Archives for 2011

This Date In Transactions History: Bernie Williams

By Mike Axisa | November 25, 2011 at 7:51pm CDT

It's tough to imagine Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera wearing something other than a Yankees' uniform, and for a long time the same was true for Bernie Williams. The former batting champ and five-time All-Star spent his entire career in pinstripes, but he came very close to joining an AL East rival during the 1998-1999 offseason.

Williams, who had just turned 30, hit .339/.422/.575 with 26 homers during the 1998 season, batting cleanup for a 114-win team. He'd hit .323/.406/.551 with 76 homers in 400 games over the previous three seasons, and was a hot commodity on the free agent market. ESPN's Buster Olney, then with The New York Times, reported that Williams rejected a five-year, $60MM contract offer from New York in mid-November, one year after they offered him a five-year, $37.5MM extension.

The Red Sox, looking to make a splash after winning 92 games but finishing 22 back in the AL East, offered Williams a six-year contract worth $90MM according to Olney. The Yankees had turned their attention to Albert Belle, who was coming off a 49-homer, .328/.399/.655 season with the White Sox. He was two years into a five-year, $55MM deal with Chicago, but a clause in his contract ensured that he would remain one of the three highest paid players in baseball. When the White Sox declined to give him a raise to meet the clause, Belle became a free agent and the Yankees' Plan B.

Williams and agent Scott Boras gave the Yankees a chance to match Boston's offer, and 13 years ago today he agreed to return to New York on a seven-year, $87.5MM contract. It was one of the largest contracts in baseball history at the time, right behind Mike Piazza's seven-year, $91MM deal with the Mets. Belle wound up with the Orioles to the tune of $65MM over five years. Williams hit .298/.386/.480 during the life of the contract, helping the Yankees to four pennants and two World Series titles.

Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

Non-Tender Candidate: Chris Volstad

By Mike Axisa | November 25, 2011 at 5:54pm CDT

The Marlins have been a popular team so far this offseason, targeting high-end free agents like Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes, Ryan Madson, and Mark Buehrle. While they're busy trying to lure free agents to their new ballpark in Miami, they also have decisions to make about some players they currently employ. Juan Carlos Oviedo's situation is rather unique, but 25-year-old righty Chris Volstad is a more traditional non-tender candidate.

Now four-plus years into his big league career, Volstad has made at least 29 starts for the Fish in each of the last three seasons. During that time he's pitched to a 4.88 ERA in 499 2/3 innings (88 starts), relying on ground balls (49.9%) rather than strikeouts (5.87 K/9). Volstad does a decent job of limiting walks (3.03 BB/9), but he's struggled against left-handed batters (.278/.342/.465 against) and tends to be pretty homer prone (1.24 HR/9) despite the ground ball tendencies.

The Marlins may have telegraphed their intentions for Volstad when they declined to invite him to their new uniform unveiling earlier this month. Our projections peg the right-hander for a $2.6MM salary next season, his first time through the arbitration process. Volstad figures to be affordable enough that the Marlins might not have to non-tender him before the December 12th deadline, they could probably find a trade partner. Baseball America ranked him as Florida's top prospect as recently as 2008, and he'd remain under team control through the 2014 season.

At the moment, the Marlins' rotation figures to include Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, and Anibal Sanchez. They're making a play for Buehrle and have kicked the tires on C.J. Wilson, and there's a non-zero chance that Javier Vazquez will return. Brad Hand and the recently acquired Wade LeBlanc are in the mix as well. If they deem Volstad expendable, he shouldn't have much trouble finding a new team for next season. It's just a question of whether he gets to choose his next club, or if the Marlins will choose it for him.

AL East Notes: Orioles, Garcia, Rays, Blue Jays

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 25, 2011 at 3:26pm CDT

The Red Sox won’t be hiring their next manager today, but they made progress on the managerial front this week. Here’s the latest on Boston’s search and here are some updates on their division rivals…

Matt Klentak left the Orioles to be the Angels’ assistant GM because the chance to build a winner with Jerry Dipoto was too good to pass up, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. “This is a great opportunity,” Klentak said. “It has nothing to do with the team and the change in regime [in Baltimore].”
Jon Heyman of SI.com says Freddy Garcia’s deal with the Yankees guarantees the right-hander $4MM and includes incentives (Twitter link). Garcia pitched for a $1.5MM base salary this past season but earned a raise with 146 2/3 innings of 3.62 ERA ball.
ESPN.com’s Buster Olney highlights some offseason needs for ten MLB teams. For example, the Rays will need to obtain a first baseman and/or a DH and the Blue Jays continue searching for a closer.

Baseball’s Hardest-To-Obtain Commodity

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 25, 2011 at 2:23pm CDT

When Major League executives discuss what they’re looking for in the amateur draft, they use phrases like “middle-of-the-order bat,” “five-tool athlete” and “top-of-the-rotation stuff.” They’re focused on premier talent, not replaceable role players, and the jargon they use reveals their intentions. Not coincidentally, starting pitchers and up-the-middle players like catchers, shortstops and center fielders dominate the early rounds of the draft.

Free agency isn't so different. It pays to be an elite starting pitcher, a shutdown closer, a legitimate power threat or a serviceable hitter at a defense-first position. But if you’re a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen, a pinch hitter or a utility player, your chances of obtaining a substantial payday are substantially diminished.

Baseball’s general managers are always on the lookout for their team’s next impact player, so they know which players tend to be easy to acquire and which ones are elusive. So what’s the hardest commodity to obtain: an all-around catcher, an elite shortstop, an ace starter, a power bat or something else entirely?

“It’s a great question,” Pirates GM Neal Huntington says. “I don’t know that you can really put one over the other. To find that all-around shortstop, to find that all-around catcher, to find that true top-of-the-rotation starter, those are probably the three most challenging. There just aren’t a lot of them, whether they come out of high school or come out of college, via trade or via the draft it’s a scarcity,”

The Mets employ Sandy Alderson, baseball’s longest-tenured GM. Even though he’s been running MLB teams since the year Jose Reyes was born, Alderson doesn’t have a definite answer, either.

“Well if you’re talking about a five-tool catcher, you’re talking about a very rare commodity,” he said in Milwaukee at baseball’s GM Meetings. “On the other hand to find a Justin Verlander-type number one starter — that’s extremely difficult to find. If you were starting a franchise, which would you prefer to have? You might say a position player over a pitcher, but then look at what happened to Buster Posey, so injuries can occur to catchers just as they can occur to pitchers.”

Like Alderson, Orioles GM Dan Duquette has experience running large and small-market MLB teams. He echoed his counterpart when describing baseball’s toughest-to-obtain commodity.

“A switch-hitting catcher with power from both sides of the plate, who’s a good field general,” he said, seemingly referring to Matt Wieters, the Baltimore backstop who hit 22 home runs and won his first Gold Glove in 2011.

Four-time Gold Glove winner Yadier Molina joined Albert Pujols and Chris Carpenter on the 2011 World Series Champions. The Cardinals obtained excellent production behind the plate, in the middle of the order and atop their rotation, but one type of player continues to elude Mozeliak.

“For us it seems to be that dominant shortstop,” he said. “I think having just a stable young star that becomes the face of your club — it’s everybody’s goal to try to get that, whether that’s a starting pitcher, first baseman, shortstop, catcher and so for us shortstop is a hard position to find.”

25 years ago, when Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith was in his prime, then-Cardinals GM Dal Maxvill probably would have answered the question differently. There are few absolutes when it comes to roster construction, but every team — even the defending World Champions — wants something.

Photo courtesy Icon SMI.

Latest On Boston’s Managerial Search

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 25, 2011 at 1:05pm CDT

The Red Sox interviewed Bobby Valentine for their managerial opening earlier in the week and Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont and Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo remain in the mix for the position. Here's the latest on Boston's search:

The team won't settle anything today or over the weekend, according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe. Abraham reports that Lamont met with ownership earlier this week. Meanwhile, Valentine is "really excited" about the idea of managing in Boston, but hasn't communicated with the team since Monday, according to Abraham.
The Red Sox don't have plans to conduct further interviews with Lovullo or other candidates, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. It appears that Lamont and Valentine are the finalists for the position.
ESPN.com's Buster Olney suggests Red Sox president Larry Lucchino has more sway with GM Ben Cherington than he did with Theo Epstein. Lucchino is Valentine's "patron saint" in the Red Sox organization, Olney writes.
More than 70% of respondents expect Valentine to manage in Boston, according to a recent MLBTR poll.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Nathan, Barmes, Quentin

By Mike Axisa | November 25, 2011 at 11:55am CDT

Six years ago today, the Phillies traded Jim Thome to the White Sox for Aaron Rowand, Gio Gonzalez, and Daniel Haigwood, opening up first base for reigning Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard. With Howard due to miss time with a ruptured Achilles next season, Philadelphia brought Thome back to help fill in at first base.

Here are some links to peruse as you chow down on some Thanksgiving leftovers…

Baseball Nation looked at the unintended consequences of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Did The Tribe Win Last Night? spoke to Vinnie Pestano of the Indians about the 2012 season.
BoSox Injection says Joe Nathan signing with the Rangers created an opportunity for the Red Sox.
The Hottest Stove praises the Nathan signing because it puts Neftali Feliz in the rotation.
Yankees Fans Unite identified Matt Garza as a potential trade target for the Yankees.
I-70 Baseball believes Prince Fielder is a better fit for the Cubs than Albert Pujols.
Rooftop View tries to figure out what the Cubs should do at third base.
Call to the Pen likes the Clint Barmes signing for the Pirates.
Giants Nirvana looks back at Freddy Sanchez's extension, eight months later.
South Side Showdown thinks a Carlos Quentin trade would benefit both Quentin and the White Sox.
Chicken Friars looked at some free agent pitchers that could interest the Padres.
Ol' Ball Game listed some free agent and trade targets for the Padres.
Prospect Insider believes the Mariners should trade Brandon League.
Swingin A's revisited the Athletics' rebuilding process.
Rising Apple calls Chris Volstad a potential offseason target for the Mets.
Cleveland Indians Perspective wrote about the players the Indians protected from the Rule 5 Draft.
House of the Bluebird likes the idea of Francisco Rodriguez closing for the Blue Jays.
Jays Journal says Yonder Alonso doesn't make much sense for Toronto right now.
Sports of Boston wonders if Tim Wakefield has any value on the open market.
Warehouse Worthy tries to figure out who Matt Wieters is.
Lasorda's Lair thinks Matt Kemp should have won the NL MVP Award.
Infield Chatter wrote about the MVP award and the debate it creates.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

37 Free Agents Offered Arbitration

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 25, 2011 at 10:45am CDT

Teams offered 37 free agents arbitration this year, compared to 35 last year and 23 the year before that. If you're not sure what offering arbitration means, click here to read our free agent arbitration primer.

The following players were offered arbitration this week, and now have until December 7th to accept or decline the offers. The breakdown is more complicated than usual this offseason, as MLB transitions from one CBA to another. Here are the details on which players obtained offers:

Type A Free Agents (7 players)

Prince Fielder
David Ortiz
Jonathan Papelbon
Albert Pujols
Jose Reyes
Jimmy Rollins
C.J. Wilson

It will cost draft picks to sign the free agents above, and their teams did have to offer them arbitration to be eligible for compensation picks.

Modified Type A Free Agents (6 players)

Heath Bell
Michael Cuddyer
Kelly Johnson
Ryan Madson
Francisco Rodriguez
Josh Willingham

It won’t cost draft picks to sign the six players above, but their teams did have to offer them arbitration to be eligible for compensation picks.

Type B Free Agents (24 players)

Rod Barajas
Clint Barmes
Mark Buehrle
Matt Capps
Bruce Chen
Francisco Cordero
David DeJesus
Octavio Dotel
Ryan Doumit
Mark Ellis
Frank Francisco
Freddy Garcia
Aaron Harang
Ramon Hernandez
Raul Ibanez
Edwin Jackson
Jason Kubel
Derrek Lee
Jose Molina
Darren Oliver
Carlos Pena
Aramis Ramirez
Jon Rauch
Dan Wheeler

It won’t cost draft picks to sign the 24 players above, but their teams did have to offer them arbitration to be eligible for compensation picks.

Also note that the following five Type A players will be treated as Type B free agents: Matt Capps, Francisco Cordero, Octavio Dotel, Ramon Hernandez and Darren Oliver. They didn't require arbitration offers for their teams to receive supplemental draft picks as compensation and teams won't have to surrender picks to sign them.

Our Free Agent Arbitration Offer Tracker has all of the arbitration decisions and will also show who accepts two weeks from now. We also note the decisions in our constantly-updated 2012 free agent list.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Kelly Johnson

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 25, 2011 at 9:31am CDT

Kelly Johnson’s free agent stock has improved considerably in the past week and it has nothing to do with his ability to contribute on a baseball field. The MLBPA announced on Tuesday that teams will no longer have to forfeit draft picks to sign six Type A free agents and, fortunately for Johnson, he was on the list.

Heading into the offseason, it seemed likely that Johnson’s Type A ranking would limit his free agent value. His offense dropped off in 2011 (.222/.304/.413 line with 21 homers), so teams might not have wanted to surrender a top draft pick for the 29-year-old. But thanks to the players association, all that’s required to sign Johnson is money.

So far this offseason, middle infielders such as Clint Barmes, Jamey Carroll, Mark Ellis, Aaron Hill and John McDonald have all signed multiyear deals. Omar Infante agreed to a similar contract before officially hitting free agency. Johnson’s career .260/.343/.441 line trumps the others and he’s younger than every one of the infielders mentioned except Hill (Johnson and Hill were born less than a month apart).

Johnson's representatives at SFX will likely make the case that he is a complete player who contributes on defense (above-average UZR in 2010 and 2011), with his power (47 home runs in 2010-11), by getting on base (.343 career OBP) and on the basepaths (double-digit steals in three of the past four seasons). There's a good chance teams like the Blue Jays, Tigers, Cubs and Rockies consider Johnson the best remaining free agent option in a thinned-out second base market.

Given the abundance of two-year deals for second basemen so far this offseason and the fact that Johnson won’t cost a draft pick, he figures to obtain two-year offers. If he’s looking for a two-year deal, I expect he could sign for more than the $11MM Hill obtained. Alternatively, he could accept arbitration or seek a one-year deal with a higher base salary and attempt to position himself for a bounce-back season and a major free agent contract a year from now at the age of 30.

Photo courtesy Icon SMI.

What We Learned: This Week’s Arbitration Offers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 25, 2011 at 8:26am CDT

More than half of ranked free agents received offers of arbitration from their teams earlier in the week. Clubs offered 37 ranked free agents arbitration (up from 35 last year and 23 the year before) and that total may increase when the Tigers announce their decisions on Wilson Betemit and Magglio Ordonez. Here's what we learned from the flurry of arbitration offers:

The Facts

37 of 55 ranked free agents (67%) obtained offers of arbitration so far. Keep in mind that the total doesn't include the two Tigers, but does include players who signed before the deadline and the six modified Type A free agents.
By way of comparison, teams offered 35 of 65 total ranked free agents arbitration (54%) a year ago.
This year teams offered 13 of 16 Type A free agents arbitration (81%). 24 of 39 Type B free agents (62%) obtained arbitration offers so far.
If you haven't done so already, click here for an explanation of how free agent compensation works and click here for our arbitration offer tracker.

General Observations About The Decisions

Teams continue to value draft picks highly, despite the news that they’ll face spending limits in upcoming drafts.
The former teams of the six Type A free agents who will no longer cost draft picks to sign all offered the players arbitration. Would Heath Bell, Michael Cuddyer, Kelly Johnson, Ryan Madson, Josh Willingham and Francisco Rodriguez all have obtained offers were it not for the rule change? Maybe, but their status change sure didn’t hurt.
Every Type A free agent obtained an offer except Roy Oswalt and two players whose teams were contractually prohibited from offering arbitration (Carlos Beltran and Takashi Saito).
Here's a more detailed look at what the decisions mean for a handful of free agents.

What To Expect In 2012

Next year’s process will be all about the game’s top free agents and it will occur earlier in the offseason. Fewer free agents figure to obtain offers from their teams, which will hesitate to offer deals to non-elite players.
After a five day quiet period following the World Series, teams must offer free agents substantial contracts to be eligible for compensation picks (to be precise, the guaranteed one-year contract offers must match the average salary of the 125 highest-paid players from the prior season).
For what will may be the last time, the supplementary first round will again be extremely long in 2012.

Quick Hits: Harper, Storen, Mets, Moore

By Mark Polishuk | November 24, 2011 at 11:49pm CDT

It was on this day in 1953 that the Dodgers promoted their Triple-A manager to take over the Major League job on a one-year contract. Walter Alston remained in the Dodgers' dugout for the next 23 years, winning 2,040 games and leading the club to four World Series titles.

Some news from around the Majors as everyone lets the turkey settle…

The new Super Two regulations in the new collective bargaining agreement shouldn't have much impact on Nationals uber-prospect Bryce Harper, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
Drew Storen will only become more valuable to the Nationals as the price of closers continues to rise, opines Ben Goessling of MASNsports.com, though "there's a logical argument to be made for moving Storen at the height of his value."
The Mets are "still in [the] exploratory stage" of their offseason moves and "aren't close on anything," reports Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
Royals general manager Dayton Moore tells Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that he doesn't think his team will be negatively affected by the new CBA. Dutton notes that the Royals spent much more than usual on draft signings and international prospects in the last year since the club was anticipating both avenues to be limited under baseball's new labor rules.

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