Minor Moves: Bulger, Carpenter, Kimball
Here's the list of players who have been added to 40-man rosters and here's the list of players who have been removed from them. Now for some moves that don't affect 40-man rosters at all…
- The Twins announced that they signed right-hander Jason Bulger to a minor league deal.
- The Blue Jays announced that they claimed right-hander Andrew Carpenter off of waivers from the Padres and lost right-hander Cole Kimball on waivers to the Nationals. The Blue Jays had claimed Kimball from the Nationals earlier this week and he's now back where he started. Carpenter, 26, appeared in 12 games for the Phillies and Padres in 2011. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a 1.79 ERA with 9.7 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 60 1/3 innings.
- The Astros announced that they signed right-hander Lance Pendleton to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training 2012. The Astros selected the Houston native in the 2010 Rule 5 draft and he spent this past Spring Training with Houston before being returned to the Yankees. The Astros claimed the 28-year-old off of waivers from the Yankees in September and he finished the season in the Major Leagues. Pendleton posted a 6.75 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 in 18 2/3 innings for the Yankees and Astros in 2011.
Latest On Upcoming CBA
Baseball's owners and players have agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement that should be announced early next week. Here are some details on the CBA, which ensures 21 years of labor peace for MLB:
- There are rumblings that there will be a tax on teams that don't spend enough on their MLB payroll, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark (on Twitter).
- Dan Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter) that teams can lose future draft picks if they spend beyond the recommended bonuses.
- Several GMs are livid over the restraints on draft spending, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal also points out that commissioner Bud Selig, Rob Manfred of MLB and union leader Michael Weiner deserve credit for coming to an agreement peacefully.
- There won't be hard caps for draft choices under the new CBA, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). However, there will be recommended bonuses and tax implications for teams that go way over the suggested limits.
Heyman On Marlins, Pujols, Wilson, Kershaw
The Red Sox have yet to hire a manager, so Jon Heyman of SI.com looks at the dynamics between GM Ben Cherington and Boston’s ownership group and how they are affecting the hiring process. Here are Heyman’s hot stove notes…
- We heard earlier in the week that the Marlins offered Jose Reyes a $90MM deal, but Heyman’s sources say Miami offered $10-20MM less than that.
- The Marlins made Albert Pujols a “lowball” offer that would only work if the three-time MVP was intent on playing for Miami, according to Heyman. All things being equal Pujols appears to prefer St. Louis.
- C.J. Wilson is seeking close to $120MM over six years, according to Heyman. Wilson’s former teammate, Cliff Lee, signed for $120MM over five years last offseason and it would be a coup for Wilson’s agents if they find a similar deal for their client.
- The Dodgers seem inclined to wait on a possible extension for Clayton Kershaw, according to Heyman. They control the NL Cy Young winner through 2014.
- The Angels opposed the sale of the Astros to Jim Crane, though they voted in favor of it according to Heyman.
Pirates Claim Hefner, Jeroloman
The Pirates announced that they claimed right-hander Jeremy Hefner off of waivers from the Padres and claimed catcher Brian Jeroloman off of waivers from the Blue Jays. Pittsburgh has 36 players on its 40-man roster after outrighting Matt Pagnozzi to Triple-A.
Hefner, 25, started 28 games for the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in 2011, posting a 4.98 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 157 1/3 innings. He has a 3.84 ERA with 7.9 K/0 and 2.8 BB/9 in 688 2/3 career minor league innings over the course of five seasons.
Jeroloman joined the Blue Jays at the end of the 2011 season, but never entered a game. The 26-year-old, who has a career .378 OBP after six years in the minors, posted a .240/.335/.295 line at Triple-A Las Vegas this past season
Sherman On Yankees’ Search For Pitching
A year ago, the Yankees showed their reluctance to bid on non-elite free agent pitchers with substantial asking prices. Unless the current market for pitching changes, GM Brian Cashman may be searching for back-of-the-rotation bargains again.
“I’d like to do something, but I am not going to do something at the current costs,” Cashman said, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
C.J. Wilson’s agent requested a New York meeting and the Yankees said they’d get back to the free agent left-hander, according to Sherman, Despite the lack of enthusiasm from the team, Wilson tops the Yankees’ list of free agent starters in terms of talent.
The Yankees have “looked into” Matt Garza, but a Cubs official downplayed the likelihood of any deal involving the right-hander, according to Sherman. The Yankees particularly like Gio Gonzalez and the Athletics are open to anything, but GM Billy Beane is asking for an ace return for Gonzalez or Trevor Cahill.
The Yankees like John Danks and the White Sox like many Yankees prospects, particularly Austin Romine. However, Danks is a free agent after 2012 and the Yankees are reluctant to over-spend on a pitcher they’ll have for just one year.
If the Yankees don't make a major acquisition before Spring Training, they could pencil C.C. Sabathia, Ivan Nova, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes into four rotation spots. Free agent Freddy Garcia could return on a one-year deal and prospects Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances may contribute at some point in 2012.
Minor Moves: Wood, Burton, Gonzalez, Buchholz
Moves listed here without specific attribution come from MLB.com's transactions page…
- The Rockies have signed infielder Brandon Wood, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Wood will make $100K over the league minimum if he makes the big league roster, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter). Wood, of course, was once a blue-chip prospect with the Angels.
- The Twins have signed right-handers Brendan Wise, Jared Burton, Samuel Deduno and Luis Perdomo, and outfielders Matt Carson and Wilkin Ramirez to Minor League deals, tweets Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune.
- The Padres released second baseman Alberto Gonzalez. San Diego appears to be clearing 40-man roster space in anticipation of next month's Rule 5 draft.
- Right-hander Taylor Buchholz elected free agency. The Mets removed Buchholz from their 40-man roster earlier in the week. He would have earned roughly $1.2MM in 2012 had the Mets retained him through arbitration. Earlier in the week GM Sandy Alderson was unsure if anxiety and depression would prevent Buchholz from pitching in 2012.
- The Angels released right-hander Anthony Ortega.
Latest On Boston’s Managerial Search
The Red Sox met with Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum yesterday to discuss the possibility of managing in 2012. Sveum obtained a job offer later in the day, but it was from the Cubs, not the Red Sox. Boston GM Ben Cherington now seems prepared to expand his managerial search. Here’s the latest…
- The Red Sox haven't scheduled a formal interview with Valentine or arranged second interviews with other candidates, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.
- Cherington and Valentine met early on in the process, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald (Twitter links). Larry Lucchino has also met with Valentine. Silverman reports that Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo will get a second interview for the position.
- Valentine has met with at least one Red Sox owner and will meet with the others, according to Rosenthal and Morosi (on Twitter). Interest between Valentine and the Red Sox appears mutual, according to ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes (on Twitter).
- The Red Sox will take a breather before continuing the managerial search, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
- Cherington says his bosses did not undercut him during the process, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). "Absolutely not. I don't know where that comes from," he said.
- The Red Sox haven't ruled out former MLB manager Bobby Valentine, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The FOX reporters say Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont made a strong impression with the Red Sox and note that Lamont's previous managerial experience may play in his favor.
- "I don't know that that's accurate," said team president Larry Lucchino when asked if their search will consist of more experienced candidates, reports Rosenthal (Twitter links). "We're not in any rush," added Lucchino."[Terry Francona] was hired first week of December."
- A source tells Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports that the Red Sox aren't out of the running for Sveum just yet, and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that they could still hire from their original group of candidates even if they expand the search (Twitter links).
- The Red Sox aren't prepared to offer Sveum a managerial position at this time, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. The team expects Sveum to accept the Cubs' offer.
- Meanwhile, the Red Sox have been granted extensions to talk to Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo and Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont, Cherington told reporters. The Red Sox are no longer considering Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin.
- Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach and Rays bench coach Dave Martinez won't be part of Boston's search if the Red Sox do expand their list of candidates, according to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.
- Peter Gammons of MLB Network suggests the Red Sox owners are prioritizing experience in the ongoing managerial search. “What a laugh,” Gammons writes after pointing out that all great managers start somewhere (Twitter link).
- Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald heard earlier on in the process that Ryne Sandberg is a candidate to watch (Twitter link).
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Boston's decision to decline Terry Francona's options for 2012-13 after their late-season collapse set in motion "a series of unfortunate events."
Red Sox Front Office Notes: Epstein, Shipley, Minaya
Boston’s managerial search includes Bobby Valentine, according to reports today. Here are some notes on changes to the team’s front office…
- The Red Sox and Cubs won't determine compensation for Theo Epstein until after the Rule 5 draft takes place in early December, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. "It’s very amicable. Lots of jokes about it," Epstein said. "We’ll see if we can get something done after the Rule 5 Draft.” Epstein left the Red Sox for the Cubs after the regular season and compensation has yet to be determined.
- The Red Sox are expected to remove VP of player personnel and international operations Craig Shipley from his current position, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Shipley, a former MLB player, pushed for the deal that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston for Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez.
- The Red Sox may have interest in former Expos and Mets GM Omar Minaya, according to Maureen Mullen of CSNNE.com.
Murphy Available; Mets Considered Street & Chavez
Mets GM Sandy Alderson says the team isn’t close to completing any deals, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Here are updates on some potential moves for the team…
- Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com hears the Mets informed other teams that Daniel Murphy is available. While many players are available in the right move at this time of year, this indicates that the Mets are willing to listen on the versatile 26-year-old.
- The Mets and Rockies briefly discussed a deal involving Huston Street and Mike Pelfrey, but the Mets don’t seem too excited about the possibility of acquiring Street, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). Street and current Mets bench coach Bob Geren had trouble getting along when they were both with the Athletics.
- The Mets are open to bringing Endy Chavez back to New York and they have had preliminary discussions about a deal with agent Peter Greenberg, according to Martino.
Dale Sveum To Manage Cubs
1:33pm: The Cubs announced that Sveum will be their next manager. The sides agreed to a three-year deal that includes an option for 2015, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter).
12:12pm: The Cubs will hire Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum to be their next manager, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times hears that the Cubs may announce their next manager as soon as tomorrow (Twitter link) and suggests it will be Sveum. The Cubs offered the managerial job to Sveum yesterday.
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein would not confirm that the team offered Sveum the position, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. However, Epstein said the process is in its final inning. “We’ve got to get the 27th out,” he said.