Indians Notes: Choo, Antonetti, Bourn
Earlier this week, we learned that the Indians were finalists to sign Edwin Jackson before he hooked on with the Cubs this winter. They may not have been able to top the offer from Chicago, but the Tribe has had an extremely busy offseason nonetheless. Here's more out of Cleveland..
- Most traded players exchange a few words with their GM before moving on to their next team but Shin-Soo Choo felt compelled to send Chris Antonetti a moving letter when he was sent to the Reds, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Choo is being asked to move to center field in Cincinnati but he implied to Rosenthal that a swap with Jay Bruce is still possible.
- The new-look Indians remind MLB.com's Barry M. Bloom of the club's teams from the mid-90s. While Cleveland's starting pitching could be stronger, there is a lot of optimism surrounding the club and their improved offense.
- It will take time for the aggressive Michael Bourn to get acclimated with his outfield mates in Cleveland and vice versa, writes Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer.
Dodgers Gauging Interest In Chris Capuano
They Dodgers have called teams to gauge the interest in left-hander Chris Capuano, sources told Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The Rockies, who have an obvious need for rotation help, are among those teams.
It makes sense that the Dodgers would actively shop Capuano as they have a surplus of pitching after signing free agents Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Renck doesn't see Capuano as a fit for the Rockies, however, given the interest he will draw and the reluctance of both teams to trade within the division. The veteran will earn $6MM in 2013, meaning that the Rockies would have to also unload salary in a deal for him.
For his part, the 34-year-old says that he hasn't asked out even though he seems likely to be squeezed out of the rotation. Capuano is open to moving to the bullpen if he is asked, but fellow veteran Aaron Harang doesn't seem interested in becoming a reliever.
Rockies Have Inquired On Niemann, Others
The Rockies are in search of starting pitching and have checked in with the Rays about Jeff Niemann and others, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com. However, the talks have yet to reach an advanced stage.
Niemann missed the bulk of 2012 after he was struck by a comebacker off of the mound against the Blue Jays in May. The soon-to-be 30-year-old won't be eligible for free agency until 2014 and will earn a reasonable $3MM this season after avoiding arbitration with Tampa Bay. Across five big league seasons, Niemann owns a career 4.08 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9.
The Rays, of course, aren't short on pitching and could afford to part with Niemann. The Rockies, meanwhile, hope to improve upon their current group of starters which includes Jhoulys Chacin, Jeff Francis, Jorge De La Rosa, Drew Pomeranz, and Juan Nicasio.
AL East Notes: Yankees, De La Rosa, Red Sox, Orioles
Here's the latest out of the American League East..
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com ran down his likes and dislikes on the Yankees this season. Heyman likes that the Bombers have kept their strong rotation in tact and believes that even though they acted like a small-market team this winter, they will go out and spend in July if they need to. Meanwhile, Heyman is concerned about the club's age and lack of depth in the minors.
- Pedro Martinez believes that Rubby De La Rosa, one of the key pieces of the Red Sox's blockbuster trade with the Dodgers, has a chance to be "someone special", writes Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. De La Rosa is rebounding from Tommy John surgery and will see his innings capped in 2013.
- Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com wonders if quality is more important than quantity when it comes to a team's farm system. The Orioles had just two players ranked in the Baseball America top 100 prospects list this year, with Dylan Bundy at No. 2 and Kevin Gausman at No. 26. Manny Machado also would have been towards the very top of the list had he qualified for rookie status.
- Orioles reliever Darren O'Day told the local press, including CSNBaltimore.com (video link) that he is especially happy to have a contract extension with the club given the way that he has bounced around in the past. O'Day inked a two-year extension with a club option for 2015.
Quick Hits: Hernandez, Morneau, Blue Jays, McClellan
Earlier this week, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports speculated that the Rockies could trade a catcher in order to bolster their pitching staff and of the team's three backstops, Ramon Hernandez would be the most likely to go. The 36-year-old, who is earning $3.2MM this season on the backend of his two-year deal, has learned not to be bothered by trade talk, writes MLB.com's Thomas Harding. "I remember when I was with the Reds, it was the same thing..The last few days before the deadline, the Giants' manager told me, 'You're leaving with us. You're going back to San Francisco.' Then later on I was told I wasn't going anywhere until the end, right at the deadline. Then the Reds put me on waivers, somebody claimed me, they pulled me back out, and I didn't go anywhere." Here's more from around baseball..
- Twins star Justin Morneau downplayed comments he made earlier this week in which he said that it would be "very cool" to play for the Blue Jays since he grew up in Canada, writes Phil Miller of the Star-Tribune. While he didn't disown the remark but he did restate his desire to win in Minnesota.
- Pitcher Kyle McClellan wants to be more than just insurance for the Rangers this season, writes Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com. The right-hander signed a minor league deal with Texas this winter and can opt out of his deal on March 22nd if he does not make the big league roster. The Rangers could potentially use McClellan as a starter or place him in the bullpen.
- John Maine is looking to get back on track with the Marlins in 2013 and the former Mets hurler says that he is throwing without pain for the first time since 2012, writes Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post.
Oscar Taveras Returns To MDR Sports
Cardinals prospect Oscar Taveras has returned to MDR Sports and longtime agent Melvin Roman, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The 20-year-old left Roman's company in late January to join up with Rob Plummer but it would seem that he has had a change of heart.
Taveras is universally regarded as one of the top prospects in all of baseball with most prospect gurus having him in their top three. The outfielder reached Double-A last year and could join the Cards' varsity squad in 2013. In 531 plate appearances last season, Taveras posted a .321/.380/.572 slash line with 23 home runs.
For agency info on over 1,700 players, check out MLBTR's Agency Database. Agents: if you've got a 40-man roster player or top prospect whose representation is not correctly noted, we welcome corrections at mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.
Rangers Notes: Theriot, Ryan, Hamilton
Earlier this week, we learned that the Rangers are still not in on top remaining free agent Kyle Lohse, but they are eyeing a less significant pickup during spring training. Here's more out of Texas..
- Ryan Theriot, who has been talking the Rangers as well as the Indians, continues to wait as he is hoping for chance to compete for a starting job somewhere, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The 33-year-old posted a .270/.316/.321 batting line in 104 games with the Giants in 2012.
- Rangers president Nolan Ryan believes that the Rangers can still contend without Josh Hamilton in 2013, writes Richard Durrett of ESPN.com. "I think that we stepped back, assessed the situation and were able to accomplish some things that needed to be done as far as strengthening our ballclub," Ryan said. "I think we're a better ballclub today than we were the day Josh signed with the Angels. That's the way I look at it."
- However, Ryan added that he would have liked to add a consistent, experienced starter to the rotation as long as well as a veteran reliever, Durrett writes. At the same time, he expressed confidence that the starting five and the bullpen can perform well as currently constructed.
Minor Moves: Maloney, Hampson, Blanco, Blue Jays
Here's a look at today's minor moves, courtesy of Baseball America's Matt Eddy..
- The Red Sox have signed left-hander Matt Maloney to a minor league deal, according to Eddy. The 29-year-old has spent time in the big leagues in each of the past four seasons and owns a career 3.83 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in Triple-A.
- The Mets have re-signed left-hander Justin Hampson, Eddy writes. The 32-year-old posted a 2.33 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 for Triple-A Buffalo in 2012. Hampson also saw time in 13 big league games last season for the Mets and a combined 74 for the Padres in 2007 and 2008.
- The Phillies released shortstop Andres Blanco, according to Eddy. Blanco, 28, last appeared in the majors with the Rangers in 2011 and owns a career .255/.301/.333 slash line across six big league seasons.
- The Blue Jays re-signed right-hander Clint Everts, Eddy reports. Everts, who spent last season with Toronto's Triple-A affiliate, was taken with the fifth-overall pick in the 2002 draft by the Expos.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: A’s, Strasburg, Stubbs, Lohse
On this date in 2005, California state assemblyman Tom Umberg introduced legislation that would have required pro franchises to use disclaimers if they did not play the majority of home games in the location used in their name. His “Truth in Sports Advertising Act” was designed to keep the Angels from changing their name to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Of course, his efforts were unsuccessful and the Angels went ahead with the name change in 2005. The Dodgers weren’t thrilled about the Halos’ decision and continued to designate the Angels as “ANA” on their out-of-town scoreboard that season. Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..
- A’s Farm caught up with pitching prospect Dan Straily.
- Lasorda’s Lair spoke with Miracle On Grass author David Fanucchi.
- MLB Injury News tells us what to watch for with Stephen Strasburg in 2013.
- Baseball Reality Tour looks how Drew Stubbs could fit in with the Indians.
- The Beanball has a crazy idea to help Kyle Lohse find a team.
- Free Lance asks if hitters can create their own luck.
- Pinstripe Pundits looks at the non-roster invitees in camp with the Yankees.
- Dr. Strangeglove profiles Alex Dickerson.
- The Daily Statesman wonders how the Cards will be affected by Shelby Miller‘s shutdown.
- MLB Reports explains why Lohse is a fit for the O’s.
- Through The Fence Baseball thinks that Lohse makes sense for the Beltway’s other team.
- Swingin A’s fears that Jed Lowrie could upset the apple cart in Oakland.
- Wahoo’s On First had a roundtable discussion on Michael Bourn.
- A Giant Perspective gives us five things to watch in spring training.
- Bullpen Banter breaks down the Rays’ top prospects.
- If I Were GM helps you get more familiar with the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado.
- Couch Side Show has a bone to pick with the Marlins.
- Splice Today implores the Rangers to lock Elvis Andrus up now.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.
How Often Are Vesting Options Triggered?
Vesting options often appeal to both teams and players. Teams obtain assurances that they won't be overpaying for unproductive players and players get the chance to earn more by staying on the field. There are always a handful of players with these clauses each season, but how often to do they vest? Here, we'll take a look at the vesting options from the past three seasons and crunch the numbers to see what percentage of them have clicked.
2011
- Brian Fuentes, Angels: Needed 55 games finished in 2010 for $9MM option to vest. He completed just 35 for the Angels and Twins.
- Billy Wagner, Braves: Wagner's $6.5MM option vested as he easily surpassed 50 games finished (64). However, the guaranteed money wasn't enough to talk to the veteran out of retirement.
- Trever Miller, Cardinals: Miller reached 45 appearances, securing his $2MM option for the next season. It would have reverted to a club option if he spent time on the DL with a left arm or shoulder injury, but he stayed healthy for the remainder of the year.
- Matt Cain, Giants: Cain had more than the required 182 1/3 innings or 27 starts (223 1/3, 33) for his $6.25MM option to vest, but the Giants instead guaranteed his 2011 salary at $7MM as part of his three-year extension.
- Kerry Wood, Indians: Wood got a late start in 2010 season thanks to a back injury and a mid-season trade to the Yankees. The trade meant that he wouldn't get to close anymore, putting him well shy of the 55 games he had to finish to activate his $11MM option.
- Alex Cora, Mets: Needed 80 games for his $2MM option to vest, but he played in just 66 games for the Mets and Rangers.
- Darren Oliver, Rangers: $3.25MM option vested, as he surpassed the required 59 appearances (64).
- Ramon Hernandez, Reds: $3.25MM option would have vested with 120 games played but he totaled just 97.
- Magglio Ordonez, Tigers: He was on pace to easily hit 135 starts (or 540 plate appearances) before an ankle fracture in July cost him a guaranteed $15MM in 2011.
2012
- Bobby Abreu, Angels: Got his $9MM option by getting the required 433 plate appearances (finished with 585).
- Adam Wainwright, Cardinals: His second place finish in the 2010 Cy Young voting was step one of the vesting process, but the options for 2012 ($9MM) and 2013 ($12MM) options did not vest as he finished the season on the disabled list after having Tommy John surgery.
- Aramis Ramirez, Cubs: $16MM option did not vest since he was not traded or named MVP of either the regular season or League Championship Series.
- Rafael Furcal, Dodgers: Had just 369 total plate appearances, needed 600 for his $12MM option to vest.
- Jon Garland, Dodgers: Recorded 54 innings on the mound, but needed 190 for his $8MM option to vest.
- Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: Rodriguez agreed to waive his vesting option in exchange for additional compensation following the trade that sent him to the Brewers. He would have been guaranteed a $17.5MM salary in 2012 had he finished 55 games and been declared healthy by doctors.
- Koji Uehara, Orioles: $4MM option vested thanks to his 65 appearances (needed 55), despite coming shy of 25 games finished, which also would have triggered it.
- Arthur Rhodes, Rangers: $4MM option did not vest. He needed 62 appearances but only totaled 51 between the Rangers and Cardinals.
- Joakim Soria, Royals: Needed 55 appearances for his $6MM option to vest and racked up 60.
- Dan Wheeler, Red Sox: His option would have vested at $3MM if he pitched in 65 games and increased to $3.25MM with 70 games, but he fell short of both totals with 47 appearances.
(A quick mention here for Mark Buehrle, who would have had an extra year at $15MM tacked onto his deal if he was traded at some point during the 2011 season. Of course, that didn't happen.)
2013
- Jason Bartlett, Padres: Only had 98 plate appearances on the year, needed 432 for his $5.5MM option to kick in.
- Alex Gonzalez, Brewers: $4MM option would have vested with 525 plate appearances, but had just 89 thanks to a torn ACL.
- Chipper Jones, Braves: $9MM+ option would have vested with 123 games while the future Hall of Famer only played in 112. It didn't matter much anyway as Jones retired following the 2012 season.
- Kevin Gregg, Orioles: Needed 50 games finished for his $6MM option to vest, had just 13.
- Brett Myers, Astros: Myers' $10MM option would have vested with 45 games finished. He also could have triggered the option based on an unknown points system. Neither one of these things happened, leading the White Sox to decline his option.
Out of the 24 total vesting options across the last three seasons, only seven were triggered — and that's including Cain and Wagner*, who met the necessary requirements for their options but did not accept them for different reasons. In total, just over 29% of the vesting options over the last three years have been triggered.
* By the same token, we'll put Rodriguez along with the options that did not vest, even though it was tossed out upon his trade to Milwaukee. He did not reach the 55 games finished that would have been required to guarantee his $17.5MM salary for 2012.
This year, we'll be keeping an eye on vesting options for several notable players and some are more realistic than others. Lance Berkman hopes to stay healthy and trigger his $13MM option for 2014 by hitting 550 plate appearances on the year with the Rangers. The Giants will be on the hook for $18MM if Barry Zito reaches 200 innings in 2013. To trigger his $20MM option for 2014 with the Phillies, Roy Halladay needs to rack up 259 innings this year. It's a tall order, but Halladay did manage to record 250 2/3 innings just three years ago.