Odds and Ends: Putz, Mitsui, Varitek
Links for Friday…
- Jacob Jackson proposes a new, simpler free agent compensation system.
- Jon Paul Morosi says the Mariners wanted Fernando Perez from the Rays in the failed talks that would’ve brought J.J. Putz to Detroit. The Rays were unwilling to do this in part because B.J. Upton will be unavailable to start the season.
- Koji Mitsui again failed to garner a bid from an MLB team.
- Aaron Gleeman discusses the Twins’ decision not to use certain advanced statistics.
- Tony Massarotti and Curt Schilling talk about the Jason Varitek situation.
- Former GM Woody Woodward is back with the Mariners, as a scout. The Pirates added former Tigers GM Bill Lajoie as a senior advisor to Neal Huntington.
- The Nationals have done little in the Japanese market, and they were never involved on Koji Uehara.
Russell Martin Hopes To Discuss Extension
According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, Dodgers catcher Russell Martin hopes to discuss a long-term extension with the team this winter. Martin changed agents this offseason. He’s arbitration-eligible for the first time, so his salary will jump up from $500K to several million. Said Martin:
"I just want to get treated fairly. I’m not trying to steal the bank."
Martin had a private lunch with the McCourts yesterday at the Dodgers’ new spring home, but they did not discuss a contract. Brian McCann will be paid $15.5MM for his three arb years, $8.5MM for his first free agent year, and has a $12MM club option for another. That deal was signed almost two years ago, however. Also, Martin is a Super Two player and under team control through 2012.
In other Dodgers’ notes, Shaikin adds that they’ve backed off on Juan Cruz. Jon Garland, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Andy Pettitte, Luis Ayala, and Dennys Reyes remain on the radar to varying degrees.
Minaya Comments On Adding An Outfielder
Mets GM Omar Minaya was asked last night on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove program about signing a free agent hitter. He indicated that the Mets might be able to sign someone to a one-year deal, once the team’s rotation is finished.
Fantasy Baseball Closers
RotoAuthority provides a look at the current closers for all 30 teams.
Rays Avoid Arb With Grant Balfour
According to Marc Topkin, the Rays avoided arbitration with reliever Grant Balfour by signing him for ’09 at $1.4MM. Balfour posted a 1.54 ERA in his breakout season.
Twins Inquire On Eric Gagne
According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins inquired on free agent reliever Eric Gagne. Gagne, a Scott Boras client, posted a 5.44 ERA in 46.3 innings for the Brewers in ’08. It was $10MM poorly spent, though it was cool when Gagne bought up several thousand tickets to a September game and gave them away for free.
Cubs Sign So Taguchi
According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Cubs signed outfielder So Taguchi to a minor league deal potentially worth $900K. Taguchi, 39, hit .220/.283/.297 in 103 plate appearances for the Phillies in ’08.
Kotsay Signing Official, Aardsma Designated
7:38pm: The AP has the details: Kotsay makes a base salary of $1.5MM, but he gets $200K if he makes 300 plate appearances and an additional $200K for every 50 times up after that, up to 500 plate appearances. He could make up to $1MM on top of his base salary.
3:59pm: According to Art Martone of the Providence Journal, the Red Sox announced the Mark Kotsay signing today. He gets a one-year deal. The Sox also designated reliever David Aardsma for assignment.
Red Sox To Sign Kevin Youkilis For Four Years
7:09pm: According to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald the contract’s worth at least $41.25MM. Youkilis gets a $1MM signing bonus, $6MM in 2009, $9MM in 2010 and $12MM in 2011 and 2012. After four years, the Red Sox have the option of buying Youkilis out for $1.25MM or paying him about $14MM to play another season.
5:25pm: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe adds an important detail; the deal includes a club option for a fifth year at $13MM. It’s still unclear whether it includes any buyouts.
3:06pm: According to ESPN’s Peter Gammons, the Red Sox and Kevin Youkilis agreed to a four-year deal worth more than $40MM. There’s also a fifth year option. The deal buys out two arbitration years and two free agent years. The Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin says the deal is close but not likely to be finished today.
Youkilis, 30 in March, hit .312/.390/.569 in 621 plate appearances in ’08 while playing above-average defense at first base. He finished third in the AL MVP vote. Youkilis’ teammate Dustin Pedroia received $34MM for the same slice of his career ($40.5MM in total).
Rockies Sign Scott Podsednik, Matt Belisle
THURSDAY, 6:05pm: MLB.com’s Thomas Harding adds a couple names to Renck’s list. Second baseman Luis A. Gonzalez is a non-roster invitee and Josh Fogg "could return to the Rockies."
WEDNESDAY, 3:36pm: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies re-signed outfielder Scott Podsednik to a minor league deal. Renck says the Rox also added Matt Belisle, Dan Ortmeier, Edwin Bellorin, and Cedrick Bowers on minor league deals. If he’s useful, the Rockies can retain Belisle in future seasons as an arbitration-eligible player.