Cardinals To Sign Batista, Snell
The Cardinals have agreed on minor league deals with Miguel Batista and Ian Snell, according to the club (via Twitter). Both right-handers will receive invitations to Spring Training.
Batista, 40 in February, turned in a 3.70 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9 for the Nationals last season. In 16 major league seasons with eight different clubs, Batista owns a 4.51 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9.
Snell, 29, was part of a seven-player swap between the Mariners and the Pirates in 2009. The hurler cleared waivers and accepted a Triple-A assignment after being DFA'd by the M's in June. Snell has a career 4.80 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9.
Phillies Sign Matt Anderson
The Phillies have signed Matt Anderson to a minor league deal, a source tells Jerry Crasnick of ESPN (via Twitter). Anderson was taken with the top pick in the 1997 draft by the Tigers.
Anderson, 34, appeared in 245 games for the Tigers from 1998 to 2003. The right-hander registered a 4.89 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 during that span. He last pitched in the majors in 2005 for the Rockies where he was called on in 12 games. Anderson's last stint in affiliated baseball came in 2008 when he saw limited action with the White Sox's Triple-A affiliate.
Twins To Sign Jim Thome
The Twins agreed to a one-year deal with Jim Thome, the team announced. The SFX client gets a $3MM guarantee with incentives based on plate appearances, according to MLB.com's Kelly Thesier (on Twitter). The left-handed slugger turned down overtures from the Rangers to continue his pursuit of 600 homers in Minneapolis.
Thome was a welcome addition to the 2010 Twins. He hit 25 homers and posted a .283/.412/.627 line in 340 plate appearances. The 40-year-old was especially effective against right-handers (1.047 OPS), but he held his own against southpaws, too (.763 OPS).
Thome is 11 home runs away from reaching 600 and 20 away from matching Sammy Sosa for seventh place on the all-time list.
Royals To Sign Jeff Francis
The Royals have agreed to sign Jeff Francis to a one-year deal, the team announced. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick first reported the deal and adds that it's for $2MM guaranteed plus $2MM in incentives (Twitter link). The agreement with the Frontline client is pending a physical.
Francis drew interest from at least seven teams this offseason before agreeing to sign in Kansas City. The lefty logged 104 1/3 innings and posted a 5.00 ERA with 5.8 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and a healthy 46.8% ground ball rate last year. He missed the entire 2009 season as he recovered from shoulder surgery.
Once the Royals dealt Zack Greinke, their need for starting pitching became even more apparent. Their internal rotation candidates include Kyle Davies, Luke Hochevar, Sean O'Sullivan, Vin Mazzaro and Zach Miner, but GM Dayton Moore needed more starting pitching depth. Kansas City expressed interest in Kevin Millwood earlier in the winter and the Scott Boras client remains unsigned.
With Francis off the board and Carl Pavano nearing an agreement to return to Minnesota, there are virtually no free agent groundballers remaining.
As MLBTR's Transaction Tracker shows, the Royals have signed Jeff Francoeur and Melky Cabrera, traded David DeJesus and Greinke away and made a number of minor deals since the offseason began.
Previewing The Market For Prince Fielder
Earlier today we heard from Scott Boras, who is still trying to find a job for three of his highest profile clients this offseason. His biggest client next offseason, both literally and figuratively, will be Prince Fielder of the Brewers. The first baseman is due to earn upwards of $15MM in 2011, his final trip through the arbitration process, and he'll hit the open market after the season at just 27 years old.
Fielder's credentials are undeniable. He's hit .281/.395/.549 with 162 total home runs over the last four seasons, an average of just over 40 per season. Only Ryan Howard has gone deep more times since 2007, and only a handful of players boast better on-base percentages. Fielder's defense is generally below average and there are legitimate long-term concerns about his size and ability to play the field. His father Cecil Fielder had a similar build and had gone from being one of the game's best sluggers to merely above average by age 30.
Boras will have his work cut out for him, because three of baseball's biggest spenders (Yankees, Tigers, Phillies) already have first basemen locked up to nine-figure contracts. The Cardinals and Red Sox figure to join that group once extensions for Albert Pujols and Adrian Gonzalez are in place, respectively. Other clubs like the Reds, White Sox, Twins, and Nationals don't have a desperate need for a first baseman. Here are some of the clubs that could have interest in Fielder next offseason…
- Angels – Shut out of all the top free agents this winter, the Halos could be an aggressive player for Prince. They already have Kendry Morales at first however, meaning that they'd be locking one of the two into the DH spot for the foreseeable future. Their relationship with Boras isn't great either.
- Blue Jays – If Edwin Encarnacion or Adam Lind can't handle first in 2010, Toronto could try to make a big play for Fielder. It would go against everything Alex Anthopoulos has done to date though. They might also be preoccupied with trying to re-signing Jose Bautista by then as well.
- Cubs – The Cubbies added Carlos Pena on a one-year deal, so the position will be open next winter. Kosuke Fukudome's $14.5MM salary will be off the books as well, so the money seems to be there. We know they've been looking for lefty power for quite some time.
- Dodgers – Ned Colletti is somewhat limited by the team's ownership situation right now, but things could change in the next 12 months. Perhaps a new owner would like to make a big splash.
- Giants – Aubrey Huff just re-signed for two years but he can play other positions if needed, though if he does, it might be in deference of top prospect Brandon Belt. San Francisco will have to start thinking about a long-term extension for Tim Lincecum soon enough, and that is likely to eclipse $100MM.
- Mets – Sandy Alderson has limited his free agent spending this winter, but he'll have Carlos Beltran ($20.07MM), Oliver Perez ($12MM), and Luis Castillo ($6.25MM) coming off the payroll after next season. Some of that money might go to an extension for Jose Reyes, but signing Fielder could free them up to trade Ike Davis for help elsewhere.
- Orioles – The O's made a run at Mark Teixeira two winters ago, so we know they have the ability to support a $20MM a year player. Derrek Lee is on a one-year deal, and Andy MacPhail could choose to add that big power bat just as his young players start to mature.
- Rangers – Texas has still has some Cliff Lee money to spend, but this would still be a long shot. They have several players due sizable arbitration raises in the next two years (most notably Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz), and would probably need to unload Michael Young as well.
We shouldn't rule the Brewers out either, no matter how unlikely it seems. They made a representative offer to CC Sabathia after the 2008 season, so we know they have that kind of money available. Of course that was before they added Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum, and before signing both Corey Hart and Yovani Gallardo long-term. The market for Fielder still has another 11 months to develop, and plenty will change between now and then. At this moment though, there's no clear-cut suitor.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Quick Hits: Dodgers, Borders, Marlins, NL Central
Some links from around the league…
- Steve Dilbeck of The Los Angeles Times spoke to Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly, who said the team has zero interest in adding a lefty reliever just for the sake of it. They're looking for the best pitchers, regardless of what arm they throw with.
- The Dodgers released Pat Borders according to this week's edition of minor league transactions, courtesy of Baseball America's Matt Eddy. Yes, it's that Pat Borders. Click through for the story.
- Larry Stone of The Seattle Times took a look at some of last year's late signings that paid big dividends.
- Juan C. Rodriguez of The Sun Sentinel has the full list of players that the Marlins have signed to minor league contracts with invites to Spring Training. We heard about the four most notable players yesterday.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince wrote about how the competitive atmosphere in the NL Central has intensified this offseason.
Padres Close To Deal With Gregg Zaun
The Padres are close to a deal with free agent catcher Gregg Zaun, reports Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Earlier today we learned that San Diego was closing in on a contract with Chad Qualls, so GM Jed Hoyer is close to addressing two issues he recently identified.
Zaun, 40 in April, missed most of the 2010 season after having surgery to repair a damaged labrum in his throwing shoulder. In 117 plate appearances with the Brewers, he hit a solid .265/.350/.392 with two homers and nearly as many walks (11) as strikeouts (12). The switch-hitting catcher has thrown out just 24% of attempted base stealers in his career, even less in recent years, and that doesn't figure to get any better after his recent injury.
The Padres were looking to add some depth behind the plate after parting ways with Yorvit Torrealba. Zaun will likely compete with Rob Johnson and Guillermo Quiroz to serve as Nick Hundley's backup.
Nationals Considering Jerry Hairston Jr.
With utility player Willie Harris seemingly out of the fold, the Nationals are now considering Jerry Hairston Jr. according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. He adds that Washington had interest in David Eckstein earlier this offseason, but the two sides haven't talked in weeks.
Hairston, 34, hit just .244/.299/.353 in 476 plate appearances for the Padres last season, though he had hit .281/.343/.432 in the two prior seasons. He missed the end of the season because of a fractured tibia, and he also battled elbow issues in 2010. Hairston provides tremendous versatility, with a ton of experience at every position other than pitcher, catcher, and first base.
Braves Claim Anthony Varvaro
The Braves have claimed Anthony Varvaro off waivers from the Mariners, reports MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Seattle designated the right-hander for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Miguel Olivo earlier this month.
Varvaro, 26, made his big league debut this past season, allowing five runs in four innings out of the Mariners' bullpen. The Tommy John surgery survivor pitched to a 4.02 ERA with 10.0 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 in 65 relief innings at the Double and Triple-A levels in 2010. Baseball America ranked Varvaro as Seattle's 30th best prospect before the 2008 season, noting that he sits in the low-90's with his fastball.
MLB Notes: CBA, Torre
Here are some quick notes that deal more with the business side of baseball…
- Bob Baum of the AP writes that Major League Baseball and the players' union will soon begin talks about the next Collective Bargain Agreement. Commissioner Bud Selig said the two sides are "on a constructive path." The current CBA is set to expire in December, and the new deal could feature changes to the draft and Super Two status.
- Joe Torre said he expects to speak with Selig further about becoming MLB's executive vice president of baseball operations, according to Bill Madden and Teri Thompson of The New York Daily News.