Mets To Offer David Wright $100MM Deal
The Mets are expected to start negotiations with David Wright by making an offer for somewhere in the neighborhood of $100MM, people familiar with the team's thinking told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The Mets are also expected to give negotiations at least most of October before even considering a deal for the star third baseman.
Heyman was told that General Manager Sandy Alderson & Co. hope to make Wright a Met "for life." A deal could include team options toward the end of the pact with the hope that the 29-year-old stays productive into his late 30s. Wright has opted to remain with the embattled ACES agency but Heyman writes that there's no indication that they have pressed the contract talks because of the timing of the probe into their practices.
While Wright is likely seeking a $100MM+ deal, a veteran agent told Mike Puma of the New York Post that R.A. Dickey is probably eyeing Oliver Perez-type money, which would be $36MM over three years. However, Heyman writes that the Mets don't want to go beyond two years for Dickey as the Mets have concerns that his high-velocity for a knuckleballer will hurt his longevity. A rival GM sees the soon-to-be 38-year-old as being worth $15MM, but the Mets aren't believed to be thinking of a deal in that ballpark.
Indians Hire Terry Francona
8:16pm: The Indians aren't commenting on Olney's tweet referring to Francona's out clauses, according to Hoynes (via Twitter).
7:30pm: Francona's option contains out clauses that he can exercise if the people he's working for are dismissed from the organization, according to ESPN's Buster Olney (on Twitter). Presumably, that's in reference to Antonetti and Shapiro.
MONDAY, 9:57am: The Indians announced that they have signed Francona to a four-year deal through 2016.
SATURDAY, 6:25pm: The Indians have announced the hiring of Francona and will formally introduce him at a press conference on Monday morning.
4:42pm: The Indians and Francona are discussing a four-year deal, according to Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer. The manager also implied to Hoynes that while a deal may be close, it has yet to be finalized.
3:24pm: The Indians are set to hire Terry Francona as manager with an announcement likely for Monday, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Francona, currently an analyst for ESPN, said last night that his two options at present were to either manager in Cleveland or remain with the network.
The former Red Sox skipper has linked to the vacancy ever since the dismissal of Manny Acta, but many wondered if Cleveland could offer him a satisfactory deal. Sandy Alomar Jr. was also viewed as a strong candidate for the job, having guided the club for its final six games of the season with obvious ties to the organization. At the same time, Tito has strong relationships with GM Chris Antonetti and team president Mark Shapiro following his 2001 stint with Cleveland as a special assistant to the GM.
Francona now takes over for a club that finished 68-94 in 2012 and has a limited budget to work with. For his career, the 53-year-old has a 1,029–915 record across a total of 12 seasons as a big league skipper.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
West Notes: Rangers, Tracy, Rockies, Giambi, Hamilton
Items out of the AL and NL West..
- Much has been made of the Rangers' Josh Hamilton dilemma this offseason, but GM Jon Daniels will also need to re-tool his pitching staff this winter, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. The Rangers will have money to spend, but also have Colby Lewis and Neftali Feliz working their way back from injuries. Martin Perez remains an option for the team as well.
- Jim Tracy told Troy E. Renck and Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that there wasn't one particular issue that led to his resignation from the Rockies, but rather a number of factors. It would seem that Tracy was irked by some of the club's unconventional ideas and his overall decrease in power.
- Meanwhile, Jason Giambi would retire as a player if he were given consideration for the managerial opening, a source close to the Rockies veteran told Renck and Saunders.
- Given Hamilton's injury history and age, Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com doesn't think that the Rangers should give him more than three guaranteed years in a new contract. However, Durrett believes that there's at least one team out there that will go beyond that for the outfielder. A vesting option for a fourth year based on whether Hamilton stays healthy could be a concession the Rangers could comfortably make.
- Dave Cameron of Fangraphs wonders if Hamilton might be the most confusing free agent ever. Cameron could see the slugger landing a five-year, $125MM deal from a team that chooses to ignore all the risk but can also envision him taking a one-year pact somewhere to prove that his second half wasn't a sign of things to come.
Quick Hits: Braves, Leyland, Soriano, Phillies, Rays
Depending on what happens with Michael Bourn, the Braves could potentially have two major holes to fill in their lineup. Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) offers some suggestions for replacing Bourn and Chipper Jones and notes that the club could have some added flexibility if Martin Prado can be shifted from left field to third base. Ben Revere of the Twins, Peter Bourjos of the Angels, and Chris Young of the Diamondbacks could all be trade targets in center field. There aren't a lot of great third base options on the open market but Atlanta could zero in on guys like Mike Olt of the Rangers, Chase Headley of the Padres, and maybe even the Mets David Wright. Here's more from around baseball..
- Tigers manager Jim Leyland has been telling people in recent days that he has no plans to retire, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Given his desire to return, it's likely that Leyland will be managing the Tigers in 2013. Leyland's contract expires at the end of the season.
- Even though he has been linked the Marlins opening, Mike Lowell tells Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that he has no interest in managing at this point in his life. The former third baseman is currently working for the MLB Network as an on-air analyst.
- The Yankees' desire to keep their payroll under $189MM in 2014 could complicate their chances to sign Rafael Soriano to a long-term deal once he opts out, writes Heyman. Soriano's three-year, $35MM deal seemed like a stretch last year but it now seems like the Bombers view the possibility of a last year at $14MM more favorably than the right-hander.
- The members of the Philadelphia Daily News staff bring us their suggestions for retooling the club heading into 2013. David Murphy believes that Ruben Amaro & Co. should start by revamping the bullpen while Marcus Hayes writes that the club should stick to making small moves while allowing the younger players to flourish.
- Bill Parker of DRays Bay looks in the rear view mirror to discuss what the Rays could have done differently in 2012. The trade of John Jaso to the Mariners for Josh Lueke was among the missteps highlighted.
Yankees Designate Cory Wade For Assignment
The Yankees have designated right-hander Cory Wade for assignment, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). In a related move, Dellin Betances was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list to play in the Arizona Fall League.
Wade, 29, appeared in 79 games for the Yankees across the last two years, posting a 4.23 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9 during that stretch. The reliever spent his first two big league seasons with the Dodgers and had a brief minor league stint with the Rays before joining the Bombers in June of 2011.
Wade would have been eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason had he not been designated for assignment.
AL East Notes: Red Sox, Blue Jays, Farrell, Ichiro
The Red Sox have plenty of money to spend but a soft free agent market means that General Manager Ben Cherington will have to get creative to improve the club heading into 2013. Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald looks at some of the available options, including Yankees first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher. It doesn't seem likely that Swisher would be a fit for the Red Sox as he will turn 32 in November and believes that he's in store for a Jayson Werth-type deal. While executives don't see the veteran getting something in the neighborhood of $126MM over seven years, he's still likely to net a lucrative multi-year pact. Here's more out of the AL East..
- The Blue Jays continue to suggest that they won't let manager John Farrell go to the Red Sox, but Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com isn't sure why as they don't seem to be sure about him in the long term. Several people around baseball suggest that things are less-than-perfect between Farrell and the Toronto front office.
- Of course, the Blue Jays could have a change of heart, and Alex Speier of WEEI.com looks at what it might cost the Red Sox to pry Farrell away. The two deals that happened last year involving decision-makers suggest that Boston wouldn't have to forfeit an elite prospect in a trade. While the Marlins shipped right-hander Jhan Marinez and infielder Osvaldo Martinez, ranked fourth and fifth in their farm system, to the White Sox for Ozzie Guillen, Jim Callis of Baseball America notes that their rankings were a reflection of Marlins' lack of minor league talent.
- The union between Ichiro Suzuki and the Yankees has turned out to be an ideal marriage, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. General Manager Brian Cashman told Ichiro prior to the trade that he would have to shift to left field and hit towards the bottom of the lineup. However, the outfielder has since moved up to second in the order and has seen time at all three outfield spots.
Indians Notes: Francona, Alomar, Masterson
A lot of people in baseball think that Terry Francona is crazy for taking the Indians job, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd). However, the skipper knew that Cleveland was where he wanted to be thanks in large part to his strong relationships with GM Chris Antonetti and president Mark Shapiro. In fact, Tito showed how much he wanted the job by handing the club a 16-page breakdown of their team, the organization, and what he envisions for their future. Earlier this afternoon, the Indians formally introduced Francona as their next manager. Here are some highlights..
- Francona was asked if he came to Cleveland in part because he preferred a smaller market as opposed to his previous stops in Philadelphia and Boston, tweets Alex Speier of WEEI.com. The skipper insisted that he wasn't looking to avoid the pressures of a big market but instead came to Cleveland because he's not "afraid of a challenge." He added that he was treated well by the media in Boston for the most part.
- The skipper said that negotiations for his four-year deal "took about ten minutes", according to Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer (via Twitter).
- Acknowledging the challenge that he will be faced with, Francona said that he's in it for the long haul, Hoynes tweets. "I don't want to be a rental manager. I want to be part of the solution. I want to stick around," said Francona.
- Antonetti and Francona have talked to Sandy Alomar Jr. several times about a coaching job, but Alomar still isn't sure if its a good fit, tweets Hoynes. Meanwhile, Antonetti expects to get calls on Alomar about managerial vacancies this winter (Twitter link).
- Francona plans to keep Justin Masterson in the starting rotation next season, tweets Hoynes. Masterson turned in a 4.93 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 34 starts last season.
Pettitte Likely To Return Next Season
Throughout the 2012 season, Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte has been non-commital when asked whether he would return next year. However, the 40-year-old gave a strong indication that he will be back in 2013 as he gets ready to take on the Orioles in Game 2 of the ALDS, writes Mark Hale of the New York Post.
“I know one thing: I know the competition and the desire to compete is still there, and I don’t feel like I kind of got that itch out from the 70 innings or so that I threw this year,” Pettitte said.
Pettitte signed a one-year, $2.5MM minor league contract with the Yankees in March with no incentives attached. The left-hander joined the varsity squad on May 13th but was sidelined in late June when a batted ball fractured his left fibula where it meets the ankle. In 12 starts, Pettitte turned in a 2.87 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
Poll: Will Josh Hamilton Return To The Rangers?
Immediately after the Rangers' 5-1 loss to the Orioles in the AL Wild Card game, the focus shifted to Josh Hamilton and his impending free agency. The slugger reiterated his desire to stay in Texas and said that he would allow the club to match any offer that is put in front of him. He also took a crack at quantifying his chances of returning and pegged them at 50/50. It's possible that the outfielder knows just as much as we do about where he may wind up.
Typically, someone with a .285/.354/.577 batting line and 43 home runs in their walk year would be a lock for a hefty, long-term deal, but Hamilton's injury history and off-the-field concerns make him a risky signing. He may also have less big market suitors than a free agent of his caliber would expect. The free-spending Dodgers are already set in the outfield with Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Carl Crawford. The Red Sox have plenty of room to work with thanks to their blockbuster deal with the Dodgers, but all signs point to them exercising caution in this offseason in order to avoid more ill-advised long-term deals. The Cubs expect to spend, but reportedly, spending $150MM+ on one player isn't what they have in mind.
The Rangers know that there's a limit to how much they can budget for the 31-year-old, but they may not have to stretch too far to sign him given his question marks and his fairly limited pool of suitors. When the dust settles, do you see Hamilton in Arlington or elsewhere in 2013?
Will The Rangers Re-Sign Hamilton?
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No 74% (11,415)
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Yes 26% (4,105)
Total votes: 15,520
Quick Hits: Pirates, Francona, Tracy, Phillies
Sunday afternoon linkage..
- Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wonders if the Pirates will take a step forward in 2013. Biertempfel notes that the Bucs find themselves with the same holes to fill as they did a year ago at catcher, first base, shortstop, right field, in the bullpen, and in the starting rotation.
- The hiring of Terry Francona as manager gives the Indians credibility heading into next season, opines Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (video link). Rosenthal believes that Francona was looking for a front office that he could really trust after his uncomfortable exit from Boston.
- Unless Jim Tracy believes that the Rockies are capable of reaching the playoffs next season, the veteran skipper should opt to part ways with the club, writes Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post. Kiszla suggests that Tracy should find a way to leave without forfeiting his $1.4MM salary, but it has been widely reported that he simply as a handshake agreement for 2013.
- Free agent options such as Josh Willingham and Yoenis Cespedes would have been a worthwhile investments for the Phillies last winter, writes Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. While there were missed opportunities for the club, Brookover is quick to note that injuries took their toll on the team in 2012 .