Minor Moves: Cody Eppley, Nevin Ashley
Here are today's minor moves from around the league…
- The Pirates announced that they have signed right-hander Cody Eppley and catcher Nevin Ashley to minor league contracts with invitations to Spring Training. Eppley, 28, pitched 46 innings of 3.33 ERA ball for the Yankees in 2012, averaging 6.3 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9. He split 2013 between the Twins, Yankees and independent ball, totaling a 6.08 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 6.1 BB/9. Ashley, 29, slashed .235/.328/.374 for Cincinnati's Triple-A affiliate.
No Agreement Yet Between MLB, NPB On Posting System
4:35pm: Today's meetings ended without an agreement on a new posting system, and the two sides are likely to take a break until after Thanksgiving, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 12:56pm: Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports tweets that MLB and NPB officials are meeting today to discuss the new posting system. Baseball America's Ben Badler adds that teams are operating under the assumption that an agreement will be reached, and Tanaka will be available (Twitter link). Badler feels some news will be announced in the near future.
SUNDAY: Japanese baseball officials will visit New York this week to negotiate a new posting system, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman writes. A new posting system would free star Rakuten Golden Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to sign with a Major League team. Heyman also notes that, if Tanaka were to sign with a big-league team, other starters might begin to sign as well. While the market for position players has been very active (with Brian McCann and Jhonny Peralta having agreed to large new contracts in the past week), the market for starting pitchers has been relatively quiet.
The Yankees, Dodgers and Cubs, among other teams, are expected to show interest in Tanaka, Heyman notes. But the next step has to be agreement on a new posting system. While Heyman notes that officials have "renewed hope" for an agreement, Golden Eagles president Yozo Tachibana recently told the Japan News that he thinks an agreement might not be reached until mid-December. Here's more on negotiations regarding the posting system.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Reds Sign Skip Schumaker
The Reds made a move to add to their bench, officially announcing the signing of Skip Schumaker to a two-year contract. A client of CAA Sports' Nez Balelo, Schumaker will reportedly be guaranteed $5MM over the life of the deal, and the contract includes a $2.5MM club option for a third season with a $500K buyout. Schumaker will earn $2MM in 2014 and $2.5MM in 2015.
Schumaker, who turns 34 in Februrary, slashed .263/.332/.332 in 356 plate appearances for the Dodgers in 2013. Though he offers positional flexibility — he appeared at second base and all three outfield positions this season — Schumaker does not play any one position particularly well. He posted negative UZR and DRS marks at all four of his positions in 2013 and has registered negative defensive value each season since 2008, according to Fangraphs.
Even if he isn't a gifted defender though, Schumaker will give new Reds manager Bryan Price a versatile piece off his bench that has slashed a respectable .279/.347/.357 against right-handed pitching over the past two seasons. A veteran of nine big league seasons between the Cardinals and Dodgers, Schumaker is a career .285/.344/.372 hitter in 3,043 plate appearances.
This is the second two-year deal issued by GM Walt Jocketty in the young offseason. Cincinnati has already agreed to a two-year deal with backstop Brayan Pena. Cheap multiyear deals for bench pieces are nothing new for Jocketty, who has guaranteed multiple years to Miguel Cairo and Jack Hannahan in recent years.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the two-year agreement (on Twitter), and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the $5MM guarantee (also on Twitter). MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reported that the contract contained an option and provided the financial breakdown.
Reds Designate Derrick Robinson For Assignment
The Reds have designated outfielder Derrick Robinson for assignment in order to clear a 40-man roster spot for utility man Skip Schumaker, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link).
Robinson, 26, batted .255/.322/.323 without a homer in 216 plate appearances for the the Reds in 2013 — his first taste of Major League action. Though he's posted some gaudy stolen base totals and owns 317 swipes in his minor league career, he was just 4-for-9 in that department with the Reds. He was solid defensively, appearing in both left and center field. UZR/150 pegged him at +5.4 runs in the outfield, while Defensive Runs saved had him at +6 despire his limited playing time (395 1/3 innings).
Mets Sign Chris B. Young
The Mets have stated a desire to add some offense to their club, and they kicked off their free agent spending by inking veteran outfielder Chris Young to a one-year contract that is reportedly worth $7.25MM. The Mets officially announced the signing of Young, a client of Reynolds Sports Management, Tuesday afternoon.
Young spent last season with the A's after being acquired in the three-team deal with the Marlins and Diamondbacks that sent Heath Bell to Arizona. Oakland turned down an $11MM option on Young after the powerful right-handed swinger slashed just .200/.280/.379. Young still managed to club 12 homers, and part of his downturn in batting average to do with a career-worst .237 batting average on balls in play. The low average can't be chalked up solely to poor luck though, as Young's strikeout rate climbed to nearly 25 percent and his 17.5 percent infield flyball rate was the ninth highest in baseball among players with 350 plate appearances.
Young typically grades out as a strong defender and is capable of playing all three outfield spots, making him a valuable pickup for defensive purposes alone. He also owns a career .262/.363/.474 batting line against left-handed pitching. If he can cut down the pop-ups and punchouts a bit, Young could return to the form that saw him average 3.7 fWAR and 4.2 rWAR from 2010-12 with the D-Backs.
Obviously, with Young coming off a poor season, the budget-conscious Athletics did not make him qualifying offer. The Mets, therefore, aren't required to surrender a draft pick to sign him. The Mets have prioritized adding bats early this offseason, and Young figures to be a low-cost option that will still allow them to pursue bigger fish like Nelson Cruz, Curtis Granderson and Jhonny Peralta.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports first reported the signing. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweeted that it was a one-year deal, and ESPN's Buster Olney reported the $7.25MM salary (Twitter link).
Steve Adams contributed to this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cubs Acquire George Kottaras
3:12pm: The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan tweets that the Cubs will send cash to the Royals for Kottaras, who will compete for the backup job in Spring Training.
3:06pm: The Cubs have acquired catcher George Kottaras from the Royals, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (on Twitter). Kottaras had been designated for assignment last week.
Kottaras, 30, hit .180/.349/.370 in 126 plate appearances for the Royals in 2013. Kottaras has outstanding plate discipline and power for a catcher, as evidenced by his career 14 percent walk rate and .192 isolated power mark. He struck out in 33.3 percent of his plate appearances in 2013, however, and has whiffed at nearly a 23 percent clip throughout his career.
Marlins Have Discussed Mike Napoli
The Marlins have discussed Mike Napoli and could get involved at the right price, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Napoli signing with Miami isn't likely if he has better options (link), but he's a South Florida native and he is good friends with Marlins catcher Jeff Mathis.
We recently heard that the Marlins were interested in free agent catcher Dioner Navarro (as well as pitcher Phil Hughes), but Napoli represents a much more ambitious target for Miami. While a big-name free agent like Napoli being connected to the Marlins will clearly be met with skepticism (and rightfully so), it's worth pointing out that they were very much in the mix for Jose Dariel Abreu before he signed with the White Sox. That pursuit, at the very least, indicates that the Fish may have some willingness to spend on a first baseman to pair with Giancarlo Stanton in the middle of their lineup.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Mets Notes: Free Agency, Shortstops, Braun
There's been a lot of talk about the Mets following the "Red Sox model" of signing multiple mid-tier free agents to shorter-term deals without sacrificing draft picks this season, but Matt Meyers of ESPNNewYork.com writes that this model won't work for the Mets. New York doesn't have a positional core like Boston had in Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz, nor can the team match Boston's $150MM payroll. Meyers feels that the Mets should follow the Indians' model this winter and look at the Pirates' philosophy long-term. To fans clamoring for big free agent spending, Meyers points out that such actions are precisely what dug the team into its current hole. More Mets links for your Tuesday afternoon…
- David Wright appeared on ESPN New York radio recently, stating that he's not worried about the team's slow start to the offseason and adding that he thinks GM Sandy Alderson "has some tricks up his sleeve." (ESPN's Adam Rubin has some quotes transcribed) Wright elaborated: "In all reality, I think that the offseason doesn't really necessarily kick off until the winter meetings, and that starts right after Thanksgiving … have some faith because, like I said, I fully expect us to be a much better team moving forward. Hopefully that will begin at the winter meetings or shortly after Thanksgiving."
- Barring a surprise signing of Stephen Drew, it's looking more and more like the Mets will open 2014 with Ruben Tejada as their shortstop, writes MLB.com's Anthony DiComo in his latest Mets Inbox. DiComo points to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak's comments about how steep the prices are for shortstops on the trade market in suggesting that such a move isn't likely to occur. Rafael Furcal may be an upgrade, but as DiComo points out, he's far from a sure thing.
- The large number of holes the Mets have to fill puts Daniel Murphy "at risk of being elsewhere" next season, DiComo adds. The Mets could move Eric Young to his natural position, second base, and address a different hole by trading Murphy.
- Also from DiComo, the Mets would like to find a veteran backup catcher, but that's low on their list of priorities at this point. He tells a reader that while John Buck would likely be a nice it, Buck probably prefers to find a larger role with a team than the Mets can offer.
- The Mets did indeed check in on Ryan Braun, writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, though the inquiry consisted of four words, Alderson told Heyman: "What's up with Braun?" Alderson asked Brewers GM Doug Melvin before finding him to be unavailable. The Mets are continuing to pursue corner outfielders Nelson Cruz and Curtis Granderson, however, Heyman writes.
Rockies Talking Trade With Angels, Royals
After making strong plays for free agents Jose Dariel Abreu, Brian McCann, and Carlos Ruiz, the Rockies are searching hard for impact bat and relief help. The Rockies have talked with the Angels about slugger Mark Trumbo and called the Royals about their surplus of relievers, according to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.
Trumbo, of course, will be hard to pry away and has drawn interest from several clubs in need of a power bat. A deal with KC might be easier to swing, writes Renck, as Colorado's main trade piece, center fielder Dexter Fowler, could be a fit in Kansas City. Opposing execs have said for weeks that the Rockies are open to trading Fowler and they've already talked with Carlos Gonzalez about playing in center if necessary.
Royals relievers Aaron Crow and Tim Collins are reportedly "very available" via trade, and Wade Davis could be a trade candidate after the signing of free agent starter Jason Vargas. Both Crow and Collins are headed into the first year of arbitration eligibility and MLBTRs Matt Swartz projects them to earn $1.9MM and $1MM, respectively. Davis will make $4.8MM in 2014 and has three club options for 2015 through 2017. Renck adds that the Rockies attempted to acquire Davis from the Rays multiple times prior to his inclusion in last winter's James Shields–Wil Myers blockbuster.
Fowler was hampered by multiple hand injuries in 2013 and he started just three games in September because of a knee injury. Fowler, who will make $7.35MM this season, posted a .263/.369/.407 slash line in 2013.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Beltran Currently Yankees’ Top Priority
TUESDAY, 12:02pm: The Yankees are the favorites to land Beltran, but the veteran isn't expected to make a decision this week, writes George A. King III of the New York Post.
MONDAY, 10:40am: With Brian McCann on board for at least the next five years, the Yankees have set their sights on Carlos Beltran, making him their No. 1 free agent priority at this point, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. Likewise, the Yankees are Beltran's preferred free agent destination, sources tell Feinsand. Their pursuit of Beltran is being prioritized as Robinson Cano gauges the market, Hiroki Kuroda weighs his future and Masahiro Tanaka remains in limbo with the new posting system still not finalized.
The hold-up between the two sides is that Beltran and his representatives at MVP Sports Group are currently seeking a three-year deal, and the Yankees would prefer to sign him for two years, writes Feinsand. The addition of a third year isn't a deal-breaker for the Yankees, he adds, noting that other teams such as the Royals, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers have been in touch with Beltran's camp. The Orioles are also known to have interest in Beltran.
The Yankees have already sacrificed their first-round pick to sign McCann, which could make them more willing to part with their second pick in order to add another free agent that turned down a qualifying offer, such as Beltran. The Yankees could receive a new first-round pick, should Curtis Granderson sign elsewhere. They also had three first-round selections in 2013, picking up third baseman Eric Jagielo, center fielder Aaron Judge and left-hander Ian Clarkin.
According to Feinsand, the Yankees believe that even with McCann on the books, they can afford to retain Cano and sign Beltran while staying under the luxury tax threshold. The Yankees currently have offers on the table to three or four free agents, an official told Feinsand.