Royals Sign Jeff Suppan
The Royals signed Jeff Suppan to a minor league deal, reports MLB.com's Dick Kaegel. The 36-year-old righty will report to Triple-A Omaha. Suppan was a workhorse for the 1999-2002 Royals, averaging 33 starts per year. He later moved on to the Pirates, Red Sox, Cardinals, and Brewers, most recently parting ways with the Giants last week after signing a minor league deal.
Suppan was drafted by the Red Sox in '93, joining the Diamondbacks in '97 as the third overall pick in the expansion draft. He was dealt to the Royals late in the '98 season as part of a three-way trade, and by 2000 he earned the Opening Day nod. Though he earned a temporary bullpen demotion in July of that year, Suppan was still named the team's pitcher of the year after the season. He also snagged a two-year deal and the Opening Day assignments in '01 and '02. The Royals non-tendered Suppan after the '02 season.
More recently, Suppan posted a 5.06 ERA, 4.5 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 1.2 HR/9, and 40.3% groundball rate for the Brewers and Cardinals in 2010. Milwaukee released him in June of last year with about $10MM remaining on a contract signed in December of '06. With serious rotation uncertainty for 2011, the Royals are a good fit for Suppan as he looks for big league starts.
MLBTR’s Agency Database
MLBTR's Agency Database is only getting better, as we're making additions and changes every week. Bookmark it today!
Currently we're trying to determine the representation for Tim Collins, Nathan Adcock, Jay Gibbons and Tom Wilhelmsen. If you represent any of these players, please email mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com! Also, if you see a 40-man roster or top prospect client of yours who is not in the database, emails are welcome.
The New Free Agent Second Baseman Market
As MLBTR's Transaction Tracker shows, second basemen Dan Uggla, Rickie Weeks, and Freddy Sanchez have agreed to extensions since the beginning of the year. Extensions always reduce the appeal of projected free agent groups, and for 2012 second base took a big hit.
Nine free agents currently project as potential starters at second base in 2012: Clint Barmes, Jamey Carroll, Mark Ellis, Bill Hall, Aaron Hill, Omar Infante, Kelly Johnson, Jose Lopez, and Brandon Phillips.
Phillips would bring the second base class some name value after the losses of Uggla and Weeks. Offensively Phillips does not stack up with either player. But with Weeks getting $10-11MM per free agent year, the Reds have a case for retaining Phillips at an $11MM net price for one more year. The Blue Jays have the option of retaining Hill for $8MM for '12, which would look reasonable with a return to form.
Barmes is expected to play shortstop for the Astros this year, though he'll miss most of April with a broken bone in his hand. Hall will serve as his double play partner. They'll earn almost $7MM combined this year, but both must re-establish themselves as effective everyday players. The Rockies appear open to trading Lopez, who needs regular work to avoid slipping into utility status. Carroll, who has a solid .356 career OBP, has a chance to establish himself as a regular if he can move past Casey Blake on the Dodgers' depth chart once Blake is healthy. The Giants' Mark DeRosa could seek a starting second base job, though he hasn't played much there since '08.
Infante, the Marlins' starting second baseman, has a chance to further cement himself as a regular. He hit .309/.353/.411 in 300 games with the Braves during 2008-10, and should be looking at the second multiyear deal of his career with a strong 2011. Ellis and Johnson are looking to prove they're worth multiple years at $5-6MM per. Both were easily worth that salary in 2010, so they're looking for repeat seasons.
Major Arbitration Paydays For 2012
Last month we looked at the best players who will be arbitration eligible for the first time in 2012, including Andrew McCutchen, Clayton Kershaw, and David Price. While the top names in that group will be well-compensated, none project to earn $10MM or more for the '12 season. Which arbitration eligible players are headed toward that level of a payday?
- Jered Weaver, Angels. Even after losing an arbitration case to the Angels, Weaver stands to jump past $10MM with another $3MM+ raise.
- Hunter Pence, Astros. Pence won his arbitration case against the Astros, netting an extra $1.75MM. Another $3MM+ jump will put him right around $10MM, and he's arbitration eligible twice more if he's not non-tendered.
- Matt Garza, Cubs. He's at $5.95MM currently, so a jump to $10MM seems unlikely. He'll be arbitration eligible again after '12. Jeremy Guthrie and Joe Saunders are working from similar salaries, while Francisco Liriano is over $1MM behind.
- John Danks, White Sox. Danks is paid $6MM this year, so he and Garza face a similar challenge in trying to make the leap to $10MM.
- Carlos Quentin, White Sox. Much is riding on Quentin's 2010. If he has another 2008 he could get to $8MM or more and the White Sox won't mind.
- Andre Ethier, Dodgers. Ethier sees a non-tender after the season as a possibility, but that seems unlikely. But whether it's the Dodgers or another club, Ethier should get around $12MM next year.
- Matt Kemp, Dodgers. Kemp will be coming from a $6.95MM salary, so he should also see his first $10MM+ payday.
- Tim Lincecum, Giants. Extension talks between Lincecum and the Giants are not expected during the season. He'll be building on a $13MM salary, which might be even higher had he not signed a two-year deal previously. This is a case to watch next offseason. Lincecum's teammate Jonathan Sanchez probably won't make it to $10MM next year but he could be close.
- Shin-Soo Choo, Indians. Choo is operating from a strong $3.95MM first-time salary, which he could double next time around. Nelson Cruz will operate from a slightly lower salary.
- Luke Scott, Orioles. Scott is not someone you usually think of as a $10MM player, but he's already at $6.4MM. Another nice year will put him in the eight-figure range.
- Cole Hamels, Phillies. Like Lincecum, Hamels signed a multiyear extension but left at least one arbitration year open. He's already at $9.5MM this year. Next year might cost $12-13MM, and then each free agent year should be priced at $20MM+. Hamels hopes to stay with the Phillies.
- Mike Napoli, Rangers. Napoli is already at $5.8MM, so the Rangers will have a tough decision as to whether to tender him a contract for '12.
- Delmon Young, Twins. Young will be paid $5.375MM this year, and another 100 RBI year should push him close to $10MM.
Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts for the info.
Dodgers May Guarantee Redding’s Deal
The Dodgers plan to use a fifth starter next Sunday in San Diego and could choose to call upon Tim Redding, who is not on the 40-man roster, writes MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. Adding the 33-year-old would require guaranteeing his $750K salary and moving a player off of the 40-man roster to make room for him.
Alternatively, the club could call upon John Ely, who is already on the 40-man roster, to make the start. The Dodgers will have both Ely and Redding pitch Tuesday in an extended spring training game, which puts them on schedule to pitch Sunday. Right-hander Jon Garland is also lobbying to make the start as he recovers from a strained oblique.
Redding last pitched in the majors in 2009 for the Mets, making 17 starts and 13 relief appearances. In eight major league seasons, Redding owns a 4.95 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9.
David Price Would Be Open To Long-Term Deal
In the wake of Wade Davis' four-year extension, left-hander David Price says that he would be open to signing a long-term deal with the Rays, writes Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. The former No. 1 overall draft pick said that such a deal would have to be under the right terms, though he declined to specify.
"If it's realistic, absolutely, that is something I would definitely do," the 25-year-old said. "I love it here, absolutely. Everyone here knows that I'm a huge fan of this organization and all the people that are in the clubhouse. I feel like it's the right place for me."
Price is under team control until 2016, when he can hit free agency. Topkin suggests a starting point dollar-wise that is somewhere between Tim Lincecum's two-year, $23MM deal and Cole Hamels' three-year, $21MM contract. The left-hander will already be looking at a considerable raise for 2012 when he reaches Super Two status.
MLBTR Originals
Here's a look back at some of the analysis and reporting MLBTR's writing team delivered this week..
- This week, MLBTR learned that the Red Sox released outfielder Jason Place and the Cubs cut right-hander Aaron Shafer loose. Neither player was among their team's top 30 prospects according to Baseball America's Prospect Handbook, though both were former high draft picks.
- Ben Nicholson-Smith spoke to Wade Davis' agent, B.B. Abbott, about the risk they took when agreeing to a four-year extension. Abbott also disclosed the terms of the deal to MLBTR.
- MLBTR was the first to report that the Pirates signed recently-released right-hander Tim Wood. Wood had just been cut loose by the Nationals.
- Take a look at the 2011 predictions from the MLBTR writing staff.
- Mike Axisa took a look at the General Managers whose contracts do not extend beyond 2011.
- Just before Opening Day, Howard Megdal ran down the Alphabet of 2011 storylines.
- I led a discussion on the Marlins' third base options.
- After the Blue Jays declined to exercise his options, we asked out readers if Aaron Hill would finish the year in Toronto.
- Our Offseason In Review series rolled on with looks at the Diamondbacks, Angels, and Yankees.
- MLBTR is looking for a head moderator to be active in regulating the forums. Past bulletin board administrative experience is preferred.
- Did you miss our weekly chat with Tim Dierkes? Don't worry, you can still view the transcript right here.
- Pitcher Edwin Jackson is a breakout candidate in 2011, says Tim.
- Do you run a baseball blog or website? If so, the MLB Trade Rumors widget is the perfect way to pipe in the latest hot stove headlines.
- The Ubaldo Jimenez extension is going well for the Rockies, writes Ben Nicholson-Smith.
- Check out the best of the web in this week's installment of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
- Fun Fact: Half of baseball's Opening Day starters were first-round selections. Ben Nicholson-Smith also breaks down how each team obtained their No. 1 starters.
Week In Review: 3/27/11 – 4/2/11
The regular season is upon us at last! Let's take a look back at the week that was:
- A pair of notable extensions were signed this week in the NL West. The Dodgers agreed to a three-year extension with Chad Billingsley worth $35MM, while the Giants tacked on an additional year and another $6MM to Freddy Sanchez's deal.
- On the opposite coast, the Rays signed Wade Davis to a team-friendly four-year deal that guarantees the young righty $12.6MM and comes with three club options.
- C.J. Wilson revealed that the Rangers made him a multiyear offer but the proposition came too late in the offseason for a deal to materialize.
- Giants GM Brian Sabean doesn't expect extension discussions with Tim Lincecum to take place during the season.
- Ichiro Suzuki hinted at wanting to continue his career with the Mariners beyond his current contract.
- The Blue Jays declined their 2012-2014 options on Aaron Hill. While the team forfeited the rights to his $10MM option in 2014, they can still exercise his 2012-2013 options after the season if they choose.
- Several trades occured this week, starting with the Brewers' acquisition of troubled Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan. Washington received minor leaguer Cutter Dykstra in exchange.
- Toronto acquired Jayson Nix from the Indians in exchange for cash considerations.
- The Rockies acquired yet another utility-type player when they traded for Josh Fields. Colorado will send a player to be named later or cash to Pittsburgh in exchange.
- The Royals acquired Matt Treanor from Texas for cash considerations, and designated 26-year-old catcher Lucas May for assignment in a corresponding move.
- The Twins made a move to retain their Rule 5 pick, Scott Diamond, by sending hard-throwing righty Billy Bullock to Atlanta. It's a curious move, as Diamond could've been retained for nothing by keeping him on the 25-man roster.
- A lot of players were handed their walking papers as well. Luis Castillo was released from Philadelphia (as was Matt Anderson), Carlos Silva was released from the Cubs, the Giants released Jeff Suppan, the Yankees released Ronnie Belliard. Belliard later signed with the Phillies.
- Several more players were designated for assignment; the Giants DFA'ed Travis Ishikawa, the Yankees DFA'ed Romulo Sanchez, the Astros plan to designate Ryan Rowland-Smith, the Mets designated Manny Acosta, and the Dodgers designated a pair of players for assignment. For the rest of the week's minor moves, check MLBTR's Transaction Tracker or use our Transactions tag.
- It seems like every week another handful of players is filing their retirement papers. This week, we saw Jermaine Dye officially retire and Randy Winn join him.
Quick Hits: Zito, Orioles, Meyer, Cardinals
Links for Sunday, as Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler become the first set of teammates in MLB history to homer in each of their team's first three games…
- Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter) knows that the point has been made before, but he finds it unfathomable that the Giants thought it smart to give $126MM to Barry Zito.
- The Orioles released minor league outfielder Danny Figueroa, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
- The Phillies have released Dan Meyer from their minor league camp, tweets Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.
- Within his Sunday Baseball Notes, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that the Rangers "haven't closed the door" on a Michael Young trade. Cafardo says not to rule out the Phillies, though the Phils are a little more optimistic about Chase Utley's health than they were a couple weeks ago.
- Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. says his club has room to add payroll this season "if the right situation develops," according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- WEEI.com's Alex Speier discusses former first round pick Jason Place, who the Red Sox released yesterday.
- In an article for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Terry Pluto takes a look at the Indians' future infield.
Rays Designate Mike Ekstrom For Assignment
The Rays have designated right-hander Mike Ekstrom for assignment in order to make room for Felipe Lopez on the 40-man roster, tweets Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.
Ekstrom, 27, was a 12th round pick by the Padres in 2004. The Rays plucked him off waivers from San Diego in February 2010. He appeared in 15 games for Tampa, notching a 3.31 ERA through 16 1/3 innings. He struck out ten but also walked nine. Through 759 1/3 minor league innings (split equally as a starter and reliever), Ekstrom owns a 3.74 ERA, 6.8 K/9, and 2.4 BB/9.
We heard earlier today that a 40-man move was coming to clear room for Lopez after he was called up to replace the injured Evan Longoria.