Happy Halloween to MLBTR's readers! We've already seen C.C. Sabathia sign an extension and Tony La Russa retire today. Here are some more updates from around MLB…
- Rays left-hander David Price opted out of the contract he signed when Tampa Bay drafted him, according to Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune. He's still under team control through 2015 as an arbitration eligible player, however. Price could earn $7-8MM in 2012 through arbitration according to MLBTR's projections, so declining his $2.433MM option was merely a formality.
- David Aardsma, who became a free agent today, wouldn't rule out returning to the Mariners, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times (on Twitter).
- Agent Matt Sosnick told Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group that he expects Josh Willingham to sign a three-year deal and doesn’t expect his client to re-sign with the Athletics (Twitter link).
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that Yankees executive Billy Eppler was the runner-up to Jerry Dipoto in the Angels' search for a GM (Twitter link).
- The White Sox announced that they hired Jeff Manto to be their hitting coach, Joe McEwing to be their third base coach and Mark Parent to be their bench coach (Twitter link).
- Dave Cameron introduces FanGraphs' top 50 free agents of the offseason. MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents is on its way as well.
Willingham to the sox would be cool
Willingham’s agent expects a three year deal…. good luck on that!
Billy Eppler was the runner-up in the Angels GM Sweepstakes! Hey, Billy how do you feel about that? Nothing like 2nd Place!
Aardsma… has no where else to go in other words
Or maybe he actually just likes Seattle?
AA needs to trade the house for David Price
With that salary increase the Rays could be forced to trade him. They already have Hellickson and Moore,
Price would be way way wayyyy too expensive. and very doubtful he would be traded within the division.
Exactly.. 26YO dominant #1 SP who is a lefty, with just 3 years of service time? Toronto, nor most other teams don’t have the talent to acquire this guy.
Price will be a super 2 arbitration eligible, so a trade would be for 4 years of control for a #1 starter.
Even more reason to hang onto him. Price voiding his option years will just lead to the Rays negotiating another extension with him. Look at past good starters they have had, along with most of the top players who were young. Crawford, Longoria, Shields.. They have locked them up to affordable contracts past the 6 year service time on many occasions and have a feeling they will surely do the same with Price.. He is not going anywhere.
Not only is that probably one of the most improbable moves that could possibly occur. But it would be a very foolish move for the Jays as it would command their entire farm plus major league talent.
You’d probably have an easier time acquiring James Shields than David Price. Shields has one year left on his contract , whereas Price has 4 years before he can become a free agent. That said, Shields should come “cheaper” than Price, but it will still cost a lot to get him.
Shields has club options through 2014.
Aardsma is looking like a mid-summer return anyway. I’d say sign a pro-rated deal with Seattle and get your value up.
Plenty of ink in the Denver Post that Willingham would be a likely target for the Rockies this winter. They have a glaring need for an additional bat from the right side, and Seth Smith has shown that he’s just not an everyday player.
David Price was at the Blackhawks game today. I’m not sure what that might mean.
It means he’s a hockey fan
Fair enough. I thought it was kind of odd for him to be there.