Mariners To Sign Jon Garland
The Mariners have agreed to a minor league deal with Jon Garland, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times (on Twitter). Jason A. Churchill of Prospect Insider first reported that the two sides were nearing an agreement (Twitter link). The LSW client will receive an invite to major league spring training.
Garland has not pitched since July 2011 due to shoulder surgery and made it known this fall that he was planning on mounting a comeback. The veteran started throwing for teams in September but there hasn't been a great deal of news on him since then.
For his career, the 33-year-old owns a 4.32 ERA with 4.9 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 across 12 seasons for the White Sox, Dodgers, D'Backs, Padres, and Angels.
Orioles Avoid Arbitration With Jason Hammel
The Orioles announced that they have avoided arbitration with Jason Hammel by agreeing to a one-year deal. The Octagon client will receive $6.75MM according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (on Twitter) while Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun tweets that Hammel can earn an additional $300K through performance bonuses.
According to MLBTR's Tim Dierkes (on Twitter), the right-hander will earn $100K for each of the following benchmarks: starting 25 games, 175 innings pitched, and 190 innings pitched. Hammel will also get $50K for earning an All-Star selection, ALCS MVP, or World Series MVP, Connolly tweets.
Hammel filed for $8.25MM in arbitration while the Orioles countered with $5.7MM. This one-year deal is slightly less than the the $6.975MM midpoint but through incentives he can go over that mark. The 30-year-old is in his third and arbitration year and is eligible to hit the open market after the 2013 season.
Darren O'Day is the Orioles' only remaining arbitration-eligible player that has not yet signed a contract for 2013.
Yankees Notes: Cano, Steinbrenner, Kuroda, A-Rod
Earlier today, Yankees general partner Hal Steinbrenner chatted with reporters in Tampa, Florida. Here's a look at some highlights..
- The Yankees have spoken with Robinson Cano about a contract extension and Steinbrenner says that he hopes that the second baseman will be in pinstripes for life, writes Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Meanwhile, he seemed to indicate that the heavy lifting in talks will come later, tweets Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger. Earlier this winter, it was reported that Cano would not give the Yankees a hometown discount.
- The Bombers are still looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder, but Steinbrenner believes that the team is already "championship caliber" as constructed, McCullough tweets.
- Steinbrenner doesn't like the perception that the Yankees haven't been spending this winter, Hoch writes. "That was a little disappointing," Steinbrenner said. "There was nothing cheap about [Hiroki] Kuroda's contract or [Andy] Pettitte's contract. Sometimes I just scratch my head." The Yanks' only major acquisition outside the organization was third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who signed a one-year, $12MM deal in December.
- Steinbrenner also said that the latest drug allegations surrounding Alex Rodriguez are "a concern, but it's out of our hands" while the matter is being investigated by Major League Baseball.
Orioles, Jim Johnson Avoid Arbitration
The Orioles and closer Jim Johnson have avoided arbitration with a one-year deal, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The Moye Sports Associates client will will make $6.5MM in 2013 with $50K more available in performance bonuses based on games finished, Connolly tweets.
The deal is right around the midpoint as Johnson filed for $7.1MM in arbitration while the Orioles countered with $5.7MM. The new deal marks a significant raise for Johnson, who earned $2.625MM last season.
Johnson, 29, pitched to a 2.49 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 71 games, earning him his first career All-Star selection. This was Johnson’s third year of arbitration eligibility thanks to his Super Two status. The right-hander is scheduled to exchange figures with the O’s once more after the 2013 season and hit the open market after the 2014 campaign.
As MLBTR’s Transactions Tracker shows, Darren O’Day and Jason Hammel are Baltimore’s only remaining arbitration eligible players.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Johnson, Yankees, Indians
On this date in 1982, the Dodgers broke up the longest-playing infield foursome in baseball when they traded second baseman Davey Lopes to the A’s for minor leaguer Lance Hudson. The second baseman had played with Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Bill Russell in Los Angeles since 1974. Garvey parted ways with the Dodgers after the ’82 season when he signed a five-year, $6.6MM deal with the Padres. That would be the final year in L.A. for Cey as well as he was traded to the Cubs in the winter. Russell, meanwhile, remained with the club before retiring in 1986. Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..
- Jays Journal talks expectations for Josh Johnson.
- Yankees Fans Unite brings us their top 40 Yankees prospects.
- Did The Tribe Win Last Night? caught up with Indians prospect Francisco Lindor.
- The Composite explains why the Mets shouldn’t sign Michael Bourn.
- I R Fast has the skinny on Hiroyuki Kobayashi.
- Lasorda’s Lair remembers a baseball pioneer.
- Swingin A’s thinks that Oakland overpaid for Jed Lowrie.
- Free Lance spoke with Scot Drucker of Paragon Sports International.
- Pinstripe Pundits wonders if the Yankees gave their best DHs to the Orioles.
- Braves Banter stacks this year’s Atlanta outfield against 2003’s cast.
- MLB Prospect Watch wonders if Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar will start 2013 in the outfield.
- Yanks Go Yard hopes that we see the debut of Pat Venditte this season.
- Baltimore Sports And Life discusses the value of the O’s first round pick in this week’s podcast.
- Rising Apple is hopeful that the Mets bullpen will be better in 2013.
- MLB Reports says it’s a big year for Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.
- Rankings Professor gives us the top five catchers under 25.
- The Giants Cove looks at San Francisco’s pitchers of the future.
- Kings of Kauffman checked in with Royals beat writer Bob Dutton.
- Puckett’s Pond talks Twins with a little help from Too Short.
- NASORB is happy about Felix Hernandez‘s extension.
- NatsGM looks at Washington’s offseason moves.
- Shutdown Inning looks at the future of free agency.
- PhoulBallz sat down with Kevin Frandsen.
Orioles Close To Two-Year Deal With Darren O’Day
SATURDAY, 1:19pm: In an interview on WBAL radio, GM Dan Duquette indicated that the O's have reached agreement on a one-year deal to avoid arbitration but are working on a two-year pact, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (on Twitter).
FRIDAY, 8:36pm: After avoiding arbitration with Jason Hammel and Jim Johnson earlier this evening, the Orioles may be on the verge of taking care of their lone remaining case. The O's are close to a two-year deal with Darren O'Day that would include an option for a third year, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (on Twitter).
The two-year deal will cover O'Day's remaining years of arbitration, putting him in line to test free agency after the 2014 season. O'Day, who had previously earned Super Two status, filed for $3.2MM this winter while the O's offered $1.8MM.
Red Sox Unlikely To Make Serious Play For Kyle Lohse
While some might see Kyle Lohse as a fit for the Red Sox given their financial flexibility, it is “highly unlikely” that Red Sox will be the team to sign him, a major league source tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Boston had some interest in Lohse earlier in the offseason, but that was before they signed Ryan Dempster.
Predictably, the Red Sox aren't keen on Lohse in part because of the draft pick compensation tied to him. Besides that, they already have a starting five in place with Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Felix Doubront, and Dempster.
Last month, we learned that the Angels aren't expected to pursue the right-hander either.
Giants, Romo Agree To Two-Year Deal
9:34pm: Romo gets $3.5MM in 2013 and $5.5MM in 2014, good for $9MM in total, according to Dan Plesac of the MLB Network (on Twitter).
6:24pm: The Giants announced that they have avoided arbitration with closer Sergio Romo by agreeing to a two-year deal. Romo is represented by Meister Sports Management.
This deal takes care of Romo's remaining arbitration seasons and he will still hit the open market following the 2014 season as planned. With the closer under contract, the Giants now have taken care of all of their arbitration eligible players this winter. Terms of the deal are not yet known. The right-hander filed for $4.5MM while the Giants countered with $2.675MM when figures were exchanged in January.
Romo, 29, posted a 1.79 ERA last season with 10.2 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 69 relief appearances last season. The two sides also dodged arbitration last winter when they agreed to a one-year, $1.575MM deal.
AL Central Notes: Leyland, Twins, Brignac, White Sox
Tigers skipper Jim Leyland has proven over the years that he is not afraid to step away when he doesn't feel he is the right fit, but he knows that returning to the Tigers in 2013 is the right move, writes Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com. The veteran manager, who will be in the dugout for his 22nd season this year, stepped away from jobs with the Marlins, Pirates, and Rockies all on his own accord. At the same time, he admits that he feels pressure to win and knows that he could be out of a job if his team struggles. Here's more out of the AL Central..
- The Twins are among the teams that could have interest in the recently DFA'd Reid Brignac along with the Astros, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The 27-year-old appeared in 16 games for the Rays last year and spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a .231/.323/.353 batting line in 400 plate appearances as a middle infielder.
- In today's inbox, a reader asked MLB.com's Scott Merkin if White Sox outfielder Brian Anderson could potentially return to the club on a minor league deal. Anderson recently told Merkin that he's working towards hooking on somewhere as a pitcher but is also considering a move into broadcasting.
- Another reader proposed a swap to Merkin that would send Chris Sale and Dayan Viciedo to the Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton. Surprisingly, Merkin feels that such a deal would be ill-advised for the White Sox as they would be exchanging two dynamic young players for one.
- Former Indians first baseman Russ Canzler has had quite a journey this offseason but he is optimistic that he can take his coat off and stay a while in Baltimore, writes Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. It looked like the first baseman had an opening for playing time after the departure of Travis Hafner, but the signing of Mark Reynolds made him expendable.
AL East Notes: Rays, Scott, Orioles, Jurrjens
Here's a look at news out of the American League East..
- Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter) hears that Luke Scott can earn up to $750K in performance bonuses through his one-year deal with the Rays. The incentive is tied to plate appearances, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The designated hitter will make a base salary of $2.75MM in 2013 and will look to stay healthy after a pair of trips to the DL limited him to 96 games last season.
- The Orioles still haven't finalized their deal with Jair Jurrjens as team doctors are still going over the information from his Monday physical, Connolly tweets. The pitcher says that the two sides are close to finalizing the pact and and says there's just some "small stuff" to iron out (Twitter link). Jurrjens agreed to a one-year, $1.5MM Major League contract last month that balloon to as much as $4MM with incentives.
- Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com says it's possible that Orioles Executive Vice President Dan Duquette is stockpiling pitching depth in order to deal for a middle-of-the-order bat. Even if the O's use the surplus to bolster their offense, Ghiroli expects them to still hang on to extra pitching as insurance.