Twins Talked Extension With Cuddyer
The Twins recently approached Michael Cuddyer about a contract extension, floating a two-year, $16MM deal, according to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The conversations didn’t progress from there, as Cuddyer appears to prefer to postpone negotiations until after the season, when he hits free agency.
Cuddyer and GM Bill Smith declined to comment on the discussions, which occurred after Sunday’s trade deadline, according to Christensen. A two-year, $16MM deal would represent a pay cut for the versatile Cuddyer, who earns $10.5MM this year. The 32-year-old, who projects as a Type A free agent, has made it clear that he hopes to remain in Minnesota.
Astros Designate Luis Durango For Assignment
The Astros announced that they have designated outfielder Luis Durango for assignment. They have called outfielder J.B. Shuck up from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
The Astros claimed Durango from the Padres in June and he pitcked up a single and a walk in seven plate appearances for Houston. He appeared in 28 games as a backup center fielder for the Padres last year and had a .243/.328/.294 line with 10 stolen bases at Triple-A Tucson before Houston claimed him.
Shuck, 24, has yet to appear in the Major Leagues. The 2008 draft pick has a .302/.401/.375 line at Triple-A and was a Pacific Coast League All-Star this year.
Phillies Notes: Lee, Mayberry, Francisco
The Phillies shut out the Giants last night behind a complete game from Cliff Lee in a game that many consider a possible playoff preview. Here's the latest on the Phillies, who have the best record in baseball at 71-39…
- GM Ruben Amaro Jr.'s decision to add Lee to an already impressive rotation has "played out to perfection" so far, Jon Paul Morosi writes at FOX Sports.com.
- David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News looks back at the season John Mayberry Jr. has had and points out that the outfielder will be out of minor league options next year. That means the Phillies will have to expose him to other teams if they decide to demote him to the minors in 2012.
- As Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer explains, Ben Francisco could be optioned to the minors this weekend.
- We heard earlier this morning that the Phillies hope to re-sign Jimmy Rollins this offseason.
Phillies Hope To Re-Sign Jimmy Rollins
Ruben Amaro Jr. told Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News that he doesn’t want to let Jimmy Rollins slip away when he hits free agency. The Phillies’ general manager expressed optimism about reaching a new deal with his shortstop after the season.
"Obviously, we'd like to bring Jimmy back,” Amaro said. “And I'd like to think he would want to come back."
Amaro said he probably won’t discuss a deal for Rollins until after the season. The Phillies are up against the luxury tax and will also see Ryan Madson hit free agency this winter. Cole Hamels is an extension candidate, which means Amaro faces major decisions regarding key members of his team in the near future.
I examined Rollins' free agent stock yesterday, suggesting that he and the Phillies could agree to a three-year, $30MM deal. The 32-year-old projects as a Type A free agent, so the Phillies would obtain two top draft picks if they offer arbitration and he declines the offer and signs elsewhere.
Justin Germano Signs With Samsung Lions
Justin Germano has signed with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization, according to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net. He signed for $210K, including a $50K bonus, according to this Korean news story. The 28-year-old right-hander appeared in nine games for the Indians this year before they designated him for assignment in May.
In six seasons with the Indians, Padres and Reds, Germano has a 5.02 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9. Last year may have been his best season; he posted a 3.31 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 35 1/3 innings for the Indians, pitching mostly in relief.
Mets Unlikely To Offer Reyes Seven Years
The Mets remain highly unlikely to offer Jose Reyes a Carl Crawford-like contract in the seven-year, $142MM range, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Both the guaranteed money and the length of Crawford’s contract would be unappealing to the Mets, Martino reports.
Reyes, who has a case for a substantial free agent contract, could return to New York by agreeing to a five or six year deal or if the Mets change their current position. The Mets’ decision to hold onto Reyes at last week’s trade deadline does not reflect a change in thinking. “Nothing has changed,” Martino’s source said, adding that the Mets remain “nervous” about Reyes’ free agency.
The Mets will likely be able to obtain a pair of top draft picks if they offer the shortstop arbitration and he declines to sign elsewhere, since he projects as a Type A free agent.
Quick Hits: Indians, Bedard, Braves, Phillies
Links for Thursday, before the Pirates try to reach the .500 mark and the Indians try to climb above it…
- One GM told Tim Kurkjian of ESPN The Magazine that the Indians gave up an awful lot to get Ubaldo Jimenez, "a guy you're just not sure about." However, reliever Frank Herrmann told Kurkjian that he believes in Cleveland's GM. "We're not going to meddle in the way the front office works," Hermann said. "I would be upset if Chris Antonetti came down to the clubhouse and told me how to hold my curveball."
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox never stopped pursuing Erik Bedard throughout their negotiations for Jimenez, Hiroki Kuroda and Rich Harden.
- Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton told Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com that the Rangers want to prove that last year's World Series run was just the beginning. "We want to show we belong there, that it wasn't a fluke," Hamilton said.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Padres should have traded Heath Bell by now or signed him to an extension. Their best remaining option is to trade him this August, even though they have significantly less leverage than they did a month ago, Rosenthal says.
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle can envision the Astros winning as many as 90 games in 2013 – but he can also envision three consecutive 100-loss seasons.
- The Braves and Phillies will likely reinforce their bullpens internally, as Rosenthal explains. The Braves would like to add a right-hander and Peter Moylan, who is returning from back surgery, and minor leaguers Arodys Vizcaino and Julio Teheran are options. The Phillies, meanwhile, are looking forward to the return of Jose Contreras.
Mariners Release Jack Cust
The Mariners announced that they have released Jack Cust, who was designated for assignment last week. Seattle's 40-man roster now has 39 players and the Mariners have an empty 25-man roster spot after optioning Greg Halman to Triple-A.
Cust, 32, posted a .213/.344/.329 line with three homers in 270 plate appearances this year. After averaging 28 homers and 103 walks with the A's from 2007-09, Cust's power numbers have fallen off. The left-handed hitter signed a $2.5MM deal with Seattle in December after the A's non-tendered him.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Jimmy Rollins
In theory, the Yankees’ negotiations with Derek Jeter could have provided a model for the Phillies, whose star shortstop hits free agency this offseason. Jimmy Rollins is a longtime fixture in Philadelphia, so there are definite parallels between him and Jeter, who signed a three-year $51MM deal with the Yankees in December. But given how publicly contentious those negotiations became, it’s not easy to imagine the Phillies following the Yankees’ example.
Instead, the Phillies could look to lock Rollins up during the five day period after the World Series, when they’ll have exclusive rights to him, wait and bid for his services against other teams, or let him walk (likely with an offer of arbitration and the expectation that he would decline). Rollins may not be an MVP candidate anymore, but he’s a valuable enough player that he should draw lots of interest this offseason if the Phillies let him reach the open market.
That said, he won’t be the premier available shortstop. That honor goes to Jose Reyes, who could ask for Carl Crawford money. The rest of the market includes Rafael Furcal, Jamey Carroll, Clint Barmes and others, though Rollins will likely be the most appealing option once Reyes signs.
There’s a lot to like about Rollins, who turns 33 after the season. He has a .264/.337/.399 line with 13 home runs and 24 stolen bases this year. Only six shortstops (Reyes, Troy Tulowitzki, Yunel Escobar, Jhonny Peralta, Asdrubal Cabrera and Alexei Ramirez) have more wins above replacement than Rollins this year and Jeter is the only shortstop with more WAR since 2000, when Rollins broke into the league, according to FanGraphs.
Rollins also has three Gold Gloves on his mantle and the stats suggest he has earned his hardware. UZR says he is an above-average defender in 2011 and has been for nine consecutive seasons.
However, Rollins’ on-base average was just .296 in 2009 and only .320 in 2010, so there has to be some concern about his ability to reach base, despite his solid .337 mark so far in 2011. Since the Phillies will presumably offer arbitration and Rollins projects as a Type A free agent, he’ll cost any team other than Philadelphia a top draft pick.
He figures to surpass the three-year, $22.25MM deal J.J. Hardy signed last month, but it’s hard to imagine a deal worth more than Jeter’s $51MM. Rollins is worth more to the Phillies than any other team because of his history in Philadelphia, just as Jeter means more to the Yankees than he would to any other club. That doesn’t mean the Phillies are going to hand their shortstop a blank check, however. If Rollins does stay in Philadelphia, it's not hard to imagine the sides agreeing to a three-year deal in the $30MM range.
Braves Interested In Bench Help
The Braves would like to add a right-handed pinch hitter, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Atlanta is looking for a player to complement the left-handed hitting Eric Hinske as a weapon off of the bench late in games.
Braves pinch hitters have eight homers and a .201/.250/.390 line this year. Among the names GM Frank Wren could consider as he looks for right-handed bench help: Casey Blake, Jamey Carroll, Ty Wigginton, Reed Johnson, Miguel Cairo, Jonny Gomes, Aaron Hill and Josh Willingham.