Indians Hire Adam Everett
Adam Everett, who played 34 games with the Indians last year, is back in uniform for the Tribe, but not as a player. The Indians announced that they hired the longtime infielder as a special assistant to baseball operations. He’ll instruct infielders at the Indians’ Major League and minor league camps this Spring Training and provide infield instruction and evaluation during the regular season.
The Indians released Everett in June to create roster space for third base prospect Lonnie Chisenhall. The 34-year-old spent most of his 11-year career as a shortstop, though he appeared at second and third for the Indians in 2011. If his playing career has indeed ended, he'll retire with a .242/.294/.346 line for the Astros, Tigers, Twins and Indians and career earnings approaching $12MM. Everett never won a Gold Glove, but owns an impressive UZR/150 of 15.0 at shortstop.
Indians Release Adam Everett
The Indians announced that they released Adam Everett after the infielder cleared waivers. Cleveland designated Everett for assignment earlier in the week to create roster space for callup Lonnie Chisenhall.
Everett, 34, played second, short and third for the Indians this year. Though he has never been known for his bat, his .217/.277/.233 line through 67 plate appearances was not enough for him to keep his roster spot, especially with promising infield talent on Cleveland's Triple-A club.
AL Central Links: Mazzaro, Tigers, Everett
Links from the AL Central as Royals prospect Mike Moustakas makes Alden Gonzalez's list of top young standouts at MLB.com…
- The Royals optioned Vin Mazzaro to Triple-A and returned Louis Coleman, Luis Mendoza and Zach Miner, Irving Falu and Lance Zawadzki to minor league camp, according to the team. Mazzaro should join the Royals in the middle of April when the club needs another starter.
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that the organization has never been stronger during his nine-year tenure in the Motor City. “We have now a nice blend of young players at the big-league level, veteran players and some guys in the prime of their career,” Dombrowski said. “And they’re backed up by some guys behind them that are prospects that are talented."
- Adam Everett told Jordan Bastian and Tom Singer of MLB.com that he would have been ready to contemplate retirement if he hadn't made the Indians' Opening Day roster.
Odds & Ends: Boras, Everett, Francis, Webb, Olivo
Some links for Monday night as the deals for Pedro Feliciano and Brad Hawpe become official..
- The players' association has found that Scott Boras did not violate union rules when his company made loans to a Dominican prospect, according to the Associated Press.
- Adam Everett's minor league deal with the Indians will pay the 33-year-old $700K plus incentives if he makes the team, or $15K per month at Triple-A, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter link).
- The Rockies will reach out to pitcher Jeff Francis this week, tweets Troy Renck of The Denver Post. There's a chance that the left-hander returns to Colorado but he might have a better opportunity elsewhere.
- Brandon Webb, who officially joined the Rangers earlier today, says that he won't rush himself back in order to start the season in the rotation, writes ESPN.com's Richard Durrett.
- Greg Johns of MLB.com likes the Mariners' signing of Miguel Olivo.
Indians Sign Adam Everett
The Indians signed Adam Everett to a minor league deal and invited him to Spring Training, the team announced. The 33-year-old will earn $700K plus incentives if he makes the team, or $15K per month at Triple-A, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter link). The Nationals and Rockies also expressed interest in the infielder at the Winter Meetings. Career Sports represents Everett.
Everett batted just .185/.221/.247 for the Tigers in 89 plate appearances last year, before Detroit released him. If he can rebound to the .238/.325/.613 line he posted in 2009, the Indians would likely be happy. The defensive specialist has appeared in 846 big league games, but has only played one inning at a position other than shortstop.
Nationals, Rockies, Indians Eyeing Adam Everett
7:20pm: The Nationals are also considering Eckstein, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
1:57pm: The Rockies and Indians are eyeing slick-fielding shortstop Adam Everett for a utility role, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark. Everett sat out the last three months of the season after the Tigers released him in June. He played only 31 games this year. Everett has played shortstop almost exclusively in his pro career, so he'd have to learn the other positions to act as a true utility infielder.
The Rockies also have an eye on Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan for shortstop protection, tweets Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.
Adam Everett Intends To Play In 2011
The agent for Adam Everett told MLB.com's Jason Beck that his client intends to play in 2011 and has heard from multiple interested teams. Clubs looking for a cheap, defense-first shortstop could turn to the 33-year-old, but they shouldn't expect much offense from him. Everett batted just .185/.221/.247 for the Tigers in 89 plate appearances last year, before Detroit released him.
The trade market for shortstops isn't deep and the free agent market isn't either, but it just got a little more interesting. The Chiba Lotte Marines will post Japanese batting champion Tsuyoshi Nishioka this week, according to Tim Kurkjian of ESPN The Magazine.
Astros Not Looking For Shortstop Help
The Astros are not looking outside the organization for a shortstop, GM Ed Wade told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Despite Tommy Manzella’s broken finger, the Astros are content to play Geoff Blum and Oswaldo Navarro at short for the next five weeks or so.
"Right now we're not actively looking for a shortstop,” Wade said. “That said, if something came along we thought would make sense, we'd pursue it."
Navarro, 25, was hitting .298/.400/.466 at Triple A when the Astros recalled him. Wade wants to give the Venezuelan infielder the chance to prove that he belongs in the majors instead of relying exclusively on Blum or an outside replacement. Longtime Astro Adam Everett is one free agent shortstop for interested teams to consider, but it seems more likely that he’ll sign with the Red Sox, Angels or Rockies. The 29-47 Astros will presumably be sellers rather than buyers between now and July 31st.
Odds & Ends: Pomeranz, Marlins, Everett, Valentine
Links for Wednesday…
- Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that fifth overall pick Drew Pomeranz is scheduled to go to Cleveland on Monday to take a physical and "hear the Indians' sales pitch." Hoynes says there have been no negotiations to date.
- Marlins' president David Samson told Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald that they're "not ready to say for certain that trade didn't work," referring to the Miguel Cabrera blockbuster (Twitter link). Both Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, the two centerpieces of the deal for Florida, have struggled in the big leagues and are currently in the minors.
- Upon hearing about Boston's interest in his services, Adam Everett said "I haven't heard that, but great team, great city, and it sounds interesting," according to FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi (via Twitter).
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweets the leaders in wins above replacement, or WAR, from last year's free agent class. Andy Pettitte tops the list, followed closely by Livan Hernandez and Aubrey Huff.
- Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post notes (via Twitter) that the Marlins spoke with Bobby Valentine this morning. The Marlins' opening interests Valentine.
- Prince Fielder and Corey Hart tell Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that they realize they could be traded. Morosi says the Brewers should trade Hart for pitching, but Hart would prefer to stay in Milwaukee.
- Kenny Williams told Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune that the White Sox could become buyers.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the Blue Jays could trade pitching away this trade deadline (Twitter link).
- Chris Iannetta told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald that he did his best to ignore rumors that the Red Sox were interested in him.
- At this point, Pedro Martinez doesn't want to think about whether he'll play this year. He told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald that he doesn't know anything right now.
- Steve Gould of the Baltimore Sun reminds us that 2009 first rounder Matt Hobgood is still a teenager and says Orioles fans should be more patient with the tall righty.
- MLB.com's Fred Claire shows that the Orioles are looking for the kind of stability that was once found in Baltimore and that the Angels now have.
Red Sox Interested In Adam Everett
The Red Sox have some interest in Adam Everett, a source tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. The defense-first shortstop is a free agent and would cost Boston only $220K. The Tigers, who released Everett, would be responsible for the rest of his salary.
Everett's salary would not prevent the Red Sox from adding him, but roster space could. Bradford says the Red Sox won’t likely sign Everett or anyone else until a roster spot opens up. Everett seems like a fit, since Boston is looking to add a defensively-oriented shortstop to back up Marco Scutaro, according to assistant GM Ben Cherington. The Red Sox, who now have Bill Hall backing up at short, drafted Everett back in 1998.