Waiver Notes: Thome, Kubel, Bell
Earlier this evening the Indians worked out a deal with the Twins to bring Jim Thome back to the Tribe. Here are some thoughts on the deal plus news on other waived players..
- Tribe GM Chris Antonetti says that the Twins have "a relatively narrow list of players" to choose from by the October 15th deadline, tweets Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
- The reason why the White Sox didn't block Thome from going to the Indians was that they had no playing time for him with Paul Konerko limited to DH, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter) thinks that the White Sox should have put a claim in on Thome anyway. After all, he points out, they claimed Jason Kubel for the same reason.
- Speaking of Kubel, the Twins outfielder says that the rumors have weighed on him and he's looking forward to having a definite answer on the matter, according to the Associated Press. Based on what White Sox GM Ken Williams said earlier today, it doesn't sound as though he'll be changing teams.
- As of right now, it looks like a Heath Bell deal between the Padres and Giants isn't going to happen, tweets Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. There are no serious talks taking place, if there are any talks at all.
Rockies Acquire Kevin Kouzmanoff
THURSDAY: The Rockies are paying $250K of Kouzmanoff's remaining salary, according to Troy Renck of The Denver Post (via Twitter).
TUESDAY: The Rockies have acquired third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and cash considerations from the A's for a player to be named or cash considerations, the teams announced. Colorado's new acquisition will report to Triple-A, according to the Rockies.
Kouzmanoff, who spends his offseasons in Evergreen, Colorado, hasn't appeared in the Majors since June 6th, when the A's optioned him to Triple-A. Before getting sent down, the 30-year-old posted a .221/.262/.353 line with four homers in 149 plate appearances. Kouzmanoff hit 75 MLB homers in total from 2007-10 and led the A's with 16 last year. He has a career line of .255/.300/.421 in six seasons.
The Rockies don't have a long-term solution at third base and they figure to give Kouzmanoff a chance at the hot corner in the Majors over the course of the season's final five weeks. It's possible that Colorado will call their new acquisition up within 24 hours.
Kouzmanoff earns $4.75MM this year and will be arbitration eligible for the final time after the season. The A's were presumably looking to obtain something of value for a player who no longer figured into their long-term plans and had become a non-tender candidate.
MLBTR has learned that Kouzmanoff recently switched agents from Adam Katz of WMG to Sosnick Cobbe Sports. Check out our Agency Database for the latest on which agents represent which players.
White Sox Notes: Kubel, Danks, Peavy, Guillen
The Cubs are looking for a new GM and they appear to be considering White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn for the job opening. Here’s the latest on the White Sox, as they prepare for their weekend series in Seattle…
- The White Sox reportedly were awarded the claim on the Twins' Jason Kubel, but it doesn't sound as though he'll be heading to the South Side of Chicago, writes Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald.
- John Danks told MLB.com's Scott Merkin that he isn't sure whether Jered Weaver's five-year, $85MM extension has any effect on him or not. In my opinion it does – they're in the same service class – though Danks doesn't have the same earning potential as Weaver.
- Jake Peavy told Merkin that he's looking forward to 2012, since he'll be one more year removed from his 2010 back surgery by next spring.
- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told Brett Ballantini of CSNChicago.com that even after 23 years in baseball, the August trade period is still confusing. By the way, if you agree with Guillen, click here.
Indians Close To Deal For Jim Thome
6:43pm: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated (via Twitter) hears that the Twins won't get in the way of a potential deal and the decision will ultimately be up to Thome.
6:16pm: No deal is completed yet and the Indians are hoping that Thome will accept a deal to Cleveland, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com.
4:56pm: A deal to bring veteran slugger Jim Thome back to the Indians is nearly complete, according to Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 (via Twitter). The Twins placed Thome on waivers on Monday afternoon and yesterday we learned that the Tribe had the winning claim.
Thome has a full no-trade clause and was said to have his eye on a return to Philadelphia, not Cleveland. The Indians could surely benefit from a reunion with Thome as designated hitter Travis Hafner is on the disabled list with a strained right foot.
Thome, who will celebrate his 41st birthday on Saturday, belted 334 of his 601 career home runs with the Indians.
Quick Hits: Nationals, Mets, Wandy, Blue Jays
On this date 25 years ago, A's rookie Mark McGwire hit his first MLB home run. Another historic slugger, Jim Thome, could be on the move this week. Here are the latest links from around MLB…
- Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post wants to see Davey Johnson return as the Nationals' skipper in 2012. Earlier this week, GM Mike Rizzo raved about Johnson's ability to connect with his players.
- The Mets haven't yet had internal discussions about picking up the 2013 option for manager Terry Collins, but they'll likely discuss the possibility within the next month, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears from someone connected to baseball management who wonders why MLB players don't insist on slotting. Capping bonuses does have potential benefits, but as Rosenthal explains, it's far from an ideal system.
- The Astros wanted Wilin Rosario or Drew Pomeranz for Wandy Rodriguez, but the Rockies were only offering Jason Hammel, Casey Weathers or Christian Friedrich, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Talks between the two teams reached a standstill yesterday, after the Rockies claimed Rodriguez earlier in the week.
- The Blue Jays announced that they signed non-drafted free agent Luke Willson, a left-handed hitter who also plays tight end for the Rice University Owls.
When Great Sluggers Get Traded
With the Twins and Indians discussing a Jim Thome swap, the big slugger could join some elite company. Thome's 601 home runs would be the fourth-largest total ever traded. And the pattern of a successful home run hitter returning to the team of his roots certainly applies to Thome – he hit his first 334 home runs in a Cleveland uniform. Let's take a closer look at what kind of return similar sluggers provided for their new teams.
Unsurprisingly, Hank Aaron ranks atop the list of most career home runs when traded. Hammerin' Hank had 733 round-trippers when the Atlanta Braves traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers – the town where he hit his first 398 home runs – for outfielder Dave May and minor league pitcher Roger Alexander. May, a year removed from a 25-home run season himself, never recovered his All-Star form. Aaron did make the All-Star team in 1975, but that had more to do with reputation than performance. In 851 plate appearances over two seasons in Milwaukee, Aaron hit just 22 home runs.
Next on the list is Willie Mays, who hit 646 home runs for the Giants of New York and San Francisco before executing a similar return to Aaron's. The Giants traded Mays to the New York Mets on May 11, 1972 for Charlie Williams and $50K. Williams became a valuable swingman for the Giants over seven seasons, including three with an ERA+ of 110 or better. Mays, meanwhile, hit 14 home runs over 481 plate appearances with the Mets in 1972 and 1973. The first, and most dramatic, of these home runs came in his very first game with the Mets against the Giants. Naturally, Mays didn't come close to the level he reached in his first stint in New York – a 157 OPS+ and 187 home runs from 1951-1957. Rumor has it his defense in center field was pretty good, too.
The only other slugger with more home runs than Thome at the time of a trade is Ken Griffey Jr., who tallied 609 long balls by the time the Cincinnati Reds traded him at the 2008 non-waiver deadline to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar. Masset has become a bullpen mainstay for Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Griffey hit only three home runs down the stretch for Chicago, though he played well enough overall to help the White Sox reach the postseason. His final 11 playoff at bats came for the Sox in their AL Division Series loss to Tampa Bay.
The clearest comparable to Thome among these sluggers is a man Thome passed on the all-time home run list last year: Frank Robinson. With 586 career home runs, Robinson had already slugged 572 of them late in the 1974 season when the California Angels traded him to Cleveland for catcher Ken Suarez, outfielder Rusty Torres and cash. Neither Suarez nor Torres did much after the trade – Torres never appeared in a Major League game for the Angels – but Torres did out-homer Robinson post-deal, hitting 20 home runs in parts of five seasons with three teams.
Robinson, however, was extremely productive in a part-time role from 1974-76. Those 14 home runs came in just 289 plate appearances, with his OPS+ checking in at a robust 129. He managed the team as well, something Thome would not be asked to do in Cleveland. But if Thome emulates Robinson at the plate, the Indians will be happy to have him and Thome's 132 OPS+ this season suggests such hopes are realistic.
Whether that means a pennant or not, a deal would certainly guarantee that Indians fans can reminisce at the ballpark – and maybe even get an old jersey out of storage.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Felix Pie
Here are the latest players to get outrighted to the minor leagues…
- Felix Pie cleared waivers and the Orioles outrighted him to Triple-A, according to MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli (on Twitter). Baltimore had designated the outfielder for assignment on Tuesday. Pie can elect free agency instead of accepting the assignment and has until Saturday morning to decide, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. If he elects free agency, he'll lose what remains of his $985K salary. Pie is expected to accept the assignment, according to Connolly (Twitter link).
Joe Nathan Would Consider Trades
Joe Nathan has been a member of the Twins’ bullpen since Minnesota traded for him late in 2003, but he’d consider moving on under the right circumstances. He told Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities that he’d look at possible deals on a case by case basis.
"It's something I would consider," Nathan said, explaining that he’s intrigued by the possibility of pitching in a playoff race. "It's not something I would rule out."
Nathan, 36, has ten and five rights, so he can block any trade. He has a 4.79 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 35 2/3 innings since returning from 2010 Tommy John surgery. The four-time All-Star earns $11.25MM this year and the Twins have a $12.5MM option for his services in 2012 ($2MM buyout).
Given that over $4MM remains on Nathan's contract including the buyout, it seems likely that he would clear waivers if he hasn't already. He doesn't currently project as a ranked free agent, so draft pick compensation doesn't figure to be a factor for the Twins.
Indians, Twins In Trade Talks
The Indians and Twins are engaged in trade talks, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The Indians were awarded the claim on Jim Thome, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Thome has a full-no trade clause and would prefer to play for the Phillies, however. The Indians are hopeful of working out a deal for Thome, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.
Thome, 40, played for the Indians from 1991-2002. The newest member of the 600 homer club now has a .248/.357/.485 line with 12 home runs in 238 plate appearances for Minnesota. Cleveland designated hitter Travis Hafner is on the disabled list with a strained right foot, so Thome could be a fit for the Indians, the team for which he hit his first 334 home runs.
Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
Checking In On Colorado’s Offseason Extensions
The Rockies were one of the most aggressive teams in baseball in terms of extensions last offseason. They locked six of their players up on multiyear deals, including two contracts worth $80MM or more.
It’s still too early to say with much authority that the deals failed or succeeded, but Troy Tulowitzki’s contract doesn’t expire until 2020 at the earliest and that’s a long wait, so let's check in on the deals now. The early verdict? Nearly five months into the season, the Rockies’ new deals are going well, largely because their biggest investments are looking good. That in itself doesn't justify the moves, but it's certainly better than the alternative.
Tulowitzki (ten years, $157.75MM), Carlos Gonzalez (seven years, $80MM), Matt Lindstrom (two years, $6.6MM), Jason Hammel (two years, $7.75MM), Rafael Betancourt (two years, $8.02MM) and Matt Belisle (two years, $6.125MM) all signed long-term last winter. Conventional wisdom says multiyear deals for relievers and megadeals for players already under long-term control aren’t the most prudent ways of spending money, especially for a mid-market team. Nevertheless, the Rockies went ahead with the moves and they’re going well so far this year.
It would be hard to argue that Tulowitzki isn’t the best shortstop in the game. Gonzalez has boosted his walk rate, lowered his strikeout rate and, thanks to a recent hot streak that has included seven home runs in 12 days, raised his season line to .289/.360/.523. Betancourt, Belisle and Lindstrom (now on the DL) have each pitched at least 43 2/3 innings with at least 6.2 K/9, no more than 2.3 BB/9 and an ERA of 3.41 or below. Even Hammel, who just lost his rotation spot to Alex White, provided Colorado with three months’ worth of solid starts before faltering in July and August.
The extensions look good so far, despite the Rockies’ disappointing 63-68 record. At this point, that’s all Colorado could hope for. But every player they locked up could have been on the team this year even if GM Dan O’Dowd hadn’t inked them to long-term deals, so the final verdict on the 2010-11 offseason deals will have to wait for another decade or so.