Orioles Notes: Guerrero, Lee, Bergesen
The next two days will likely be pivotal for negotiations between the Orioles and Vladimir Guerrero, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. Here are the details and other notes on the Orioles:
- Guerrero is looking for more than the Orioles have offered, according to Olney (on Twitter). The Orioles were told that Guerrero has an $8MM offer elsewhere over the weekend, but they offered $4.5MM or so.
- Derrek Lee told Rick Apperson of BaseballNation.net that he signed with the Orioles because they offered the most money ($7.25MM plus incentives) and because he likes Baltimore and is excited to play with some of the Orioles' young players under Buck Showalter.
- Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun suggests Brad Bergesen will join Justin Duchscherer, Jeremy Guthrie and Brian Matusz in the starting rotation. Jake Arrieta and Chris Tillman seem likely to compete for the final rotation spot, but lots can change in two months.
Heyman On Lee, Cabrera, Wells, Pujols, Hamilton
Owner Chuck Greenberg and the Rangers were slower to offer Cliff Lee a competitive deal than other interested clubs, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Lee's camp wanted to keep the Rangers involved in the bidding, though they started with a 'lowball' offer before offering $100MM and, eventually, even more. The Rangers justified their lower offers by pointing out that Texas has no state income tax, but Lee asked around and determined that he wouldn't save that much, since he lives in Arkansas.
Talks between Lee and the Phillies broke off twice before the sides reached an agreement. If the Phillies hadn't completed the deal, the Yankees would have been seen as the favorites to sign the lefty, according to Heyman. Here are the rest of his rumors:
- One GM says Orlando Cabrera isn't being reasonable. "I don't think he gets the position he's in," the GM said, alluding to the lack of job openings remaining for the shortstop.
- The Rangers didn't show serious interest in Vernon Wells, according to Heyman.
- Executives around the game believe that Albert Pujols will sign an extension with the Cardinals. If the sides don't reach a deal by Spring Training, Pujols will be a free agent after the season, in which case the Cubs may be "best positioned" to pursue him, in the opinion of one executive.
- The Angels are still interested in signing or trading for a leadoff hitter. Scott Podsednik is out there, and could be a fit in L.A.
- One executive believes the Rangers will lose to Josh Hamilton if the sides go to an arbitration hearing. Heyman hears that the Rangers won't bring up Hamilton's history of substance abuse in a hearing. Keep track of all the remaining arbitration cases using our Arb Tracker.
New York Notes: Beltran, Garcia, Pettitte
The Angels considered the possibility of trading for Carlos Beltran before they acquired Vernon Wells from the Blue Jays, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Here are the details on the Angels' interest in Beltran and other notes from New York City:
- Sherman hears that the Mets and Angels discussed Beltran, but the Angels preferred Wells despite the $86MM remaining on his contract. The Angels had more confidence in Wells' health and defense.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman tells Sherman that he doesn't want to have to rely on pitching prospects Manuel Banuelos and Dellin Betances in the majors this season. “They shouldn’t be caught up in our major league problems,” Cashman said. But as Sherman points out, the Yankees have summoned prospects like Phil Hughes to the majors earlier than expected; once the season starts, it's tough to predict what will happen.
- In conversations with Yankees people, Sherman never got the impression that they liked Freddy Garcia that much. The team agreed to a minor league deal with Garcia Monday.
- There's "a pretty good likelihood" that Andy Pettitte returns and the Yankees trade for a starter during Spring Training, Sherman writes.
Olney On Maholm, Carmona, Alderson
Spring Training hasn't begun yet, but ESPN.com's Buster Olney gets a head start on the summer's trade rumors by listing some pitchers who could be available this July. James Shields, Joe Blanton and Edwin Jackson are possible trade candidates, but as Olney points out, it's entirely possible that those starters won't be available and others will be on the block. Here are the details:
- The perception around the league is that the Pirates have been willing to talk about trading Paul Maholm. The left-hander is likely a year away from free agency, so the Pirates could shop him if they aren't interested in keeping him. Maholm earns $5.75MM this year and after the season the Pirates can exercise a $9.75MM buyout for 2012 or pay a $750K buyout.
- Fausto Carmona is "going to draw a lot of interest," but the Indians would ask for top prospects in exchange for Carmona who is young (27) and signed to a team-friendly contract.
- Justin Masterson will "continue to draw interest because of his past success and his versatility," Olney writes.
- Olney guesses that Mets GM Sandy Alderson would prefer not to talk to the Wilpons about their financial situation. By avoiding those conversations, Alderson can focus on baseball and avoid being drawn into a legal case.
Giants To Hire Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella is joining the San Francisco front office as a consultant, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. Piniella, who retired from managing in August to be closer to his family, will likely evaluate and scout players and advise on player movement from Florida, Shea writes.
Giants GM Brian Sabean knows Piniella from the 1980s, when both were in the Yankees organization. Sabean interviewed Piniella for the Giants’ managerial opening after the 2006 season, before Piniella withdrew his name from consideration.
Rays Notes: Manny, Damon, Boras
The Rays are officially introducing Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez today and the former Red Sox have lots of good things to say about their new team. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has the details (all links go to Twitter):
- The Rays could also add a veteran middle infielder on a minor league deal. Topkin wonders if Felipe Lopez could be a fit.
- Agent Scott Boras says talks started with Damon, then expanded to include another one of his clients: Ramirez.
- Ramirez, who signed for $2MM, says other teams offered more lucrative deals. He chose to play in Tampa since he's "already made [his] money."
- Manager Joe Maddon says he's confident that Ramirez is motivated to help the Rays repeat as AL East champions.
- Damon also thinks the Rays can win the AL East. Disagree? Cast your vote here.
- Damon says he isn't writing the "final chapter" of his career and Ramirez says he can play five more seasons.
Tigers Not Signing Bonderman Or Guerrero
3:23pm: The Tigers aren't signing Vladimir Guerrero, either. "There's not a fit for us," Dombrowski told Gage. "We're not involved with that at all and haven't been."
2:44pm: Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has been open to re-signing Jeremy Bonderman throughout the offseason, but the longtime Tiger will not be returning to Detroit. "We are not signing Jeremy Bonderman," Dombrowski told Tom Gage of the Detroit News (on Twitter).
Last year Bonderman had his first full season since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2008. The 28-year-old logged 171 innings, posting a 5.53 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9. Bonderman, who is about to begin his ninth big league season, is a free agent for the first time. Gage suggests Bonderman could be on the verge of signing with another club.
The 20 Biggest Free Agent Deals Of The Offseason
Unless Vladimir Guerrero, Scott Podsednik or another free agent signs an unexpectedly lucrative deal, the biggest contracts of the offseason have all been finalized. As MLBTR's Free Agent Tracker shows, 20 free agents signed deals worth $15MM or more this offseason.
That's not counting the extensions that non-free agents like Troy Tulowitzki and Jay Bruce signed and we're only talking about guaranteed dollars. Many of the players below could earn more or less than the figures listed, depending on player opt-outs and vesting options. With that in mind, here are the 20 free agents who signed for the most guaranteed money this offseason:
1. Carl Crawford – Red Sox – $142MM
2. Jayson Werth – Nationals – $126MM
3. Cliff Lee – Phillies – $120MM
4. Adrian Beltre – Rangers – $80MM
5. Adam Dunn – White Sox – $56MM
6. Derek Jeter – Yankees – $51MM
7. Victor Martinez – Tigers – $50MM
8. Paul Konerko – White Sox – $37.5MM
9. Rafael Soriano – Yankees – $35MM
10. Ted Lilly – Dodgers – $33MM
11. Jorge de la Rosa – Rockies – $32MM
12. Mariano Rivera – Yankees – $30MM
13. Aubrey Huff – Giants – $22MM
14. Juan Uribe – Dodgers – $21MM
15. John Buck – Marlins – $18MM
16. Joaquin Benoit – Tigers – $16.5MM
16. Carl Pavano – Twins – $16.5MM
16. Jake Westbrook – Cardinals – $16.5MM
19. Adam LaRoche – Nationals – $16MM
20. Scott Downs – Angels – $15MM
Padres Designate Oscar Salazar For Assignment
The Padres designated Oscar Salazar for assignment to create roster space for Samuel Deduno, the team announced (on Twitter). The Padres claimed Deduno from the Rockies over the weekend.
Salazar appeared in 85 games for the Padres last year, playing left, right, first, second and third. The 32-year-old Venezuelan hit .237/.318/.336 in 148 plate appearances. In parts of four seasons with the Padres, Orioles and Tigers, Salazar has a .269/.342/.435 line. His lone DL stint with the Padres occurred last August, when he missed four weeks with a right achilles strain.
Quick Hits: Rays, Prospects, Crawford
One year ago today, the Reds signed Orlando Cabrera. After posting a .657 OPS in 537 plate appearances for the NL Central winners, Cabrera is still a free agent. Here are some links for Tuesday as we wait for Cabrera and the other remaining free agents to sign…
- Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman says he's still looking for an established reliever, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (on Twitter). Friedman suggested last month that the team is more likely to acquire a reliever via trade than free agency.
- ESPN.com's Keith Law names the 20 prospects who are likely to produce the most in the majors this year and Freddie Freeman of the Braves tops the list. Click here for more on how Freeman's presence may have impacted the Braves' approach to free agency.
- Freeman is an exciting young player, but not every minor leaguer can be a prospect. Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues explains the importance of organizational players at River Ave. Blues.
- Patrick Newman of FanGraphs provides a list of the ex-MLB players who headed to Japan this offseason.
- As Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe explains, Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford is waking up early and working out hard as he prepares for his first season in Boston.