Ben Nicholson-Smith | MLB Trade Rumors

NL East Notes: Hamels, Bonifacio, Jurrjens

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2012 at 3:28pm CDT

The two biggest free agent contracts handed out by NL East teams this offseason went to Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle of the Marlins. They signed deals worth $106MM and $58MM, respectively, in December. Here are the latest links from the division…

Bob Nightengale of USA Today previews the 2012-13 free agent market and explains that Cole Hamels and B.J. Upton project as two of the top available players. Nightengale suggests Johan Santana’s $137.5MM contract could be a target for Hamels, who has had some talks with the Phillies about a long-term extension. The Phillies aren’t expected to offer the left-hander more than five years, Nightengale writes.
Now that the Marlins have officially missed out on Yoenis Cespedes, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com examines the team's center field options. Emilio Bonifacio figures to start in center with Aaron Rowand, Chris Coghlan and other players in the mix for reserve roles.
Frisaro doubts the Marlins will make a last-minute push for Ivan Rodriguez.
Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com suggests Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens could draw trade interest this spring if he appears to be healthy.

A.J. Burnett Rumors: Tuesday

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2012 at 2:55pm CDT

There’s a feeling the Yankees and Pirates will complete a deal involving A.J. Burnett and judging by the most recent rumors, Pittsburgh would take on $10-15MM of the $33MM remaining on Burnett’s salary if the trade goes through. Here are today’s rumors:

A fourth team has checked in on Burnett, Heyman reports.
The Hafner for Burnett deal is no longer on the table, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch tweets.
The Indians have checked in, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). Talk between the Yankees and Indians has revolved around Burnett and Travis Hafner, though the Indians aren't sure they'd make that trade.
The Angels are interested in Burnett, but they're on his no-trade list, Rosenthal tweets.
Momentum for a deal stayed strong last night, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Yankees continue to engage two other teams, but the Pirates are the favorites to land Burnett. Pittsburgh has offered to pay $10MM and if they raise their bid to $13MM, the Yankees would be more inclined to accept lesser prospects in return. The Pirates view the Derek Lowe deal as a relevant point of reference for their discussions with the Yankees.
The teams are still trying to decide which players would head from Pittsburgh to New York, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (all Twitter links). Some Yankees people oppose trading Burnett now, and believe they could obtain more in return at the trade deadline.

NL Central Notes: Brewers, Young, Kazmir

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2012 at 1:40pm CDT

The Brewers beat Jose Veras in arbitration, so he’ll earn $2MM in 2012, rather than the $2.375MM he had asked for. Here are the latest links from the NL Central…

Both the Brewers and agent Bryce Dixon used Kameron Loe's recent $2.175MM agreement to argue their respective cases in the Veras hearing, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports.
It's been 25 days since the arbitration hearing for Ryan Braun's appeal of a positive drug test began, but the soft deadline passed without a decision, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. A decision is expected within ten days.
The Pirates were impressed by Dmitri Young's workout yesterday, but they won't offer him a contract, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets. Manager Clint Hurdle said he got a good read on the the 38-year-old after yesterday’s workout.
The Astros have already seen Scott Kazmir throw, so they don't intend to watch him audition in front of scouts tomorrow, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com tweets.

White Sox To Sign Kosuke Fukudome

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2012 at 10:38am CDT

The White Sox announced that they have agreed to sign Kosuke Fukudome to a one-year, $1MM contract that includes a club option for 2013. The outfielder will earn $500K in 2012 and the $3.5MM option for 2013 includes a $500K buyout.

Fukudome posted a .262/.342/.370 line for the Cubs and Indians in 530 plate appearances last year. The 34-year-old posted career-lows in on-base percentage and slugging percentage while playing right and center field. The Mets had some interest in him earlier in the offseason.

Brewers Beat Jose Veras In Arbitration

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2012 at 10:36am CDT

The Brewers announced that they beat Jose Veras in yesterday's arbitration hearing. The right-hander will earn $2MM in 2012, instead of the $2.375MM his agent Bryce Dixon had requested.

Veras posted a 3.80 ERA with 10.0 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 in 71 innings of relief for the 2011 Pirates. The 31-year-old will remain under team control through 2013. The Brewers have now signed all of their arbitration eligible players for 2012, as MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported the news on Twitter.

Royals Exercise Ned Yost’s 2013 Option

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2012 at 9:00am CDT

The Royals announced that they have exercised the 2013 option on manager Ned Yost's contract. The 57-year-old skipper now starts his second full season in Kansas City with job security that extends beyond the coming season.

The Royals have a 126-163 record under Yost, who managed the Brewers from from 2003-08. He is the 16th full-time manager in Royals history.

Indians Designate Kelvin De La Cruz For Assignment

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2012 at 8:46am CDT

The Indians designated left-hander Kelvin De La Cruz for assignment, according to MLB.com's transactions page (hat tip: Jordan Bastian). The move creates 40-man roster space for Casey Kotchman.

De La Cruz spent the 2011 season at Double-A, where he posted a 4.19 ERA with 9.9 K/9 and 6.0 BB/9 in 86 innings as a starter and reliever. The 6'5" 23-year-old has a 4.21 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9 in six minor league seasons spent mostly in the rotation.

Orioles, Jones Have Talked Extension

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2012 at 8:40am CDT

The Orioles and Adam Jones have had preliminary discussions about an extension, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette acknowledged the talks, but said they aren't currently the club's top priority.

"Yes, we have discussed a variety of different options,” Duquette said. “But the goal right now is to get a deal for this year and avoid the hearing."

Jones, who has an arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday, seeks $7.4MM and the Orioles offered $5MM. The 26-year-old is on track to hit free agency after the 2013 season. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes suggested in August that a four-year extension in the $40MM range could work for both sides and examined Jones’ case in further detail last week. The center fielder posted a .280/.319/.466 line with 25 homers last year. Jones said about a month ago that the Orioles hadn’t started extension talks.

Dipoto: Abreu In DH Mix, Hasn’t Requested Trade

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 14, 2012 at 7:52am CDT

When the Angels signed Albert Pujols earlier in the offseason, first basemen Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales joined the designated hitter mix, and Bobby Abreu’s grip on his everyday role seemed to weaken. However, health issues persist for Morales (left ankle) and Trumbo (right foot). GM Jerry Dipoto told Abreu that he will have the chance to earn regular playing time by swinging the bat well this spring, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times.

“Bobby is an Angel,” Dipoto said. “Right now, he fits on our 25-man roster, in our clubhouse, on our team. Where he is in eight weeks is predicated on how he’s playing and everyone’s health.”

Dipoto has maintained throughout the winter that Abreu is valuable to the Angels, though Ken Rosenthal heard in December that the veteran would welcome a change of scenery. Dipoto told DiGiovanna that Abreu, who turns 38 in March, has not requested a trade.

The left-handed hitter posted a .253/.353/.365 line with 21 stolen bases in 585 plate appearances as the Angels' primary DH last year. He posted the lowest full-season slugging percentage and OPS of his 16-year career. Abreu will earn $9MM in 2012 before becoming a free agent.

Quick Hits: Prospects, Soler, Zimmerman

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 13, 2012 at 10:30pm CDT

Yahoo's Jeff Passan presents the projected 2012 payroll for every MLB team, from the Yankees ($204MM) to the Pirates ($46MM). Those two clubs are currently working on a trade and, oddly enough, the Pirates would be the ones absorbing salary. Here are tonight’s links…

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus lists the game's top 101 prospects and Matt Moore, Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Jurickson Profar and Julio Teheran lead the way. The entire list is worth checking out and it doesn't require a subscription.
ESPN.com's Keith Law presents a different kind of prospects list — one based on potential impact in 2012. Moore, Devin Mesoraco and Jesus Montero occupy the first three spots on Law's list.
The Marlins don't seem likely to pursue Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets. The Cubs appear to be willing to spend $27.5MM to land Soler and are the favorites to sign him.
Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman remains open to an extension, but he hasn't changed his stance on the timeline for a deal and the start of Spring Training remains an informal deadline, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports. There haven't been recent developments regarding a deal for Zimmerman.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports lists five teams that aren't going to make the World Series in 2012: the Mets, Astros, Mariners, Athletics and White Sox.

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