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RotoAuthority.com: Our Fantasy Baseball Site Is Back

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RotoAuthority was my first website, launched in June 2005. The site was brimming with fantasy baseball analysis, often off the beaten path. My posts became sporadic as MLBTR grew, so in recent times I've recruited a team to ensure regular, high-quality content for 2013. The group includes Alex Steers McCrum, Bryan Grosnick, Mark Polishuk, and Steve Adams. We'll be covering everything you need to win your mixed league, including sleepers, busts, rankings, average draft position, and projections. Our newest posts:

Baseball Trade Rumors App Now Supports iPhone 5

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I'm pleased to announce our popular Baseball Trade Rumors app now supports the larger screen of the iPhone 5.  The app, which costs $2.99, also supports older iPhones as well as iPads.  It's a great way to read MLBTR posts on your phone ad-free, and also allows you to set up custom push notifications for players and/or teams.  Check out the Baseball Trade Rumors app today! 

If you're more of an Android type of person, check out that app here.

File And Trial Teams Take Tough Stance

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A flurry of MLB contract agreements came today, because noon central time marked the point at which teams and arbitration eligible players exchange salary figures if they have not yet reached a deal.

According to an MLB source, five teams treat that deadline as a firm one, meaning they will go to a hearing for all players with whom they have not yet reached an agreement.  These clubs, known as "file and trial" teams, are the Blue Jays, Braves, Marlins, Rays, and White Sox.  All arbitration eligible players from these teams have settled with the exception of the Braves' Martin Prado, who seems headed for a February hearing.  

Another four teams are considered file and trial by case: the Brewers, Pirates, Nationals, and Indians.  The definition of that is somewhat vague, but suffice it to say these teams are not afraid to go to a hearing.  The Nationals have had at least one hearing in each of the past seven years, aside from 2011.  They currently have one unsigned arbitration eligible player in Jordan Zimmermann.

Why do teams employ the file and trial or "file-to-go" strategy?  Three years ago, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian, "The thought was really it’s hopefully to encourage more dialogue in negotiations with the goal of continuing to avoid arbitration and continuing to try to get deals done and maybe bring both parties to the table a little bit sooner."  In asking a few executives around the game, there is a feeling that the file and trial stance forces agents to focus on a real number to represent the player's value, rather than an artifically inflated one chosen with the midpoint in mind.  

One agent told MLBTR that teams think the strategy puts more pressure on the agent, but it just makes him get ready earlier and become more resolute about his "walk away" number.  Another agent agreed that the file and trial strategy didn't force his hand, but noted that hearings can be more work on the agency side since almost all teams outsource their hearings.  Everyone seems to agree on one point: no one actually wants to go to a hearing.

Though 36 arbitration eligible players exchanged figures and remain unsigned at the moment, the vast majority will avoid a hearing and agree to a one-year or multiyear contract.  The days of 15-30 hearings per year seem long gone, as there hasn't been more than eight in one year since 2001.

D’Backs, Ian Kennedy Avoid Arbitration

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The Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with starting pitcher Ian Kennedy, signing him to a one-year, $4.265MM deal according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  Kennedy is represented by the Boras Corporation.  His salary is very strong for a first-time arbitration eligible starting pitcher, falling just $85K short of the record shared by David Price and Dontrelle Willis, while tying Jered Weaver (and matching Matt Swartz's projection for MLBTR spot-on).  However, the Reds' Mat Latos is expected to pass all of them.

Kennedy, 28, brought a strong first-time resume to the table, with a 3.76 career ERA and 46 wins across 684 regular season innings.  He's under team control through 2015.

Blue Jays, Thole Agree To Two-Year Deal

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The Blue Jays have agreed to a two-year, $2.5MM deal with catcher Josh Thole, announced the team.  The 26-year-old backstop had been arbitration eligible for the first of four times, as a Super Two player.  The Hendricks Sports client will earn $1.25MM in 2013 and the same in 2014, while the Jays hold a club option for 2015.  Thole would be arbitration eligible in 2016 before reaching free agency.  With this contract, essentially, Thole agreed to not receive a raise in his second arbitration year in exchange for the team guaranteeing that salary early.

Thole, 26, joined Toronto as part of December's R.A. Dickey trade with the Mets.

RotoAuthority.com Returns

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Did you finish last in your fantasy baseball league last year?  Maybe it's because your leaguemates started preparing in January, and you didn't!  Redeem yourself by checking out our fantasy baseball site RotoAuthority, which is already up and running with tons of great stuff:

Edwin Jackson Fits Cubs’ Short, Long-Term Needs

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The Cubs finalized the largest free agent deal of the Theo Epstein-Jed Hoyer regime today, a four-year, $52MM contract for 29-year-old righty Edwin Jackson.  The expenditure was the sixth-largest for any free agent this year, and the team's parallel pursuits of Jackson and Anibal Sanchez surprised those who thought the club would again tread lightly in free agency as part of a long-term rebuilding plan.  Cubs GM Jed Hoyer explained the rationale behind the signing with his opening remarks at Jackson's press conference:

"He pitched all of last year at 28 years old, he's been incredibly durable, had some really excellent seasons during his time in the big leagues, and we actually think his best days are ahead of him.  He fits very well on the team in 2013, but we think he fits even better going forward as a core member of what we're trying to build here in Chicago.  His talent, his age, and everything we learned about him as a teammate were all reasons we were excited to add him to the roster, and we're excited to go forward with Edwin as a big part of our club."  Hoyer made it clear that every individual season is "precious," and they're trying to build a winner every year.

Having played for seven teams in his career, Jackson has found some measure of stability with the four-year deal.  He told reporters, "It definitely feels great.  I think the most assuring part is that you have the chance to relax and know that you're going to be somewhere for a while and you don't have to feel like you have to prove yourself every year.  I think it's definitely going to help to just go out and have fun and not have to worry about anything else."  Jackson will finalize another long-term deal on Saturday, as he and fiancée Erika Zanders will be tying the knot.

Jackson had an explanation as to why he's played for so many teams, saying with a smile, "I think everyone likes me."  He never saw the movement as a negative; instead, all the trades made him feel wanted.  Hoyer offered another theory, noting, "a lot of his recent stops have been due to the inability to sign him to an extension."  Prior to this contract, Jackson had only signed one multiyear deal, a two-year pact covering only his final arbitration years.  Not coincidentally, Jackson was represented by the Boras Corporation for his previous contracts, an agency he dropped last summer for Legacy Sports Group.  Jackson preferred not to comment on his reason for leaving Boras, saying only that he had "no hard feelings."  Boras pushed Jackson to take a one-year, $11MM deal with the Nationals last February rather than a reported three-year offer in the $30MM range from the Pirates, a decision that ultimately paid off when the Cubs opened their checkbook.

Cubs To Sign Nate Schierholtz

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The Cubs agreed to a one-year deal with outfielder Nate Schierholtz, the team announced. The deal is worth $2.25MM with $500K in incentives, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, who first reported the agreement.  Schierholtz, 29 in February, was non-tendered by the Phillies last month.  He's represented by Lapa/Leventhal.

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Schierholtz hit .257/.321/.407 in 269 plate appearances for the Giants and Phillies this year, playing mostly right field.  He could assume that position for the Cubs, as they could use David DeJesus in center field.  Schierholtz has less than five years of Major League service time, so the Cubs will have the opportunity to retain him for 2014 as an arbitration eligible player if he has a solid campaign.  He's generally regarded as a strong defender, and the Cubs are in a position to give him 500 big league plate appearances for the first time in his career.  He was popular at the Winter Meetings, generating interest from the Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, Orioles, and Mets, according to Crasnick.  Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says Schierholtz even turned down a two-year offer in the $5MM range.

With Schierholtz, the Cubs have committed $90.05MM to nine free agents.  They have also agreed to sign Kyuji Fujikawa, Scott Feldman, Scott Baker, Dioner Navarro, Shawn Camp, Ian Stewart, Carlos Villanueva and Edwin Jackson.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.

Rockies Re-Sign Jeff Francis

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The Rockies have re-signed lefty Jeff Francis, the team announced (on Twitter). It's a one-year contract worth $1.5MM guaranteed with another $1.5M in incentives based on innings pitched. Francis is represented by Frontline.

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Francis, 31, was drafted in the first round by the Rockies in 2002 and remained with the club through 2010. After a year and a half detour with the Royals and Reds, he rejoined the organization last June and pitched 113 innings in the Majors. Francis had decent peripheral stats but, as usual, allowed a ton of hits. Among starters with at least 100 innings in 2012, Francis' 85.3 mile per hour average fastball velocity ranked fifth-lowest. He ranks second in Rockies franchise history with 61 wins, behind Aaron Cook.

Francis probably has a claim on a rotation spot to begin the year with the 2013 Rockies, who have Jorge De La Rosa and Jhoulys Chacin penciled in. The team augmented their bullpen a few weeks ago, acquiring reliever Wilton Lopez from Houston.

The Denver Post has the breakdown of the incentives. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick originally reported the agreement (Twitter links). Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire. Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Red Sox Sign Koji Uehara

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The Red Sox announced that they signed reliever Koji Uehara to a one-year deal.  Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News first reported the agreement, which includes a $4.25MM base salary, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter).  Uehara is represented by SFX.

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Uehara, 38 in April, posted a 1.75 ERA, 10.8 K/9, 0.8 BB/9, 1.00 HR/9, and 32.5% groundball rate in 36 innings this year, missing time with a strained lat muscle.  He'll join Andrew Bailey and Junichi Tazawa at the back end of Boston's bullpen.  Uehara came to MLB from Japan in 2009, and has dominated as a reliever when healthy despite an average fastball velocity below 89 miles per hour.  Among pitchers with at least 200 career innings, Uehara's 7.97 career K/BB ratio is the best in baseball history.  He ranked 35th on my top 50 free agents list.

The Red Sox have committed $150.95MM to free agents Uehara, Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, David Ortiz, Jonny Gomes, Ryan Dempster and David Ross this offseason.  However, Napoli's $39MM deal hasn't been announced, as there appears to be something holding the agreement up.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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