hurlers.

Odds & Ends: Long, Romanick, Falkenborg, Carlin

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Links for Monday, as Cliff Lee looks to leave a strong last impression on his 2010 season against Tim Lincecum and the Giants…

Non-Tender Candidate: Casey Kotchman

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The Mariners acquired Casey Kotchman from the Red Sox in January, installing him as Russell Branyan's replacement at first base.  457 plate appearances later, Kotchman is a lock to be non-tendered next month.

Kotchman, 28 in February, hit .217/.280/.336 for the Mariners this year.  He's known for his defense, but more was expected offensively.  He earned $3.5175MM in 2010, but may have to settle for a minor league deal this time around.

There is some silver lining for Kotchman's bat.  In 2007 for the Angels, Kotchman hit .296/.372/.467 in 508 plate appearances.  Drafted 13th overall in '01, Kotchman had seemingly recovered from a bout with mononucleosis and broken through in the bigs.  He was the centerpiece of the Angels' trade with Atlanta for Mark Teixeira in July of '08, but his power slipped into reserve territory from that point forward.

Next month expect to see many of the up-and-comers of several years ago non-tendered, such as Kotchman, Conor Jackson, John Maine, Zach Duke, Jeff Francoeur, and Brandon McCarthy.

Remaining Club Or Player Options

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Option decisions have been rolling in lately, and with the World Series set to end this week we can expect plenty more.  The deadline is typically three days after the Series.  Mutual options are usually not picked up by both sides; Miguel Olivo, Yorvit Torrealba, Russell Branyan, Adam LaRoche, Orlando Cabrera, Scott Podsednik, Vladimir Guerrero, Erik Bedard, Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Rich Harden, Octavio Dotel, and Trevor Hoffman will hit the market if theirs are declined.  Let's discuss the remaining club and player options:

  • Gregg Zaun, Brewers: $2.25MM club option with a $250K buyout.  This is likely to be declined.
  • Mark Ellis, Athletics: $6MM club option with a $500K buyout.  This is expected to be exercised.
  • Bill Hall, Red Sox: $9.25MM club option with a $500K buyout.  Even after a decent year, this is too much to pick up.
  • Omar Infante, Braves: $2.5MM club option with a $250K buyout.  An easy choice to exercise.
  • Adam Kennedy, Nationals: $2MM club option with a $500K buyout.  This is unlikely to be picked up. 
  • Alex Gonzalez, Braves: $2.5MM club option.  Pretty much a lock to be exercised.
  • Jhonny Peralta, Tigers: $7MM club option with a $250K buyout.  This should be declined, but the sides are expected to work out a two-year deal.
  • Edgar Renteria, Giants: $10.5MM club option with a $500K buyout.  World Series heroics aside, this is a lock to be declined.  Renteria has considered retirement after the season.
  • Jose Reyes, Mets: $11MM club option with a $500K buyout.  The Mets will pick this up if new GM Sandy Alderson fails to work out a multiyear extension with Reyes.
  • Adrian Beltre, Red Sox: $10MM player option with a $1MM buyout.  This is a lock to be declined.
  • Eric Chavez, Athletics: $12.5MM club option with a $3MM buyout.  Certain to be declined.
  • Aramis Ramirez, Cubs: $14.6MM player option.  He's likely to pick up the option after an off-year.
  • Jonny Gomes, Reds: $1.75MM club option with a $200K buyout.  Walt Jocketty says he'll probably pick this up; if not Gomes' contract calls for his release (he'd otherwise be arbitration eligible).
  • Coco Crisp, Athletics: $5.75MM club option with a $575K buyout.  This is expected to be exercised.
  • David Ortiz, Red Sox: $12.5MM club option with no buyout.  Though Ortiz wants multiple years, the Sox are assumed to be considering this.
  • Bronson Arroyo, Reds: $13MM club option with a $2MM buyout.  Given Arroyo's 436 innings over the last two years, it's assumed this option jumped up to $13MM.  The Reds would like to do a multiyear deal at a reduced salary, but Jocketty has committed to picking up Arroyo's option if not.  This will limit the team's financial flexibility.
  • Jeff Francis, Rockies: $7MM club option.  The Rockies will decline, but interest is mutual on a new deal.
  • Aaron Harang, Reds: $12.75MM club option with a $2MM buyout.  This is a lock to be declined.
  • Kevin Gregg, Blue Jays: $4.5MM club option for '11, $8.75MM for '11-'12, $750K buyout.  The Jays will probably exercise one of the two.
  • Kyle Farnsworth, Braves: $5.25MM club option with a $500K buyout.  The Braves figure to decline this.
  • Dan Wheeler, Rays: $4MM club option with a $1MM buyout.  The Rays will probably decline this option, despite bullpen uncertainty.
  • Mark Hendrickson, Orioles: $1.2MM club option with a $200K buyout.  This is expected to be declined, but the O's could try to re-sign Hendrickson for less.

Odds & Ends: K-Rod, Gibbons, Ricciardi, Uehara

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Links for Halloween Sunday, as we prepare to take in our last October baseball game of 2010….

  • SI.com's Jon Heyman says (via Twitter) the early feeling is that Francisco Rodriguez will be back with the Mets this year. There has been speculation that they would try to trade the closer following his late-season arrest, but that would have proven difficult with his contract. 
  • John Gibbons has informed the Mets that he's not a candidate for their managerial opening, tweets Bob Klapisch of The Bergen Record. The former Blue Jays' manager is happy with his role as Kansas City's bench coach.
  • The Mets are still trying to lure J.P. Ricciardi to their new front office, reports ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin.
  • Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com notes that it doesn't appear as if the Orioles have made much of an attempt to keep Koji Uehara. Uehara finished 2010 as the team's closer, but he is scheduled to be a free agent in the not-too-distant future.
  • Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun recaps the Orioles' coaching situation, and tells us that if Don Wakamatsu doesn't land a managerial job, he'll likely be Buck Showalter's bench coach. Showalter would like the coaching staff to be finalized by mid-week.
  • Dave Eiland, who was fired as the Yankees' pitching coach last week, told Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger that a reported falling out between he and Joe Girardi was "totally, absolutely false," and "ridiculous."
  • How potential free agents have been performing, and continue to perform, in the postseason will have an impact on the Giants' offseason decisions, Brian Sabean tells Tyler Kepner of the New York Times. Aubrey Huff, Juan Uribe, and Pat Burrell are a few Giants who are facing possible free agency.
  • Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer reminds Phillies fans that if Jayson Werth signs elsewhere, it wouldn't be the first time the club has lost a star outfielder to free agency. As Brookover notes, things turned out pretty well for the Phils in 2007, when Aaron Rowand signed with the Giants after having a career year in Philadelphia.
  • In a piece for the Detroit Free Press, Josh Huebner explains why signing Carl Crawford should be the Tigers' number one priority this winter.
  • Derek Jeter will likely still be playing shortstop in New York in 2011, but as Bill Madden of the New York Daily News writes, the Yankees view Eduardo Nunez as Jeter's eventual successor.

Amateur Signing Bonuses: Pirates

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Let's move our amateur signing bonus to the Steel City…

  1. Jameson Taillon, $6.5MM (2010)
  2. Pedro Alvarez, $6MM (2008)
  3. Bryan Bullington, $4MM (2002)
  4. Brad Lincoln, $2.75MM (2006)
  5. Luis Heredia, $2.6MM (2010)

If there's any good that can come out of finishing with a below-.500 record for 18 straight years, it's that you'll have a ton of high draft picks. Unfortunately for the Pirates, they really didn't take advantage of those high picks until the last few years, as too many first rounders to count have flamed out since the team's last winning season. Neal Huntington has been dedicated to building the next great Pirates team through the farm system, so he's spent a ton of money on amateurs since taking over in late 2007. In fact, Pittsburgh has doled out close to $30.6MM on draft picks in the three years that Huntington's run the team, the most in baseball by more than $2MM.

Taillon was the best pitcher available in this year's draft class, high school or otherwise, so the Pirates gobbled him up with the second overall pick and gave him the second largest signing bonus in draft history, trailing only Stephen Strasburg's $7.5MM bonus. It's also the largest bonus ever given as part of a minor league contract. Taillon did not pitch after signing and will start his career next spring.

There was a bit of drama with the Alvarez signing after he was chosen second overall in 2008. Alvarez and agent Scott Boras agreed to a minor league contract worth $6MM, but the deal was struck two minutes after the August 15th signing deadline passed. The union filed a grievance on the player's behalf, and the issue was resolved a month later. Alvarez ultimately received the same $6MM bonus, though the second time around it came as part of four-year, $6.335MM major league contract. He reached the big leagues this summer and hit .256/.326/.461 with 16 homers in 386 plate appearances. Alvarez is expected to be a force in the middle of the Pirates' lineup for the next half-decade, at least.

Bullington was one of those dud draft picks we talked about earlier, taken with the first overall pick in 2002. The Pirates' brain trust famously referred to him as a solid mid-rotation starter not long after the draft (an opinion other teams agreed with), not exactly what you expect with the top pick. Even worse, Bullington failed to deliver on even those modest expectations. He pitched to a 3.32 ERA with 6.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 288 innings in his first two pro seasons, then made his big league debut in September 2005 (two runs in 1.1 innings). Bullington missed the entire 2006 season due to shoulder surgery, and he was eventually lost to the Indians on waivers after being designated for assignment in July 2008. All told, he threw just 18.1 innings for Pittsburgh, posting a 5.89 ERA.

Lincoln was the fourth overall pick in 2006, but he ended up missing the entire 2007 season due to Tommy John surgery. He came back in 2008 and pitched well enough in the minors to earn his first taste of the big leagues this June. In 52.2 innings with the Pirates (nine starts, two relief appearances), Lincoln pitched to a Halloween appropriate 6.66 ERA. He figures to get a long look in Spring Training.

The draft isn't the only place where Huntington has spent big, he's also given out some huge bonuses on the international market. They heavily pursued Miguel Sano before he signed with the Twins, though they did sign the 16-year-old Heredia this past August. Since his rights were owned by the Mexican team Veracruz, Heredia received just 25% of that bonus ($650K). The other 75% went to Veracruz ($1.95MM). He'll start his pro career next season.

It's worth noting that Tony Sanchez (fourth overall in 2009) and Danny Moskos (fourth overall in 2007) are right behind Heredia at $2.5MM and $2.475MM, respectively.

Week In Review: 10/25/10 – 10/31/10

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While the baseball world enjoys Game Four of the World Series, let's review the week that was on the rumor circuit…

MLBTR Originals: 10/25/10 – 10/31/10

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The Rangers and Giants are providing plenty of action on the field, but at MLBTR we love everything that goes on off the field and behind the scenes. Here's a round up of our original content from the last week…

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

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