NL East Notes: Zimmermann, Marlins, Heyward
Players with zero to three years of service time are under team control and don't have the power to negotiate their salaries. Most of these players agree to terms with their clubs on deals worth $400-500K, but some don't agree to terms and their clubs renew their contracts instead (it doesn't affect the player's timeline for arbitration or free agency). Here's the latest on the NL East, including news on some contract renewals:
- The Nationals announced that they have renewed the contracts of right-handers Tyler Clippard and Jordan Zimmermann.
- The Marlins renewed the contracts of four of their own players, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post (on Twitter). The team did not agree to terms with Logan Morrison, Gaby Sanchez, Mike Stanton or Ryan Webb.
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan shows that Jason Heyward is uncharacteristically mature for a 21-year-old. The Braves right fielder tells Passan that he can improve upon his standout rookie season, something that would please new manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Olney On Chipper, Sherrill, Torre, Gonzalez
Chipper Jones told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that he and Jim Thome met and complained "like two old grannies" last summer when Jones was struggling and Thome wasn't playing much. Thome finished strong and re-signed with the Twins and Jones is eager to play again, too. Here are the details on Jones and from around the majors:
- Jones says getting rest every week or ten days helps him stay strong throughout the season. The veteran third baseman has only played in 135 games once in the past six seasons because of a variety of injuries, so it makes sense to give him the occasional day off.
- The Phillies tried to sign George Sherrill this winter, before he signed with the rival Braves. Philadelphia sent executive Pat Gillick to see Sherrill and manager Charlie Manuel talked to him, but the left-hander wanted to play within driving distance of his father.
- Joe Torre makes about $2MM in his new job with MLB, according to Olney.
- Gio Gonzalez looks very, very good, according to a scout.
Cla Meredith To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nationals right-hander Cla Meredith will undergo Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow in D.C. today, according to Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com (on Twitter). Washington signed the 27-year-old to a minor league deal a month ago.
Meredith posted a 5.40 ERA with 4.2 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 21 relief apppearances for Baltimore last year. He was a key member of the Padres' bullpen from 2006-09, when he posted a 3.26 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 237 1/3 total innings. The Orioles acquired Meredith for Oscar Salazar during the 2009 season.
Mark Teixeira Drops Scott Boras
Mark Teixeira dropped agent Scott Boras, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. The first baseman, who is under contract through 2016, says he wants to focus on helping the Yankees win, not signing his next mega-deal.
Teixeira says his relationship with Boras has run its course, according to Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter). Their relationship began over a decade ago when Boras advised Teixeira as a highly-touted high schooler. The Rangers drafted Teixeira fifth overall in 2001 and signed him to a $9.5MM deal out of college. After Teixeira hit free agency following the 2008 season, Boras negotiated his current eight-year, $180MM contract.
Boras' stable of Yankees clients has changed considerably since the end of last season. Like Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez said his relationship with Boras had run its course. Rafael Soriano and Robinson Cano, however, left other agents for Boras.
Though the Jonas Group will help Teixeira manage his off-field activities, he says he hopes to remain on good terms with Boras, his advisor for 12 years. Boras told Jon Heyman of SI.com that it was a "great honor" to work with Teixeira (Twitter link).
Our complete list of Scott Boras clients can be found here.
Phillies, Manuel Progress Toward Extension
The Phillies have made some progress on a contract extension for manager Charlie Manuel, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Manuel’s agent, Pat Rooney, met with Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. for an hour today and the talks went well.
“It was productive,” Rooney told Salisbury. “We’re getting closer. There was some give and take. Both sides made some movement, but we’re still a little ways away. They know our position so we’ll keep working on it.”
Manuel hopes to have a two-year extension by Opening Day and has said that he isn’t worried about negotiations. The 67-year-old will earn $2.4MM in 2011, the final year of his contract. Though Manuel declined to comment today, he issued a statement confirming that "Ruben and Pat are working toward a resolution."
Orioles Expect To Keep MacPhail Beyond 2011
Orioles owner Peter Angelos told Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun that he expects president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail to remain with the O’s after his contract expires at the end of the coming season. There's no extension in place yet, but Angelos says he has already made the decision to keep MacPhail.
"I don't have to decide it,'' he said. "I think it's obvious. He's not going anywhere. We don't need to talk about it."
MacPhail says he enjoys working with Angelos and knows him to be “a man of his word.” Manager Buck Showalter says he hopes MacPhail keeps running baseball operations in Baltimore, where he took over during the 2007 season.
The Orioles have not finished with more than 68 wins in any of their three full seasons under MacPhail. They appear to be a better team in 2011, though as MLBTR's Tim Dierkes explained when reviewing the team's offseason, Baltimore fans won't likely see the O's contend in 2011. MacPhail, who started running MLB teams over 25 years ago when he took over the Twins, has built Championship clubs before. Minnesota won the World Series in 1987 and again in 1991 under MacPhail.
Boras: Beltran Is An Outfielder, Not A DH
Agent Scott Boras says Carlos Beltran could pursue jobs as a center fielder or as a right fielder after the season, but don't expect the five-time All-Star to DH. Boras told Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that most teams would have room in their outfields for Beltran.
“Carlos Beltran is a great athlete, and I find it hard to believe that there would be three outfielders on a major league team that would match Carlos on a level to suggest he would be DH,” Boras said.
Beltran missed considerable playing time with knee issues last year and said yesterday that he'll move to right field to accomodate the Mets and Angel Pagan, who put together a strong season in 2010, when Beltran played just 64 games.
In 13 big league seasons, Beltran has appeared in three games as a right fielder and in two more as a left fielder. Boras says his client has the athleticism to return to center field in 2012, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The 33-year-old has not yet decided whether to pursue jobs as a center fielder or as a right fielder when he hits free agency this fall.
Mets Seek New Loan
The Mets are 'desperately' seeking a new loan for tens of millions of dollars to cover their operating expenses, according to Josh Kosman, Mark DeCambre and Dan Mangan of the New York Post. The Wilpon family, which owns the team, faces a $1 billion lawsuit and says they are open to selling 20-25% of the Mets.
JPMorgan Chase is working with other companies to put together a loan that would provide the Wilpons with cash until they sell part of the team, according to the Post. The team received $25MM from MLB in November but has exhausted its credit with the league, according to the New York Times.
Garret Anderson To Retire
Garret Anderson is retiring today, according to MLB.com's Lyle Spencer. The 17-year veteran posted a .293/.324/.461 in 17 seasons with the Angels, Braves and Dodgers, but he'll be remembered for his contributions in Anaheim. He retires as the Angels' all-time leader in games, hits, doubles, total bases, runs, extra base hits and RBI.
The 1990 fourth-round selection made three All-Star teams and won two Silver Sluggers. He was especially productive in 2002, when the Angels won it all, and 2003. Anderson led the American League in doubles both years, posting a combined OPS+ of 129.
Anderson agreed to a minor league deal with the Dodgers last March, but they cut him in August after a disappointing season. The 38-year-old hit .181/.204/.271 for the Dodgers and didn't draw interest as a free agent this winter.
Pirates Sign Cesar Lopez
The Pirates announced that they signed right-hander Cesar Lopez to a minor league contract. Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald reports that the deal is worth $600K (Twitter link).
The 20-year-old was born in Havana, Cuba, and now lives in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Rene Gayo, the team’s director of Latin American scouting, says he likes what he has seen from the 6'3" non-drafted free agent.
“Cesar is a very talented player with great character who we believe is a great addition to our organization,” Gayo said. “He has an above average sinker, a fastball that can reach 94 [mph] and has a good projectable feel to pitch.”
Coincidentally, the Marlins have a young, right-handed pitcher by the name of Cesar Lopez in their system. Florida's pitcher is a Colombia native who turns 19 this month.