AL Notes: Ryan, Porcello, Happ, Indians
Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan had dinner with principal owners Ray Davis and Bob Simpson Friday night to discuss his future role with the franchise. Simpson called the meeting "productive" while Ryan remained silent until today when he released a statement through the team. "Over the last week, Ray Davis, Bob Simpson, and I have been in discussion and met in-person. The conversations have been productive, and we have discussed my role as CEO of the organization. We agreed these discussions will continue as we go forward. I am very proud of what the Rangers have accomplished over the last several years, and I believe our preparations for upcoming season are what is important." Sources have told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Ryan could leave after he fulfills his two remaining team obligations: in San Antonio for the Rangers' two exhibition games there March 29-30 and in Houston during the Rangers' season-opening series against the Astros. In other news and notes from the American League:
- Rick Porcello became the first Tiger pitcher to pitch five innings this spring, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out four. George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press tweets Porcello was happy to discuss his outing, but refused to comment on the many trade rumors surrounding him.
- J.A. Happ, also a subject of trade rumors, is frustrated by his role with the Blue Jays and sees himself as a Major League starting pitcher, according to MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm (Twitter links). Happ, as quoted by Chisholm on Twitter, realizes he is auditioning for other teams, "I know there are other people in the stands as well so I'm trying to just keep my routine and we'll see what happens."
- Indians manager Terry Francona has named Zach McAllister as the team's fourth starter, the Associated Press reports (via the Boston Herald). If the Indians choose to start Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, and Corey Kluber in the minors, the leading veteran candidates for the final spot are Scott Kazmir and Daisuke Matsuzaka, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer who would put his money on Kazmir.
Sternberg On Price, New Stadium, Payroll, Attendance
Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg addressed the media, including the Tampa Tribune's Roger Mooney, at the team's Spring Training facility. When asked about his expectations for 2013, Sternberg acknowledged the folly of such an exercise, "Unfortunately, last year we felt incredible about the team, and the last time we felt that way was coming into ’09, and they were the only two years we didn’t make the playoffs." Mooney provides excerpts of the other topics covered this morning:
- Sternberg says David Price "is an enormous part of this organization" and there's no question the franchise can handle a contract like his, but it is way too early to be focused on what could happen three or four years down the road.
- Sternberg denies the front office has contemplated trading Price. "We haven’t had those thoughts. Others have speculated. There’s been speculation but we haven’t had those thoughts at all."
- Sternberg is optimistic about his negotiations for a new stadium, but says nobody wants to hear him talking about stadium things so he will focus on baseball.
- The team's payroll in 2013 will be above $60MM which is more than Sternberg had said it should be based on the team's attendance. "We’ve had a couple of years where it was lower than it should be, and we’ve had a number of years when it was higher than it should be, and this is one of those years."
- Sternberg refuses to set any attendance goals this year after finishing last in MLB in that category in 2012. "We want to be average in attendance and well above average in on-field performance. We’re right now settling for well-above average on on-field performance, and that’s the important thing." Sternberg made his remarks hours before Tampa Bay's game with the Red Sox, which drew the Rays' largest home crowd of the spring and was their first sellout.
Brewers Release Kelvim Escobar
The Brewers have released Kelvim Escobar, who was attempting a comeback after pitching in just one Major League game since 2007, reports Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The decision was made after a couple days of talks between the Brewers and Escobar's agent to give the 36-year-old right-hander his release.
"If we waited until the end, it's not necessarily fair to him if we don't think he's going to make our team," said manager Ron Roenicke, who was a coach with the Angels during Escobar's tenure there. "This allows him to go out a little earlier to try to hook on with somebody, and to try and get a better shot at making a club. It's tough for us because of the way we feel about him, the way I feel about him."
The move comes one week after Escobar made his only Spring Training appearance lasting just two-thirds of an inning before experiencing control problems resulting from weakness in his throwing hand. Escobar, who was diagnosed with a pinched nerve and had since thrown only one bullpen session, admitted this injury made it difficult to make the Brewers, but will continue with his comeback.
"My hand, that setback, didn't help. Bad timing. I'm not on the 40-man roster. That made things harder," Escobar said. "I'm not going to give up. I'm going to continue to work hard and see where my arm is. I have to be honest with myself — (teams) want to see me pitching. They don't want to take a risk. The MRI of my shoulder doesn't look too good, so I have to pitch and show teams that I'm capable of doing it again."
Escobar says Mexico is an option to continue pitching and work as a starter. The Indians were reportedly interested in Escobar before he signed with the Brewers in January.
MLBTR Originals
A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:
- MLBTR continued its six-week series examining the arbitration process from the player's persepective with B.J. Rains' profile of Jeff Mathis' experience with the Angels.
- Steve Adams inaugurated a new MLBTR series called Transaction Retrospection with his look at last year's Andrew Bailey–Josh Reddick trade.
- The Why I Chose My Agency series continued with Tim Dierkes discussing Matt Sosnick and Sosnick Cobbe Sports with Jay Bruce, B.J. Rains speaking with David Wright about the Levinson brothers and ACES, and Dave Pond doing likewise with Jeremy Affeldt about Mike Moye and Moye Sports Associates, Inc.
- Ben Nicholson-Smith reviewed the offseason of the Rays, Orioles, Yankees.
- Tim asked 17 top front office executives what one piece of advice they would give a high school student hoping for a career in baseball operations.
- MLBTR was the first to learn Bobby Cassevah elected free agency after being outrighted by the Angels and was the first to report the right-hander signed a minor league deal with the Rockies and will report to Major League Spring Training.
- Tim updated the list of 2015 MLB free agents and provided his analysis of the class.
- Zach Links examined the players with 2014 vesting options and how they can be exercised.
- Ben asked MLBTR readers which of the seven teams with fewer than 70 wins in 2012 will improve the most in 2013. Nearly 39% of you believe the Indians will be this year's bounceback team. None received more votes than the Marlins, Astros, and Rockies combined.
- Five players signed nine-figure contracts this offseason and Mark Polishuk asked MLBTR readers which one will best live up to the investment. You were split between Evan Longoria (36%) and Felix Hernandez (34%).
- Zach asked MLBTR readers whether the Yankees will be able to lower their payroll to avoid the luxury tax in 2014. More than 63% of you believe they will exceed the $189MM threshold.
- Tim outlined the various options available to the Yankees in their quest to replace Curtis Granderson.
- Ben listed the teams with open 40-man roster spots.
- Zach revisted the notable transactions from March 2012.
- Ben hosted the MLBTR live chat this week.
- Zach put together the best of the baseball blogosphere in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
West Notes: Trout, D’backs, Wilson, Crawford, Rockies
In an ESPN Insider piece (subscription required), Buster Olney lists the Angels renewing Mike Trout's contract for $510K as one of the biggest issues facing baseball today. Craig Landis, the agent for the AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP runner-up, said the renewal "falls well short of a 'fair' contract." Jeff Miller of the Orange County Register agrees considering Joe Blanton will receive a $500K bonus from the Angels if he throws 200 innings and the team gave a $250K signing bonus to free agent reliever Sean Burnett. Olney, however, writes it makes almost no sense for Trout to refuse to sign his contract tender and have a negotiation flare-up so early in his career because he will reap millions from the system later on. For his part, the 21-year-old is quoted by Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter) as saying, "I've got to keep putting up numbers. My time will come." Elsewhere from MLB's West Divisions:
- MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports the Angels don't expect any of this will ruffle enough feathers to sour Trout's desire to sign an extension and cites similar situations involving Adam Jones, Derek Jeter, Ryan Howard, David Wright, and Jered Weaver.
- The Diamondbacks renewed Wade Miley's contract for $500,500, tweets CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman. The left-hander earned All-Star honors last year while finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.
- Giants manager Bruce Bochy told Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio the team has not closed the door on former closer Brian Wilson (Twitter link).
- The Dodgers will have questions to answer in left field and the leadoff spot because Carl Crawford will likely not be ready to open the season, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Manager Don Mattingly will use a variety of in-house options including Cuban import Yasel Puig.
- If non-roster invitee third baseman Nolan Arenado continues his torrid play during camp and shows he's ready, it could allow the Rockies to use their depth at third base to acquire more pitching, tweets the Denver Post's Troy Renck.
- Cody Ross was disappointed by the lack of interest from West Coast teams during his free agency this offseason until the Diamondbacks called "out of nowhere," reports Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. "My wife and I were jumping up and down," said Ross, a Phoenix resident. "We were so excited to live at home and play at home and be around a good bunch of guys and great coaches, and a front office that’s committed to winning."
- Earlier today, we learned Hunter Pence would rather sign a long-term contract with the Giants rather than test free agency.
Central Notes: Garza, Tigers, Hart, Royals
Cubs manager Dale Sveum told reporters, including MLB.com's Carrie Muskat, that Matt Garza will most likely miss the first month of the season. Garza, ranked ninth on MLBTR's 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings and one of the prime trade targets last summer until he hurt his elbow, strained his left lat two weeks ago when he faced live hitters for the first time since July. In other news involving teams from the NL and AL Central Divisions:
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski says he is not looking to add anyone as projected closer Bruce Rondon continues to struggle, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
- First base going forward is going to be very interesting for the Brewers, opines the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt. Corey Hart, currently recovering from knee surgery, is a free agent at the end of the year and has stated his desire to remain in Milwaukee. The Brewers also have Hunter Morris, the organization's player of the year and the Southern League (Double-A) MVP, waiting in the wings.
- With the Royals likely to open the season with a club-record $79MM payroll, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star doesn't anticipate any contract extensions for the team's young talent especially Eric Hosmer, a Scott Boras client.
- The Royals will keep their eye on the outfield trade market, tweets CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler.
MLBTR Originals
A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:
- MLBTR began a six-week series examining the arbitration process from the player's persepective with B.J. Rains' profile of Kyle Lohse's arb experience with the Twins.
- MLBTR started a second series: Why I Chose My Agency. The Cardinals' Matt Holliday spoke with B.J. Rains about why he engaged the services of Scott Boras and the Boras Corporation.
- Mark Polishuk examined the market for Kyle Lohse.
- Ben Nicholson-Smith listed the oldest $100MM players.
- Steve Adams sees 2013 as a make or break year for Josh Johnson.
- Mark wrote Tim Lincecum has been a huge part of the Giants' recent past and his 2013 season will likely determine if he is part of the team's future.
- Ben charted the service time considerations for the top prospects in baseball.
- Zach Links analyzed how often vesting options are exercised using the past three years as a sample.
- Ben asked MLBTR readers which 90-win team from 2012 will disappoint in 2013. More than 56% of you believe either the Orioles or Yankees will take that step backwards.
- Marlins outfielder Juan Pierre told MLBTR correspondent B.J. Rains it was a no-brainer for him to return to Miami and winning will help the front office heal all wounds in South Florida.
- Ben hosted this week's chat.
- Zach compiled this week's edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
- Want the latest rumors for your favorite team? Check out MLBTR's team-by-team links for Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds.
Red Sox Sign Ryan Rowland-Smith
The Red Sox have come to terms on a deal with Ryan Rowland-Smith, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. No word on the details of the contract. The 30-year-old lefthander will be pitching for his native Australia in the World Baseball Classic.
The Frye McCann Sports client last appeared in a MLB game in 2010 with the Mariners where he posted career-lows of a 6.75 ERA, 4.0 K/9, 2.1 HR/9, and 11.6 H/9 while appearing in 27 games, 20 as a starter. Rowland-Smith spent last season with the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate recording a 3.94 ERA and 7.2 K/9 in 77 2/3 innings covering 30 games including eight starts.
Last month, Crasnick reported Rowland-Smith threw for seven teams in Arizona, but the Red Sox were not one of them.
NL Notes: Soriano, Teheran, Phillies, Helton
On this date in 1896, the National League forbids players from deliberately soiling baseballs (and thus enabling the legend of future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry)‚ declares "a ball cutting the corners of the home plate‚ and being the requisite height‚ must be called a strike" and empowers umpires to eject players. Here's the latest news and notes from this century's National League:
- The Cubs don't anticipate the Yankees inquiring about Alfonso Soriano in the wake of Curtis Granderson's broken right forearm, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Earlier today, ESPN's Buster Olney wrote such a deal could make sense for the Yankees.
- Nate Schierholtz explained to reporters, including the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman, why he signed with the Cubs when he reportedly had offers from contending teams like the Yankees. "There were a lot of factors that played into it," the outfielder said. "I think this team is young and we have a very good chance to win quick. I really believe in this team."
- Right-hander Julio Teheran would have to struggle mightily to lose the fifth spot in the Braves' starting rotation, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. As MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith charted recently, the Braves could maintain team control over Teheran through 2019 by waiting until late-June to recall him. The Braves could also prevent Teheran from earning Super Two status by keeping him in the minors until mid-August.
- The Phillies have ten outfielders in camp and manager Charlie Manuel says a roster decision on at least four of them will need to be made about two-thirds of the way through Spring Training, reports David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News.
- Todd Helton told Yahoo! Sports' Tim Brown he understands his career is coming to an end. "I realize I'm never going to be sitting here in this moment again," the 39-year-old Rockie said. "There are many factors in this. My family. What it's like to be away from home. I love everything about this, but the travel."
AL Notes: Lohse, Cano, Granderson, Orioles
MLBTR's Mark Polishuk examined the market for Kyle Lohse and wrote it would be very surprising to see the Royals make a move for him. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star agrees, even if a rash of injuries were to hit their starters, because the Royals are $10MM over their projected break-even point in payroll. Dutton adds James Shields, Ervin Santana, Jeremy Guthrie, and Wade Davis can't pitch poorly enough this spring to lose their spots in the rotation. Elsewhere around the American League:
- The Yankees will not let the way Alex Rodriguez's ten-year, $275MM contract has panned out affect their negotiations with Robinson Cano, GM Brian Cashman told ESPN Radio's Ian O'Connor (transcript courtesy of ESPNNewYork.com). "There's only so much you can spend, but we'll look at Robbie as an individual, not as it relates to whatever we're doing with Alex Rodriguez and our commitment and the regression we have experienced with Alex," said Cashman.
- The Yankees announced Curtis Granderson will miss the next ten weeks with a fractured right forearm after being hit with a pitch during today's Spring Training game. Non-roster invitees Matt Diaz and Juan Rivera plus minor leaguers Melky Mesa and Zoilo Almonte are the in-house candidates to replace the Yankees' leading home run hitter from a year ago, tweets the YES Network's Jack Curry.
- If the Yankees do go outside the organization to replace Granderson, they can find a better option toward the end of camp, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.
- A deal for Alfonso Soriano could make sense for the Yankees and the Cubs have made it clear to the industry they would be willing to pay much of the $36MM owed Soriano for the next two years, according to ESPN's Buster Olney (Twitter links).
- Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com asked if the Yankees turn to Vernon Wells to replace Granderson. If so, the Angels would still have to eat a majority of the $42MM due Wells over the next two years (Twitter links).
- Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters, including CSNBaltimore.com's Rich Dubroff, he's satisfied with the DH candidates already in camp and will not scour the free agent market. "We’re answering the questions here,” Showalter said. “We’re going to find it right here. We spent a lot of time getting this group in. We’re going to look in our backyard." Wilson Betemit is the main candidate to DH against right-handers while Russ Canzler and Danny Valencia are the favorites against left-handers. Dubroff also sees Nolan Reimold in the mix as well as regulars whom Showalter wants to give a breather.