Mike Axisa | MLB Trade Rumors

Reds Agree To Extend Joey Votto

By Mike Axisa | April 2, 2012 at 6:01pm CDT

Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols won't be the only first basemen to cash in with historic contracts this offseason. Joey Votto and the Reds have agreed to a ten-year, $225MM contract extension according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The deal includes full no-trade protection. Dan Lozano of Icon Sports Group represents Votto.

The ten-year deal will keep Votto in Cincinnati through 2023 according to Nightengale, indicating that it's ten years on top of the two years left on his current deal. Votto signed a three-year, $38MM extension prior to last season. With this new deal, he is now under contract for the next 12 years at a total price of $251.5MM.

This is the fifth deal in MLB history to surpass the $200MM mark. Prince Fielder, Alex Rodriguez (twice), Albert Pujols, and now Votto make up the select group. This is also the largest contract ever signed by a non-free agent, surpassing Derek Jeter's ten-year, $189MM deal with the Yankees. Ben Nicholson-Smith suggested in January that an additional $161MM could be enough to keep Votto in place long-term. Though not directly related, the Dodgers' sale price of $2.15 billion can't have hurt Votto's leverage.

Votto, the 2010 NL MVP, has evolved into one of the game's elite players since debuting in 2007. He followed up his MVP season with a .309/.416/.531 line, 29 homers and 40 doubles. The 28-year-old has been a seven win player each of the past two seasons, according to FanGraphs' version of wins above replacement.

MLBTR's Tim Dierkes and Ben Nicholson-Smith first reported that the two sides were nearing an agreement. John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports all added details (all four Twitter links).

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

East Links: Pineda, Michaels, Banks, Larish, Branyan

By Mike Axisa | March 31, 2012 at 9:59pm CDT

Happy birthday to Jeff Mathis (29) and Chien-Ming Wang (32). Here's the latest from their respective divisions, the AL East and NL East…

Michael Pineda is headed to the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, but John Harper of The New York Daily News says the trade was still the right move for the Yankees even if the right-hander won't pay dividends right away.
Nationals manager Davey Johnson told reporters (including MLB.com's Bill Ladson) that the team is close to bringing Jason Michaels back. Washington released the outfielder earlier this week.
The Orioles released a handful of minor leaguers according to Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com (on Twitter). Among those released were former big leaguers Josh Banks and Jeff Larish.
The Yankees saved about two months of salary by releasing Russell Branyan and re-signing him to a new minor league deal yesterday, reports MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

Rays Acquire Kyle Hudson

By Mike Axisa | March 31, 2012 at 9:14pm CDT

The Rays have acquired outfielder Kyle Hudson from the Rangers for future considerations, reports Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News (on Twitter). Texas signed him to a minor league deal back in January.

The 25-year-old hit .296/.375/.336 line with 41 stolen bases in 485 minor league plate appearances last season. Hudson also appeared in 14 Major League games for the Orioles as a September callup.

Central Links: Axford, Tigers, Hosmer

By Mike Axisa | March 31, 2012 at 8:16pm CDT

Three years ago today, the Reds traded Jeff Keppinger to the Astros for a player to be named later. That player ended up being Drew Sutton. Here's the latest from baseball's two Central divisions…

"I don't care if it does," said John Axford to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy when asked if he minds if extensions talks with the Brewers carry over into the regular season. "I'm open to still talking [during the season], for sure, and it doesn't affect me if we don't talk."
"What I'm telling you is that we don't definitely have any trades in place," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland to MLB.com's Jason Beck. Detroit appears to be taking as much time as possible before announcing their final roster moves.
With Alex Gordon now signed to an extension, the Royals will try to convince Eric Hosmer to sign a long-term deal according to ESPN's Buster Olney (Insider req'd). I looked at Hosmer as an extension candidate in January, but the first baseman recently said he's not in a rush to sign a new deal.

D’Backs Retain Brett Lorin In Trade With Pirates

By Mike Axisa | March 31, 2012 at 7:03pm CDT

The Diamondbacks will retain Rule 5 Draft pick Brett Lorin after acquiring his rights from the Pirates for Robby Rowland, the team announced (on Twitter). Lorin has been outrighted off Arizona's 40-man roster.

Lorin, 25, has allowed three runs in nine innings this spring. He pitched to a 2.84 ERA in 117 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh's Single-A affiliate last season, striking out 7.6 batters per nine while walking 1.5 per nine. The D'Backs would have had to place Lorin on waivers and offer him back to the Pirates had he not remained on their 25-man active roster all season.

Rowland, 20, was Arizona's third round pick in 2010. He owns a 7.01 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 122 low-level minor league innings in his brief career. Baseball America ranked Lorin as the D'Backs' 28th best prospect in their 2012 Prospect Handbook, but Rowland did not make the cut. Both pitchers are right-handed.

Update On This Year’s Rule 5 Draft Picks

By Mike Axisa | March 31, 2012 at 5:49pm CDT

Players selected in the annual Rule 5 Draft must remain on their new team's 25-man active roster all season, or be passed through waivers and offered back to their original club. Here's an update on the 12 players taken in December's draft…

Rhiner Cruz, RHP, Astros (from Mets) — Competing with Henry Sosa and Lucas Harrell for the final bullpen spot.
Terry Doyle, RHP, Twins (from White Sox) — Returned to ChiSox earlier this month.
Lucas Luetge, LHP, Mariners (from Brewers) — Luetge made Seattle's Opening Day roster.
Ryan Flaherty, IF, Orioles (from Cubs) — Flaherty is the favorite for Baltimore's utility infield job.
Cesar Cabral, LHP Yankees (from Red Sox via Royals) — Cabral suffered a stress fracture in his elbow last night and will start the season on the DL.
Lendy Castillo, RHP, Cubs (from Phillies) — The Cubs are expected to carry Castillo on their roster to start the season.
Gustavo Nunez, IF, Pirates (from Tigers) — Nunez was placed on the 60-day DL with an ankle injury back in February.
Robert Fish, LHP, Braves (from Angels) — Fish is battling a sore elbow and is headed to see Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion.
Erik Komatsu, OF, Cardinals (from Nationals) — The Cardinals will carry Komatsu as an extra outfielder to start the season.
Marwin Gonzalez, IF, Astros (from Cubs via Red Sox) — Gonzalez's chances of making the team appear to depend on the health of Jed Lowrie's thumb.
Brett Lorin, RHP, Diamondbacks (from Pirates) — Arizona will retain Lorin after a trade with the Pirates.
Brad Meyers, RHP, Yankees (from Nationals) — Meyers injured his shoulder during an offseason workout and has not appeared in a game this spring.

Phillies Still Looking For Infield Help

By Mike Axisa | March 31, 2012 at 12:45pm CDT

Despite signing Andres Blanco earlier today, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro said they "still have our eyes and ears open" for infield help according to ESPN's Jayson Stark (on Twitter). Chase Utley is having knee problems and Placido Polanco is just coming back from a finger issue.

The Giants recently released Mike Fontenot, though the Phillies seem to be targeting infielders on minor league contracts. Freddy Galvis will take over second base full-time while Ty Wigginton provides emergency infield depth.

White Sox Sign Conor Jackson

By Mike Axisa | March 31, 2012 at 11:38am CDT

The White Sox have signed Conor Jackson to a minor league contract, reports Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). The SFX client was assigned to Triple-A.

Jackson, 29, was released by the Rangers earlier this month. He hit .244/.310/.341 in 390 plate appearances for the Athletics and Red Sox last year. Jackson has plenty of experience in both outfield corners and first base, and he typically does his best work against left-handed pitchers.

Minor Moves: Jamie Hoffmann, Andres Blanco

By Mike Axisa | March 31, 2012 at 11:21am CDT

Let's keep track of Saturday's minor moves right here as we get closer and closer to Opening Day…

The Orioles have signed Jamie Hoffmann to a minor league deal, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com (on Twitter). The 27-year-old outfielder elected free agency after being outrighted by the Rockies earlier this month. Hoffmann battled illness this spring and struggled in games.
The Phillies have signed Andres Blanco to a minor league contract, the team announced (on Twitter). The 27-year-old opted out of his minor league deal with the Nationals at some point in the last ten hours or so. Blanco is a .255/.301/.333 career hitter in 654 plate appearances, and has experience all over the infield. The Phillies are trying to add infield depth following Chase Utley's latest knee problems.

Cubs Looking For Bullpen Help

By Mike Axisa | March 31, 2012 at 9:21am CDT

The Cubs are looking for bullpen help now that right-hander Jeff Samardzija has won a spot in the rotation, reports ESPN's Buster Olney (on Twitter). Chicago recently set their rotation by optioning Travis Wood and Randy Wells to Triple-A.

Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood make a fine end-game duo, but the rest of the Cubs' relief corps will feature guys like James Russell, Casey Coleman, and Rule 5 Draft pick Lendy Castillo. There are more clubs looking to buy bullpen depth this time of year than shop it, so it doesn't figure to be easy for the north-siders to shore up their middle relief situation.

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