Mets Notes: Hawkins, Hart, Ellsbury, Choo
Here's the latest out of Queens..
- The Mets have already reached out to free agent reliever LaTroy Hawkins about returning, a baseball source tells Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Another unknown club has also gotten in touch with Hawkins, who served as the Mets' closer to finish the 2013 season. The 40-year-old posted a 2.93 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9 in 70.2 innings of work last season.
- The Mets are one of a dozen teams that have reached out to veteran free agent Corey Hart, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post (Twitter link). MLBTR's Steve Adams sees Hart getting a one-year, $8MM pact with $2-4MM in incentives.
- In today's mailbag, a reader asks MLB.com's Anthony DiComo if Jacoby Ellsbury or Shin-Soo Choo could be realistic options for the Mets. After speaking with a number of people both inside and outside the Mets organization, DiComo came away with the impression that no one expects GM Sandy Alderson to do anything of that magnitude.
Rangers Notes: Profar, Andrus, Kinsler, McCann
Earlier today, Steve Adams profiled Rangers free agent Nelson Cruz. The outfielder, who missed 50 games in 2013 thanks to his ties to the Biogenesis clinic, should find a healthy market this winter with many teams in need of offense. Ultimately, Steve writes that Cruz could land a three-year, $39MM deal in free agency. Here's the latest out of Arlington..
- The Rangers have let other teams know they are willing to at least talk about one of their middle infielders — Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler, or Jurickson Profar — in any trade discussions that come up this offseason, writes MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Industry sources say the club doesn't feel a sense of urgency to move any of the three, but they're keeping an open mind as they have other areas of need to address. Texas has also made it clear to other teams they are not trying to dump Kinsler's salary and they won't pick up any part of the contract in order to facilitate a deal.
- After re-signing catcher Geovany Soto yesterday, Rangers GM Jon Daniels stated to reporters that Soto was expected to be the team's primary catcher in 2014. However, Brian McCann's agent, B.B. Abbott of Jet Sports Management, tells Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he doesn't think the signing precludes McCann from going to the Rangers. Anthony Andro of FOX Sports Southwest pointed out yesterday (on Twitter) that Daniels made similar comments after signing Soto last season before going out and signing A.J. Pierzynski.
- Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News argues that the Soto signing actually makes a McCann signing more likely for the Rangers, as they now have a competent catcher to split time with McCann. Grant writes that the best way for McCann to match or surpass Yadier Molina's five-year, $75MM deal is to recognize the health risks associated with catching and accept a role in which he could start 70 games or so behind the plate plus another 70-80 games at DH.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Phillies Notes: Ruiz, Free Agents, Front Office
Earlier today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the Phillies have kicked around the idea of making an offer for David Price, but it's unlikely to happen because GM Ruben Amaro Jr. knows he has multiple needs to address and one big splash won't fix the team. Here's more on the Phils…
- The Red Sox, according to sources, are quietly doing their due diligence on Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, writes Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. While there are other free agent catchers available, Ruiz is the guy that the Phillies want and the guy that the pitchers want. The Phillies need to prioritize right-handed hitting and both Brian McCann and A.J. Pierzynski are left-handed hitters. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is a switch-hitter, but he struggles from the right side. The Rockies are also known to be pursuing Ruiz and are reportedly planning to offer him a multiyear deal this week.
- GM Ruben Amaro says that he has already made offers on "several" free agent players, writes Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. While Amaro declined to name names, Zolecki suggests that Nelson Cruz, Carlos Beltran, and Mike Morse could be among their targets.
- The Phillies hired Scott Freedman from Major League Baseball's Labor Relations Department to help the club incorporate analytics into their personnel decisions, Zolecki writes. "I don't know if it's going to change the way we do business, necessarily," Amaro said. "We still plan to be a scouting and player development organization, but I think it's important to get all the information and analyze not just what we're doing, but how other clubs are evaluating players."
NL Central Notes: Beltran, Samardzija, Burnett
Here's tonight's look around the NL Central..
- Cardinals skipper Mike Matheny says that another club has already made an offer to free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran, tweets Jim Bowden of SiriusXM. The veteran figures to garner a great deal of interest this winter and it looks like his interest in the Yankees is finally being reciprocated.
- In a chat with David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com (Twitter link), Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija explained that he is not in a rush to work out an extension. "I have two more years of arbitration so there is a lot of time to get something done," said Samardzija, who turns 29 in January.
- Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett remains undecided between retirement or returning to pitch in 2014, agent Darek Braunecker tells Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter). The Bucs opted against extending Burnett a one-year, $14.1MM qualifying offer yesterday. The veteran pitched to a 3.30 ERA with 9.8 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, and a 56.2 percent ground-ball rate in 191 innings in his second season with the Pirates.
AL Central Notes: Hosmer, Santana, Twins, White Sox
The Tigers would love to hammer out an extension with Max Scherzer, one of three finalists for this year's AL Cy Young award, but Tim Dierkes wrote yesterday that it is highly unlikely to happen this winter. The standout hurler is projected to earn $13.6MM in arbitration this year and his rising price tag could even lead Detroit to explore a deal this offseason. Here's tonight's look around the AL Central..
- The Royals have yet to discuss an extension with Eric Hosmer, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). "I’m locked in for another four years, and we have guys whose contracts expire before mine," Hosmer said. The 24-year-old hit .302/.353/.448 with 17 homers this past season.
- The Twins have formally expressed interest in free agent hurler Ervin Santana, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter). Santana could prove to be too pricey for Minnesota, however, as Tim predicts that he will command a deal in the range of $75MM over five years.
- Walk year disappointments and poor investments have made it difficult for the White Sox to take advantage of the qualifying offer system, writes Jim Margalus of South Side Sox. The White Sox could have gotten one for Jake Peavy last year, but they instead signed him to a two-year deal and flipped him to Boston in a deal that netted them Avisail Garcia.
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The Twins have a host of problems to address, but their biggest shortcoming is their starting pitching, writes Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN. Twins starting pitchers ranked last in the American League in ERA, innings, strikeout rate, and Wins Above Replacement in 2013.
Yankees Notes: Cano, Granderson, Jay-Z
Robinson Cano's agent, Jay-Z, may have inadvertently violated the MLBPA's agent regulations by giving his client a $33,900 watch as a birthday gift, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The regulations state the following: "No Player Agent or Applicant shall provide, cause to be provided or promise to provide, any money or any other thing of value to any player, or any person related to or associated with such player, the purpose of which is to induce or encourage such player to use or continue to use any person's or firm's services as a Player Agent, Representative, or Draft Advisor.'' Agents are allowed to give their clients gifts, but anything with a value over $500 must be reported, writes Crasnick. Here's more on the Bombers…
- Cano's $300MM asking price was the cost for the Yankees to keep him from hitting free agency, not his contract demands for right now, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The ten-year, $300MM proposal was given to the Bombers before the All-Star break. Meanwhile, a return to the Bronx is still the most likely outcome, Rosenthal writes.
- In a radio interview earlier today, Curtis Granderson said he is considering accepting the Yankees' qualifying offer of $14.1MM, echoing what his agent said last week, writes Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News. "Well, it's definitely something you've got to think about and I appreciate the Yankees extending that offer to me," Granderson said during an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.
- In today's mailbag, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com addresses the Yankees' potential pursuit of McCann and their bid to avoid the luxury tax.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Rangers Re-Sign Geovany Soto
The Rangers have re-signed catcher Geovany Soto to a one-year, $3.05MM deal, according to Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram (via Twitter). Soto will have the opportunity to add to his salary with incentives.
Soto, 31 in January, posted a .245/.328/.466 slash line with nine home runs in 54 games last season. He also threw out ten of 34 (29.4%) attempted base stealers in 2013. For his career, which was spent mostly in Chicago, Soto has hit .248/.335/.439.
It's not a surprise to see Soto back in Arlington after it was reported that he was interested in a return. Meanwhile, fellow free agent backstop A.J. Pierzynski remains unsigned and while he also wants to come back to the Rangers, he could be lured away by another club in search of a catcher.
It's a decent raise for the veteran as he had a $2.75MM base salary in 2013. Soto is represented by Kinzer Management Group.
Indians Extend Qualifying Offer To Ubaldo Jimenez
As expected, the Indians have extended a qualifying offer to free agent Ubaldo Jimenez, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com (via Twitter). The one-year, $14.1MM QO ensures that the Indians will receive draft pick compensation if he goes elsewhere.
Jimenez could find a ripe market this winter given the lack of quality starting pitching available. Many believe that the two-year, $35MM deal given to Giants hurler Tim Lincecum also boosts the value of the 29-year-old. A long-term deal for Jimenez in Cleveland seems unlikely, but they'd happily take him back in 2014 for $14.1MM.
Jimenez, who turns 30 in January, posted a 3.30 ERA with 9.6 K/9, 3.3 BB/9 and a 43.9 percent ground-ball rate in 182 2/3 innings this season. Things were rocky for Jimenez in 2011 and '12, but his turnaround in 2013 has completely altered his stock heading into free agency.
Offseason Outlook: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers' climbed from the bottom of the NL West all the way to the top thanks to a 42-8 midseason tear. After reaching the NLCS, L.A. hopes to take the next step in 2014.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Matt Kemp, OF: $128MM through 2019
- Zack Greinke, SP: $118MM through 2018
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B: $106MM through 2018
- Carl Crawford, OF: $82.5MM through 2017
- Andre Ethier, OF: $71.5MM through 2017
- Hyun-jin Ryu, SP: $28.5MM through 2018
- Alexander Guerrero, 2B: $28MM through 2017
- Yasiel Puig, OF: $26MM through 2017
- Brandon League, RP: $17MM through 2015
- Hanley Ramirez, SS: $16MM through 2014
- Josh Beckett, SP: $15.75MM through 2014
- Chad Billingsley, SP: $12MM through 2014
Arbitration Eligibles (service time in parentheses)
- Clayton Kershaw, SP (5.105): $19MM projected salary
- Kenley Jansen, RP (3.073): $4.8MM
- A.J. Ellis, C (3.151): $3.2MM
- Ronald Belisario, RP (3.151): $2.3MM
- Drew Butera, C (3.017): $700K (non-tender candidate)
- Scott Elbert, RP (3.069): $600K (non-tender candidate)
Contract Options
- Chris Capuano, SP: $8MM ($1MM buyout)
- Mark Ellis, 2B: $5.75MM ($1MM buyout)
Free Agents
Jerry Hairston, J.P. Howell, Carlos Marmol, Ricky Nolasco, Nick Punto, Skip Schumaker, Juan Uribe, Edinson Volquez, Brian Wilson, Michael Young
The Dodgers got their offseason started in a big way last Tuesday when they signed Cuban second baseman Alexander Guerrero to a four-year, $28MM contract that could reach $32MM via incentives. The Dodgers were supposed to be the Yankees' biggest foe in their bid to re-sign Robinson Cano, but the deal seemingly takes them out of the running. It's worth noting, however, that landing Cano is just improbable at this stage, not impossible. In theory, the Dodgers could move Hanley Ramirez – who could see a new deal with the club this winter – to third base and play Guerrero at shortstop, but Guerrero's defensive skillset is better suited for the other side of the bag. However, it has been rumored for the last few months that L.A. wasn't going to make a serious play for Cano and Magic Johnson pretty much confirmed that line of thinking earlier this month. Besides, the Dodgers figure to have some pretty serious expenses ahead of them.
The Dodgers hope to lock up Clayton Kershaw for the foreseeable future and at some point during the season they went to their star left-hander with a $300MM offer. The 25-year-old backed out of the talks because he apparently had reservations about the length of the deal (it was said to be a "lifetime" contract) and didn't want to have an unnecessary distraction during the year. Regardless, the two sides will meet at the negotiating table this winter and whether or not the deal breaks the $300MM barrier, it is all but guaranteed to be the largest contract ever given to a pitcher, topping CC Sabathia's $161MM pact signed in 2008.
More immediately, the Dodgers have to figure out what to do about their managerial situation. Don Mattingly's contract option for 2014 has vested, but the Dodgers seem to be waffling on whether they want him back and the skipper says he'll honor the deal, but he wants a multi-year pact to avoid lame duck status. The coaching staff is now more or less set, meaning that the Dodgers are probably either looking to retain the former Yankees great or go with someone in-house. Third-base coach Tim Wallach is said to be a strong candidate if there is a change in the dugout.
Los Angeles has a number of free agents this season and they'll probably have at least a few holes to fill. Both second baseman Mark Ellis ($5.75MM option, $1MM buyout) and third baseman Juan Uribe can hit the open market and while Guerrero's arrival can help fill one position or the other, he can't do both. Odds are, Guerrero will be slotted in at second base, displacing Ellis from the starting lineup, but the Dodgers could welcome the 36-year-old back as a reserve. Uribe turned over a new leaf in 2013 (.278/.331/.438 with 12 homers) and gave the Dodgers a solid everyday play in the hot corner. Given the lack viable third base options available on the open market, it would be wise to re-sign the veteran. The trade market for third baseman is headlined by Chase Headley, but the Dodgers will be hard-pressed to pry him away from one of their divisional rivals. Thinking outside of the box, they could call up the Brewers and see if they can work out a deal for Aramis Ramirez in which Milwaukee eats a good portion of his $20MM salary. If they want to play musical chairs with their infield by putting Ramirez at third, they can go out and get a shortstop instead. Stephen Drew will be a free agent and Jhonny Peralta is available and unlikely to return in Detroit.
The Dodgers will also have some housekeeping to do when it comes to their infield depth. Michael Young, Jerry Hairston Jr., Nick Punto, and Skip Schumaker are all eligible for free agency. Young could conceivably be their third base answer if Uribe isn't retained, but they'd probably prefer someone who can do more defensively. Punto would offer that defensive acumen, but he's lacking at the plate.
The Dodgers' rotation is quite strong at the top with Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, but there are some question marks beyond that. Chad Billingsley and Josh Beckett could fill the No. 4 and 5 spots, but they'll both be recovering from surgeries. Re-signing free agent Ricky Nolasco would be a great way to shore up the back end of the starting five and the Dodgers would almost certainly welcome him back if they knew they could have the pitcher they saw from July through early September. The wheels came off a little bit in his final few starts of the year, but those rough outings only bumped his ERA to 3.52 with 7.8 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 in 15 starts and one relief appearance for L.A. In September, when Nolasco had a 2.07 ERA in 74 innings for the Dodgers, Tim Dierkes estimated that he could see a three-year, $36MM contract. Talking to Dierkes now, he's considering upgrading that to a four-year, $52MM deal. If the Guggenheim group is still willing to spend big, they can replace Nolasco with the likes of Ervin Santana or Japanese standout Masahiro Tanaka, whom they're said to be high on. Both players will cost them a pretty penny, but they'll have some breathing room with Ted Lilly and Chris Capuano coming off the books. Who knows, they could even be players for Rays ace David Price if they want to make an enormous splash.
A.J. Ellis seems likely to be back behind the plate as the Dodgers' starting catcher, but it's not a sure thing after he had some hiccups in the postseason. There are talented backstops to be had on the open market like Brian McCann and Jarrod Saltalamacchia and both guys can bring a level of offensive firepower that Ellis does not. Of course, they'll both require quite a bit of coin at a time where catching around baseball is rather thin. Tim believes McCann is in line for a five-year, $80MM deal while Saltalamacchia should see something in the range of $36MM over four years. If the Dodgers want to be a little more fiscally responsible (hey, why are you laughing?) they'll find less expensive veteran options like A.J. Pierzynski and Carlos Ruiz.
Much of the Dodgers bullpen will return in 2014, but two key members – Brian Wilson and J.P. Howell – might not. Wilson could very well take his talents and his beard elsewhere after pitching extremely well (0.66 ERA with 13 strikeouts and four walks over 13.2 innings) in his brief time with the Dodgers. Howell was also sharp (2.03 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 67 appearances and figures to be one of the most sought-after left-handers this winter. If one or both go, they can look into setup men like Jesse Crain and LaTroy Hawkins.
That pretty much covers the Dodgers' holes, but they have quite an enviable talent surplus in the outfield with Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and Carl Crawford. The Dodgers could plug their other holes by moving one of the four. It goes without saying that Puig is staying put. Crawford is probably staying put too, seeing as how he's owed a small fortune between now and 2017. One would probably think that Ethier is more likely to be moved than Kemp, but from the outside it looks like either one could be moved depending on how the market plays out. Ethier has been maddeningly inconsistent but Kemp should bring in a greater return, injury concerns and all. There is an option C, of course: keeping all four. The Dodgers know that they can't bank on the health of Crawford or Kemp, so having four high-level outfielders would be a wonderful luxury to have.
After piecing together a payroll big enough to make a Jerry Bruckheimer film blush, the Dodgers are eager to put it all together in 2014. With some patching up, they can carry their second half surge into a strong wire-to-wire effort next season.
Offseason Outlook: Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim
The Angels came into this season with extremely high hopes but they stumbled badly out of the gate – dropping 27 of their first 42 games – and never recovered. This season, owner Arte Moreno wants to get his money's worth.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Albert Pujols, 1B: $212MM through 2021
- Josh Hamilton, OF: $90MM through 2017
- C.J. Wilson, SP: $54MM through 2016
- Jered Weaver, SP: $54MM through 2016
- Erick Aybar, SS: $25.5MM through 2016
- Howie Kendrick, 2B: $18.85MM through 2015
- Chris Iannetta, C: $10.5MM through 2015
- Joe Blanton, SP: $7.5MM through 2014
- Sean Burnett, RP: $3.75MM through 2014
Arbitration Eligibles (service time in parentheses)
- Mark Trumbo, 1B/OF (3.027): $4.7MM
- Jerome Williams, SP (5.049): $3.9MM
- Tommy Hanson, SP (4.082): $3.9MM
- Ernesto Frieri, RP (3.101): $3.4MM
- Kevin Jepsen, RP (3.163): $1.4MM
- J.C. Gutierrez, RP (4.035): $1.1MM
- Peter Bourjos, CF (3.062): $1.1MM
- Chris Nelson, 3B (2.123): $1MM
Free Agents
The Angels would love nothing more than to make their first order of business a lengthy extension for star Mike Trout, but that's probably not in the cards thanks to the hefty contracts given to Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, and others. The collective bargaining agreement calls for deals to be calculated by their average annual value, meaning that the Angels couldn't skirt the luxury tax with a backloaded pact.
The Angels have their top three starters taken care of, but beyond that they've got question marks galore and a major need for reinforcements. Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson will be joined at the top of the rotation by Garrett Richards, who broke out in a big way in 2013. The No. 4 starter could be filled by Jason Vargas, if he's re-signed, but that's far from a given. The Halos are unlikely to extend him the one-year, $14MM qualifying offer as it would zap most of their available money. Vargas posted a 4.01 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 143 2/3 innings in 2013 and missed a good amount of time due to a blood clotting issue.
Even if Vargas does return, the Halos will search far and wide for starting pitching depth after being ravaged by injuries in 2013. Jerome Williams and Tommy Hanson are both arbitration eligible and both could be non-tendered by the club this winter. Joe Blanton, who is owed $8.5MM over the next two years, could be released before Opening Day. Even if he's back, the Angels certainly won't be counting on a guy who posted a 6.04 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 20 starts and eight relief appearances. Unfortunately for the Angels, they won't have a ton of money to spend as they will try and be mindful of the $189MM luxury tax threshold. Starting pitchers that might fit into their budget include Roberto Hernandez and Chris Capuano. Looking a notch below, Jeff Karstens and Chad Gaudin are on the open market and can be used as relievers/spot starters. The Angels want to lock down a quality starting five, but they'll make an effort to have at least a couple of guys beyond that who can step in if the injury bug bites again.
The Angels' bullpen was pretty bad in 2013 – their collective 4.12 ERA was the fifth-worst in the majors – but they turned things around late in the season and showed what they are capable of when everything is clicking. They figured to get solid production out of their pen heading the season, but injuries to left-hander Sean Burnett and Ryan Madson proved to be devastating. Burnett will be back in the fold in 2014 to lend support to closer Ernesto Frieri along with guys like Michael Kohn, Dane De La Rosa, Kevin Jepsen (if he's tendered an offer), J.C. Gutierrez (ditto), and Cory Rasmus. The Angels could look into affordable relievers like Chad Qualls and Matt Lindstrom (if his option is declined) to ensure that next season won't be a repeat of 2013 for the bullpen. If they want to pair Burnett with an inexpensive second left-hander, southpaw Mike Gonzalez is out there.
The Angels have several attractive assets but the most likely to get moved is second baseman Howie Kendrick. The veteran was dangled to clubs before the trade deadline this year but GM Jerry Dipoto didn't get any offers worth taking. Moving Kendrick becomes easier this offseason – his no-trade list shrivels from a dozen teams to just six. With $18.85MM owed to him over the next two seasons, Kendrick isn't the cheapest second baseman out there, but there are definitely clubs that are looking for answers at the position. The Royals need help at second base and GM Dayton Moore figures to make at least a couple phone calls to the west coast. The Orioles will also be in the market for a second baseman if they don't re-sign veteran Brian Roberts. The Halos can move Kendrick for some arms and get by with Grant Green in his place.
The Blue Jays have interest in catchers Hank Conger and Chris Iannetta, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun, and Toronto has already reached out to the Halos to get the conversation started. Moving Iannetta ($10.5MM through 2015) would certainly free up some cash and the Angels could even kill two birds with one stone if they're dealing with the Blue Jays, who are in need of a second baseman.
They''ll find an especially robust market if they are willing to move shortstop Erick Aybar, but all indications are that they're resistant to that idea. Moving Kendrick is doable because they can use Green in his stead, but they feel that replacing Aybar would be trickier since they don't have anyone in-house to take his spot. The Cardinals came calling this summer when they were looking for an upgrade over Pete Kozma, but talks petered out quickly when the Angels asked for top prospects Michael Wacha or Carlos Martinez.
Mark Trumbo could bring the club a nice pitching haul if they decide to move him. The Halos fielded calls from the Mariners, Pirates, and Royals in July and the Marlins showed their fondness for him last December. The alternative to parting with Trumbo's big bat could be trading center fielder Peter Bourjos. While the defensively-sharp 26-year-old probably wouldn't bring in the same kind of return as Trumbo, he definitely has value. Bourjos will be under team control for the next three years and he figures to stay affordable since his skill set isn't rewarded all that well in arbitration. Freeing up center field for Mike Trout could also help the club in their bid to lock him up long-term.
Third base is in flux now that Alberto Callaspo is out of the picture. Green is a candidate to be the full-time guy there, but if Kendrick goes then there's going to be a hole at one position or the other. Luis Jimenez (.260/.291/.317 in 34 games in 2013) and Chris Nelson (.227/.273/.327 for three teams in '13; possible non-tender candidate) could also take the reins, but neither one is particularly inspiring. But, once again, the team's budget constraints means that finding an outside solution will be difficult.
Arte Moreno has spent major money over the last two winters to try and construct a powerhouse team in the AL West. This year, he'll have to do the best he can with limited resources.