Rangers Notes: Francisco, Wilson, Feldman, Mendoza
Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News discussed a number of Rangers topics in a webchat this afternoon…
- Grant predicts Texas will let Frank Francisco and C.J. Wilson leave when they reach free agency after the 2010 and 2011 seasons, respectively.
- If Scott Feldman (who has two more arbitration years left) pitches well this season, Grant thinks the Rangers will try to negotiate a long-term deal with the starter.
- The out-of-options Luis Mendoza wouldn't be attractive trade bait to other teams, Grant says, though "a bad team might claim him on waivers. If so, the Rangers will be happy to pay his taxi fare to another camp. He's done nothing but go backwards."
- In regards to Brandon McCarthy, Grant thinks the right-hander will probably end up in the minors "unless somebody wants to make a deal based on projecting continued improvement with [his] sinker." Grant noted that a Nationals scout attended McCarthy's spring start on Wednesday.
- Grant doesn't think the Rangers will have any interest in the newly-released Chad Gaudin since they have plenty of starting options already.
Odds & Ends: Kim, Dukes, Adrian
Links for Thursday…
- The Giants' Byung-Hyun Kim experiment is over, as the pitcher asked the Giants for his release according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy.
- Multiple teams are interested in free agent outfielder Elijah Dukes, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Murray Chass chatted with agent Ron Shapiro about the Joe Mauer deal. Speaking of Mauer, 620 WTMJ's Dan O'Donnell spoke to MLBTR's Mike Axisa about how the catcher's deal might impact Prince Fielder.
- The Marlins' interest in Mike Lowell is "barely above zero," learned MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. Lowell told Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald today that he's not sure if a move back to the NL would work.
- The Diamondbacks don't expect to sign Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
- Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune spoke to Padres CEO Jeff Moorad, who wouldn't be surprised to see Adrian Gonzalez play two more seasons for his team.
- In reference to Mets rookie Jenrry Mejia, ESPN's Keith Law notes that "promoting prospects who aren't ready is a hallmark of GMs in fear for their jobs."
- Tracy Ringolsby is now on Twitter, give him a follow.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post examines the Mets' reconfiguration of Hisanori Takahashi's contract.
- I'll be participating in an NFBC fantasy league Sunday evening. They've got all kinds of events and prizes, check it out.
Mariners Re-Sign Yusmeiro Petit
The Mariners re-signed pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, reports Baseball America's Matt Eddy. Eddy says the Ms released Petit on March 17th but re-signed him four days later.
Petit was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks by the Mariners in November. He was designated for assignment in February to make room for Erik Bedard, and cleared waivers a few days later. The 25-year-old posted a 5.82 ERA, 7.4 K/9, and 3.4 BB/9 in 89.6 innings for Arizona last year, allowing 19 home runs.
Yankees Release Chad Gaudin
3:01pm: The Dodgers are in too, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The D'Backs are not interested, tweets Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
11:38am: The Mets are discussing Gaudin, tweets Newsday's David Lennon.
7:57am: The Yankees released pitcher Chad Gaudin, tweets Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger. Gaudin had been placed on waivers on Tuesday, but no team claimed his $2.95MM salary. Since he was on a non-guaranteed contract, the Yankees will only pay a quarter ($737,500).
A year ago when Gaudin was released by the Cubs, he chose the Padres in part because of the opportunity to start. In that role in '09 he posted a 4.76 ERA, 8.37 K/9, and 4.69 BB/9 in 134.3 innings. The Mets, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, and Mariners are among the clubs looking a little short on arms. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tells us that the A's are not interested in a reunion with Gaudin.
Offseason In Review: Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are next in our Offseason In Review series.
Major League Signings
- Rafael Betancourt, RP: two years, $7.55MM.
- Miguel Olivo, C: one year, $2.5MM. Includes $2.5MM club option with a $500K buyout.
- Jason Giambi, 1B: one year, $1.75MM.
- Melvin Mora, 3B: one year, $1.3MM.
- Total spend: $13.1MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
- Joe Beimel, Jimmy Gobble, Tim Redding, Juan Rincon, Justin Speier, Paul Lo Duca, Jay Payton, Travis Metcalf, Robby Hammock, Brad Eldred
Trades and Claims: None
Extensions
- Huston Street, RP: three years, $22.5MM. Includes $9MM player option for 2013 with a $500K buyout.
- Todd Helton, 1B: two years, $9.9MM. Rockies also saved money via deferrals and new 2011 salary.
- Chris Iannetta, C: three years, $8.35MM. Includes $5MM club option for 2013 with a $250K buyout.
- Ryan Spilborghs, OF: two years, $3.2MM.
Notable Losses
- Garrett Atkins, Yorvit Torrealba, Jason Marquis, Josh Fogg, Joel Peralta, Alan Embree, Glendon Rusch, Jose Contreras, Matt Herges, Matt Murton, Mike McCoy
Summary
Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd focused most of his offseason efforts on the bullpen and bench, with the lineup and rotation already in good shape. He also locked up four of his own players. Let's take a closer look.
Betancourt was the main offseason splash. The Rockies acquired him from the Indians in July and enjoyed 25.3 dominant innings. That was enough to convince O'Dowd to take the plunge with an arbitration offer to the Type A free agent, though he declined Betancourt's $5.4MM club option first. Betancourt played it safe and accepted the offer, and the Rockies worked out a two-year agreement a couple months later. Betancourt turns 35 soon and has been dealing with shoulder inflammation, so this was a risky signing.
The risk of the Betancourt signing was balanced out by a slew of minor league deals to once-effective relievers. It's likely that a few of these work out, and the Rockies end up with a pretty good pen.
Tacking two, possibly three extra years on to Street's deal was unnecessary. Street dealt with biceps inflammation in September and now faces shoulder issues. A one-year deal in the $8MM range made more sense. As dominant as Street was in 2009, closers aren't getting paid like this anymore.
The Rockies want Helton to retire a Rockie, but did they need to commit to 2012 and 2013 now? A reworking of Helton's previous monstrous contract provides short-term financial relief, a necessity after O'Dowd committed $11MM to Street and Betancourt for 2011. The Iannetta extension was a clear bargain, though it was surprising to see the Rockies pick up Olivo a few weeks later for a 2010 job-sharing arrangement.
Offensive changes were unnecessary, as the Rockies' offense stacks up with any team in the NL. They might have the game's best fourth and fifth outfielders in Seth Smith and Spilborghs, and the bench was further solidified with Giambi and Mora.
It will be difficult for Jeff Francis to replicate Marquis' 216 innings of 4.04 ball, though letting the latter go and taking a draft pick was the right move. Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook, Jorge de la Rosa, and Jason Hammel form an underrated front four.
Though O'Dowd overindulged on extensions, the 2010 Rockies have few weaknesses and should be in the thick of the playoff hunt once again.
White Sox Sign Scott Elarton
The White Sox signed pitcher Scott Elarton to a minor league deal, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.
Elarton, 34, last pitched pro ball for the Indians in '08. He worked out for the Padres prior to the '09 season, but they did not offer him a contract. Elarton's big score was a two-year, $8MM deal signed with the Royals in December of '05 when Allard Baird was GM. He had labrum surgery in August of '06.
2012 Free Agent Class Analysis
Our 2012 MLB Free Agent list has just been posted. Since that post will be a permanent addition to the sidebar, comments on it are closed. Leave comments here instead!
The 2012 list shows players who are eligible to become free agents after the 2011 season. My system is to allow a player to only be on one list at a time, so those on the 2010 or 2011 lists are not on the 2012 one. The 2012 list is for players who are signed through 2011 (some may have '12 options) and also for those who currently have between four and five years of service time. Part of the latter group will be non-tendered after the '10 season, at which point they'll join the '11 list and be removed from '12. Now that you're sufficiently confused, let's analyze this group!
- Several notable players have 2011 club options that are highly likely to be exercised after the 2010 season, at which point they will join the '12 list. Those are Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes, Adrian Gonzalez, and Jason Kubel.
- Players who will be under 30 in '12: Yadier Molina, Dioner Navarro, Kelly Shoppach, Prince Fielder, Casey Kotchman, Robinson Cano, Jose Lopez, Rickie Weeks, Ronny Cedeno, J.J. Hardy, Edwin Encarnacion, Jeremy Hermida, Grady Sizemore, Jeff Francoeur, Matt Cain, Kyle Davies, Zach Duke, Edwin Jackson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Olsen, Jonathan Broxton, Matt Capps, and Joel Zumaya.
- Fielder, Howard, Pujols, and Adrian Gonzalez could form a legendary first base class. Middle infield looks strong too, potentially with Dan Uggla, Weeks, Jason Bartlett, Hardy, Jimmy Rollins, and Reyes. There's nothing at third base. Outfield looks thin, as Sizemore's '12 option is likely to be exercised.
- With healthy years in 2010 and '11, Cain stands to reach free agency at age 27 and score a massive deal. If C.C. Sabathia decides he wants to try to top four years, $92MM, he'll breathe life into an otherwise middling starting pitching class.
- Roughly half the game's established closers are eligible for free agency after the 2011 season. Broxton and Papelbon head the class.
2012 MLB Free Agents
MLBTR's up-to-date list of 2012 MLB free agents is below. These are players who are eligible for free agency after the 2011 season. The player's 2012 age is in parentheses. Players on the 2013 free agent list are not on this one. The cutoffs for this list are generally 20 innings pitched or 50 plate appearances in the Majors in 2011.
If you have any corrections or omissions, please contact us. To see who represents these players, check out our agency database. For instant free agent updates, be sure to follow us on Twitter @mlbtraderumors.
List updated 6-22-12
Catchers
Josh Bard (34)
Ramon Castro (36)
First basemen
Jorge Cantu (30)
Ross Gload (36)
Derrek Lee (36) – Type B, offered arbitration
Second basemen
Alex Cora (36)
Bill Hall (32)
Felipe Lopez (32)
Julio Lugo (36)
Shortstops
none
Third basemen
Jorge Cantu (30)
Wes Helms (36)
Felipe Lopez (32)
Left fielders
Felix Pie (27)
Marcus Thames (35)
Center fielders
Marlon Byrd (34)
Aaron Rowand (34)
Right fielders
J.D. Drew (36)
Designated hitters
Manny Ramirez (40)
Starting pitchers
Kyle Davies (28)
Armando Galarraga (30)
Jon Garland (32)
Sergio Mitre (31)
Carlos Silva (33)
Jeff Suppan (37)
Javier Vazquez (35)
Brandon Webb (33)
Right-handed relievers
D.J. Carrasco (35)
Scott Linebrink (35)
Joel Zumaya (27)
Left-handed relievers
Joe Beimel (35)
Zach Braddock (24)
John Grabow (33)
Damaso Marte (37)
Trever Miller (39)
Dennys Reyes (35)
Arthur Rhodes (41) – Type B, no arbitration offer
Mitch Stetter (31)
Cot's Baseball Contracts was used in the creation of this list.
Reds Notes: Chapman, Harang, Arroyo, Owings
Mark Sheldon of MLB.com answered some Reds-related questions from fans in a mailbag today. Here are a few of the more intriguing items….
- With Aroldis Chapman looking like he might make the Cincinnati staff, a reader wondered how this quick entry into the majors might affect the six-year, $30.25MM deal Chapman signed in January. Sheldon says that if the young hurler is eligible for arbitration after 2012, then the final three years of his contract would be voided and part of his remaining salary is converted into a bonus. Sheldon notes that the Reds would still control Chapman for at least the full six years of the initial contract.
- Chapman is one of several young pitchers whose 2010 performance may dictate what the Reds do with the options of Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, Sheldon writes. Cincinnati has $2MM buyouts on both Arroyo and Harang, but if the club chooses to bring one or both pitchers back, Arroyo will be owed at least $11MM and Harang will be owed at least $12.75MM. (Both options could be worth as much as $13MM based based on innings pitched.) If the youngsters step up, the Reds might be comfortable in letting both veterans go.
- Sheldon says Micah Owings' primary value is still as a pitcher, and his strong pinch-hitting is just a bonus. But Sheldon notes that since Mike Lincoln is out of options and on a guaranteed contract, he may squeeze Owings out of a bullpen spot.
Odds & Ends: Stanton, Daigle, Bell, Mariners
A round-up of some of Wednesday's newsbits….
- The Marlins assigned top prospect Mike Stanton to Double-A, but MLB.com's Joe Frisaro writes that by keeping Stanton in the minors until "around Memorial Day, or June 1," the club can delay Stanton's Super Two status.
- RHP Casey Daigle, a non-roster invitee signed by the Astros in December, has a shot at winning a spot on the Houston roster, writes Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Daigle last pitched in the majors in 2006.
- MLB.com's Corey Brock (via Twitter) hears from GM Jed Hoyer that the Padres haven't heard from other teams interested in Heath Bell, nor are they "actively shopping" the closer themselves.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports calls the Mariners "a disappointment waiting to happen" and feels they won't live up to the hype generated by their busy offseason.
- Carroll Rogers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports on new TBS analyst John Smoltz popping by the Braves camp. Smoltz said he is "not officially [retired], but close" and noted that the Nationals offered a deal over the winter for him to pitch and eventually coach for the club.
- MLB.com's Steve Gilbert writes that Arizona GM Josh Byrnes' interest in Kelly Johnson dated back to the infielder's high school days, and that Byrnes tried to deal for Johnson back in 2006.
- LHP Danny Duffy, one of Kansas City's top pitching prospects, is quitting baseball, reports Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star.
- WEEI.com's Rob Bradford reports that reliever Joe Nelson has an opt-out clause in his contract with the Red Sox that allows him to become a free agent if he isn't on Boston's major league roster by June 1.
- Prospective Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg won't have the deal finalized to buy the team by Opening Day, reports Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com. Mid-April is the new target date.
- Matt Klaassen of Fangraphs looks at the battle for the last spot on the Oakland roster, while also dropping several hints that the A's would be helping themselves by releasing Eric Chavez.
- Matt Eddy of Baseball America looks at seven out-of-options players who he figures will either make their team's roster or be traded in the coming days. Eddy also gave us a shout-out by linking to MLBTR's full list of players who are out of options.