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Amateur Signing Bonuses: Cardinals

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Next up in our series looking at each team's amateur spending, the Cardinals…

  1. J.D. Drew, $3MM (1998)
  2. Shelby Miller, $2.875MM (2009)
  3. Rick Ankiel, $2.5MM (1997)
  4. Chad Hutchinson, $2.3MM (1998)
  5. Zack Cox, $2MM (2010)

A year before the Cardinals made Drew the third overall pick in 1998, the Phillies took him second overall. Advisor Scott Boras guaranteeed that the Florida State standout would not sign for less than $10MM, and he stuck to his word. After a stint with the independent St. Paul Saints, Drew spurned Philadelphia and re-entered the draft, landing in St. Louis. He was called to the big leagues just a few weeks after being drafted, and made his debut on the night that Mark McGwire hit his 62nd home run. Drew hit .282/.377/.498 in five-plus seasons with the Cardinals, making at least one trip to the disabled list in each season. He was traded to the Braves with Eli Marrero for Ray King, Jason Marquis, and a minor league pitcher named Adam Wainwright in December 2003.

Miller was the 14th overall pick in 2009, falling due to bonus demands despite being one of the best high school arms in the draft. In 107.1 career minor league innings, he owns a 3.69 ERA with 11.9 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9. Cox was the 25th overall pick in this year's draft, another top prospect who fell due to bonus demands. His bonus is part of a four-year, $3.2MM major league deal. In 17 plate appearances after signing, Cox hit .400/.471/.467. He will begin his career in earnest next season.

Everyone knows the Ankiel story. The 72nd overall pick and Boras client landed what was then the fifth largest bonus ever given to an amateur player, and he gave the Cardinals no reason to regret it. Ankiel made his big league debut barely a month after his 20th birthday, allowing three runs in five innings against the Expos. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting the next season thanks to a 3.50 ERA with 10.0 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9 in 175 innings. Of course he then unraveled in the playoffs and returned a few years later as an outfielder. Ankiel's career in St. Louis consisted of a .251/.311/.452 batting line and a 3.90 ERA in 242 innings before he signed with the Royals last offseason.

Hutchinson is a unique case. The Braves took him with their first round pick in 1995, but he chose not to sign and instead attended Stanford. Three years later the Cardinals took him 48th overall and bought him away from the NFL with a huge bonus. Hutchinson worked his way up the ladder and reached the big leagues in 2001, allowing 11 runs and 15 baserunners in just four innings pitched (three appearances). But that was it, Hutchinson called it a career after that season and instead pursued a career in football. He started nine games at quarterback for Dallas in 2002, and all told played in 15 NFL games with the Cowboys and the Bears.

In case you're wondering, the Cardinals drafted some kid out of Maple Woods Community College (Kansas City, MO) with the 402nd overall pick (13th round) in 1999, signing him for just $60K. His name? Albert Pujols.

Nationals Release Tyler Walker

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The Nationals released Tyler Walker, according to the team (on Twitter). Washington signed the right-hander to a one-year deal in January and got 35 1/3 inning of 3.57 ball from him in 2010. The 34-year-old posted 7.6 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9, so the Nationals obtained value for their $650K investment.

However, the team shut Walker down in June because of a sore shoulder. He did not pitch after June 19th, so health concerns no doubt contributed to the Nationals' decision to release Walker instead of offering arbitration. The team would have non-tendered him, but today's move gives Walker another month to look for a job.

O’Dowd On Payroll, De La Rosa, Gonzalez

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Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd told readers of the Denver Post that he’d like to trade for top players, but is not willing to sacrifice significant organizational depth to make an acquisition. Fans wanted to know whether Zack Greinke could be pitching in Colorado, but O’Dowd chose not to comment specifically on the Royals ace. Here are some more noteworthy comments from the GM:

  • The Rockies are likely to have a similar payroll next year, but they could go a little higher than $85MM.
  • The team is “actively engaged” in talks with Jorge de la Rosa’s representatives. It won’t be long before the lefty can negotiate with all 30 teams.
  • The Rockies would like to lock Carlos Gonzalez up long-term, but O’Dowd pointed out that it’s a “two-way street.” Scott Boras represents Gonzalez, so it probably won't be easy for the Rockies to sign him to an extension. There's no rush though – Gonzalez is under team control through 2014.

Andy Marte Hits Free Agency

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Andy Marte has hit free agency, according to the Indians. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer correctly predicted this week that Marte, who would have been eligible for arbitration, would lose his roster spot. The 27-year-old batted .229/.298/.382 in 188 plate appearances for the Tribe in his fifth season in Cleveland.

Marte was a top prospect in the Braves system for years, but he has yet to have extended major league success. He posted a .707 OPS as a 22-year-old in 2006 and has not matched that mark since. Marte rose through the minors as a third baseman and has since spent considerable time at first base.

Pirates Prepare To Pursue Free Agent Starters

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Pirates president Frank Coonelly told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the team “must pitch far better in 2011” and confirmed that GM Neal Huntington will have money to spend on free agent arms. The Pirates, who had a $35MM payroll in 2010, could boost that above $50MM in 2011, Coonelly said.

Huntington anticipates “a low-supply, high-demand market" for starting pitching this offseason, so he’s apprehensive about over-committing and signing deals that look questionable in a few years.

"We know we've got some holes to fill and some money to be able to do it," Huntington said. "But, we'll still have to do it intelligently."

Huntington says he is open to signing pitchers to one-year deals or, under the right circumstances, multiyear contracts. The Pirates don’t have much certainty in their projected 2011 rotation, so they’ll explore ways of adding starters via trade and free agency.

Blue Jays Acquire Miguel Olivo, Decline Option

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10:48pm: The Blue Jays have declined the option on Olivo, according to a team press release.  Toronto will be responsible for paying Olivo's $500K buyout and the catcher is now a Type B free agent.

9:15pm: The Rockies have traded catcher Miguel Olivo to the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later, according to a press release from Toronto.

The Blue Jays have until midnight to decide whether to exercise Olivo's $2.5MM option for 2011.  The veteran is a Type B free agent, meaning that he could potentially net the Blue Jays a compensatory draft pick if they decline the option, offer arbitration, and see him decline to sign elsewhere.  Shi Davidi of The Canadian Press tweets that the Blue Jays could potentially wind up with eight picks inside of the top 50 selections in this year's draft.  Toronto may get two picks for Scott Downs, two for Jason Frasor, and one each for John Buck, Kevin Gregg, and Olivo in addition to their own.

It would seem that the Blue Jays now have a glut of catchers as Olivo will join fellow backstops J.P. Arencibia and Jose Molina in Toronto.  On the surface it doesn't seem as though there is a spot left for Buck, whom GM Alex Anthopoulos told could still have a place in Toronto.

Just short of the deadline, Colorado informed Olivo that they would not pick up his option for 2011, writes Troy Renck of The Denver Post.  Renck reported yesterday that the Rockies were likely to wait until the eleventh hour to make a decision on Olivo to give themselves time to make a trade.  Even if they had decided to exercise the catcher's option, he reportedly wouldn't have returned to Colorado as they planned to trade him either way.

The move clears the way for Chris Iannetta behind the plate though Renck writes that the Rockies will bring in competition.  By trading Olivo, the Rockies avoid having to pay the veteran a $500K buyout.

Cubs Outright, Re-Sign Angel Guzman

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The Cubs outrighted Angel Guzman and re-signed the pitcher after he cleared waivers, a major league source told ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine.  The two sides agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

The oft-injured right-hander underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a career-threatening shoulder injury before the start of the season.  Guzman was expected to be the Cubs' right-handed setup man after his strong 2009 campaign.  The soon-to-be 29-year-old turned in a 2.95 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 55 games.

With Guzman back in the fold and Aramis Ramirez's 2011 option officially exercised, the club's 40-man roster stands at 37 players.

Odds & Ends: Mets, Giants, Gregg, Pujols, Webb

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Links for tonight as we remember Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, who passed away today at the age of 76.  MLB.com's Marty Noble penned a great article today looking back at the life and career of the universally beloved skipper.

Bruce, Perez, And Others Get Super Two Status

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Twenty players including Reds right fielder Jay Bruce and Indians pitcher Chris Perez have qualified for Super Two status, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of CBSSports.com.  Evan Longoria has also made the cutoff but will not reap the benefits as he signed a long-term deal with the Rays in April of 2008.

Players with two years and 122 days of service were granted Super Two status this winter.  Prior to this year, no player was awarded Super Two status with less than two years and 130 days of service time.  MLBTradeRumors first reported the lowering of the cutoff in June.

Super Twos get to go to arbitration four times instead of the usual three.  Players such as Bruce, and Perez are now in line for significant raises in 2011.  As for Bruce, the 23-year-old recently said that he would be open to discussing a long-term deal with Cincinnati for "five or six years."

To brush up on exactly what Super Two status means and how one obtains it, you can check out our handy post right here.  Below, you will find the complete list of players who have now been granted Super Two status.

Burke Badenhop, Florida 2.143
Travis Buck, Oakland 2.122
Jay Bruce, Cincinnati 2.125
Dana Eveland, Pittsburgh (outrighted) 2.152
Josh Fields, Kansas City 2.159
Armando Galarraga, Detroit 2.148
Alberto Gonzalez, Washington 2.135
Chase Headley, San Diego 2.123
Luke Hochevar, Kansas City 2.151
Jim Johnson, Baltimore 2.165
Kyle Kendrick, Philadelphia 2.159
Jensen Lewis, Cleveland 2.133
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay 2.170
Darren O'Day, Texas 2.128
Ross Ohlendorf, Pittsburgh 2.139
Felipe Paulino, Houston 2.163
Chris Perez, Cleveland 2.136
Ian Stewart, Colorado 2.154
Sean White, Seattle 2.156
Brad Ziegler, Oakland 2.122

Blue Jays Decline Options On Kevin Gregg

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The Blue Jays have declined options on right-hander Kevin Gregg, making him a free agent, according to a team press release.  Toronto held options of $4.5MM for 2011 or $8.75MM across the next two years.  The reliever will instead receive a buyout of $750K.

In his first year north of the border, Gregg turned in a 3.51 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9.  MLBTR learned last week that the 32-year-old will be a Type B free agent.  Jordan Bastian of MLB.com tweets that the Blue Jays will likely offer him arbitration in order to land a compensatory draft pick if he declines and goes elsewhere.

Our own Ben Nicholson-Smith recently compared Gregg to a trio of relievers from last winter's free agent class: Brandon Lyon, Fernando Rodney, and Jose Valverde.  All three had similar contract years to Gregg and all three secured multi-year deals worth upwards of $11MM.

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