Commenting Policy
MLBTR is increasing efforts to enforce our commenting policy. The goal is to raise the level of discourse in the comments, part of which involves eliminating inappropriate language and insults.
Comments of this nature are not allowed:
- Attacks or insults towards other commenters, the post author, journalists, teams, players, or agents
- Inappropriate language, including swearing and related censor bypass attempts, lewdness, insults, and crude terms for body parts, bodily functions, and physical acts. Overall, we don’t want any language that a parent would not want their kid to see.
- Juvenile comments or extensive use of text message-type spelling
- Writing comments in all or mostly caps
- Spam-type links or self-promotion. Please submit to our weekly Baseball Blogs Weigh In feature if you have a website or blog. Currently, permissible links in the comments are limited to MLB.com, Cot’s Baseball Contracts, FanGraphs, Baseball Prospectus, Baseball-Reference, and (of course) MLB Trade Rumors. Comments linking to other sites will be deleted.
- Comments about how you're sick of this topic or it's not newsworthy
- No inappropriate avatars or images are allowed
- Anything else we deem bad for business
If you see comments that fit the above criteria, please flag them and/or contact us. Those who repeatedly violate the policy can be banned at any time. Bans may be handed out liberally by our moderators, without second chances. Remaining civil is not that difficult, though, and most commenters have no problems doing so as well as helping rein each other in. We at MLBTR are grateful for long-time commenters and readers, though this policy applies equally regardless of tenure. This policy is always available at the bottom of the site, and will be re-posted monthly.
MLBTR Free Agent Prediction Contest
It’s not too late to sign up for MLBTR’s free agent prediction contest. If you can correctly predict destinations for our top 50 free agents, you’ll have the chance to win prizes, including cash and content from Baseball America. Last year’s winner correctly predicted the destinations for 15 of the top 50 players, which gives you an idea of how challenging this is.
Here's how to play: click here and select a destination for each free agent after signing in with your Facebook account. You don't have to complete all of the picks right away, but they're due by midnight central time this Wednesday, November 7th. Bookmark the leaderboard to see how you’re doing in relation to other readers and MLBTR’s writing team. Good luck!
Cardinals, Wainwright Interested In Extension
Adam Wainwright would like to sign a contract extension with St. Louis this offseason and the Cardinals have expressed interest in working out a long-term deal, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. As the right-hander prepares for the final year on his current contract, he’s beginning to think about his next deal.
“In brief talks with [Cardinals executives] they feel real good about me coming back for a long time, and I want to make that happen,” Wainwright told Goold. “I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t make that happen.”
Wainwright returned from Tommy John surgery to post a 3.94 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 198 2/3 regular season innings in 2012. GM John Mozeliak approached the 31-year-old about contract talks in August, only to hear that he preferred not to discuss an extension during the season.
Wainwright acknowledged that the Cardinals face a “business decision” regarding his future in St. Louis. Matt Cain (six years, $127.5MM) and Jake Peavy (two years, $29MM) are among the right-handed starters whose contracts provide a framework for Wainwright’s next deal. Within a few months, Zack Greinke and Kyle Lohse will have signed deals that will provide further context for talks.
The contracts for Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Jake Westbrook expire following the 2013 season, so it makes sense for the Cardinals to pursue a long-term deal with Wainwright. It doesn’t appear that Mozeliak will have to make substantive changes to the team this offseason, but retaining the right-hander figures to be a priority. Aegis Sports Management represents Wainwright.
Braves Make Michael Bourn Qualifying Offer
The Braves extended a qualifying offer to Michael Bourn, Evan Drellich of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). The free agent center fielder now has one week to accept or decline the offer.
If Bourn accepts, he’ll earn $13.3MM on a one-year deal in 2013. If he declines, he’ll be linked to draft pick compensation in free agency — his new team will have to surrender a top selection to sign him. Bourn ranks third on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents.
Nationals Make Adam LaRoche Qualifying Offer
The Nationals extended a qualifying offer to Adam LaRoche, Evan Drellich of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). The free agent first baseman now has one week to accept or decline the offer.
If LaRoche accepts, he’ll earn $13.3MM on a one-year deal in 2013. If he declines, he’ll be linked to draft pick compensation in free agency — his new team will have to surrender a top selection to sign him. LaRoche ranks 15th on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents.
Cardinals Make Kyle Lohse Qualifying Offer
The Cardinals extended a qualifying offer to Kyle Lohse, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). He now has one week to accept or decline the offer.
If Lohse accepts, he’ll earn $13.3MM on a one-year deal in 2013. If he declines, he’ll be linked to draft pick compensation in free agency — his new team will have to surrender a top selection to sign him. Lohse ranks tenth on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents.
Quick Hits: Martin, Ankiel, Young
Links from around MLB on the day teams must decide whether to make qualifying offers to departing free agents…
- The Yankees like Russell Martin very much and are hoping to re-sign him as a free agent this offseason, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. The Pirates, Rangers and Mariners could all spend on catching this offseason. While the Mets need catching, they seem likely to pursue trades in Heyman’s view.
- Agent Scott Boras said there’s no chance of Rick Ankiel returning to the mound, Yahoo’s Tim Brown reports (on Twitter). “He's not pitching," Boras said. It was reported yesterday that Ankiel might be open to pitching again.
- The White Sox announced that they promoted former MLB manager and player Buddy Bell to the role of vice president/assistant GM. Bell, 61, played from 1972-88, then managed the Tigers, Rockies and Royals.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs provides a guide to the top 25 values available in free agency this offseason, complete with a look at five players teams might want to avoid. Within the piece, which is well worth your time, Cameron explains that Delmon Young has essentially become a platoon bat, and argues that Maicer Izturis could bounce back in 2013. Be sure to check out MLBTR’s list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents if you haven't done so already.
Braves Intrigued By Josh Hamilton
The Braves are intrigued by free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports. He’s the top position player available in free agency at a time that the Braves are looking to replace the offense of Chipper Jones and, it appears, Michael Bourn.
However, Hamilton isn’t an ideal fit for a Braves’ lineup that already features a number of left-handed hitters in Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and Brian McCann. Plus, the Braves aren’t generally bidders on the top free agents, as Knobler notes. The Rangers made Hamilton a qualifying offer today, which means any team other than Texas will have to surrender a top draft pick to sign the outfielder. Hamilton ranks second on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents.
Rays Make B.J. Upton Qualifying Offer
The Rays extended a qualifying offer to B.J. Upton, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (on Twitter). The free agent center fielder now has one week to accept or decline the offer.
If Upton accepts, he’ll earn $13.3MM on a one-year deal in 2013. Assuming he declines, he’ll be linked to draft pick compensation in free agency — his new team will have to surrender a top selection to sign him. Upton ranks fifth on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents.
Red Sox Make David Ortiz Qualifying Offer
The Red Sox extended a qualifying offer to David Ortiz, Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports (on Twitter). The free agent designated hitter now has one week to accept or decline the offer.
If Ortiz accepts, he’ll earn $13.3MM on a one-year deal in 2013. If he declines, he’ll be linked to draft pick compensation in free agency — his new team will have to surrender a top selection to sign him. Ortiz ranks 13th on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents. The Rangers appear to be interested in signing him, though a return to the Red Sox seems probable.