Quick Hits: Overbay, Accardo, Diamond, Astros
Links for Sunday, as Opening Day inches a little closer….
- Ken Fidlin of The Toronto Sun spoke to Lyle Overbay, who said several teams showed interest in him this offseason, but "Pittsburgh was real aggressive." Overbay joined the Pirates on a one-year deal worth $5MM.
- Jeremy Accardo told Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun that the Orioles made it obvious how highly they valued him when they pursued him this offseason. "I'm happy to get a new, fresh start, a fresh look, a fresh mindset," said Accardo. "I think I stumbled into something pretty special here."
- The Twins are high on Scott Diamond, their Rule V Draft pick, and could swing a trade with the Braves to keep Diamond but send him to Triple-A, tweets Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
- Jordan Lyles could win the Astros' fifth starter job out of Spring Training, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. Lyles, just 20 years old, was selected 38th in the 2008 draft — a supplemental pick for losing Trever Miller to free agency. His main competition includes Nelson Figueroa and Ryan Rowland-Smith.
- Jason Giambi may have been joking when he informed Troy Renck of the Denver Post that he was going to try to stick around until teammate Troy Tulowitzki's contract expires in 2020. However, Giambi told SI.com's Jon Heyman that he does plan to play for as long as he can (Twitter links).
- After his two-year extension with the White Sox was announced, Matt Thornton spoke about the deal and expressed a desire to finish his career in Chicago. Scott Reifert has the details and quotes at MLB.com.
- In his latest Indians mailbag, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer discusses the signings of Orlando Cabrera and Chad Durbin, as well as the possibility of a Fausto Carmona trade.
- One of the minor leaguers the Marlins acquired in last summer's Jorge Cantu trade saw his first game action today since returning from Tommy John surgery, writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
Highest Paid Players Of The Last Three Decades
It's no secret that baseball player salaries have exploded over the last two decades, but just how much? With some help from the USA Today Salary Database, let's look at the game's highest paid players from last season, ten seasons ago, and twenty seasons ago…
2010
- Alex Rodriguez– $32MM
- CC Sabathia - $23MM
- Derek Jeter - $22.6MM
- Mark Teixeira - $20.625MM
- Johan Santana - $20.145MM
- Miguel Cabrera - $20MM
- Carlos Beltran - $19.402MM
- Ryan Howard, Carlos Lee & Alfonso Soriano - $19MM
- Carlos Zambrano - $18.875MM
- John Lackey - $18.7MM
Four Yankees occupy the top spots, and six New York players are in the top seven. Ichiro Suzuki, Barry Zito, Torii Hunter, and Manny Ramirez were the only other players to pull down more than $18MM last season.
2000
- Kevin Brown – $15.714MM
- Randy Johnson – $13.6MM
- Albert Belle – $13MM
- Bernie Williams – $12.357MM
- Larry Walker – $12.143MM
- Mike Piazza – $12.071MM
- David Cone – $12MM
- Pedro Martinez – $11.5MM
- Mo Vaughn – $11.167MM
- Sammy Sosa – $11MM
Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, Raul Mondesi, and Jeter make up the rest of the eight-figure club.
1990
- Robin Yount – $3.2MM
- Kirby Puckett – $2.817MM
- Roger Clemens & Paul Molitor – $2.6MM
- Eddie Murray – $2.514MM
- Don Mattingly – $2.5MM
- Will Clark & Rickey Henderson – $2.25MM
- Tom Browning, Mark Davis & Teddy Higuera – $2.125MM
- Eric Davis, Andre Dawson, Kent Hrbek & Jack Morris – $2.1MM
- Pedro Guerrero & Kevin Mitchell – $2.083MM
- Mark Gubicza – $2.066MM
Tim Raines wasn't far off the list at $2.055MM, and at least six other players earned no less than $2MM that season.
The top ten salaries in the game have nearly doubled over the last ten years, and they've increased ten-fold over the last 20 years. Albert Pujols could very well land the first contract with a $30MM average annual value next winter; how long will it be before we see a $40MM a year player, maybe ten years? Based on the recent inflation, it could be sooner.
Mets Notes: Rodriguez, Reyes, Finances, Wright
Let's check out the latest Mets-related links, as Carlos Beltran makes his spring debut vs. the Red Sox….
- Brian Costa of The Wall Street Journal explains one interesting way in which the Mets could avoid having Francisco Rodriguez's $17.5MM option for 2012 vest. K-Rod needs to finish 55 games this season to trigger the option.
- All signs point to Jose Reyes playing for a team other than the Mets in 2012, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman talked to five non-Mets executives and not one expects to see New York re-sign Reyes. As we heard yesterday from SI.com's Jon Heyman, Reyes' OBP will be a major consideration as the Mets contemplate their future with the shortstop.
- In a separate piece, Sherman wonders whether we'll see a full-fledged fire sale from the Mets, with the Wilpons attempting to keep control of the team. Two rival execs that spoke to Sherman said it would be wise for the organization to cut payroll nearly in half for 2012. If the club were to go in that direction, deciding whether to try to extend or trade David Wright would be the toughest call, says Sherman.
- Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times examines why the Mets and Dodgers, two franchises with ownership uncertainties, are being treated differently by Bud Selig.
MLBTR Originals: 2/27/11 – 3/6/11
Time to recap the original content posted here at MLBTR over the last seven days…
- Tim Dierkes' offseason in review series continues with the Padres, Orioles, Reds, and Mariners.
- Ben Nicholson-Smith interviewed Matt Purke of TCU, who is expected to be a high draft pick this June.
- Ben also penned a guest post at FanGraphs focusing on the Tigers' rotation depth. He also listed the youngest remaining free agents and explained that contract extension season isn't over.
- Mark Polishuk looked at some catching options for the Astros in the wake of Jason Castro's injury.
- I wondered aloud if James Shields will be the next Rays' starter to get traded, and also listed some players that signed contract extensions before playing a game with their new team.
- Our series looking at players in make or break years continued with Carlos Beltran of the Mets.
- This week's poll questions asked you which non-tendered player will most help their new team and when the Royals will trot out their next winning team.
- Howard Megdal's latest Jack of all Trades post explored some non-roster invitees.
- I rounded up the best the blogosphere had to offer in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
- This week's chat transcript can be found here.
Poll: Which Non-Tender Will Provide Biggest Benefit?
Every year players are non-tendered for many reasons; perhaps they’re injured, have grown too expensive, or just simply aren’t performing well. Whatever the case, these players add sometimes unexpected options to the free agent market and often yield bargain results.
Kelly Johnson has to be figured as the prize of last offseason’s non-tender crop. The Braves decided to cut the then 27-year-old loose, and he rewarded the Diamondbacks with a .284/.370/.486 line. Johnson belted 26 home runs, swiped 13 bags, played nearly 1300 innings of strong defense, and totaled 6 WAR according to Fangraphs — all for $2.35MM.
Let’s not forget Mike Rizzo’s dealings either. The Nats’ GM signed Matt Capps for just $3.5MM and flipped him to the Twins at the deadline to receive Wilson Ramos and Joe Testa. Ramos was ranked as the Twins’ #4 prospect and the game’s #58 prospect entering the 2010 season. Not a bad ROI for a low-risk move on Rizzo’s part.
According to MLBTR’s Transaction Tracker, 52 players were non-tendered this year. Some of the more interesting cases include Bobby Jenks (now in Boston), Russell Martin (now a Yankee), Joel Peralta (now a Ray), Jack Cust (now a Mariner), Dustin Moseley (now a Padre), and George Sherrill (now a Brave). All six of these players saw either strong 2010 seasons or have experienced success at the Major League level. Looking at this season and beyond, let’s pose the question:
Week In Review: 2/27/11 – 3/5/11
Let's take a look at the last week as we continue to creep up on the 2011 season…
- The Cardinals may have lost Adam Wainwright for the year, but they'll wait two weeks before making a big push for a replacement starter. Wainwright's teammate, Chris Carpenter, clarified his comments that he'd accept a trade. He said that while he wouldn't hold the Cardinals back from such a move, he's not looking to be traded and expects his team to contend, even without his fellow ace.
- Cards' GM John Mozeliak may have difficulty finding any help, though. Just ask Yankees' GM Brian Cashman. According to Cashman, "nobody's available" on the trade market. The Yankees have been connected to Francisco Liriano on and off, and we heard a report this week the the Twins turned down an offer of Ramiro Pena and Ivan Nova.
- The Mariners acquired Aaron Laffey from the Indians in exchange for 25-year-old minor league infielder Matt Lawson. Seattle also signed its 2010 fourth-round pick James Paxton, who wasn't restricted by the August signing deadline because he played in the independent leagues in 2010.
- The Laffey trade was likely made in order to open a spot on Indians' 40-man-roster for Chad Durbin, who the Tribe signed for $800K on a Major League deal this week. Cleveland also signed Nick Johnson to a minor league deal this week.
- The Rangers agreed to a four-year extension with general manager Jon Daniels. Under Daniels, the Rangers have seen their win total increase for three straight seasons, culminating in their 2010 World Series berth.
- While no official extension was agreed, Orioles owner Peter Angelos said that Baltimore's president of baseball operations, Andy MacPhail, will likely be around beyond the 2011 season.
- Cody Ross may have spent less than half a season with the Giants, but he's already got a ring there and he wants to stay in San Francisco longterm. He and his agent approached the club about an extension at the onset of Spring Training.
- Scott Boras' client profile is constantly expanding, it seems. However, he lost one of his marquee names this week when Mark Teixeira dropped his services, saying their relationship had "run its course."
- Spring Training is hardly as active as the Winter Meetings or July trade deadline, but the Angels will still be looking to make something happen. They're on the lookout for a left-handed bat to add to their club.
- J.D. Drew is considering retirement following the 2011 season, but he was far from the only retirement news that surfaced this week. Garret Anderson officially called it a career, and Bob Howry filed his papers as well.
Matt Thornton, White Sox Agree To Extension
The White Sox and Matt Thornton have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with an option for a third year, according to a team release. The deal will pay Thornton $5.5MM annually in 2012 and 2013, while the club option for 2014 is worth $6MM ($1MM buyout). The contract will not affect Thornton's 2011 salary, as the Sox exercised their $3MM option in the fall.
Thornton, who is represented by Diamond Sports Management, has spent the last five seasons in Chicago, emerging as one of the top left-handed relievers in the game. The 34-year-old has recorded a 3.19 ERA and 10.1 K/9 in 336 appearances with the White Sox, and earned his first All-Star berth in 2010. Thornton is viewed as a front-runner to replace Bobby Jenks as the team's closer this season, with Chris Sale, Sergio Santos, and Jesse Crain also potentially in the mix.
The $12MM price tag for Thornton seems about right, considering how much American League teams have paid for southpaws in recent years. A year ago, the Orioles signed Mike Gonzalez to a two-year, $12MM contract, while this winter Brian Fuentes received a two-year, $10.5MM guarantee from the Athletics and the Angels locked up Scott Downs for three years and $15MM. Of course, those three lefties head into 2011 as setup men, so if Thornton ends up in closing in Chicago, his contract has the potential to be a bargain.
Twins Willing To Talk Slowey Trade
With few options remaining on the free agent market, teams in need of starting pitching help may have to put Minnesota GM Bill Smith on speed dial. ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider-only link) hears that the Twins are "very much willing" to discuss trading Kevin Slowey these days.
This isn't the first time we've heard reports about Slowey's potential availability. Joel Sherman of the New York Post wrote during the Winter Meetings that the Twins would consider moving the right-hander, particularly if Carl Pavano re-signed with the club – which, of course, he eventually did. More recently, Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune said that the Twins were more likely to deal Slowey than Francisco Liriano.
Sporting a career high of 160.1 IP in the bigs, Slowey isn't the sort of innings-eating workhorse a free agent like Kevin Millwood would be. However, the righty is just 26 years old, remains under team control through 2013, and has displayed impeccable control (1.5 BB/9) throughout his career. If the Twins are open to fielding offers, I'd expect the Yankees and Cardinals to be among the handful of clubs to kick the tires.
Cafardo On Rays, Cameron, Gonzalez, Hale
Jim Hickey has one of the most important roles in the American League this year, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. The Rays pitching coach is responsible for rebuilding a Rays bullpen that was depleted by free agency. Hickey says he expects at least one of the team's unheralded arms to break out unexpectedly, adding that if there's going to be a 2011 version of Joaquin Benoit, he'd put his money on Juan Cruz. Here are some of Cafardo's other Sunday notes:
- Domonic Brown has struggled this spring and is now set to undergo surgery on a broken hand. As such, Mike Cameron remains a potential fit for the Phillies. Cafardo argues that "the only problem with a Cameron-Phillies hookup is that he may be a very valuable member of the Red Sox now that he’s completely recovered from abdominal surgery."
- Alex Gonzalez doesn't like changing teams as much as he has in the last two seasons, and would have liked to stay in Toronto. Now that he's playing in Atlanta, the shortstop tells Cafardo that he'd "love to stay here for a long time." Gonzalez will be a free agent at season's end.
- DeMarlo Hale was interviewed for two managerial openings this past offseason, and Cafardo wonders if he'll be hired away from the Red Sox next winter. "Right now," Cafardo says, "there doesn’t appear to be an obvious place for a managerial change next season."
New York Notes: Mets, Piazza, Yankees, Aceves
Eight years ago today, the Yankees signed Ramon Ramirez to a minor league contract after winning his rights via the posting system with a $350K bid. Ramirez, then 21, had been with the Hiroshima Carp, appearing in just two games with them from 2002-2003.
Here's some links from the Big Apple…
- Bud Selig briefly spoke to SI.com's Jon Heyman (Twitter link) about the Mets' ownership and dire financial situation. "We're in unchartered waters. I talk to Fred (a lot), we just have to hope it works out," said the commissioner. The team is said to be seeking another loan on top of the $100MM it's already been granted by the league.
- Mike Piazza is helping coach Team Italy this spring, and he told ESPN New York's Adam Rubin and Newsday's David Lennon that he would like to own a team someday, but not necessarily the Mets (Twitter links). When asked if he's been contacted by anyone about owning a club, Piazza replied "I can't confirm or deny."
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe that he doesn't believe he'll be able to acquire a starter before the Opening Day, and perhaps not until June. "Normally anything of quality doesn't become available until after the June draft," said Cashman. "That's why you try and get as much as you can get accomplished in the winter. I know New York doesn't handle patience very well. But I'm from Kentucky, so it's a little easier for me to deal with."
- Cashman also spoke to Abraham about why the Yankees non-tendered Alfredo Aceves, who eventually signed with the Red Sox. "I offered him a minor league contract, that was it. I wasn't going to do anything more than that," said the GM. "Because of the back issue, we could not give him [a Major League contract]. He was throwing off the mound for us and he always hit a wall. So we ultimately continued to fail throughout the entire process to get him off the DL and active. He had a lot of success for a period of time, but then ultimately we'd had to take steps back and we'd have to shut him down and re-do the treatment."