Rangers, Murphy Avoid Arbitration
The Rangers signed outfielder David Murphy to a one-year contract worth $2.4MM, avoiding arbitration, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com (via Twitter).
Murphy appeared in 138 games with Texas in 2010, primarily in left and right fields. The left-handed hitter posted a solid offensive season (.291/.358/.449 in 467 plate appearances) and was especially tough on right-handed pitchers (.298/.368/.479).
Scanning MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker, the Rangers now have four arbitration-eligible players remaining: Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, C.J. Wilson and Darren O'Day. Reliever Mark Lowe, acquired midseason from the Mariners in the Cliff Lee swap, avoided arbitration in November. As well, free-agent reliever Frank Francisco accepted the Rangers' offer of arbitration.
Braves Extend Dan Uggla
The Braves and Dan Uggla have agreed to a five-year contract extension, the team has officially announced.
The deal is worth $62MM, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution tweets that the salary in the first year of the deal is $9MM, plus a $1MM signing bonus. The salaries then even out to $13MM annually over the four remaining years. It's the highest average annual salary for a second baseman in baseball history. Uggla is represented by Terry Bross.
Atlanta acquired the 30-year-old Uggla (31 in March) from the Marlins in exchange for Omar Infante and Michael Dunn soon after he turned down a four-year, $48MM extension offer. The new contract covers his final year of arbitration eligibility and four free agent years. Uggla earned $7.8MM in 2010.
Despite being a middle infielder, Uggla is one of the game's most consistent sluggers. He's hit between 31 and 33 homers in each of the last four seasons, making him just one of nine players to go deep 30 times every year since 2007. A career .263/.349/.488 hitter, Uggla enjoyed his finest season in 2010 thanks to a .287/.369/.508 batting line with career highs in homers (33) and RBI (105). UZR rates his defense as consistently below average.
According to MLBTR's Transaction Tracker, this is the largest contract the Braves have given out since signing Andruw Jones to a six-year, $75MM deal way back in 2001. Only four players – Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, Troy Tulowitzki – have signed for more guaranteed money this offseason. Carlos Gonzalez figures to join that group shortly. The two sides were reportedly close to a deal last month.
Reds, Burton Avoid Arbitration
The Reds agreed to a one-year deal with Jared Burton, avoiding arbitration, the team announced (on Twitter). Burton, a super two, made $810K last year and is arbitration eligible for the second time.
The 29-year-old right-hander missed nearly all of the 2010 season with a hypothyroid condition and an oblique injury. He posted a 4.40 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 59 1/3 innings in 2009 and was similarly effective in 2008.
As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, the Reds still have four arbitration eligible players: Joey Votto, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto and Bill Bray.
Soriano Open To Setting Up For Yankees
The best closer on the free agent market is open to being a setup man. Agent Scott Boras told Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com that Rafael Soriano would consider signing with the Yankees even though it would mean setting up for closer Mariano Rivera.
"I don't think there is a team in baseball where he could be asked to be a setup guy other than the Yankees," Boras said.
Boras said the “door is open” with the Bronx Bombers, but Yankees GM Brian Cashman declined to comment on his team’s level of interest. Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the sides are in contact (Twitter links). However, talks are preliminary and re-signing Andy Pettitte remains the Yankees' priority.
The White Sox are eyeing Soriano and the Angels seem like a possible fit. The Cardinals don't appear to have much interest and the Rangers are not bidding at the moment.
Indians Designate Jordan Brown For Assignment
The Indians announced that they designated Jordan Brown for assignment to make room for Austin Kearns, who was officially added to the 40-man roster.
Brown appeared in 26 games for the Indians last year, batting .230/.272/.310 in 92 plate appearances. He played first base and left field, the two positions he has spent the most time at in the minor leagues. Brown hit .298/.341/.463 in 355 plate appearances at Triple-A in 2010, which was his third year at the minors' highest level.
Brown won the Carolina League MVP in 2006 and the International League batting title in 2009. Before the 2010 season, Baseball America described him as one of the best contact hitters in the Cleveland organization and noted that he was a below-average runner and defender.
Quick Hits
We decided to come up with a punchier name for our Odds & Ends posts, and Quick Hits is the winner. Thanks to MLBTR's Zach Links for the suggestion.
One other change you will notice is that we will be bolding the team names in the Quick Hits posts so that you can more quickly jump to the bullet that pertains to your club.
Relief Rumors: Saito, Fuentes, Burton, Nationals
As MLBTR's Free Agent Tracker shows, lots of free agent relievers remain unsigned. Here's the latest on the relief market:
- Takashi Saito's deal with the Brewers guarantees him $1.75MM and gives him the chance to earn $1.5MM more through incentives, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- MLB.com's Adam McCalvy adds details on the contracts for Sean Green and Craig Counsell.
- Brian Fuentes is telling teams that he would like to close, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Several teams are interested in the lefty and the Rays are one interested club that could offer a closing job.
- The Reds will likely avoid arbitration with Jared Burton today and agree to a one-year deal with the reliever, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
- The Nationals are pursuing another reliever who can pitch late in games and potentially close, according to Ben Goessling of MASNSports.com. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes listed relief help as one of the Nationals' remaining needs last week.
MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker
MLBTR recently introduced an Arbitration Tracker, which is permanently located under the 'Tools' tab at the top of the site. The tracker allows advanced sorting, so you can narrow your searches. If you're curious about which players have already settled on 2011 salaries or which Giants have yet to settle, you're just a few clicks away from knowing the answer.
As teams and players resolve arbitration cases in January and February, we'll keep the tracker updated with all the information you need to know. Check out MLBTR's Transaction Tracker and Free Agent Tracker while you're at it.
Phillies Re-Sign J.C. Romero
Two months after declining his $4.5MM option for 2011, the Phillies have re-signed lefty J.C. Romero according to the team. The one-year deal will pay the reliever $1.35MM plus performance bonuses. He is represented by Praver/Shapiro.
Romero, 34, has battled elbow and forearm issues over the last two seasons, hampering his already shaky control. He's thrown just 53.1 innings since the start of the 2009 campaign, walking more batters (42) than he's struck out (40). Romero is still effective against left-handed batters however, holding them to a .174/.278/.251 batting line over the last three seasons.
Philadelphia had a one-year, $1.1MM deal in place with southpaw Dennys Reyes earlier this month, but it fell apart because the team's medical staff didn't like what they found in his physical according to Randy Miller of The Bucks County Courier Times. That left the club in need of a left-handed reliever. Romero has been with the Phillies since the middle of the 2007 season, when they signed him as a free agent after the Red Sox cut him loose.
Leslie Gudel of CSNPhilly.com first reported the agreement.
Lee Looks To Prove Doubters Wrong
Derrek Lee doesn’t deny that his numbers dropped off last year and he doesn’t use his thumb injury as an excuse for the disappointing season. But after undergoing successful offseason surgery to repair a torn UCL ligament in his right thumb, the 35-year-old is ready to return to form. And he wouldn’t mind proving some of his doubters wrong in 2011.
"I have a little chip on my shoulder," Lee said on a conference call with reporters. "People say I'm old and declining so I want to prove them wrong obviously."
Lee signed a one-year, $7.25MM deal with the Orioles this week after hitting .260/.347/.428 with 19 homers for the Cubs and Braves last year. He drew interest from other clubs, including the Padres this offseason, but he decided to join the Orioles instead. Lee says manager Buck Showalter is an attraction and suggests the O's will have an improved lineup in 2011. But early in the winter, before the Orioles acquired Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy, Lee did not expect to play for Showalter.
"Honestly, Baltimore wasn't on my radar earlier this offseason," he said.
Lee arrives in the American League after 14 seasons in the senior circuit and he says he's extremely excited to make the transition. He admits he might not recognize every middle reliever in the AL, but expects to adjust relatively quickly.
The Orioles, in Lee's estimation, have lots of confidence and the potential to surprise people in the competitive AL East. At 35, the slugger aims to do the same.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.