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Archives for October 2012

Agency Notes: Victorino, Wright, Sanchez, ACES

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It's been an unusually active day for agent-related news. Here's the latest from around the league:

  • Shane Victorino, who left ACES earlier today, informed his agents of his impending departure long before fellow client Melky Cabrera was suspended for PED use, according to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford (Twitter link).
  • ACES client David Wright won't be following Victorino out the door, tweets ESPN's Adam Rubin.
  • Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez left the Boras Corporation months ago and will now be represented by Jim McNamara of the McNamara Baseball Group, the agency informed MLBTR via email. Sanchez will hit free agency this offseason, though his struggles in 2012 will present McNamara with a challenge. McNamara, a former MLB player, worked with the Boras Corporation for approximately 15 years before leaving to open his own agency this past spring.
  • Jon Heyman of CBS Sports writes that several people around baseball are wondering if Victorino's departure from ACES will be the first of many. The agency is under investigation by MLB following Cabrera's PED suspension and the ensuing web site coverup scandal.

Mets Notes: Collins, Pelfrey, Coaches

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The Mets' season has been highlighted by the surprising emergence of R.A. Dickey as a National League Cy Young contender, but by and large it's been a disappointing season for the Amazins, who entered play tonight with a 73-86 record. Here are some links pertaining to the NL East's fourth-place team…

  • The Mets are happy with manager Terry Collins but don't want to publicly discuss an extension at this time, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).
  • ESPN's Adam Rubin writes that both Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen would like to see Mike Pelfrey return to the Mets in 2013. The duo is open to the possibility of Pelfrey pitching out of the bullpen. Pelfrey is unlikely to be ready for the season's opener, as he underwent Tommy John surgery on May 1 this season. That, along with his salary, essentially guarantees that he will be non-tendered this season. Pelfrey and agent Scott Boras would then be able to seek a contract with any team.
  • Despite the club's struggles in 2012, the entire Major League coaching staff will return in 2013, writes MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Warthen, the team's longest-tenured coach, appeared most in danger of losing his job, according to DiComo.

Peavy Pondering Representation Options

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With agent Barry Axelrod no longer able to represent his clients to due a new role in the Diamondbacks' front office, Jake Peavy is mulling his options for this coming offseason. Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports that Peavy is contemplating representing himself or hiring one of John Boggs or Jeff Berry (Twitter links).

Peavy's resurgence this season has been a key component to Chicago's surprising run at the American League Central Division title. The oft-injured 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner has fired 211 innings of 3.37 ERA ball with a 7.9 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and 36.6 percent ground-ball rate. His 90.8 mph average fastball velocity is down from his best years with the Padres when he averaged better than 92 mph, but he's still posted his highest innings total since that 2007 season.

The White Sox hold a $22MM option on Peavy for next season, but despite his bounceback campaign they're expected to pay a $4MM buyout rather than make Peavy one of baseball's highest paid pitchers in 2013.

Boggs' agency — John Boggs & Associates — represents big-name players such as Adrian Gonzalez, Cole Hamels and Trevor Cahill, as MLBTR's Agency Database shows. Berry, a high-ranking agent within CAA Sports, has many high-profile clients in his own right, including Joe Blanton, Buster Posey and a pair of pitchers that Peavy knows well — John Danks and Mark Buehrle.

Regardless of who ends up doing the negotiations, Peavy's strong season has almost assuredly earned him a multi-year deal this winter.

Shane Victorino Leaves ACES

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Weeks before his first career appearance on the free agent market, Shane Victorino has left his former agency, Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal reports (on Twitter). Seth and Sam Levinson of ACES had represented Victorino, who is now looking for an agent, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).

Victorino, 31, will hit free agency after the World Series. He has a .253/.320/.377 batting line with 27 doubles and 11 home runs in 654 plate appearances for the Phillies and Dodgers this year. It doesn't appear that the Dodgers have room for him in their 2013 outfield, assuming Carl Crawford is healthy next spring.

Check out MLBTR's Agency Database for information on player representatives from around the game. MLB is investigating ACES, the agency which represents Melky Cabrera, according to USA Today.

Quick Hits: Oliver, Nationals, Yankees

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The Tigers have a magic number of one tonight, which means a win over the Royals or a White Sox loss would be enough to send Detroit to the postseason for the second consecutive year. Here are today's links as we await a full slate of games Monday night…

  • Agents Jeff Frye and Mike McCann have joined together, MLBTR has learned. Frye McCann Sports represents MLB players such as Mark Lowe, Darren Oliver, Shawn Kelley, Michael Saunders, Adam Moore and Stephen Pryor. Check out MLBTR’s Agency Database for details on all player representatives, including Frye, the eight-year MLB veteran, and McCann.
  • Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post profiles Nationals GM Mike Rizzo, detailing the journey he took from area scout to general manager. Years of scouting enable Rizzo to make determinations about players that inform his moves. “I like to call it knowledge more so than gut,” Rizzo said. I recommend reading the entire piece for an up-close look at the person who leads Washington’s baseball operations department.
  • Derek Lowe and Eduardo Nunez helped the Yankees win a crucial game against the Blue Jays yesterday, but it wasn't long ago that Lowe was unemployed and Nunez was a minor leaguer, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes.

Alomar, Francona To Interview This Week

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Sandy Alomar Jr. and Terry Francona, the apparent frontrunners for the Indians' managerial opening, are expected to interview for the position late this week, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports (on Twitter). The Indians' regular season schedule will conclude Wednesday at which point Alomar, the team's interim manager, and Francona, an analyst for ESPN, can discuss the opportunity with Cleveland's front office executives.

It was reported over the weekend that Francona will interview for the position Wednesday or Thursday. The former Red Sox manager worked with GM Chris Antonetti and president Mark Shapiro as a special assistant for the Indians in 2001. Buster Olney of ESPN.com explained over the weekend that he doesn't expect Francona to end up managing the Indians. As a two-time World Series winner, Francona might command more than the Indians are prepared to pay.

The Indians dismissed manager Manny Acta late last week, replacing him with Alomar on an interim basis. Francona and Alomar are the only two candidates that the team is "publicly acknowledging at this point," Antonetti told Jim Bowden last week.

Teams With Protected First Round Picks

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Playoff races rightfully get most of the attention this time of year, but there’s intrigue at the bottom of the standings, too. Seven teams have clinched protected first round picks in the 2013 amateur draft with three days remaining in the regular season. The Astros, Cubs, Rockies, Twins, Marlins, Indians and Red Sox will have top ten selections in next year’s draft even if they win the remainder of their games. 

These teams can sign elite free agents this offseason (players who turned down qualifying offers from their former clubs) and retain their first round selections. Instead, these teams would surrender second round selections.

As MLBTR detailed last week, the nine teams with the worst records in baseball will have protected first round selections in 2013. The Pirates will also have a protected first round pick, since they did not sign their top 2012 selection, Mark Appel.

The Blue Jays and Royals are currently positioned to obtain the remaining two protected 2013 picks. The Mariners and Mets could pass the Blue Jays or Royals depending on the results of the season's final series.

Rockies Deciding On Future Of Tracy, Coaches

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The Rockies haven’t decided on the future role of manager Jim Tracy, but they’re working toward a determination, owner Dick Monfort told Troy Renck of the Denver Post yesterday. Director of Major League operations Bill Geivett met with Tracy to discuss the organization’s next steps. 

The Rockies gave Tracy an “indefinite” extension last February, back when Dan O’Dowd was the clear leader of the baseball operations department. Tracy’s under contract for $1.4MM in 2013, but his status has “become increasingly uncertain” over the course of a season that’s seen the Rockies lose a franchise record 97 games. 

Geivett, who has been working closely with the team since taking on a more prominent role in August, has the power to dismiss or retain Tracy. He told Renck no decisions have been made just yet. “We haven't discussed anything yet. When we get through, we are going to sit down after the season and talk about everything," he said. Widespread changes to the coaching staff are expected, Renck writes. 

Jonah Keri of Grantland.com recently interviewed Geivett about the state of the Rockies and the challenges the franchise faces.

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