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Archives for 2011

Minor Moves: Spoone, Tolleson, Socolovich

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Here is a recap of today's minor league moves…

  • The Red Sox have signed right-hander Chorye Spoone to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, reports Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com. The deal is pending a physical. The Orioles designated the 26-year-old for assignment in July, and he pitched to a 4.50 ERA in 122 innings this season.
  • The Orioles have signed Steven Tolleson, reports Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The 28-year-old infielder hit .275/.358/.394 in 557 plate appearances in the Athletics' and Padres' farm systems in 2011.
  • Within the same link, Connolly also reports that the Orioles signed Miguel Socolovich. The 25-year-old righty struck out 11.1 batters per nine innings in the White Sox's system this year, posting a 3.44 ERA in 55 relief innings.

Latest On Boston’s Managerial Search

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Red Sox GM Ben Cherington met with managerial candidate Bobby Valentine today. Here’s the latest on Boston’s search for a new manager: 

  • The Red Sox ruled out Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. as a managerial candidate, according to multiple reporters, including Rob Bradford of WEEI.com (on Twitter).
  • The Red Sox will bring Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont in for another interview, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com (Twitter link). Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo is still under consideration, but the Red Sox haven't scheduled a second interview for him yet.
  • Valentine “looks like the sudden favorite” for the position, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.
  • Cherington must have the most say in the decision, Bradford writes at WEEI.com. The ownership group and president and CEO Larry Lucchino will have some say in the decision, but Bradford suggests the Red Sox should give Cherington ample space to make his own call.
  • Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com says the Red Sox should not name a new manager until they are completely sure the Blue Jays won’t part with manager John Farrell. The Blue Jays announced less than a month ago that they “will not grant permission for lateral moves,” so there doesn’t appear to be any chance Farrell returns to Boston this offseason.

Heyman On Brewers, Rangers, Wilson

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Albert Pujols will sign a nine-year deal for $220MM, Prince Fielder will sign an eight-year deal for $195MM and Jose Reyes will sign a six-year deal for $120MM, according to Jon Heyman's free agent predictions at SI.com. Here are the rest of Heyman’s rumors…

  • Some Brewers people were a little surprised that both the Red Sox and Cubs had strong interest in Dale Sveum, according to Heyman. Sveum, Milwaukee’s former hitting coach, interviewed with the Red Sox before accepting the Cubs’ offer to manage the team for the next three years.
  • Rangers people are saying they aren’t expecting to sign any players to nine-figure deals this offseason, according to Heyman. In other words, Rangers fans probably won't be welcoming Fielder or Pujols to Texas in the near future.
  • One offseason focus for the Rangers is an extension for Josh Hamilton, Heyman writes. They signed the outfielder to a two-year deal less than a year ago, but he’s up for free agency after the 2012 campaign.
  • The Mets, Dodgers and Braves are among six teams that have shown interest in free agent infielder Jack Wilson, according to Heyman (on Twitter). Wilson, 33, hit .243/.274/.285 for the Mariners and Braves in 2011, appearing at second, short and third.

Latest On Andrew Bailey

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4:43pm: The Mariners have inquired on Bailey, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).  Olney suggests the A's will definitely move the reliever this offseason.

12:48pm: The A's are very willing to trade Bailey, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.  He notes that the Phillies had interest before they signed Jonathan Papelbon.

11:19am: A Reds source agrees that Alonso is way too much for Bailey, writes MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.  Sheldon notes that starting pitching is a more pressing need for the Reds than a closer.

9:00am: The Reds are talking about a possible deal for Athletics closer Andrew Bailey, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.  The A's are interested in Yonder Alonso, tweets Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM and ESPN.com.  The Reds have a need at the back end of their bullpen, with Francisco Cordero entertaining offers as a free agent.  The Blue Jays are also known to have Bailey on the radar.

Bailey, 27, posted a 3.24 ERA, 8.9 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, and 37.1% groundball rate in 41 2/3 innings this year.  He missed time with an oblique injury in 2010, and also had elbow surgery in September of that year.  Effects of the procedure caused him to miss most of the first two months of the 2011 campaign.

Bailey is under team control through 2014, and we project him for a reasonable $3.5MM in 2012 as he'll be arbitration eligible for the first time. 

Orioles Talking To Chong Tae-Hyon

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4:40pm: The Orioles are trying to sign Tae-Hyon, according to Knobler (on Twitter).  GM Dan Duquette acknowledged the team's interest, but wouldn't say that the sides have completed a deal, according to MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli (on Twitter).

12:45pm: The Orioles have been talking to Korean free agent reliever Chong Tae-Hyon, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.  According to Korean reports, Tae-Hyon has stopped all talks with his old team, the SK Wyverns, and wants to come to MLB.  Stories of the Orioles' interest first surfaced last week in Korean newspapers, which you can read here and here.  Click here to see a video of Tae-Hyon facing the Dodgers in a pre-World Baseball Classic warmup game in 2009.  

Marlins Express Interest In Gio Gonzalez

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The Marlins have expressed interest in left-hander Gio Gonzalez, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. The Marlins are willing to part with Major League players and top prospects to upgrade their rotation, but they aren't convinced the Athletics would deal Gonzalez.

Gonzalez is available, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, but the A’s aren’t motivated to move him. They’d like to obtain cheap, young hitters in trades this offseason, according to Knobler (Twitter links). David Villavicencio reported earlier today that the sides are discussing a deal and that Gonzalez is hoping to sign an extension if he's traded. Frisaro reported last week that the Marlins covet Gonzalez and James Shields, suggesting that Miami will likely trade for one starter and sign another.

Gonzalez, 26, posted a 3.12 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 202 innings in 2011. He led the American League in walks and made his first All-Star team. MLBTR projects that Gonzalez will earn approximately $4.2MM through arbitration in 2012, but he's a super two player, so he won't become a free agent until after the 2015 season.

How The Top AL MVP Finishers Were Acquired

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None of the top ten finishers in this year’s AL MVP balloting joined their teams via the free agent market. Five were obtained in trades, four others were drafted and one was signed as an international free agent. Here's a look at how teams around the American League originally acquired the top ten finishers in the 2011 AL MVP voting (some have since signed extensions):

  • Justin Verlander – Draft – The Tigers selected Verlander with the second overall pick in 2004 and signed him to a five-year extension before the 2010 season.
  • Jacoby Ellsbury – Draft – The Red Sox selected Ellsbury with the 23rd overall pick in the 2005 draft and held onto him after a lost 2010 season despite trade interest from other clubs.
  • Jose Bautista – Trade -The Blue Jays acquired Bautista from the Pirates for Robinzon Diaz in 2008. Before the Blue Jays acquired him, Bautista suited up for the Pirates, Royals, Devil Rays and Orioles.
  • Curtis Granderson – Trade – The Yankees acquired Granderson from the Tigers in the three-team trade that sent Ian Kennedy to Arizona and Austin Jackson and Max Scherzer to Detroit. The Tigers originally selected Granderson in the third round of the 2002 draft.
  • Miguel Cabrera – Trade - The Tigers acquired Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins for a group of players led by Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin.
  • Robinson Cano – International Signing - The Yankees signed Cano out of the Dominican Republic as an amateur free agent in 2001. 
  • Adrian Gonzalez – Trade – The Red Sox surrendered a trio of top prospects to obtain Gonzalez from the Padres a year ago.
  • Michael Young – Trade – The Rangers, then under GM Doug Melvin, acquired Young from the Blue Jays for Esteban Loaiza in the summer of 2000.
  • Dustin Pedroia – Draft – The Red Sox selected Pedroia, the 2008 MVP, in the second round of the 2004 draft.
  • Evan Longoria – Draft - Tampa Bay selected Longoria with the third overall pick of the 2006 draft and he's been playing at an elite level since his 2008 rookie season.

Orioles Sign Matt Antonelli

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The Orioles announced that they have signed Matt Antonelli to a Major League contract.  Antonelli was taken 17th overall by the Padres in the 2006 draft and has 65 Major League plate appearances to his name, all in 2008 with San Diego.  The 26-year-old posted an .847 OPS in the Nationals' system last year, playing almost all his games with Triple-A Syracuse.  Antonelli was originally drafted as a second baseman but spent time at second, third, shortstop and left field last year and is expected to compete for playing time on the infield next season.

“We are pleased to bring Matt to the organization,” GM Dan Duquette said in a statement. “He is a versatile major league player who has a good offensive approach and strong defensive skills at both third and second base.”

MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli was the first to report the signing, with Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun noting that Antonelli had signed a Major League deal (both Twitter links).

New Labor Deal To Be Announced Tomorrow

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Major League Baseball and the Players Association have scheduled a noon central press conference for tomorrow, and MLB.com's Barry Bloom says they'll announce the new five-year Basic Agreement.  Some of the expected changes:

  • The Astros will join the American League in 2013 and two wild card teams will be added.
  • There will be limits for draft pick and international free agent spending, above which penalties will be incurred.  Loss of future draft picks is one such penalty.
  • The luxury tax threshold will remain at $178MM for 2012-13, then increase to $189MM for 2014-16, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  He says repeat offenders will be taxed at 50% beginning with the 2014 season. The Yankees currently pay at a 40% rate.
  • Teams signing the remaining Type A relievers will not surrender a draft pick this offseason.  Those seven teams will still receive compensatory picks, though I assume they must offer arbitration on Wednesday first.
  • Starting next season, the Elias rankings system for free agent compensation will be eliminated.  According to the AP, "Starting next year, teams will have to make a 'qualifying offer' of a one-year guaranteed contract to their players eligible to become free agents in order to receive compensation if the player signs with another club. That amount will be at least $12.4 million and could rise by next year, depending on a formula."
  • The minimum salary will increase from $414K this year to $480K in 2012 and $500K in later years.
  • The Super Two cutoff will rise from the top 17% of players with 2-3 years service time to the top 22%.
  • Blood testing for human growth hormone will begin.  

Pirates Sign Clint Barmes

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The Pirates found their new shortstop, as they officially signed Clint Barmes to a two-year deal today.  The contract is worth $10.5MM, Barmes confirmed to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.  MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch notes that with a $5MM salary in 2012, Barmes will be the Pirates' highest-paid player.  

Barmes, 32, hit .244/.312/.386 in 495 plate appearances for the Astros this year while playing above-average defense at shortstop.  Barmes replaces Ronny Cedeno as the Pirates' starting shortstop and reunites with former manager Clint Hurdle.  The Pirates' press release cites Barmes' UZR heavily, with GM Neal Huntington adding, "With the signing of Clint Barmes, we have added an above average defensive shortstop who will bring quality experience and reliability to the club on the playing field as well as a positive veteran presence in the clubhouse."  

Middle infielders have been surprisingly well-compensated this offseason, with Aaron Hill, Mark Ellis, and Omar Infante also receiving two-year deals despite lackluster offensive years.   

Since Barmes was a Type B free agent, the Astros will receive a supplemental draft pick for their loss.  "We'll have to explore different options to find a front-line shortstop or someone to share time with [Angel] Sanchez," Astros GM Ed Wade told McTaggart.

McTaggart says Barmes talked to the Brewers about a possible two-year deal, but they weren't willing to make an offer until Prince Fielder's situation was resolved.  Barmes said on a conference call today that he didn't receive many other concrete offers, and the Pirates' guarantee of two years was a big factor.

5,020 people entered MLBTR's free agent prediction contest earlier this month, and three contestants are batting 1.000 after four of our top 50 free agents signed.

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