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A’s Exercise Ellis’ Option; Decline On Chavez

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The Athletics exercised Mark Ellis' 2011 option, and declined their option for Eric Chavez, according to the team. The A's chose to pay Ellis $6MM next year instead of buying him out for $500K and they chose Chavez's $3MM buyout over his $12.5MM salary. Oakland picked up Coco Crisp's $5.5MM option earlier today.

Ellis, 33, batted .291/.358/.381 in 492 plate appearances in 2010. He posted an above-average UZR/150 for the seventh consecutive season and made just three errors on defense. If Ellis had turned down an offer of arbitration to sign elsewhere, the A's would have obtained a supplementary round pick as compensation for losing a Type B free agent.

Chavez, a former fixture with Oakland, has had five stints on the DL over the last four years and has appeared in just 64 games since 2008. He had five surgeries between September 2007 and June 2009. 

Marlins Hire Edwin Rodriguez

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First it was Bobby Valentine, then it was Ozzie Guillen. Edwin Rodriguez always seemed to be trailing someone as he attempted to prolong his big league managerial career. But he'll be back in Miami; the Marlins officially announced that they have extended Rodriguez through 2011.

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reported yesterday that the team was expected to retain Rodriguez and noted (on Twitter) today that the deal became official. Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported yesterday that the Marlins had offered the job and that Rodriguez had accepted. 

Rodriguez, a rookie manager in 2010, led the Marlins to a 46-46 record this year. He is the first Puerto Rican-born manager in big league history.

As soon as Bo Porter, another candidate for the job, accepted a job with the Nationals, it became apparent that Rodriguez was the leading candidate for the Marlins' opening. 

 

Jocketty Named Sporting News Executive Of Year

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Cincinnati GM Walt Jocketty won the 2010 Sporting News Executive of the Year Award after leading the Reds to their first winning season in a decade and their first playoff berth since 1995. Jocketty, who took over the Reds in 2008, is now a three-time winner of the award. He also won in 2000 and 2004 as Cardinals GM.

Jocketty outbid a number of teams for Aroldis Chapman, acquired Scott Rolen and Orlando Cabrera and showed faith in Mike Leake as Joey Votto and Jay Bruce played at an elite level.

Rangers GM Jon Daniels, Giants GM Brian Sabean and Twins GM Bill Smith are some of the execs who also had a legitimate chance of winning the award this year. Dan O'Dowd (Rockies, '09), Andrew Friedman (Rays, '08), Sabean (Giants, '03), Doug Melvin (Rangers, '96) and Andy MacPhail (Twins, '91) are among the current GMs/presidents of baseball operations who have won the award.

A’s Exercise Coco Crisp’s 2011 Option

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The A's exercised Coco Crisp's 2011 option, according to the outfielder's Twitter account. Oakland will pay Crisp $5.75MM next year instead of buying him out for $500K.

Crisp, 31, batted .279/.342/.438 with 26 extra base hits last year, though he appeared in just 75 games. He missed months with a pectoral strain and also battled finger and knee injuries. He was an unranked free agent, so the A's could not have obtained compensation if he had turned down an offer of arbitration to sign elsewhere.

The A's also have 2011 options for Mark Ellis and Eric Chavez. It looks like they'll pick up Ellis' $6MM option and they'll certainly choose to pay Chavez a $3MM buyout instead of a $12.5MM salary. 

Braves Decline 2011 Options For Ankiel, Farnsworth

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As expected, the Braves declined their 2011 options for Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth, according to the AP (on CBS Sports.com). Ankiel's buyout cost $500K (his 2011 salary would have been $6MM) and Farnsworth's buyout cost $250K (his 2011 salary would have been $5.25MM).  Atlanta acquired both Ankiel and Farnsworth from the Royals at the trade deadline. The Braves won't obtain compensation picks for either player, since Farnsworth and Ankiel are unranked free agents.

Earlier today, the Braves picked up their 2011 options for Omar Infante and Alex Gonzalez and agreed to a one-year deal for 2011 with Scott Proctor.

MLBTR's Tim Dierkes recently pointed out that Ankiel won't have an easy time finding a deal worth more than $1MM in 2010, especially if he wants regular playing time. Farnsworth isn't in line for a big free agent deal either, but he's coming off a season in which he posted a 3.34 ERA with 8.5 K/9 so he should draw some interest.

Odds & Ends: Crawford, Thome, Rowand, Greinke

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On this date in 1974, the Braves traded Hank Aaron to the Brewers for Dave May. Today, the Braves made some less memorable moves. Here are the day's links…

Padres Rumors: Gonzalez, Torrealba, Eckstein

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The Padres exercised their 2011 option for Adrian Gonzalez today and saw Yorvit Torrealba and Jon Garland turn down their sides of their respective mutual options. Here's the latest on those three players, plus other updates on the Padres' offseason plans:

  • The Padres will meet with the agent for Gonzalez, John Boggs, this week, according to Dan Hayes of the North County Times (on Twitter). Presumably the meeting will help the sides determine whether a long-term deal is possible. It certainly doesn't seem likely.
  • Torrealba told Hayes that he'd love to return to San Diego, but is seeking a two-year deal (Twitter links).  The catcher is a Type B free agent, so the Padres could get a draft pick if they offer arbitration and Torrealba turns it down to sign elsewhere.
  • David Eckstein, a free agent, probably won't return to the Padres in 2011, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock.
  • Brock points out that Jon Garland will likely make more on the open market than he would have with the Padres (Twitter link).

Garland Declines Option, Hits Free Agency

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Jon Garland declined his side of his 2011 mutual option with the Padres, according to Dan Hayes of the North County Times (on Twitter). Garland obtains a $300K buyout from the Padres, instead of the $600K he would have received if he had wanted to exercise his $6.75MM option and the team had declined it.

Garland logged exactly 200 innings in 2010, pitching to a 3.47 ERA. The 31-year-old posted 6.1 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in his 33 starts. Back in May, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes suggested Garland could look to match the two-year $15MM deal Jason Marquis signed as a free agent a year ago.

If the Padres offer arbitration and Garland declines and signs elsewhere, San Diego will obtain a supplementary round pick in the 2011 draft as compensation for losing a Type B free agent.

Steinbrenner: Jeter Deal Must Work For Both Sides

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Derek Jeter is almost certainly going to re-sign with the Yankees this offseason, but the Bronx Bombers aren't going to hand their shortstop a blank check. Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner told Michael Kay on 1050 ESPN that a deal between Jeter and the team would have to work for both sides (Click here to listen in). Steinbrenner says doesn't assume negotiations with the franchise icon will go smoothly.

“There’s always the possibility that things could get messy,” Steinbrenner said.

The Yankees don't expect talks to get ugly and they have been in contact with Jeter's representatives because they want to reach a deal.

“We absolutely want him back. We absolutely want [free agent closer Mariano Rivera] back. They’re career Yankees,” Steinbrenner said. “But having said that, we’re running a business here. So if there’s a deal to be done, it’s going to be a deal that both sides are happy with.”

Steinbrenner said the team's payroll will remain at a similar level in 2011. The Yankees entered the 2010 season with a payroll over $200MM, so they will presumably have the means to offer Cliff Lee, Jeter and Rivera generous deals.

D’Backs Decline Option For Adam LaRoche

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The D’Backs declined their half of the $7.5MM mutual option for Adam LaRoche, according to the team. Instead, they’ll pay the first baseman a $1.5MM buyout. LaRoche, who turns 31 this weekend, hit 25 homers in 2010 and reached the 100 RBI plateau for the first time in his career. He batted .261/.320/.468, posting an OPS under .800 for the first time since 2005.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see D'Backs GM Kevin Towers bring in a new first baseman in 2011. The team would like to cut down on strikeouts and appears to have interest in free agent first baseman Paul Konerko. If the D'Backs offer LaRoche arbitration and he turns it down to sign elsewhere, they'll get a sandwich round pick in next year's draft for losing a Type B free agent.

I suggested in September that LaRoche could eventually sign a similar deal to the one-year $6MM contract he signed last winter.

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