2012 Payrolls By Division
Last week, the Associated Press published 2012 payrolls for all 30 teams based on information sent by the clubs to the commissioner's office. Here are the parameters as described by the AP:
The figures are for 40-man rosters and include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses, earned incentive bonuses, non-cash compensation, buyouts of unexercised options, and cash transactions. In some cases, parts of salaries that are deferred are discounted to reflect present-day values.
In total, MLB teams spent $3,149,424,396, up from $2,999,557,280 last year. The average payroll was just under $105MM and teams like the Cubs, Mets, White Sox, and Twins all came in around that number. The Yankees had the highest payroll in baseball, as they have in every year since 1998, but the 2013 Dodgers will knock them from that perch. The AL West champion A's had the lowest payroll of anyone in 2011 with a sub-$60MM tally. Speaking of the AL West, it should be noted that the Astros are still counted as NL Central members for 2012. Here's a break down of the spending by league and division with last year's averages in parentheses..
American League: $111.7MM per team ($104.7MM)
- AL East: $128.9MM per team ($119.6MM)
- AL Central: $96.3MM per team ($90.5MM)
- AL West: $109.6MM per team ($103.9MM)
National League: $99.1MM per team ($95.8MM)
- NL East: $111.5MM per team ($105.9MM)
- NL Central: $89.4MM per team ($90.8MM)
- NL West: $98.3MM ($88.5MM)
Remaining Free Agent Strikeout Relievers
There are more than 40 unsigned free agent relievers at this stage of the offseason, but not all of those relievers are strikeout guys. To zero in on the strikeout artists left on the market, let's take a look at the leaders in K/9 and K% in 2012.
You're probably familiar with K/9, which is strikeouts per nine innings. The league average was 7.56 K/9 last season, and Craig Kimbrel led all qualified relievers with 16.66 K/9. The second metric, K%, measures the percentage of batters faced that the pitcher struck out. The league average was 19.8% in 2012, and Kimbrel also topped that mountain at 44.0%.
The K/9 and K% leaderboards are predictably similar, but not identical. More efficient pitchers will have a higher K%, even though they may have a lower K/9 than their baserunner-prone counterparts. Here are lists of unsigned free agent relievers with above average K/9 and K% rates.
Strikeouts Per Nine Innings (K/9)
- Jason Frasor – 10.92
- Mike Gonzalez – 9.84
- Manny Parra – 9.36
- Hisanori Takahashi – 9.30
- Brandon Lyon – 9.30
- Vicente Padilla – 9.18
- Rafael Soriano – 9.18
- Francisco Rodriguez – 9.00
- Juan Cruz – 8.33
- Matt Lindstrom – 7.66
- Kevin Gregg – 7.63
Just missing the cut was Rays left-hander J.P. Howell, who posted a 7.51 K/9 rate in 2012 to go along with a 3.04 ERA and 3.9 BB/9. Howell has drawn interest from the Nationals, Phillies, Cubs, Mariners, and Rangers this winter.
Strikeouts Per Batter Faced (K%)
- Frasor – 27.8%
- Gonzalez – 25.8%
- Soriano – 24.7%
- Takahashi – 24.5%
- Lyon – 24.4%
- Rodriguez – 23.6%
- Padilla – 23.4%
- Parra – 22.3%
- Howell – 20.7%
- Cruz – 20.4%
- Lindstrom – 20.0%
That's a bit of redemption for Howell, as he posted an above-average K% while Gregg (18.5%) missed the mark. That essentially means that Howell was more efficient and struck out a higher percentage of the batters he faced. Chad Durbin was just left on the outside-looking-in with a 19.1% posting.
Special thanks to Mike Axisa, who compiled a similar post last year.
AL East Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Hanrahan
Right-hander Derek Lowe wasn't off to a great start in 2012 but managed to finish out the year strong with the Yankees after signing in August. The veteran posted a 5.52 ERA with 3.1 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 21 starts for the Indians but had a 3.04 ERA with 5.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in pinstripes as a reliever. However, as we learned earlier today, he's still looking for an opportunity to start. Here's more out on the Yanks and the rest of the AL East..
- The Yankees may be a team in transition, but Richard Justice of MLB.com refuses to count them out in 2013. For the Bombers to win, however, they'll need a right-handed hitting outfielder to balance their three left-handed hitting outfielders. They also need the newly-acquired Kevin Youkilis, who was signed to fill-in for Alex Rodriguez while he recovers from hip surgery, to stay healthy.
- The Red Sox's trade for Joel Hanrahan could signal that the front office believes that they can contend next season, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. If the deal is built around a player other than Hanrahan who can be controlled for multiple years, then that may not be the exact case. But if Hanrahan is the true centerpiece of the swap and the other player is more of a complementary piece, then it could mean that Boston expects to win next year.
- The Red Sox won't be announcing any of their pending moves over the next couple of days, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). That would presumably pertain to the aforementioned Hanrahan trade and the delayed Mike Napoli deal.
Betancourt Receiving Interest From Four Clubs
Yuniesky Betancourt is one of the remaining free agents on the market who displayed better-than-average power in 2012. Agent Alex Esteban of Miami Sports Management tells MLBTR that his client is drawing a good amount of interest that will result in a major league deal.
"I can assure you that Yuni will be signing a Major League contract. Currently, there are four teams we are in conversations with and we expect to be finalizing a deal shortly after the holidays," Esteban said.
Betancourt, 31 in January, spent 57 games with the Royals last season, posting a .228/.256/.400 batting line with seven homers. The infielder was reportedly on the Cubs' radar earlier this month as a third base option.
Rays Still Searching For A Bat
The Rays have already filled several holes this winter, but executive vice president Andrew Friedman says they're still looking for a "bat or two" to add for next season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. However, the choices available are somewhat limited at this stage of the offseason.
The Angels could have been a nice fit as a trading partner following the Josh Hamilton signing, but their trade of Kendrys Morales to Seattle has broken up the glut enough to allow Peter Bourjos and Mark Trumbo to fit into the lineup. The Rays also pursued right fielder Nate Schierholtz, but he ended up signing a $2.25MM deal with the Cubs earlier this month.
Lance Berkman said that the Rays were one of four teams to show interest in him this winter and he could be a solid fit, provided that he decides to continue playing in 2013. Jason Kubel is now expendable in Arizona, but it's hard to envision the Rays taking on his $7.5MM salary (plus $7.5MM mutual option for '14) unless the D'Backs cover part of it.
Reactions To The Nick Swisher Signing
Earlier today, we learned the Indians agreed to sign Nick Swisher to a four-year, $56MM deal, which is the largest free agent contract (in total value) in franchise history, according to ESPN (via Twitter). Here are the reactions to the Indians' big splash into the free agent pool:
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman had kind words for Swisher, as tweeted by Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, "He was great for us. We’ll miss him, but I’m happy for him. I think Cleveland got a bargain."
- The Swisher move is stunning but it reflects a willingness on the part of ownership to spend (signing Swisher and Mark Reynolds) and make bold moves (the Shin-Soo Choo trade and the hiring of Terry Francona), writes the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto.
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) has yet to identify one other team on Swisher's free agent "tour" of prospective suitors. Heyman adds that it's possible that there were other teams in the hunt, but it's a mystery as to who they could be.
- Swisher and Jayson Werth have comparable regular season stats, but Werth got $70MM more in part because of his October play and defensive ability, Heyman tweets.
- The Indians considered all of their free agent pursuits to be longshots, but the fact that Swisher is from Parkersburg, West Virginia and went to Ohio State helped to lure him to Cleveland, Ken Rosenthal tweets. Manager Terry Francona's pitch also factored in for the veteran.
- While the Indians’ decision to sign Swisher while entertaining trades for right-hander Justin Masterson, closer Chris Perez, and others seems curious, the club has an explanation, Rosenthal writes. The Tribe is trying to thread the needle and improve the team both short- and long-term.
- The Red Sox valued the second round draft pick they would have had to forfeit by signing Swisher more than Swisher himself given the new spending restrictions on draft choices, according to Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. With that in mind, MacPherson wonders, in a second piece, if the Red Sox erred in not tendering a qualifying offer to Cody Ross.
- Swisher's deal is a bit startling in terms of free agent prices and makes B.J. Upton's $15MM/year agreement with Braves look better, opines the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien (Twitter links).
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer puts the Swisher contract into historical context by listing the Tribe's five best and five worst free agent signings.
Edward Creech contributed to this post.
Rangers Notes: LaRoche, Swisher, Upton
Earlier today, Rangers assistant General Manager Thad Levine joined Jim Bowden on SiriusXM radio. Here’s a look at some highlights (all links go to Twitter)..
- The Rangers were never in on Adam LaRoche or Nick Swisher this winter as they didn’t want to dole out long-term deals or sacrifice a draft pick for either player. Swisher came to terms with the Indians this morning on a four-year, $56MM deal.
- The assistant GM said that the club has had great conversations with Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers about Justin Upton. The Rangers have been in talks with Arizona about Upton for quite some time, but it now appears that the Diamondbacks would prefer to trade Jason Kubel. Kubel is set to earn $7.5MM in 2013 with a mutual option for the same amount in 2014, while Upton is owed $38.5MM through 2015.
- Levine says that the Rangers have not discussed Kyle Lohse or Adam LaRoche at this point (Twitter link).
- The Rangers are looking more to trades than free agency to improve their team at this point, Levine told Bowden (on Twitter).
Cafardo On Smoak, Orioles, Myers, Twins
A good catcher can take a pitching staff to the next level, and that's why David Ross might be the Red Sox's top addition this year, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. A catcher like Ross can throw out a runner, block a ball at an opportune time, and get a pitcher straightened out if he’s lost his composure. In that regard, Ross could give Boston what they missed last season following Jason Varitek's retirement. Here's more from Cafardo..
- According to a major league source, the Orioles are said to have some interest in Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak. Seattle can afford to part with Smoak after acquiring Kendrys Morales from the Angels. The O's also have been linked to Adam LaRoche, but they are hesitant to give up a draft pick to sign him.
- While the Twins already have acquired Vance Worley in the Ben Revere deal with the Phillies, and have signed Kevin Correia, Mike Pelfrey, and Rich Harden, they could still explore a signing of Brett Myers. We last heard of Minnesota's interest in Myers roughly three weeks ago. The right-hander should also garner interest from the Padres.
- Lance Berkman would be a nice fit for the Red Sox if his right knee is okay after two knee surgeries last season. The Sox have been looking for a left handed-hitting first baseman/outfielder and the 36-year-old switch-hitter would fit the bill.
D’Backs Working To Trade Outfielder
3:01pm: The White Sox have talked about Kubel and also had talks about Upton earlier in winter, when Diamondbacks asked about Alexei Ramirez, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
2:56pm: The Rangers are not pursuing Kubel at present, a source tells Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
The Diamondbacks are looking to trade an outfielder in the wake of the Cody Ross signing, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jason Kubel is regarded as the outfielder most likely to be moved.
Arizona is still overloaded with outfielders following the Chris Young trade as Ross joins Kubel, Justin Upton, and Gerardo Parra. The club also has prospects Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollock waiting in the wings, giving them a rich surplus that can be parlayed into other areas of need.
Some have wondered if the Rangers could be players for Kubel if they can’t come to terms on a long-rumored deal for Upton. Kubel is set to earn $7.5MM in 2013 with a mutual option for the same amount in 2014, significantly less than the $38.5MM owed to Upton through ’15.
Quick Hits: Mariners, Bonderman, Athletics
On this date in 2007, the Reds traded Josh Hamilton to the Rangers for Danny Herrera and Edinson Volquez. Here’s tonight’s look around baseball..
- Jeremy Bonderman told Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times (on Twitter) that he’ll get a shot at cracking the Mariners‘ starting rotation. He adds that the M’s did not go out to see him throw prior to signing him.
- The Athletics asked to remain in the Oakland Coliseum for five more years in a proposed agreement that would delay the target for their move to San Jose until 2018, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. The A’s lease is currently set to expire after this season. The club has waited almost four years for Commissioner Bud Selig to approve or reject the proposed move to San Jose.
- Cuban prospects Aledmys Diaz and Dariel Alvarez are working out in Mexicali, Mexico and will audition for scouts on January 5th, a source tells Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com (on Twitter). Alvarez, a 24-year-old outfielder, and 22-year-old shortstop Diaz were profiled by Sanchez in November.