Scott Eyre Retires
Scott Eyre tells MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that he's retiring after 13 seasons in the majors. The Phillies had offered the lefty a minor league deal, but Eyre, who only wanted to pitch for the Phils, chose retirement instead. Eyre originally asked for $2MM – the same amount he made in 2009 – but now says he'd prefer to spend time with his family.
"I think even if [Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr.] would have offered me a better contract I still don't think I would have taken it," Eyre told Zolecki.
Eyre pitched for the White Sox, Blue Jays, Giants and Cubs before joining the Phillies midway through 2008. He won the World Series with the Phillies just months after joining them and went on to have a strong 2009 season. Eyre allowed 22 hits and 16 walks in 30 innings, striking out 22 for an ERA of 1.50.
A’s Agree To Sign Jack Cust
The A's will re-sign Jack Cust to a one-year deal worth 2.65MM plus $350K in incentives based on plate appearances. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle first reported the agreement and Jon Heyman of SI.com and Slusser added the specifics. The A's non-tendered Cust last month, and after Cust attracted some interest from teams such as the Giants, the A's brought him back.
Though he did play 51 games in the outfield last year, Cust has been consistently bad on defense in his career, according to UZR. But the A's aren't signing him for his defense. Cust, who turns 31 this month, has hit at least 25 homers each of the last three seasons for the A's. He has slugged .462 over the course of that three-year period, though his isolated power – the difference between his slugging and batting averages – dropped to .177 last year.
The A's, who added Jake Fox earlier in the offseason, seemed ready to move on without Cust when they non-tendered him. Cust made $2.8MM last year, so their new deal will keep him around for less guaranteed money than he was making in 2009 and, presumably, less than he would have made had the club offered arbitration. The A's will be able to retain Cust in 2011 as an arbitration-eligible player, since he won't have enough service time to file for free agency.
Blue Jays Claim Brian Bocock
The Blue Jays claimed shortstop Brian Bocock off waivers, according to a tweet from Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. The 24-year-old appeared in 32 games for the 2008 Giants, but hasn't appeared in the majors since.
He doesn't have much of a bat, as his .228/.301/.311 minor league line suggests. The sample size is limited (227 innings), but UZR/150 suggests Bocock played above-average defense during his 2008 cameo in the big leagues.
Rangers Sign Matt Brown
The Rangers signed infielder Matt Brown to a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. The 27-year-old has a career minor league line of .269/.349/.461 in parts of nine seasons.
Brown, who has played mostly at third and first, has 124 minor league homers to his name, but has yet to go deep in the majors. He's only batted 27 times in the big leagues; all of his plate appearances came in 2007 and 2008 with the Angels.
Rosenthal On Bell, Tejada, Holliday, Ankiel
The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Three or four teams are interested in Padres closer Heath Bell, but the team isn't really looking to move him. Rosenthal sees Bell getting just $3-4MM in his second arbitration year; that seems light to me.
- Rosenthal reminds us that the Rockies are eyeing Robb Quinlan and Fernando Tatis as bench candidates. He wonders, though, if the Rockies, Cardinals, A's, and Cubs could find starting infielders at bargain prices as the offseason wears on. Rosenthal says Miguel Tejada is looking for two years and $16MM; I can't think of a team that would come close to that.
- The Cardinals believed Scott Boras might've taken Matt Holliday elsewhere on a one-year deal, though a rival executive believes that was unlikely.
- The Pirates' interest in Rick Ankiel is obvious – Frank Coonelly has said as much in multiple chats with fans. A couple of Rosenthal sources were divided on the Bucs' chances of signing Ankiel, who would play right field for them. The only other known suitor is the Royals.
Brandon Webb Discusses Free Agency
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has an excellent article on Diamondbacks starter Brandon Webb, who appears primed for a big contract year after missing nearly the entire 2009 season due to shoulder issues. It's easy to forget how dominant Webb was prior to '09; his agent Jonathan Maurer considers the pitcher a "quiet superstar."
Webb is up for free agency after the season, and like most players, he's looking for the best contract possible:
"Obviously you want to see what's out there and do the best deal you can for yourself and your family. That's probably No. 1. We've had a great time in Arizona, and if everything works out and we stay here, that would be good. But to get back close to home [in Kentucky] would be just as good. I'm definitely keeping it open. I'm not going to hold myself down to just Arizona."
D'Backs GM Josh Byrnes would only admit that it'd be "challenging" to sign Webb long-term. Though next year's free agent starting pitching class looks strong, a return to form could have him searching for a deal north of $80MM. Webb will turn 32 in May of 2011.
If Webb focuses on playing close to home, we can probably rule out the West Coast teams. Cincinnati would be closest, followed by Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, and Washington, D.C.
Odds & Ends: Epstein, Cards, Contracts, Greene
Links for a snowy Thursday…
- MLB.com's Lyle Spencer tweets of the Dodgers' interest in Robb Quinlan for a fourth outfielder role. The Rockies and Twins are other known suitors.
- Red Sox GM Theo Epstein appeared on the Toucher and Rich show this morning. He spoke about the team's offense, Adrian Gonzalez, Mike Lowell, and the "bridge period" comment; MLB.com's Ian Browne provides the transcript.
- MASN's Steve Melewski says the Red Sox rescinded the contract given to reliever Bob McCrory after he failed his physical.
- Tommy Rancel of DRays Bay looks at the team-friendly deals signed by Paul Cohen clients.
- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told Cam Inman of The Contra Costa Times there's a non-zero chance the team adds Mark McGwire to the player roster on August 31st.
- There is currently no timetable for the Cardinals to sit down with Albert Pujols' agents, GM John Mozeliak told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cards are ready to talk when Pujols is.
- Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball is beta-testing an MLB salary database. Also of note: Cot's Baseball Contracts has joined the Baseball Prospectus family.
- ESPN's Buster Olney wrote yesterday that Khalil Greene is working hard and seeks a big league deal. Greene can play shortstop or third base, and Olney sees Oakland as a potential match.
- The Pirates aren't far apart with Zach Duke on his 2010 salary, writes Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Kovacevic believes Duke's $2.2MM salary could double in his second arbitration year. A multiyear deal is not in the works.
- Murray Chass chronicles the blank contract Andre Dawson gave to the Cubs in the spring of '87.
- Joe Pawlikowski of River Ave. Blues looks at Nick Johnson's injury history in detail.
- A December 30th tweet from SI's Melissa Segura notes that Dominican lefty Victor Payano signed with the Rangers. Payano had a deal with the Red Sox in July for $900K that was voided due to shoulder concerns. Here's a video of the 16-year-old courtesy of Kiley McDaniel.
Papelbon Discusses 2010 Contract
ESPN's Gordon Edes wrote today that it's reasonable to expect Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon to reach a $10MM salary in 2010. Papelbon's thoughts on the idea:
"Heck yeah, as far as what me and my brain are thinking, but I haven't even sat down with my agents yet. We don't even have a number in place. There haven't been any discussions between me and the Red Sox and my agents at all."
Papelbon, who is arbitration-eligible for the second time, is willing to go year-to-year to "do things for my fellow closers." On the other hand, he seems open to a multiyear deal if the price is right. Edes says a two-year, $14.75MM offer from the Red Sox a year ago fell a few hundred thousand short. Turning that down proved wise, as Papelbon set a first-time arb-eligible pitcher record with a $6.25MM salary in '09 and should exceed $9MM this year. He'll be eligible for free agency after the 2011 season.
Other arbitration-eligible closers this winter include Heath Bell, David Aardsma, Brian Wilson, Jonathan Broxton, Huston Street, Bobby Jenks, Leo Nunez, Frank Francisco, Chad Qualls, and Carlos Marmol.
GM Trade Histories: NL Central
Brendan Bianowicz continues to update the GM Trade History series, covering the NL Central today. Click below to download Excel spreadsheets chronicling trades, free agent signings, and top draft picks for each GM.
Yomiuri Giants To Acquire Edgar Gonzalez
The Yomiuri Giants are set to acquire second baseman Edgar Gonzalez, reports Kyodo News. Adrian's older brother hit .216/.278/.373 in 169 plate appearances this year for the Padres, missing time with a concussion and a shoulder injury. Gonzalez was planning to elect free agency after the Padres outrighted him in November.