Rangers Designate Luis Hernandez For Assignment
The Rangers have designated infielder Luis Hernandez for assignment, according to Rangers executive VP of communications John Blake (on Twitter). The Rangers are reinstating Michael Young from the paternity list in a related move.
Hernandez appeared in two games for the Rangers, who selected his contract three days ago. The 28-year-old spent most of the season at Triple-A Round Rock, where he posted a .262/.302/.372 batting line in 548 plate appearances. Hernandez also has MLB experience with the Orioles, Royals and Mets.
Casey Close To Represent Dexter Fowler
Dexter Fowler switched agents three weeks ago and is now represented by Casey Close of Excel Sports Management, instead of the Boras Corporation, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. The 26-year-old center fielder spoke highly of Scott Boras, but said Close made more sense for him at this point in his career. With more than a month remaining in the season, he’s not thinking about extension talks just yet.
"I like it here, but it's not something on my mind," he told Renck.
The Rockies are expected to offer Fowler an extension this winter when he will be arbitration eligible for the second of four times, Renck reports. The team expects Fowler to be more receptive to a long-term contract now that he’s no longer represented by Boras, who has a reputation for taking player to free agency. The Rockies’ model for deals involving arbitration eligible players involves guaranteeing salaries for a number of years and obtaining a club option or two on free agent seasons in return, Renck writes.
Fowler is under team control through 2015. He has a .305/.390/.496 batting line with 12 home runs in 439 plate appearances so far in 2012. MLBTR's Agency Database offers complete player representation data, including a list of Close's clients.
Cubs Designate Scott Maine For Assignment
The Cubs designated left-handed reliever Scott Maine for assignment, the team announced. The move creates 40-man roster space for catcher Anthony Recker, who was acquired from the Athletics in a trade.
Maine, a sixth round selection in 2007, appeared in 21 games for the Cubs this year, posting a 4.79 ERA with 11.3 K/9 and 5.2 BB/9 in 20 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old has had high strikeout and walk rates throughout his minor league career. In parts of six minor league seasons, Maine has a 3.28 ERA with 10.2 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9.
Cubs To Acquire Anthony Recker For Blake Lalli
12:59pm: The Athletics will obtain catcher Blake Lalli from the Cubs in the deal, Slusser reports (on Twitter). Chicago designated the catcher for assignment last week and recently outrighted him to Triple-A Iowa. Lalli, who made his MLB debut this year, has a .257/.292/.392 line in 319 plate appearances at Iowa.
12:29pm: The Cubs will acquire Anthony Recker from the Athletics, the catcher's agent confirmed to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Oakland had designated Recker for assignment exactly one week ago to create 40-man roster space for Brett Anderson.
Recker appeared in 13 early-season games for the Athletics, but he hasn't played at the MLB level since May. The 28-year-old has a .265/.358/.435 batting line in 229 plate appearances at Triple-A this year.
Yankees Designate Brandon Laird For Assignment
The Yankees have designated corner infielder Brandon Laird for assignment, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). The move creates roster space for Steve Pearce, who was acquired from the Astros today.
Laird hasn't appeared in a game for the Yankees this year, but he played in 11 games for the 2011 team. The 24-year-old has spent the 2012 season with New York's top minor league affiliate, where he has posted a .254/.307/.414 batting line with 15 home runs and 31 doubles in 550 plate appearances. Laird, a right-handed hitter, has considerable minor league experience at first base and third base.
Yankees Acquire Steve Pearce
The Yankees have acquired Steve Pearce from the Astros for cash considerations, the teams announced. Pearce, who played for the Yankees' Triple-A team earlier this year, will provide New York with a right-handed bat for the final month of the season.
Pearce, 29, has a career line of .277/.347/.484 against left-handed pitching. The Giants were also eyeing him as a possible platoon bat, but they appear to have let him pass through waivers (they would have had waiver priority over all American League teams, including New York).
It's been a busy year for Pearce, who signed with the Yankees in Spring Training after being released by the Twins. The Orioles purchased Pearce from New York in June, and the Astros claimed him off of waivers the following month.
The Astros announced that they recalled outfielder Jimmy Paredes from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a related move. Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported that the sides were nearing a deal (Twitter link).
Adam LaRoche’s 2013 Option
Adam LaRoche’s first year in Washington featured unproductive play, shoulder surgery and a constant stream of Prince Fielder-related rumors and speculation. But the second season of his contract is going precisely according to plan, so it’s time to wonder if he’ll be back in D.C. for a third year.
The Nationals have enjoyed a prototypical Adam LaRoche season so far in 2012. The first baseman has 23 home runs, 27 doubles and a .261/.334/.481 batting line in 506 plate appearances. His slash line closely resembles his career mark of .267/.337/.478. It’s not too far off of the MLB average at first base — currently .262/.336/.442 — but there’s value in securing league average offensive production at first (just ask the Mariners or Indians).
There are three ways Laroche could return to the Nationals in 2013. The sides could exercise a $10MM mutual option for 2013 ($1MM buyout). He could accept a one-year qualifying offer should the Nationals extend him one. Or they could agree to a contract independent of the mutual option and qualifying offer.
Let’s start with the option. A net cost of $9MM isn’t unreasonable for LaRoche, but it’s no bargain. That said, this year’s class of free agent first basemen is notably thin. There’s James Loney, Carlos Pena, Carlos Lee, Casey Kotchman and, if he decides to continue playing, Lance Berkman. None of those first basemen are safer bets than LaRoche for 25 home runs and two wins above replacement in 2013.
Yet it’s uncommon for both sides to exercise a mutual option, so LaRoche could land on the open market this offseason. If this occurs, the Nationals will have to determine whether to extend him a qualifying offer. It’s the only way for Washington to obtain draft pick compensation for LaRoche, but I don’t expect the team to make him such an offer.
Qualifying offers will be worth $13MM-plus, and recent history indicates the industry doesn't view LaRoche as a $13MM player. The SFX client obtained $16MM for two years following the 2010 season. Before he signed with Washington, the Diamondbacks declined to pick up their side of a $7.5MM mutual option, another indication that teams view him as a player whose value sits somewhere south of $10MM per year.
If the Nationals do make LaRoche a qualifying offer, it’d likely be advisable for him to accept. Teams probably wouldn’t want to surrender a top draft pick to sign a solid but unspectacular first baseman who turns 33 the first week of November. As a result, it seems likely LaRoche would say ‘yes’ if the Nationals extend a $13MM qualifying offer.
As mentioned before, there’s a third way LaRoche could return to Washington. The team could decline its side of the mutual option, decline to make a qualifying offer and bid for LaRoche’s services on the free agent market.
The Nationals’ interest in keeping LaRoche will presumably depend on their center field situation. If they decide to rely on internal options in center, they won’t need to move Michael Morse to first base. But if they intend to pursue a center fielder, their corner outfield spots will presumably go to Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper. This would shift Morse to first base and could reduce the Nationals’ interest in LaRoche.
Perhaps LaRoche’s mutual option will appeal to both sides. It would provide the Nationals with certainty at first base and ensure LaRoche of a $10MM salary. However, the Nationals could decide to move on without LaRoche this offseason and I’ll be surprised if he obtains a qualifying offer.
Photo courtesy of US Presswire.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Lalli, Galarraga
The latest outright assignments from around MLB…
- The Cubs outrighted Blake Lalli to Triple-A Iowa, according to MLB.com’s transactions page. Chicago designated the catcher for assignment last week to create 40-man roster space for right-hander Miguel Socolovich. Lalli, who made his MLB debut this year, has a .257/.292/.392 line in 319 plate appearances at Iowa.
- The Astros outrighted Armando Galarraga to Triple-A Oklahoma City, according to MLB.com’s transactions page. The 30-year-old posted a 6.75 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 18 walks in 24 innings for Houston before being removed from the MLB roster five days ago.
Terry Collins’ Job Appears To Be Safe
There’s “no chance” the Mets will make manager Terry Collins a scapegoat for the team’s disappointing second half and fire him this offseason or before the regular season ends, a team source told Mike Puma of the New York Post. An extension is possible for Collins, who’s under contract through 2013.
Mets officials would like to finish ahead of the Phillies and Marlins in the NL East standings to build a positive perception of the 2012 season, Puma writes. Interest in extending Collins will depend in part on the way the team plays between now and the end of the season.
The Mets now occupy fourth place in their division with a 59-69 record, but they're 13-29 since the All-Star break. They have played to a 136-154 record in two years under the 63-year-old Collins. It wasn’t until late last September that the Mets exercised his 2013 option.
Yankees Nearing Deal For Steve Pearce
The Yankees are nearing a deal that would send Steve Pearce from Houston to New York, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (on Twitter). Pearce, who played for the Yankees' Triple-A team earlier this year, would provide New York with a right-handed bat for the final month of the season.
This post was first published on August 27th, 2012.