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NL West Notes: Cuddyer, Belisario, MacDougal, Ross

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A few items of note to pass along out of the NL West …

  • Newly signed Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer will earn a base salary of $10.5MM in each year of his three-year contract, although he can earn an additional $1.5MM in incentives in the deal's final year, 2014, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post. 
  • Cuddyer will man right field for the Rox, while Carlos Gonzalez shifts over to center, tweets Thomas Harding of MLB.com.
  • Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario, who missed the entire 2011 season due to visa issues, has secured a visa and is expected to be in camp on time for the start of Spring Training, according to Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times. 
  • However, Belisario will have to serve a 25-game suspension, which are typically doled out when players fail to comply with treatment programs, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Belisario had issues with substance abuse in 2010 and 2011, which is in part why he had trouble obtaining a visa.
  • Dodgers GM Ned Colletti says he's still in the market for another reliever despite re-adding Belisario to the bullpen picture, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles. Gurnick reports the Dodgers remain in negotiations to bring back right-hander Mike MacDougal.
  • Free agent outfielder Cody Ross, who spent the past season and a half with the Giants, is now seeking a two-year contract, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Ross was originally looking for a three-year pact, but that was only to remain in pitcher-friendly San Francisco, according to O'Brien.

Rockies Sign Carlos Torres

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The Rockies have signed right-hander Carlos Torres to a minor league contract, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes has learned.

Torres, who spent 2011 with the Yomiuri Giants organization of NPB, last appeared in the Major Leagues with the White Sox in 2010. The 29-year-old has logged 42 innings in his big league career, fanning 7.5 batters per nine innings but struggling with his control at 5.93 BB/9.

Rangers, Napoli Discussing Long-Term Extension

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The Rangers have had several discussions with catcher Mike Napoli regarding a long-term contract extension, a source tells Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com, although the talks are still early in the process. Napoli is arbitration eligible for the final time this offseason and is slated to earn $9.2MM in 2012 through that process, according to the model created by Matt Swartz for MLBTR.

Napoli, who turned 30 in October, enjoyed a career season with the Rangers after being traded twice following the 2010 season. The right-handed hitter posted single-season bests with 30 homers, 75 RBIs, and a .320/.414/.631 line. 

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com first reported earlier this month that the Rangers were hopeful of working out an extension with Napoli.

Royals Sign Yuniesky Betancourt

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5:22pm: Betancourt's base salary is for $2MM, and he could earn an additional $500K in incentives related to playing time, tweets Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.

1:41pm: The Royals announced that they signed Yuniesky Betancourt to a one-year, Major League contract. The Royals' 40-man roster includes 39 players with the addition of Betancourt, who was traded to Milwaukee from Kansas City in last offseason's Zack Greinke trade.

“We have been looking for a utility infielder who could play short, third and second base and we feel Yuni is a great fit,” Royals GM Dayton Moore said in a statement. “He brings a right-handed bat with some power and is a guy we know fits in well in the clubhouse.”

Betancourt, 29, posted a .252/.271/.381 line as the Brewers' everyday shorstop in 2011. He posted a negative UZR/150 (-7.4) for the sixth time in as many seasons as a regular shortstop. The Royals clearly intend to use Betancourt at second base, where he has started nine MLB games and at third, where he has yet to play an inning in the Major Leagues. He'll back up Royals infielders Alcides Escobar, Johnny Giavotella and Mike Moustakas in 2012.

Prince Fielder Rumors: Tuesday

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Seven seasons into his Major League career, Prince Fielder has set a high standard of offensive production. He hits 37 home runs and 32 doubles per 162 games played, while drawing 92 walks and posting a .282/.390/.540 line. Here's the latest on the 27-year-old Scott Boras client as his first appearance on the free agent market continues: 

  • The Mariners made Fielder an offer, or at least told him how much they'd be willing to pay him, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, who adds that the M's "love Fielder" but have financial restrictions.
  • The Cubs have done background work on Fielder and are interested in signing him, but won't come close to approaching a 10-year deal, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com.
  • The Rangers will not pursue Fielder, even though the division rival Angels signed Albert Pujols, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
  • The Orioles appear to be in on the Fielder derby, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
  • Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun tweets that the O's will only be in on Fielder if the market for the first baseman collapses, however.
  • Heyman says the Rangers still appear to be eyeing Fielder. The Rangers like Fielder's youth and middle-of-the-order presence. Though they'd like to lock Josh Hamilton up, they aren't offering the long-term security he seeks, Heyman reports.

Blue Jays Bid $50MM For Darvish

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The Blue Jays bid over $50MM for Yu Darvish, falling just short of the Rangers' $51.7MM bid, according to Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star. Here's the latest on the Blue Jays’ division, starting with a right-hander who spent three up-and-down seasons in Toronto… 

  • Several teams are kicking the tires on acquiring A.J. Burnett, but the Yankees will have to absorb significant salary to make a deal and Burnett can veto trades to ten teams per year, according to George A. King III of the New York Post.
  • The Yankees bid less than $20MM for Darvish, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com.
  • Orioles GM Dan Duquette explains the team's shrinking pro scouting department to MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli. "In an effort to make an impact on the franchise, I can argue that the scouts are most valuable to a team at the amateur level,” Duquette said. “They can have a bigger impact on this organization.”
  • Former Rays catcher Toby Hall has decided to retire, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. The 36-year-old spent seven seasons with the Rays and last played in the Major Leagues in 2008. 
  • Dan Hayes of the North County Times hears the Rays are one of the teams that has asked the Padres about Anthony Rizzo (Twitter link). However, the Padres, who have been flooded with interest, aren't matching up that well with the Rays at this point, according to Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio and ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • MLB executives expect Gio Gonzalez to be traded relatively soon now that Darvish is no longer available, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The Red Sox are among Gonzalez’s suitors.

Rockies To Sign Casey Blake

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The Rockies have agreed to sign Casey Blake to a one-year deal, pending a physical, Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd announced (Twitter link). The sides agreed to a non-guaranteed contract worth $2MM plus $1MM in performance bonuses, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding (on Twitter).

Blake hit .252/.342/.371 in 239 plate appearances for the Dodgers in 2011, spending considerable time on the DL with a cervical strain. He had surgery in September and the Dodgers declined his $6MM option for 2012 after the season. The Indians were among nine teams with some interest in Blake, who should be ready to play in 2012, agent Jim McDowell told MLBTR.

The move provides the Rockies with depth at third base to go along with Jordan Pacheco and Chris Nelson. Nolan Arenado, a 20-year-old third base prospect in the Rockies' system, has yet to play in Double-A.

Latest On Coco Crisp

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TUESDAY, 3:49pm: Agent Steve Comte told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that Crisp wants to play for a winner and find a home for a few years. The Cubs and Cardinals are among the teams involved, Rosenthal tweets. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes first mentioned the Cubs' interest last week.

MONDAY, 9:12pm: Multiple teams remain interested and Crisp's agent declined to characterize discussions, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter).

8:00pm: The Cardinals are discussing a deal with free agent outfielder Coco Crisp, according to Yahoo's Steve Henson (on Twitter). If the sides complete the deal, Crisp would play center field and bat atop the Cardinals' order with Jon Jay moving over to right field.

The switch-hitting Crisp led the American League with 49 stolen bases in 2011, hitting .264/.314/.379 with 27 doubles as Oakland's center fielder. The California native seems to prefer West Coast teams, but explained in September that he’s also looking to play on a winner and find a good "financial situation" for himself.

If Crisp signs in St. Louis, then Carlos Beltran will probably have one less suitor. The move would provide the Cardinals with depth as Allen Craig recovers from last month's knee surgery.

Orioles Sign Endy Chavez

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The Orioles have officially signed Endy Chavez to a one-year, $1.5MM major league deal.  The deal will also give the outfielder the chance to earn another $500K through performance bonuses.

 “Endy is a tremendous defender and gives us needed depth in the outfield,” said GM Dan Duquette in a press release.  “He is a veteran player whose left-handed bat will give us options off the bench.”

The Mets showed interest in Chavez earlier this offseason and the Mariners and Rangers were both linked to the veteran recently.  The 33-year-old hit .301/.323/.426 with five homers in 274 plate appearances for Texas in 2011. 

Chavez has experience at all three outfield positions and played 66 games in center field last season.  The veteran could be used to backup Adam Jones in center field or could be used in a platoon with Nolan Reimold in left field.

The agreement was first reported by Alexis Espejo L. of Lider en Deportes (Spanish link, translation provided by Nick Collias).  Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter) was the first to learn that it was a one-year major league deal and terms were added by Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Hiroki Kuroda May Be Nearing Deal

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Yahoo’s Tim Brown heard yesterday that Hiroki Kuroda was close to agreeing to a new contract. However, it’s not clear which team is nearing a deal with the right-hander. Here are the details and more of Brown’s links from around MLB:

  • The Mariners, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Rangers, Red Sox and Yankees were among the teams that informed Brown they were not the team nearing a deal with Kuroda.
  • The Dodgers didn’t scout Yoenis Cespedes in earnest or consider bidding on Yu Darvish, Brown reports. It cost the Rangers $51.7MM for the rights to negotiate with Darvish and Cespedes figures to cost tens of millions as well, so the players are too expensive for the cash-strapped Dodgers to consider.
  • Carlos Beltran figures to agree to terms by Sunday. His market includes the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Red Sox and a fourth team, possibly the Rays. Beltran is weighing two and three-year offers, Brown reports.

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