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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Votto, Cain, Gordon, Luebke

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On this date in 2004, Luis Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks and Luis Gonzalez of the Rockies both hit home runs. It was only the second time in baseball history that two players with the same name went deep in the same game. The Ken Griffeys – Senior and Junior – hit back-to-back homers against the Angels in 1990. Here's the latest from around the baseball blogosphere, with a heavy dose of extension reactions…

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Largest Contracts In Draft History

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Baseball new collective bargaining agreement went to rather extreme lengths to restrict amateur spending, so the days of big money contracts for drafted players appear to be a thing of the past. Clubs are now given a "draft pool" based on their winning percentage, and they face stiff penalties if they spend more than allotted.

Teams were aware that these restrictions could be put in place, so they spared no expense on last year's draft, likely their final chance to spend freely. The 30 clubs combined to spend $236MM on the draft last year, the most in baseball history. Let's take a second to update our list of the largest contracts in draft history…

Major League Contracts

  1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (2009, 1st round/1st pick): Four years, $15.1MM. His $7.5MM signing bonus is no longer the draft record, however.
  2. Mark Prior, Cubs (2001, 1/2): Five years, $10.5MM. Prior exercised an opt-out clause near the end of the deal and instead filed for salary arbitration. He earned an extra $1.575MM by doing so.
  3. Bryce Harper, Nationals (2010, 1/1): Five years, $9.9MM. Includes a $6.25MM signing bonus that will be paid out in five installments.
  4. Mark Teixeira, Rangers (2001, 1/5): Four years, $9.5MM. His $4.5MM signing bonus was a draft record for six years.
  5. Danny Hultzen, Mariners (2011, 1/2): Five years, $8.5MM. The deal includes a $6.35MM signing bonus and escalators that could push the total value to $10.6MM.
  6. David Price, Rays (2007, 1/1): Six years, $8.5MM. Like Prior, Price opted out of the final year of his contract and filed for arbitration, earning an extra $2.85MM.
  7. Pat Burrell, Phillies (1998, 1/1): Five years, $8MM. The first of these mega-contracts for draftees.
  8. Dustin Ackley, Mariners (2009, 1/2): Five years, $7.5MM. There's another $2.5MM in incentives tied to how quickly he reached the majors.
  9. Rick Porcello, Tigers (2007, 1/27): Four years, $7.285MM. Porcello also opted out of his contract and filed for arbitration, earning an extra $1.756MM in the process.
  10. Anthony Rendon, Nationals (2011, 1/6): Four years, $7.2MM. All but $1.2MM of the guarantee comes in the form of a signing bonus.

The Hultzen and Rendon deals pushed J.D. Drew and Josh Beckett (both four years, $7MM) out of the top ten. Porcello's contract was designed to match but not exceed Beckett's by pro-rating his 2007 salary.

Big league contracts can no longer be handed out to drafted players according to the new CBA, so this list will not change until the current agreement expires at the earliest.

Minor League Contracts

  1. Gerrit Cole, Pirates (2011, 1/1): $8MM
  2. Bubba Starling, Royals (2011, 1/5): $7.5MM
  3. Jameson Taillon, Pirates (2010, 1/2): $6.5MM
  4. Donavan Tate, Padres (2009, 1/3): $6.25MM
  5. Buster Posey, Giants (2008, 1/5): $6.2MM
  6. Tim Beckham, Rays (2008, 1/1): $6.15MM
  7. Justin Upton, Diamondbacks (2005, 1/1): $6.1MM
  8. Matt Wieters, Orioles (2007, 1/5): $6MM
  9. Eric Hosmer, Royals (2008, 1/3): $6MM
  10. Joe Borchard, White Sox (2000, 1/12): $5.3MM

The Cole and Starling deals pushed Manny Machado and Zach Lee (both 2010 draft picks with $5.25MM bonuses) out of the top ten.

Make Or Break Year: Phil Hughes

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Phil Hughes is still only 25 years old, but the Yankees' right-hander has ridden the career roller coaster since making his debut in 2007. He knows what it's like to be a highly touted prospect, to deal with injury, to be a dominant setup man, a quality starter, an All-Star, a World Champion, and a disappointment. The 2012 season figures to be the most important season of his career.

Uspw_5541668After helping the Yankees to the 2009 World Series as Mariano Rivera's setup man, Hughes moved into the team's rotation in 2010 and rewarded them with an 18-8 record. That record had more to do with all the terrific run support he received, though the advanced metrics indicate that his performance was almost exactly league average. His 4.19 ERA was backed up by a 4.25 FIP. League average isn't too shabby for a 23-year-old in the AL East.

Because he had worked primarily as a reliever in 2009, Hughes threw 80 1/3 more innings in 2010 than he had the year before. He also showed up to camp overweight in 2011. The combination of being out of shape and having a big workload increase led to shoulder issues. Hughes missed the majority of last season and wasn't particularly effective when he was on the mound, pitching to a 5.79 ERA (4.58 FIP) in 74 2/3 innings. His fastball velocity was gone and his breaking ball had no bite.

After making $2.7MM as a first-time arbitration-eligible player last year, Hughes got a very slight raise to $3.2MM this year. He rededicated himself to conditioning this offseason and came to camp in much better shape, showing renewed life on his fastball and break on his curveball. He came back like the 2010 version of himself, and the Yankees rewarded him with a rotation spot thanks in part to Michael Pineda's sore shoulder.

That said, no one will care how Hughes looked in Spring Training during his first start of the season this weekend. He has to show that he's back to being an effective starter, because another disaster season like 2011 could very end with him being non-tendered in December. Hughes is scheduled to become a free agent after next season, when he'll still be just 27. An effective season this year and next could lead to a significant payday, so Hughes stands to gain or lose quite a bit in 2012.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

Rangers Working Towards Extension With Ian Kinsler

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The Rangers and Ian Kinsler are working towards a five-year contract extension worth approximately $14MM per season, reports ESPN's Jim Bowden (on Twitter). The deal would exercise his $10MM option for 2013 and tack the additional five years on top of it. The total package would be six years and approximately $80MM.

Kinsler, 29, called the negotiations a "very confusing process" earlier today. The new extension would eclipse Dan Uggla's five-year, $62MM guarantee with the Braves, but it would fall short of Chase Utley's second base record of seven years and $85MM. Kinsler's contract could impact talks between the Reds and Brandon Phillips, as well as the Yankees and Robinson Cano down the road.

Extension Rumors: Zack Greinke, Ian Kinsler

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The baseball world is still reeling from the two historic contract extensions handed out earlier this week. Here's the latest on two players in line for similar deals…

Quick Hits: Lannan, Payrolls, Moyer, Eveland

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Here are some links from around the league as Wednesday turns into Thursday…

  • John Lannan requested a trade earlier tonight, but MLB.com's Bill Ladson hears the Nationals aren't close to making a deal. They've talked to at least 20 teams about the southpaw, but his $5MM salary is a sticking point. Washington wants prospects or bench players in return.
  • Unsurprisingly, the Yankees top baseball with a $197.9MM payroll according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (Twitter links). It's their lowest payroll since 2007. The Padres bring up the rear at $53.9MM.
  • Nightengale reports (on Twitter) that Jamie Moyer will earn $1.1MM with the Rockies this season. The 49-year-old made the club after signing a minor league deal this winter.
  • Orioles GM Dan Duquette said there is no update on Dana Eveland, according to Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com (on Twitter). The left-hander was designated for assignment last week and they are still going through the process.
  • The Orioles are expected to acquire Chris Robinson, reports Melewski (on Twitter). The catcher hit .316/.345/.396 in 240 plate appearances while in the Cubs' farm system last year. He is now listed on the roster of Baltimore's Triple-A affilliate.

Dodgers Place Ronald Belisario On Restricted List

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The Dodgers have placed Ronald Belisario on the restricted list, the team announced. The move opens up a 40-man roster spot. Players on the restricted list do not accrue service time and do not always get paid.

Belisario, 29, was just activated off the restricted list two weeks ago. The right-hander hasn't pitched since the middle of 2010 due to a substance abuse problem, and he recently failed a drug test that requires him to serve a 25-game suspension at some point. Belisario owns a 3.36 ERA in 126 career innings, all with the Dodgers.

John Lannan Requests Trade

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John Lannan has told Nationals GM Mike Rizzo that he would like to be traded according to an email he sent to the media, including Amanda Comak of The Washington Times (Twitter link). The left-hander was recently optioned to Triple-A despite his $5MM salary.

"I believe that I belong in a big league rotation," said Lannan in an email according to Comak (on Twitter). The club's fifth starter job went to Ross Detwiler in the wake of Chien-Ming Wang's hamstring injury. A number of teams expressed interest in acquiring Lannan last month, but Rizzo held on to him while insisting for fair value in return. The Nationals are under no obligation to satisfy his request.

Phillies Interested In Mike Fontenot

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With Chase Utley on the shelf for the foreseeable future, the Phillies have shown interest in Mike Fontenot according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Giants released Fontenot last week.

Philadelphia has been looking for infield help over the last few weeks. Fontenot, 31, posted a .227/.304/.377 line in 252 plate appearances at second base, shortstop and third base last year The Fielding Bible Volume III suggests he provides adequate defense around the infield.

Yankees Designate Justin Maxwell For Assignment

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The Yankees have designated Justin Maxwell for assignment, reports Mark Feinsand of The New York Daily News (on Twitter). Maxwell is out of options.

Maxwell, 28, hit .260/.358/.588 with 16 homers and 11 steals in 204 Triple-A plate appearances last season before injuring his shoulder. The outfielder had a strong showing in Spring Training could get claimed off waivers.

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