D’Backs Considering Long-Term Deal For Montero
The Diamondbacks have interest in signing catcher Miguel Montero to a long-term deal, MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reported yesterday. Managing general partner Ken Kendrick mentioned the idea, though negotiations have not begun. Montero would like to sign long-term.
Montero, 26, played his first full season in '09 and posted an excellent .294/.355/.478 line in 470 plate appearances. His progress makes Chris Snyder expendable. If Snyder comes back successfully from back surgery, the D'Backs will be one of very few teams with two legitimate starting catchers.
Montero will earn $2MM in 2010, his first arbitration year. The D'Backs will presumably want to buy out his '11 and '12 arb years and a free agent season or two. Instead of using the more expensive contracts of Snyder and Ryan Doumit as comparables, perhaps the D'Backs will look at more recent deals for Chris Iannetta and Carlos Ruiz as models. Both players gave up their arbitration years more cheaply and allowed for club options on their first free agent seasons.
No Discount For Adrian Gonzalez
9:04pm: Hayes has an updated story now, and it includes some interesting details. He reports that a Padres source said no teams approached San Diego about a deal for Gonzalez this winter. At last summer's non-waiver trade deadline, the Mariners were close to acquiring Gonzalez in a 6-for-1 trade, but the deal fell through when then-Padres GM Kevin Towers held out for one more player.
2:50pm: Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez isn't interested in a hometown discount, based on this report from Dan Hayes of the North County Times. In reference to his current contract, Gonzalez said, "At the time you take the security…the next one is where I look for what I deserve." I imagine he's expecting to top $100MM once he reaches free agency after the 2011 season. Gonzalez says there have been no extension talks with the Padres.
Gonzalez is sure to continue appearing in trade rumors this summer, but he cautions that "99.9 percent of everything is false."
Rays Notes: Desmond Jennings, Carlos Pena
Talking to Jim Bowden of MLB Home Plate (Twitter link), Rays Senior VP of Baseball Operations Gerry Hunsicker said it would take extraordinary circumstances for top prospect Desmond Jennings to play in the Majors this year. Jennings is regarded by most as the sixth-best prospect in the game, and it seemed quite possible that he'd muscle his way into the outfield picture this summer. If Jennings is expected to remain in Triple A, perhaps Carl Crawford is less likely to be traded (although maybe a Crawford trade qualifies as an extraordinary circumstance).
Both Crawford and Carlos Pena will be eligible for free agency after the season, and Hunsicker told Bowden it will be very difficult to retain both. Rays owner Stuart Sternberg is on record saying, "We're going to do everything we can to make sure [Crawford] stays here longer." And Rays president Matt Silverman said the team is currently focused on Crawford, with talks ongoing. That doesn't necessarily make Pena a midseason trade candidate, as the Rays need his bat to contend. Pena told Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times today that he hopes to stay with the Rays beyond 2010 and is extremely grateful for the opportunity no matter what happens.
Odds & Ends: Halladay, House, Felipe Lopez
Links for Wednesday…
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the White Sox and Blue Jays discussed Dan Hudson and Tyler Flowers in a potential Roy Halladay deal, but the Sox weren't on Doc's list.
- The Braves signed J.R. House to a minor league deal, reports Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. House, 30, hit .251/.297/.352 for the Royals' Triple A club in '09 while catching 101 games.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports explores Felipe Lopez's reputation as a lazy player, something former teammate Mike Rivera denies.
- Baseball America's Ben Badler has four Dominican signings, by the Rockies, Cardinals, Angels, and Rangers.
- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and GM John Mozeliak are signed only through 2010, but neither seems concerned (Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporting).
Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Rankings
Shortstop rankings…check 'em out at RotoAuthority.
Nationals Reach Agreement With Livan Hernandez
The Nationals agreed to terms with righty Livan Hernandez on a minor league deal, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson. SI's Jon Heyman tweets that the deal is worth "$900K plus many incentives." Hernandez signed with the Nats in August of last year after being released by the Mets; he previously pitched in the organization from 2003-06.
Hernandez, 35, posted a 5.44 ERA, 5.0 K/9, and 3.3 BB/9 in 183.6 innings last year. Fellow non-roster invitee Miguel Batista will also compete for a rotation spot.
Offseason In Review: Cleveland Indians
Next in our Offseason In Review series, the Indians.
Major League Signings
- Russell Branyan, 1B: one year, $2MM. Includes $5MM mutual option for 2011.
- Mike Redmond, C: one year, $850K.
- Total spend: $2.85MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
- Shelley Duncan, Austin Kearns, Jamey Wright, Saul Rivera, Jason Grilli, Anthony Reyes, Brian Buscher, Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Gosling, Luis Rodriguez
Trades and Claims
- Acquired SP Mitch Talbot from Rays for C Kelly Shoppach and cash
- Claimed Rule 5 pick P Hector Ambriz from Diamondbacks
- Acquired SS Brian Bixler from Pirates for 3B Jesus Brito
Notable Losses
- Jamey Carroll, Kelly Shoppach, Jesus Brito, Josh Barfield, Tomo Ohka, Jose Veras, Greg Aquino, Vinnie Chulk, Masahide Kobayashi
Summary
In Mark Shapiro's last offseason as GM, the Indians' winter hammered home the fact that they're in full rebuilding mode. Free agent spending was limited to a mere $2.85MM for Branyan and Redmond, while the Shoppach trade allows the Tribe to go younger and cheaper with their starting catcher. Otherwise, it was low-risk tinkering with additions like Duncan, Kearns, and Wright.
The Indians' veteran sell-off began last summer and should continue in 2010. Shapiro will defer to Chris Antonetti on decisions affecting the club beyond this year, as Antonetti will become GM after the season. The pair will presumably work to move the team's biggest remaining contracts: Travis Hafner, Jake Westbrook, Kerry Wood, and Jhonny Peralta. The light at the end of the tunnel: ESPN's Keith Law ranks the Indians' farm system fourth in the game.
Derek Jeter On His Next Contract
Unsurprisingly, Derek Jeter's news conference today broke little ground. MLB.com's Bryan Hoch has the choice quotes from the Yankees' shortstop:
"This is the only organization I've ever wanted to play for. I've never envisioned myself playing anywhere else. Hopefully I don't have to. I've never been a free agent, and I've never wanted to be a free agent."
Jeter will not discuss his contract again publicly. The one interesting note to come out of the conference was that Jeter had his agent Casey Close reach out to the Yankees over the winter but was told the team will stick to their policy and discuss contracts after the season.
So far this winter we've seen writers toss around Jeter contract estimates ranging from three years and $60MM to four years and $100MM. He'll turn 37 during the 2011 season.
Midseason Trade Candidate: Kerry Wood
Indians closer Kerry Wood is one of the most obvious midseason trade candidates. A $10.5MM stopper is unnecessary on a rebuilding club, and Wood could draw interest with a strong first half.
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer addresses Wood's situation. He says a few teams inquired this winter, "but they wanted the Indians to absorb the lion's share of his 2010 salary." Wood, 32, was prone to home runs and walks in his 55 innings in '09. This year the Indians plan to pitch him more often to avoid rust.
That plan could actually hurt Wood's trade value, as it may make his $11MM option for 2011 more likely to vest. The 2011 salary becomes guaranteed with 55 games finished (the Angels' Brian Fuentes has a similar option). A pitcher gains a game finished by being the last reliever to pitch in a game (win or lose), so it's easier to come by than a save. Of course, a team trading for Wood may choose to use him in a set-up role.
Braves Sign Edward Salcedo
The Braves officially signed 18-year-old Dominican shortstop Edward Salcedo to a deal worth $1.6MM today. He was considered one of the best prospects in Latin America back in 2008, however MLB launched an investigation to confirm his age and identity at the Braves’ behest.
Salcedo’s birthday was recently established as July 30, 1991. Originally represented by Scott Boras, Salcedo is now represented by Edgar Mercedes, who said the Braves were his client’s first option. Reports in 2008 indicated that Boras was seeking upwards of $5MM for Salcedo. Atlanta recently applied for a visa to allow him to visit their Spring Training complex.
Atlanta considered Salcedo the equivalent of a high first round pick, which is good because they forfeited their 2010 first rounder to sign Billy Wagner and didn’t receive compensation picks for Rafael Soriano. Already standing 6′-3″, Salcedo is considered to be one of the best offensive players to come out of the Dominican in quite some time, however there are some questions about his ability to remain at short.
The AP first reported that Salcedo’s age had been confirmed (thanks to Nick Collias for the translation), and MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reported that the two sides were near an agreement. Dave O’Brien of The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the terms.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.