Here's a wrap-up of news from around the majors on the day that Edwin Jackson and Casey Kotchman both found new teams…
- The Indians had interest in Jackson but "were not close" to matching the contract Jackson received from the Nationals, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
- Jackson turned down a three-year, $30MM offer to sign his one-year deal with Washington, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports looks at how Jackson, Ryan Madson and Francisco Rodriguez (all Scott Boras clients) settled for "pillow contracts" this winter to better position themselves for larger deals next year.
- Prince Fielder, however, never considered a one-year deal, Boras tells James Schmehl of MLive.com. Boras also says Fielder could have signed earlier in the offseason but was on vacation with his wife, delaying his meetings with interested teams.
- Jimmy Rollins' $11MM option for 2015 will vest if he makes 600 plate appearances in 2014, or if he makes a combined 1100 PAs in 2013 and 2014, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter link).
- Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall says he has been contacted by some potential Dodgers owners about a job in Los Angeles, but Hall tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he's very happy with the Snakes. Hall has four years remaining on his contract with Arizona.
- David Ortiz's arbitration case with the Red Sox is analyzed from both sides by former Astros president Tal Smith, in conversation with Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.
- Fangraphs' Wendy Thurm begins a series looking at which players were the best values at each position over the last two decades, starting with catcher, first base and second base.
- "The Indians’ bullpen has much more flexibility and depth heading into camp this year," writes MLB.com's Jordan Bastian in his breakdown of the Tribe's relief options.
Going up against a potential Hammels/Cain/Greinke/Sanchez next winter and even if he repeats his 2011 performance Jackson still trails that pack and looks like a poor consolation prize.
If Boras really did turn down 3/30 and it was not just more of his speaking out of another part of his anatomy.. he pulled another Varitek type blunder, as in when he turned down arbitration of a pretty much guaranteed 10m 3 seasons ago, then tek ended up signing for 2/5m.
Sometimes you have to wonder what is going on in Boras’s head when it comes to his clients well being.
Why can no one ever spell Cole Hamels’ name right?
Hamells?
Interesting argument put forward by Tal Smith on Ortiz. In my view, Ortiz is foolish not to settle at something like $13.5MM, and I assume the Sox would pay that to avoid arbitration. I fervently believe the Sox will win this in an outright case.
On the leadership and public appeal front, Ortiz could argue that he is a very positive image for the BoSox. The Sox could counter that he’s tarnished by the allegations of PED use and that his leadership was nowhere to be found last September. Arbitration is an ugly proposition, which is why teams try to avoid it. In this case, I think it would benefit Ortiz at least as much as the team by settling at the suggested number.
Actually, the Red Sox would not be able to make that argument, but the rules clearly allow the arbitrators to consider the teams W-L record and attendance.
The most important reason for Papi to avoid arbitration is the money is not guaranteed. He can be cut and given 30-45 days pay.
Also, Papi will be on a 1 yr deal, while Dunn and Martinez had multi-year deals. Multi-year deals are discounted for obvious reasons.
I think Fielders contract is a comp. Look at what the Tigers will be paying him at age 36. He is a below average Fielder, so his fielding actually detracts from his value. At least a DH does not hurt a team defensively.
That said, Papi should have asked something closer to 15 million.
I’m sorry, but did you read the article?
“But one other factor may benefit Ortiz. The collective bargaining
agreement stipulates that arbitrators may consider “special qualities of
leadership and public appeal.” Cuza likely will contend Big Papi is a
franchise icon after winning two World Series in the past eight years.” So if the panel has to decide using intangibles, the Red sox can certainly make the arguments that Steve mentioned
and as a DH who doesn’t keep up on his fielding, Ortiz takes a roster spot that teams with a ‘rotating DH’ could use for an additional backup, giving the entire team more rest. Less rest = more injuries (see Yuk the past two years). It also eliminates half of the competition, as no national league teams would want him, without fielder’s offers from the brewer et all, he would have signed for less. Fielder is therefore not a good comparison, as he has twice the market penetration.
I think they paid him as a 12 million dollar DH, he performed as a 12 million dollar DH, so they offered him what he’s worth.
Edwin Jackson must be a glutton for punishment…given that the Braves and Phillies are stacked in the East, I see the Nationals finishing only barely over .500, and EJ will be on the move again this year.
I really don’t get why he turned down more years…I really do not. Then again, if the offer was from Baltimore…that might provide some reason. That said, the Red Sox must be kicking themselves for not offering at least 2 years with a third-year option.
The Indians could have used EJ as well, depending on how long Roberto Heredia (nee Fausto Carmona) is unavailable.
The 3 / 30 sounds like it could’ve come from the Pirates as well. That number would be right in their wheel house for the money available to spend. And the contender part makes sense as well. Ahhhh…if only the wheels didn’t fall off the second half of last year. Maybe FA’s would finally start to view Pittsburgh a little differently.
Dont leave Hall!