Cardinals To Pick Up Yadier Molina’s Option
MLB.com's Matthew Leach reports that Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said he expects to exercise Yadier Molina's $7MM club option tomorrow. B.J. Rains of FOXSportsMidwest.com echoed the statement and took it one step further, stating that Mozeliak has confirmed the option will be picked up (Twitter link).
There was never any doubt as to whether or not Molina would be back in 2012. The 28-year-old Puerto Rico native is well-renowned for his prowess behind the plate, but he also turned in the finest offensive season of his career in 2011. Molina battted .305/.349/.465 and swatted a career-high 14 homers in 518 plate appearances for the World Champion Cardinals.
Molina signed a four-year, $15.5MM deal in lieu of arbitration back in January of 2008. This option year pushes the total value of his contract to $21.75MM over five years.
Brewers To Decline Options On Rodriguez, Betancourt
A Brewers spokesperson confirmed that the club has declined the $17.5MM option on Francisco Rodriguez and the $6MM option on Yuniesky Betancourt, tweets MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The pair will receive buyouts of $3.5MM and $2MM, respectively.
The Brewers acquired Rodriguez from the Mets in a July deal that saw Adrian Rosario and Danny Ray Herrera shipped off the New York as players to be named later. He excelled in 29 innings for the Brew Crew, posting a 1.86 ERA and a 10.2 K/9. It was reported at the time of the trade that the Mets would be responsible for the $3.5MM buyout on Rodriguez's deal.
Betancourt, 29, came to the Brewers along with Zack Greinke in last year's deal with the Royals. He acted as the starting shortstop for the NL Central champs all season, hitting .252/.271/.381 in 584 regular season plate appearances before heating up in the playoffs (.310/.326/.500).
While there should be some interest in Betancourt as a part-time player, it seems unlikely that he'll land another full-time job this winter. It's even less likely that he'll match the guaranteed money he earned when he signed his last contract, a four-year, $13.75MM deal. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel tweets that the Brewers would consider bringing him back at a lower price.
To follow the status K-Rod and Betancourt, along with the rest of the 2012 free agents, check out our Free Agent Tracker.
MLBTR's Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Red Sox Pick Up Scutaro’s 2012 Option
The Red Sox have exercised their $6MM option on Marco Scutaro for the 2012 season, tweets Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. The team has confirmed the move in a press release.
Scutaro, who turns 35 today, enjoyed arguably the best offensive season of his career in 2011. In 113 games, he batted .299/.358/.423 while playing slightly above average defense at shortstop (according to UZR). Scutaro's offensive production and solid glove make a $6MM salary for 2012 a bargain.
While the move was expected, this news confirms that the market for shortstops will be even thinner beyond the two premier names atop the list: Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins. Players such as Clint Barmes, Jamey Carroll, and Alex Gonzalez (to name a few) figure to benefit from Scutaro's absence on the open market. This move represents the first official transaction for new Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington.
Giants Exercise Affeldt’s 2012 Option
The Giants have exercised Jeremy Affeldt's $5MM club option for 2012, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link).
As Schulman notes, that's $9.25MM on a pair of left-handed relievers for the 2012 season given today's two-year extension for Javier Lopez. However, Schulman tweeted earlier today that he spoke with Affeldt via text message prior to the Lopez news, and Affeldt told him that he's spoken with the club about the possibility of the team exercising the option and then working out a new contract.
Affeldt put up a very strong season in 2011, posting a 2.63 ERA, 7.9 K/9, and 3.5 BB/9 in 61 2/3 innings for the Giants. Perhaps most impressively, he kept the ball on the ground 62.1% of the time — a mark that ranked seventh among all relievers in 2011 (Lopez ranked sixth at 62.6%).
Quick Hits: White Sox, Indians, Sabathia, Sizemore
A grab-bag of links on the first Sunday of what should be a fun offseason….
- Don't expect the White Sox to pick up any big-ticket players on the free agent market, writes MLB.com's Scott Merkin. The club is unlikely to bring Juan Pierre back in 2012 and if they look to replace him with a traditional leadoff type, Merkin expects the team to do so via trade.
- It would be a surprise if the Indians re-signed Chad Durbin as the club has several promising young relievers who could take his spot, writes Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer.
- The Yankees will make a contract offer to C.C. Sabathia this weekend, tweets SI.com's Jon Heyman. However, most people expect the lefty to opt out of his current deal and "look around."
- Newsday's Ken Davidoff predicts destinations and contract details for his top 30 free agents, in slideshow form.
- The Rangers, Nationals, and Brewers top Buster Olney's list of potential landing spots for Grady Sizemore (ESPN insider link).
- Hisashi Iwakuma confirmed that he will attempt to sign with an MLB team again this winter, according to NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman (via Sponichi). Iwakuma was unable to work out a deal with the Athletics last offseason.
- New Angels GM Jerry Dipoto will have complete decision-making power, says Angels owner Arte Moreno. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times has details and quotes.
- The Padres will hire Phil Plantier as their new hitting coach, tweets FOX's Ken Rosenthal.
Giants To Re-Sign Javier Lopez
The Giants and Javier Lopez have agreed to a two-year, $8.5MM contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The money will be divided evenly in each year as the left-handed reliever will earn $4.25MM in 2012 and '13.
Lopez had a base salary of $2.375MM in 2011 and was two innings short of earning a $25K bonus for reaching 55 innings. In 53 innings of work this year, Lopez registered a 2.72 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9. The 34-year-old was expected to receive plenty of interest on the open market from teams in search of a quality matchup lefty.
The Giants now have to decide on the $5MM option for fellow lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt. Sabean expects to retain Affeldt even if the club declines his option and renegotiates a new contract. The Giants have until the end of the day Monday to either exercise the option or pay a $500K buyout.
Week In Review: 10/23/11 – 10/29/11
With the 2011 season in the rear view mirror, it's time to turn our attention to what should be a very interesting offseason. Here's a look back at the week that was..
- After an exhaustive search, the Angels decided to name Jerry Dipoto of the Diamondbacks as their next GM. Dipoto's deal is for three guaranteed years followed by two option years. The former Major League reliever was Arizona's senior VP of scouting and player development before landing the Halos job. Dipoto, 43, was the top name on MLBTR's list of GM candidates.
- Even though the two parties reached agreement last week, the Cubs and Red Sox didn't get to announce their new GMs until Tuesday. Theo Epstein will take over as the President of Baseball Operations for the Cubs while the Red Sox will promote Ben Cherington to the position of GM. Epstein will also bring Padres GM Jed Hoyer and assistant GM Jason McLeod aboard.
- The Yankees exercised their 2012 club options on second baseman Robinson Cano and outfielder Nick Swisher. Cano's option is for $14MM and Swisher's is for $10.25MM.
- New Red Sox GM Ben Cherington announced that righty John Lackey will undergo Tommy John surgery. The surgery causes a sixth-year option to vest for Lackey at the league minimum and reduces the average annual value of the contract from $16.5MM to $13.8MM, creating luxury tax savings.
- The Indians are expected to decline their $9MM 2012 option on center fielder Grady Sizemore while exercising their $7MM 2012 option on right-hander Fausto Carmona. Sizemore will earn a $500K buyout.
- The Mets intend to allow other clubs to set the market for Jose Reyes this offseason. Team officials have suggested that the Nats, Marlins, and Angels could bid heavily on the free agent shortstop this offseason.
- Players with two years and 146 days of Major League service time will qualify for Super Two status, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes learned. Top pitchers such as David Price, Rick Porcello, Daniel Bard, and Gio Gonzalez are among those in this year's crop of Super Twos.
- A hard slotting system for the amateur draft is no longer the main issue holding up a new collective bargaining agreement. Still being discussed, however, are caps on both overall draft spending and for international signings.
- While there has been plenty of movement when it comes to top execs in the AL East, that won't be the case in the Bronx. The Yankees have agreed to a three-year extension with GM Brian Cashman.
- The Cardinals officially exercised Adam Wainwright's options for 2012 and 2013 during this year's playoff run. Wainwright, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, will earn $21MM over the course of the next two seasons.
- The Blue Jays will discuss the possibility of signing David Ortiz this winter. The slugger knows manager John Farrell from his four seasons as the Red Sox's pitching coaching, and Ortiz is friends with Jose Bautista.
- This week, Jim Thome announced that he intends to keep playing. Next season would mark his 22nd in the Major Leagues.
- It was reported that Yankees GM Cashman would meet with CC Sabathia's agent this weekend in an attempt to complete a new contract extension before the ace left-hander can opt-out of his contract and become a free agent.
- Meanwhile, the Yankees are likely to pick up Nick Swisher's $10.25MM option for 2012 and stay out of the bidding for free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran.
- Based on comments from agent Dave Stewart, if the Dodgers attempt to lock Matt Kemp up to an extension this offseason, they shouldn't expect much of a hometown discount.
- Red Sox GM Ben Cherington publicly suggested the Red Sox are likely to exercise the Marco Scutaro's option. If the Red Sox don't pick up Scutaro's option, he can remain in Boston for $3MM instead of taking a $1.5MM buyout.
- The Phillies officially declined the 2012 options for right-handers Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt. Lidge obtains a $1.5MM buyout instead of a $12.5MM salary and Oswalt obtains a $2MM buyout instead of a $16MM salary. The team hasn't ruled out a new deal with either player.
- The Twins declined their club option on reliever Joe Nathan. The option was worth $12.5MM, but the team will pay a $2MM buyout. Nathan's agent Dave Pepe says his client is excited about free agency and seeks a closer job in 2012.
- The Tigers announced that they have exercised their 2012 club option for Jose Valverde. The 33-year-old will earn $9MM next year instead of becoming a free agent.
- Ryan Dempster exercised his $14MM player option for 2012. Dempster hinted at wanting to remain in Chicago beyond next season a few weeks ago.
- The A's released Michael Wuertz to create 40-man roster space for right-hander Evan Scribner and outfielder Cedric Hunter, who were claimed off of waivers from the Padres.
- GM Ed Wade says that Houston is unlikely to be a major player in free agency this offseason.
- As expected, the Rockies and first baseman Jason Giambi each exercised their sides of a $1MM mutual option for 2012. However, the team will decline their end of Aaron Cook's $11MM mutual option.
- Reds players Fred Lewis and Chad Reineke elected free agency.
- The Astros signed right-handers Alberto Arias and Jose Valdez and left-hander Xavier Cedeno to minor league deals after they outrighted the players off of their 40-man roster earlier in October.
- MLBTR learned that the Astros claimed catcher Craig Tatum off of waivers from the Orioles. The 28-year-old has three partial seasons of catching experience at the Major League level and isn't yet eligible for arbitration.
AL East Notes: Jakubauskas, Fox, Yankees, Sabathia
AL East linkage..
- More on Jakubauskas as the pitcher says he'd like to reach a deal with the Orioles and remain in the organization, writes Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Catcher/infielder Jake Fox is also expected to refuse his outright assignment and become a free agent.
- Orioles pitcher Chris Jakubauskas refused his outright assignment to Triple-A and elected free agency, tweets Kubatko. Jakubauskas posted a 5.72 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 72 1/3 innings in 2011.
- Over the years, the Yankees scouting department has been charged with looking into major free agents while also identifying key supplemental pieces, writes Marc Carig of The Star-Ledger. Their emphasis on "reclamation projects" has led them to such finds as Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon.
- As the Yankees look ahead to the offseason, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch wonders aloud if any team would bite on a trade for A.J. Burnett. In 190.1 innings this season, Burnett posted a 5.15 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9.
Red Sox Notes: Ortiz, Manager, Compensation, Lackey
We heard earlier today that the Red Sox have yet to make a formal contract offer to Jonathan Papelbon. Now let's round up another handful of offseason items out of Boston….
- Boston has yet to make a contract offer to David Ortiz but the sides are expected to speak soon, possibly tomorrow, a source familiar with the talks told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.
- The Red Sox will begin to interview managerial candidates early this week, starting with Pete Mackanin and Dale Sveum, according to WEEI's Rob Bradford.
- With Bud Selig looking more likely to intervene in discussions between the Red Sox and Cubs on Theo Epstein compensation, ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider link) predicts that the Sox won't get much for their former GM. Olney writes that the league has attempted to "tamp down the perceived value of executives," and that a huge return for Epstein wouldn't be consistent with those efforts.
- A source tells Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald that the Red Sox attempted to convince John Lackey to get Tommy John surgery as early as April, but the right-hander refused.
- In his weekly column for the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo surveys executives and evaluators, asking whether a club might sign David Ortiz to play first base this winter. The answers ranged from "no way" to "he's athletic enough to be able to pull it off."
- From the team's perspective, there's no rush to try to lock up Jacoby Ellsbury to a long-term extension, argues Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.
148 Players File For Free Agency
148 players filed for free agency today, according to an MLBPA press release. This year's class includes headliners such as Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes, and C.J. Wilson. Adam Rubin has the full list of players mentioned in the release at ESPN New York.
Teams have until Thursday at 12:01am ET to exclusively negotiate with their own free agents. If an agreement isn't reached by that point, players are free to sign with any team. Player and team options must be exercised or declined by 11:59pm ET on Monday night, meaning a few more names will be added to the list of free agents at that point.
You can view MLBTR's complete list of free agents here and keep tabs all winter long on who signs where with our Free Agent Tracker.