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Archives for March 2013

Quick Hits: Red Sox, Aceves, Hicks, Tigers, Jones

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Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com feels that the Red Sox should part ways with the volatile Alfredo Aceves, but it doesn't seem like such a move is in the cards.  General Manager Ben Cherington told Heyman via text not to expect to see Aceves cut while another person connected to the club said that he can't see it happening.  The Red Sox's bullpen is shorthanded at the moment with Franklin Morales and Craig Breslow sidelined, so now would not be a great time to drop Aceves.  Here's more from around baseball..

  • All signs point to Twins prospect Aaron Hicks making the leap from Double-A to win the club's center field job, Heyman writes.  Recently, Ben Nicholson-Smith looked at service time considerations for Hicks and other top prospects in baseball.
  • Tigers manager Jim Leyland has success with a bullpen by committee in the past and it could work again for him in 2013, writes Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com.  Detroit has inquired on closing options from other teams in recent weeks but they could instead use rookie Bruce Rondon and other relievers already in-house to close out games.
  • Chipper Jones joked that former teammate David Ross should start a rumor that he was coming back to baseball to sign with the Red Sox, but the catcher wanted no part of it, writes John Tomase of the Boston Herald.  Ross asked Jones if he's staying retired and the future Hall of Famer said "I ain't going nowhere." 

Royals Have High Asking Price On Luke Hochevar

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Teams that have asked about trading for Luke Hochevar have been told by the Royals that they want quite a bit in return, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).  The 29-year-old is set to earn $4.56MM this season after avoiding arbitration in January.

It's surprising to hear that Kansas City is looking for a significant return on the right-hander after he pitched to a 5.73 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 32 starts last season.  In fact, Royals skipper Ned Yost announced today that Hochevar would be slated for the bullpen rather than fight for the fifth spot in the rotation against Bruce Chen, Will Smith, and Luis Mendoza.

Hochevar, the former first-overall pick in the 2006 draft, owns a career 5.39 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9.  The right-hander has one more year of arbitration eligibility left and will be free to hit the open market after the 2014 season.

The Royals called the Rockies to discuss Hochevar back in December but nothing came of those talks.

West Notes: Dodgers, Mariners, Bonderman, Giants

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Here's a look at items out of the Western divisions..

  • The Dodgers look great on paper, but Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com wonders if chemistry issues could hurt them in 2013.  Plenty of players, coaches, and executives associated with the Marlins say that Hanley Ramirez will become a problem with the Dodgers just as he did in Florida.  Same goes for people tied to the Red Sox who feel that Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford aren't as great for a team as some people believe.
  • Mariners pitching coach Carl Willis says that he has no doubt that Jeremy Bonderman's comeback attempt will be a success, Knobler writes.  Bonderman, who inked a minor league deal with the M's this winter, hasn't decided whether he will agree to go to Triple-A if he's asked to.  However, Knobler writes that it seems likely that he would if it's a short term thing.
  • Yesterday, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle suggested that Brett Pill could be a trade candidate for the Giants given their depth at first base.  However, a deal isn't in the cards right now as he is set to undergo knee surgery tomorrow that will sideline him for three weeks, according to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter).

Veterans On Minors Deals In Line For $100K Bonus

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To entice veterans into signing minor league contracts, teams will often dangle opt-out clauses. These clauses allow players to push the eject button on their deals if they are not on the big league roster by a certain date.  However, the collective bargaining agreement makes such deals mandatory for players who meet certain requirements.

Last season, there were more than 30 players, known as "Article XX(B) free agents," who qualified for these agreements and signed minor league deals.  The 2012 list, as broken down by our own Mark Polishuk, included some prominent names like Vicente Padilla, Omar Vizquel, Jason Isringhausen, Juan Pierre, and Jeff Francis.  

Matt Eddy of Baseball America compiled a list of this year's group of Article XX(B) free agents.  So who qualifies for this designation?  Any player who had a Major League contract expire at the end of the previous season and with at least six years of Major League service time who signs a minor league deal.  Then, the team must make a decision about that player's fate by five days before Opening Day.  The player has to be placed on the 25-man roster, released outright, or given a $100K bonus if sent down to the minors.  If the player is sent to the minor leagues, he'll also have an opt-out date of June 1st that will allow him to bail if he is not on the varsity squad by that stage. 

As Eddy notes, 16 of last year's Article XX(B) free agents made an Opening Day roster, 11 were cut loose prior to the deadline, two began the year in Triple-A (Francis and Aaron Cook), and two others (Russell Branyan and Corey Patterson) re-worked their contracts so that they could sign straight minor league pacts. 

Here's a look at the 33 veterans on minor league deals who could be free to find new jobs or $100K richer before Opening Day.  Players who also appeared on last year's list are denoted with an asterisk..

Diamondbacks: Rod Barajas

Red Sox: Lyle Overbay

Reds: Miguel Olivo

Indians: Matt Capps, Jason Giambi, Daisuke Matsuzaka

Rockies: Miguel Batista*

Royals: Endy Chavez, Xavier Nady*, George Sherrill

Angels: Bill Hall

Dodgers: Mark Lowe

Marlins: Austin Kearns, Casey Kotchman, Chad Qualls

Mets: Tim Byrdak, Pedro Feliciano, LaTroy Hawkins

Yankees: Matt Diaz, Juan Rivera

Phillies: Aaron Cook*

Pirates: Brandon Inge, Jose Contreras, Jonathan Sanchez

Padres: Freddy Garcia

Giants: Chad Gaudin, Ramon Ramirez

Rays: Juan Carlos Oviedo, Jamey Wright*

Rangers: Jeff Baker, Yoshinori Tateyama

Nationals: Chris Young, Chris Snyder

AL Central Notes: Twins, Francona, Royals

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The latest notes from the AL Central…

  • After training in Phoenix Jim Thome has returned home, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN reports (Twitter link). While Thome still wants a Major League contract, the Twins would likely take him on a minor league deal in Wolfson’s view.
  • Indians manager Terry Francona told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he has renewed energy in Cleveland. Though Francona's tenure in Boston ended badly, he says he has new perspective on the game after his year as an ESPN analyst. Those around him agree. "He's really the dream manager everyone wants to play for," Jason Giambi said. Even Red Sox president Larry Lucchino acknowledged that Francona "was an important part of the success" of the Red Sox.
  • The Royals offered Ivan Rodriguez a Major League contract before the 2012 season, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). Rodriguez decided to retire instead of playing for Kansas City.

Brewers To Extend Carlos Gomez

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4:55pm: Gomez will earn $7MM in 2014, $8MM in 2015 and $9MM in 2016, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). This would amount to a three-year, $24MM extension.

4:50pm: The Brewers announced that they extended Gomez for three years, through the 2016 season. The deal buys out Gomez's first three free agent seasons. “He has always had the physical skills, and his recent performance has given us the confidence that he will take the next step in becoming one of the top center fielders in the game," GM Doug Melvin said.

4:07pm: The Brewers are going to extend center fielder Carlos Gomez with a four-year contract, Tom Haudricourt and Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report (Twitter links). Gomez, a client of the Boras Corporation, will obtain about $27.5MM.

Carlos Gomez - Brewers (PW)

Gomez had been on track to hit free agency following the 2013 season, so this deal delays his arrival on the open market. The sides agreed to a one-year, $4.3MM contract for 2013 earlier this year.

It's not clear if the deal covers the 2013-16 seasons or the 2014-17 seasons, but Haudricourt suggests the deal buys out three free agent seasons (Twitter link). If that's the case the sides agreed to value Gomez's free agent years at approximately $7.7MM each.

Gomez, 27, posted a .260/.305/.463 batting line in 452 plate appearances as Milwaukee's everyday center fielder in 2012. He established career highs in home runs with 19 and stolen bases with 37. In six seasons at the MLB level, the Dominican Republic native has a .247/.294/.379 batting line. Gomez has had added value on defense in every one of those six seasons based on UZR/150.

Gomez has been traded twice since the Mets signed him as an amateur free agent in 2002. The Twins acquired him in the trade that sent Johan Santana to New York. Two offseasons later Gomez was traded to Milwaukee in the deal that sent J.J. Hardy to Minnesota.

As MLBTR's list of 2014 free agents shows, a number of prominent center fielders are still on track for free agency after the 2013 season. Curtis Granderson, Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp are among the prospective free agents for next offseason.

Some observers will be surprised that Boras, an agent known for taking clients to free agency, completed this contract. However, Boras clients such as Jered Weaver, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Madson have all signed extensions covering free agent seasons in recent years, so there's some precedent for Gomez's deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Brennan Boesch Rumors: Wednesday

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Seven teams have called agent Scott Boras about recently-released outfielder Brennan Boesch, George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reports (on Twitter). Here are the latest Boesch-related rumors…

  • The Mets' interest in Boesch is "marginal," Mike Puma of the New York Post reports (on Twitter). Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier that the Mets appear to have some interest in Boesch (on Twitter). Anthony DiComo of MLB.com doesn't get the sense that GM Sandy Alderson will pursue Boesch (Twitterlinks). However, DiComo points out that it's too early to dismiss the possibility.
  • The Red Sox are talking internally about Boesch, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post has been told the Yankees will at least look into the possibility of signing Boesch (Twitter link). The depth of the New York outfield has been tested in the aftermath of Curtis Granderson's injury.
  • The Astros will take a look at Boesch, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports (on Twitter). Like the Mets, the Astros have a relatively young outfield.

Why I Chose My Agency: Aramis Ramirez

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Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez has received MVP votes in five different seasons.  The accomplished slugger spoke to MLBTR today about why he chose his agent, Paul Kinzer of Kinzer Management Group.

On when he first came into contact with Kinzer:

After I played in the New York-Penn League in 1996, I met him in the Dominican and at the time I didn't have an agent, so he was my first agent and my only one.

On whether other agents had tried to talk to him:

A couple of guys when I was playing in the New York-Penn League in my first year in '96, they approached me, but I wasn't really into it. I was just concentrating on baseball. I wasn't worrying about an agent, I was just in A ball, so it wasn't my main thing. Then I met Paul in the Dominican and he seemed like a real honest guy and I signed with him.

On the decision to go with Kinzer, and their relationship:

He had a couple of Dominican players back then, good friends of mine, Neifi Perez and Enrique Wilson. They both told me he was great, and I trusted them. There was a Dominican guy too that worked for him, Abraham Mejia, that I knew since I was 14 or 15.

We have a real good relationship, he's like a father to me. He was the best man at my wedding. It's not a business relationship between me and Paul. It's more like a friendship, a father/son thing. We've been together for so long…he loves my family, I love his, and we always keep in touch besides business stuff.

On recommending Kinzer to other players:

I have in the past. I don't really like that, but if there is a guy that doesn't have an agent, or a young player, I recommend him. I did with [Starlin] Castro when he was coming up. I told Paul he has to go to the complex and sign this kid, he was going to be good.

On his level of involvement in multiyear contract discussions prior to free agency:

I was very involved. That was between me and Paul. Even though he was with a big company before, it was only me and him. He kept me updated every single moment, and I want to be. It was my future and I want to know what's going on.

On the contract clauses with the Cubs that allowed Ramirez to void:

That was his idea all along, and it worked out well.  We did it in Chicago a couple of times and that was a good job on his part.

On Wasserman Media Group parting ways with Kinzer last year, and how that affected him:

I don't really have a relationship with them. To me Paul is my agent, and I know he was with that company, but I guess it didn't work out. I'm sticking with Paul no matter what, he's my agent. It wasn't the company — Paul is my agent, and he has been my whole career. He let me know right away when they were going through the process of separating, and I told him it was not going to affect my relationship with him.

On how the free agent process unfolded after the 2011 season:

I just let him work. I always tell him that I will do my job on the field, he's got to do his job outside the field. He kept me updated, anytime a team called, or we have to go meet somebody. When I was a free agent a year ago we had to go to L.A. and meet a couple of teams out there. He just kept me updated every single step.

Other entries in the Why I Chose My Agency Series include David Wright, Matt Holliday, Jay Bruce, Jeremy Affeldt, and Adam Wainwright.

Texas Notes: Porter, Boesch, Profar

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General manager Jeff Luhnow told Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that he can envision manager Bo Porter leading the Astros for a long time. “He could be one of those guys who is an Astros manager for decades, not just years,” Luhnow said of Porter. “The players knowing that this is the group that’s going to be here — it begins to lay the foundation for stability, which is really what we’re looking for.” The Astros hired the 40-year-old Porter after the 2012 season. 

Here are more notes on the Astros and Texas’ other team, the Rangers…

  • Earlier today MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reported that the Astros will take a look at Brennan Boesch (Twitter link). The Tigers released the outfielder this morning.
  • The Rangers are high on Jurickson Profar, but it's still not clear what his role will be in 2013, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. The Rangers would "not necessarily" need an everyday role for Profar to justify keeping him on the roster in the view of manager Ron Washington. That said, a Triple-A assignment hasn’t been ruled out. Here's a look at service time considerations for top prospects such as Profar.
  • George A. King III of the New York Post reported today that the Rangers are watching Joba Chamberlain.

Yankees Notes: Rivera, Chamberlain, Cooper

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While it’s possible to replace Mariano Rivera for a day or even for a season, replacing him for 15 to 20 years represents another challenge altogether, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post points out. “You are replacing someone who has done things in the game that may never be done again,” Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild told Sherman. “You are replacing someone who is basically irreplaceable.” Rivera will retire following the 2013 season.

Here are more Yankees-related notes…

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