Reds Will Exercise Arroyo’s Option
The Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay tweets that Reds' GM Walt Jocketty has said he will "definitely" pick up Bronson Arroyo's $11MM option for 2011. Jocketty says they'll try to add years to the contract as well. If that fails, Arroyo is essentially on a one-year, $9MM deal, as the Reds would've had to pay a $2MM buy out on the option anyway.
Arroyo, 34 in February, was traded to the Reds from Boston along with $1.5MM in exchange for Wily Mo Pena back in 2006. The trade came as a surprise move, as Arroyo had just signed an extension with the Red Sox two months prior. In February of 2007, he signed a two-year $25MM extension with the Reds that includes this $11MM option.
Arroyo has been a workhorse for the Reds over the course of his Cincinnati tenure, throwing 200 innings or more in every season, and compiling a 3.97 ERA over that time with 6.2 K/9 and a solid 2.6 BB/9. While his strikeouts are down over the past two seasons, his control has improved and he's become more difficult to hit. Arroyo allowed a career-best 7.8 hits per nine innings in 2010 (though that was likely aided by a .246 BABIP — well below his career .290 mark), helping the Reds to the NL Central Division Championship.
The Reds will have their hands full in trying to extend Arroyo, as he's made it clear this season that he won't accept a discount to stay with the Reds. Back in July, Arroyo told Fay that he wouldn't consider restructuring his contract at a discount like teammate Scott Rolen did. Arroyo said that got burned when he took a discount to stay in Boston and was traded months later, and that he had to look out for his own best interest this time around.
One thing the Reds will have in their favor is that Arroyo has said that he would prefer to remain with the Reds for at least three more years. He cited liking the city and the team's young talent as reasons.
Davidoff’s Latest: Joba, Berkman, Mets
Newsday's Ken Davidoff has some notes up about both New York teams in his latest blog post. Let's take a look at some of the highlights:
- Joba Chamberlain has "slipped down the Yankees' food chain," writes Davidoff. Joba will be arbitration-eligible and due for a nice raise, and it wouldn't surprise Davidoff to see the Yankees at least listen to offers on the 25-year-old. Over his last two seasons (229 IP), Joba's managed just a 4.64 ERA to go with an 8.3 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 (his 2010 peripherals are much stronger than 2009). Still, I'd imagine a substantial amount of interest if he were made available.
- Lance Berkman doesn't think he'll be a Yankee in 2011 and Davidoff agrees. He praises Berkman for getting his big moments in Game 2 of the ALDS and calls him an "eminently likeable man." That personality may be a factor that teams consider this offseason as Berkman looks for an everyday role, and not just a platoon spot.
- Sandy Alderson will most likely interview with the Mets next week about their GM opening. According to Davidoff, Alderson is a "dream candidate" for the Mets and he can't see how the Mets wouldn't give him the position if he's interested.
Nationals Have Interest In Matt Kemp
If Matt Kemp becomes available this winter, the Nationals would be interested in targeting him in a trade, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said a week ago that he wasn't shopping or looking to move Kemp, but that he'd listen to any trade offers that came his way.
Kemp, 26, is coming off a disappointing 2010 campaign in which he hit just .249/.310/.450 and was publicly questioned by a few members of the Dodgers organization. While he didn't formally ask for a trade, agent Dave Stewart told Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times in August, "I'm almost to the point — and maybe so are the Dodgers — where I'm thinking that this just isn't going to work."
In addition to seeing his offensive production decline, Kemp also took a step backward defensively, registering a -24.3 UZR, worst among outfielders. Still, he's just a year removed from a 2009 season that earned him a Gold Glove and MVP votes. As Kilgore notes, Washington's .720 outfield OPS was 25th in the league in 2010, so Kemp would be an especially attractive option for the Nats.
Berkman Will Seek Everyday Role
Asked whether he could picture himself returning to the Yankees in a platoon role next year, Lance Berkman couldn't see it happening, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork. Berkman tells Kristie Ackert, Sean Brennan, and Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News that he still views himself as an everyday player.
"I don't like to platoon," said Berkman. "If I was the manager I would platoon me because I've been so bad righthanded this year. But I don't think that's a permanent problem…. I like to play every day. The DH role is great but I also like to play the field. I feel like I've got something to offer still defensively."
Berkman is in the final year of a six-year, $85MM contract, which includes a $15MM option for 2011 that will not be exercised. After posting the worst full-season OPS of his career (.781), the long-time Astro knows that his disappointing walk year hasn't set him up well for free agency.
"It's going to be an interesting offseason for me because I don't know what the interest level is going to be like," Berkman said. "I don't know what the market is going to be for a 35-year old coming off the worst year of his career."
While this winter's first base free agent market appears flush with potential starters, there are also plenty of clubs that will have holes to fill at first. Coming off a season that was plagued by injuries, Berkman is a decent bet to bounce back in 2011. If he wants an everyday job and a chance to play the field, there's a good chance there will be at least one team willing to accommodate him.
Odds & Ends: Orioles, V-Mart, Buck, Nationals
We at MLBTR send our best wishes to Ernie Tyler, the Orioles' 86-year-old umpires attendant who has worked every Opening Day in Baltimore for the last 51 years. Tyler underwent brain surgery earlier this week to remove a benign tumor, and The Baltimore Sun's Dan Connolly reports that Tyler is progressing well in the early stages of his recovery. We look forward to seeing Tyler at Camden Yards in April to extend his streak to 52 years.
Let's check out some news items from around the majors…
- Speaking of Dan Connolly, he thinks Baltimore "will go hard after Victor Martinez and/or Derrek Lee," with Lee being the likelier candidate to sign with the Orioles.
- ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes thinks the possibility of Martinez re-signing with the Red Sox "looks iffy at best," though three other ESPNBoston contributors predict the free agent will return to the Sox.
- Edes also notes that another free agent catcher, John Buck, has a big supporter in Boston assistant GM Allard Baird.
- If the Nationals don't re-sign Adam Dunn, MLB.com's Bill Ladson writes that Carlos Pena "is at the top of their list" of potential replacements. Ladson also notes that Washington will "go after [James Loney] hard" if the Dodgers put him on the trade market, and that the Nats could also pursue an outfielder like Jayson Werth and fill their first-base opening from within with Josh Willingham.
- Arizona assistant general manager Peter Woodfork and the D'Backs have reached a "mutual decision" to part ways, tweets FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi. It's not an unexpected move since, as Morosi noted in a follow-up tweet, Woodfork has long-term ties to former Arizona GM Josh Byrnes and new D'Backs GM Kevin Towers probably wants to hire his own assistant.
- Baseball America's Matt Eddy has a recall-filled edition of the week's minor league transactions.
- With Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia all anchoring the staffs of World Series contenders this postseason, Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Times bemoans how the Dodgers missed out on acquiring any of the three "true aces" over the last two seasons.
- Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covered a number of Brewers topics in a chat with readers.
Managerial Notes: Blue Jays, Farrell, Pirates, Wedge
With so many managerial jobs open this winter, there's plenty of news to pass along in the world of field managers. Here's the latest:
- Add Red Sox bench coach Demario Hale to the list of interview candidates for the manager's job in Toronto, reports Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. Meanwhile, Dodgers Triple-A manager Tim Wallach will not interview with the Jays since he has signed a new contract with L.A.
- ESPN.com’s Buster Olney hears that Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell will probably get a chance to manage in 2011.
- Former Pirate Andy Van Slyke told Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he’d be interested in managing in Pittsburgh. Longtime MLB manager Phil Garner told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he would like to manage again, potentially with the Pirates.
- Former Indians manager Eric Wedge tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he's "burning" to manage in the major leagues again. Wedge has interviewed with the Blue Jays, Pirates and Cubs and is a candidate to manage the Brewers, Mariners and, possibly, the Mets.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com adds Cardinals coach Jose Oquendo and Juan Samuel to his list of managerial candidates.
- The Brewers are expected to interview White Sox coach Joey Cora, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, who says Bob Melvin is the favorite to manage in Milwaukee (Twitter link). Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke is also expected to interview for the Milwaukee job, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
MLBTR's Mark Polishuk also contributed to this post.
Royals Notes: Payroll, Greinke, Chen, Bannister
It will likely be "a relatively quiet offseason" for the Royals, writes Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Here are some of the hot stove-related notes from Dutton's recent look ahead to the Royals' 2011 season.
- The payroll is expected to be in "the low $60MM range" next season, down from K.C.'s 2010 payroll of just under $75MM. This whole drop could be attributed to Jose Guillen's $12MM salary coming off the books.
- Speaking of Guillen, Dutton reports that "the days of shelling out millions to retread veterans for stopgap purposes appear over."
- There have been some rumors about Zack Greinke being on the trade block, but Dutton thinks the K.C. ace won't be moved this winter since his trade value will be higher at next year's trade deadline and in the 2011-12 offseason.
- Bruce Chen wants to re-sign in Kansas City and there appears to be mutual interest from the Royals. The club may "have too many promising left-handed prospects to offer Chen more than a one-year deal," but it's hard to imagine another club giving Chen multiple years.
- Dutton predicts the Royals will either deal or non-tender Brian Bannister. The right-hander made $2.3MM in 2010 and is entering his third arbitration year.
- With Jason Kendall set to miss part (or maybe all) of 2011 after rotator cuff surgery, Kansas City will be in the market for a cheap, defensive-minded veteran catcher.
- The team is looking for right-handed hitting and will probably "scour the bargain bins" for the likes of a Matt Diaz or a Cody Ross. Dutton notes, however, that if the Royals are particularly taken with a higher caliber of right-handed hitting corner outfielder, they would be "willing to shell out a few million for a good fit." Such a player would be all the more important to the club if David DeJesus is traded in the winter.
Mets Front Office Notes: Gillick, Alderson, Ryan
The Yankees may be in the playoffs, but the Mets' search for new management is keeping them in the Big Apple headlines as well. The latest…
- Pat Gillick has removed himself from consideration for the general manager's job, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Gillick said he's interested in being a GM again, but he would prefer to work for a west coast team closer to his Seattle home.
- The Mets will talk to Sandy Alderson about their GM vacancy and he's interested, according to Andy Martino and Christian Red of the New York Daily News (Twitter links). If Alderson did end up running the Mets, Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman thinks it's unlikely that Tony La Russa could join his old Athletics boss in New York. (Twitter link)
- Bob Nightengale of USA Today hears that while a GM job in the Midwest could tempt former Twins GM Terry Ryan, the Mets opening doesn't have the same appeal (Twitter link).
- Matthew Cerrone of Metsblog.com expects New York to make just one front office hire and thinks the rumored "senior advisor/junior GM" concept for the Mets front office has been scrapped.
Ben Nicholson-Smith also contributed to this post.
Cubs Plan To Spend More On Draft, Scouting In 2011
In a letter to Wrigley Field season ticket-holders, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts indicated the team will "likely" reallocate some money from the major league payroll towards scouting and player development. The team's "overall baseball budget" of payroll, scouting and player development will be roughly the same as it was in 2010. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune was the first to break the news of Ricketts' announcement, while the full text of Ricketts' letter can be found here.
We'd already heard that the Cubs were looking to shed some payroll this winter, though as Sullivan notes, that could be easier said than done given the number of unwieldly contracts on the Chicago roster. It only makes sense for the Cubs to reinvest their savings on the development of young, affordable talent given that they're committed to Alfonso Soriano through 2014 and Carlos Zambrano through at least 2012.
Red Sox Drop Brown, Cash, Manuel From Roster
Dusty Brown, Kevin Cash and Robert Manuel have all been removed from Boston's 40-man roster, reports WEEI's Alex Speier. The three players will all be eligible for free agency five days after the last game of the World Series.
Brown has played in a total of 13 career major league games (all over the last two seasons) and has been in Boston's minor league system for the past decade. The catcher has a .729 OPS in 2759 minor league plate appearances.
Cash was acquired from Houston in July to give the injury-plagued Sox some catching depth. Though he managed just a .374 OPS in 68 plate appearances, Cash "received raves from the Sox for his clubhouse impact," according to Speier. It was Cash's second stint in Boston and the eight-year major league veteran is likely to get a minor-league deal from another club looking for an experienced backup option.
Manuel posted a 4.26 ERA in 10 relief appearances for the Red Sox in 2010. Originally signed by the Mets in 2005, the right-hander has also pitched in the Cincinnati and Seattle systems, getting a three-game big league cup of coffee with the Reds in 2009. Given Manuel's impressive minor league numbers (2.70 ERA, 4.90 K/BB ratio, 8.1 K/9 rate in 214 appearances, 23 of them starts), you'd have to think the 27-year-old Houston native will get a look from another club.