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Archives for February 2010

Deciphering The Tigers’ Interest In Damon

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THURSDAY, 10:31pm: Damon and Scott Boras are seeking a two-year commitment from the Tigers, according to Lynn Henning of The Detroit News.  Detroit is pushing for a one-year deal and will have to pay $7MM "or more" for his services in 2010.

WEDNESDAY, 9:35am: Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, formerly of the Tigers beat, believes Boras is trying to appeal to owner Mike Ilitch as he did for Ivan Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez in the past.  Morosi believes a Damon deal with the Tigers "is a distinct possibility."

TUESDAY, 6:25pm: Johnny Damon would play in Detroit, but the Tigers haven't spoken with agent Scott Boras and their level of interest in the left fielder remains unclear. This week Boras told the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press that Damon would play in the Motor City, citing his client's will to win and fondness for manager Jim Leyland.

Boras told the Free Press that he has not spoken with Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers GM told MLive's Steve Kornacki that he has an "open mind" about tinkering with his club. Dombrowski declined to comment further, so we're left without a definite sense of the team's interest.

This much is clear: Boras wants to engage the Tigers and the team is stopping short of ruling Damon out completely.

Odds & Ends: Garciaparra, Jackson, Barajas, Branyan

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Links for Thursday…

Tigers Sign Justin Verlander To Five-Year Deal

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The Tigers signed Justin Verlander to a five-year contract worth $80MM today, buying out the righthander's two remaining arbitration years plus three years of free agency.  MLB.com's Jason Beck says Verlander will get a $500K signing bonus, $6.75MM in '10, $12.75MM in '11, and $20MM per each free agent season.  The Tigers get a discount on the arbitration years, as is customary.

Felix Hernandez's five-year contract with Seattle was used as a comparison for this deal, though Verlander will pocket an extra $2MM and won't reach free agency until age 32. You could make the case that Hernandez deserved the larger contract, though that point is certainly debatable.

Verlander, 27 later this month, led the American League in starts (35), innings (240), batters faced (982), strikeouts (269), and wins (19) in 2009, earning him a third place finish in the Cy Young voting. He also has a no-hitter, a Rookie of the Year Award, and World Series experience to his credit.

The second overall pick in the 2004 draft had reportedly been seeking a sixth guaranteed year, but it obviously wasn't a deal breaker. He will earn $6.75MM in 2010, $12.75MM in 2011, then $20MM each year from 2012 to 2014. The deal also includes a $500K bonus.

The Tigers spent most of the offseason shedding salary by trading players like Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson, however they reversed course to lock up one of the game's best young arms. 

The Associated Press (via NBCSports.com) broke the news of the agreement, and MLB.com's Jason Beck added some details via Twitter.

Twins Sign Jim Thome

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The Twins officially signed designated hitter Jim Thome to a one-year, $1.5MM deal today.  The contract includes another $750K in plate appearance incentives.

It's a big step back salary-wise for the 564 homer man. Thome earned $13MM in 2009, but with many DHs vying for a handful of jobs, teams didn't have much reason to guarantee big money to positionless sluggers this winter, even those as distinguished as Thome.

Jason Kubel figures to get most of the starts at DH, so Thome will likely spell him occasionally and pinch-hit. Kubel can play the outfield, but the Twins already have Delmon Young, Denard Span and Michael Cuddyer.

Charley Walters and Kelsie Smith of the St. Paul Pioneer Press first reported the deal and La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune tweeted details along with colleague Joe Christensen and MLB.com's Kelly Thesier.

Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.

Players Avoiding Arbitration: Thursday

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Here's a list of players avoiding arbitration hearings…

  • The Cubs reached an agreement with closer Carlos Marmol, according to a team press release.  MLB.com's Carrie Muskat tweets that they settled at the midpoint, $2.125MM.  Ryan Theriot ($800K gap) represents the Cubs' lone remaining arbitration case.  Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald wrote yesterday that he feels the Cubs are headed toward their first hearing since '93, given a difference of opinion with their shortstop.

Phillies Sign Oscar Villarreal

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The Phillies signed pitcher Oscar Villarreal to a minor league deal, tweets Ed Price of AOL FanHouse.  Villarreal, 28, signed with the Royals before last season but eventually developed the need for Tommy John surgery.  He threw for teams on Friday, with the Phillies, Red Sox, Rockies, and Diamondbacks in attendance.

Villarreal's upside is limited, as he's prone to the longball and has a 1.75 career K/BB.

Justin Verlander Extension Reactions

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The Tigers agreed to a five-year, $80MM deal with ace Justin Verlander yesterday – $2MM more than Felix Hernandez received upon signing in January.  The deal buys out Verlander's final two arbitration years and three free agent seasons.  Reactions from around the web:

  • ESPN's Buster Olney compares Verlander to Dwight Gooden, and says the Tigers "are right to commit an enormous contract to a guy who won't be 27 for another couple of weeks, and who has established a nice base for what might turn out to be a Hall of Fame career."  Interestingly, Baseball-Reference lists Wade Miller and Hernandez as Verlander's top two comparables.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes the rarity of under-30 aces reaching the free agent market.
  • Zack Greinke will be 29 when he's eligible for free agency after the 2012 season, writes Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star.  More so than Verlander, Greinke and Hernandez are positioned to enter free agency in their prime if they choose.
  • MLB.com's Jason Beck says the Tigers are one of three teams now on track to have two players earning more than $20MM at the same time.  ESPN's Rob Neyer points out that the Tigers "will shed an immense amount of payroll obligations over the next couple of years."
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports still feels that Verlander "has accomplished more than Hernandez in the major leagues."  I still disagree, but they're close and the contracts are virtually a wash.

Pirates Notes: Harper, Free Agents, Ankiel

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This offseason, the Pirates spent about $14MM to add Akinori Iwamura, Octavio Dotel, Ryan Church, Brendan Donnelly, Bobby Crosby, D.J. Carrasco (non-guaranteed), and Javier Lopez.  They shedded one decent-sized salary in Matt Capps, but re-invested in a veteran bullpen.  Team president Frank Coonelly chatted with fans yesterday at MLB.com; let's take a look.

  • Asked about Bryce Harper, Coonelly said the Pirates are scouting the much-hyped potential draft pick but he "is clearly nowhere nearly as developed as Stephen Strasburg was this time last year."  In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, Chuck Finder clarified that GM Neal Huntington was not saying Saturday that Harper ranked "No. 9, No. 10 or worse on their draft board."  Reading Huntington's specific quotes, he didn't actually reveal much about the Pirates' draft plans.
  • Coonelly feels it's likely the Pirates head to Spring Training with the current group, but they'll be "keeping tabs on certain free agents who might be a fit if their financial demands soften."  Maybe they'd bring in another fifth starter candidate?
  • Coonelly said Church was a better fit for the Pirates than Rick Ankiel, because the Pirates were not willing to guarantee Ankiel a starting job.
  • The Pirates' massive overhaul is over, as Coonelly stated, "We do not anticipate an exodus of players off the roster at this year's Trade Deadline."

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