Red Sox Designate Chris Carpenter For Assignment
The Red Sox announced that they designated right-hander Chris Carpenter for assignment. The move creates roster space for Mike Napoli, whose one-year deal is now official.
The Red Sox acquired Carpenter as compensation for Theo Epstein last February. The 27-year-old pitched in eight games for Boston this past season, allowing six earned runs in as many innings. He also pitched at the minor league level, posting a 2.08 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 in 21 2/3 innings. Carpenter missed time to undergo surgery to remove bone spur from his right elbow in 2012.
Red Sox To Sign Mike Napoli
It took a while, but the Red Sox have officially signed Mike Napoli. The sides have completed a one-year deal worth $5MM plus incentives. The Paragon Sports International client could earn up to $13MM in 2013.
The sides had agreed to a three-year, $39MM contract earlier in the offseason, but the deal didn’t go through as expected. Napoli has a hip issue that prompted the Red Sox to seek protective language in the deal.
However, the 31-year-old remained a top first base target for Boston throughout the process. Despite the hip issue, Napoli expects to be ready for Opening Day, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Napoli drew interest from other teams after the initial delay in finalizing the agreement. Meanwhile, the Red Sox considered other options for first base such as Adam LaRoche and Michael Morse.
The Rangers had re-opened talks with Napoli, ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's Ben Rogers reports. The Red Sox could offer more playing time, however, and he ended up agreeing to terms with Boston.
Napoli posted a .227/.343/.469 batting line in 2012, reaching the 20-home plateau for the fifth consecutive season with 24. The right-handed hitter made the All-Star team for the first time in his career, but missed time with a quadriceps injury. Ultimately Napoli fell short of the career-best numbers he posted in 2011: 30 home runs and a .320/.414/.631 batting line. The Red Sox project to rely on Napoli as their primary first baseman, but he did catch 72 games with Texas in 2012.
Napoli ranked 14th on MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents entering the offseason. He wasn't linked to draft pick compensation, as the Rangers decided not to make him a qualifying offer.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com first reported the agreement, and the value of the incentives. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported the value of the guarantee (Twitter links).
Dodgers Notes: Koufax, Mattingly
The Dodgers have added to their pitching staff in a meaningful way this winter, signing Zack Greinke, Ryu Hyun-Jin, J.P. Howell and Brandon League. Today they announced that another pitcher will join their staff, and he might be the highest profile addition of all. Here are the details…
- The Dodgers announced that Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax will return to the organization in 2013. The 77-year-old will work with Dodgers pitchers in Spring Training and consult for the team throughout the year. “I’m delighted to be back with the Dodgers,” Koufax said.
- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told Bill Plaschke of the LA Times that the Dodgers declined his request for increased job security when he asked about the possibility last fall. Mattingly hoped that the club would exercise a one-year option for 2014, but they declined. "It was a 30-second conversation about the option, they said that wasn't the plan for me or my coaches, it was a moot point, and I'm fine with that," Mattingly said. In the view of GM Ned Colletti “it shouldn’t be an issue” that the Dodgers haven’t exercised the option. Mattingly, whose three-year contract will expire after the coming season, leads the list of managers and GMs entering contract years, as MLBTR's Mark Polishuk recently explained.
Orioles Notes: Hendrickson, Pearce
Last week the Orioles extended manager Buck Showalter and executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette through the 2018 season. Here's a look at what Orioles management is doing to boost their chances of returning to the playoffs in 2013…
- The Orioles plan to offer left-hander Mark Hendrickson a minor league deal that includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training, Eduardo A. Encina The Baltimore Sun reports. Hendrickson, the former NBA player who pitched with Baltimore from 2009-11, threw bullpen sessions for Orioles personnel last week. The 38-year-old is now pitching sidearm as he attempts to return to the MLB level for the first time since 2011.
- After a turbulent 2012 season, Steve Pearce's travels appear to have ended now that he’s a non-roster player with the Orioles. The 29-year-old said he’s glad he’s still in Baltimore, Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com reports. “This is the place I wanted to be,” Pearce said. “I wasn’t thinking about being claimed by anyone else, and this is where I wanted to be.”
Blue Jays Designate Sam Dyson For Assignment
The Blue Jays announced that they designated right-hander Sam Dyson for assignment. The move creates roster space for Mark DeRosa, who signed with the team today.
Dyson, 24, made his MLB debut this past season. He appeared in two games at the MLB level but spent most of the season in the minor leagues. In 74 innings at Class A and Double-A, he posted a 3.04 ERA with 4.6 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9. The 2010 fourth round pick made his pro debut this past season.
Blue Jays Sign Mark DeRosa
The Blue Jays announced that they signed infielder Mark DeRosa to a one-year, $750K contract for 2013. The deal with the CSE client includes a $750K club option for 2014.
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has said he'd like to add a versatile right-handed hitting player to round out the club's active roster. DeRosa, who turns 38 next month, bats from the right side and has experience at a variety of positions.
He played in 48 games for the Nationals last year, posting a .188/.300/.247 batting line in 101 plate appearances and playing every infield position plus both corner outfield positions. Most of DeRosa's MLB experience comes at third base, second base and right field. In 15 seasons at the MLB level he has a .270/.340/.412 batting line.
Reds Sign Armando Galarraga
The Reds have signed free agent right-hander Armando Galarraga to a minor league contract, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). SFX represents Galarraga, who turned 31 last week.
Galarraga, who's best known for his near-perfect game in 2010, pitched for the Astros in 2012. He posted a 6.75 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 18 walks in 24 innings for Houston before being removed from the MLB roster in August. He also started ten games at the minor league level, posting a 3.97 ERA in 47 2/3 innings. Galarraga posted a 4.55 ERA in 466 2/3 innings as a member of the Tigers' rotation from 2008-10.
Phillies Seriously Considering Delmon Young
The Phillies are seriously considering signing free agent Delmon Young, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports. GM Ruben Amaro said he hopes to add a corner outfielder and acknowledged that the club has considered signing Young. Players with off-field questions won't necessarily deter the Phillies if they can contribute on the field.
“We have to keep our minds open on everything,” Amaro said, speaking in general terms. “Of course I have reservations about guys who have had some issues. But we’ve got to keep our minds open also.”
Darin Ruf, John Mayberry Jr., Domonic Brown and Laynce Nix are the Phillies’ primary internal options for left and right field. The club has also considered signing Scott Hairston and trading for Vernon Wells. Young, a right-handed hitter like Hairston and Wells, spent the 2012 season with the Tigers. He posted a .267/.296/.411 batting line with 18 home runs in 608 plate appearances.
The Mariners checked in on Young earlier in the winter, before adding Kendrys Morales, Raul Ibanez and Michael Morse. Offseason reports suggest the Tigers, Braves, Yankees and Indians don't seem interested in Young. Wasserman Media Group represents the 27-year-old, who is recovering from ankle surgery.
Reds Sign Jacob Constante
We’ll track the day’s international signings here…
- The Reds signed Dominican left-hander Jacob Constante for $730K, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. The Reds watched Constante pitch in the International Prospect League All-Star Game last week, when he showed good life on a fastball that registered in the 92-94 mph range. Constante turns 19 in March and has a potentially above-average slider, according to Badler. The prospect's signing marks the biggest bonus for the Reds during the 2012-13 international signing period.
Rosenthal On Felix, Upton, Rangers, Nationals
The Mariners continue discussing an extension with Felix Hernandez, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. The sides aren’t close to a deal, and are now “dancing.” However, Seattle is at least considering a four-year, $100MM offer, according to Rosenthal. It’s not clear if the Mariners have offered a nine-figure deal to Hernandez, whose current contract expires at the end of the 2014 season. The 26-year-old Octagon client would presumably want a longer commitment, as Rosenthal points out. Here are more of Rosenthal’s notes from around MLB…
- The Mariners’ willingness to add veterans approaching free agency suggests GM Jack Zduriencik senses an urgency to win now in the view of some rival executives.
- Justin Upton won’t be traded for Chase Headley, an official from one of the teams involved told Rosenthal. Headley is two years away from free agency, however, and Rosenthal suggests that the Padres figure to move him eventually. Upton, another trade candidate, is under contract through 2015.
- The Diamondbacks and Rangers haven’t revived Upton-centered trade talks since the Mariners’ failed attempt at acquiring the 25-year-old right fielder. Rosenthal reports that the sides agreed to “move on.” When the teams were last in contact the Rangers offered a four-played package led by Mike Olt that would have included shortstop prospect Leury Garcia and either Martin Perez or Cody Buckel plus a fourth prospect.
- The Rangers continue pondering one significant move. They are viewed as possible destinations for Kyle Lohse and Michael Bourn, and could also pursue relief help. The Rangers discussed right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard with the Nationals earlier this offseason, Rosenthal reports.
- The Nationals could trade Clippard or Drew Storen now that they’ve signed Rafael Soriano. One rival executive suggested Washington could sign Lohse, but Rosenthal writes that a deal with free agent right-hander Javier Vazquez seems more likely.