Bonser Elects Free Agency; Brewers Claim James
The A’s lost one right-hander to free agency and another one to a waiver claim, according to the team. Boof Bonser elected free agency after the A’s outrighted him to Triple-A, and the team lost Justin James when the Brewers claimed him on waivers. The A’s also outrighted outfielder Matt Carson to Triple-A, but Carson agreed to terms on a contract with the team.
Bonser logged 25 innings with the A's and Red Sox this year. The 29-year-old posted a 6.12 ERA, but his strikeout (6.1 K/9) and walk (2.9 BB/9) rates weren't bad.
James, also 29, made his big league debut with the A's in 2010. He pitched just 4.0 innings in the majors, but logged 39.1 impressive frames in the upper minors. James posted a 1.83 ERA with 11.2 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 between Double-A and Triple-A this season.
Brewers Decline Options For Zaun, Hoffman, Davis
The Brewers declined their 2011 options for Gregg Zaun, Trevor Hoffman and Doug Davis, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Milwaukee paid a total of $2MM in buyouts. Zaun got $250K instead of a $2.25MM salary; Hoffman got $750K instead of a $7MM salary and Davis got $1MM instead of a $6.5MM salary. All three moves were expected.
Zaun, who tore the labrum in his right shoulder this summer, has said he would like to play in 2011, but it probably won't be in Milwaukee. The Brewers have Jonathan Lucroy, George Kottaras and Mike Rivera behind the plate. Davis made just eight starts in 2010 because of injuries.
Hoffman picked up his 600th career save this year, but struggled early in the season, lost the closer's job to John Axford and pitched to a 5.89 ERA overall. In the highly unlikely event that the Brewers offer arbitration and Hoffman turns it down to sign elsewhere, the team would obtain a compensatory pick in next year's draft for losing a Type B free agent.
Mets Hire J.P. Ricciardi
The Mets hired J.P. Ricciardi as a special assistant to new GM Sandy Alderson, according to a team press release. The former Blue Jays GM (2001-09) had been working as an analyst for ESPN.
Alderson, who worked with Ricciardi for more than a decade in Oakland, says the 51-year-old is “a superb talent evaluator” who will assist in all aspects of baseball operations.
Braves Exercise Options For Gonzalez, Infante
The Braves exercised their 2011 options for Alex Gonzalez and Omar Infante, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter). The team also signed reliever Scott Proctor to a one-year deal. MLB.com's Mark Bowman reported earlier today that the reliever will likely earn a base salary of $750K or so in 2011. Proctor, who was arbitration eligible, will likely have the chance to earn more through incentives.
The options for Gonzalez and Infante cost just $2.5MM each – a reasonable price to pay for two infielders who exceeded expectations in 2010. Gonzalez, who arrived in the Yunel Escobar trade, batted .250/.294/.447 with 23 hom runs in 2010. He hit most of his homers in Toronto, but added six in Atlanta. The 33-year-old is a good defender with some pop who has a sub-.300 on base percentage in his 12-year MLB career.
Infante, 28, batted .321/.359/.416 this year and made his first All-Star team. He finished third in the league in batting average and played second, third, short, left and right, so picking up his option was just a formality; the Braves weren't about to let him hit free agency.
Porter Joins Nats; Marlins Likely To Hire Rodriguez
The Marlins definitely won't be hiring Bo Porter and Edwin Rodriguez's chances of remaining the team's manager are looking better and better. The Nationals announced that Porter agreed to be Jim Riggleman's third base coach, so he's no longer in the running for Florida's managerial opening. Meanwhile, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports that the Marlins are "expected" to announce that they will retain Rodriguez as manager.
Rodriguez, who appeared in 11 games for the Yankees and Padres from 1982-85, led the Marlins to a 46-46 record this year. He is the first Puerto Rican-born manager in big league history.
Porter spent last season on Arizona’s coaching staff, first as third base coach and then as bench coach. He arrived in Arizona after three seasons in the Florida organization, where he worked with current National Josh Willingham.
Last Year’s Non-Tenders
Every year, non-tendered players provide teams with extra options for upside gambles and role players. This year's non-tender deadline is just over a month away, so let's take a look at last year's non-tenders:
- Of the 38 non-tenders, ten (26%) re-signed with their former club. Ryan Langerhans, Jack Cust, Adam Miller, Anthony Reyes, Raul Chavez, Mark Worrell, Jackson Quezada, Mark DiFelice, Jonny Gomes and Scott Olsen returned to their old organizations.
- Garrett Atkins signed for more than any other non-tender. He got a $4.5MM guarantee from the Orioles and the Orioles got a .214/.276/.286 line from Atkins. The Rockies must be glad they didn't offer arbitration and get stuck paying Atkins $7-8MM for that performance.
- Six players (Atkins, Matt Capps, John Buck, Kelly Johnson, Chien-Ming Wang and Jack Cust) signed for $2MM or more. Only Atkins and Wang were flops.
- Two 2009 non-tenders, Buck and Capps, made the All-Star team.
- These five non-tenders shaped the 2010 pennant race.
- Click here to check out which teams have non-tendered the most players since 2007.
Odds & Ends: Mets, Blue Jays, Wood, Jenks
Congratulations to the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants! Here are your links as the celebration begins…
- The Mets have not set up interviews for their managerial opening, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter).
- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the team is still gathering information about the four finalists for the job. Bobby Valentine appears to be the favorite and Ron Roenicke, Joey Cora and Bob Melvin are also candidates.
- Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told Chris Toman of The Sports Network that he isn’t opposed to trading prospects for big leaguers.
- Angels GM Tony Reagins told Dan Woike of the Orange County Register that he'll be as patient as possible with Brandon Wood, who has struggled to hit in the majors and is now out of options.
- Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says it would be "stunning" to see the White Sox offer Bobby Jenks $9MM through arbitration.
D’Backs Rumors: Konerko, LaRoche, Padres
As soon as he took over in Arizona, GM Kevin Towers said he intended to improve the team's bullpen and bench. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic hears that the D’Backs still plan to spend on those areas. Here are the details on the club's offseason plans:
- Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago reported over the weekend that the D’Backs will pursue Paul Konerko, but Piecoro suggests a deal with Konerko “probably won’t happen.” The first baseman is in position to demand a lot of money and D’Backs people aren’t sure he can provide enough defense at first base.
- Piecoro says it sounds like the D’Backs won’t pick up their part of the $7.5MM mutual option for Adam LaRoche this winter. That suggests that Towers is willing to pay a $1.5MM buyout instead.
- Expect the D’Backs to add Padres executive Bill Bryk, who worked with Towers in San Diego.
Giants Don’t Intend To Trade Zito
Giants GM Brian Sabean told Bill Shaikin of the LA Times that he does not intend to trade Barry Zito this offseason. The Giants owe the left-hander $64.5MM over the course of the next three years – a lot of money for someone who hasn’t pitched like a $20MM player. Zito struggled down the stretch and is not on the Giants’ World Series roster, but Sabean says he likes having him on the team.
"We like Barry's contribution as far as the innings he pitches and the starts he makes," Sabean said.
Zito, who is in the fourth year of his seven-year $126MM deal, logged just under 200 innings this season. He posted a 4.25 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 overall, but pitched to a 6.14 ERA in August and September. Zito makes his starts, but it's not as if teams are lining up to acquire the former Cy Young Award winner. The Giants couldn't trade him without taking on $40MM or more.
Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and last night's hero, Madison Bumgarner, occupy four spots in San Francisco's rotation. Sabean said lefty reliever Dan Runzler may get the chance to start, according to Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse (on Twitter).
Recent Non-Tenders
About a month from now, a new class of non-tenders will hit the free agent market. We've been breaking down the cases for and against tendering players contracts, but let's take a look at the players who were non-tendered from 2007-09.
This list doesn't have tons of predictive value, since some teams (like the one atop the list) now have new GMs and others have simply had bigger arbitration classes than others. That said, the results are still interesting:
- Mets (8) – Cory Sullivan, Tim Redding, Jeremy Reed, Lance Broadway, Johnny Estrada, Ben Johnson, Juan Padilla
- Yankees (7) – Chien-Ming Wang, Chris Britton, Justin Christian, T.J. Beam, Darrell Rasner, Bronson Sardinha, Matt DeSalvo
- Padres (7) – Mark Worrell, Jackson Quezada, Clay Hensley, Charlie Haeger, Jack Cassel, Morgan Ensberg, Jason Lane
- Royals (6) – John Buck, Josh Anderson, John Bale, Joey Gathright, Jason Smith, Emil Brown
- Brewers (6) – Mark DiFelice, Mike Rivera, Seth McClung, Chris Capuano, Kevin Mench, Matt Wise
- Diamondbacks (5) – Josh Whitesell, Chris Burke, Robby Hammock, Wil Ledezma, Jeff Salazar
- Orioles (5) – Brian Bass, Daniel Cabrera, Lance Cormier, Cory Doyne, Roberto Novoa
- Rockies (5) – Garrett Atkins, Willy Taveras, Jonathan Herrera, Sean Barker, Darren Clarke
- Pirates (5) – Matt Capps, Phil Dumatrait, Denny Bautista, Brad Eldred, Brian Rogers
- Nationals (5) – Mike MacDougal, Scott Olsen, Tim Redding, Mike O’Connor, Nook Logan
- Braves (4) – Kelly Johnson, Ryan Church, Chuck James, Willie Harris
- Dodgers (4) – Angel Berroa, Yhency Brazoban, Scott Proctor, Mark Hendrickson
- Cardinals (4) – Randy Flores, Tyler Johnson, Aaron Miles (twice)
- Red Sox (3) – Brian Anderson, Kevin Cash, Brendan Donnelly
- White Sox (3) – D.J. Carrasco, Andy Gonzalez, Heath Phillips
- Reds (3) – Jonny Gomes, Brad Salmon, Jerry Gil
- Indians (3) – Adam Miller, Anthony Reyes, Jose Veras
- Marlins (3) – Alfredo Amezaga, Joe Nelson, Miguel Olivo
- Astros (3) – Ty Wigginton, Reggie Abercrombie, Adam Everett
- Angels (3) - Dustin Moseley, Jose Arredondo, Dallas McPherson
- A’s (3) – Jack Cust, Kiko Calero, Jose Garcia
- Mariners (3) - Ryan Langerhans, Jamie Burke, John Parrish
- Rays (3) – Shawn Riggans, Gabe Gross, Jonny Gomes
- Rangers (3) – Doug Mathis, Nick Gorneault, Akinori Otsuka
- Cubs (2) – Neal Cotts, Mark Prior
- Phillies (2) – Clay Condrey, Scott Mathieson
- Giants (2) – Ryan Garko, Scott Munter
- Blue Jays (2) – Raul Chavez, Josh Towers
- Tigers (1) – Chad Durbin
- Twins (1) – Jason Tyner