Michael Young Wants Out Of Texas
After hearing his name in countless trade rumors and seeing his infield position filled by Adrian Beltre, Michael Young has "grown disillusioned with his diminished role" on the Rangers and wants out of Texas, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown. According to Brown, Texas has told Young that they will push to trade him in the coming days.
The Rockies and Angels remain the primary potential destinations for Young. Any trade would have to include salary relief, as he's owed $48MM over the next three years. Young would likely slot in as the everyday second baseman in Colorado or the everyday third baseman in LA, though Texas would probably prefer to avoid dealing him within the division. We heard yesterday that Jose Lopez would be a part of Colorado's latest offer.
Young's name originally hit the trade rumor circuit back at the Winter Meetings when he was first connected to the Rockies. The longtime Ranger has a lifetime .300/.347/.448 slash line and has played second base, shortstop, and third base regularly at various points throughout his career.
Million Dollar Minor League Deals
Last night, MLBTR's Mike Axisa took a look at a list of fifteen players who have signed Major League deals this offseason but failed to secure themselves a guarantee of $1MM. While we don't have the exact figures on all minor league signings, it's interesting to see that so far nine players have signed minor league deals with larger guarantees should they make their club's Major League roster, as shown on MLBTR's Transaction Tracker:
- Joe Beimel: $1.75MM with the Pirates
- Freddy Garcia: $1.5MM with the Yankees
- Andrew Miller: $1.3MM with the Red Sox
- Felipe Lopez: $1MM with the Rays
- Dave Bush: $1MM with the Rangers
- Braden Looper: $1MM with the Cubs
- Jeff Suppan: $1MM with the Giants
- Jason Giambi: $1MM with the Rockies
- Jose Veras: $1MM with the Pirates
Some interesting takeaways from this list:
- The largest minor league contract this season so far was given out to a left-handed reliever. This is Beimel's fourth career minor league deal, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts.
- Three of the players — Bush, Looper, and Suppan — were all members of the same Brewers' rotation in 2009. The trio combined for 470 2/3 innings of 5.53 ERA ball.
- While the move was praised at the time, Boston's plan to acquire Lopez in the hopes of obtaining a supplemental draft pick for him didn't pan out because he signed a minor league deal.
Like the list of six-figure Major League guarantees, this could and likely will grow as Spring Training approaches. Remember too that each of these deals includes incentives to carry them beyond their base. Garcia, for example, could earn up to $5.1MM if he pitches a full, effective season in the Bronx.
The list serves as an interesting reminder that while minor league deals are often times an afterthought, they can still provide lucrative paydays if the recipient performs well.
Indians Notes: LaPorta, Sizemore, Rotation, Chisenhall
Even on a day filled with football news, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has a pair of Indians articles up filled with some information on what we can expect from the Tribe in 2011. Let's look at some highlights:
- The upcoming season will play a large role in gauging the return that the Indians got from the C.C. Sabathia trade. Both Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley are expected to play full seasons as part of Cleveland's rebuilding efforts. LaPorta, who recently turned 26, is fully healthy unlike 2010 when he underwent two mid-season surgeries.
- Both Grady Sizemore and Fausto Carmona could be traded if they perform well in the first half. Sizemore is more likely, given that he's only under Cleveland's control through 2012 (the $8.5MM club option on his deal becomes a player option if he's traded). Carmona is through 2014 through a series of club options.
- The club is still interested in both Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Bonderman, though Hoynes says the Indians haven't changed their stance on Millwood's asking price; they don't want to invest $4MM-$5MM.
- Lonnie Chisenhall will open the season at Triple-A Columbus no matter what, according to Hoynes. He has a chance to push some current big-leaguers eventually, as do Jason Kipnis, Jared Goedert, and Cord Phelps. Keith Law recently ranked Chisenhall as the game's 39th best prospect. Kipnis placed 56th.
This Date In Transactions History: February 6th
14 years ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed an 18-year-old pitcher named Jose Valverde as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic. Before eventually being traded to the Astros, Valverde spent over a decade in the Diamondbacks' organization, culminating in a 2007 season in which he earned his first All-Star berth and received MVP and Cy Young votes. Let's take a look back at some other notable moves that took place on February 6th over the years….
- In 2009, the Dodgers inked Randy Wolf to a one-year deal with a base salary of $5MM. Wolf ended up earning another $3MM in innings bonuses, racking up 214 1/3 IP in a career-high 34 starts. The left-hander parlayed his strong season into a three-year, $29.75MM contract with the Brewers last winter.
- The Rays signed Eric Hinske to a one-year contract worth $800K in 2008, a big step down from Hinske's 2007 salary ($5.625MM). However, the former Rookie of the Year proved to be not only a bargain, but something of a good luck charm, as his 20 homers helped get the Rays to the World Series – it was the second of three consecutive seasons in which the American League champion had Hinske on its roster.
- On February 6th, 2004, Ivan Rodriguez signed what will be the last eight-figure contract of his career, agreeing to a four-year, $40MM deal with the Tigers. While Pudge's offensive production had slipped by the end of the contract, his 2004 campiagn ranks among his best; the backstop hit .334/.383/.510 and earned his 11th Gold Glove.
- In 2003, the Yankees made a big international splash by locking up Cuban defector Jose Contreras to a $32MM deal. Contreras ultimately ended up winning three games in the 2005 postseason en route to a World Series title. Of course, by then he was pitching for the White Sox, who acquired him at 2004's trade deadline for Esteban Loaiza.
- 1998 featured arguably the most eventful February 6th in baseball transactions history, when both New York clubs made major trades on the same day. The Yankees shipped Cristian Guzman, Eric Milton, Danny Mota, Brian Buchanan, and cash to Minnesota in exchange for Chuck Knoblauch. Across town, the Mets acquired Al Leiter and Ralph Millard from the Marlins for A.J. Burnett, Jesus Sanchez, and Rob Stratton. It's hard to argue that either New York team lost their respective deals – besides Burnett, none of the players the Yankees and Mets gave up turned into above-average big league contributors. In New York, Leiter recorded a 3.42 ERA in 1360 career innings for the Mets; meanwhile, though Knoblauch's throwing troubles began in 1999 and he and Jeter weren't quite the legendary double-play combo that people expected, the second baseman's arrival in the Bronx coincided with the start of three straight World Series victories.
- Finally, 1895 easily trumped even 1998 in terms of impact on baseball history. No transactions occurred, but a future icon was born on this day in Baltimore, 116 years ago: Babe Ruth.
- Other players involved in February 6th transactions include Jason Varitek, Bengie Molina, Ellis Burks, Eric Karros, Darren Oliver, Tim Raines, and, way back in 1934, Dazzy Vance.
Rockies Notes: Young, Tulowitzki, Street
While the Rockies have been linked to Michael Young in recent trade rumors, reports differ on the likelihood of the Rox consummating a deal with the Rangers. For what it's worth, ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider required) asked five talent evaluators for their opinions on Young, and the responses suggested he'd be a good fit in Colorado. The majority felt that second base was the most appropriate infield position for Young, and though two evaluators expressed concern about the veteran's home/road splits, Coors Field is one of baseball's few stadiums that's as hitter-friendly as the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Here are the rest of this morning's Rockies-related links:
- Within a Denver Post piece about Troy Tulowitzki's offseason, Troy Renck says the shortstop is hoping the Rockies bring in another veteran hitter. There aren't a ton of free agent bats left, though Young would qualify as a second base upgrade.
- Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post wonders if Huston Street's days in Colorado could be numbered. The Rockies closer is under contract through 2012, with a 2013 option, but Armstrong suggests that the multiyear deals awarded to Matt Lindstrom and Rafael Betancourt give the club the flexibility to move Street if they want to.
Cafardo’s Latest: Pettitte, Millwood, Blanton
Even now that Andy Pettitte has announced his retirement, it seems the debate over whether he'll pitch again won't die. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe talked to one scout who, following Pettitte's press conference, was still unconvinced the left-hander is done for good.
"I get the feeling his career isn’t over. For one, he can still pitch at a high level. Secondly, he didn’t retire with any conviction. The stuff about going back and forth on whether or not to pitch leads me to believe he’ll decide to pitch again."
Whether or not the scout is on to something, the Yankees are looking elsewhere for starting pitching. Cafardo has a couple notes on their search among this week's hot stove updates….
- We heard yesterday that the Indians were "making progress" with Kevin Millwood, who is talking to multiple clubs. Cafardo names the Yankees, Mets, and Tribe as teams still in on the right-hander, with salary as the primary hang-up. Given Scott Boras' success so far this offseason, it would actually be somewhat surprising if he and Millwood don't eventually get what they're asking for.
- The Yanks will "see what they have" with pitchers like Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, and Sergio Mitre before they consider trading for someone like Joe Blanton.
- The Red Sox are eyeing former Yankee Alfredo Aceves as a potential injury rehab project.
- According to Cafardo, it would be the "shock of the century" if Adrian Gonzalez and the Red Sox don't come to terms on a contract extension by the end of Spring Training.
Make Or Break Year: Jonathan Broxton
About eighth months ago, Jonathan Broxton of the Dodgers was arguably the most dominant reliever in the game. He started the 2010 season with career numbers that were straight out of a video game: 11.92 K/9, 3.58 BB/9, 45.6% grounders, and a .204/.287/.304 batting line against in 317 innings. The Dodgers had every reason to be confident when they had a lead in the ninth inning.
The 2010 season started and Broxton was performing just like he had during his entire career, if not better. Through his first 33 appearances, he struck out 48 and walked just five in 32 2/3 innings, leading to a 0.48 ERA. But then things started to go bad. Broxton blew a four-run lead against the Yankees on June 27th, throwing a career-high 48 pitches in the inning. He was never the same the rest of the season.
Broxton pitched to a 7.58 ERA the rest of the way, walking nearly as many batters (23) and he struck out (25) in 29 2/3 innings. Batters tagged him to the tune of .325/.437/.479, and he blew five of 11 save opportunities. By the end of the season, Hong-Chih Kuo and Kenley Jansen were getting ninth inning work while Broxton handled middle relief.
Whether it's a coincidence or the sign of something bigger, that game against the Yankees marks a turning point for Broxton. His trademark velocity had been down that month (relatively speaking), so maybe the crack in the dam finally gave way that game. Now that he's closing in on free agency, Broxton needs to show his old form if he wants to land a major pay day after the 2011 season.
Luckily for him, he's still extremely young, not celebrating his 27th birthday until June. New manager Don Mattingly has indicated that Broxton will be his closer to at least start the season, so he's going to have an opportunity to put the struggles behind him and re-establish himself as one of the game's best bullpeners.
Quick Hits: Vlad, Brewers, Yankees, Pujols
Nine years ago today, MLB announced it had withdrawn its plan to contract the Twins and Expos due to legal issues and major opposition from the players' union. Minnesota has won six division titles and moved into Target Field since then, and they now boast a $100MM+ payroll. The Expos have since relocated to Washington and moved into Nationals Park, and this winter they handed out their first $100MM+ contract.
Here's some links for Saturday…
- Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports (on Twitter) that Vladimir Guerrero is scheduled to take his physical with the Orioles this upcoming Friday in Baltimore.
- Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio spoke to Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel about letting talent dictate the team's payroll as opposed to spending for the sake of spending.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman wasn't terribly interested in the starters that were left on the open market after Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies, writes Chad Jennings of The LoHud Yankees Blog.
- In today's blog post at ESPN (Insider req'd), Buster Olney says there does not to appear to have been much progress in talks about a long-term contract extension between the Cardinals and Albert Pujols. The Spring Training deadline is about two weeks away.
- Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun says the Guerrero signing has created some questions, such as what the Orioles' Opening Day payroll will be.
- Minor league contract signees Eric Chavez and Ronnie Belliard will compete with four homegrown players for two spots on the Yankees' bench according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, but he notes that Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez have an advantage because they can play shortstop.
Michael Young Rumors: Saturday
In today's blog post at ESPN (Insider req'd), Buster Olney notes that something has changed in the relationship between Michael Young and Rangers, possibly because of trade talk this winter. He speculates that the Athletics and Blue Jays could be fits in a deal. Let's keep tabs on the latest regarding Texas and their third baseman here throughout the day…
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says the Dodgers are interested in Young, but their unstable ownership situation is standing in the way.
- A well placed source told Renck (via Twitter) that he doesn't think the Rockies will get Young. Renck also hears (via Twitter) that the Rockies would need Texas to eat $20MM or more in a deal.
- A source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that talks between the Rangers and Rockies have reached an "advanced stage," and a trade could come as soon as Monday. Texas is not talking to any other club, and a source confirmed that Jose Lopez is in the latest offer.
- Renck says it's "very, very unlikely" that Dexter Fowler would be involved (on Twitter).
- Troy Renck of The Denver Post reports that the Rangers have not reached out to Rockies as of Friday, contradicting what we heard yesterday.
- Renck notes (on Twitter) that Colorado would be willing to give up Lopez in a trade, but not Aaron Cook. That is subject to change, however. The Rox are understandably leery of surrendering big league starting pitching.
The Six-Figure Contract Club
Big money contracts rule the offseason and rumor circuit, which is why Ben Nicholson-Smith recently recapped the 20 biggest free agent deals of the offseason. Three players signed for $100MM+, four others signed for $50MM+, and five others signed for $30MM+. Not everyone is that lucky though.
As MLBTR's Free Agent Tracker shows, a total of 15 players have signed guaranteed one-year contracts worth less than a million bucks this winter. That does not include minor league contracts, incentives, or option years. As Spring Training draws closer, you can expect to see more players added to this pool. Here's a list of those 15 players, sorted by highest contract value to lowest…
- Dustin Moseley: $900K with the Padres.
- Joel Peralta: $900K with the Rays.
- Fred Lewis: $900K with the Reds.
- Matt Albers: $880K with the Red Sox.
- Matt Treanor: $850K with the Rangers.
- Jorge Cantu: $850K with the Padres.
- Wil Nieves: $775K with the Brewers.
- Brian Tallet: $750K with the Cardinals.
- Ryan Rowland-Smith: $720K with the Astros.
- Justin Duchscherer: $700K with the Orioles.
- Nick Punto: $700K with the Cardinals.
- Tony Gwynn Jr.: $675K with the Dodgers.
- Jay Gibbons: $650K with the Dodgers.
- Taylor Buchholz: $600K with the Mets.
- Scott Olsen: $500K with the Pirates.
All but Treanor, Cantu, Punto, Duchscherer, and Gibbons were non-tendered. Moseley, Albers, Nieves, Rowland-Smith, Gwynn, and Buchholz all remain under team control beyond 2011 as arbitration-eligible players.