Rangers Claim Alex Rios; Trade Unlikely
2013/08/unknown-team-claims-alex-rios-on-waivers.htmlPrior to the deadline, the White Sox were interested in lefty Martin Perez, right-hander Luke Jackson and infielder Rougned Odor, and the Rangers aren't keen on giving up those players in a trade for Rios. … 3:29pm: The Rangers and White Sox "weren't even close" on an agreement when discussing Rios prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.
Phillies Sign Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez
2013/08/phillies-sign-miguel-alfredo-gonzalez.htmlWith Gonzalez in the fold, the Phillies will now presumably be looking at a top three of Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Gonzalez for the foreseeable future, with other candidates such as Jonathan Pettibone, Ethan Martin and Tyler Cloyd as candidates for the remaining spots. … More than a month after the Phillies reportedly agreed to a six-year, $48MM contract for Cuban right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, the team has officially announced that they have signed him to a drastically reduced three-year, $12MM contract with a vesting option for a fourth season.
NL Central Notes: Pirates, Cardinals
2013/09/nl-central-notes-pirates-cardinals.htmlPicking Scott Boras clients Pedro Alvarez and Gerrit Cole early in drafts has paid off, and last winter's acquisitions of Russell Martin and Francisco Liriano (via free agency) and Mark Melancon (via the Joel Hanrahan trade) have done wonders for the Bucs. … The Pirates' improved farm system allowed them to make late-August deals for Marlon Byrd, John Buck and Justin Morneau, Huntington tells Peter Gammons.
Poll: How To Handle The Braves’ Young Players
2013/09/poll-how-to-handle-the-braves-young-players.htmlGraham, Sean Gilmartin, and Cody Martin -- could soon be ready to contribute at the MLB level along with rookie Alex Wood. … Last night, I discussed the Braves overflowing cupboard of players that seem to fit the mold of early extension candidates, looking at whether GM Frank Wren would join the league-wide trend of locking up young talent.
Central Notes: Pirates, Giambi, Baker, White Sox
2013/09/central-notes-pirates-giambi-baker-white-sox.htmlHe signed Francisco Liriano and Russell Martin, who have emerged as two of the Pirates' top players behind McCutchen. … With a 1-0 win over the Rangers Monday night, the Pirates clinched their first winning season since 1992.
Free Agent Profile: Omar Infante
2013/09/free-agent-profile-omar-infante.htmlFree agent competition is light outside of Cano, as Mark Ellis, Kelly Johnson, and Brian Roberts are the top names. … Cameron referenced Martin Prado's four-year, $40MM deal as a potential comparable.
Pirates Succeeding Through Calculated Risks
2013/09/pirates-succeeding-through-calculated-risks.htmlThe Pirates opened the season with a payroll just north of $66MM, making the franchise-record $17MM they gave to Russell Martin on a two-year deal a greater risk than it would be to most other teams, Huntington told MLBTR: "As a small market team, any time those type of dollars are to be committed, there is some hesitation as our margin for error is much smaller than that of the large markets. … After 20 consecutive losing seasons, the Pirates' record now sits at 84-61 -- one game out of first place in the NL Central and a near lock to make the postseason.
Diamondbacks To Pursue Power Bat
2013/09/diamondbacks-to-pursue-power-bat.htmlThe D-backs could go after a player in the mold of their recent major acquisition, super-utility-man Martin Prado, who was extended shortly after heading to Arizona. … Other than Goldschmidt, the team's only player with an ISO greater than .180 is part-timer Eric Chavez, who is set to become a free agent.
Rosenthal On Gardenhire, McCann, Saltalamacchia
2013/09/rosenthal-on-1.htmlThey want to stay under the $189MM luxury tax threshold, but they could use one of the two to finally give themselves an adequate replacement for Russell Martin. … Ron Gardenhire is trying to avoid his third-straight 90-loss season and he's extremely unlikely to accept a one-year deal and serve as a lame duck in 2014.
MLBTR Originals
2013/09/mlbtr-originals-1-7.htmlSteve Adams interviewed Pirates GM Neal Huntington, who shared his rationale for signing free agents Russell Martin and Francisco Liriano, re-signing Jason Grilli, and trading for A.J. … Want the latest rumors for your favorite team? Check out MLBTR's team-by-team links for Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds.
Rays Designate J.D. Martin For Assignment
2013/09/rays-to-designate-jd-martin-for-assignment.htmlMONDAY: The Rays have officially activated Crain and designated Martin for assignment, tweets Mooney. … The move will clear space for fellow pitcher Jesse Crain, who is on the 60-day DL.
Minor Moves: Langerhans, Martin, Lalli
2013/09/rays-outright-jd-martin.htmlMartin cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Durham after being designated for assignment over the weekend, according to Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com (on Twitter). … Brett Cecil was transferred to the 60-day DL in a corresponding move.
Mexican League Working To Lease Cuban Players
2013/09/mexican-league-working-to-lease-cuban-players.htmlCuba has seen several of its top players defect in recent years, including Aroldis Chapman, Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes, Leonys Martin, Jose Iglesias, Jose Dariel Abreu and Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, among many others. … Those players would still be able to return to Cuba to play in Serie Nacional -- Cuba's top professional league -- over the winter.
Week In Review: 9/22/13 – 9/28/13
2013/09/week-in-review-92213-92813.htmlMartin. … The Giants signed outfielder Hunter Pence to a five-year extension.
Free Agent Profile: Carlos Ruiz
2013/10/free-agent-profile-carlos-ruiz.htmlRuiz's ceiling is probably Russell Martin's two-year, $17MM deal. … He received MVP votes in 2010 and '11 and made his first All-Star team in 2012, but after the '12 season was slapped with a 25-game suspension for testing positive a second time for taking Adderall, which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
NL Central Notes: Pirates, Reds, Hinch, Brewers
2013/10/nl-central-notes-pirates-reds-hinch-brewers.htmlBurnett before the 2012 campaign, and signed catcher and defensive wizard Russell Martin to a two-year deal after the season was over. … The Pirates, who tonight will host their first playoff game since 1992, were built not only through the draft, as small-payroll teams often are, but also through trades and free agency, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes.
Yankees Notes: Martin, Cano, Cashman, A-Rod
2013/10/yankees-notes-cano-cashman-a-rod.htmlAfter watching Russell Martin go yard twice in last night's win over the Reds, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com wonders how the Yankees ever let him get away. … Cano and baseball's newest power agent are reportedly seeking a deal in excess of $300MM while the Yankees are just months removed from pitching a contract similar to David Wright's eight-year, $138MM pact.
Yankees Notes: Cano, Rangers, Granderson, Pineda
2013/10/yankees-notes-cano-granderson-pineda.htmlCurtis Granderson's agent, Matt Brown, tells Dan Martin of the New York Post that the Yankees are his client's "first…… Brown admitted that Granderson's injury-shortened 2013 season could impact his next contract "but I think people remember what he did…
NL East Notes: Mets, Phillies, Chris Johnson
2013/10/nl-east-notes-mets-phillies.htmlThere may be mounting pressure for the Mets to make a splash, but sources tell Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that GM Sandy Alderson will act in characteristic fashion and won't give Robinson Cano the long-term pact that he seeks. … The NL East's post-season entrants have disappointed in the playoffs over the last three years, and it now stands as the only division not to get a team into the championship series over that period.
Arbitration Eligibles: San Diego Padres
2013/10/arbitration-eligibles-san-diego-padres.htmlWe've seen contract year extensions for Carlos Gomez (three years, $24MM), Martin Prado (four years, $40MM), and Carlos Quentin (three years, $30MM), and Headley could regret sacrificing his first crack at free agency for that type of deal. … Crasnick suggested Alex Gordon's five-year, $50MM deal as a potential comparable, a contract signed directly after Gordon's first elite season with the player two years away from free agency.
Offseason Outlook: Philadelphia Phillies
2013/10/offseason-outlook-philadelphia-phillies.htmlAmaro recently told Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that he is on the hunt for impact transactions in the coming offseason, though some observers feel that the club will hunt for mid-tier value. … Guaranteed Contracts Cliff Lee, SP: $62.5MM through 2015 Cole Hamels, SP: $118.5MM through 2018 Ryan Howard, 1B: $85MM through 2016 Chase Utley, 2B: $27MM through 2015 Jonathan Papelbon: $26MM through 2015 Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez: $12MM through 2016 Jimmy Rollins, SS: $11MM through 2014 Mike Adams, RP: $7MM through 2014 Arbitration Eligible Players (estimated salaries) Antonio Bastardo, RP (4.054 years of service): $2MM Kyle Kendrick, SP (5.159): $6.6MM John Lannan, SP (5.046, non-tender candidate): $3MM Kevin Frandsen, IF (4.151): $1.3MM Roger Bernadina, OF (4.146, non-tender candidate): $1.3MM John Mayberry Jr., OF (3.095, non-tender candidate): $1.7MM Ben Revere, OF (2.149, Super Two): $1.5MM Casper Wells, OF (3.040, non-tender candidate): $700k Contract Options N/A Free Agents Carlos Ruiz, Roy Halladay ($20MM option did not vest) Ruben Amaro Jr.
Free Agent Profile: A.J. Burnett
2013/10/free-agent-profile-aj-burnett.htmlThat group figures to earn a collective $9.2MM more than in 2013, and with built-in raises for Andrew McCutchen, Jason Grilli, Russell Martin and Franciso Liriano in store, a qualifying offer seems unlikely for Burnett. … Burnett has resurfaced as a top-of-the-rotation arm with the Bucs and is now set to hit free agency entering his age-37 season.
Offseason Outlook: Texas Rangers
2013/10/offseason-outlook-texas-rangers.htmlAlexi Ogando could take the fifth spot, and Nick Tepesch will likely provide a backup plan, which means the Rangers don't necessarily need to look outside the organization for a replacement for Matt Garza, who is a free agent. … Guaranteed Contracts Elvis Andrus, SS: $124.5MM through 2022 Ian Kinsler, 2B: $62MM through 2017 Matt Harrison, SP: $49MM through 2017 Yu Darvish, SP: $41MM through 2017 Adrian Beltre, 3B: $35MM through 2015 Derek Holland, SP: $24.3MM through 2016 Alex Rios, OF: $13.5MM through 2014 Leonys Martin, OF: $6.5MM through 2015 Joakim Soria, RP: $6MM through 2014 Jason Frasor, RP: $1.75MM through 2014 Arbitration Eligible Players (service time in parentheses) Neftali Feliz, RP (4.064): $3MM Alexi Ogando, SP (3.114): $2MM Mitch Moreland, 1B (3.067): $2.7MM Craig Gentry, OF (3.084): $1.1MM Neal Cotts, RP (5.041): $1.5MM Adam Rosales, INF (4.098; non-tender candidate): $900K Travis Blackley, SP (3.026; non-tender candidate): $600K Contract Options Lance Berkman, DH: $12MM, $1MM buyout Joe Nathan, RP: $9MM, $750K buyout Free agents: Nelson Cruz, Matt Garza, A.J.
Minor Moves: Rays, Cubs, Purcey, Okajima
2013/10/minor-moves-2.htmlMartin have all elected to become free agents, MLBDailyDish.com's Chris Cotillo reports (Twitter links)… Infielder Ryan Roberts, 1B/OF Shelley Duncan, outfielder Jason Bourgeois and right-hander J.D.
Offseason Outlook: New York Yankees
2013/10/offseason-outlook-new-york-yankees.htmlBoth Granderson and his agent Dan Martin have said that his preference is to return to the Yankees, and it has even been suggested that Granderson could accept a one-year, $14.1MM qualifying offer from the club in order to rebound from his injury-shortened 2013 season and put himself in better shape for free agency next winter. … For the last two years, Yankees fans have been hearing about the team's plan to get under the $189MM luxury tax threshold for 2014 in order to save as much as $50MM in future luxury tax and revenue-sharing payments.