Ben Nicholson-Smith | MLB Trade Rumors

Quick Hits: Heyward, Rolen, Logan, Porcello

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 4:45pm CDT

It's time for players such as Buster Posey, Mike Trout and Jason Heyward to get long-term contract extensions, Jim Bowden writes at ESPN.com. Many players, perhaps even some of those on Bowden's list, will sign extensions in the coming months, and MLBTR's Extension Tracker will document all of the deals. In the meantime, here are today’s links…

Though Scott Rolen hasn't made a final decision about whether to play in 2013, he has told people that the Reds would be his top choice if he does return, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports (Twitter link).
CAA now represents reliever Boone Logan, MLBTR has confirmed. The Yankees recently avoided arbitration with the left-hander, agreeing to a one-year, $3.15MM deal for 2013. Be sure to rely on MLBTR’s Agency Database for all agency-related queries.
The Tigers don’t appear to be close to trading Rick Porcello, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). Knobler adds that there’s no real pressure to move Porcello in the immediate future despite Detroit’s starting pitching depth. The Tigers have also been calling around trying to move Brennan Boesch, Knobler reports.

Cardinals, Jason Motte Agree To Two-Year Deal

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 4:32pm CDT

4:32pm: The deal is worth $12MM and includes performance bonuses, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).

4:06pm: The Cardinals avoided arbitration with closer Jason Motte, agreeing to a two-year deal, the team announced (on Twitter). ACES represents Motte.

The agreement buys out Motte's two final years of arbitration, but won't delay his path to free agency. He still projects to hit the open market following the 2014 season. Motte had filed for a $5.5MM salary for 2013 and the Cardinals had countered with $4.5MM, as MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows. The 30-year-old set himself up for a raise from his 2012 salary of $1.95MM by posting a 2.75 ERA with 10.8 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 and an NL-best 42 saves this past season.

The Cardinals have yet to resolve the arbitration cases for David Freese and Marc Rzepczynski.

Olney On Jaso, Kubel, Upton

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 3:45pm CDT

The latest from ESPN.com's Buster Olney…

If the Mariners’ attempt to acquire Justin Upton had been successful, Seattle would have traded John Jaso to Oakland as part of the deal, Olney reports (on Twitter). Instead, Upton blocked the proposed trade and the A's acquired Jaso in a three-way trade with Washington.
The Diamondbacks continue to weigh offers for Upton and Jason Kubel, Olney reports (Twitter links). The Diamondbacks want to deal one of the outfielders sooner rather than later and they feel as though there’s a good chance of getting “suitable value” for Kubel if they decide to deal him.
Rival executives view the Orioles as a possible match for Kubel, Olney reports (Twitter links). In Olney's view the Rays are another potential destination for Kubel.
The 2002 Braves and the 1995 Indians had some of the best outfields in baseball history, Olney wrote at his Insider-only blog today.

Kyle Farnsworth Nearing Decision

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 3:03pm CDT

Free agent reliever Kyle Farnsworth is close to picking a new team, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter). Farnsworth is deciding between two clubs, one of which is the Rays.

Interest in Farnsworth has intensified recently, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported last week. The Meister Sports Management client had multiple offers at that time. Farnsworth, 36, posted a 4.00 ERA with 8.3 K/9, 4.7 BB/9 and a 55.1% ground ball rate in 27 innings for the Rays in 2012. He earned $3.3MM in 2012, up from $2.6MM in 2011.

Farnsworth has been linked to the Rays and Brewers so far this offseason. The Rays, Tigers, Blue Jays, Mariners, Marlins and Mets are among the teams that appear to be seeking late-inning relief.

Brewers Sign Bobby Crosby

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 2:16pm CDT

The Brewers signed Bobby Crosby to a minor league contract with an invitation to MLB Spring Training, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). The deal would pay Crosby $800K if he makes the team and includes $450K in incentives. TWC Sports represents the former AL Rookie of the Year.

Crosby, who turned 33 this month, last played at the MLB level in 2010. He has a .236/.304/.372 batting line over the course of eight big league seasons and has at least 20 games of experience at all four infield positions.

Phillies Sign Delmon Young

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 1:52pm CDT

The Phillies announced that they signed Delmon Young to a one-year, $750K contract. The deal includes roster and performance bonuses that could bring the value of the contract to the $3.25MM range, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). The Phillies are looking for the former first overall pick to compete for playing time in the outfield.

“Delmon is an experienced major league bat who will add some depth to our relatively inexperienced outfield and another layer of competition for playing time there as well,” GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

The Phillies had internal debate about Young for weeks, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). While ownership was nervous about his off-field issues, the team needed a right-handed bat. Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, who first reported the Phillies' strong interest in Young, heard from Amaro that players with off-field questions won't necessarily deter the Phillies if they can contribute on the field.

Young joins Darin Ruf, John Mayberry Jr., Domonic Brown and Laynce Nix as a contender for playing time in left and right field. The Phillies had also considered signing Scott Hairston and trading for Vernon Wells. However, those moves seem less likely now that Young has officially joined the Phillies.

Young, a right-handed hitter, spent the 2012 season with the Tigers. The Wasserman Media Group client posted a .267/.296/.411 batting line with 18 home runs in 608 plate appearances. He's recovering from ankle surgery, but that didn't stop the Mariners from checking in on him earlier in the winter. However, the Tigers, Braves, Yankees and Indians didn't appear to have interest.

Red Sox Designate Chris Carpenter For Assignment

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 1:44pm CDT

The Red Sox announced that they designated right-hander Chris Carpenter for assignment. The move creates roster space for Mike Napoli, whose one-year deal is now official.

The Red Sox acquired Carpenter as compensation for Theo Epstein last February. The 27-year-old pitched in eight games for Boston this past season, allowing six earned runs in as many innings. He also pitched at the minor league level, posting a 2.08 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 in 21 2/3 innings. Carpenter missed time to undergo surgery to remove bone spur from his right elbow in 2012.

Red Sox To Sign Mike Napoli

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 1:44pm CDT

It took a while, but the Red Sox have officially signed Mike Napoli. The sides have completed a one-year deal worth $5MM plus incentives. The Paragon Sports International client could earn up to $13MM in 2013.

The sides had agreed to a three-year, $39MM contract earlier in the offseason, but the deal didn’t go through as expected. Napoli has a hip issue that prompted the Red Sox to seek protective language in the deal.

However, the 31-year-old remained a top first base target for Boston throughout the process. Despite the hip issue, Napoli expects to be ready for Opening Day, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Napoli drew interest from other teams after the initial delay in finalizing the agreement. Meanwhile, the Red Sox considered other options for first base such as Adam LaRoche and Michael Morse.

The Rangers had re-opened talks with Napoli, ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's Ben Rogers reports. The Red Sox could offer more playing time, however, and he ended up agreeing to terms with Boston.

Napoli posted a .227/.343/.469 batting line in 2012, reaching the 20-home plateau for the fifth consecutive season with 24. The right-handed hitter made the All-Star team for the first time in his career, but missed time with a quadriceps injury. Ultimately Napoli fell short of the career-best numbers he posted in 2011: 30 home runs and a .320/.414/.631 batting line. The Red Sox project to rely on Napoli as their primary first baseman, but he did catch 72 games with Texas in 2012.

Napoli ranked 14th on MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents entering the offseason. He wasn't linked to draft pick compensation, as the Rangers decided not to make him a qualifying offer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com first reported the agreement, and the value of the incentives. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported the value of the guarantee (Twitter links).

Dodgers Notes: Koufax, Mattingly

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 1:25pm CDT

The Dodgers have added to their pitching staff in a meaningful way this winter, signing Zack Greinke, Ryu Hyun-Jin, J.P. Howell and Brandon League. Today they announced that another pitcher will join their staff, and he might be the highest profile addition of all. Here are the details…

The Dodgers announced that Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax will return to the organization in 2013. The 77-year-old will work with Dodgers pitchers in Spring Training and consult for the team throughout the year. “I’m delighted to be back with the Dodgers,” Koufax said.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told Bill Plaschke of the LA Times that the Dodgers declined his request for increased job security when he asked about the possibility last fall. Mattingly hoped that the club would exercise a one-year option for 2014, but they declined. "It was a 30-second conversation about the option, they said that wasn't the plan for me or my coaches, it was a moot point, and I'm fine with that," Mattingly said. In the view of GM Ned Colletti “it shouldn’t be an issue” that the Dodgers haven’t exercised the option. Mattingly, whose three-year contract will expire after the coming season, leads the list of managers and GMs entering contract years, as MLBTR's Mark Polishuk recently explained.

Orioles Notes: Hendrickson, Pearce

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2013 at 12:21pm CDT

Last week the Orioles extended manager Buck Showalter and executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette through the 2018 season. Here's a look at what Orioles management is doing to boost their chances of returning to the playoffs in 2013…

The Orioles plan to offer left-hander Mark Hendrickson a minor league deal that includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training, Eduardo A. Encina The Baltimore Sun reports. Hendrickson, the former NBA player who pitched with Baltimore from 2009-11, threw bullpen sessions for Orioles personnel last week. The 38-year-old is now pitching sidearm as he attempts to return to the MLB level for the first time since 2011.
After a turbulent 2012 season, Steve Pearce's travels appear to have ended now that he’s a non-roster player with the Orioles. The 29-year-old said he’s glad he’s still in Baltimore, Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com reports. “This is the place I wanted to be,” Pearce said. “I wasn’t thinking about being claimed by anyone else, and this is where I wanted to be.”

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