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Archives for March 2013

Chris Sale, White Sox Discussing Extension

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Chris Sale and the White Sox are discussing a contract extension, according to Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago. Sale is represented by Jet Sports Management.

The talks appear to be preliminary. If the two parties can't agree on an extension, Sale will make $600K in 2013, after posting a 3.05 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 192 innings in 2012.

Sale will be arbitration eligible for the first time next winter, and he has 2.061 years of service time. Trevor Cahill and Clay Buchholz's contracts, which are both around $30MM (and also include club options) and were signed when those pitchers had between two and three years of service time, provide rough blueprints. (See MLBTR's Extension Tracker for more.)

The White Sox would likely want to cover Sale's four remaining pre-free agency seasons, along with at least one free agency season. Sale, meanwhile, would be guaranteed north of $30MM, mitigating his risk in the event of health problems or ineffectiveness.

Indians Notes: Stubbs, Bauer, Aviles

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Leaving the Reds behind and heading to the Indians in the Shin-Soo Choo deal was bittersweet for outfielder Drew Stubbs, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports. "There were definitely some mixed emotions," says Stubbs. "The toughest part for me was, when you're comfortable in a place, having to leave a bunch of great people behind." Stubbs will move from center field to right (after Cleveland's signing of Michael Bourn) and from one corner of Ohio to another, but Bastian notes that Stubbs' spring training home has scarcely changed, since both the Indians and Reds train in Goodyear, Arizona. Here are more notes on the Indians.

  • So far, Terry Francona is impressed with Trevor Bauer, who also came to Cleveland in the Choo trade, Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon-Journal writes. "When you tell him something, you have to have a reason, which you’re supposed to have anyway," says Francona. "It was like managing Doug Glanville [for the Philadelphia Phillies]. You would want to say, 'I know you’re smarter than I am. You don’t have to apologize for it.'" Bauer appears unlikely to make the team out of camp, however.
  • After a pair of offseason trades, the Indians' Mike Aviles seems to be happy to be reunited with former Red Sox manager Francona, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports. "I've talked to Tito numerous times, and he's assured me I'm going to get a lot of at-bats," says Aviles, who looks like he'll serve as a utility infielder in Cleveland. "That's really the main focus, to get on the field as much as possible." In October, the Red Sox shipped Aviles to Toronto for David Carpenter and manager John Farrell. The next month, the Blue Jays sent Aviles to the Indians with Yan Gomes for Esmil Rogers.

Tigers Notes: Verlander, Closers, Porcello

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Justin Verlander is mostly sticking to comments made two weeks ago that he'd like to be the first pitcher in baseball to sign a $200MM contract, according to James Jahnke of the Detroit Free Press. "They got taken out of context a little bit, but I'm not going to take back what I said," Verlander says. "Former players worked extremely hard and risked their careers, even, so we could have free agency. I think you do a bit of a disservice to that if you don't honor what they did and use the system to your advantage." Verlander's current $80MM contract is set to expire after the 2014 season. Here are more notes on the Tigers:

  • With Bruce Rondon struggling with his mechanics, it's uncertain who will serve as the Tigers' closer, and manager Jim Leyland doesn't like that, John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press writes. "…[T]here is no question that it makes it a hundred times better when you have a closer that is a closer — and a good one — because it takes a lot of pressure off the manager," Leyland says. Nonetheless, Lowe writes that Leyland "ruled out" the possibility that Jose Valverde would return, and also suggested a trade for a closer wasn't very likely, either. An earlier report on Tuesday indicated that the Tigers were attempting to deal for a closer.
  • Rick Porcello is unfazed by recent trade rumors, MLB.com's Matthew Leach reports. "I'm in camp with the Tigers right now. I'm looking to do stuff with this club. If something happens, I'll adjust accordingly," Porcello says. "But right now, I'm here, I'm wearing a Tigers uniform, I'm happy to be here, and I'm looking to continue working for this season." Leach notes that a number of scouts from other organizations were on hand to watch Porcello Monday, when he struck out six batters in four scoreless innings against the Astros.

Carlos Marmol Drawing Trade Interest

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Closer Carlos Marmol doesn't appear long for the Cubs and is likely to start the season elsewhere, writes Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com.  League sources say that several teams, including the Tigers, are taking a hard look at the reliever.  Earlier today we learned that Detroit is actively trying to deal for a closer amidst concerns about rookie Bruce Rondon.

Marmol will earn nearly $10MM in the final year of his deal and can veto a trade to four West Coast clubs.  One source says that Marmol would most likely waive that clause if it meant that he would be going to a contender.

Levine writes that the Cubs don't feel pressure to move Marmol but they would likely part with him for young pitching.  Offseason acquisition Kyuji Fujikawa would step in as closer if Marmol is shipped elsewhere.  

Recently, General Manager Jed Hoyer publicly asserted that Marmol would be the team's closer heading into this season.  The Cubs nearly shipped the 30-year-old to the Angels in November for starter Dan Haren. 

East Notes: Red Sox, Ellsbury, Santana, Nationals

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Here's a look at items out of the AL and NL East..

  • Jacoby Ellsbury insists that the Red Sox aren't evaluating him differently because of his injury history, writes Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.  "They know how it happened," he said. "What I went through wasn't the result of me not being prepared or anything like that. Two contacts: One, I collided with a guy [Adrian Beltre]. The other I got cannonballed on [by Reid Brignac]."
  • Just as the Mets did with Francisco Rodriguez in 2011, Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog believes the club will do whatever is necessary to keep Johan Santana from triggering his option. However, it seems unlikely that Santana will pitch the 215 innings necessary to guarantee a $25MM salary in 2014.
  • If Ellsbury is concerned about his next contract as he heads into his walk year, he's not showing any signs of it, writes MLB.com's Ian Browne.
  • In an Insider only piece for ESPN.com, Jim Bowden praises Nationals GM Mike Rizzo for his strong offseason.  While the Nats didn't necessarily need another closer, they went out and got another one anyway in Rafael Soriano while the Tigers thought they could get by with rookie Bruce Rondon at closer.  Bowden writes that it's not hard to imagine a scenario in which Soriano is the difference in a Detroit-Washington World Series.

West Notes: Mariners, Dodgers, Helton, Rangers

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Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com weighed in with five likes and dislikes for the 2013 Mariners today. Heyman is a fan of the M's improved offense thanks in particular to the additions of Mike Morse and Kendrys Morales.  On top of that, less-heralded pickups like Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay, and Kelly Shoppach could also help Seattle put more runs on the board this season.  Here's more out of the AL and NL West..

  • Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says that Jerry Hairston Jr. might have a future as a coach or a manager, writes Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com.  However, the 36-year-old first has to decide when he's going to retire.  Hairston will serve as the backup in left field, right field, and third base this year and assess his future after the season.
  • Todd Helton's teammates say that the veteran can be a significant contributor in what will likely be his final season, writes Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.  Even Helton, who will earn $5MM in the final year of his deal, acknowledges that this is likely the end of the road.
  • If Rangers execs Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels can't coexist, then Ryan should be the one to go, opines Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News.  Ryan is reportedly unhappy with the idea of ceding power to the newly promoted GM.

Rangers Notes: Lohse, Ryan, Daniels

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Last night, we learned that the Rangers made an inquiry on Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello.  Texas was one of several teams who had scouts in attendance for Porcello's Monday against the Astros where he recorded six strikeouts and no walks across four scoreless innings.  Here's the latest out of Arlington..

  • In this week's inbox, a reader asked MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan if the Rangers will sign Kyle Lohse given the question marks surrounding their arms.  Sources tell Sullivan that a deal is still not likely to happen and they are still determined to find a fifth starter between Robbie Ross, Nicholas Tepesch, and Randy Wells.  The Rangers are also confident that Colby Lewis could be back in the rotation by the end of May.
  • Despite talk that Nolan Ryan may part ways with the Rangers over Jon Daniels' promotion, Daniels says that their relationship has become stronger over the years, writes Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram.  Second baseman Ian Kinsler, who signed a multi-year extension in April, says that Ryan has helped attract key free agents to join the team.  “I would love to have him around for as long as I’m here and as long as he’d like to be here,” Kinsler said.
  • The reason the Rangers gave Daniels a new title has more to do with assistant GM Thad Levine than it does with Ryan, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd).  Texas wants to hold together the group that works under Daniels and giving him the title of president of baseball operations gives them space to someday promote Levine someday to GM.

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Tigers Looking To Trade For Closer

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The Tigers raised eyebrows across baseball this offseason with their decision to install rookie Bruce Rondon as their closer.  Now, they are having second thoughts about that plan and pushing hard to find a closer via trade, major league sources tell Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.

The Nationals could afford to part with a reliever, after the signing of Rafael Soriano bumped back Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard, but so far they are telling teams that they have no interest in moving anyone in the pen.  The Red Sox have an extra closer in Andrew Bailey but the Tigers have yet to contact Boston about him.

Detroit could use Rick Porcello to land a ninth-inning option, but they'll want a strong closer in return given his strong play in spring training.  There are also two unsigned closers in Jose Valverde and Francisco Rodriguez, but they don't seem terribly interested in either one.

Mets Won’t Look To Acquire A Starter

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The Mets are likely to be without Johan Santana to start the season, which leaves them in need of at least one additional starting pitcher.  However, two sources indicated to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that they won't look to sign or trade for another arm.  

There are plenty of options on the trade market including starters from the Dodgers’ surplus like Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano, and Ted Lilly and Rick Porcello of the Tigers.  Chien-Ming Wang has interest frm the Yankees and others as he pitches in the World Baseball Classic and former Met Chris Young will be available if he doesn't make the cut with the Nationals.  

Jeremy Hefner will most likely begin the year in the rotation but Collin McHugh and Jenrry Mejia are also in the mix.  The Mets may actually have two holes to fill thanks to Shaun Marcum's lingering shoulder issues which have kept him from making his second Grapefruit League start.

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