Albert Pujols Rumors: Friday
The deadline for an extension between Albert Pujols and the Cardinals is nearly upon us and the sides don't appear to be making much progress in advance of Wednesday's deadline. As tempting as it is to start imagining the three-time MVP in a Royals cap or an Orioles jersey, that's probably premature. If you ask Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, talk of the deadline is overblown because the sides could decide to push it forward. Here's the latest on the Cardinals and their star first baseman, with the latest updates up top:
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney agrees: there has been no recent progress (Twitter link).
- One observer tells Jon Heyman of SI.com that the Cardinals and Pujols are "speaking two different languages'' and not close to a deal. By all accounts, the sides have lots of work to do, according to Heyman.
- It looks like a Pujols extension is less likely than Mark McGwire playing this year, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).
- Matt Holliday said on ESPN Radio that he would consider deferring part of his contract if it meant the Cardinals could extend Pujols. But Holliday tells MLB.com's Matthew Leach that the suggestion was "very hypothetical" and that the Cardinals haven't brought up the idea of deferring money.
Orioles, Guthrie Avoid Arbitration
The Orioles avoided arbitration with Jeremy Guthrie, agreeing to a one-year deal, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The deal is worth $5.75MM plus award bonuses, according to CAA, Guthrie's agency, on Twitter. The Orioles offered $5MM and Guthrie countered with a $6.5MM submission before the sides agreed to a deal at the midpoint.
The former first rounder reached the 200-inning plateau for the second consecutive season last year, posting a 3.83 ERA with 5.1 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9. Guthrie, who will likely be Baltimore's Opening Day starter, has started at least 30 games for three consecutive seasons.
As I explained last month, Guthrie's case would likely have involved a discussion of durability vs. dominance. However, the sides avoided Wednesday's scheduled hearing, so the point is moot for another year.
As our Arb Tracker shows, only seven arbitration eligible players remain unsigned for 2011. All of the Orioles' arbitration eligible players are under contract for 2011, now that Guthrie and Luke Scott agreed to one-year deals. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun points out that the Orioles haven't gone to an arbitration hearing since 2006.
Olney On Mets, Dodgers, Pujols
A year ago it was the Rangers and Cubs. Now, the Mets and Dodgers have ownership issues, as ESPN.com's Buster Olney explains in his latest blog entry. Here are the details…
- Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has “serious” financial problems, according to Olney. The day-to-day costs of running a team could soon create more of a need for cash for McCourt, who has looked for investors, but has not shown any interest in selling off much of the team.
- MLB is expected to let the Dodgers ownership situation play out on its own, writes Olney.
- The Dodgers’ ownership issues appear to be “much more immediate” than those of the Mets, but the Mets have significant financial obligations in a number of areas. For more on the Madoff/Wilpon/Mets mess, read Howard Megdal's latest for MLBTR.
- Both the Mets and Dodgers have been mentioned as hypothetical landing spots for Albert Pujols, who will hit free agency if he doesn’t sign an extension by the time Spring Training starts. One rival executive suggested to Olney that the Cubs could become the top bidder for Pujols if he hits the open market. "I think their ownership is gearing up for that," the executive said.
Michael Young Rumors: Thursday
Michael Young wants out of Texas and, despite the $48MM remaining on his contract, some of the Rangers' rivals are interested. The Phillies inquired on Young and though the Angels, Dodgers and Yankees appear to have little interest in the 34-year-old, other clubs could become involved. Here's the latest on Young, with the most recent updates up top:
- Renck hears that the Rangers want more than they did six weeks ago, but the Rockies are not inclined to change their offer (Twitter link).
- The Rockies thought they had a deal in place with the Rangers for Young about six weeks ago, writes Renck. The Rockies would have given up a pair of solid prospects and were to take on about $20MM of Young's contract. But then the Rangers missed out on free agent DH targets and at this time want more from the Rockies.
- Rangers GM Jon Daniels told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that "nobody looks good right now" for a Young trade. Daniels suggested that "if a deal is going to happen, it's probably going to happen" before Rangers position players report to Spring Training in nine days, though he does not consider February 19th a deadline. He also told Grant the Rangers are not pursuing free agents to replace Young.
- The Dodgers and Rangers had serious discussions about Young, but the sides didn't get close to a deal, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. One source told the FOX writers the Dodgers wanted the Rangers to assume "as much as" $36MM of the $48MM owed to Young.
- The Rangers and Rockies both know the deal they want and seem to be waiting for the other club to blink, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
- The Rangers don't expect to be able to move Young, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link). Teams have inquired, but there's no apparent fit.
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post has been told multiple times that the Rockies are out unless the Rangers approach them again (Twitter link).
- Angels GM Tony Reagins told Bill Shaikin of the LA Times that he's "not engaged" with another AL West team in trade talks (Twitter link). It doesn't sound like Young should pack his bags for Anaheim.
- We heard Tuesday that the Rockies were out on Young, but they may still be interested in him. The Rockies haven't heard they're out of the bidding, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The Rangers asked the Rockies for a "very good player" in exchange for Young and the sides are apart on money.
Cardinals, Mariners To Sign International Prospects
The Cardinals and Mariners moved closer to six-figure deals with international prospects today. The Cardinals got approval from MLB for their deal with Venezuelan prospect Leobaldo Pina, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter). The shortstop will receive a bonus worth $300K or so.
You may not have heard of Gabriel Guerrero, but you've heard of his uncle. The Mariners signed Vladimir Guerrero's nephew for $400K, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. The 17-year-old Dominican is a "big-bodied right-handed hitter" with raw power. Badler writes that the prospect projects as a corner outfielder with a solid arm, just like Vlad.
Padres Sign Randy Flores
The Padres signed Randy Flores, according to CAA, the reliever's agency, on Twitter. Flores is set to sign a minor league deal with an invitation to Major League Spring Training, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock (Twitter link).
The 35-year-old left-hander started last season in Colorado and the Twins picked him up off of waivers in August. In 31 total innings last year, Flores posted a 3.19 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9. Not surprisingly, he has fared better against left-handed hitters in his career, posting 7.7 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 against them. Flores induces more ground balls against right-handed batters, though.
Orioles, Luke Scott Avoid Arbitration
The Orioles avoided arbitration with Luke Scott, agreeing to a $6.4MM deal, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. As our Arb Tracker shows, Scott filed for $6.85MM, while the O's countered with a $5.7MM offer.
Scott led the Orioles in homers (27) last year, when he earned $4.05MM. The 32-year-old hit .284/.368/.535 in 517 plate appearances, mostly as the Orioles' DH. Scott will play left field in 2011, when Vladimir Guerrero takes over as the Orioles' everyday DH.
The Orioles can retain Scott in 2012 if they offer arbitration, but they could choose to cut him loose after the season if they determine that his salary as a fourth-time arbitration eligible player will out-strip his production.
Orioles right-hander Jeremy Guthrie is one of eight arbitration eligible players who is still without a contract for 2011.
Rangers, Josh Hamilton Agree To Two-Year Deal
3:02pm: Hamilton earns $7.25MM in 2011, $13.75MM in 2012 and a $3MM signing bonus, according to Grant (on Twitter). The Rangers will pay Hamilton's signing bonus in two $1.5MM installments.
1:01pm: The Rangers agreed to sign Josh Hamilton to a two-year, $24MM deal, avoiding arbitration. Hamilton had filed for $12MM in arbitration this year, while the Rangers countered with $8.7MM.
Hamilton earned $3.25MM last year in his first season as an arbitration eligible player. He won the AL MVP, a Silver Slugger and the batting title in 2010, though he battled a variety of injuries along the way. Hamilton missed most of September with a ribcage injury, but finished the season with a sparkling .359/.411/.633 line and 32 homers.
The contract buys out the Moye/Sanderson client's final two seasons of arbitration eligibility, but does not delay his free agency. Like Joey Votto, last year's NL MVP, Hamilton signed an extension that covers only his remaining arbitration years.
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News first reported the agreement (on Twitter) and Jon Heyman of SI.com reported the value of the contract (Twitter link).
Angels Rumors: Trout, Weaver, Podsednik
The Angels aren't talking to the Rangers about a deal for Michael Young, but the Halos are busy on other fronts, as Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reports (all links go to Twitter):
- The Angels will start top prospect Mike Trout at Double-A. GM Tony Reagins says it's "unlikely" that Trout makes the majors this year. The 19-year-old hit .341/.428/.490 with 56 stolen bases last year in his first full season as a pro.
- Reagins did not offer to meet Jered Weaver at the midpoint before the sides went to an arbitration hearing yesterday. The Angels' decision paid off when they beat the Scott Boras client and saved themselves over $1.4MM.
- Arbitration hearings can be uncomfortable for teams and players alike, but Reagins points out that some players are still open to extensions after going to arbitration with their clubs. Corey Hart of the Brewers is one player who agreed to an extension soon after going to arbitration (though he won his hearing with Milwaukee).
- The Angels are not in discussions with any free agent leadoff hitters, Reagins said. The Angels were interested in Scott Podsednik earlier in the winter.
AL East Notes: Gonzalez, Red Sox, Liriano
We've already checked out some NL Central rumors. Let's now move from the Central to the East and from the National League to the American League…
- Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that Adrian Gonzalez has been "on or ahead of schedule the whole winter" while rehabbing his shoulder. The Red Sox feel their new first baseman will be ready for Opening Day.
- Yahoo's Tim Brown evaluates Boston's offseason and says the Red Sox are "talented, deep and expensive" with an offense that should compensate for shortcomings in other areas.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs points out that the Yankees would be the most obvious suitor for Francisco Liriano if the Twins make him available, but suggests the Yankees would likely balk at trading Jesus Montero for the Twins lefty. Minnesota is open to the idea of dealing Liriano.