2012 Contract Issues: Cleveland Indians
The Indians are next in our 2012 Contract Issues series.
Eligible For Free Agency (4)
- The signings of free agents Austin Kearns, Orlando Cabrera, Chad Durbin, Adam Everett to one-year deals pretty much represent Chris Antonetti's first offseason as GM. It's too early to say whether these veterans will have trade value or be worthy of re-signing or an arbitration offer. One thing we can say is that the 2012 Indians aren't faced with any major losses.
Contract Options (2)
- Grady Sizemore: $9MM club option with a $500K buyout. Sizemore's option, devised over five years ago, makes him most valuable to the Indians. He gets a $500K assignment bonus if traded, plus it appears that his 2012 salary might increase to $9.9MM. More importantly, the club option changes to a player one if he's dealt, so a team can't acquire Sizemore with his 2012 season in mind. Yesterday was a promising season debut for Sizemore, and if he has a vintage year and the team stays in contention he could remain with the Tribe for 2012.
- Fausto Carmona: $7MM club option, arbitration eligible if declined. Though it's technically possible, I can't see the Indians declining the option and tendering Carmona a contract, since he'd make more than $7MM that way. If he provides 200 credible innings again this will be an easy decision to pick up, and the team also has options for '13 and '14.
Arbitration Eligible (10)
- First time: Justin Masterson, Travis Buck, Jack Hannahan, Tony Sipp, Justin Germano
- Second time: Shin-Soo Choo, Chris Perez, Asdrubal Cabrera, Joe Smith
- Third time: Rafael Perez
A few players here will fall short of the necessary service time. Sipp projects to be eight days short of the projected Super Two cutoff, but you never know. Masterson, Choo, Perez, and Cabrera are the big ones here, as they'll all be much more expensive next year.
2012 Payroll Obligation
The Indians have a payroll obligation of $13MM for 2012, according to Cot's, with Travis Hafner accounting for all of it. Under a scenario where the Indians aren't selling off pieces in July and both players are reasonably effective, we can add another $16MM for Sizemore and Carmona. I'll estimate another $20MM for the aforementioned four big arbitration eligible names, putting the team at $49MM. That's the exact number Cot's has for the 2011 payroll, but of course there are additional arbitration eligible players, and even those making the league minimum account for millions in total. Though their season is not even 10% done, it'd be exciting to see the Indians contend all year and then make an offseason push for a few significant veteran reinforcements.
MLBTR’s Agency Database
MLBTR's agency database is constantly updated with the latest representation changes. For example, the database reflects our early morning tweet that Rays righty Jeff Niemann is now with Hendricks Sports as he awaits his first arbitration year, rather than CAA. Casey Close's move to Excel Sports Management is in the database as well. If you're ever wondering about a player's agent, MLBTR's database is the best resource on the web.
While we're on the topic, we're attempting to determine who represents Jonathan Herrera, Alexi Ogando, Jay Gibbons, and Tom Wilhelmsen, so please email mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com if you know the answer.
Cardinals Acquire Victor Marte
The Cardinals acquired reliever Victor Marte from the Royals for future considerations, tweets Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Marte, 30, posted a 3.32 ERA, 6.4 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, and 0.7 HR/9 in 40 2/3 Triple-A relief innings last year. Marte was signed by the Royals as an amateur free agent over ten years ago; he logged time in Japan at one point.
Jeremy Reed Clears Waivers
WEDNESDAY: Reed cleared waivers and has accepted a Triple-A assignment, tweets Haudricourt.
MONDAY: The Brewers designated outfielder Jeremy Reed for assignment, the team announced today. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy was reinstated from the DL in a corresponding move, and the team's 40-man roster stands at 39.
Reed, a former top prospect, turns 30 in June. He made the Opening Day roster as a pinch-hitter after a strong spring, but was hitless in seven regular season plate appearances. Talking to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Brewers GM Doug Melvin explained the choice to cut Reed and go with three catchers for the time being. The GM also noted that Reed has until Wednesday to tell the team whether he'll declare free agency.
The Brewers will have a tough decision to make when Corey Hart returns from the DL, as catchers George Kottaras and Wil Nieves are out of options and Haudricourt says one of them could be on the bubble.
Largest Contracts By Service Time
MLBTR's Mike Axisa looked at the largest contracts by service time a year ago; it's time for an update.
Less Than One Year
Position Player: Ryan Braun. Eight years, $45MM.
Pitcher: C.C. Sabathia. Four years, $9.5MM.
One To Two Years
Position Player: Chris Young. Five years, $28MM.
Pitcher: Fausto Carmona. Four years, $15MM.
Two To Three Years
Position Player: Carlos Gonzalez. Seven years, $80MM.
Pitcher: Trevor Cahill. Five years, $30.5MM.
Three To Four Years
Position Player: Albert Pujols. Seven years, $100MM.
Pitcher: Scott Kazmir. Three years, $28.5MM.
Four To Five Years
Position Player: Troy Tulowitzki. Ten years, $157.75MM.
Pitcher: Justin Verlander. Five years, $80MM.
Five To Six Years
Position Player: Derek Jeter. Ten years, $189MM.
Pitcher: Roy Oswalt. Five years, $73MM.
Six-plus Years
Position Player: Alex Rodriguez. Ten years, $275MM.
Pitcher: C.C. Sabathia. Seven years, $161MM.
Commentary…
- In the year since Mike's post, our Transaction Tracker shows 39 extensions for arbitration eligible players. Three of those were record-breakers: Trevor Cahill jumped ahead of Yovani Gallardo and Ricky Romero, Carlos Gonzalez topped Hanley Ramirez, and Troy Tulowitzki replaced Miguel Cabrera.
- No new zero-to-one players signed multiyear deals. If players such as Starlin Castro or Carlos Santana were to sign right now it'd still be tough to top Braun.
- Brett Anderson and Wade Davis signed similar contracts in the one-to-two class, but neither beat Carmona.
- Kazmir's contract seems like an anomaly leading the three-to-four pitchers, with several two-to-three pitchers getting larger guarantees. Kazmir's record was threatened this winter by Johnny Cueto's $27MM deal, though the two contracts cover different slices of the pitchers' careers. Perhaps three-to-four is a no man's land for multiyear pitcher deals, as the pitcher is at that point willing to see what he'll get his first time through the arbitration process.
- The free agent records set by Alex Rodriguez and C.C. Sabathia could be threatened this offseason by Albert Pujols and Sabathia again.
2012 Contract Issues: Florida Marlins
The Marlins are next in our 2012 Contract Issues series.
Eligible For Free Agency (4)
- Javier Vazquez's lost 2010 season with the Yankees allowed the Marlins to get him on a one-year deal. Can he re-establish himself?
- Omar Infante was a key component to the Dan Uggla deal. A strong season could cement him as a regular and result in the best contract of his career.
- Bench players Wes Helms and Greg Dobbs also project as free agents.
Contract Options (0)
Arbitration Eligible (9)
- First time: Chris Coghlan, Donnie Murphy, Brian Sanches, John Baker
- Second time: Clay Hensley, Edward Mujica, Burke Badenhop
- Third time: Anibal Sanchez, Leo Nunez
Not all of these players will make it to the point of being tendered a contract. Coghlan and Hensley will still be affordable. With Vazquez up for free agency, Sanchez will probably be retained even in the $6MM range. Nunez might be a tough sell for the Marlins at a price exceeding $5MM.
2012 Payroll Obligation
The Marlins' 2012 payroll obligation is $45.75MM, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts, with Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson, and Ricky Nolasco leading the way. With the new stadium the team's payroll could rise to $70MM, but arbitration eligible players could account for more than $15MM, leaving the team with less than $10MM to work with. Of course $70MM is just one reporter's speculation, and trading or non-tendering Sanchez and/or Nunez would free up money.
Rangers Expected To Sign Leonys Martin Today
The Rangers are expected to sign Cuban outfielder Leonys Martin today for a signing bonus in the neighborhood of $15MM, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Martin, who will receive a 40-man roster spot, took his physical yesterday. Grant believes Martin could become a Major League option at some point this season.
The 23-year-old outfielder became a free agent last month after defecting from Cuba last year and establishing residency in Mexico. Back in September, Baseball America's John Manuel wrote that Martin's "best tools are his speed and defense." ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. tweeted in March that Martin is "considered an elite prospect."
Offseason In Review: Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are next in our Offseason In Review series.
Major League Signings
- Cliff Lee, SP: five years, $120MM. Includes $27.5MM vesting option for 2016 with a $12.5MM buyout.
- Jose Contreras, RP: two years, $5.5MM. Includes $2.5MM club option for 2013 with a $500K buyout.
- J.C. Romero, RP: one year, $1.35MM.
- Total spend: $126.85MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
Trades and Claims
- Claimed IF/OF Michael Martinez from Nationals in Rule 5 draft
- Acquired 2B Albert Cartwright from Astros for RP Sergio Escalona
- Claimed RP Brian Schlitter off waivers from Yankees
Notable Losses
Summary
The Phillies pulled off the surprise of the offseason, righting a past wrong and adding Cliff Lee to an already-strong rotation. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. stretched his payroll to accommodate Lee, so the signing sums up most of the team's offseason. Given all of their recent success, the Phillies extended Amaro in March, just after he'd extended manager Charlie Manuel.
The Phillies made an attempt to re-sign Werth, reportedly offering three years and $48MM plus a vesting option. With Werth ultimately landing a seven-year, $126MM deal, the Phillies' offer appears half-hearted. Still, plenty of people pegged Werth for something like four years and $65MM heading into the offseason, and with that in mind the player's biggest concession to the Phillies would have been accepting a fourth-year vesting option.
No one predicted the Phillies would sign Lee, and reports of a Mystery Team in the mix in December were initially scoffed at. Technically Lee left a guaranteed $28MM on the table to sign with his preferred team, though this wasn't Andre Dawson giving the Cubs a blank check. Lee's $24MM a year salary is higher than it would have been had he taken a seven-year offer from the Yankees or six years from the Rangers, and it's a record for pitchers.
The Phillies checked the "bill me later" box on the Lee contract, designing it to pay him only $11MM in 2011 before his salary jumps past $20MM thereafter. They also potentially left the biggest bill for 2016, the lefty's age 37 season. A $27.5MM option for 2016 vests if Lee is not on the disabled list at end of 2015 season with injury to left elbow or left shoulder, and has 200 innings pitched in 2015 or 400 innings pitched in 2014-15. If the option does not vest, the Phillies will presumably take the buyout, which at $12.5MM is the biggest I've even seen. Hopefully those numbers won't look as scary entering the 2016 season.
Prior to the Lee deal, the Phillies re-signed Contreras to a two-year deal. Even at his age the contract doesn't look bad now, in light of the ten eight-figure contracts given to free agent relievers later in the offseason.
The Phillies appear light at second base, right field, and the bullpen this point, though the injuries to Chase Utley, Domonic Brown, and Brad Lidge didn't happen until Spring Training. I don't see much Amaro should have done differently during the offseason. Adding a Jerry Hairston Jr. or Willie Bloomquist just to be safe wouldn't have made much difference. Perhaps Amaro could've dabbled a little on the low end of the relief market, nabbing a Jon Rauch, Dan Wheeler, or Chad Qualls in the $3MM range. I liked that Amaro held onto Joe Blanton rather than doing some kind of salary dump deal.
Amaro put all his eggs in the Cliff Lee basket this offseason, and it's hard to find fault with that. The Phillies' rotation appears historically good. It's possible all the big salaries will limit flexibility this year and in the near future, though Amaro always seems to find a few million bucks in the couch cushions when needed.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Carlos Delgado To Announce Retirement
Carlos Delgado will announce his retirement tomorrow, tweets Noel Pineiro of El Nuevo Día.
Back in February, Delgado told MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez he did not want to retire, which is why he went through multiple hip surgeries. He last played in the Majors in May of 2009.
Delgado finishes with a strong .280/.383/.546 line with 473 home runs across 17 seasons with the Blue Jays, Marlins, and Mets. His OBP ranks 149th all-time, while his slugging percentage ranks 28th. We know him as a first baseman, though Delgado caught in the minors and played left field early in his big league career.
He earned almost $150MM in his career, according to Baseball Reference. Alex Rodriguez has been the highest paid player in baseball since December of 2000, but Delgado is the most recent player besides Rodriguez to have had that distinction. The David Sloane client signed a four-year, $68MM deal that briefly made him the highest paid player in the game after the 2000 season.
Stark On Edwin Jackson, Royals, Playoffs
The latest from ESPN's Jayson Stark…
- Stark writes that Mark Buehrle is "widely expected to re-up with the White Sox," leaving a thin free agent market for starting pitchers next winter if Roy Oswalt and Chris Carpenter have their options picked up and C.J. Wilson re-signs with the Rangers. As I suggested last month, Scott Boras client Edwin Jackson could move to the head of the non-Sabathia class. One NL executive said to Stark, "Scott will make him sound like Walter Johnson. But how many teams has this guy been on?"
- The Royals' payroll could eventually rise as the Twins' did if all goes according to plan, team officials have been telling people in the game.
- Regarding the current labor negotiations, Stark hears that owners want a one-game playoff between the two wild card teams, while the players want a best-of-three. Which would you prefer?