Jack Zduriencik, Mariners Agree To Extension
SATURDAY: Zduriencik's new deal is for two years, tweets Jon Heyman of SI.
WEDNESDAY: The Mariners announced a multiyear extension for GM Jack Zduriencik. Despite the team's place at the bottom of the American League West standings, president & CEO Chuck Armstrong says the club is headed in the right direction for long-term success.
“Jack arrived in Seattle with a clear plan, and he has not deviated from that plan,” Armstrong said in a team press release. “Jack wanted to increase the talent base in our organization through scouting and player development. That is exactly what he has done.”
Zduriencik, whose contract was set to expire after 2011, said today that he intends "to continue to acquire talent at all levels of [the] organization" as the Mariners look to improve.
MLBTR's extension tracker has all of the moves Zduriencik has made since taking over baseball operations in October of 2008. His most memorable deals to date include the two Cliff Lee trades, the Brandon League for Brandon Morrow swap, the three-team J.J. Putz deal and the Milton Bradley for Carlos Silva trade. He also signed Felix Hernandez and Franklin Gutierrez to extensions and spent $36MM on free agent Chone Figgins. In total, Zduriencik and his staff acquired 28 of the 32 players currently on Seattle's active roster and disabled list.
The Mariners won 85 games in 2009, the club's first season under Zduriencik. However, they lost 101 games last year and are now 57-77, last in the AL West.
Zduriencik became the first non-GM to win Baseball America's executive of the year award in 2007, when he was Milwaukee's scouting director. He has spent 28 years working for MLB organizations, including nine with the Brewers (1999-2008).
Mike Salk of 710 ESPN first reported the deal.
Quick Hits: Rizzo, Braves, Rowand, Pujols, Carrasco
On this date 11 years ago, the Angels signed amateur free agent Ervin Santana. The right-hander recently reached the 200-inning plateau for the fourth time in his career and he has a 3.27 ERA to go along with his July no-hitter. Here are the latest links from around MLB…
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo is "definitely" on the Cubs' wish list for their vacant GM position, reports Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post. Rizzo shot down any speculation about him leaving though, saying "there's nowhere I'd rather be than the Washington Nationals right now," and "this is the place I need to be."
- MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports (on Twitter) that Kurt Kemp has stepped down as Braves' director of player development to pursue other opportunities.
- Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com suggests that the Phillies could have interest in the recently designated for assignment Aaron Rowand after he clears waivers. He would not be eligible for postseason play, but Salisbury notes the team has had a "longstanding interest" in bringing Rowand back after losing him to the Giants in free agency.
- In a piece for Grantland.com, Jonah Keri wonders if losing Albert Pujols to the free agency would really be that bad for the Cardinals.
- Indians minor leaguer Hector Rondon told Carlos Alberto Zambrano of the Venezuelan paper Lider en Deportes that it appears that Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco will undergo Tommy John surgery. Rendon says the currently-disabled Carrasco told him of the upcoming operation.
- Meanwhile, Indians skipper Manny Acta told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian that the team is stil exploring options for Carrasco's injured elbow (Twitter link). He acknowledged that Tommy John surgery was a possibility, but it is not a certainty at this point.
- Nate Mink of MLB.com explains that Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg showed he's ready for the Major Leagues in his final minor league rehab start.
- Doug Miller of MLB.com shows how so many former members of Mike Scioscia's coaching staff – Joe Maddon, Bud Black and Ron Roenicke – have gone on to become MLB managers.
- It appears that first base prospect Angel Villalona will return to the Giants organization now that murder charges against him have been dismissed, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. The Giants expect to resolve a $5MM breach-of-contract lawsuit that Villalona filed against the team.
- Former GM Jim Bowden introduces us to the agents behind this offseason's big-name free agents in a must-read piece for ESPN. If you're interested in agents, be sure to check out our Agency Database.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Kyle Phillips
Here are the latest outrights from around MLB…
- The Padres announced that they outrighted catcher Kyle Phillips to Triple-A Tucson. They had designated him for assignment Wednesday to create roster space for Jeremy Hermida. Phillips, 27, posted a .171/.259/.289 line in 36 big league games this year (85 plate appearances).
Padres Claim Andrew Carpenter
The Padres claimed right-hander Andrew Carpenter off of waivers from the Phillies, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter). Philadelphia's 40-man roster now includes 39 players.
Carpenter, 26, made six relief appearances for the Phillies this year, but he has spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he has a 1.79 ERA with 9.7 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 60 1/3 innings. Carpenter has a 36.5% ground ball rate in limited MLB action over the course of four years, so it's not surprising that the Padres are intrigued by what he can do in Petco Park, especially given his strong minor league stats.
Padres GM Jed Hoyer has been aggressive in terms of waiver claims this week. San Diego claimed Jeff Fulchino from Houston yesterday and claimed Jeremy Hermida from Cincinnati Wednesday.
Braves Release Julio Lugo
The Braves released Julio Lugo, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman (on Twitter). Atlanta activated the recently-acquired Jack Wilson from the disabled list in a corresponding move.
Lugo, 35, appeared in 22 games for the Braves, backing up at short, second and third without contributing anything on offense (.136/.208/.136 line in 48 plate appearances). The 12-year veteran has a career .269/.333/.384 line, but he hasn't produced at the plate since 2009.
The Braves have now released two infielders in two days; they cut Wes Helms loose yesterday.
Heyman On Rangers, Mesoraco, Marlins
Jon Heyman breaks down the likely playoff teams at SI.com, where he also passes along some notes and rumors. The latest:
- The Rangers tried ‘extremely hard’ to obtain Carlos Beltran from the Mets before the Giants traded for him in July.
- Devin Mesoraco may be more ‘universally beloved’ by scouts than any other September call-up.
- Davey Johnson can manage the Nationals again in 2012 if he wants to, but Jack McKeon of the Marlins may not be so lucky.
- Heyman hears that the Marlins and McKeon have decided someone else will manage in 2012, though McKeon can remain with the organization in some capacity forever (Twitter links). However, McKeon told Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio that that's not the case (Twitter link).
- White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf wants to keep manager Ozzie Guillen and GM Kenny Williams together at this point.
Edwin Encarnacion’s 2012 Option
About three months ago, it sure seemed like it was time for the Blue Jays to give up on Edwin Encarnacion. He wasn’t hitting and he certainly couldn’t handle third base. At the beginning of June, he had a season line of .247/.270/.349 and given that he had committed eight errors in just 16 starts at third, it wasn’t enough.
Since then, Encarnacion has been one of the most productive hitters in Toronto’s lineup. He has a .292/.368/.530 line with 14 homers in what amounts to a half season’s worth of playing time. It’s the kind of production GM Alex Anthopoulos envisioned when he re-signed Encarnacion last winter and it could be enough for the Blue Jays to bring the 28-year-old back in 2012.
Before the season, Anthopoulos liked Encarnacion enough to suggest he had “one more gear in there” and a shot at a 30-homer season. Encarnacion won’t reach 30 homers, but he did show the Jays that he’s capable of raising his game.
Every player, including Albert Pujols, goes through bad months. But two-month long slumps can’t be written off; they’re part of a player’s season. So when the Blue Jays decide whether Encarnacion’s worth $3MM and a roster spot next year ($3.5MM option, $500K buyout), they’ll consider his entire year.
With four weeks to go, Encarnacion has a .276/.335/.466 season line. He hasn't appeared at third since July and even though he plays first semi-regularly, he's essentially a designated hitter. The average DH has a .265/.340/.429 line this year, so Encarnacion boasts above-average power for the position despite his modest total of 15 home runs.
Encarnacion has established himself as a powerful, positionless player who’s especially productive against left-handers. It’s not far off of the Marcus Thames prototype, but Encarnacion has probably earned himself another shot in Toronto with these past three months.
For a net cost of $3MM I expect the Blue Jays to exercise the option (especially since he doesn't project as a ranked free agent). At worst, Encarnacion becomes a bench weapon against left-handed pitching. At best, he keeps producing the way he has since June and remains a bargain DH for another year.
Photo courtesy Icon SMI.
Carlos Zambrano’s Season Ends
Carlos Zambrano will get another paycheck this year, but he won’t pitch another inning. The Cubs announced that the 30-year-old right-hander will remain at home for the remainder of the 2011 season. Once his 30-day suspension ends on September 11th, the Cubs will continue paying him.
Zambrano would not have enough time to prepare for games once his suspension ends, according to the Cubs. MLB, the Cubs and the MLB Players Association will process the grievance that the union filed on Zambrano’s behalf during the offseason.
The MLBPA filed a grievance for Zambrano after the Cubs placed him on the disqualified list following an August outburst. Zambrano could lose as much as one sixth of his $17.875MM salary this year if the Cubs' decision stands, since players don't get paid on the disqualified list. He is under contract for $18MM next year and his contract includes a $19.25MM vesting player option for 2013.
Zambrano finishes the season with a 4.82 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a 42.4% ground ball rate in 145 2/3 innings – pedestrian enough numbers that the Cubs will be absorbing most of Zambrano's salary in any offseason trade.
Dodgers Notes: McCourt, Kemp, Kershaw
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt received a $1.2 billion offer for the Dodgers and related assets yesterday, though Major League Baseball appears skeptical. Here's the latest on the 66-70 Dodgers…
- Everybody is assuming that smoke and mirrors are involved in the $1.2 billion offer, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
- The issues that plague the Dodgers and Mets mirror the cities the teams play in, Jeff Passan writes at Yahoo Sports. Everything about the Dodgers is excessive, while the Mets' situation is cold and cadaverous, Passan says.
- Bill Plaschke of the LA Times argues that Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw deserve the MVP and Cy Young Award, respectively.
- If Kershaw is a Cy Young candidate, then Cliff Lee has to be one as well, Eric Seidman argues at FanGraphs. The two-left-handers have remarkably similar numbers this season.
Elias Rankings Update
After the season the Elias Sports Bureau will take all players over the 2010-11 period, divide them into five groups for each league, and rank them based on various statistics. Then each player will be labeled a Type A, B, or none. Those designations and the possible accompanying arbitration offers determine draft pick compensation (click here for a refresher).
Eddie Bajek has reverse-engineered the Elias rankings, and he's providing that information exclusively at MLB Trade Rumors. Here's a look at how the players rank for the period beginning with the 2010 season running through August 31st, 2011. Click here to go to the rankings directly if they don't appear below.