Red Sox Notes: Bradley, Drew, Napoli, Pierzynski
The bidding for Jacoby Ellsbury went a little higher than the Red Sox were comfortable going, GM Ben Cherington tells Ian Browne of MLB.com. In the meantime, the Sox aren't sure whether they'll acquire another outfielder or just go with Jackie Bradley Jr. "There's still time. We're working and we're going to work through different options and continue to pursue ways to make the team better," Cherington says. "But we certainly feel fortunate that Jackie is in our organization, and we would feel very good if he is playing center field if that's the way it plays out." Here are more notes on the Red Sox.
- Sox manager John Farrell says that he would like the team to keep Shane Victorino in right field and to add a center fielder or use Bradley there, tweets Alex Speier of WEEI.com.
- Farrell also said that the Red Sox are going to do "anything" they can to retain Stephen Drew and Mike Napoli, Speier tweets. Boston's other key free agents — Ellsbury and Jarrod Saltalamacchia — have gone elsewhere.
- A.J. Pierzynski says that it was "impossible to say no" to the Red Sox since he felt that they give him the best chance to win a World Series ring in 2014, according to the Associated Press. The catcher will reportedly receive an $8.25MM guarantee on his one-year deal.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Ellsbury Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Gardner, Choo
After the signings of Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann, it's hard to see how the Yankees can sign Robinson Cano and still stay under the $189MM luxury-tax threshold, ESPN's Jayson Stark writes. The only clear path to the Yankees being able to sign Cano and stay under the threshold would be if Alex Rodriguez's suspension were upheld. Here are more notes on Ellsbury's deal with the Yankees.
- Paying $20MM per season for Jacoby Ellsbury makes more sense for the Yankees than it does for other teams, including the Red Sox, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports. Not only do the Yankees have a huge payroll, but they also have a stadium that should be favorable to Ellsbury, and they don't have Jackie Bradley Jr. waiting in the wings, as the Red Sox do.
- With Ellsbury in the fold, the Yankees have no plans to trade Brett Gardner, reports Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York. Instead, they'd like to play both of them at the top of the Yankees' batting order.
- Despite already having a relatively crowded outfield, with Alfonso Soriano and Ichiro Suzuki along with Ellsbury and Gardner, Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger writes that the Yankees could still pursue Shin-Soo Choo, primarily as a backup option if Robinson Cano goes elsewhere. Such a move would make a Gardner trade more likely, McCullough writes.
- Choo has plenty of interest now that Ellsbury is off the board, tweets Yahoo!'s Tim Brown. Brown guesses that the Rangers are favorites to sign Choo.
Minor Moves: Pridie, Brewers, Twins
We'll keep track of today's minor moves here.
- The Rockies have signed Jason Pridie, according to the outfielder's own Twitter feed. Pridie, 30, hit .269/.333/.434 for the Orioles' Triple-A Norfolk affiliate in 2013. He also appeared in four big-league games.
- The Brewers have signed infielder Irving Falu and catcher Matt Pagnozzi to minor-league deals with spring-training invites, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy tweets. Falu, 30, hit .256/.320/.329 for Triple-A Omaha in the Royals system in 2013. He made brief appearances in the big leagues in both of the last two seasons. The Royals designated him for assignment two weeks ago. Pagnozzi hit .210/.274/.314 for Triple-A Gwinnett in the Braves system in 2013.
- The Brewers also signed pitchers Donovan Hand and Michael Olmsted to big-league deals, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Both pitchers were already on the 40-man roster, and neither were arbitration-eligible.
- The Twins signed third baseman Brandon Waring and lefty pitcher Matt Hoffman to minor-league deals, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com tweets. Both have been extended invitations to spring training. Waring hit .214/.317/.449 in the upper levels of the Orioles' system in 2013. Hoffman posted a 2.06 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 for the Tigers' Triple-A affiliate in Toledo.
Yankees Notes: Infante, Drew, Beltran, Closers
The Yankees have made offers to several top free agent hitters, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports tweets. The list of players on whom the Yankees have bid Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin-Soo Choo, Carlos Beltran, Stephen Drew and Omar Infante. (ESPN's Buster Olney, however, tweets that the Yankees do not have an offer to Drew pending.) Morosi also tweets, however, that the Yankees did not extend the offer to Infante particularly recently, and that other teams appear more interested. Here are more notes from New York.
- Earlier today, we heard that Beltran had already received an offer of three years and $48MM. Newsday's Mark Carig reiterates, however, that the Yankees aren't likely to give Beltran three years (Twitter link).
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, meanwhile, tweets that Nelson Cruz could also enter the Yankees' sights if the team loses out on Carlos Beltran.
- Feinsand also notes that, while the Yankees have shown some interest in closers, finding a closer is not their highest priority, and they're only likely to spend on one if Robinson Cano signs elsewhere.
Quick Hits: Tulowitzki, McKenry, Athletics
Three-team trades aren't easy to dream up, let alone to achieve, but ESPN's David Schoenfield has five of them to entertain you in what's been a quiet day at the hot stove. One idea has the Rockies shipping Troy Tulowitzki to the Pirates and Dexter Fowler to the Marlins and receiving top Pirates prospects Gregory Polanco and Alen Hanson, along with Marlins closer Steve Cishek and prospects Jake Marisnick and Justin Nicolino. The Marlins would also receive Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer in the deal. It's a fun idea, although, as Schoenfield suggests, it's questionable whether the cost-conscious Pirates would be willing to take on Tulowitzki's enormous contract. Here's more from around baseball.
- The Pirates have to decide whether to tender a contract to catcher Michael McKenry, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. McKenry's season ended in July after a knee injury, and he was in the midst of a weak season, hitting .217/.262/.348 with poor defense. The Pirates replaced him with prospect Tony Sanchez, who played credibly both at Triple-A and in the big leagues in 2013. McKenry only projects to make $900K in arbitration, though, and he has an option left, so the Pirates could tender him as an insurance policy if either Sanchez or Russell Martin get hurt. Other Pirates non-tender candidates include 1B/OF Garrett Jones, who was designated for assignment last week, and outfielder Travis Snider.
- In addition to Daric Barton (whose case we wrote about earlier tonight), the Athletics have a number of potential non-tenders, Joe Stiglich of CSNBayArea.com writes. One is outfielder Seth Smith, who MLBTR projects will make $4.3MM if taken to arbitration. Another could be reliever Jerry Blevins, since the A's recently acquired fellow lefty Fernando Abad. Blevins was at least somewhat effective last season, however, and should be fairly cheap, with a projected salary of $1.5MM, so the A's could well keep him. Another is reliever Fernando Rodriguez, who missed 2013 after having Tommy John surgery, but Rodriguez figures to be so cheap in arbitration that there would be little downside to the A's tendering him a contract.
Tender Deadline Notes: Barton, Stewart, Nix, Kelly
Tomorrow at 10:59pm CT marks the deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. Most arbitration-eligible players will be tendered, since players typically receive less in the arbitration system than they would be able to get in free agency. But a few dozen will likely be non-tendered, expanding the free-agent pool.
Clearly, that pool won't include any current stars. But it's likely a couple non-tenders will be contributors in 2014. Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet.ca tweets a reminder that last year's crop of non-tenders included outfielder Nate Schierholtz, who ended up having a solid season with the Cubs, and reliever Brian Wilson. The list also included infielder Mark Reynolds, who landed a $6MM contract with the Indians, and Manny Parra, who posted a solid season out of the Reds' bullpen.
MLBTR will be updated with non-tender information throughout the day tomorrow. For more, you can check out MLBTR's list of non-tender candidates, as well as our arbitration tracker and list of tenders and non-tenders. The latter two resources will be updated as news rolls in. In the meantime, here are a couple notes on what to expect tomorrow.
- One player who could be non-tendered is Daric Barton, who is the Athletics' longest-tenured player, as MLB.com's Jane Lee points out. Barton arrived in Oakland's 2004 trade of Mark Mulder. He never really became the high-OBP first baseman the A's were likely hoping he'd be, with only one strong full-time season (2010) to his credit, but the A's did get Dan Haren in that trade, so it turned out well for them anyway. Barton hit .269/.350/.375 in limited duty with the A's in 2013, spending most of the season at Triple-A Sacramento.
- The Yankees could non-tender catcher Chris Stewart and infielder Jayson Nix, writes MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. The Yanks' signings of Brian McCann and Brendan Ryan don't bode well for Stewart or Nix, particularly given that GM Brian Cashman has said he will tender catcher Francisco Cervelli.
- The Tigers' only non-tender candidate is utilityman Don Kelly, writes MLB.com's Jason Beck. Working in Kelly's favor are his low salary (MLBTR's projects he'll make $900K) and the fact that, even if they tender him a contract, the Tigers would be able to release him in spring training and pay only a fraction of his deal. It's currently unclear where Kelly will fit on the Tigers' roster next year. Kelly hit .222/.309/.343 in part-time duty for the Tigers last season.
Non-Tender Candidate: John Axford
The deadline to tender contracts for arbitration-eligible players is tomorrow night at 10:59 CT. Most non-tenders will be afterthoughts on this offseason's free-agent market, but one potential non-tender who could make some noise is reliever John Axford.
The Cardinals acquired Axford from the Brewers at last August's waiver trade deadline for fellow pitcher Michael Blazek. Axford pitched very well down the stretch and through the Cards' World Series run, striking out 20 batters and walking seven in 16 innings for the Cardinals between the regular season and the postseason.
Still, the Cardinals are expected to non-tender him. One problem, of course, is his performance in 2012 and 2013 in Milwaukee, where he frequently struggled to throw strikes and ultimately lost his closer job to Francisco Rodriguez. The other is his arbitration situation. Axford rode his excellent 2010 and 2011 performances and his closer status to a $5MM salary in 2013, his first year of arbitration eligibility. If he were to be tendered, he would receive a raise on that salary (with the possibility of two more raises to come in 2015 and 2016, since Axford is a Super Two player). Anything over $5MM is a figure the Cardinals likely won't want to pay, given Axford's erratic history and their collection of young arms.
A non-tender, however, should create a terrific opportunity for Axford, who is represented by Beverly Hills Sports Council. Axford is still just 30 (he'll be 31 in April), and while his control has at times deserted him, his mid-90s heat hasn't. That means Axford could be a sought-after free agent, even in an offseason featuring a long list of closer types that includes Joe Nathan, Grant Balfour, Joaquin Benoit, Fernando Rodney, Brian Wilson and Edward Mujica, among others. While Axford likely wouldn't be a top candidate for a closer job, he might make a good setup man. If the Cardinals do let Axford go, he might well wind up with a two-year deal, a rarity among non-tendered players.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Week In Review: 11/24/13 – 11/30/13
Here's a look back at this week at MLBTR:
- The Twins will sign pitcher Ricky Nolasco to a four-year deal with an option for 2018.
- The Twins will sign pitcher Phil Hughes to a three-year deal.
- The Reds will re-sign pitcher Manny Parra to a two-year deal. They also signed utilityman Skip Schumaker to a two-year deal. To clear space for Schumaker, they designated outfielder Derrick Robinson for assignment.
- The Dodgers signed pitcher Dan Haren to a one-year deal with a vesting option.
- The Giants re-signed pitcher Ryan Vogelsong to a one-year deal.
- The Rays will re-sign reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo to a big-league deal.
- The Giants signed pitcher Erik Cordier to a big-league deal.
- The Dodgers signed pitcher Scott Elbert, catcher Drew Butera and outfielder Mike Baxter, avoiding arbitration with all three.
- Pitcher Ted Lilly has elected to retire, as has reliever Chad Durbin.
- The Royals extended the contract of GM Dayton Moore.
- The Pirates acquired outfielder Jaff Decker and pitcher Miles Mikolas from the Padres for minor-leaguer Alex Dickerson. To clear space, the Pirates designated 1B/OF Garrett Jones and pitcher Kyle McPherson for assignment.
- The Orioles acquired pitcher Brad Brach from the Padres for minor-league pitcher Devin Jones.
- The Athletics acquired pitcher Fernando Abad from the Nationals for minor-league outfielder John Wooten.
- The Orioles acquired catcher Johnny Monell for cash considerations after the Giants designated him for assignment. The Giants also designated outfielder Francisco Peguero.
- The Cubs acquired catcher George Kottaras for cash considerations after the Royals designated him for assignment.
- The Giants claimed pitcher Jose De Paula from the Padres.
- The Rangers claimed outfielder Rafael Ortega from the Rockies.
- The Orioles claimed infielder Cord Phelps from the Indians.
- The Angels designated pitcher Juan Gutierrez for assignment.
- The Indians designated pitcher Tyler Cloyd for assignment.
- The Royals outrighted pitcher Noel Arguelles. They also requested unconditional release waivers on second baseman Irving Falu.
- The Giants outrighted reliever Jose Mijares, and he became a free agent.
- The Nationals outrighted pitcher Tyler Robertson.
- The Cardinals outrighted pitcher John Gast and outfielder Jermaine Curtis.
- The Rockies outrighted outfielder Tim Wheeler.
- Infielder Luis Cruz signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.
Mets To Meet With Bronson Arroyo
9:14pm: A source tells Newsday's David Lennon (via Twitter) that the Mets do not have plans to meet with Arroyo. The Mets appear to be "on the fence" about the durable starter, Lennon says.
4:22pm: Mets GM Sandy Alderson will meet with free-agent starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo in Florida this week, ESPN New York's Adam Rubin reports. Arroyo reportedly wants a three-year deal, but might ultimately settle for two years and a vesting option, a source tells Rubin. Earlier in the offseason, Alderson met with shortstop Jhonny Peralta and outfielder Chris Young. Peralta ended up signing with the Cardinals, but the Mets landed Young on a one-year deal.
Earlier this week, Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reported that the Mets were in hot pursuit of Arroyo. The Twins also remain heavily interested, even after reaching a four-year agreement with Ricky Nolasco, and the Angels might also be a possibility. Arroyo, who in 2013 pitched at least 199 innings for the ninth consecutive season, should be able to help stabilize some team's shaky rotation.
Quick Hits: Beltran, Furcal, Mets, Twins, Ellis, Santana
The Royals are very interested in Carlos Beltran, but the Yankees remain the favorites to sign him, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. "I think at this point it would be an upset if he didn’t end up there," one executive tells Sherman. The Yankees have thus far been unwilling to give Beltran a three-year deal, but they could eventually land him by giving him three years or by paying heavily for two. Regardless of the Yankees' current issues, the perception of the Yanks as a winning organization matters to Beltran, even though they won fewer games than Kansas City did last year. Here are more notes from around the Majors.
- Sherman writes that the Mets are no longer interested in free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, who missed last season with Tommy John surgery, because of concerns about his health. The Mets are looking for an upgrade over Ruben Tejada at shortstop.
- Furcal himself says that the Mets, Red Sox, Marlins, Pirates, Nationals, Rockies and other teams have shown interest in him, reports Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com (link in Spanish).
- After failing to find common ground on a contract extension, the Padres would listen to offers for Chase Headley, Sherman reports. The question is how he should be valued — Headley hit .286/.376/.498 in a terrific 2012 season, then came back to earth with a .250/.347/.400 season in 2013.
- Even after landing Ricky Nolasco, the Twins will continue to strongly pursue free agents and trade possibilities, Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN tweets. The Twins have been connected to any number of starting pitchers, including Bronson Arroyo, Phil Hughes and trade targets Homer Bailey and Jeremy Hellickson. They've also been tied to catchers like Jarrod Saltalamacchia and A.J. Pierzynski.
- The Twins aren't the only suitors for Hughes, tweets Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Royals are also making "a strong push" for the former Yankees righty. Hughes is expected to receive a two-year deal, with the Mariners and Angels potentially being involved along with the Royals and Twins. Berardino also points out that Hughes' agent, Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, also represents Jason Vargas, who recently signed a four-year deal with Kansas City.
- The Royals need a second baseman, and a team official recently told the Kansas City Star's Bob Dutton that the Royals think Mark Ellis "has something left" (via Twitter). Ellis, 36, hit just .270/.323/.351 last season with the Dodgers, but he's a consistently-above-average defensive player.
- Carlos Santana of the Indians would like to play in the field more, but the Indians already have good options at catcher in Yan Gomes and at first base in Nick Swisher. Instead, then, Santana would like to try third base, and Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that the Indians are interested in the possibility, in part because Santana is taking initiative rather than complaining. (He's working out at third at the Indians' Dominican facility.) Whether Santana can field at third base is an open question — he hasn't played more than a handful of games at the position since 2006, when he was in the Dodgers' minor-league system. If the Indians have any confidence he can play there, though, they might be less inclined to pursue a righty-hitting third-base type this offseason. Lefty-hitting Lonnie Chisenhall, who struggled last season, currently sits atop the Indians' depth chart at third.