Dodgers, Kemp Talking Extension
Matt Kemp and the Dodgers are discussing a long-term deal and talks have had “more substance lately,” according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Kemp, who is on track to hit free agency after the 2012 season, will not negotiate after Opening Day, according to his agent.
The 27-year-old center fielder is a leading candidate for the National League MVP after hitting an NL-best 39 home runs with a .324/.399/.586 line. MLBTR projects a $16.3MM salary for Kemp in 2012 and each one of his free agent seasons could cost the Dodgers $20MM or more. It doesn’t appear that Kemp will be giving the Dodgers any discounts this offseason, as much as he enjoys playing in Los Angeles.
"It's also important for him to be seen by his peers as one of the best," agent Dave Stewart told the LA Times in October. "This isn't Matt saying this, this is me saying this … but, unfortunately, the way these things are seen is often based on how you're paid."
Though the Dodgers’ sale will likely prevent the team from pursuing top free agents such as Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols, GM Ned Colletti appears to have the flexibility to consider extensions for Kemp and left-hander Clayton Kershaw.
Dipoto Talks Angels Offseason
10:43pm: Dipoto said the Angels aren't interested in Aramis Ramirez but are interested in C.J. Wilson, according to Bowden (all links go to Twitter). Dipoto said he's looking for an upgrade at catcher, improved on-base percentage in the lineup and a rotation stabilizer. The Angels intend to tender a contract to Kendrys Morales, who hasn't played since an ill-fated walk-off celebration in 2010.
9:47pm: Angels GM Jerry Dipoto told ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden that the Angels may be interested in Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols. Morales and Rookie of the Year candidate Mark Trumbo provide the Angels with two internal options at first base, but Dipoto hasn’t ruled out others.
"Don't assume that we have no interest in Fielder or Pujols," Dipoto said. "We don't want to lock the door. We are a high-revenue team and I'm a big believer in acquiring impact players. However, they are not our greatest need and are not priority number one on our list."
Dipoto explained that the Angels intend to pursue right-handed relievers this offseason in order to strengthen the back of their bullpen. Meanwhile, top prospect Mike Trout hasn’t assured himself of a starting job in the Major Leagues yet. Torii Hunter, Peter Bourjos and Vernon Wells have everyday outfield jobs heading into Spring Training and the Angels intend to find regular at bats for the 20-year-old Trout.
"I know one thing, he's going to play every day and if it's not in the Major Leagues then it will be in our farm system," Dipoto said.
For a detailed look at the team's offseason outlook, click here.
Quick Hits: CBA, Fielder, Francis, Rollins
Ryan Madson appeared to have a deal with the Phillies this time last night, but the sides haven't completed anything to date. Here are the details and here are your links for Wednesday night…
- We heard last night that the players and owners made significant progress toward a new collective bargaining agreement. The sides could complete a CBA this week, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
- ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick polled MLB executives on some fun baseball questions and the results are worth checking out. The executives preferred Prince Fielder to Albert Pujols over the life of a long-term contract and their response suggests Rays left-hander Matt Moore is every bit as coveted as Stephen Strasburg.
- ESPN.com's Keith Law explains that Aramis Ramirez is the top free agent third baseman of the offseason, but cautions that Ramirez's new team "will either have to live with below-average defense at third or contemplate moving him to first or to DH." I examined the trade and free agent market for third base late last month.
- Orioles executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette says he expects to add people to his front office before the Winter Meetings take place in early December, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Duquette has been impressed by director of baseball operations Matt Klentak.
- The Royals are open-minded regarding a possible return for free agent left-hander Jeff Francis, GM Dayton Moore told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. The Royals would prefer to sign Bruce Chen, according to Dutton.
- Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies have had preliminary contract talks, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link). The shortstop continues to seek a five-year deal.
NL Central Notes: Cubs, Marte, Brewers
On this date in 2004, 42-year-old Roger Clemens won his seventh and final Cy Young Award. The Astros right-hander became the oldest pitcher to win the award and the first to win it with four different teams. Here are some links from Houston's division…
- Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux told reporters, including MLB.com's Carrie Muskat, that he likes Chicago and is honored to be considered for the Cubs' managerial opening. As for Chicago executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, Maddux says they're young and bright like Jon Daniels and others in the Rangers' front office. "Highly educated, very motivated, but very true and very honest and that's about all you can really ask for," Maddux said.
- If the Pirates decide to address needs at first, catcher and shortstop via trade, Starling Marte's name could come up, according to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.
- At this stage in the offseason, "everybody has interest in everybody," Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Until teams and agents start exchanging figures, it's hard to say which players fit in which payrolls. Jose Reyes is a possible fit for the Brewers, who declined their club option on Yuniesky Betancourt last week.
NL West Notes: D’Backs, Barmes, Darvish, Dodgers
The Diamondbacks finalized a new deal with Willie Bloomquist today and the move has had an impact for at least two NL West teams. Here are the details.
- The Giants offered Bloomquist a two-year deal worth more than $3.8MM before he re-signed in Arizona, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter). San Francisco’s offer was worth $4.6MM over two years, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown. The D’Backs remain interested in Aaron Hill.
- The Giants are looking for a shortstop as a fallback for Brandon Crawford, according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News (on Twitter). Baggarly notes that some Giants coaches are big fans of free agent Clint Barmes.
- Brad Lefton of the New York Times explains the origins of the posting system MLB teams use to bid on Japanese players. Within the piece, Lefton reports that the Diamondbacks scouted Yu Darvish this past season.
- Not surprisingly, the Dodgers won't be able to bid on free agents such as Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols until the team is sold, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com.
- The Rockies will consider pursuing Roy Oswalt, according to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding.
Rockies Inquired On Martin Prado
The Rockies contacted the Braves about Martin Prado, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The Rockies, who haven't yet exchanged named with the Braves, view Prado as a starting second baseman who can produce runs.
Prado projects to earn approximately $4.4MM next season as a second-time arbitration eligible player and the Braves seem willing to move him in the right deal. Rockies outfielder Seth Smith appeals to the Braves, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter).
Second baseman Mark Ellis is a free agent, so the Rockies are exploring multiple options at second base, including Jamey Carroll. Like Michael Cuddyer, another Rockies target, Prado is versatile enough to handle the outfield and multiple infield positions. Prado posted a .260/.302/.385 line in 2011, while playing first, third and left field. He made the NL All-Star team in 2010 and had a .307/.350/.459 line in 651 plate appearances.
Minor Moves: Stavinoha, Jones, Mickolio
Here's where we'll keep track of the latest minor moves…
- The Astros signed Nick Stavinoha to a minor league deal and invited him to Spring Training, according to Alyson Footer of the Astros (on Twitter). The 29-year-old played for the Cardinals from 2008-10 and has a .234/.256/.325 line in 278 career plate appearances.
- Eddy has all of the latest minor league transactions at Baseball America.
- The Reds signed outfielder Daryl Jones, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter). The 24-year-old former third round selection posted a .260/.360/.400 line for the Cardinals' top affiliates in 2011.
- Kameron Mickolio, who appeared in six games for the 2011 Diamondbacks, is on his way to play in Japan, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). The 27-year-old right-hander has a 4.83 ERA along with a 33K/17BB ratio in 31 2/3 MLB innings over the course of four seasons. Mickolio has also been involved in memorable trades for Erik Bedard and Mark Reynolds.
Marlins Interested In Carlos Beltran
The Marlins have "jumped early on" a number of players, including Carlos Beltran, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown. This is the first time this offseason we’ve seen the Marlins linked to Beltran, but it's not the first time we've seen them linked to the offseason's top free agents. Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes, C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle, and Yoenis Cespedes are among the many players who have been linked to the Marlins so far this offseason.
Beltran, 34, hit .300/.385/.525 with 22 homers for the Mets and Giants in 2011. The Marlins have Logan Morrison in left and Mike Stanton in right so they appear to view Beltran as a possible solution in center field. The Giants cannot offer Beltran arbitration, so he won't cost a draft pick.
Red Sox Notes: Manager, Varitek, Ortiz, Papelbon
Red Sox GM Ben Cherington suggested today that the Red Sox don't need wholesale changes. "This offseason is more about fixing what's under the hood than buying a new car," he told reporters. Here’s the latest on the team, starting with a note on their ongoing managerial search…
- Cherington doesn't expect to interview additional managerial candidates after he meets with Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo and Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com (all Twitter links).
- The Red Sox have asked the Brewers to extend their window to talk with hitting coach Dale Sveum, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (on Twitter).
- Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., a candidate for Boston's managerial opening, is "going to be a Major League manager, whether that's in 2012 or sometime after that," Cherington said, according to Speier.
- Cherington has exchanged messages with free agents David Ortiz, Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, according to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald (Twitter links). However, he hasn't spoken with the representatives for Jonathan Papelbon recently.
- There's no resolution on compensation between the Cubs and Red Sox for Theo Epstein, but the commissioner's office has given the sides more leeway, according to Lauber.
- Speier explains how Ryan Madson's possible deal with the Phillies affects Papelbon and suggests the likelihood that Papelbon has thrown his last pitch for the Red Sox would increase "if Papelbon wants to dig in for a contract that clears the bar set by Madson."
AL West Notes: Fielder, Walker, Athletics
The Rangers are expressing early interest in available starters and relievers. Here’s an update on two of Texas’ division rivals…
- Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times doesn't endorse the argument that the Mariners should ignore Prince Fielder simply because they aren't positioned to contend in 2012.
- Taijuan Walker and Danny Hultzen are the best of the best Mariners prospects, Kevin Goldstein explains at Baseball Prospectus.
- The Mariners are hopeful that they'll only need to acquire one starting pitcher this offseason, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda and Jason Vargas will start for Seattle and Blake Beavan could prove useful at the back of the rotation. Hultzen, James Paxton and Forrest Snow may be ready for the rotation at some point in 2012 and Seattle could sign 49-year-old free agent Jamie Moyer.
- San Jose city council approved the extension of a land-purchase option for the Athletics, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The A's have two years to decide whether to buy approximately five acres of downtown land for $7MM. First, however, MLB would have to approve a move from Oakland to San Jose.