Lester Would Take Discount To Stay In Boston
2014/01/lester-would-take-discount-to-stay-in-boston.htmlLester told reporters today, including Jason Mastrodonato of MassLive.com, that he knows he won't get free agent market value on an extension but still wants to remain in Boston: "I understand that to stay here, you're not going to get a free-agent deal.
AL East Links: Jays, Drew, Sizemore, Sox, Balfour
2014/01/al-east-links-blue-jays-drew-sizemore-red-sox.htmlAlso from Mastrodonato (on Twitter), Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters at tonight's BBWAA dinner, "We're going to have Jackie Bradley in center field." Mastrodonato adds that Cherington said, "We believe in Jackie Bradley." WEEI.com's Alex Speier examines the Red Sox' wealth of pitching depth.
NL East Notes: Harvey, Rodney, Wells, Adams
2014/01/nl-east-notes-harvey-rodney-wells-adams.html"When you see stories of guys coming back in 10 months, I'm going to think, 'Hey, I can come back in nine,'" Harvey said.
Cubs, Travis Wood Avoid Arbitration
2014/01/cubs-travis-wood-avoid-arbitration.htmlThat performance netted him his first All-Star nod, though his so-so K/BB ratio and extreme fly-ball tendencies -- Wood's 44.5 percent fly-ball rate was third among qualified starters -- lead ERA estimators such as xFIP and SIERA to peg him for a 4.50 ERA going forward.
Orioles, Blue Jays Active On Starting Pitching Market
2014/01/orioles-blue-jays-active-on-starting-pitching-market.htmlNoting that plenty of options remain, Anthopoulos expressed hope in making new acquisitions, but cautioned that, "at the same time we're not going to force anything." The Toronto GM said that the club likes the upside of several of its in-house starting options, including the rehabbing Brandon Morrow.
East Notes: Rays, Yankees, Phillies, Mets
2014/01/east-notes-rays-yankees-phillies-mets.htmlColon, Wright says, is "aggressive and he's going to come at you.
AL East Notes: Yankees, Tanaka, Rays
2014/01/al-east-notes-yankees-tanaka-rays-2.htmlThat usually comes with very successful teams who have to keep throwing money into an incinerator to keep things going."…
NL Notes: Bailey, Cruz, Espinosa, Phillies
2014/01/nl-notes-bailey-cruz-espinosa-phillies.htmlYou see a lot of the signings that are going on, so, of course, it's going to raise eyebrows on my behalf.
Mariners Focusing On Complementary Players
2014/01/mariners-focusing-on-complementary-players.html"I don't think we're going to jump in and invest where some of these dollars are going," Zduriencik says.
Quick Hits: Mets, Drew, Bullpen, Nolan Ryan, Cards
2014/01/quick-hits-mets-drew-bullpen-nolan-ryan-cardinals.html"Acquiring someone with some experience would give us some comfort going into Spring Training, but we don't want to preclude…
East Notes: Kimbrel, Rodney, Yanks, Phils, Red Sox
2014/01/east-notes-kimbrel-rodney-yanks-phils-red-sox.htmlI don’t think anyone would fault him for going where he went and that’s that.
David Ortiz Seeking One-Year Extension With Red Sox
2014/01/david-ortiz-still-seeking-new-deal-with-red-sox.html"As long as they keep offering me a job an I keep doing what I'm supposed to do and the relationship keeps building up," said Ortiz, "I'm going to be there.
Blue Jays Pursued Trades For Kinsler, Anderson
2014/01/blue-jays-pursued-trades-for-kinsler-anderson.htmlSecond base and the starting rotation were the Blue Jays' two biggest areas of need going into the offseason, so…
Olney On Kimbrel, Rumors, Morales, Ryan
2014/01/olney-on-kimbrel-rumors-morales-ryan.htmlAnd, as Olney notes, the return on Kimbrel in a trade might not be quite what fans would hope for if he is going to be paid like a starter.
Free Agent Contract Trends: 2007-08 To Present
2014/01/free-agent-contract-trends-2007-08-to-present.htmlThat figure stands at $17.91MM for the ongoing 2013-14 period, though it will fall somewhat as the rest of a delayed market settles into place.
Randy Wells Eyeing Comeback
2014/01/randy-wells-eyeing-comeback-1.htmlNot a lot of people are going to take a flier on a 31-year-old guy just to bring him into minor-league camp to see if he's healthy." Wells last appeared in the Majors with the Cubs in 2012, posting a 5.34 ERA in 28 2/3 innings before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow.
NL West Notes: Burnett, Arroyo, Giants, Belt, Guerrero
2014/01/nl-west-notes-burnett-arroyo-giants-belt-guerrero.htmlI know what I wasn't good at, so if I go in there it's not going to hurt my feelings any.
Royals Re-Sign Bruce Chen
2014/02/royals-to-re-sign-bruce-chen.htmlTHURSDAY 2:58pm: Chen will actually get $3MM this year, with the remaining $1.25MM guarantee going to his mutual option buyout,…
Quick Hits: Red Sox, Indians, Crain, Mets, Dodgers
2014/02/quick-hits-red-sox-indians-crain-mets-dodgers.htmlThe Mets currently plan on going with Daniel Murphy and Ruben Tejada in their middle infield, and if they don't sign Stephen Drew or add a starting shortstop through some other means, they could use depth behind Tejada.
Orioles Notes: Free Agents, Davis, Machado
2014/02/orioles-notes-davis.html"If people have the expectation that we're going to sign a lot of high-profile free agents and that's going to…
Quick Hits: Burnett, Wieters, Mets, Ryan
2014/02/quick-hits-3.htmlMatt Wieters told reporters at the Orioles' FanFest this weekend that he's not directly involved in ongoing discussions regarding his…… The Mets' newfound financial health, exemplified by a recent report that the club is close to refinancing a loan with…
Giants Notes: Sabean, Belt, Lincecum
2014/02/giants-notes-sabean-belt-lincecum.htmlThe Giants offered Belt $2.05MM for 2014 while the first baseman asked for $3.6MM, and Belt recently said he wouldn't be offended if the case does end up going to an arbiter.
NL Notes: Marlins, Reds, Yoon
2014/02/nl-notes-marlins-reds-yoon.htmlThe more depth you can have going into a camp, the better it is." The Marlins have invited 26 non-roster…
Diamondbacks Extend Kevin Towers, Kirk Gibson
2014/02/diamondbacks-extend-kevin-towers-kirk-gibson.htmlI hope and believe they’re going to be long-term Diamondback people." Gibson took over as the D-Backs' manager midway through the 2010 season and has posted a 290-279 record since that time.
AL Central Notes: Madson, Plouffe, Sano, Bonifacio
2014/02/al-central-notes-madson-plouffe-sano-bonifaco.htmlIf Sano's going to come up and help us, let's go." Although recently DFA'ed Royals infielder Emilio Bonifacio's $3.5MM salary is "probably an overpay," Mike Petriello of Fangraphs feels that he could be an improvement to nearly half the teams in the Majors.