Cody Ross Wins Arbitration Hearing
Red Sox Notes: Lowell, V-Mart, Beckett
Mike Lowell is playing catch, but isn't yet swinging a bat as he recovers from a thumb injury, reports Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. That means the third baseman isn't going anywhere for now, but GM Theo Epstein says there's a chance the Red Sox trade Lowell eventually.
Offseason In Review: Boston Red Sox
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Red Sox.
Major League Signings
- John Lackey, SP: five years, $82.5MM. Also gave #29 pick to Angels.
- Mike Cameron, CF: two years, $15.5MM.
- Marco Scutaro, SS: two years, $12.5MM. Includes $6MM club option/$3MM player option for '12 with a $1.5MM buyout. Also gave #78 pick to Blue Jays.
- Adrian Beltre, 3B: one year, $10MM. Includes $5MM player option for '11 that can become $10MM with 640 PAs.
- Victor Martinez, C: one year, $7.7MM. Exercised club option.
- Tim Wakefield, P: two years, $5MM.
- Jason Varitek, C: one year, $3MM. Exercised player option.
- Scott Atchison, RP: one year, $430K. Club options at near league minimum for '11 and '12.
- Fabio Castro, P: one year, $400K (estimate).
- Total spend: $137.03MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
- Joe Nelson, Brian Shouse, Jorge Sosa, Fernando Cabrera, Edwin Moreno, Gustavo Molina, Angel Sanchez, Gil Velazquez, Darnell McDonald
Trades and Claims
- Acquired OF Jeremy Hermida from Marlins for Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez
- Acquired IF/OF Bill Hall, PTBNL, and $7.15MM from Mariners for Casey Kotchman
- Acquired P Boof Bonser from Twins for Chris Province
- Claimed P Ramon A. Ramirez off waivers from Rays
- Claimed P Gaby Hernandez off waivers from Mariners
Notable Losses
- Jason Bay, Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito, Casey Kotchman, Nick Green, Rocco Baldelli, Alex Gonzalez, George Kottaras, Jeff Bailey, Brian Anderson, Joey Gathright, Chris Woodward, Paul Byrd, Javier Lopez
Summary
The Red Sox did most of their tinkering in free agency, bringing in an ace starter, a center fielder, and a new left side of the infield. The defensive improvements could add eight or nine wins, theorizes John Dewan. Last year I liked the additions of Brad Penny and John Smoltz, but the pair contributed a 6.24 ERA in 171.6 innings for more than $10MM. This time around Lackey projects at a 3.97 ERA, while #4-5 starters Clay Buchholz and Daisuke Matsuzaka project in the low 4.00s.
Worried about the offense? Don't be, as CHONE projects the Sox will very nearly match last year's 5.38 runs per game. That's optimistic, since the starting nine won't play every single game, but it still looks like a deep crew. The revamped Red Sox remain one of the best teams in the AL.
Odds & Ends: Maya, Sheffield, Rays, Yankees
Monday night linkage..
- Jon Heyman of SI writes that the Dodgers and Rockies have watched Eric Gagne throw and both teams have shown the willingness to take a chance. A few weeks ago we learned that Colorado was thinking about extending a non-roster invite to the 34-year-old.
- The Red Sox might not be close to signing Cuban pitcher Yuniesky Maya, a source familiar with the negotiations tells Rob Bradford of WEEI. There's a good chance that Maya will instead choose a team that offers a better opportunity to immediately enter its starting rotation.
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson writes that Gary Sheffield would not be a good fit for the Nationals as he wants to play every day. Ladson spoke to a major league source who believes that Sheffield will not accept a role as a backup.
- Jason Beck of MLB.com fielded a question from a reader, asking why the Tigers dealt Curtis Granderson, only to pursue Johnny Damon instead. Beck says that the Granderson trade brought Detroit financial flexibility and prospects. He also credits agent Scott Boras for helping to create an opportunity for Damon.
- Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg told 620-AM WDAE that the club's payroll will drop below $60MM in 2011, despite having a payroll north of $70MM this season. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times points out that while the club didn't plan to make any big additions this year, they found room for Rafael Soriano after dealing Scott Kazmir and Akinori Iwamura.
- If Mike Jacobs doesn't make the Mets major league roster, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News doesn't expect him to play for the club's Triple-A affiliate. Even though his minor league deal doesn't have an out-clause, Rubin is "virtually positive" that the Mets would accommodate him with a trade or release.
- In his latest mailbag, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch supports Yankees GM Brian Cashman's decision to wait to negotiate with upcoming free agents Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Hoch believes that both players should be confident that they'll both be taken care of eventually.
Mark Mulder Not Ready To Retire
8:58pm: Mulder told Slusser that even though he is going to "shut [his arm] down from throwing," he is not calling it quits just yet.
1:14pm: Mulder's agent Gregg Clifton told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that reports of his client retiring are not accurate, as Mulder hasn't made a decision. However, Mulder's former teammate Eric Chavez told MLB.com's Jane Lee the pitcher is "done."
8:45am: Lefty Mark Mulder is retiring, according to television reports from Today's TMJ4 of Milwaukee. The 32-year-old has been unable to contribute in the big leagues after having rotator cuff surgery in September of '06.
Mulder would finish with a 4.18 ERA and 103 wins in nine seasons for the Athletics and Cardinals spanning 1,314 innings. 88 of those wins came from 2001-05. He won three postseason games, with a 2.34 ERA in 42.3 innings. Mulder finished second in the Cy Young voting in his sophomore season, and made two All-Star teams. According to Baseball-Reference, Mulder banked about $33MM in his career.
Johnny Damon Rumors: Monday
There is now only a "very small" difference of opinion between the Tigers and Johnny Damon on salary, a major league source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Though the sides have exchanged proposals, a deal is not yet imminent.
A one-year, $7MM remains possible; as does a two-year, $14MM pact. However, the source downplayed the chances of a one-year deal with a player option for 2011.
A different source tells Morosi that the Braves have not ratcheted up their chase of the 36-year-old in the last week, leaving the White Sox as the strongest known challenger to the Tigers.
Rangers Sign Endy Chavez
The Rangers signed outfielder Endy Chavez to a minor league deal. The outfielder will earn $1MM if he makes the team and the Rangers have a $1.25MM option for Chavez's services in 2011.
The 32-year-old's season ended prematurely last year when he collided with Yuniesky Betancourt and tore his ACL.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, who first reported the deal (via Twitter), noted last week that Chavez could be ready in April or May. Jon Heyman of SI.com added the terms of the contract (via Twitter).
Chavez has hit .270/.312/.367 in his nine-season career. However, he is better known for his defense, as demonstrated by his lifetime UZR/150 of 15.7 and his famous catch in game seven of the 2006 NLCS.
Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
Rays Sign Joaquin Benoit
The Rays signed reliever Joaquin Benoit to a minor league deal that will pay the righty $750K if he makes the team, plus up to $500K in performance bonuses. Benoit, 32, had rotator cuff surgery in January of '09. The Rays will have a bargain if he can return to his '07 level of performance: a 2.85 ERA and 9.5 K/9 in 82 innings. That season prompted the Rangers to sign Benoit to a two-year, $6MM deal.
The Rays' other minor league deals for pitchers this winter included Winston Abreu, Heath Phillips, R.J. Swindle, and Matt Bush.
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reported the deal and its terms via Twitter.
Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
Odds & Ends: Molina, Maya, Damon, Marlins
Links for Monday…
- With catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia recovering from shoulder surgery, the Rangers are interested in free agent catcher Jose Molina, industry sources tell T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. Molina would be the seventh catcher in camp for Texas if he is willing to sign a minor league deal and compete for a job.
- WEEI's Rob Bradford says the Red Sox are in preliminary negotiations with Cuban pitcher Yuniesky Maya. Sox president Larry Lucchino appears to say the Sox "would soon sign" Maya, in this Terreno de Pelota column by Uziel Gomez (translation credit to Nick Collias).
- Joe Morelli of the New Haven Register has plenty of quotes from Yankees GM Brian Cashman regarding Johnny Damon (hat tip to River Ave. Blues).
- Jack Moore of FanGraphs suggests that the Marlins' quiet offseason could cost them a shot at the playoffs.
- SI's Jon Heyman names his biggest offseason surprises, led by the Mariners' moves.
Out Of Options 2010
Here is MLBTR's list of players who are out of options and have less than five years of service time. These players would have to clear waivers before being sent to the minors. Right now the list is missing a few names, but journalists are on the case.
Athletics
Chad Gaudin, Eric Patterson, Mike Wuertz, Jake Fox, Rajai Davis
Angels
Brandon Wood, Brian Stokes, Bobby Wilson, Reggie Willits, Terry Evans
Astros
Alberto Arias, Yorman Bazardo, Tim Byrdak, Jeff Keppinger, Humberto Quintero
Blue Jays
Brian Tallet, Shawn Camp, Dustin McGowan, Merkin Valdez, Dana Eveland
Braves
Melky Cabrera
Brewers
Todd Coffey, Corey Hart, Joe Inglett, George Kottaras, Chris Narveson, Manny Parra, Rickie Weeks
Cardinals
Skip Schumaker, Ryan Ludwick, Blake Hawksworth
Cubs
Jeff Baker, Tom Gorzelanny, Angel Guzman, Koyie Hill, Geovany Soto
Diamondbacks
Blaine Boyer, Leo Rosales, Edwin Jackson
Dodgers
Hong-Chih Kuo, Ronald Belisario, Charlie Haeger
Giants
Travis Ishikawa, Fred Lewis, Brandon Medders, Nate Schierholtz, Andres Torres, Eugenio Velez
Indians
Fausto Carmona, Shin-Soo Choo, Anderson Hernandez, Andy Marte, Rafael Perez, Mitch Talbot
Mariners
David Aardsma, Brandon League, Franklin Gutierrez, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ian Snell, Ryan Langerhans
Marlins
Dan Meyer, Leo Nunez, Renyel Pinto, Brian Sanches, Cody Ross
Mets
Nelson Figueroa, Fernando Nieve
Nationals
Jason Bergmann, Brian Bruney, Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard, Tyler Walker, Mike Morse, Josh Willingham, Alberto Gonzalez
Orioles
Matt Albers, Robert Andino, Jeremy Guthrie, Felix Pie
Padres
Edward Mujica, Tim Stauffer, Sean Gallagher, Tony Gwynn Jr.
Phillies
Pirates
Andy LaRoche, Delwyn Young, Ronny Cedeno, Joel Hanrahan, Hayden Penn
Rangers
Joaquin Arias, Andres Blanco, Nelson Cruz, Luis Mendoza, Dustin Nippert, Scott Feldman
Rays
Willy Aybar, Jason Bartlett, Lance Cormier, Elliot Johnson
Red Sox
Boof Bonser, Manny Delcarmen
Reds
Homer Bailey, Wladimir Balentien, Nick Masset
Rockies
Jason Hammel, Clint Barmes
Royals
Alberto Callaspo, Roman Colon, Kyle Davies, Josh Fields, Luke Hochevar, Anthony Lerew, Brayan Pena, Robinson Tejeda, Mitch Maier
Tigers
Don Kelly, Brad Thomas, Bobby Seay, Ramon Santiago
Twins
Scott Baker, Clay Condrey, Alexi Casilla, Brendan Harris, Delmon Young
White Sox
Jayson Nix, Sergio Santos, Gavin Floyd
Yankees
Sergio Mitre
Thanks to the following sources for the information: Matt Eddy, Susan Slusser, Bill Plunkett, Brian McTaggart, Jordan Bastian, Brewerfan.net, Nick Piecoro, Ken Gurnick, Chris Haft, Anthony Castrovince, Geoff Baker, Joe Capozzi, Adam Rubin, Ben Goessling, Dan Connolly, Corey Brock, Dejan Kovacevic, T.R. Sullivan, Marc Topkin, Alex Speier, Mark Sheldon, Jon Paul Morosi, La Velle E. Neal III, Scott Merkin, Bryan Hoch, Bob Dutton, Greg Schaum, Mark Wilkins