Mauer’s Agent Arrives At Twins’ Camp
As expected, uncovering details on the Joe Mauer extension talks has proven difficult. Still, La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune learned that Mauer's agent Ron Shapiro arrived at Twins' camp in Fort Myers, Florida. Neal explains:
While it's being shaped as Shapiro's annual visit to spring training, the sides are expected to hold face-to-face discussions about the future of the Twins' MVP catcher.
In a slightly pessimistic note, Neal speaks of "indications that progress has slowed recently." But don't worry Twins fans, SI's Jon Heyman (Twitter) and ESPN's Buster Olney both speak of optimism about these talks. Neal still contends that no deadlines have been set. Yahoo's Jeff Passan reported on November 30th that Mauer "plans on ending contract negotiations if a deal isn't struck by the end of spring training."
Tom Tango of Inside The Book recently tackled Mauer's value in an ESPN article, and determined that somewhere between $145-176MM would be appropriate for eight years.
Offseason In Review: Seattle Mariners
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Mariners.
Major League Signings
- Chone Figgins, 3B: four years, $36MM. Includes $9MM vesting option for 2014.
- Jack Wilson, SS: two years, $10MM.
- Ken Griffey Jr., DH: one year, $2.35MM.
- Erik Bedard, SP: one year, $1.5MM. Includes $8MM mutual option for 2011 with a $250K buyout.
- Ryan Garko, 1B: one year, $550K.
- Ryan Langerhans, OF: one year, $525K.
- Eric Byrnes, OF: one year, $400K.
- Total spend: $51.325MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
- Wes Littleton, Jesus Colome, Chad Cordero, Mike Koplove, David Pauley, Yusmeiro Petit, Steven Shell, Levale Speigner, Eliezer Alfonzo, Josh Bard, Guillermo Quiroz, Brad Nelson, Josh Wilson, Chris Woodward, Corey Patterson, Mike Sweeney, Pedro Okuda
Extensions
- Felix Hernandez, SP: five years, $78MM.
- Franklin Gutierrez, CF: four years, $20.25MM. Includes $7.5MM club option for 2014 with a $500K buyout.
Trades and Claims
- Claimed P Yusmeiro Petit off waivers from Diamondbacks
- Claimed Rule 5 pick P Kanekoa Texeira from Yankees
- Acquired SP Cliff Lee from Phillies for P Phillippe Aumont, P J.C. Ramirez, and OF Tyson Gillies
- Acquired OF Milton Bradley from Cubs for SP Carlos Silva and $9MM
- Acquired RP Brandon League and OF Johermyn Chavez for P Brandon Morrow
- Acquired 1B Casey Kotchman from Red Sox for 3B Bill Hall
- Claimed 1B Tommy Everidge off waivers from Athletics
Notable Losses
- Adrian Beltre, Russell Branyan, Kenji Johjima, Endy Chavez, Bill Hall, Phillippe Aumont, J.C. Ramirez, Tyson Gillies, Carlos Silva, Brandon Morrow, Chris Shelton, Miguel Batista, Roy Corcoran, Randy Messenger, Gaby Hernandez, Robert Manuel, Chris Jakubauskas, Justin Thomas
Summary
The Mariners' offseason kicked off with a big positive on October 19th: they were freed of the $16MM left on Kenji Johjima's contract. GM Jack Zduriencik went on to remake his team, spending over $51MM on free agent contracts and acquiring Lee, Bradley, League, and Kotchman via trade.
The Mariners spent big on their two extensions, guaranteeing almost $100MM to Felix and Gutierrez. It's hard to argue with securing one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Gutierrez extension made me shrug – the savings over going year-to-year probably weren't big.
Most of the free agent spending was used to lock down the left side of the infield with two plus defenders in Figgins and Wilson. Figgins brings on-base skills as well, and should be worth the commitment.
On a team projected to have one of the worst offenses in the AL, the Griffey signing strikes me as unwise. Bradley, at least, comes with the promise of his 2007-08 seasons. By signing Griffey and acquiring Kotchman, the Ms didn't add much hitting at traditionally offensive spots. Could that $5.8MM have gone toward a more productive free agent bat or two? Zduriencik got three seasons of League plus a prospect for Morrow; were no interesting hitters being offered? The Mariners must have decided that Morrow could not provide 25 respectable starts in 2010.
The front end of the Ms rotation, of course, looks fantastic. Acquiring Lee, who was hardly known to be available, was a huge win for the Mariners. The rotation lacks depth; Bedard can't be counted on for 100 innings. The bright side is that projection systems think Ryan Rowland-Smith and Ian Snell can provide over 325 innings of 4.30 ball. If they stumble, a midseason acquisition may be necessary.
The Mariners have some similarities to their division rival A's – questionable offenses, plus defenses. It wouldn't be surprising to see a tight AL West race with all four clubs in the mix.
Royals Claim Gaby Hernandez
Pitcher Gaby Hernandez continues to bounce around, as the Royals claimed him off waivers from the Red Sox today according to a team press release. The Mariners designated Hernandez for assignment upon signing Ryan Garko. The Red Sox claimed Hernandez, but then designated him upon claiming Casey Fien.
Hernandez, 24 in May, posted a 5.23 ERA, 6.0 K/9, and 3.0 BB/9 in 146.3 Triple A innings last year. Heading into the '09 season, Baseball America wrote that Hernandez "flashes three average or better pitches, but he often tries to be so fine that his stuff plays down." At the time, BA suggested he could still become a No. 4 or No. 5 starter.
Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Rankings
RotoAuthority ranks the outfielders; check it out.
Heyman On Adrian, Jeter, Hamilton
SI's Jon Heyman leads his latest column with a discussion about Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who he feels is likely to be shopped hard at this year's trade deadline. I've noted before that Gonzalez's market should not be limited to big-spending clubs, as he's set to earn just $10.25MM for 2010-11. It's fitting that Heyman believes as many as 10 to 12 teams already inquired, including the Red Sox, Mets, Mariners, and Dodgers. On to Heyman's other rumors…
- Heyman spoke to "two executives from competing teams" who believe Derek Jeter "could ask for a six-year deal." The idea is that a six-year extension would take Jeter to age 42, as Alex Rodriguez's contract does.
- Heyman notes that Josh Hamilton turned down a four-year, $24MM offer from the Rangers last year. The security might've made sense for Hamilton given his injury problems.
- One executive Heyman spoke to believes the availability of decent free agents, perhaps continuing into the season, could reduce trading.
D’Backs, Justin Upton Finalize Multiyear Deal
Justin Upton and the Diamondbacks finalized a six-year deal that will pay the outfielder $51.25MM. The extension, which the club is expected to announce tomorrow, begins with the 2010 season and runs through 2015. SI's Jon Heyman tweeted the year-by-year salary breakdown: $20.75MM for Upton's three arbitration years, and over $14MM for each free agent year. Each year Upton can also choose four teams to which he cannot be traded.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the deal, Ken Davidoff of Newsday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic and SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted contract details and Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted that the deal was finalized and confirmed financial details.
Though he's only 22, Upton had a breakout 2009 with a .300/.366/.532 line. Such production at that age brings Hall of Fame comparisons. Upton would have been arbitration-eligible after the 2010 season, so this deal buys out two free agent seasons.
A six-year deal in the $50MM range would be a bargain for the D'Backs. Miguel Cabrera, for example, will be paid about $74MM for the same slice of his career. Andruw Jones made $57.4MM, and his extension was signed nine years ago. Nick Markakis, though, will earn about $47MM for the same portion of his career.
Offseason In Review: Oakland Athletics
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Athletics.
Major League Signings
- Ben Sheets, SP: one year, $10MM.
- Coco Crisp, CF: one year, $5.5MM. Includes $5.75MM option for 2011 with a $500K buyout.
- Jack Cust, LF/DH: one year, $2.65MM.
- Justin Duchscherer, SP: one year, $2MM.
- Gabe Gross, OF: one year, $750K.
- Total spend: $20.9MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
Extensions
- Michael Wuertz, RP: two years, $5.25MM. Includes $3.25MM club option for 2012 with a $250K buyout.
Trades and Claims
- Acquired 3B/OF Jake Fox, 2B Aaron Miles, and $1MM from Cubs for P Jeff Gray, P Ronny Morla, and OF Matt Spencer
- Claimed Rule 5 pick P Bobby Cassevah from Angels
- Acquired OF Michael Taylor for 1B Brett Wallace
- Acquired 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff and 2B Eric Sogard from Padres for OF Aaron Cunningham and OF Scott Hairston
- Claimed 2B Steve Tolleson off waivers from Twins
- Acquired IF Adam Rosales and OF Willy Taveras from Reds for 2B Aaron Miles
- Traded P Dana Eveland to Blue Jays for cash
Notable Losses
- Adam Kennedy, Bobby Crosby, Scott Hairston, Aaron Cunningham, Willy Taveras, Aaron Miles, Jeff Gray, Matt Spencer, Ronny Morla, Nomar Garciaparra, Edgar Gonzalez, Santiago Casilla, Dana Eveland, Kevin Cameron, Jay Marshall, Tommy Everidge, Brett Wallace
Summary
This was an offseason of risk-taking for GM Billy Beane and company. Three-year offers to Adrian Beltre and Marco Scutaro were rejected, but the A's succeeded in committing $17.5MM to Sheets, Duchscherer, and Crisp. The pitchers tallied zero big league innings in 2009, while Crisp managed 49 games.
To be fair, Duchscherer at $2MM isn't a huge risk, even as he begins his season with back and hip pain. That Casey Close found a $10MM guarantee for Sheets after the pitcher missed all of 2009 due to elbow surgery is surprising. Perhaps the A's considered overpaying for Sheets their best route to importing an ace for 2010. There's also the added benefit of trading him midseason if necessary. The ace alternatives included trading for Roy Halladay, Javier Vazquez, or Cliff Lee, or signing John Lackey.
The A's must love Crisp's defense as much as the Red Sox once did, to make a $5.5MM commitment despite the player's two shoulder surgeries in 2009. The club option is the silver lining on that contract. An outfield of Crisp, Rajai Davis, and Ryan Sweeney could be spectacular defensively, and the Taylor-Wallace swap fits this theme.
Beane dealt from an area of strength to get Kouzmanoff, a credible third baseman. To acquire Fox and Rosales, the cost was mostly the $2.6MM or so lost on Taveras' salary, as the A's can do without Gray, Morla, and Spencer. Fox is a right-handed Cust without the walks, but at least the A's control the former Cub through 2015 if they choose. Rosales can theoretically fill a utility infield role that would've cost a million or more to fill in free agency anyway.
The A's will need stellar pitching and defense to win the AL West, because their offense projects to be in the bottom half of the league again. Even past their expected Opening Day rotation, most A's starters project to post ERAs in the low 4.00s and have the upside for more. The bullpen could be the league's best once again. The A's look like they have a shot this year, especially if they have the flexibility to trade for a bat midseason. I should warn you, though, that I liked the A's heading into 2009 as well.
Red Sox Notes: Ortiz, Victor Martinez
A few Red Sox bullet points today…
- David Ortiz told Dennis & Callahan he'd like to play three or four more years, and wants to finish his career with the Red Sox. In my opinion, for that to happen, Ortiz will need to be willing to go one year at a time and also sign for much less than his $12.5MM 2011 club option.
- Also on Dennis & Callahan, catcher Victor Martinez said he has not discussed an extension with the Red Sox yet.
- In an article for Baseball America, Maury Brown notes that the Red Sox exceeded the luxury tax threshold four times but only paid a total of $13.86MM. Maury's article concerns the luxury tax and revenue sharing in general; check it out.
Jorge De La Rosa Enters Walk Year
Between big league stops with the Brewers, Royals, and Rockies, lefty Jorge de la Rosa has managed to rack up more than five years of service time. It follows that he'll be eligible for free agency after this season, at age 29.
De La Rosa's overall work for the Rockies last year was solid – 4.38 ERA, 9.4 K/9, 4.0 BB/9. His control needs polish, but an under-30 southpaw averaging 93 mph and a strikeout per inning should be a hot commodity on the free agent market.
Will De La Rosa join a 2011 free agent market that's projected to include Josh Beckett, Cliff Lee, Ted Lilly, Javier Vazquez, and Brandon Webb? Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd had discussions this offseason with De La Rosa's agent Bobby Barrett, but O'Dowd told Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post:
"We were just light years apart on where they saw him at this stage of his career and what our risk tolerance was. That's not something we think is out of our reach. It's just that we would be a lot more comfortable seeing it again."
Armstrong says the Rockies' offer was in the three-year, $11MM range. The offer seems pretty light, since the arbitration-eligible De La Rosa commanded half of that amount in 2010 alone. However, De La Rosa feels gratitiude for the opportunity the Rockies provided him, and he wants to return. As O'Dowd notes, a huge 2010 for De La Rosa is a double-edged sword in that it'll help the Rockies now but make retaining him "somewhat problematic."
Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Angels
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Angels.
Major League Signings
- Bobby Abreu, RF: two years, $19MM. Includes $9MM option for 2012 with a $1MM buyout; can vest based on plate appearances.
- Joel Pineiro, SP: two years, $16MM.
- Fernando Rodney, RP: two years, $11MM.
- Hideki Matsui, DH: one year, $6MM.
- Total spend: $52MM.
Minor League Signings
Extensions
- Maicer Izturis, IF: three years, $10MM.
Trades and Claims
- Acquired RP Brian Stokes for OF Gary Matthews Jr. and $21.5MM.
Notable Losses
- John Lackey, Chone Figgins, Vladimir Guerrero, Darren Oliver, Gary Matthews Jr., Shane Loux, Dustin Moseley, Kelvim Escobar
Summary
My first reaction after reviewing the Angels' offseason is that this wasn't a great way to spend $52MM. GM Tony Reagins appears to have overpaid several of his free agent signings.
Like many November deals in recent years, the Abreu contract looked OK at the time and worse as the offseason developed. There's a very good chance his 2012 option vests and this becomes a three-year, $27MM deal for a questionable defender who turns 36 in March. CHONE projects a .273/.368/.415 line, not unlike what Johnny Damon should do for one year and $8MM. Matsui's deal looks a little high, but not excessive.
Rodney was brought in to assume an eighth inning role, and was paid on the strength of his 37 saves rather than his skills. At least he can help prevent Brian Fuentes' $9MM option for 2011 from vesting, as that requires 55 games finished.
I liked the Pineiro move; Reagins did not panic when Lackey left. Pineiro is unlikely to match Lackey, but it's still a positive signing. Reagins also gets a thumbs-up for locking up Maicer Izturis for three years and getting something mildly useful back for Matthews.
Even without Lackey, the Angels have a good shot at improving upon last year's 4.44 rotation ERA. Ervin Santana and Scott Kazmir are somewhat unpredictable, but have ace potential. The Angels had the second-best offense in the AL last year, and CHONE predicts a dropoff to more of a middle of the pack performance. At this point there is no clear AL West favorite, but the Halos remain a respectable contender despite a few questionable free agent contracts.