Joey Votto Agrees To Extension With Reds
The Reds have officially agreed to a three-year extension with Joey Votto, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter). MLB.com's Mark Sheldon first reported the agreement. The deal, which is a pending a physical scheduled for Monday, will be worth $38MM. Votto is represented by Dan Lozano.
Votto will earn $5.5MM in 2011, $9.5MM in '12m and $17MM mil in '13 along with a $6MM signing bonus, according to Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter). The first baseman was entering his first season of arbitration eligibility, so the contract will cover the remaining three years of team control. Because the extension only buys out his arbitration seasons, the 27-year-old will still be able to become a free agent after the 2013 season.
Following an MVP campaign in 2010, Votto would have been in line for a massive raise through arbitration. When MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith examined Votto's potential 2011 salary last August, he found that the first baseman's numbers stacked up favorably to other sluggers who received $7MM+ in their first arbitration eligible seasons.
Taking into account Votto's strong finish and MVP award, his 2011 cost likely would have been even higher than $7MM, and would only have increased over the next two years. With this deal, the arbitration process will be avoided, providing both sides with some cost certainty. While $38MM is a significant price to pay for three non-free agent years, it's not unprecedented – Ryan Howard earned $44MM from the Phillies over his first three arbitration seasons.
Votto's deal is the third major extension the Reds have agreed to this winter. In December, Bronson Arroyo signed a three-year, $35MM contract to remain in Cincinnati, and Jay Bruce signed for six years and $51MM.
SI.com's Jon Heyman first reported that Votto and the Reds were "working hard" on a three-year extension.
Blue Jays Sign Jon Rauch
The Blue Jays announced that they signed Jon Rauch to a one-year deal that pays the reliever $3.5MM in 2011 and includes a club option for $3.75MM in 2012. There's a $250K buyout for the 2012 option, so the deal is worth a total of $3.75MM in guaranteed money, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
Rauch posted a 3.12 ERA with 7.2 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 and a 37.7% ground ball rate in 57 2/3 innings for the Twins last year. The 32-year-old has always been a fly ball pitcher and the Blue Jays play in homer-friendly Rogers Centre. The combination isn't ideal, but the Blue Jays needed dependable arms after losing Kevin Gregg and Scott Downs to free agency. Rauch has made 50 appearances or more in each of the last five seasons.
The Blue Jays have already added Carlos Villanueva and Octavio Dotel to their bullpen this offseason.
The Twins did not offer the Type B free agent arbitration after the season, so they will not receive a pick for losing the 6'11'' hurler. The Blue Jays do not forfeit a pick for signing Rauch.
Rockies, Lindstrom Agree To Two-Year Deal
The Rockies agreed to a two-year deal with Matt Lindstrom, avoiding arbitration, according to the team (on Twitter). The $6.6MM deal includes a club option for a third year, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter links). Lindstrom will earn $2.8MM in 2011 and $3.6MM in 2012 with a club option for $4MM in 2013, according to Renck.
Lindstrom was arbitration eligible for the second time after earning $1.63MM in 2010. This extension covers his two remaining seasons as an arbitraiton eligible player and the option covers his first season of free agency.
The Rockies acquired the right-hander from the Astros this winter after he posted a 4.39 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 53 1/3 innings. Along with Lindstrom, Matt Belisle (who also avoided arbitration with the Rockies), Huston Street and Rafael Betancourt provide manager Jim Tracy with a number of proven late-inning options.
Ian Stewart, Felipe Paulino and Jason Hammel are the team's remaining unsigned arbitration eligible players, as MLBTR's Arb Tracker shows.
Rockies To Re-Sign Jason Giambi
The Rockies announced that they have agreed to a minor league deal with Jason Giambi (Twitter link). The agreement, which is pending a physical, includes an invitation to big league camp for the WMG client. Giambi will earn $1MM in 2011 if he makes the team, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
Giambi hit .244/.378/.398 with six homers and 35 walks in 222 plate appearances for the Rockies last year. The 40-year-old left-handed batter isn't a natural complement to first baseman Todd Helton, or a viable defender at this point in his career. The Rockies have already added infielders Jose Lopez and Ty Wigginton this offseason, but Giambi will provide the team with depth.
AL East Links: Pettitte, Cashman, Chavez, Red Sox
The latest on the AL East, as teams turn their attention to arbitration eligible players and possible bargains on the free agent market…
- A Yankees source told Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com that the team's optimism about Andy Pettitte's potential return has diminished in the past week. The team has been in touch with Pettitte, but they aren't counting on him to return.
- Despite the suggestion that the Yankees' deal with Rafael Soriano was ownership-driven, the Yankees have "full confidence" in GM Brian Cashman, a senior Yankees executive told Matthews. We heard over the weekend that Cashman has full backing from the Steinbrenner family.
- Blue Jays manager John Farrell confirmed to MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm that the Blue Jays are interested in Eric Chavez. Farrell says he heard good things about the third baseman, who worked out for the Blue Jays recently.
- Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe suggests we'll see a flurry of signings today, since teams would prefer not to exchange figures with their arbitration eligible players. Jonathan Papelbon and Jacoby Ellsbury are Boston's unsigned arbitration eligible players.
Nationals To Sign Alex Cora
The Nationals agreed to sign Alex Cora to a minor league deal worth $900K plus $600K in incentives, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post (on Twitter). MLB.com's Bill Ladson first reported that the Nats were in serious talks with the Scott Boras client.
Cora played all four infield positions in 2010, though most of his big league experience has come at second and short. The 35-year-old hit .210/.266/.278 with the Mets and Rangers last year, before Texas released him in September.
The Mets finalized a deal with former Nationals utility player Willie Harris today, so the NL East rivals are swapping utility players in a way. Harris was a member of the Nationals from 2008-10 and Cora suited up for the Mets from 2009-10.
As Kilgore points out (on Twitter), at least nine Boras clients are in the Nationals organization. Cora joins Ivan Rodriguez, Rick Ankiel, Danny Espinosa, Jesus Flores, Alberto Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth.
Olney On Sizemore, Jones, Votto, Pujols
Grady Sizemore tells ESPN.com’s Buster Olney that it's "miserable" to have to sit and watch others play. The center fielder, who is on track to be ready for Opening Day after microfracture knee surgery, says he can't wait to return to the playing field. Here are Olney’s thoughts on Sizemore, plus rumors from around the league:
- Sizemore’s contract includes an $8.5MM option for 2012, so within a year the Indians will have to decide whether to exercise the option, let him hit free agency or trade him.
- The Yankees are the frontrunners for Andruw Jones, Olney reports (on Twitter).
- Joey Votto’s three-year, $38MM extension makes sense for both sides, in Olney’s opinion.
- It’s apparent that talks between the Cardinals and Albert Pujols “are not going as smoothly as the Cardinals want,” Olney writes. Click here to vote on Pujols’ future in St. Louis.
Mets Sign Willie Harris
The Mets have signed Willie Harris to a minor league deal and invited him to Spring Training, according to the team. Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com first reported the agreement. The utility player will have a good chance of making the team's Opening Day roster, Rubin writes.
We heard last week that Harris had two offers and would not return to Washington, where he played from 2008-10. Harris played all three outfield positions and backed up at third base last year. The 32-year-old posted a .183/.291/.362 line with 10 homers in 262 plate appearances. Harris bats from the left side and generally maintains an above-average strikeout to walk ratio.
The Mets, who had been looking for a fourth outfielder, now figure to continue their search for starting pitching.
Poll: The Cardinals & Albert Pujols
The Cardinals have until Spring Training to work out an extension with Albert Pujols. Since he's the face of the franchise and arguably the best player in the game, there's a fair amount of pressure on the team not to let the slugger hit free agency. After all, the bidding for a three-time MVP coming off of consecutive home run titles would likely accelerate in no time. Now, the Cards have exclusive negotiating rights with their first baseman.
With just one season remaining on his current contract, Pujols has a fair amount of leverage. If the Cardinals don't meet his demands, he can resist their overtures and wait for other clubs to enter the bidding after the season. And a player of Pujols' caliber could potentially ask for an Alex Rodriguez-like deal on the open market.
Which means everyone wants to know the answer to this question:
Will the Cardinals extend Albert Pujols?
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Yes - he'll get at least $200M, but he won't sign a record deal 42% (7,006)
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Yes - but they'll have to pay him A-Rod money ($275MM) or more 30% (5,041)
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No - he'll hit free agency after the season 21% (3,463)
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Yes - the Cards will lock him up for under $200MM 7% (1,140)
Total votes: 16,650
Mets Closing In On Deal With Chris Young
The Mets are closing in on a deal with Chris Young, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The deal is pending a physical. That could be more than a formality for Young, who missed most of last season with a shoulder strain before pitching in September.
Reports earlier in the month suggested Young was nearing a decision and willing to accept less than $2MM in guaranteed money. A deal with the Mets would reunite him with two of his former Padres bosses, current Mets execs Sandy Alderson and Paul DePodesta.
This post was first published January 17th.