Yankees Claim Sam Demel, DFA Danny Otero
The Yankees announced that they have claimed pitcher Sam Demel off of waivers from the Astros. To make room for Demel on the 40-man roster, the club designated fellow right-hander Danny Otero for assignment.
Demel, 27, owns a career 4.95 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 72 big league relief appearances with the Diamondbacks from 2010-12. He made just one relief outing last year and spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Reno, where he had a 4.07 ERA with 10.2 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 56 appearances out of the bullpen.
Otero, 28, made 12 relief appearances for the Giants last season. In parts of two seasons at Triple-A, Otero owns a 3.03 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9.
Royals Re-Sign Xavier Nady, George Sherrill
The Royals announced that they have re-signed outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hander George Sherrill. Kansas City cut both players in advance of yesterday's deadline for Article XX(B) free agents in order to avoid paying them a $100K retention bonus.
Nady, 34, hit .184/.253/.316 in 166 plate appearances for the Nationals and Giants last season. The veteran posted a strong .289/.342/.480 batting line in 2006-09 for the Mets, Pirates, and Yankees but hasn't looked quite the same since undergoing Tommy John surgery during the '09 campaign. Since then, he's hit .237/.288/.347 in 260 games between four organizations.
Sherrill, who turns 36 in April, appeared in just two games for the Mariners last season before a torn UCL in his left elbow led to Tommy John surgery. Sherrill has a 3.77 ERA, 8.9 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 across parts of nine big league seasons.
Royals Acquire Desmond Henry
The Royals announced that they have acquired outfielder Desmond Henry from the Rangers to complete the November deal that sent Tommy Hottovy to Texas. The deal called for KC to receive a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Henry, 19, was the Rangers' fourth-round pick in the 2011 draft and signed with the club for $200K. The switch-hitting outfielder boasts tremendous speed and has the potential grow into a strong defensive player.
Latest On Adam Wainwright
The Cardinals and ace Adam Wainwright are still working towards reaching agreement on a contract extension as spring training comes to a close. Sources familiar with both sides of the conversation expressed a sense of optimism to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that a deal will be struck before Opening Day.
The two sides took a break from extension talks earlier in the offseason when Wainwright was seeking more years than the Cards were willing to offer. However, they have come back to the table in recent weeks and reports have generally been positive regarding the discussions.
An extension for the 31-year-old figures to be the most lucrative one ever given to a pitcher by the Cardinals. Deals given to right-handed starters Matt Cain (six years, $127.5MM) and Zack Greinke (six years, $147MM) could provide a framework for a deal.
Wainwright posted a 3.94 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 198 2/3 innings last season after returning from Tommy John surgery.
AL West Notes: Wells, Angels, Bourjos, Astros
The Angels surprised many on Sunday when they shipped Vernon Wells to the Yankees and received a significant amount of salary relief in the deal. The Halos are happy to have the Yanks pick up $13.9MM of the $42MM owed to Wells over the next two seasons and the outfielder is likely enthused about seeing more playing time in New York. Here's more on the Angels and the rest of the AL West..
- The Wells trade didn't just help the Angels' finances, it paved the way for Peter Bourjos to take over in center field, writes Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. General Manager Jerry Dipoto believes that Bourjos has plenty of room to grow and sees him excelling now that he has the everyday job and can relax.
- Angels manager Mike Scioscia doesn't think that his club's bench necessarily took a step back by losing Wells, writes MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. Because Wells is accustomed to starting over the course of his career, Scioscia doesn't believe that he was going to get into a rhythm without consistent playing time.
- While some have been critical of the Astros' thin payroll, commissioner Bud Selig says that he doesn't have a problem with it, writes Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. "I do trust the organization," Selig said. "Look, every organization goes through certain phases. They have chosen the path with some very qualified people. And the only way you can really build a solid organization, a solid team, is through a very productive farm system. And I think they're doing it the right way. There's no question in my mind."
Anthopoulos On Dickey, Marlins, Reyes, Johnson
Recently, Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star sat down with Blue Jays General Manager Alex Anthopoulos and touched on a number of topics. Here are some of the highlights from their chat..
- The Blue Jays wouldn't have made a deal for R.A. Dickey had they not completed the Marlins blockbuster first. In Anthopoulos' view, the club would not have been "one R.A." away from contending without the likes of Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, and Josh Johnson in the fold.
- Anthopoulos feels as though he paid a steep price to land Dickey, but that it was worth it given that he was the final piece in helping to push the club to an elite level. The Blue Jays weren't interested in fortifying the rotation with a No. 3 or 4 starter but instead wanted Dickey at the top of the rotation to push everyone else down a peg.
- From a trade standpoint, Anthopoulos says that he has learned over the years to have less balls in the air and to focus on the one or two deals that have a realistic chance of happening. That narrowed scope, he says, helped make the blockbuster deal with the Marlins a reality.
- Within the organization, opinions were split on the deal with the Marlins, but AA ultimately had the final say and pulled the trigger. Feelings were similar on the five-year, $64MM extension that Jose Bautista signed with the club, but the GM ultimately pushed that through as well.
- Griffin asked Anthopoulous if he believes that changes to the draft and international free agent signing rules were directed at creative GMs such as himself, but he doesn't see it that way. However, AA notes that the new cap for international spending hurts teams like the Blue Jays that have opted to shed big league payroll in order to free up money.
- Anthopoulos is glad that the team has purposely stayed away from giving expensive, overly-lengthy deals to free agents. While Reyes and Buehrle both have "free agent contracts", he's comfortable with them because of their talent level. In the case of Reyes, he's the only player on the team with five years to go on his deal and he's just 29 years old, not 32 or 33.
- Even if the Marlins deal didn't take place, the Blue Jays still would have chosen John Gibbons as manager.
- There has been less change in the Blue Jays' front office lately than in years past and Anthopoulos attributes that to increased stability in the organization rather than his own increased comfort level.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Dodgers, Porcello, Phillies
On this day in 1962, the Mets and Yankees met for the first time in a Spring Training game. Former Yankees skipper Casey Stengel was at the helm for the National League's newest team and steered them to a 4-3 win at Al Lang Field. Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..
- Cole On L.A. writes that the Dodgers are playing with fire.
- i70 Baseball says the Cardinals are a good fit for Rick Porcello.
- Phillies Nation updates us on the Phillies' non-roster invitees.
- Through The Fence Baseball isn't pushing the panic button on the Dodgers.
- Baltimore Sports And LIfe talks delivery pop time and significance.
- The Tribe Daily looks at the Indians' rotation battle.
- Rays Colored Glasses questions what the club does with their pitchers.
- Wahoo's On First explained why Lonnie Chisenhall is poised for a breakout year.
- BoSox Injection reminds you that spring training stats don't mean a whole lot.
- Baseball Reality Tour takes a position-by-position glance around the majors.
- That Ball's Outta Here puts on their happy face to discuss Delmon Young.
- MLB Reports wonders if Jon Lester & Co. can weather the power outage.
- Pinstripe Pundits has concerns about Mark Teixeira.
- Lasorda's Lair implores you not to forget about Josh Beckett.
- Kingdome Of Seattle Sports says Michael Saunders is the most important hitter the M's have.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.
Astros Willing To Listen On Players
12:04pm: About a half-dozen teams have inquired on Norris but Houston has yet to engage in serious talks, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe (on Twitter).
THURSDAY, 9:10am: Astros GM Jeff Luhnow suggested a trade involving Norris or Harrell doesn't seem likely, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. "I've always maintained that there's no such thing as an untouchable, but at the same time, Harrell and Norris are such an important part of this club right now it would take a significant offer to even consider something," Luhnow said.
WEDNESDAY: The Astros are still telling teams that they'll listen on anyone if they get two or more players back in a deal, rival clubs tell Jayson Stark of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Lots of scouts are eyeing right-hander Lucas Harrell in particular.
Recently, we learned that the Cardinals have interest in Harrell and fellow hurler Bud Norris. Last season was Harrell's first full big league season and the 27-year-old looked strong as he posted a 3.76 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 32 starts.
Why I Chose My Agency: Ryan Ludwick
The Reds' Ryan Ludwick enjoyed a bounceback year in 2012, posting a .275/.346/.531 batting line with 26 home runs in 472 plate appearances. The outfielder spoke to MLBTR about his relationship with the Beverly Hills Sports Council and why he chose them.
How did you first come into contact with Dan Horwits and the Beverly Hills Sports Council?
I think I was a little bit of a unique situation in that my brother [Eric Ludwick] was represented by them and I got to know Danny through my brother while I was in high school, but I wasn't highly recruited out of high school. A lot of teams wanted me to pitch, like my brother, but I didn't want to. I didn't have representation then but as time went on through high school and college at UNLV, I built a relationship with Danny before he was even really my agent, more as a family friend. It was a pretty easy decision when it came time.
Were there other agencies hoping to represent you before you signed on with BHSC? Why did you choose BSHC over them?
I did get recruited by other agents in the game and I listened to a couple of them and I let them come into the house and talk about how they were better than other guys. But, for me, the decision had already been made.
Besides contract negotiations, what else does BHSC do for you that you value?
Just about everything. I know the social media thing is really big right now but I'm a pretty Plain Jane type of dude. I don't have a Twitter or a Facebook account but I know a lot of players in the agency that have them help out with a lot of stuff like that. For me, they help with basic stuff like taxes, card deals, equipment, getting your Nike deal or your Wilson deal set up, and you get a little bit of perks too. I'll call Danny and he'll get concert tickets or dinner reservations…Me and the wife and some friends on New Year's we went down to the Florida keys and they'll even help out with that stuff. Anything under the sun, they'll help out with. The good thing about Danny is, I was at his wedding and I've known him forever and he's really like a big brother to me. I know I can call him about anything and I can ask him for everything and I think I've paid him back, so I think we're good.
From what you've seen, how common or uncommon is it for a player to have that type of relationship with his agent?
Everyone is different. Everyone's goals or mindset is different. I think with some guys, whether that's an agent or player, you get egos that are all about the money. I'm not trying to be rude or inconsiderate but I think that happens in everyday life, whether you're an agent or a lawyer or a doctor, a car salesman, whatever that might be, I think some people are about money and some are about happiness and friendships and enjoying what they're doing. For me, the friendship aspect was more important for me. But, that being said, I also knew that [BHSC], they're very good at what they do. There are a lot of guys out there, and I know [MLBTradeRumors] is doing a lot of agencies in this series, but they're in the top percentile of agencies out there.
When you look at Danny Horwits' record in arbitration, it's pretty good, I don't think he's ever lost. We settled outside of hearings every time and each and every time we got what we wanted. He's very good at that and I'm really really thankful that he's on our side in that respect.
You spent parts of nine seasons in the minors with five organizations due to injuries and trades before finally breaking through in 2007 with St. Louis. How did BHSC help you through those tough times?
It's a pretty lengthy story with Danny and I. Not even after my first full season in pro ball, I was drafted in '99 and in 2000 for the first half of the season I was in High-A ball in Modesto and I was hitting .200 with, I think, four home runs at the break and I remember calling my future wife up and my brother and my mom and Danny up and being like, "I'm done." I didn't even have a full year under my belt yet but I had never failed before and I felt like I was failing tremendously. Looking back on it, I've done that numerous times now, but that first time he told me to take a deep breath and that I'll be alright…He reminded me that a lot of people struggle when they get to pro ball and Danny has always been there behind me, whether it be then to when I eventually caught fire to my injuries.
I've had a lot of injuries as well, some people don't know about. I have an eight inch titanium rod in my hip, a six inch titanium rod in my ulna, I've had two knee surgeries, I've had a GI bleed which is a pretty bad ulcer where I had like five holes in my stomach from all the anti-inflammatories I was taking trying to get better from all the surgeries…There have been numerous times where I could have given up and Danny was there for me.
Have you ever recommended Dan to a player looking for representation or thinking about changing representation?
It's funny, he doesn't ever ask me to do that. I know he's asked other guys to do that when they have their eyes on a certain guy who may or may not have certain representation. But he really hasn't asked me to do that too much. There are guys that I've gone up to on my own and I ask what they're thinking. I always tell them that I'm very happy with my representation at the Sports Council and I tell them that it's a strong way to go. But he's never harped on me to recruit other players.
After a strong 2012, you turned down your side of a $5MM mutual option. Were you anxious to get your contract hammered out over the offseason and how often did you find yourself checking in with your agent as talks progressed this winter?
I called him quite frequently and he called me quite frequently. I think the important thing is that whenever I called, he's there. Danny is always there and he always got back to me promptly. Going through the arbitration process three times and then into the free agency process, I didn't want to believe him at times. Every step of the way there were times that I didn't trust his opinion, but in all three arbitration cases he was 100% correct and every time I got panicky in the season about free agency he was always correct. Like I said, he's always given me good advice and he's always right. I've been with him since '99 and I really don't have any gripes. I mean, I wish he could have gotten me an everyday big league job a little bit sooner but that's probably my fault, not his.
Were you at at all hesitant about turning down the option for 2013?
Not at all. I knew right away, we both knew right away, that we were going to go after a multi-year deal. I had never had one before. There were times in St. Louis where I played well early in my career that I thought St. Louis might let me have some security and play there. Then I went to San Diego and I had that awful year that got in my dome and mentally I just wasn't right. I went into free agency after that season, after being with San Diego and getting traded to Pittsburgh, thinking it was going to be a great thing.
It ended up being a thing where I only had four or five teams interested and I took a huge pay cut from the season before and I thought, "Hey man, I'm finally going to get my three year deal," and I only got a one year deal. I went to Cincinnati last year and Danny said, "You know, if you're unhappy with what you've got going, you've got no one to blame but yourself. If you're unhappy, you have to go out there and use Cincinnati to your advantage."
Cincinnati was a place I wanted to go but we were talking to other teams. Danny agreed with me, he said that we had to listen to other teams but that Cincinnati was the best fit. For one, it's a completely different ballpark from San Diego, it's a lot more hitter friendly. And for me, it was my favorite team growing up, Eric Davis was my favorite player, it's where my mom and dad were born and raised, and it just kind of struck home. It was a good feeling and he said that I should use it to my advantage to get back to where I was. I think after last year's season I proved to other people and Danny that I can still hit a little bit. And you know, Walt [Jocketty], Danny, and I got together and I let it be known to Walt that I wanted to stay there and that I was very happy with the situation I was in. Danny and him got the deal hammered out and I'm very thankful to be where I'm at.
Athletics Release Garrett Olson
SUNDAY: Olson will sign with the Doosan Bears, tweets Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net.
SATURDAY: The Athletics announced that they have released pitcher Garrett Olson so that he can pursue a pitching opportunity in Korea. The left-hander signed a minor league deal with Oakland back in December but wasn't likely to make the squad.
Olson has spent parts of the last six seasons in the major leagues with the Orioles, Mariners, Pirates, and Mets. The 29-year-old has a career 6.26 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9, including 44 starts. Olson made 21 starts and 13 relief appearances for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate last season and posted a 4.63 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9.