Indians Sign Daisuke Matsuzaka
The Indians announced that they have officially signed Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor league contract with a Spring Training invitation. Matsuzaka will make a $1.5MM base salary if he makes the team, according to Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer (on Twitter). Matsuzaka, a Scott Boras client, can earn up to $4MM on the deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
The deal reunites the former Red Sox right-hander with manager Terry Francona. Matsuzaka has made just 18 big league starts over the last two seasons thanks to Tommy John surgery. For his six years in Boston, the Japanese import owns a 4.52 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9. He also earned nearly $52MM as a member of the Red Sox.
Heyman first reported the sides had agreed to a deal (Twitter link).
Indians To Sign Brett Myers
FEBRUARY 10th: Myers' 2014 option vests if he pitches 200 innings this year and passes a physical at season's end, tweets Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
JANUARY 4th: The Indians have agreed to sign right-hander Brett Myers to a one-year, $7MM deal with a club option. Myers, an LSW Baseball client, passed his physical, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports (on Twitter). Myers' 2014 option is valued at $8MM, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports (on Twitter).
Myers, 32, pitched to a 3.31 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 70 relief appearances last season for the Astros and White Sox. However, he has been vocal about his desire to be a starting pitcher once again in 2013. The Tribe will plug Myers into the starting five, according to Hoynes (on Twitter).
Even though he's a year removed from the role, Myers stood as one of the few innings eaters left on the open market this winter. For his career as a starter, Myers owns a 4.27 ERA with 7.2 K/9 with 2.97 BB/9 in 249 starts. He also pitched a combined 439 and 2/3 innings in 2010 and '11.
Myers became a free agent in October when the White Sox declined his $10MM option for the 2013 season, opting instead to pay him a $3MM buyout. The right-hander had interest from a number of clubs this offseason, including the Padres, Twins, and Royals.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported the deal and its terms (Twitterlinks). Edward Creech contributed to this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On Michael Bourn, Mets
The Mets are still hopeful that they can sign Michael Bourn, but there are currently "no discussions" between the union and league about the draft pick issue, a source tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (on Twitter). The union, not the club, would have to file a grievance in order for the Mets to retain their first round pick.
If the union does go ahead and file a grievance, then they and the league would go before an arbitrator. The two sides could also settle in advance of said hearing, but nothing has been done to begin that process yet.
Cafardo On Nationals, Vazquez, Sizemore, Norris
Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Michael Weiner has been an inspiration to everyone that works in his office, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Weiner, who is living with an inoperable brain tumor, handed his role of general counsel to David Prouty last week. “Mike has handled this whole situation with incredible grace and incredible humor, too,” Prouty said. “That’s the way he’s handled everything. So in a way, we’ve all been inspired by him. More generally, Mike is always an inspiration to be around in terms of being a colleague and an executive director who cares about players and about the game.” Here's more from today's column..
- The Nationals and others continue to keep an eye Javier Vazquez, who is recovering from minor knee surgery. Washington’s interest may be piqued by Gio Gonzalez’s alleged link to the Miami PED clinic. The Nationals have faith in Ross Detwiler, but Vazquez would give them depth.
- There was thought that a team would sign Grady Sizemore and wait until he recovers from his latest knee surgery, but so far, they are staying away. “It’s hard to take the risk, even if it’s minimal,” said one exec whose team needs outfield help. “At this point, I think you wait until he feels he’s ready and then you look. If someone beats you to it, so be it.”
- Bud Norris is one of the last remaining assets on the Astros and should become one of the most sought-after pitchers before the season or at the trading deadline. The Astros haven’t said they’d deal him, but they didn't indicate they would move Jed Lowrie either before he was sent to the A's. The Cardinals and Orioles are two teams to watch on Norris.
- The Red Sox were willing to part ways with Kelly Shoppach in part because of his attitude.
- One scout thinks one of the best under-the-radar moves this winter was the Rays obtaining Yunel Escobar, who was traded twice this winter.
Quick Hits: Freese, Podsednik, Jurrjens, Goldschmidt
Yesterday, the Cardinals avoided arbitration with David Freese on a one-year, $3.15MM deal, which took care of all of their unsigned arbitration eligible players. However, the third baseman says that he wants to be in St. Louis for life, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "If a long-term deal is going to happen I know for a fact that I have to do some things. I have to be a leader. I have to do what I do on the field. I have do the things expected of me," Freese said. Here's more from around baseball..
- Teams are interested in Scott Podsednik but he likely will need to wait for one that wants more help, suffers an injury, or misses out on a free agent like Michael Bourn, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Earlier today, we learned that the Twins haven't ruled out making a play for the outfielder.
- Orioles General Manager Dan Duquette says he hopes to have the Jair Jurrjens situation resolved by the start of spring training, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. The Orioles have yet to finalize their one-year, $1.5MM agreement with the pitcher and are believed to be concerned about his knee.
- Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers says he approached Paul Goldschmidt about a long-term deal but the 25-year-old wanted to wait before talking about it, tweets Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Goldschmidt won't be arbitration eligible until after the 2014 season and isn't scheduled to hit free agency until the winter following the 2017 season.
Red Sox Notes: Cherington, Pedroia, Lavarnway
There has been a lot of talk this offseason about what John Farrell can do for the Red Sox pitching staff as manager, but GM Ben Cherington reminded reporters today that he is charged with doing a lot more than working with a few hurlers, writes Tim Britton of The Providence Journal. Here's a look at the highlights from Cherington's chat with the press out of Fort Myers, Florida and other news on the BoSox..
- Cherington said the team hasn’t started extension talks with any players but it is expected that the Red Sox will open conversations with Dustin Pedroia at some point this spring, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. “I can’t rule it out, but I can’t rule it in, either,” said the GM regarding extensions.
- As of right now, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and David Ross are being viewed as the major league catchers, leaving Ryan Lavarnway as the odd man out, Speier writes. With a glut of backstops, Lavarnway will remain a trade candidate as we enter spring training.
- Cherington accepted the blame for a lack of depth in the starting rotation in 2012, according to Speier. However, he feels more confident about the team’s pitching heading into this season. The Red Sox will be stretching out Alfredo Aceves and Franklin Morales as starters in spring training in support of the projected rotation of Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Ryan Dempster, and Felix Doubront.
Notable Transactions From February 2012
We're nine days into February and after the Mariners' signing of Joe Saunders earlier this week, only three of Tim Dierkes' Top 50 Free Agents – Michael Bourn (No. 3), Kyle Lohse (No. 10), and Jose Valverde (No. 44) - remain on the open market. As we keep an eye on that trio, what else can we expect to go down this month? With help from the MLBTR Transactions Tracker, here's a look back at the notable moves of February 2012..
- Trades: Jeremy Guthrie for Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom (MLBTR post), A.J. Burnett for Exicardo Cayones and Diego Moreno (MLBTR post), Chris Carpenter + PTBNL for Theo Epstein + PTBNL (MLBTR post).
- Signings: Micah Owings (Padres), Edwin Jackson (Nationals), Casey Kotchman (Indians), Todd Coffey (Dodgers), Shawn Camp (Mariners), Hong-Chih Kuo (Mariners), Luis Ayala (Orioles), Kosuke Fukudome (White Sox), Raul Ibanez (Yankees), Eric Chavez (Yankees), David Aardsma (Yankees).
- Extensions: Elvis Andrus (three years, $14.4MM), Clayton Kershaw (two years, $19MM), Nelson Cruz (two years, $16MM), Casey Janssen (two years, $5.9MM), Kyle Kendrick (two years, $7.5MM), Ryan Zimmerman (six years, $100MM), Salvador Perez (five years, $7MM), Sean Marshall (three years, $16.5MM).
- Waiver Claims: Adrian Cardenas (Cubs from A's), Darin Mastroianni (Twins from Blue Jays), Matt Angle (Dodgers from Orioles).
- Minor League Contracts: Dan Johnson (White Sox), Juan Cruz (Pirates), Chad Durbin (Nationals), Carlos Guillen (Mariners), Ryan Rowland-Smith (Cubs), Rick Ankiel (Nationals), Justin Ruggiano (Astros), Joe Beimel (Rangers), Mark Teahen (Nationals), Rick VandenHurk (Blue Jays), Alex Cora (Cardinals), Jamey Wright (Dodgers), Bill Hall (Yankees), Jeff Suppan (Padres), Nick Johnson (Orioles), Scott Linebrink (Cardinals), Mauro Gomez (Red Sox), Travis Blackley (Giants), Chris Gimenez (Rays), Ross Ohlendorf (Red Sox), Brett Tomko (Reds), Clay Rapada (Yankees), Manny Ramirez (A's), Brent Leach (Dodgers), Jason Isringhausen (Angels), Jay Gibbons (Brewers), Juan Rincon (Angels).
- Released: Rick VandenHurk (Orioles), Clay Rapada (Orioles).
Central Notes: Tigers, Twins, Podsednik, Wainwright
The Tigers are showing a lot of faith in 22-year-old Bruce Rondon by making him the frontrunner for the closer role, but Detroit would be better served by having legitimate closing options to choose from, opines Dave Cameron of Fangraphs in a piece for ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd). Developing your own closer rather than paying free agent prices for one is a good idea, but Cameron believes that the Tigers should probably have someone to hold down the fort while Rondon gains some big league experience. Here's more from the AL and NL Central..
- The Twins haven't completely ruled out free agent outfielder Scott Podsednik, but nothing is close to being imminent, writes Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. So far this offseason, the Twins have appeared to be the only club with serious interest in the veteran.
- A Twins official told Wolfson that there isn't much to the news of 41-year-old free-agent pitcher Jose Contreras was working out at the Twins' Fort Myers facility. When asked if it was meaningful or random, the official simply said, "Random."
- Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright says that extension talks won't derail him during spring training as they did five years ago, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. General Manager John Mozeliak hopes to work out a new contract with Wainwright by Opening Day while Wainwright says that he isn't setting a deadline for talks.
- Edwin Jackson is considered an important piece in the Cubs' rebuilding process, both as an experienced starter under contract through the projected turnaround years and in the short-term as support for the rotation in the event of a likely Matt Garza trade this year, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
AL East Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Lester, Bailey
Here's a look at the American League East..
- Jon Lester knows that after a down year in 2012, teams will likely try to buy low on him, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com writes. The Red Sox left-hander is entering the final guaranteed season of his five-year, $30MM deal and Boston holds a $13MM option for 2014. So far, the two sides have yet to engage in extension talks.
- In his address to reporters in Tampa, Florida, Yankees co-owner Hal Steinbrenner explained that the club's much talked about plan to get under $189MM by 2014 isn't set in stone, writes Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger. “Everybody keeps talking about the $189MM…Is that our goal next year? Yes, to be at that number, that’s our goal. But as I’ve said from the beginning, that depends on some of our young players stepping up and getting the job done. That has to happen. Or it’s going to be difficult," Steinbrenner said.
- Andrew Bailey is happy to have Joel Hanrahan in the mix, but he says that he eventually wants to return to being a closer and he wants to make it happen with the Red Sox, writes Tim Britton of the Providence Journal.
Giants Notes: Zito, Wilson, Theriot, Romo
Giants pitcher Barry Zito says that he would be open to a contract extension and wants to stay a Giant until he retires, tweets Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. The left-hander is entering the final year of his seven-year, $126MM deal, which includes a $7MM buyout for his option on the 2014 season. Zito can have the full $18MM option vest with 200 innings of work in 2013. He hasn't reached that total since 2006, but he has come within eight innings of 200 in three of his seasons in San Francisco. Here's more on the Giants, courtesy of Schulman..
- General Manager Sabean says he and Brian Wilson just aren't on the same page, Schulman tweets. Wilson wants more guaranteed money in the deal while the Giants want something heavily based on incentives.
- Sabean said he "lost contact" with Theriot after a winter meetings overture, according to Schulman (on Twitter). Sabean also says that he is open to talking about a long-term deal with Buster Posey. If the Giants start things up with Theriot again, they'll have competition from the Indians, Rangers, and others.
- If Sergio Romo pitches a true closer's workload, his two-year, $9MM deal could rise to $10.5MM in total with incentives and escalators for games finished, Schulman tweets.