Braves Avoid Arb With Kelly Johnson
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Braves avoided arbitration with second baseman Kelly Johnson by signing him at $2.825MM for ’09. The base salary is right at the midpoint of the filings, and Johnson can earn a bit more with awards incentives.
Brian Giles Likes Red Sox, Yankees, Angels
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune talked to Padres outfielder Brian Giles today. At $9MM, Giles is the Padres’ second highest-paid player behind Jake Peavy. He’s a trade candidate this season, though he has full no-trade rights. He carries the baggage of a lawsuit with his former girlfriend as well as an additional $2MM in salary if traded. The Padres exercised his ’09 option on November 7th last year, and I’m guessing they’re already regretting it.
Krasovic learned that Giles’ favored trade destinations would be the Red Sox, Yankees, and Angels. The Yankees and Angels have surpluses in the outfield currently, though Giles would love to stay in California. Giles vetoed a trade to Boston last year due to playing time issues and an expectation that Theo Epstein would’ve traded him after the season.
Brewers Sign Eric Gagne
8:09pm: Haudricourt has the details on Gagne’s contract:
If he makes the Brewers’ roster, he will receive a $1.5 million base salary. He could make another $2 million in incentives, based on games pitched from 25 to 60. He’d get another $1 million based on games finished from 50-65, but something really bad would have to happen to Trevor Hoffman for that to happen.
5:02pm: Brewers GM Doug Melvin backed up the Gagne signing this afternoon in a conversation with Haudricourt, saying:
"He’ll have to come in and make the club. He pitched a lot better at the end of the year last year. He pulled me aside afterward and basically apologized for not performing the way we expected… We’ve got a long spring training this year. You never know when you might have an injury. Another veteran arm doesn’t hurt."
Gagne’s contract includes an opt-out near the end of Spring Training if he’s not on the 40-man roster.
3:45pm: Surprisingly, the Brewers signed Eric Gagne to a minor league deal today (Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporting). Perhaps Gagne wants to finish what he started, after the Brewers paid him $10MM in ’08.
The Scott Boras Corp. still has Garret Anderson, Joe Crede, Manny Ramirez, Ivan Rodriguez, and Ron Villone on the free agent market.
MLB Trade Rumors On Twitter
MLB Trade Rumors is finally on Twitter. Our name is @mlbtraderumors. Or, here. I’m new to this. How can MLBTR best use Twitter? I’ve set up Twitterfeed to show our new headlines.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rumors: Tuesday
7:33pm: Griffey’s agent sent a text to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer this evening stating that "nothing about the situation has changed." Apparently Junior’s camp is keeping quiet, maybe until tomorrow.
3:13pm: O’Brien explains why he believes Griffey denied his report:
I would suggest that Griffey and his agent had told the Mariners they would talk to them this afternoon before making any decision, and that they plan to do that before announcing any decision.
1:24pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Griffey is telling friends he’ll choose the Braves.
12:58pm: C. Trent Rosecrans talked to Griffey’s agent Brian Goldberg, who said it’s "not true" that the Braves have an agreement with his client. Griffey has not yet decided on a team. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman and Jim Street spoke to Griffey, who verified that he has not reached a decision. Look for that decision later today or tomorrow morning.
11:38am: O’Brien says Griffey chose the Braves and his agent will meet with Frank Wren today to finalize the deal. The Braves and Mariners both made offers with about $2MM guaranteed. O’Brien says Junior will platoon in left field with Matt Diaz for the most part.
10:41am: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
I’m told Ken Griffey Jr. has already agreed to terms with Braves, though no announcement yet, and agent is supposed to meet with Wren again today to finalize things. Don’t know about a physical, whether he’s getting it now or what.
Multiyear Talks For Lincecum?
7:24pm: MLB.com’s Chris Haft also spoke to Lincecum’s agent, Rick Thurman. Despite being at Giants’ camp Thurman has no immediate talks scheduled with the team. Thurman spoke about the possible length of a multiyear deal anyway:
Thurman explained that in Lincecum’s case, he and the Giants might negotiate by forecasting his performance and corresponding salary levels for the next five seasons, which would take him into his free-agency eligibility.
1:57pm: According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, Tim Lincecum‘s agent is at the Giants’ camp and has already had preliminary discussions about a long-term deal for his client. Lincecum is likely to be a Super Two player, meaning he’ll be arbitration-eligible four times instead of the standard three. Cole Hamels‘ deal could be a model, in my opinion.
Cardinals May Have Interest In Juan Cruz
According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals took note of the recent sign-and-trade allowance by MLB. They’re said to have a "passing interest" in Juan Cruz. Wouldn’t hurt to add another power arm to the bullpen if the price is right.
Strauss doesn’t say it, but the Cards could also look to pull off a sign-and-trade for Orlando Hudson (pure speculation on my part). The Cardinals have not been linked to Hudson in recent days; the Dodgers and Royals are the rumored suitors.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday
3:07pm: A little bit of info from Colletti, by way of Tony Jackson:
Specifically, I asked him if the club has made any offers beyond the two we already know about…He said no more offers had been made. Dylan Hernandez from the Times then asked, "Has there been a counteroffer?’" and Ned said, "Sort of.” He wouldn’t comment beyond that, but it’s clear he was talking about a proposal that was so far out of the Dodgers’ range as to be unrealistic.
On the Giants side, Henry Schulman makes a clarification:
At the end of this post, I write the Giants "are waiting to see what happens," but I am told that they, too, are continuing a dialog with agent Scott Boras on Manny — on the good ‘ol telephone.
9:34am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, who said:
"We continue to talk. I wouldn’t say we’ve made progress. Hopefully, the conversations will lead to progress."
8:13am: A rumor made the rounds last night that Giants president Larry Baer was to meet with Scott Boras and/or Manny Ramirez in San Francisco. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle checked into it, and it was bogus. They did not meet.
The truth is less exciting:
So calm down, folks. Nothing has changed. The Dodgers and Boras continue to talk, often, while the Giants are waiting to see what happens.
Padres Sign Emil Brown
According to MLB.com’s Corey Brock, the Padres signed outfielder Emil Brown to a minor league deal. He may have a hard time squeezing into the Padres’ outfield picture though. Brown, 34, hit .244/.297/.386 in 438 plate appearances for the A’s last year while playing the outfield corners.
Fredi Gonzalez Gets Extension
According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez had his contract extended through the 2011 season.