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AL East Notes: Yankees, Happ, Thole

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The Red Sox and Yankees are among the teams that will take a look at recently released outfielder Brennan Boesch. The left-handed hitter could provide power in a complementary role for a club like Boston or New York. Here are the latest AL East notes…

  • Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera are beloved members of the Yankees organization but, more importantly, they're playing significant roles on the 2013 team, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. “We have always felt the same responsibility, that never changes,” Jeter said.
  • Though J.A. Happ would draw some trade interest, the Blue Jays prefer to keep him in the organization, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News notes. The 30-year-old left-hander adds more value as injury insurance than he would bring in a trade. The Blue Jays will keep him, even though that could mean stashing him at Triple-A for a while.
  • The Blue Jays expect catcher Josh Thole to contribute over the next few years, according to Martino. Even so, Thole could start the season at Triple-A Buffalo with Henry Blanco catching at the MLB level.

Offseason In Review: Detroit Tigers

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The Tigers signed two significant free agents to bolster a roster that already included its share of impact players.

Major League Signings

Notable Minor League Signings

Trades and Claims

Notable Losses

Needs Addressed

When the offseason began, the Tigers needed a starting pitcher and a corner outfielder. Within two months, Dave Dombrowski had addressed those needs, ensuring that the defending AL Central Champions will enter the 2013 season as favorites to defend their division title.

Torii Hunter - Tigers (PW)

Before the Tigers made any significant player moves, they brought back manager Jim Leyland. The longtime manager obtains another chance to lead the Tigers to their first World Series title since 1984.

The Tigers signed Torii Hunter to a two-year, $26MM contract after the Angels made it clear that the 37-year-old wasn’t in their plans. Hunter didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Angels, which made it possible for the Tigers to sign him without surrendering a draft pick.

Victor Martinez isn’t a newcomer, but he seems like one after missing the entire 2012 season with a torn ACL. He should provide more offense at designated hitter than Delmon Young did.

Other than Zack Greinke, Sanchez was the top starting pitcher available in free agency. After teams such as the Cubs showed serious interest, the Tigers retained Sanchez with a five-year, $80MM contract. While Sanchez isn’t an ace starter, he just turned 29 and has pitched at least 195 innings for three consecutive seasons. He rounds out the Tigers’ rotation nicely without costing the team prospects or draft picks.

Questions Remaining

The Tigers are entering the season without a clear sense of how they’ll handle high-leverage, late-game innings. Their interest in potential upgrades makes sense, yet this doesn’t seem to be an urgent situation for Dombrowski. The Tigers won the American League pennant last year with Jose Valverde, a closer who was average at best (all MLB relievers in 2012: 3.66 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 3.4 BB/9; Valverde in 2012: 3.78 ERA, 6.3 K/9, 3.5 BB/9). Plus, quality relievers are always available at the trade deadline, so the Tigers will have the chance to upgrade their bullpen by June or July. In the meantime, Leyland will face innumerable questions about his closer unless an internal candidate such as Bruce Rondon emerges as a viable stopper.

Justin Verlander’s contract won’t expire for another two seasons, but it’s not too early to start talking about an extension for the 30-year-old right-hander. Verlander would like to become baseball’s $200MM pitcher, and why not? His representatives can convincingly argue he’s the top pitcher in the game following a four-year stretch during which he leads all MLB pitchers in wins, wins above replacement, and many categories in between. Yet a nine-figure commitment for any pitcher — even one as durable as Verlander — must be carefully considered. Even though the Tigers might minimize financial risk by letting Verlander walk following his age-31 season in 2014, owner Mike Ilitch has shown many times that he’s willing to spend to retain and acquire elite talent. There’s hope for Tigers fans that Verlander will stay in Detroit.

While the Tigers lack elite relievers, they have depth in other areas. Rival teams have inquired on Rick Porcello in the event that the Tigers are comfortable going forward with Drew Smyly in the rotation. A trade seems possible, though there's no indication the Tigers are hoping to make a move.

Deal of Note

Torii Hunter posted a .313/.365/.451 batting line with 16 home runs in 584 plate appearances as the Angels' right fielder last year. It’s an impressive line, and advanced metrics valued Hunter’s overall performance around five wins above replacement last year. However, it seems highly unlikely that he will replicate his league-best .389 batting average on balls in play in 2013, especially considering his career mark of .307.

In other words Hunter projects as a good player rather than an elite one going forward. That’s fine for the Tigers, who aren’t paying him like an elite performer and didn’t have to surrender a draft pick to sign him. Even as he enters his 21st professional season, Hunter represents an upgrade over Detroit’s other options, so this two-year, $26MM contract made sense for the Tigers.

Overview

After adding Hunter and re-signing Sanchez, the Tigers are built for another run at a World Series title. Like every team in baseball, they’re vulnerable in some areas, and it’d be easier to envision the Tigers playing deep into October if they had an ace reliever. But with a strong lineup including some of the game’s best hitters and a deep rotation featuring arguably the sport’s top pitcher, the Tigers are the closest thing to a playoff lock you’ll find in the American League.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AL Central Notes: Twins, Francona, Royals

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The latest notes from the AL Central…

  • After training in Phoenix Jim Thome has returned home, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN reports (Twitter link). While Thome still wants a Major League contract, the Twins would likely take him on a minor league deal in Wolfson’s view.
  • Indians manager Terry Francona told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he has renewed energy in Cleveland. Though Francona's tenure in Boston ended badly, he says he has new perspective on the game after his year as an ESPN analyst. Those around him agree. "He's really the dream manager everyone wants to play for," Jason Giambi said. Even Red Sox president Larry Lucchino acknowledged that Francona "was an important part of the success" of the Red Sox.
  • The Royals offered Ivan Rodriguez a Major League contract before the 2012 season, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). Rodriguez decided to retire instead of playing for Kansas City.

Brewers To Extend Carlos Gomez

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4:55pm: Gomez will earn $7MM in 2014, $8MM in 2015 and $9MM in 2016, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). This would amount to a three-year, $24MM extension.

4:50pm: The Brewers announced that they extended Gomez for three years, through the 2016 season. The deal buys out Gomez's first three free agent seasons. “He has always had the physical skills, and his recent performance has given us the confidence that he will take the next step in becoming one of the top center fielders in the game," GM Doug Melvin said.

4:07pm: The Brewers are going to extend center fielder Carlos Gomez with a four-year contract, Tom Haudricourt and Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report (Twitter links). Gomez, a client of the Boras Corporation, will obtain about $27.5MM.

Carlos Gomez - Brewers (PW)

Gomez had been on track to hit free agency following the 2013 season, so this deal delays his arrival on the open market. The sides agreed to a one-year, $4.3MM contract for 2013 earlier this year.

It's not clear if the deal covers the 2013-16 seasons or the 2014-17 seasons, but Haudricourt suggests the deal buys out three free agent seasons (Twitter link). If that's the case the sides agreed to value Gomez's free agent years at approximately $7.7MM each.

Gomez, 27, posted a .260/.305/.463 batting line in 452 plate appearances as Milwaukee's everyday center fielder in 2012. He established career highs in home runs with 19 and stolen bases with 37. In six seasons at the MLB level, the Dominican Republic native has a .247/.294/.379 batting line. Gomez has had added value on defense in every one of those six seasons based on UZR/150.

Gomez has been traded twice since the Mets signed him as an amateur free agent in 2002. The Twins acquired him in the trade that sent Johan Santana to New York. Two offseasons later Gomez was traded to Milwaukee in the deal that sent J.J. Hardy to Minnesota.

As MLBTR's list of 2014 free agents shows, a number of prominent center fielders are still on track for free agency after the 2013 season. Curtis Granderson, Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp are among the prospective free agents for next offseason.

Some observers will be surprised that Boras, an agent known for taking clients to free agency, completed this contract. However, Boras clients such as Jered Weaver, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Madson have all signed extensions covering free agent seasons in recent years, so there's some precedent for Gomez's deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Brennan Boesch Rumors: Wednesday

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Seven teams have called agent Scott Boras about recently-released outfielder Brennan Boesch, George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reports (on Twitter). Here are the latest Boesch-related rumors…

  • The Mets' interest in Boesch is "marginal," Mike Puma of the New York Post reports (on Twitter). Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier that the Mets appear to have some interest in Boesch (on Twitter). Anthony DiComo of MLB.com doesn't get the sense that GM Sandy Alderson will pursue Boesch (Twitterlinks). However, DiComo points out that it's too early to dismiss the possibility.
  • The Red Sox are talking internally about Boesch, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post has been told the Yankees will at least look into the possibility of signing Boesch (Twitter link). The depth of the New York outfield has been tested in the aftermath of Curtis Granderson's injury.
  • The Astros will take a look at Boesch, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports (on Twitter). Like the Mets, the Astros have a relatively young outfield.

Texas Notes: Porter, Boesch, Profar

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General manager Jeff Luhnow told Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that he can envision manager Bo Porter leading the Astros for a long time. “He could be one of those guys who is an Astros manager for decades, not just years,” Luhnow said of Porter. “The players knowing that this is the group that’s going to be here — it begins to lay the foundation for stability, which is really what we’re looking for.” The Astros hired the 40-year-old Porter after the 2012 season. 

Here are more notes on the Astros and Texas’ other team, the Rangers…

  • Earlier today MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reported that the Astros will take a look at Brennan Boesch (Twitter link). The Tigers released the outfielder this morning.
  • The Rangers are high on Jurickson Profar, but it's still not clear what his role will be in 2013, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. The Rangers would "not necessarily" need an everyday role for Profar to justify keeping him on the roster in the view of manager Ron Washington. That said, a Triple-A assignment hasn’t been ruled out. Here's a look at service time considerations for top prospects such as Profar.
  • George A. King III of the New York Post reported today that the Rangers are watching Joba Chamberlain.

Yankees Notes: Rivera, Chamberlain, Cooper

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While it’s possible to replace Mariano Rivera for a day or even for a season, replacing him for 15 to 20 years represents another challenge altogether, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post points out. “You are replacing someone who has done things in the game that may never be done again,” Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild told Sherman. “You are replacing someone who is basically irreplaceable.” Rivera will retire following the 2013 season.

Here are more Yankees-related notes…

Royals To Release Guillermo Moscoso

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The Royals announced that they have requested unconditional release waivers on right-hander Guillermo Moscoso (Twitter link). The Royals now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

The Royals claimed Moscoso from Colorado in November after he posted a 6.12 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 50 innings for the Rockies last year. The 29-year-old started 21 games for the 2011 Athletics, posting a 3.38 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 128 innings. He also played briefly with the Rangers in 2009-10.

Blue Jays Release David Cooper

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The Blue Jays released first baseman David Cooper, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The CAA Sports client is now a free agent. 

Cooper has missed Spring Training with a serious back injury. The injury could lead to a season of rehabbing and might even end his career, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes (on Twitter). Sherman suggests the Blue Jays might try to sign Cooper to a minor league deal with an eye toward a 2014 return and Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com confirms that the Blue Jays have interest in re-signing Cooper (Twitter link).

 Cooper, 26, appeared in 45 games for the 2012 Blue Jays as a first baseman and designated hitter. He posted a .300/.324/.464 batting line in 145 plate appearances, including four home runs. All six of the left-handed hitter's career home runs have come against right-handed pitching. Cooper, the Blue Jays' first round pick in 2008, has less than one year of MLB service time (136 days).

Tigers Release Brennan Boesch

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The Tigers have released outfielder Brennan Boesch, the team announced (on Twitter). The Boras Corporation represents Boesch, who is now on track to become a free agent.

Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said 'a half dozen clubs' asked about Boesch, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports (Twitter links). The Tigers will owe Boesch one sixth of his $2.3MM salary if he's not claimed on waivers, Beck reports. The Mariners had some interest in Boesch in December, but have since added a number of corner outfield/DH types. The Yankees and Braves are among the teams that could consider Boesch.

Boesch appeared in 132 games for the Tigers last year, posting a .240/.286/.372 batting line with 12 home runs in 503 plate appearances. The left-handed hitting 27-year-old agreed to a $2.3MM salary for 2013 and had been on track to remain under team control through 2015.

Chris Iott of MLive.com first reported that the Tigers had released Boesch (Twitter link).

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