Got some more links for you on a hectic Tuesday…
- Ed Price of AOL FanHouse has a list of salary figures exchanged by players and their teams at today's arbitration filing deadline.
- MLB.com's Adam McCalvy breaks down the exchanged figures and the situations of the Brewers' remaining arbitration-eligible players.
- Jordan Bastian of MLB.com says the Blue Jays' payroll "will probably be in the $60-63MM range" next season, down from a previously reported figure of $80MM. Toronto's payroll, however, is "really a fluid number" according to Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
- Colorado may sign veteran catcher Paul Lo Duca to a minor-league deal, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
- In a text message to Tyler Kepner of The New York Times (via Twitter), Johnny Damon said he's "sure things will work out somewhere." Damon added that he hasn't ruled out a return the Yankees either.
- The Phillies are discussing a multi-year deal with arbitration eligible center fielder Shane Victorino, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.
- With Bengie Molina returning to San Francisco, the Mets primary catching target is now Yorvit Torrealba, according to ESPN's Buster Olney (via Twitter).
- Morosi tweets that Joe Blanton filed for $10.25MM in arbitration today, but the Phillies countered with $7.5MM.
- Ed Price of AOL FanHouse (via Twitter) spoke to a scout who saw Ben Sheets' throwing session today. "He threw very well. He threw easy," said the scout, who guessed that Mets, Cubs, and Rangers were the leaders for his services.
- Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald tweets that the Marlins and Cody Ross are going to an arbitration hearing over a $250K difference.
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tweets that the Astros and Wandy Rodriguez are $2MM apart in their arbitration case.
- The Rays and B.J. Upton did not reach a deal today, and his agent indicated that the two sides will head to an arbitration hearing according to Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times (via Twitter). He later tweets that they may be just $300K apart.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com reports that the Cubs, Cardinals, and Dodgers are monitoring free agent lefty Mark Mulder. Late last week we learned that the Brewers were going to wait before deciding whether or not to offer Mulder a deal.
- The Blue Jays have signed outfielder Jeremy Reed and righty Steven Register to minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training according to a team press release.
- MLB.com's Ken Gurnick tweets that the Dodgers have signed catcher J.D. Closser to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. The former top Rockies' prospect last appeared in the big leagues back in 2006.
- ESPN's Jerry Crasnick penned a must-read on how Jack Zduriencik has transformed the Mariners in his short time at the helm.
- SI.com's Tom Verducci took a look at the most efficient teams of the last decade. The Marlins, Athletics, and Rays highlight the best, while the Mets were among the least efficient.
BJ figured to be one where the two sides would have very different cases to make.
I wish I could hear what the arbiter and Rays management is going to say about Upton. Not too many good things one would think with his massive dropoff in productivity.
The fact that he’s 24?
Why would Rays management bring up his age? Wouldn’t that make more sense for Upton’s side to do?
Age = experience in MLB when it comes to arbitration. That’s why Lincecum is seeking $13-million and not $23-million [though Lincecum is a super-two].
Though age is a partial factor towards a players worth in arbitration, the point I’m making is in court management bashes the player to win. Though Upton’s defense hasn’t wavered, his offense plummeted. The Rays maybe could have offered something closer to $2-million and still won, strictly because of being arb controlled and declining in productivity. I just don’t get why they are squabbling over $300k, to them it’s pocket change.
What’s 300K among friends?! To me, the rays are just trying to light a fire under Upton. It looks like Tampa Bay will win the hearing and the message will be clear, play up to potential or we’re not gonna pay a dime over what you are worth. To me, it’s a good message to send to a young player who has been taking the lazy approach to a game he should excel at.
I wish I could hear what the arbiter and Rays management is going to say about Upton. Not too many good things one would think with his massive dropoff in productivity.
Seattle Mariners should be tagged in this article. Just a head’s up.
The Cardinals? Mulder? Ugh, please say it isn’t so. He should pay the Cardinals to play.
The Cardinals? Mulder? Ugh, please say it isn’t so. He should pay the Cardinals to play.
I don’t want mulder so he can get hurt and and come back get hurt again and again. Please.
I don’t want mulder so he can get hurt and and come back get hurt again and again. Please.
wait Blanton worth 10 mil?
my response: “LOL”
As a Met fan, i am actually relieved to see they didn’t waste money on Molina. His strike-outs and low OBP make him a burden.
At this point, the only thing im wondering is, Is Torrealba good enough to go out and sign? I havent watched him much so i dont know. If not, the Mets might have to be content with Santos + Blanco or Coste starting day
Wondering the same thing, actually – and I HAVE watched him. I guess he didn’t make a lasting impression. The only thing I would say is that I have notice him come up pretty big in the postseason…not something the Amazin’s are likely to have to ‘worry’ about this year, I guess…
Come on, Blanton. Are you serious? Verlander filed for $9.5MM and won 19 games and had a 3.75 ERA this year, and even he is trying to triple his salary. I slapped my forehead when I saw that he filed for $10.25MM. Although he was consistent, he was hittable with an ERA of 4.05. He’s not worth 10MM. In fact, I’d consider trading him… Although, it’d be hard with that salary.
If anyone wanted Blanton, the Phils would still have Cliff Lee :/ Amaro tried, couldn’t find a package worth taking. Maybe this big number is an, “I’m pissed you tried to trade me” from Blanton.
$10.25m is ridiculous. I like Blanton, think he’s a real solid MOR guy (something every team needs), but he’s not a $10m/yr starter. 7.5, 8? Absolutely.
Looks like the Phils are going to need that depth added from the Lee trade very, very soon…
Haha, agreed. Although I’m not entirely sure that trading Lee was entirely a payroll thing, not being able to trade Blanton surely didn’t help. Lol. I’m guess that Amaro wanted 2 prospects, and there weren’t any suitors. That being said, the Phillies are pretty much stuck with him now. No sense trading him at the deadline. Looks like the smartest move was to non-tender him. If he wanted to play for the Phils, he would have had to sign cheap in a bad market.
yea but when you submit a figure that high your not going to win with a 5+ ERA this man is crazy. however, Verlander is only in the his second year so naturally he will only get a 50% bump from last year, thats if he doesn’t win which is a good chance.
on the victorino note i think gets what granderson type contract is my personal opinion
Thank God this Molina storyline is over. I have never seen some much written and stress over a fat guy with declining skills
Manny ramirez ring a bell?
Manny isn’t fat and his declining skills still translate to a 900 OPS.
You know your team is in trouble when when Bengie Molina is your clean up batter (2009 SF Giants) I think the NL West will be a very entertaining division this year.
Yeah but wait until I’m in the majors! Then we’ll be efficient!
I hope the Cubbies can get Sheets on a 1 yr incentive laden deal with vesting option for a 2nd year. Who ever sign him, it makes the most sense to sign him to that type of deal.
Poor Damon, he is just waiting for “somewhere” for thing to work out.
Wow, Joe Blanton thinks he is worth $10.25m? Delusional.
lawls at Blanton! If Lincecum gets less than Blanton, I think Lincecum, if he wins another CY Young next year, increases his number to 35 Million in 2011!
if upton doesnt get the money he wants he demand a trade. maybe to the yankees…….. slide granderson to left and put upton in center that would get the yankees younger,faster,athletic, and add some power. i think he will get along fine with cano and swisher