Brewers Sign Clint Coulter
The Brewers announced that they have signed first round selection Clint Coulter. The team is holding a news conference to announce the deal for the catcher, who completed his physical in Milwaukee earlier today.
Coulter will obtain a $1.675MM bonus, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports. That's precisely the amount MLB recommends for the 27th overall selection. The Brewers also announced the signing of outfielder Victor Roache, the 28th overall selection on Monday.
Reds Sign Jesse Winker
3:16pm: Winker obtained a $1MM bonus, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports (on Twitter).
1:57pm: The Reds signed supplementary first round draft pick Jesse Winker, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports (on Twitter). The Reds confirmed the deal, announcing the signings of 11th rounder Nolan Becker and 25th rounder Sean Lucas (Twitter link).
The Reds selected Winker, a high school outfielder, with the 49th overall selection as compensation for losing free agent catcher Ramon Hernandez. MLB recommends a bonus of $1.025MM for the 49th overall selection, according to Baseball America.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Appel, Morneau, LaHair
Two years ago today, both Stephen Strasburg and Giancarlo Stanton made their Major League debuts. Strasburg famously struck out 14 Pirates in his first career start and has pitched to a 2.46 ERA with 11.2 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 157 innings and 28 starts since. Stanton went 3-for-5 against the Phillies in his debut and has hit .267/.349/.535 with 70 homers in the show. Here's the latest from the baseball corner of the blogosphere…
- Phillies Nation interviewed Cole Hamels and asked about his upcoming free agency. The interview begins at the 6:30 mark of the video and the free agency talk at 10:20.
- Pirates Prospects says Pittsburgh will have a tough time signing eighth overall pick Mark Appel.
- NASORB doesn't believe third overall pick Mike Zunino deserves Jeff Clement comparisons.
- Yanks Go Yard analyzed the Yankees' approach to this week's draft.
- 85% Sports wrote about a possible work-around in the new draft pool system.
- MLB Prospect Watch explored a possible return for Carlos Quentin.
- FanSpeak thinks the Orioles should consider trading for Justin Morneau.
- Sports of Boston wrote about a potential Kevin Youkilis trade.
- Red Sox Post listed three potential landing spots for Youkilis.
- BoSox Injection thinks the Red Sox should avoid Matt Garza.
- The True Fan's Sports Blog tries to figure out where Bryan LaHair will end up.
- Baseball Reality Tour lists some potential trade targets for contenders.
- Rising Apple listed some small changes the Mets could make to their roster.
- Warehouse Worthy listed some potential free agent targets for the Orioles.
- I-70 Baseball wonders if the Cardinals should buy or stand pat.
- The Daily Statesman thinks Shelby Miller could help the Cardinals' bullpen.
- Did The Tribe Win Last Night? mused about Jason Kipnis and the All-Star Game.
- Blog Red Machine wrote about Billy Hamilton's race towards history.
- MLB Reports wrote about Aroldis Chapman's unbelievable season.
- Lasorda's Lair is worried about the Dodgers without Matt Kemp.
- Call to the Pen thinks the end is near for Jim Thome.
- M.C. Antil listed the 40 best pitchers never to throw a no-hitter for the Mets.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Allen, Satin
The latest outright assignments…
- The Rays outrighted Brandon Allen to Triple-A after he cleared waivers, Roy Commings of the Tampa Tribune tweets. The Rays designated Allen for assignment earlier in the week.
- Josh Satin has cleared waivers and will return to Triple-A Buffalo, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The Mets designated the 27-year-old infielder for assignment two days ago. He had posted a .274/.359/.380 line in 206 plate appearances at Buffalo before getting called up to the Major Leagues.
Minor Moves: Omir Santos, Russ Mitchell
The latest minor moves…
- The Tigers announced that they outrighted Omir Santos to Triple-A (Twitter link). However, the catcher declined the assignment and is now a free agent, according to the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). The Tigers designated the 31-year-old for assignment two days ago after he appeared in three games with the big league club. He posted a .310/.315/.417 batting line in 89 plate appearances at Triple-A before the Tigers added him to their roster.
- The Giants signed third baseman Russ Mitchell, according to the team's website. Mitchell, 27, appeared in 25 games for last year's Dodgers team, posting a .157/.259/.294 batting line in 58 plate appearances. He has a .265/.325/.444 batting line in ten minor league seasons and can play first and second base, as well as third.
Stark On Padres, Dodgers, Stanton, Phillies
The Tigers, Phillies, Mets, White Sox and Rays are among the most surprising teams in baseball so far this season, Jayson Stark writes at ESPN.com. Here are some details from Stark's latest Rumblings & Grumblings column…
- GM Josh Byrnes admits that "this season is probably unsalvageable" for the 19-39 Padres, but he isn’t looking to trade Carlos Quentin. "We need his home run production in the middle of the order,” Byrnes told Stark. “So we're not looking to trade him in mid-June. We're definitely open to keeping him around beyond this year." The Padres haven’t yet talked to Quentin or his agent about a deal for 2013 and beyond. I set out to determine the outfielder's trade value last week.
- Rival teams say the Dodgers are looking for a starter, a lefty reliever and a bat.
- There are no indications the Marlins will look to extend Giancarlo Stanton in the near future, Stark reports. One person says the Marlins would “never” consider giving anyone, Stanton included, a seven-year deal. Stanton probably won’t qualify for arbitration until after the 2013 season.
- Anibal Sanchez will hit free agency a few months from now, but rival executives don’t expect the Marlins to sign another starting pitcher for $10MM-plus per season.
- MLB execs believe Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is aiming to make his team younger. Phillies scouts are eyeing young third basemen and center fielders as Placido Polanco and Shane Victorino near free agency.
Tag Team Value: Compensation Draft Picks
As a fan, free agent compensation draft picks can feel like an extra slap in the face from Major League Baseball.
"You're losing one of your key players. But here, take a guy who can't help you for three or four years, and probably won't help you at all." The just-concluded draft included Mike Wacha to the Cardinals for losing Albert Pujols, Clint Coulter to the Brewers for losing Prince Fielder, and Brian Johnson to the Red Sox for losing Jonathan Papelbon. Cold comfort, at least for now.
But the free agent compensation draft pick can be more than just a consolation prize taken home from a game show you didn't win. At its best, those picks can turn into important contributors. The Mets drafted David Wright, for instance, as a compensation pick for losing Mike Hampton via free agency, a loss they'd gladly experience again.
Usually, it works the other way around. In December 1983, Darrell Evans signed with the Detroit Tigers, after eight productive seasons with the San Francisco Giants. His contribution to San Francisco had been immense — consistent power and defense at third base. He was worth 19.8 wins above replacement (WAR) during his time with the Giants.
When he signed with Detroit, San Francisco got the 24th pick in the 1984 draft, (under a much different compensation system) and selected Terry Mulholland. While Mulholland only pitched in fits and starts from the time he debuted in 1986, he got packaged with third baseman Charlie Hayes and pitcher Dennis Cook in a deal that netted the Giants Steve Bedrosian, their closer in the pennant-winning season of 1989. Mulholland, alas, was worth -0.6 WAR to the Giants over three seasons, so the Evans-Mullholland duo checks in at just 19.2 WAR, total.
For my money, the baseball universe is best when a player contributes for a team, then leaves a compensation pick that also turns into a key contributor. It feels like the departing free agent has planted a tree. Let's take a look at the finest twofers baseball teams have received from this rule.
Rockies To Sign Jeff Francis
FRIDAY: The sides agreed to a Major League deal, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
WEDNESDAY: It appears that left-hander Jeff Francis has an agreement in principle with the Rockies, sources tell Troy Renck of The Denver Post (via Twitter). Renck adds that he expects the veteran to start this weekend.
If Francis does indeed sign with the Rockies, he'll return to where he pitched from 2004-10. Francis owned a 4.22 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 215 1/3 innings for the Rockies in 2007.
The Reds released Francis earlier this week after he opted out of his contract. The 31-year-old posted a 3.72 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 77 1/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville.
Details On Brett Myers’ Vesting Option
Brett Myers’ $10MM option for 2013 vests if he finishes 45 games and doesn’t end the season on the disabled list, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. Myers, who has already completed 20 games, can also trigger the option with a points system based on other qualifications.
Myers has a 2.25 ERA with 6.8 K/9, 1.8 BB/9 and 14 saves this year. He'll earn $11MM in 2012 and his contract, which was restructured upon his return to the bullpen, includes a $10MM vesting option for 2013 with a $3MM buyout.
If the Astros trade the 31-year-old to a team that uses him as a setup man, the option likely won’t vest. There’s a good chance Myers will finish 45 games if he continues closing, but one executive suggested to Morosi that the $10MM vesting option isn’t that scary to prospective trade partners. “I wouldn’t imagine it’s going to be a huge hindrance,” the person said.
Olney On Hamels, Hamilton, Quentin
The free agent market will feature an unusually strong class of outfielders this coming offseason, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. Josh Hamilton leads a group that includes Michael Bourn, Andre Ethier, Melky Cabrera, Shane Victorino, B.J. Upton and Carlos Quentin. However, teams are looking to avoid unnecessary long-term commitments, so it may not be possible for all of these players to cash in. Here are more notes from Olney:
- Cole Hamels’ contract talks with the Phillies remain dormant, Olney reports. Hamels is on track for free agency after the season, when he’ll be the top starting pitcher available.
- One general manager suggested the Orioles could become aggressive bidders for Hamilton, who will likely command an annual salary of $20MM-plus. "But [at that price] I don't think he's got a lot of places to go," the GM told Olney.
- Some MLB officials guesstimate Quentin could be in line for a deal in the four-year, $48MM range if he stays healthy and keeps hitting. Four years and $60MM isn’t out of the question, according to those officials.
- Personally I see Quentin signing for two or three years at an average annual value of $6-9MM. He'll turn 30 before the offseason, his defense isn't particularly well-regarded and injury questions persist, so I believe he'd do well to match Josh Willingham's three-year, $21MM deal.