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Archives for August 2010

Rockies Sign Peter Tago

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The Rockies signed prep right-hander Peter Tago, according to the MLB draft's Twitter page. Tago, selected 47th overall in the supplementary first round, gets a $983K bonus, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. MLB recommends a $740K bonus for Tago's slot, so the Rockies are paying a little more than the commissioner's office would like. Baseball America says Tago is "a near perfect model of a prep right-hander with a huge upside: projectable frame, easy arm action, calm demeanor and electric stuff." The 18-year-old had committed to playing at UCLA.

As Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes, negotiations between the Rockies and first-round selection Kyle Parker will likely continue until the deadline. Colorado has until 11 CDT tonight to reach an agreement with Parker, who plays quarterback for Clemson.

Here's the complete list of first rounders to sign.

Giants To Sign Gary Brown For $1.45MM

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8:10pm: Brown gets a $1.45MM bonus, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter).

3:46pm: The Giants agreed to sign first-round pick Gary Brown for about $1.3MM, according to Yahoo's Kendall Rogers (on Twitter). The Giants, who selected the 21-year-old outfielder 24th overall in this year's draft, appear to be paying him close to slot money. Last year, the Angels paid Randal Grichuk slot money ($1.242MM) after drafting him 24th overall. The A's selected Brown in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, but he went on to star at Cal State Fullerton instead of signing.

Now that the Giants have agreed to sign Brown, 15 first-round picks have yet to come to terms with the clubs that drafted them.

Braves Considering Clint Barmes

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The Braves are considering Clint Barmes as one potential way of replacing Chipper Jones, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Braves, who lost Chipper to season-ending knee surgery last week, cannot deal for Barmes yet, since the Rockies have yet to place him on waivers. Martin Prado, who should soon return from the disabled list, would play third and Barmes would play second if the Rockies and Braves were to complete a deal.

The Braves have a number of players in the organization who can play third. Troy Glaus will not return to the hot corner, but Prado, Omar Infante, Brooks Conrad and even Eric Hinske are options.

Aramis Ramirez, Pedro Feliz, Wes Helms, Adam Kennedy, Jose Lopez, Brandon Inge, Jhonny Peralta, Ty Wigginton, Edwin Encarnacion, Melvin Mora and Willie Bloomquist are among the infielders who could become targets for Atlanta should GM Frank Wren decide to make a trade. The Braves had not asked the Mariners about Chone Figgins as of last Friday.

Odds & Ends: Scott, Valentine, Manny

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Four years ago today, the Yankees released first baseman Carlos Pena.  He signed a minor league deal with the Rays in January of '07 and went on to have a monster season.  On to today's non-draft links…

Angels Sign Kaleb Cowart

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The Angels signed first-round pick Kaleb Cowart, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports by way of a team press release.  BA's Jim Callis reports that he'll get $2.3MM, about $900K over slot.  Cowart, a pitcher and third baseman drafted out of high school, was chosen 18th overall by the Angels.  The Angels received the pick from the Mariners as compensation for the Chone Figgins signing.

With the Cowart agreement, 16 first-round picks remain unsigned.

Would-Be Free Agents

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The upcoming free agent class has its share of big names, including Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford.  Lee's free agency was delayed by one year because of the extension he signed with the Indians four years ago.  Crawford's chance at a huge payday was pushed back two years because of a deal he signed with the Rays more than five years ago.  Imagine if all players took the riskier but more potentially lucrative approach, forsaking multiyear extensions.  These players would be hitting the market:

  • Catchers: Yadier Molina, Chris Snyder.  Molina lost money by choosing the security of a long-term deal, though Snyder was smart to sign one.
  • First basemen: Kevin Youkilis, Justin Morneau.  I doubt they have regrets about signing, but both players would be primed for huge free agent contracts this winter.  Then again Morneau hasn't played since July 7th due to a concussion and Youkilis' season ended on August 2nd with a thumb injury.  Maybe teams would have been cautious of major commitments.
  • Second basemen: Brandon Phillips.  He would've scored big on the open market; there's not much at this position and he's only 29. 
  • Shortstops: Maicer Izturis, Ramon Santiago.
  • Third basemen: David Wright.  Wright's had his ups and downs this year but as a 28-year-old he would have done well.
  • Outfielders: Grady Sizemore, David DeJesus, Jason Kubel, Alex Rios, Nick Swisher.  DeJesus and Kubel have club options that will probably be exercised.  Sizemore's contract was once considered a massive bargain, but now his 2012 option is in question.  Rios and Swisher would be entering free agency off strong seasons.
  • Starting pitchers: Zack Greinke, Dan Haren, Scott Kazmir, Joe Blanton.  Greinke might be wishing he didn't have another two years on his contract, while Haren could probably beat the two years and $29MM he has remaining.  Kazmir and Blanton, though, are likely glad they have security.
  • Relievers: Huston Street, Matt Thornton.  Contrasting would-be contract years.  Street didn't debut until June 23rd this year due to a shoulder injury.  Thornton continues to dominate, making his 2011 club option an easy decision.

Zach Duke’s Future

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Pirates lefty Zach Duke debuted with a splash in 2005, posting a 1.81 ERA over 14 starts and finishing fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting.  Since then Duke has posted more pedestrian numbers, strong enough to garner decent salaries in arbitration but not a multiyear deal.  Duke is arbitration-eligible one last time after the season.  Let's take a closer look at the Pirates' situation.

This year, the 27-year-old Duke has a 5.20 ERA, 5.5 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 1.4 HR/9 in 114.3 innings.  Stats like SIERA and xFIP suggest he's been better, deserving of an ERA more in the 4.30 range.  I'd call Duke a back-rotation innings-eater, but he missed significant time this year and in 2007 with elbow injuries.

Duke earns $4.3MM in 2010, and will be due some kind of raise if tendered a contract for 2010.  Given the Matt Capps situation last year, we can't rule out a non-tender for Dukes if the Pirates don't like his salary demands.  Still, a trade seems more likely.  Here's what GM Neal Huntington said to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on July 30th:

"If the package is appropriate for one of our starting pitchers, we are willing to consider a move.  If the interest is in one of our starting pitchers who is one year away from free agency, that shifts the tolerance accordingly, as we would be able to reinvest their potential dollars into a major-league starting pitcher — via trade or free agency — and add valuable multiyear pieces to our major-league club and/or system. Again, we will need to feel good about the return to make a move."

Huntington was clearly referring to Paul Maholm and Duke.  I'm guessing he'd prefer to trade only one of the lefties.  They're similar pitchers in terms of performance.  Their contract situations and injury histories are the difference.  Maholm is signed for 2011 at $5.75MM and has a $750K buyout for '12 for a total commitment of $6.5MM.  A team tendering Duke a contract might save a million or more in comparison, but they won't have the '12 option and they will have to worry about his health.  As a result, it should take less to acquire Duke from the Pirates this winter.

Final-Year Arbitration-Eligibles

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More than 50 players will be eligible for arbitration for the last time after this season.  For some it will represent the biggest payday of their careers to this point.  Other useful but overpaid players will be non-tendered and will reach free agency a year early.  Here's a look at the final-year arbitration class, with 2010 base salaries included.  Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts for the info.

Expected To Be Tendered Contracts

Non-Tender Candidates

Cardinals Intensify Third Base Search

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The Cardinals have intensified their search for help at third base, reports Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Felipe Lopez has struggled of late; he's been David Freese's main replacement at the hot corner.  Allen Craig made his first start at the position yesterday, but manager Tony La Russa isn't keen on the idea of using Craig there.  One outside name on the Cardinals' radar is Brandon Inge.  Strauss says they retain interest in the Tigers' third baseman, who returned from a fractured hand on August 4th and should be placed on waivers this week.

Inge is fairly pricey, with $1.76MM of his $6.6MM salary remaining.  All American League teams plus any National League club with a worse winning percentage than the Cardinals will have first crack at him.  The Cards have a .560 winning percentage, so the Phillies, Braves, Reds, Giants, and Padres are behind them in the waiver order currently.

Other veteran infielders who might be candidates for August trades include Pedro Feliz, Geoff Blum, Melvin Mora, Wes Helms, Chone Figgins, Nick Punto, Brendan Harris, Wilson Betemit, Ty Wigginton, and Edwin Encarnacion.  Encarnacion has already cleared waivers.  Adam Kennedy is another potentially available name, but don't look for the Cardinals to bring him back.

Mets Intend To Exercise Reyes’ Option

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The Mets plan to exercise Jose Reyes' $11MM club option for 2011, reports Mark Hale of the New York Post.  Hale also echoes Andy Martino's report for the New York Daily News from eleven days ago, saying the Mets will explore a multiyear deal.

Reyes, 27, made his season debut on April 10th after missing most of 2009 due to a hamstring injury.  He's hitting .279/.316/.419 on the season; his 4.9% walk rate is his lowest in several years.  The $11MM option is worth exercising for the Mets, as the shortstop market is perenially weak and Reyes is decent value even at a reduced level of performance.  I'm guessing that to sign Reyes to a multiyear deal when his stock is still pretty low, the Mets would require a discount.

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