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Archives for November 2010

Amateur Signing Bonuses Series

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Over the last month or so we've looked at the five largest signing bonuses each team has given to amateur prospects. The vast majority of those bonuses were given to drafted players, but there were certainly plenty of international free agents from Latin America and Asia as well. The bonuses included in the series total just under $500.4MM, ranging from the Braves ($9.67MM) to the Rays ($30.75MM) at the extremes. Here's a link back to all 30 clubs…

AL East

Blue Jays ($13.2MM)
Orioles ($20.072MM)
Rays ($30.75MM)
Red Sox ($15.75MM)
Yankees ($13.44MM)

AL Central
Indians ($14.875MM)
Royals ($20.25MM)
Tigers ($18.78MM)
Twins ($15.5MM)
White Sox ($15.306MM)

AL West

Angels ($16.63MM)
Athletics ($14.4MM)
Mariners ($16.34MM)
Rangers ($14.195MM)

NL East

Braves ($9.67MM)
Marlins ($13.425MM)
Mets ($13.3MM)
Nationals ($22.325MM)
Phillies ($13.18MM)

NL Central

Astros ($10.345MM-$10.545MM)
Brewers ($13.1MM)
Cardinals ($12.625MM)
Cubs ($16.15MM)
Pirates ($21.85MM)
Reds ($25.82MM)

NL West

Diamondbacks ($29.1MM)
Dodgers ($13.7375MM)
Giants ($16.175MM)
Padres ($15.7MM)
Rockies ($14.4MM)

Latin Links: Tejada, Uribe, Feliz, Cuban Players

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Links from Spanish-language news sources…

  • Sources close to Miguel Tejada and Juan Uribe said the infielders will wait and see what kind of contract Derek Jeter signs before committing to anything on their own, according to ESPN Deportes' Enrique Rojas. Neither player is aspiring to Jeter-like money, Rojas writes, but they think Jeter will "establish the market value of veteran shortstops" and give their own respective values a boost. The Cardinals are supposedly interested in both players.
  • Neftali Feliz told Jose Caceres of Hoy he's heard rumors about the Rangers planning to move him to the rotation, but on the team's end, "Nobody has said anything to me." SI's Jon Heyman tweeted earlier today that the team would consider the move if they can't sign Cliff Lee.
  • Victor Mesa, a former Cuban National Team manager and one of the all-time greats of Cuban baseball, told the official government newspaper Trabajadores that the time has finally come for those in power to allow Cuban players to sign with foreign teams, conveys Diario de Cuba. "I think there could be incorporation [into foreign teams], so that they could spend eight years playing in our National Series and [sign] with our involvement, not independently," Mesa said. The most recent prominent player to flee the country is a speedy teenaged outfielder in the mold of Mesa himself: 17-year-old centerfielder Yasiel Balaguer, who arrived in Nicaragua a few days ago.

Twins To Extend Ron Gardenhire

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On the heels of being named the 2010 AL Manager of the Year, Ron Gardenhire has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Twins, reports Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Twins officials tell Christensen that the skipper's entire staff will also be extended for two years, keeping them signed through 2012. Gardenhire, who was already under contract for 2011, will receive an additional two years, meaning he'll be on the Twins' bench through 2013.

Gardenhire has managed the Twins since 2002, leading the team to a 803-656 (.550) record and six division championships. Minnesota has won just a single playoff series during Gardenhire's tenure and never reached the World Series. However, as we heard when the Twins were eliminated this fall, for CEO Jim Pohlad, the club's playoff performance is a "nonissue" when evaluating Gardenhire.

Gardenhire had finished second in AL Manager of the Year voting five times before this year's win. Gardenhire managed the Twins to 94 victories and a division title, despite missing slugger Justin Morneau for half the season.

Justin Upton Rumors: Wednesday

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Today's Justin Upton rumors…

  • One AL exec told SI.com's Jon Heyman (Twitter link) that Arizona's asking price for Upton is "ridiculous."
  • The Rockies inquired on Upton, according to the Denver Post's Troy Renck. A Diamondbacks official expects the team would be willing to deal within the division, though they'd have to receive a very strong offer.
  • The Upton rumors are more than just talk, says ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, who was told the D'Backs are "genuinely open" to moving the 23-year-old. However, it might take a package of five players who could help the team in the short- and long-term (Twitter links).
  • The Red Sox discussed Upton with the D'Backs late into Tuesday night, reports CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam, but talks are now stalled over Towers' latest demands.
  • The Braves are unlikely to pursue Upton after trading for Dan Uggla, GM Frank Wren implied (via Joel Sherman on Twitter).
  • The D'Backs will seek at least four or five players in return for Upton, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.  He believes perhaps three of those players would have to be big league ready.
  • USA Today's Bob Nightengale introduced the idea of Upton as a trade candidate on Monday, and the rumors took off yesterday.  Today, Nightengale says the Yankees' offer for Upton has fallen short but the Red Sox remain engaged.  Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers described the Upton trade talks as "people kicking the tires right now." 
  • Towers told Joel Sherman of the New York Post, "[Upton] would be a tough guy to move.  But you always seek out the information on what teams will do because you never know if, to get one player, a team will grossly overpay."  Sherman added via Twitter that the D'Backs "have [a] growing belief [they] will trade Upton based on [a] ton of interest."
  • Sherman talked to one team executive who says the Marlins have had the most interest in Upton for a while.  An exec speculated that Logan Morrison and Ricky Nolasco would get it done, notes Sherman.
  • It's not known if the Rays would like to add a second Upton, but the execs Sherman spoke to consider them an early favorite along with the Marlins.

Odds & Ends: Jones, Mets, Yankees, Guerrero, Greinke

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A few more links for Wednesday night…

Anthopoulos Talks Offseason Plans

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Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos was the center of attention at last year's GM Meetings. The then-rookie GM had the winter's most coveted player on his roster: Roy Halladay. The Halladay trade is history, but Anthopoulos has the entire offseason ahead to contemplate more deals. Here's what he told MLBTR about Toronto's offseason plans:

  • Anthopoulos declined to discuss specifics, but said the Blue Jays have kept in touch with all their free agents. That includes Kevin Gregg, whose option Toronto declined earlier in the month.
  • The Blue Jays are keeping their options open when it comes to ranked free agents. Even though signing a Type A free agent before next Tuesday would mean surrendering a draft pick, Anthopoulos says the Blue Jays would not hesitate to sign a Type A player this week if the deal is right. Though the Blue Jays may simply be keeping their options open, the news will interest the Toronto fans who are wondering about Type A free agent Manny Ramirez. It seems unlikely that the Blue Jays would sign a Type A free agent before the deadline to offer arbitration, since the organization appears to value draft picks highly, but Anthopoulos says he'll consider it. Toronto's first round pick (21st overall) is not protected.
  • As for potential surprises, Anthopoulos says it's too early to predict whether they'll come via trade or free agency since so much of the offseason lies ahead.

Jeter Wants Four-Year Deal From Yankees

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When Joel Sherman of the New York Post discussed Derek Jeter's contract negotiations with the Yankees earlier today, he suggested that the length of an extension may currently be the sticking point. Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork hears the same thing. A source tells Matthews that Jeter and the Yankees disagree about the number of years, with the Yanks willing to offer three years and Jeter hoping for more than that.

According to Matthews' source, the Yankees would "give Jeter more money than his play currently warrants" over three years, but are reluctant to go any longer. The Yankee captain would like a deal that locks him up for four seasons, and maybe more. Matthews indicates, as Sherman did, that the negotiations are unfolding like a "game of chicken."

Matthews reported earlier this month that the value for the Yanks' three-year offer to Jeter would likely fall somewhere between $45MM and $60MM.

Rockies Inquire On Justin Upton, Gavin Floyd

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The Rockies have contacted the Diamondbacks and White Sox to inquire on Justin Upton and Gavin Floyd, respectively, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Both teams are said to be listening to offers for their respective players.

We've rounded up the rest of today's Upton rumors here, with the latest from Jayson Stark indicating that Arizona seems "genuinely open" to moving their young outfielder. According to a team official that spoke to Renck, the D'Backs would be open to dealing Upton within the division, if the return was significant enough.

Meanwhile, we heard today that the White Sox would be willing to discuss trading Floyd, and Renck says the Sox have asked the Rockies about Ian Stewart. Colorado doesn't currently have a third baseman who could replace Stewart, but as Renck reported earlier, the club has interest in a handful of players who could handle the hot corner.

Despite their interest in potential trade candidates, the Rockies may still use free agency to fill their holes, as owner Dick Monfort admits: "We are really (reluctant) about giving up young players (in trades)." According to Renck, the Rockies also have interest in Scott Kazmir and "continue to monitor" the Victor Martinez situation.

Rockies Called On Kevin Millwood

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The Rockies appear to be leaving few stones unturned in their search for starting pitching. They've been linked to Jorge de la Rosa and Jon Garland, and were interested in Jake Westbrook and Hiroki Kuroda before the right-handers were re-signed by their respective clubs. Now, SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that Colorado has been in touch with Kevin Millwood.

Leading up to Millwood's free agency, it was thought that perhaps, following a tough year in the AL East, he would seek a contract with a team that plays in a pitcher-friendly park. Although I named him as a starter who could benefit from a move to the National League, Coors Field hardly qualifies as pitcher-friendly.

Within the same tweet, Heyman notes that while the Rockies like Garland, they'd prefer to stick to one-year deals for pitchers. After declining his side of a mutual option with the Padres, Garland figures to sign a multi-year contract this offseason.

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