Royals To Sign Bruce Chen
Piece by piece, the Royals' rotation is taking shape. They have agreed to sign Bruce Chen to a two-year deal worth $9MM. The deal also includes a $1MM roster bonus and up to $1MM in incentives.
Before agreeing to terms with Chen, Royals GM Dayton Moore told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that he is looking to add one or two more pitchers to compete with their internal candidates. Left-handers Jonathan Sanchez, Danny Duffy and Chen join right-handers Luke Hochevar, Felipe Paulino in the projected 2012 rotation at this point and relievers Aaron Crow and Everett Teaford could also transition to the rotation. Though Moore has already added two arms this offseason, the Royals lack top-of-the-rotation starters and may continue to pursue trades for available pitching.
Chen posted a 3.77 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 155 innings for the Royals this past season. The Royals offered the 34-year-old Scott Boras client arbitration earlier today, which means they would have obtained a compensatory draft pick had he accepted one of his other offers.
Jon Heyman of SI.com first reported the agreement (Twitter links) after Dutton reported that the sides were nearing a deal.
Minor Moves: Eric Fryer, Mariners
Here are today's minor moves…
- Pirates catcher Eric Fryer cleared waivers, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. The 26-year-old had been designated for assignment last week. Fryer appeared in ten games for the 2011 Pirates, but has spent the vast majority of his five professional seasons in the minor leagues, where he has a .799 OPS.
- The Mariners signed infielder Luis Rodriguez to a minor league deal, according to MLB.com's Greg Johns. Seattle also signed right-handers Jarrett Grube and Jeff Marquez and left-hander Sean Henn to minor league deals. Rodriguez had been a non-tender candidate until the Mariners outrighted him off of their roster earlier this month.
Blue Jays Claim Brian Jeroloman
Less than a week after losing Brian Jeroloman on waivers, the Blue Jays have re-claimed him. The team announced that it has claimed the 26-year-old catcher from the Pirates. Toronto's 40-man roster now has one open spot.
The Pirates claimed Jeroloman off of waivers from Toronto on Friday but designated the catcher for assignment on Monday to make room for the newly-acquired Clint Barmes. In 318 Triple-A plate appearances this year, Jeroloman hit .240/.335/.295.
Royals, Bruce Chen Progressing Toward Deal
The Royals appear to be progressing toward a new contract with Bruce Chen, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. The Royals have offered Chen, a Type B free agent, arbitration in anticipation of tonight’s deadline for teams to offer deals to ranked free agents.
“I know he wants to be here, and we want him here,” GM Dayton Moore told Dutton. “The feeling is mutual. We’d like to get something done before the Winter Meetings. I think we’re getting closer.”
Chen appears to be asking for a two-year deal worth more than $10MM, according to Dutton. He has already obtained multiyear offers this offseason. The 34-year-old Scott Boras client posted a 3.77 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 155 innings for the Royals this past season. Moore says the Royals are looking to add one or two more pitchers to compete with their internal candidates, even after trading for left-hander Jonathan Sanchez.
Latest On Gio Gonzalez
WEDNESDAY, 10:55am: Gio Gonzalez trade talks haven't really started, reports ESPN's Buster Olney, who notes that the A's did not ask for Logan Morrison in brief check-in talks with the Marlins.
TUESDAY, 8:54am: The Marlins have pursued trades and free agents aggressively so far this offseason. Most recently, Gio Gonzalez has emerged as a possible trade target for the team. Here are the details on the Marlins’ offseason, via Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald:
- The A’s have demanded a package containing Logan Morrison or Mike Stanton for Gonzalez and the Marlins “flatly rejected” the possibility.
- C.J. Wilson will visit the Marlins after Thanksgiving. The free agent left-hander met with the Angels last night and has more visits scheduled.
Twins Sign Ryan Doumit
The Twins agreed to sign Ryan Doumit to a one-year deal, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick and Doumit's agency, Sosnick/Cobbe Sports (Twitter link). The deal is worth $3MM and includes performance bonuses, according to Crasnick. The Twins officially announced the agreement today.
The 30-year-old posted a .303/.353/.477 line in 236 plate appearances for the Pirates in 2011. His role with the Twins figures to depend on the health of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. He can catch, play first base or, if both Mauer and Morneau are healthy, contribute as a DH or right fielder. GM Terry Ryan said during today's press conference, "First and foremost, we consider Ryan a catcher." Doumit's versatility is an added bonus.
Doumit, a Type B free agent, will lead to a compensatory draft pick for the Pirates in 2012. The Pirates benefit by Doumit signing early, as they probably would not have offered arbitration. Doumit received multiple contract offers this offseason, but was intrigued by the American League.
Twins GM Terry Ryan has been busy since assuming leadership of the baseball operations department earlier this month. Minnesota signed infielder Jamey Carroll to a two-year, $6.75MM deal last week.
Orioles, Chong Tae-Hyon Near Deal
TUESDAY, 11:01pm: Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun says the two sides are still finalizing some details and could have the deal wrapped up by Wednesday. An announcement is not imminent, and Tae-Hyon's physical will be delayed by Thanksgiving.
MONDAY, 9:13pm: The Orioles are close to a deal with Tae-Hyon, but haven't officially agreed to terms, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The right-hander would get a Major League deal, which means Baltimore will have to clear a 40-man roster spot.
8:22pm: The Orioles agreed to sign Korean right-hander Chong Tae-Hyon, according to MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli (on Twitter). The sides had been discussing a deal earlier today.
This 2009 video shows Tae-Hyon facing the Dodgers in a warmup game for the most recent World Baseball Classic .
Minor Moves: Braves, Loewen, Garrison
The latest minor moves from around MLB via Matt Eddy of Baseball America…
- The Braves have signed 14 players to minor league contracts according to a press release, including righty reliever Adam Russell, utility man Drew Sutton, lefty reliever Dusty Hughes, and infielder Josh Wilson. The full list can be found here.
- The Mets signed outfielder Adam Loewen, according to Eddy. Loewen, the fourth overall selection in the 2002 draft, successfully completed the transition from left-handed pitcher to outfielder in 2011. He posted a .306/.377/.508 line with 46 doubles at Triple-A before appearing in 14 games with the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays removed the Surrey, British Columbia native from their roster after the regular season, but maintained some interest in him.
- The Mariners signed left-hander Steve Garrison, according to Eddy. Garrison, 25, appeared in one game for the Yankees this past season and posted a 5.58 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 as a starter in the minors.
- The Red Sox signed right-hander Will Inman and left-hander Justin Thomas for bullpen depth, according to Eddy.
- The Twins re-signed left-hander Phil Dumatrait, according to Eddy.
How The Top NL MVP Finishers Were Acquired
Just one of the top ten finishers in this year’s NL MVP balloting joined his team via the free agent market. Eight were drafted by their 2011 teams and one was acquired in a blockbuster trade. Here's a look at how teams around the National League originally acquired the top ten finishers in the 2011 NL MVP voting (some have since signed extensions):
- Ryan Braun – Draft – The Brewers selected Braun fifth overall in the 2005 draft and extended him on a five-year, $105MM deal this year.
- Matt Kemp – Draft- Dodgers scouting director Logan White selected Kemp in the sixth round of the 2003 draft. The Dodgers recently locked him up to an eight-year, $160MM extension.
- Prince Fielder – Draft – Fielder is a Jack Zduriencik selection, like Braun. The seventh overall selection (2002) already has three top-five finishes in the MVP voting.
- Justin Upton – Draft – Upton, the first overall selection in 2005, reached the Major Leagues as a teenager and put together his best season yet in 2011.
- Albert Pujols – Draft – The Cardinals selected Pujols, a three-time MVP, in the 13th round of the 1999 draft. He has ten top-ten finishes in MVP balloting after 11 MLB seasons. Pujols and Fielder are the only two current free agents on this list.
- Joey Votto – Draft – The Reds selected last year's MVP in the second round of the 2002 draft.
- Lance Berkman – Free Agency – Berkman, the lone player on this list to join his current team via free agency, signed a one-year, $8MM deal with the Cardinals before the season and has since signed an extension that will keep him in St. Louis through 2012.
- Troy Tulowitzki – Draft – The Rockies selected Tulowitzki with the seventh overall selection in 2005 and he has blossomed into one of baseball's top shortstops.
- Roy Halladay – Trade - The Phillies obtained Halladay for Travis d'Arnaud, Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor in December, 2009 before signing him to an extension.
- Ryan Howard – Draft – Howard, a fifth round selection in 2001, won the NL MVP in 2006 and has finished in the top ten for the award in every season since.
- Here's a look at how American League teams acquired this year's top vote getters.
Modified Procedure For Type A Free Agents
Matt Capps, Francisco Cordero, Octavio Dotel, Ramon Hernandez and Darren Oliver were all Type A free agents under the Elias Rankings system, but they will now be treated as Type B free agents, the MLBPA announced. Teams won't have to surrender draft picks to sign them, but the players' former teams obtain a supplementary first round pick whether or not they offer arbitration tomorrow.
Meanwhile, clubs won't have to surrender a draft pick to sign one of the following six players: Heath Bell, Michael Cuddyer, Kelly Johnson, Ryan Madson, Josh Willingham and Francisco Rodriguez. Teams that lose these players after offering arbitration will obtain first round picks in the slot before the signing team plus a supplementary draft pick for a total of two selections.
Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, C.J. Wilson, David Ortiz, Jonathan Papelbon, Roy Oswalt, Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins were also Type A free agents this offseason. They will cost one draft pick to sign. Their teams will obtain two total picks if they decline offers of arbitration to sign elsewhere, as expected. Takashi Saito and Carlos Beltran, two other Type As, cannot be offered arbitration. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the changes.