Padres Sign Chris Britton
We missed this one – apparently the Padres signed recently non-tendered reliever Chris Britton, according to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The big righty will compete for the seventh-inning role in 2009. What better place for a soft-tossing righty reliever to land than PETCO.
Krasovic adds that the Padres and pitcher Kevin Correia have mutual interest. Also, while the Padres may consider Brad Ausmus, they have an eye on San Francisco catcher Eliezer Alfonzo. Alfonzo missed 50 games in 2008 after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. UPDATE: The Padres signed Alfonzo to a minor league deal on Friday, actually.
Nationals Sign Daniel Cabrera
10:26pm: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports the contract for Daniel Cabrera is a one-year deal worth $2.6 million, about a million less than he’d have been owed after arbitration.
1:24pm: According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals signed Daniel Cabrera to a one-year deal (pending a physical). One of Ladson’s sources says the Nats beat out the Mets and Pirates for him. So far this offseason the Nationals have added Cabrera and Scott Olsen to their rotation.
Cabrera, 28 in May, made 30 starts for the Orioles in 2008 with a 5.25 ERA. His walks remained high, while his strikeout rate was way down and he lost 1.7mph off his average fastball. Cabrera’s season ended in September with an elbow sprain, which did not require surgery.
Mets Starting Pitching Update
SATURDAY, 6:27PM: Ken Rosenthal confirms several of the ideas suggested in Heyman’s Friday article.
The Mets apparently are in fact interested in Tim Redding as a back-of-the-rotation starter, and would like to add either Derek Lowe or Oliver Perez to the front. The Mets appear willing to give Redding a two-year deal, while the Rockies, also interested in Redding’s services, are willing to do a one-year deal only.
Jason Marquis appears to be a likely target of the team that fails to sign Redding.
FRIDAY, 12:28PM: SI.com’s Jon Heyman has the latest on the Mets’ quest to add two starting pitchers.
Heyman says the Mets are waiting for Scott Boras to get Mark Teixeira signed before seriously engaging for Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez, their top two targets (in that order). Randy Wolf is the third choice if the Boras clients fall through. Heyman suggests Lowe’s asking price is $66MM over four years.
The Mets are also looking to add a back-end type to soak up innings. This group includes Freddy Garcia, Tim Redding, and Jason Marquis.
Another Manny Update From Feinsand
SATURDAY, 5:47pm: Mark Feinsand reports:
"Manny Ramirez has told friends that he is confident the Yankees will offer him a contract of at least three years."
Earlier this week we clarified that Manny has yet to receive any offer from the Yanks, as far as we can tell.
As this evening’s article states, where Ramirez ends up is largely contingent upon the upcoming Mark Teixeira signing. The Angels, Yankees and Dodgers are on the short list of bidders for Ramirez’ services.
THURSDAY: On Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News relayed thoughts from a baseball official who believed the Yankees are willing to give Manny Ramirez a three-year deal worth $22-25MM per. So this is a likely non-Yankees baseball person giving an opinion. Feinsand added that two other officials were skeptical that the Yankees would offer three years.
Today, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote: "The New York Daily News has already reported the Yankees have a three-year, $66 million offer out to Manny."
As far as I can tell, the New York Daily News did not report that the Yankees made a three-year offer or any offer to Ramirez. If they did, please send me the link and I’ll put it up!
Gammons’ Latest: Teixeira, Cameron, Montero
The latest blog post from ESPN’s Peter Gammons is up.
- Gammons talked to a source close to Mark Teixeira who says Tex and the Red Sox are not that far apart.
- The Yankees backed off on the Mike Cameron trade because Melky Cabrera is showing improved plate discipline in winter ball (his walk rate is up, though it’s only 15 games). Additionally, Brett Gardner has believers in the organization.
- The Diamondbacks were unwilling to trade catcher Miguel Montero to the Red Sox for Daniel Bard, while the Sox wouldn’t part with Michael Bowden. Gammons says it hasn’t been seriously discussed but wonders if the Red Sox would eat the $22MM owed to Eric Byrnes to get Montero.
- One part of the post that is getting attention is when Gammons names a bunch of things "we don’t know," implying that he suspects these things are possible. For example: "We don’t know whether the Red Sox will decide not to pony up and sign Teixeira or whether there really might be a three-way deal among the White Sox, Angels and Reds that would put Jermaine Dye in Cincinnati, Joey Votto in Anaheim and Chone Figgins in Chicago." So, not quite a trade rumor here. The Reds would, of course, want more for Votto if he’s even available. When this semi-rumor makes the rounds it must be discussed in the proper context – the paragraph’s theme was things we don’t know are accurate.
Which Free Agents Will Cost A Draft Pick?
It’s important to remember which Type A free agents were offered arbitration, because those players cost a draft pick if signed by a new team. Ten such free agents remain (the numbers will be explained later):
- Mark Teixeira (98.889)
- Manny Ramirez (93.438)
- Brian Fuentes (86.694)
- Orlando Cabrera (86.000)
- Orlando Hudson (79.911)
- Ben Sheets (79.038)
- Oliver Perez (78.694)
- Juan Cruz (76.627)
- Jason Varitek (76.037)
- Derek Lowe (75.430)
The following teams’ first-round picks for 2009 are protected: Nationals, Mariners, Padres, Pirates, Orioles, Giants, Braves, Reds, Tigers, Rockies, Royals, Athletics, Rangers, Indians, and Diamondbacks. These teams will not lose their first-round pick if they sign one of the above free agents.
Four Type A free agents who were offered arbitration have signed with new teams:
- C.C. Sabathia (98.110) – Yankees
- A.J. Burnett (89.729) – Yankees
- Francisco Rodriguez (87.196) – Mets
- Raul Ibanez (83.684) – Phillies
The numbers represent each player’s Elias rating. The numbers determined Type A/B status, but can also come into play if a team ends up signing more than one of these 14. Thoughts:
- The Yankees’ #26 pick next year goes to the Brewers, unless the Yanks sign Teixeira. In that case the Angels would get it. If the Yanks sign Manny, the Blue Jays get the Yankees’ third-round pick for Burnett – pretty weak. In that case the Dodgers would get the Yanks’ second-round pick.
- Unless a new suitor emerges aside from the Yankees and Rangers, the Brewers will not get a first-round pick for Sheets if he leaves.
- The Dodgers won’t be signing Cabrera, which would’ve been the best case scenario for the White Sox. The Dodgers’ #17 pick remains up for grabs if they are to sign, for example, Hudson, Sheets, Perez, or Varitek.
- Rockies fans would prefer the Cardinals sign Fuentes, giving them the #19 pick. Otherwise it could be the #27 pick from the Brewers or #33 pick from the Angels (unless the Halos also sign Manny or Tex).
- If the Mets sign Lowe, the Dodgers are stuck with their second-round pick since K-Rod is ranked higher.
Adam Dunn’s First Choice: Cubs
According to David Kaplan of WGN Radio and Comcast SportsNet, Adam Dunn‘s first choice is to play for the Cubs. He’s not looking for a huge deal, but a fair one. The concern, of course, would be having Dunn play right field on a regular basis.
A source familiar with the team’s thinking told MLBTR the Cubs have "exchanged pleasantries" with Dunn’s agents, nothing more. It’s been suggested that Milton Bradley is the Cubs’ first choice.
A’s To Talk Contract With Giambi Soon
According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s may begin discussing a contract with Jason Giambi early next week. She says Giambi is looking for a three-year deal, but the A’s will probably top out at two years with an option. The Rays are also known to have interest.
Giambi, 38 in January, hit .247/.373/.502 in 565 plate appearances while earning $21MM in 2008.
Furcal Signs With Dodgers
FRIDAY, 8:37pm: The Furcal deal is official. Jesse Spector has quotes from the conference call.
WEDNESDAY, 9:08pm: Just to keep this baby going, we have the contract numbers from Tony Jackson. A backloaded three years, $30MM, $3MM of which is a bonus at the end of the contract. The 2012 option for $13MM does vest with 600 PAs in ’11.
8:23pm: The deal may be done, but we still can’t get the numbers nailed down. According to Tim Brown’s writethru, it could be either $33MM or $30MM. Brown has "a Dodgers source" who says it’s the latter "and includes a fourth-year option for $12 million, vesting with 600 plate appearances in the third year. Other incentives could bring the total worth of the deal to about $45 million." The AP report (below) that gave the $33MM figure had quoted " a person familiar with the negotiations."
7:43pm: This MLB.com report from Ken Gurnick says "it is believed the deal is pending the passing of a physical exam." That’s probably about as final as we’re going to get for now. It’s worth noting that a little bit earlier, Tony Jackson talked to Kinzer, who said such a statement would be premature. (The Dodgers, like most teams, don’t confirm deals until after the physical.)
7:08pm: The AP says the final numbers on the contract are 3 years, $33MM:
Furcal gets $7.5 million next season, $9.5 million in 2010 and $13 million in 2011. The deal includes a $13 million team option for 2012 with a $3 million buyout.
7:02pm: This wire report from CBSSports.com has a quote from Kinzer:
"They know we didn’t have a signed contract, that we didn’t have even a verbal agreement. We had, ‘Things look very good and Raffy’s going to sleep on it,’" Kinzer said after a news conference for another client, Francisco Rodriguez.
5:53pm: Rosenthal has updated his post with a bit more info and a timeline from Wren. Around midnight on Monday, after much negotiating, Kinzer told Wren, "we’re good." Tuesday morning, says Rosenthal (note the slight discrepancy from Brown’s report below), Wren "got a voicemail from Kinzer" asking for the term sheet to be put together and faxed to him, which Wren did. "Shortly thereafter, Kinzer began ‘backpedaling,’ saying he promised the Dodgers he would talk to them." And on Tuesday, the Dodgers "suddenly" appeared willing to grant Furcal a third year — and today, the Braves were told that Furcal would not be joining them.
5:43pm: Tim Brown reports that the Braves had sent Furcal a signed term sheet, according to "a club source." Monday night, Kinzer asked for the paperwork to be faxed to him. Braves GM Frank Wren complied Tuesday morning. Writes Brown:
No member of the Braves’ front office – not Wren, not longtime former GM John Schuerholz – could recall a time when a signed term sheet was not the equivalent of a handshake agreement, ethically – if not legally – binding.
Brown adds that the Braves believe Kinzer shopped the term sheet to the Dodgers, who had been reluctant to commit to a third year.
4:47pm: The latest from Rosenthal:
The Dodgers and Furcal were still hammering out an agreement Wednesday afternoon, sources said, but the Braves had been informed that Furcal would not accept their deal.
4:10pm: Ken Rosenthal says Furcal decided to sign with the Dodgers.
Mark Bowman’s latest doesn’t suggest Furcal made a decision, but he does explain why the Braves thought they had a deal. Bowman’s source believes the Dodgers offered three years plus a fourth-year player option.
11:48am: Yahoo’s Tim Brown: Furcal is "nearing an agreement with the Dodgers." Joel Sherman learned from Kinzer that the Dodgers are in the lead, having matched the Braves’ three-year, $30MM (plus a fourth-year vesting option) offer. Paul Kinzer told Sherman the idea of switching to second base for the Braves gave Furcal pause.
Kinzer told Danny Knobler there was never a verbal agreement with the Braves. Kinzer lives in Atlanta and received 50 phone calls from fans after the story broke yesterday.
9:39am: Yesterday we watched as Rafael Furcal and his agents seemingly ignored a gentleman’s agreement with the Braves to continue negotiating with the Dodgers. Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times learned from Ned Colletti that the Dodgers improved their offer to Furcal (the original was two years with a vesting option).
According to Buster Olney, the Braves offered three years, $30MM with a vesting option for the fourth year. Olney says the A’s were at $38MM guaranteed over four years.
Sarah Green also contributed to this post.
Cards Turning Page On Fuentes?
According to Frank Cusumano of Channel 5 in St. Louis, the Cardinals are "turning the page but not shutting the door" on Brian Fuentes after making an aggressive offer and apparently not hearing back. It’s been suggested that Fuentes wants three years at more than $10MM per. He’s seemingly waiting on Mark Teixeira to see if the Angels will have the available funds to sign him.