Reds Notes: Phillips, Cordero
The latest from The Queen City, courtesy of MLB.com's Mark Sheldon …
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty said the team and second baseman Brandon Phillips have "made progress, but we're not close" in negotiations for a contract extension. The Reds have already exercised Phillips' 2012 option, so he's in the fold for next season, but he has been vocal about wanting a multiyear extension beyond that for a while now. John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer speculated recently that the Reds are probably hoping to extend Phillips, 30, for something like four years and $48MM, while Sheldon points out that the Dan Uggla's five-year, $62MM pact with the Braves last offseason is a recent high-water mark for second basemen.
- As well, there have been "no new developments" between the Reds and free agent closer Francisco Cordero, according to Sheldon. Jocketty did not meet with Cordero's agent during the General Manager Meetings earlier this week in Milwaukee. "If we did not sign Coco, we'd first look outside of the organization," Jocketty said.
Latest On Boston’s Managerial Search
The Red Sox met with Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum yesterday to discuss the possibility of managing in 2012. Sveum obtained a job offer later in the day, but it was from the Cubs, not the Red Sox. Boston GM Ben Cherington now seems prepared to expand his managerial search. Here’s the latest…
- The Red Sox haven't scheduled a formal interview with Valentine or arranged second interviews with other candidates, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.
- Cherington and Valentine met early on in the process, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald (Twitter links). Larry Lucchino has also met with Valentine. Silverman reports that Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo will get a second interview for the position.
- Valentine has met with at least one Red Sox owner and will meet with the others, according to Rosenthal and Morosi (on Twitter). Interest between Valentine and the Red Sox appears mutual, according to ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes (on Twitter).
- The Red Sox will take a breather before continuing the managerial search, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
- Cherington says his bosses did not undercut him during the process, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). "Absolutely not. I don't know where that comes from," he said.
- The Red Sox haven't ruled out former MLB manager Bobby Valentine, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The FOX reporters say Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont made a strong impression with the Red Sox and note that Lamont's previous managerial experience may play in his favor.
- "I don't know that that's accurate," said team president Larry Lucchino when asked if their search will consist of more experienced candidates, reports Rosenthal (Twitter links). "We're not in any rush," added Lucchino."[Terry Francona] was hired first week of December."
- A source tells Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports that the Red Sox aren't out of the running for Sveum just yet, and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that they could still hire from their original group of candidates even if they expand the search (Twitter links).
- The Red Sox aren't prepared to offer Sveum a managerial position at this time, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. The team expects Sveum to accept the Cubs' offer.
- Meanwhile, the Red Sox have been granted extensions to talk to Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo and Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont, Cherington told reporters. The Red Sox are no longer considering Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin.
- Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach and Rays bench coach Dave Martinez won't be part of Boston's search if the Red Sox do expand their list of candidates, according to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.
- Peter Gammons of MLB Network suggests the Red Sox owners are prioritizing experience in the ongoing managerial search. “What a laugh,” Gammons writes after pointing out that all great managers start somewhere (Twitter link).
- Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald heard earlier on in the process that Ryne Sandberg is a candidate to watch (Twitter link).
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Boston's decision to decline Terry Francona's options for 2012-13 after their late-season collapse set in motion "a series of unfortunate events."
Red Sox Front Office Notes: Epstein, Shipley, Minaya
Boston’s managerial search includes Bobby Valentine, according to reports today. Here are some notes on changes to the team’s front office…
- The Red Sox and Cubs won't determine compensation for Theo Epstein until after the Rule 5 draft takes place in early December, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. "It’s very amicable. Lots of jokes about it," Epstein said. "We’ll see if we can get something done after the Rule 5 Draft.” Epstein left the Red Sox for the Cubs after the regular season and compensation has yet to be determined.
- The Red Sox are expected to remove VP of player personnel and international operations Craig Shipley from his current position, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Shipley, a former MLB player, pushed for the deal that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston for Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez.
- The Red Sox may have interest in former Expos and Mets GM Omar Minaya, according to Maureen Mullen of CSNNE.com.
Murphy Available; Mets Considered Street & Chavez
Mets GM Sandy Alderson says the team isn’t close to completing any deals, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Here are updates on some potential moves for the team…
- Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com hears the Mets informed other teams that Daniel Murphy is available. While many players are available in the right move at this time of year, this indicates that the Mets are willing to listen on the versatile 26-year-old.
- The Mets and Rockies briefly discussed a deal involving Huston Street and Mike Pelfrey, but the Mets don’t seem too excited about the possibility of acquiring Street, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). Street and current Mets bench coach Bob Geren had trouble getting along when they were both with the Athletics.
- The Mets are open to bringing Endy Chavez back to New York and they have had preliminary discussions about a deal with agent Peter Greenberg, according to Martino.
Dale Sveum To Manage Cubs
1:33pm: The Cubs announced that Sveum will be their next manager. The sides agreed to a three-year deal that includes an option for 2015, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter).
12:12pm: The Cubs will hire Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum to be their next manager, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times hears that the Cubs may announce their next manager as soon as tomorrow (Twitter link) and suggests it will be Sveum. The Cubs offered the managerial job to Sveum yesterday.
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein would not confirm that the team offered Sveum the position, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. However, Epstein said the process is in its final inning. “We’ve got to get the 27th out,” he said.
Dodgers Prefer Kuroda, Harang, Capuano, Francis
The Dodgers have narrowed their search for starting pitching, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times (on Twitter). Free agents Hiroki Kuroda, Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano and Jeff Francis top the Dodgers' list, according to DiGiovanna.
Jon Heyman of SI.com lists the same four pitchers as possible targets and says on Twitter that the Dodgers have less than $10MM to spend (MLB.com's Ken Gurnick listed the four possibilities yesterday). It's looking less likely that GM Ned Colletti will obtain a big bat from outside of the organization.
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw won the 2011 NL Cy Young Award today.
Clayton Kershaw Wins NL CY Young
Clayton Kershaw won the 2011 National League Cy Young Award, the BBWAA announced. The 23-year-old left-hander becomes the youngest Cy Young winner since Dwight Gooden of the Mets won the award as a 20-year-old in 1985. Kershaw posted a league-leading 2.28 ERA in 233 1/3 innings. He struck out 248 batters while allowing just 54 walks en route to a 21-5 record and his first All-Star Game selection.
“I'm extremely thankful and humbled by this award,” Kershaw in a statement. “The company that I'm in now… just to be mentioned with some of those guys. I'm just in awe. I never thought I'd be here."
Kershaw obtained 27 of 32 possible first place votes to beat runners-up Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. Nine others obtained votes: Ian Kennedy, Cole Hamels, Tim Lincecum, Yovani Gallardo, Matt Cain, John Axford, Craig Kimbrel, Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong. Three Phillies placed in the top five and four fifths of the Giants' rotation obtained votes.
Matt Swartz's work for MLBTR suggests Kershaw will earn roughly $8.7MM as a first-time arbitration eligible player in 2012. The Dodgers, who control the southpaw's rights through 2014, will likely consider a long-term deal for Kershaw this winter.
Angels Pursuing Wilson, Eyeing Kuroda
The Angels are looking for rotation depth and bullpen help under new GM Jerry Dipoto. Here's the latest on their search for pitching…
- C.J. Wilson will visit the Angels Monday, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The free agent left-hander has serveral similar visits in the works with other teams. Dipoto acknowledged this week that there's mutual interest between the Angels and Wilson.
- The Angels have a bit of interest in Hiroki Kuroda, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). Heyman says Kuroda will return to Japan if he can't stay in Los Angeles.
MLB Will Add Two Wild Card Teams
Commissioner Bud Selig announced that MLB will add two Wild Card teams — one in each league — for a total of ten playoff teams. Selig remains hopeful that the change will occur in 2012.
"People can be critical. I understand that," said Selig to reporters (including Danny Knobler of CBS Sports and MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, both Twitter links). "It will be dramatic."
Selig also confirmed that the creation of two 15-team leagues means there will be interleague play "from Opening Day on," but he doesn't believe it will water down the World Series according to Andy Martino of The New York Daily News and Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentintel (Twitter links). Designated hitter rules will remain the same, and it would take a "catalytic event" for them to change reports Knobler (on Twitter).
The two Wild Card clubs are expected to meet in a one-game playoff prior to the League Division Series round, which increases the importance of winning the division.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
MLB Owners Approve Astros’ Sale
MLB owners have approved the sale of the Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane, commissioner Bud Selig announced today, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (all Twitter links). The commissioner also confirmed that the Astros will move to the American League West in 2013.
Alyson Footer, the Astros' Senior Director of Social Media, reports that the move to the AL was mandatory for the sale to be approved (Twitter links). Crane told Jeff Wilson of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he Rangers are the model he'd like to follow as the team rebuilds. The Astros finished the worst record in baseball this season at 56-106, and they haven't finished higher than third place in the NL Central since 2006.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.