2013 Contract Issues: Kansas City Royals
The Royals are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:
Eligible For Free Agency (4)
- Jonathan Sanchez - The Royals were hoping for more from Sanchez, who struggled on the mound before hitting the disabled list earlier this month. However, they are short on MLB-ready starting pitching depth.
- Yuniesky Betancourt - The Royals appear to value Betancourt's ability to play multiple infield positions. He'll likely be in line for another one-year deal next offseason.
- Jonathan Broxton - Broxton has pitched effectively for the Royals, even though he doesn't have the swing-and-miss stuff he once did. It's not hard to imagine a reunion, but Broxton will have other offseason suitors.
- Humberto Quintero - Assuming Salvador Perez recovers from his knee injury, and Brayan Pena returns, the Royals would be set behind the plate. None of Kansas City's free agents should expect offseason qualifying offers from the team.
Contract Options (1)
- Joakim Soria: $8MM club option with a $750K buyout. This won't be an easy decision for the Royals, since their longtime closer will miss the 2012 season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. For what it's worth, Soria has said he would like to stay in Kansas City.
Arbitration Eligible (8)
- First time: Blake Wood, Jason Bourgeois
- Second time: Mitch Maier, Jose Mijares, Chris Getz
- Third time: Luke Hochevar, Felipe Paulino, Brayan Pena
The Royals have worked aggressively to extend some of their young position players and others aren't yet arbitration eligible, so next offseason's class should be relatively manageable. Hochevar and Paulino are getting expensive, but Mijares could be traded. Bourgeois could miss the cutoff for eligibility, depending on how long he remains in the minor leagues. Wood will be eligible even though he's missing the entire season to undergo Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.
2013 Payroll Obligation
The Royals have committed just shy of $35MM to next year's team, not counting Soria's option or arb-eligible players going year to year. If ownership is willing to maintain a payroll in the $65MM range, GM Dayton Moore should be well-positioned to pursue some second-tier free agents this coming offseason.
Quick Hits: Lidge, Hamels, Worley, Ortiz
On this date in 2003, the Tigers signed Jair Jurrjens as a 17-year-old amateur free agent out of Curacao. He made his big league debut with Detroit in 2007 before being traded to the Braves as part of a package for Edgar Renteria. Here's the latest from around the league…
- "They're going to have to ante up … he hasn't been willing to take discount so far," said former Phillies reliever Brad Lidge to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com when asked about Cole Hamels' impending free agency (Twitter links). Lidge also speculated about a fit between his former teammate and the Dodgers.
- A second opinion confirmed that Phillies right-hander Vance Worley does not need Tommy John surgery but will have to pitch with bone chips in his elbow for the rest of the season, reports MLB.com's Todd Zolecki (on Twitter).
- Red Sox GM Ben Cherington told reporters (including WEEI.com's Alex Speier) that he feels David Ortiz has taken his leadership to a new level this season (Twitter link). He said he feels good about the relationship between the team and the DH, who is due to become a free agent after the season.
Minor Moves: Cory Aldridge, Lance Zawadzki
The latest minor moves from around MLB…
- The Angels have signed outfielder Cory Aldridge to a minor league deal, reports Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). The 32-year-old hit .363/.440/.650 in the Mexican League this year after not playing in 2011. Aldridge has 18 career big league plate appearances to his credit with the 2001 Braves and 2010 Angels.
- The Braves signed infielder Lance Zawadzki to a minor league contract, according to the transactions page at CBSSports.com. The 26-year-old switch-hitter has big league experience with the 2010 Padres and had spent the early part of the 2012 season with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. Zawadzki owns a .259/.332/.394 batting line in parts of six minor league seasons.
Roy Oswalt Rumors: Tuesday
Roy Oswalt recently threw for the Red Sox, Phillies, and Rangers, and Texas will reportedly consider signing the free agent right-hander in the wake of Neftali Feliz's elbow injury. Here's the latest on Oswalt…
- The Red Sox and Oswalt have not discussed a contract, reports Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). GM Ben Cherington didn't deny that the right-hander worked out for the team according to Tim Britton of The Providence Journal (on Twitter), but he said there was nothing additional to report.
Mets Not Interested In Jason Marquis
The Mets have no interest in right-hander Jason Marquis, reports Mike Puma of The New York Post (on Twitter). He was designated for assignment by the Twins earlier today.
Marquis, 33, is a native New Yorker and has made no secret of his desire to pitch near home through the years. He posted an 8.47 ERA with more walks (14) than strikeouts (12) in seven starts and 34 innings for the Twins this season, but just last year he pitched to a 4.43 ERA in 132 innings for the Nationals and Diamondbacks.
Mike Pelfrey's injury has forced the likes of Miguel Batista and Jeremy Hefner into the Mets' rotation, so a fit between the club and Marquis seemed obvious.
Orioles Still Looking To Upgrade, Add Pitching Depth
The Orioles sit atop the AL East with a 27-16 record at the moment, and GM Dan Duquette wants to make sure his team stays there. Duquette told MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli that he is still actively seeking ways to upgrade his roster and add pitching depth (Twitter link).
Baltimore's bullpen (2.29 ERA) has been one of the best in baseball this season but the rotation (4.34 ERA) still needs some work. Zach Britton (shoulder) could return next month, though adding an established innings eater to Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen would give the club its best starting trio in years. A lefty reliever could be in order as well, though that is just my speculation.
Manager Buck Showalter announced before today's game that Brian Roberts (concussion) will begin a minor league rehab assignment tomorrow and is expected to re-join the team in 20 days. His return should help improve the club's .222/.265/.402 batting line out of the leadoff spot, which has been a bit of a revolving door because of injuries. The recently signed Miguel Tejada could bolster the infield as well.
2013 Contract Issues: Minnesota Twins
The Twins are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:
Eligible For Free Agency (4)
- Carl Pavano - Pavano has already been traded three times in his career and it won't be a surprise if the Twins deal the right-hander for a fourth time this summer. He doesn't strike many hitters out, but he limits walks and makes his starts, so contending teams could have interest.
- Francisco Liriano - Liriano has already lost his status as an elite pitcher and his place in the starting rotation. His spot on the Twins' roster could be next if the club lets him go after the season.
- Ryan Doumit - Doumit, 31, is hitting well enough to set himself up for another Major League deal next offseason. None of the Twins' free agents should expect offseason qualifying offers from the team.
- Jason Marquis – Marquis lost his spot on the Twins' roster when they designated him for assignment earlier today.
Contract Options (2)
- Scott Baker: $9.25MM club option. Baker is out for the season after undergoing elbow surgery and the Twins can be expected to decline this option.
- Matt Capps: $6MM club option with a $250K buyout. The Twins should decline this option if Capps is still on the team when decisions are due. There's also a chance the Twins deal the right-hander to a team seeking midseason relief help.
Arbitration Eligible (5)
- First time: Brian Duensing, Drew Butera, Alex Burnett
- Third time: Jared Burton, Alexi Casilla
The Twins' arbitration class will be relatively light next offseason. Casilla is the lone player here with a shot at a salary of $3MM-plus in 2013. Burnett is on track for super two status, but not by much. He'd lose eligibility if the Twins send him to the minors at some point this year.
2013 Payroll Obligation
The Twins' payroll has risen to the $100MM range in recent years, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. They've already committed $65MM to next year's team, which leaves lots of breathing room if ownership holds payroll steady. But attendance has dropped by 5,000 fans per game so far this year, so GM Terry Ryan could be working with sub-$100MM payroll.
Quick Hits: Guerrero, Nationals, Cubs
The Mets traded for Mike Piazza on this date in 1998. He would go on to hit .296/.373/.542 with 220 home runs in eight seasons with the Mets, establishing himself as one of the best offensive catchers ever. Here are today's links…
- Vladimir Guerrero says signing with the Blue Jays brings his career full circle, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca tweets. The former Montreal Expos star says he would like to hit 51 more home runs and reach 500 for his career.
- The Nationals are not actively pursuing a trade for catching depth, according to Amanda Comak of the Washington Times. They’d consider adding a veteran backup, but aren’t willing to part with anything significant in a deal. Jesus Flores is the Nationals' starting catcher following Wilson Ramos' ACL tear and Sandy Leon's high ankle sprain. Carlos Maldonado is on the MLB roster to back Flores up.
- The Cubs will face some difficult decisions this summer, when they must decide which players to keep and which players to trade, ESPN.com's Buster Olney notes. It seems likely that they'll trade Ryan Dempster, but deciding whether to trade Bryan LaHair and Matt Garza could be more difficult for GM Jed Hoyer.
White Sox Sign Orlando Hudson
The White Sox announced that they have signed infielder Orlando Hudson to a one-year deal. The Padres released Hudson last Thursday afternoon and he agreed to terms with Chicago over the weekend.
The Legacy Sports Group client is expected to play some third base and back up Gordon Beckham at second base, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Hudson turned down an opportunity to play regularly elsewhere in order to join the White Sox in this role.
Hudson has struggled at the plate, posting a .211/.260/.317 line in 131 plate appearances so far this season. Once an elite fielder, Hudson has lost range and fielding ability in recent years, according to The Fielding Bible Volume III. This year the four-time Gold Glove winner has started 33 games at second base, the only position he's played at the MLB level.
Peter Gammons of MLB.com first reported the agreement (via Twitter). Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
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