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Archives for February 2013

Quick Hits: Giants, Bourn, MLBPA, Andrus, Rolen

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The MLBPA announced that Dave Prouty has been promoted to the position of general counsel, replacing executive director Michael Weiner in that role. The 54-year-old Prouty becomes the fourth general counsel in the history of the MLBPA. “I am confident that Dave will excel in his new role and that the players will continue to receive the high level of legal representation they have come to expect from their union,” Weiner said. Here are some links from around MLB…  

  • While emphasizing that GM Brian Sabean decides which players to sign, Giants skipper Bruce Bochy won't rule out a return for Brian Wilson, writes Chris Haft of MLB.com.  "I can't say that [Wilson] will be back." But, Bochy added, "I can't say the door's closed on Brian Wilson. … I don't think that's completely shut."
  • The Mets are still hopeful on Michael Bourn and General Manager Sandy Alderson talking about him publicly is a positive sign, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  However, nothing appears to be imminent between the club and the top remaining free agent left on the open market.
  • In an appearance on ESPN Dallas’ the Ben & Skin Show, Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus said he hopes to stay in Texas long-term (story via Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com). However, the Scott Boras client said he’s prepared to “see what happens” when his contract expires following the 2014 season. “We’re still talking about it. That’s all I can say. For sure, I would love to stay here.”
  • Dodgers GM Ned Colletti suggested on MLB Network that free agent third baseman Scott Rolen will "probably end up some other place than Los Angeles,"Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. The Dodgers had “some interest” in bringing Rolen on to provide depth at the corner infielder positions, Colletti acknowledged.
  • Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times has the details on the incentives included in the contracts for Kyle Farnsworth and Kelly Johnson. The Rays announced their deals with both players yesterday.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Giants, Romo Agree To Two-Year Deal

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9:34pm: Romo gets $3.5MM in 2013 and $5.5MM in 2014, good for $9MM in total, according to Dan Plesac of the MLB Network (on Twitter).

6:24pm: The Giants announced that they have avoided arbitration with closer Sergio Romo by agreeing to a two-year deal.  Romo is represented by Meister Sports Management.

This deal takes care of Romo's remaining arbitration seasons and he will still hit the open market following the 2014 season as planned.  With the closer under contract, the Giants now have taken care of all of their arbitration eligible players this winter.  Terms of the deal are not yet known.  The right-hander filed for $4.5MM while the Giants countered with $2.675MM when figures were exchanged in January.

Romo, 29, posted a 1.79 ERA last season with 10.2 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 69 relief appearances last season.  The two sides also dodged arbitration last winter when they agreed to a one-year, $1.575MM deal. 

AL Central Notes: Leyland, Twins, Brignac, White Sox

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Tigers skipper Jim Leyland has proven over the years that he is not afraid to step away when he doesn't feel he is the right fit, but he knows that returning to the Tigers in 2013 is the right move, writes Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com.  The veteran manager, who will be in the dugout for his 22nd season this year, stepped away from jobs with the Marlins, Pirates, and Rockies all on his own accord.  At the same time, he admits that he feels pressure to win and knows that he could be out of a job if his team struggles.  Here's more out of the AL Central..

  • The Twins are among the teams that could have interest in the recently DFA'd Reid Brignac along with the Astros, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).  The 27-year-old appeared in 16 games for the Rays last year and spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a .231/.323/.353 batting line in 400 plate appearances as a middle infielder.
  • In today's inbox, a reader asked MLB.com's Scott Merkin if White Sox outfielder Brian Anderson could potentially return to the club on a minor league deal.  Anderson recently told Merkin that he's working towards hooking on somewhere as a pitcher but is also considering a move into broadcasting.
  • Another reader proposed a swap to Merkin that would send Chris Sale and Dayan Viciedo to the Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton.  Surprisingly, Merkin feels that such a deal would be ill-advised for the White Sox as they would be exchanging two dynamic young players for one.
  • Former Indians first baseman Russ Canzler has had quite a journey this offseason but he is optimistic that he can take his coat off and stay a while in Baltimore, writes Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.  It looked like the first baseman had an opening for playing time after the departure of Travis Hafner, but the signing of Mark Reynolds made him expendable.

AL East Notes: Rays, Scott, Orioles, Jurrjens

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Here's a look at news out of the American League East..

  • Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter) hears that Luke Scott can earn up to $750K in performance bonuses through his one-year deal with the Rays.  The incentive is tied to plate appearances, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The designated hitter will make a base salary of $2.75MM in 2013 and will look to stay healthy after a pair of trips to the DL limited him to 96 games last season.
  • The Orioles still haven't finalized their deal with Jair Jurrjens as team doctors are still going over the information from his Monday physical, Connolly tweets.  The pitcher says that the two sides are close to finalizing the pact and and says there's just some "small stuff" to iron out (Twitter link).  Jurrjens agreed to a one-year, $1.5MM Major League contract last month that balloon to as much as $4MM with incentives.
  • Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com says it's possible that Orioles Executive Vice President Dan Duquette is stockpiling pitching depth in order to deal for a middle-of-the-order bat.  Even if the O's use the surplus to bolster their offense, Ghiroli expects them to still hang on to extra pitching as insurance.

Rays Designate Dane De La Rosa For Assignment

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The Rays have designated Dane De La Rosa for assignment, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter).  The move creates room on the 40-man roster for Luke Scott after his one-year, $2.75MM deal was finalized earlier this evening.

De La Rosa has made just 12 relief appearances for the major league squad over the last two years.  He spent the bulk of that time in Triple-A, where he posted a 3.00 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9.

Rays Sign Luke Scott

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FEBRUARY 6th: The Rays announced that they have finalized their deal with Scott.  The 34-year-old will earn $2.75MM for this season, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter).

JANUARY 24th: The Rays are set to re-sign Luke Scott, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (on Twitter). Topkin reported yesterday that there was mutual interest between the Rays and Scott, a PSI Sports Management client.

Scott made two trips to the disabled list as a result of oblique and back injuries in 2012. When healthy he hit 14 home runs and posted a .229/.285/.439 batting line in 344 plate appearances. However, there was limited buzz surrounding the 34-year-old this offseason.

Rays executive VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has added many free agents this offseason. Joel Peralta obtained a two-year deal, and Roberto Hernandez, Kyle Farnsworth and James Loney signed one-year deals. The Rays also added notable players such as Jamey Wright and Juan Carlos Oviedo on minor league deals.

The market for designated hitters still includes Travis Hafner, Carlos Lee, Jim Thome, Juan Rivera and Bobby Abreu, as MLBTR's Free Agent Tracker shows. The Indians, Yankees and Astros are among the teams that could pursue help at DH.

Mets Notes: Bourn, Davis, Collins

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The Mets are interested in Michael Bourn and, based on the most recent rumors regarding the free agent center fielder, may be pursuing him more aggressively than any other team. Here’s the latest on the Mets, starting with a Bourn-related update:

  • Ike Davis would like to see Bourn sign with the Mets, but he'll leave the recruiting to David Wright, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports. Davis joked that Bourn wouldn't know who he is, while acknowledging he'd like to have Bourn getting on base ahead of him in the New York lineup.
  • Mets manager Terry Collins said he doesn't intend to let his contract status become a distraction this year, Kevin Kernan of the New York Post reports. “I don’t want this to be an issue; it’s not with me,” he said. “I’ve reached that stage in my career where I love what I do.” Collins, who’s entering the final year of his current contract, pointed to Dusty Baker and Jim Leyland, who led their respective teams to the playoffs in 2012 under similar circumstances.

Padres Designate Jeudy Valdez For Assignment

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The Padres have designated infielder Jeudy Valdez for assignment, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com (on Twitter).  The move will allow the club to make room for Fautino De Los Santos, who was claimed off of waivers earlier today.

Valdez, 23, was promoted last season to Double-A San Antonio where he hit .225/.273/.364 in 507 plate appearances.  The youngster has seen a good deal of time at second base in the Padres' farm system but has spent the last two years at shortstop.

Mets Sign Corey Patterson, Mike Wilson

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The Mets have signed outfielders Corey Patterson and Mike Wilson to minor league deals, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter).  Patterson is represented by Jim Bronner and Bob Gilhooley, according to the MLBTR Agency Database.

Patterson, 33, hooked on with the Brewers on a minor league deal last season.  The veteran spent the year in Triple-A Nashville, hitting .251/.285/.410 with ten homers in 387 plate appearances.  For his big league career, Patterson owns a .252/.290/.400 slash line across twelve seasons.

Wilson has a .269/.362/.477 line across four seasons at the Triple-A level but played in just 71 games last season.  The 29-year-old was the Mariners' second-round pick in the 2001 draft.

Padres Claim Fautino De Los Santos

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The Padres claimed right-hander Fautino De Los Santos off of waivers from Milwaukee, according to the Brewers. The Brewers officially announced the signing of Alex Gonzalez in a related move.

De Los Santos appeared in six games for the Athletics in 2012, pitching out of the bullpen. The A's traded the 26-year-old to Milwaukee last July in the deal that sent George Kottaras to Oakland. De Los Santos posted a 5.80 ERA with 10.9 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 49 2/3 innings of relief work at Triple-A in 2012.

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