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Archives for March 2013

Red Sox Looking For Starting Pitching Depth

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As ESPN's Jayson Stark notes in his latest column, Boston's 2012 rotation posted the worst ERA of any Red Sox rotation in history at 5.19. Stark's colleague Gordon Edes writes that despite the strong Spring Training performances of the projected rotation, the team is still on the lookout for organizational depth in the rotation.

The projected rotation of Jon Lester, Ryan Dempster, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront and John Lackey are enjoying a strong Spring, but manager John Farrell told Edes that the organization is lacking depth in terms of pitchers who already have Major League experience. Franklin Morales is one such player who has that experience, but he's out indefinitely with a bulging disk in his back. Alfredo Aceves also has big league experience, but beyond that the options are thin.

Given that their rotation is already set, GM Ben Cherington is likely eyeing experienced veterans he could stash at Triple-A. As MLBTR's Transaction Tracker shows, Chris Young (currently with the Nationals) and Justin Germano (Blue Jays) are just a couple of the veteran starters that signed minor league deals this offseason but won't break camp on Major League rosters. Many players that are still free agents are currently injured, although Chien-Ming Wang enjoyed a healthy, productive World Baseball Classic. Bear in mind, of course, that these names are all my own speculation, as opposed to pitchers that Edes specifically connected to the Red Sox.

Transaction Retrospection: The Ubaldo Jimenez Trade

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The Indians have overhauled their roster via free agency this season, adding the likes of Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn, Brett Myers and Mark Reynolds on Major League deals while bringing in notable veterans such as Matt Capps and Daisuke Matsuzaka on minor league pacts. At the 2011 Trade Deadline, however, the Tribe addressed its biggest needs in a different manner, dealing a package of four prospects to the Rockies in exchange for then-ace Ubaldo Jimenez. 

Cleveland traded right-hander Alex White (22 years old at the time), first baseman Matt McBride (26 at the time), righty Joe Gardner (23 at the time) and lefty Drew Pomeranz (22 at the time) to Colorado in exchange for Jimenez, who had at least two and a half years of team control remaining on a low-cost contract. It was a steep price to pay, as Pomeranz and White represented the Indians' first-round picks from the previous two drafts. Gardner, meanwhile, had entered the season as Cleveland's No. 9 prospect, according to Baseball America.

Let's break the trade down player-by-player… Ubaldo

The Major League Side

  • Ubaldo Jimenez: To say Jimenez has been a disappointment in Cleveland would be putting things lightly. In 242 innings with the Indians, Jimenez has a 5.32 ERA, 7.6 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9. He entered 2012 with a career ground-ball rate near 50 percent, but saw that mark plummet to 38.4 percent last year. His once-blazing fastball has dropped from an average of 96.1 mph from 2009-10 to just 92.5 mph in 2012. His 4.8 BB/9 last season was a career-worst, and he led the American League in both losses (17) and wild pitches (16). In spite of all that, Indians GM Chris Antonetti exercised the team's $5.75MM club option on Jimenez this past offseason in hopes that he can rebound to something in the vicinity of the ace-caliber pitcher he once was. Jimenez is just 29 years of age still, and the price was right for Cleveland to give him another shot. His performance in 2013 will be one of they key factors in Cleveland's fate as their revamped roster makes a run at dethroning the reigning AL Central champion Tigers.
  • Drew Pomeranz: Pomeranz has a 5.01 ERA in 115 big league innings for the Rockies. His 1.9 K/BB ratio isn't exactly inspiring, but he was significantly better in a small minor league sample last season. Pomeranz posted a 2.31 ERA, 8.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 50 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A (46 2/3 of which were at Triple-A). He's still just 24 years old and is one year removed from entering the season as BA's No. 30 overall prospect and MLB.com's No. 24 ranked prospect. His fastball was down to averaging 91.2 mph season after previously sitting several ticks higher, but BA noted prior to 2012 that his ability to keep the pitch down in the zone and his deceptive delivery allowed the pitch to play at lower velocity. If Pomeranz can regain some of his velocity and/or hone his command of the strike zone, there's still time for him to blossom into the No. 2 starter BA and MLB.com projected him to be.
  • Alex White: Like Pomeranz, White struggled greatly in his Major League time with the Rockies. He posted an unsightly 6.30 ERA in 134 1/3 innings for the Rox from 2011-12. His marks of 5.9 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 were significantly worse than his Triple-A rates of 7.8 and 3.0, respectively. White put the ball on the ground frequently in 2012 (54.1 percent) but lost more than a mile per hour off his fastball, dropping to a 91.2 mph average (identical to Pomeranz's, oddly enough). White was injured at the time of the trade and missed 82 games in the 2011 season with a strained ligament in his finger. How much that impacted his 2012 results remains to be seen, but he'll have a chance to prove he's worthy of a spot in a Major League rotation. It won't be with the Rockies, however, as the team traded White to the Astros along with Alex Gillingham to acquire ace setup man Wilton Lopez.

The Prospect Side

  • Joe Gardner: Gardner ranked as Colorado's No. 25 prospect prior to the 2012 season but dropped off the club's Top 30 list this year. He ranks 18th among Rockies' farmhands according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, however, who calls Gardner's sinking fastball a "groundball machine" and notes that his change-up has some deception that leads to swings and misses. He also features a "slurvy" slider that Mayo grades out to be slightly better than his change but worse than his fastball. Gardner worked primarily as a starter at the Double-A level, but Mayo notes that he was very sharp in a five-appearance bullpen cameo. In total, Gardner compiled a 3.97 ERA, 6.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 138 1/3 innings during his age-24 season. Today is his 25th birthday (Happy birthday, Joe!), and should have a chance to crack the big league roster this season with a strong minor league performance.
  • Matt McBride: McBride is currently Colorado's 33rd best prospect, according to BA, though they note that most of his value comes as a utility player due to the fact that he can play catcher on occasion. BA notes that he's a poor defender whether behind the plate, in right field or at first base, and that his ability to make frequent contact is accompanied by a lack of home run power. McBride hit .205/.222/.308 in 81 plate appearances for the Rockies last season, walking only once and whiffing 17 times. He did manage a .344/.365/.535 triple slash line at Triple-A. Still, at 27 years of age, he's not much of a prospect at this point, which was reflected in Colorado's decision to remove him from the 40-man roster in November.

That Joe Gardner and Matt McBride posted the best 2012 numbers of anyone involved in this trade is a telling sign. To be blunt, the deal currently doesn't look good for either side. A rebound campaign for Jimenez or a breakout from Pomeranz would alter that, but surely both teams had visions of aces in their minds when pulling the trigger on this deal — not a host of 5.00+ ERAs. Colorado picked up some value in flipping White for a strong bullpen arm with three years of team control remaining, though that could prove regrettable if White puts it all together as an Astro. For the time being, three teams are simply left hoping that they can squeeze some value out of the once highly regarded talent in this deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

West Notes: Headley, McClellan, Petit, D-Backs

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The Padres received some bad news earlier today when they found out that Chase Headley will miss a month of action with a fractured thumb, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock (on Twitter). Here's some more out of baseball's Western divisions…

Quick Hits: Theriot, Carpenter, Yankees

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The Indians have told Daisuke Matsuzaka and Matt Capps that they'd like to keep them in the organization, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Neither pitcher will make the team's Opening Day roster, but Matsuzaka said he intends to remain with the Indians, Hoynes reports. Meanwhile, Capps has yet to decide whether he’ll stay with the Indians or elect free agency.

Here are some more links for Monday…

  • Free agent infielder Ryan Theriot is considering a new career path, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (on Twitter). Schulman hears that the 33-year-old is thinking of becoming an agent.
  • Chris Carpenter doesn’t sound optimistic about pitching at the MLB level again, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch reports (on Twitter). "I want to, but I don't think I can," Carpenter said, adding that he still feels numbness and weakness. His contract with the Cardinals expires after the 2013 season, and he’s not expected to pitch again.
  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Dan Martin of the New York Post that he's open to the possibility of acquiring another player before the regular season begins. Cashman also said that he considers the Brennan Boesch deal a low-risk, high-reward signing. "The only downside is wasting time and a small amount of money … Nothing’s been promised to him at all.”

Indians Talking Extension With Kipnis, Brantley

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The Indians are discussing extensions with outfielder Michael Brantley and second baseman Jason Kipnis, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. The team is interested in buying out all of the players’ arbitration years plus multiple free agent years, Rosenthal writes. Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported this past weekend that the Indians will approach the players about extension talks.

The Indians began discussing an extension with Brantley before they signed free agent Michael Bourn and moved Brantley from center field to left field, according to Rosenthal. It’s possible the position change will complicate talks with the Legacy Agency client. Brantley, who narrowly missed out on super two status last winter, will be arbitration eligible for the first time next offseason. He's on track to hit free agency after the 2016 season.

Kipnis has just one year and 69 days of MLB service, which means he's two years away from arbitration eligibility. Beverly Hills Sports Council represents Kipnis.

As MLBTR’s Extension Tracker shows, the Indians have not shied away from locking players up before and during their arbitration years. The club successfully extended many young players under former GM John Hart during the 1990s.

Angels To Sign Chris Snyder

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3:16pm: Snyder's deal allows him to opt out if he isn't on the roster by Opening Day, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).

10:51am: The Nationals released Chris Snyder this morning, but it didn't take long for the veteran catcher to find a new job. Snyder says he has signed with the Angels, according to James Wagner of the Washington Post (on Twitter). The Angels and the LSW baseball client agreed to a minor league deal includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training.

The Angels had been seeking a backup catcher because of growing concern about Hank Conger’s throwing problems. They recently intensified their search for catching, Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times reported today. Teams such as the Pirates, Phillies and Rays were also looking for catching, so a trade involving Snyder seemed likely as recently as yesterday.

The 32-year-old appeared in 76 games for the Astros this past season. He posted a .176/.295/.308 batting line in 258 plate appearances, adding seven home runs. The Astros declined a $4MM option on Snyder after the regular season, choosing a $500K buyout instead.

Minor Moves: Evans, Castro, De La Cruz

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We’ll track the latest minor moves here…

  • The Dodgers released Nick Evans, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports (on Twitter). The utility player last played at the MLB level with the 2011 Mets. Evans spent the 2012 season playing in the Pirates' minor league system.
  • The Dodgers released catcher Ramon Castro, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). The 37-year-old last appeared at the MLB level in 2011, when he played in 23 games for the White Sox. The Dodgers signed Castro to a minor league deal this past offseason.
  • The Cardinals released corner infielder Robert De La Cruz, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. As Goold explains, the De La Cruz deal was significant for the St. Louis organization. When the Cardinals signed the prospect for $1.1MM in 2008, they stated their intention of increasing their presence in Latin America and pursuing international prospects more seriously. While the team has signed top prospects such as Carlos Martinez and Oscar Taveras, the De La Cruz deal didn’t work out. The 21-year-old posted a .196/.216/.301 batting line in 297 plate appearances for two Class A teams in 2012, when he spent most of the season at first base. De La Cruz, who also has considerable experience at third base, hit 16 home runs in 2011.

Why I Chose My Agency: Ryan Ludwick

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The Reds' Ryan Ludwick enjoyed a bounceback year in 2012, posting a .275/.346/.531 batting line with 26 home runs in 472 plate appearances.  The outfielder spoke to MLBTR about his relationship with the Beverly Hills Sports Council and why he chose them.

How did you first come into contact with Dan Horwits and the Beverly Hills Sports Council?

I think I was a little bit of a unique situation in that my brother [Eric Ludwick] was represented by them and I got to know Danny through my brother while I was in high school, but I wasn't highly recruited out of high school.  A lot of teams wanted me to pitch, like my brother, but I didn't want to.  I didn't have representation then but as time went on through high school and college at UNLV, I built a relationship with Danny before he was even really my agent, more as a family friend.  It was a pretty easy decision when it came time.

Were there other agencies hoping to represent you before you signed on with BHSC?  Why did you choose BSHC over them?

I did get recruited by other agents in the game and I listened to a couple of them and I let them come into the house and talk about how they were better than other guys.  But, for me, the decision had already been made.

Besides contract negotiations, what else does BHSC do for you that you value? 

Just about everything.  I know the social media thing is really big right now but I'm a pretty Plain Jane type of dude.  I don't have a Twitter or a Facebook account but I know a lot of players in the agency that have them help out with a lot of stuff like that.  For me, they help with basic stuff like taxes, card deals, equipment, getting your Nike deal or your Wilson deal set up, and you get a little bit of perks too.  I'll call Danny and he'll get concert tickets or dinner reservations…Me and the wife and some friends on New Year's we went down to the Florida keys and they'll even help out with that stuff.  Anything under the sun, they'll help out with.  The good thing about Danny is, I was at his wedding and I've known him forever and he's really like a big brother to me.  I know I can call him about anything and I can ask him for everything and I think I've paid him back, so I think we're good.

From what you've seen, how common or uncommon is it for a player to have that type of relationship with his agent?

Everyone is different.  Everyone's goals or mindset is different.  I think with some guys, whether that's an agent or player, you get egos that are all about the money.  I'm not trying to be rude or inconsiderate but I think that happens in everyday life, whether you're an agent or a lawyer or a doctor, a car salesman, whatever that might be, I think some people are about money and some are about happiness and friendships and enjoying what they're doing.  For me, the friendship aspect was more important for me.  But, that being said, I also knew that [BHSC], they're very good at what they do.  There are a lot of guys out there, and I know [MLBTradeRumors] is doing a lot of agencies in this series, but they're in the top percentile of agencies out there.

When you look at Danny Horwits' record in arbitration, it's pretty good, I don't think he's ever lost.  We settled outside of hearings every time and each and every time we got what we wanted.  He's very good at that and I'm really really thankful that he's on our side in that respect.

You spent parts of nine seasons in the minors with five organizations due to injuries and trades before finally breaking through in 2007 with St. Louis.  How did BHSC help you through those tough times?

It's a pretty lengthy story with Danny and I.  Not even after my first full season in pro ball, I was drafted in '99 and in 2000 for the first half of the season I was in High-A ball in Modesto and I was hitting .200 with, I think, four home runs at the break and I remember calling my future wife up and my brother and my mom and Danny up and being like, "I'm done."  I didn't even have a full year under my belt yet but I had never failed before and I felt like I was failing tremendously.  Looking back on it, I've done that numerous times now, but that first time he told me to take a deep breath and that I'll be alright…He reminded me that a lot of people struggle when they get to pro ball and Danny has always been there behind me, whether it be then to when I eventually caught fire to my injuries.

I've had a lot of injuries as well, some people don't know about.  I have an eight inch titanium rod in my hip, a six inch titanium rod in my ulna, I've had two knee surgeries, I've had a GI bleed which is a pretty bad ulcer where I had like five holes in my stomach from all the anti-inflammatories I was taking trying to get better from all the surgeries…There have been numerous times where I could have given up and Danny was there for me.

Have you ever recommended Dan to a player looking for representation or thinking about changing representation?

It's funny, he doesn't ever ask me to do that.  I know he's asked other guys to do that when they have their eyes on a certain guy who may or may not have certain representation.  But he really hasn't asked me to do that too much.  There are guys that I've gone up to on my own and I ask what they're thinking.  I always tell them that I'm very happy with my representation at the Sports Council and I tell them that it's a strong way to go.  But he's never harped on me to recruit other players.

After a strong 2012, you turned down your side of a $5MM mutual option. Were you anxious to get your contract hammered out over the offseason and how often did you find yourself checking in with your agent as talks progressed this winter?

I called him quite frequently and he called me quite frequently.  I think the important thing is that whenever I called, he's there.  Danny is always there and he always got back to me promptly.  Going through the arbitration process three times and then into the free agency process, I didn't want to believe him at times.  Every step of the way there were times that I didn't trust his opinion, but in all three arbitration cases he was 100% correct and every time I got panicky in the season about free agency he was always correct.  Like I said, he's always given me good advice and he's always right.  I've been with him since '99 and I really don't have any gripes.  I mean, I wish he could have gotten me an everyday big league job a little bit sooner but that's probably my fault, not his.

Were you at at all hesitant about turning down the option for 2013?

Not at all.  I knew right away, we both knew right away, that we were going to go after a multi-year deal.  I had never had one before.  There were times in St. Louis where I played well early in my career that I thought St. Louis might let me have some security and play there.  Then I went to San Diego and I had that awful year that got in my dome and mentally I just wasn't right.  I went into free agency after that season, after being with San Diego and getting traded to Pittsburgh, thinking it was going to be a great thing.  

It ended up being a thing where I only had four or five teams interested and I took a huge pay cut from the season before and I thought, "Hey man, I'm finally going to get my three year deal," and I only got a one year deal.  I went to Cincinnati last year and Danny said, "You know, if you're unhappy with what you've got going, you've got no one to blame but yourself.  If you're unhappy, you have to go out there and use Cincinnati to your advantage."  

Cincinnati was a place I wanted to go but we were talking to other teams.  Danny agreed with me, he said that we had to listen to other teams but that Cincinnati was the best fit.   For one, it's a completely different ballpark from San Diego, it's a lot more hitter friendly.  And for me, it was my favorite team growing up, Eric Davis was my favorite player, it's where my mom and dad were born and raised, and it just kind of struck home.  It was a good feeling and he said that I should use it to my advantage to get back to where I was.  I think after last year's season I proved to other people and Danny that I can still hit a little bit.  And you know, Walt [Jocketty], Danny, and I got together and I let it be known to Walt that I wanted to stay there and that I was very happy with the situation I was in.  Danny and him got the deal hammered out and I'm very thankful to be where I'm at.

Brewers Release Bobby Crosby

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Bobby Crosby's comeback attempt is on hold, as the Brewers have granted the infielder his release. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Brewers have released Crosby, who signed a minor league deal with the team in January (Twitter link). The TWC Sports client would have earned $800K at the MLB level plus $450K in incentives.

Crosby, 33, last played at the MLB level in 2010. The former AL Rookie of the Year has a .236/.304/.372 batting line over the course of eight big league seasons and has at least 20 games of experience at all four infield positions.

Cubs Sign Armando Rivero

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The Cubs signed Cuban right-hander Armando Rivero to a contract with a $3.1MM bonus, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune first reported the deal between the Cubs and the Praver Shapiro Sport Management client.

Rivero, 25, had been living and training in the Dominican Republic, Badler writes. He stands 6’3” and has the potential to pitch as a middle reliever at the MLB level. His best pitch is a fastball that can reach 96 mph, but he doesn’t have an above average secondary pitch, according to Badler. Rivero can throw a solid splitter and sometimes pitches from a low arm slot. His bonus won’t count against the Cubs’ 2012-13 international bonus pool.

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