Rangers Notes: Napoli, Payroll, Hamilton
Yesterday, the Rangers avoided arbitration with Mike Napoli, agreeing to a one-year, $9.4MM contract for 2012. The 30-year-old obtained the second-highest raise for any third or fourth-time eligible position player, trailing only Prince Fielder. Here's more on the Rangers..
- After signing Napoli, GM Jon Daniels said that the Rangers are now over budget and not likely to add any other free agents this off-season, writes Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram. Daniels won't shut the door on either Roy Oswalt or Mike Gonzalez but he says that it's hard to envision signing either player with their current payroll situation.
- Daniels added that there haven't been extension talks with Josh Hamilton as the outfielder is focusing on his health and family, Wilson tweets.
- Napoli settling below the midpoint of the two offers makes revisiting multi-year deal more realistic, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Week In Review: 2/5/12 – 2/11/12
Here's a look back at the week that was..
- The Orioles shipped Jeremy Guthrie to the Rockies on Monday for pitchers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom. Guthrie was set to head to an arbitration hearing with the O's that morning but instead settled with the Rockies at $8.2MM, which is $550K below the midpoint.
- The Yankees and Pirates are discussing a possible A.J. Burnett trade with the Yankees willing to pay a substantial portion of the $33MM remaining on his contract through 2013. The Pirates appear to be willing to absorb $10MM in a trade but the Yanks want them to eat more of the deal. The Yankees have talked with four clubs about a possible deal but the Bucs seem like the most likely destination.
- Yoenis Cespedes met with Marlins brass this week and returned to the Dominican Republic with an offer. Some reports say that the outfielder was offered $40MM over six years, while others say it is less.
- MLBTR learned that the Rangers avoided arbitration with Mike Napoli, agreeing to a one-year, $9.4MM contract for 2012. Napoli, 30, earned $5.8MM in 2011 and obtained the second-highest raise for any third or fourth-time eligible position player.
- MLBTR also reported that Nelson Cruz signed a new two-year deal with the Rangers worth $16MM plus incentives. Cruz, 31, hit .263/.312/.509 with 29 home runs in 513 plate appearances last year, adding eight more homers in 70 postseason PAs.
- The Rangers and shortstop Elvis Andrus officially signed a three-year extension worth $14.4MM. Andrus owns a .271/.340/.343 line with 102 stolen bases (135 attempts) as a Major Leaguer.
- The Angels are unlikely to reach agreement on an extension with Erick Aybar before the start of the season.
- The Dodgers announced that they avoided arbitration with Clayton Kershaw, agreeing to terms on a two-year contract worth $19MM. The contract buys out Kershaw's first two seasons of arbitration eligibility, but doesn't delay his free agency. He will be arbitration eligible for the final time following the 2013 season and eligible for free agency following the 2014 season.
- Owner Lew Wolff announced that GM Billy Beane and president Michael Crowley have agreed to extensions through the 2019 season. The Athletics have made five playoff appearances under Beane, who has been with the team longer than any other American League GM.
- The Indians announced that they avoided arbitration with Asdrubal Cabrera, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $4.55MM deal for 2012.
- The Astros avoided arbitration with infielder Jed Lowrie, signing him to a one-year contract for 2012. Lowrie's deal is worth $1.15MM plus performance bonuses.
- The Phillies considered signing Roy Oswalt but a deal between the two sides is unlikely.
- Pitcher Anibal Sanchez won his arbitration case against the Marlins in what his agent Gene Mato. deems a "historic win for the players going forward." Sanchez received an $8MM salary for 2012 instead of the team's $6.9MM figure.
- Emilio Bonifacio beat the Marlins in their arbitration hearing and the Wasserman Media Group client will be paid $2.2MM in 2012 instead of the Marlins' $1.95MM figure.
- The Mariners signed reliever Shawn Camp to a Major League deal. Camp, 36, posted a 4.21 ERA, 4.3 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 0.41 HR/9, and 53.5% groundball rate in 66 1/3 innings for the Blue Jays last year.
- The Mariners signed lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo to a one-year, Major League contract.
- The Diamondbacks and Craig Breslow avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $1.795MM.
- The Orioles agreed to sign Luis Ayala to a one-year, $925K deal that is pending a physical. The deal includes a $1MM team option for 2013 with a $100K buyout.
- Utility infielder Bill Hall announced his own signing with the Yankees.
- The Royals and Alex Gordon avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $4.775MM. Gordon can earn another $25K in bonuses.
- The Nationals announced that they've signed infielder/outfielder Mark Teahen to a minor league deal. The Nats also signed Rick Ankiel to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.
- The Padres signed righty Jeff Suppan to a minor league deal that will be worth $950K if he makes the big league roster.
- The Rangers signed outfielder/first baseman Conor Jackson and left-handed reliever Joe Beimel to minor league contracts. The deals include invitations to big league Spring Training.
- The Cubs claimed Adrian Cardenas off of waivers from the Athletics and designated infielder Blake DeWitt for assignment to create 40-man roster space for him.
- The Orioles agreed to sign Nick Johnson to a minor league deal.
- The Red Sox and Alfredo Aceves avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.2MM deal with $100K in bonus incentives.
- The Yankees signed first baseman Russell Branyan to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The move does not impact the team's pursuit of Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Raul Ibanez.
- The Cardinals agreed to a minor league deal with a spring training invite with infielder Alex Cora.
- The Dodgers signed reliever Jamey Wright to a minor league deal with a spring training invite.
- The Twins claimed Darin Mastroianni off of waivers from the Blue Jays and designated Esmerling Vasquez for assignment.
- The Cardinals signed Dominican right-hander Andres Serrano for $750K. Earlier in the week they also signed Scott Linebrink to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training.
Phillies Confident In Hamels Talks
With an ever-increasing payroll, it would seem difficult for the Phillies to find room to sign Cole Hamels to a lucrative new deal. However, team president David Montgomery told Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer that he is confident that a deal can be reached.
"I don't think it's difficult," said Montgomery. "We've let [Hamels] know we're anxious to have him stay here. Cole enjoys it here…It'll probably come down to what we think is an appropriate length and what they think. You try to minimize risk by not going longer than necessary. And a player is looking for as much security as he can get. It's an equation that takes time to hopefully get worked out."
Recently, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that the Phillies will have trouble re-signing the left-hander for anything less than market value after giving hefty deals to Ryan Howard, Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon, and Jimmy Rollins. Hamels' agent John Boggs also says that he doesn't consider Jered Weaver's team-friendly five-year, $85MM deal as a parallel.
Cafardo On Oswalt, Burnett, Phillies, Rodriguez
In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe takes a look at what we can expect out of David Ortiz's arbitration hearing on Monday. The only way the hearing can turn bad, according to one source with experience in arbitration cases, is if the Red Sox mention that Ortiz's positive test for a banned substance in 2003. However, Boston may be reluctant to go there, for risk of inviting bad feelings. Here more from Cafardo..
- The Red Sox are willing to give Roy Oswalt a one-year deal worth $5-$7MM, but the veteran remains reluctant to pitch in Boston. However, as we've heard elsewhere, the 34-year-old hasn't ruled Boston out.
- Any money that the Yankees save in a potential A.J. Burnett trade will be put toward a lefthanded-hitting DH/outfielder type, with Raul Ibanez and Johnny Damon likely in that mix.
- Don't be surprised if Vladimir Guerrero, Magglio Ordonez, Xavier Nady, or Manny Ramirez wind up with the Phillies. The Phillies really want to add a righthanded hitter who can pinch hit and occasionally play the outfield. However, they’re extremely close to luxury tax territory.
- The Athletics, Orioles, and Blue Jays remain the main teams interested in Ramirez.
- Mike Gonzalez remains the most high-profile lefty reliever on the market and agent Scott Boras is hoping teams reassess their needs right before camp. The Phillies could be a fit, but they have budget concerns. The Orioles also want to add one more bullpen piece but they might not want to go down that road again.
- The lack of interest in Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez is surprising considering that the club would assume a fair portion of the $36MM left on his deal. Houston is also surprised at the lack of interest in righty Brett Myers, who would appear to be a good piece for a contending club.
- While interviewing for the Red Sox managerial job, Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont felt confident that he was going to get the nod. Lamont met with Ben Cherington and Larry Lucchino in Boston, John Henry in Boca Raton, Florida, and Tom Werner in New York City.
- After watching Ryan Flaherty in camp with the Orioles, Cafardo believes that the infielder and Rule 5 draft pick can win a spot with the club.
Angels Unlikely To Extend Erick Aybar Before Season
Angels GM Jerry Dipoto will continue extension talks with the representatives for Erick Aybar but doesn't foresee completing a deal before the start of the season, writes Alden Gonzalez in MLB.com. Working out an extension at some point is still "very much a possibility" but Dipoto doesn't see it happening before Opening Day.
The shortstop, who avoided arbitration with the Halos by agreeing to a one-year, $5.075MM deal, is set to hit the open market after this season. The Angels worked out a four-year, $33.5MM deal with Howie Kendrick last month to cover the 28-year-old's final year of arbitration and first three years of free agency.
Red Sox Sign Sean White
We'll keep track of today's minor moves right here..
- The Red Sox signed right-hander Sean White to a minor league deal, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America. White, 30, has 105 career major league games with the Mariners to his credit and has a 4.16 ERA with 4.0 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9. White spent 2011 with the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate.
Quick Hits: Red Sox, Braves, Astros, Marlins
Saturday afternoon linkage..
- Despite speculation to the contrary, the Red Sox's limited spending this offseason isn't connected to the amount of money owner John Henry has spent on his Liverpool soccer club, writes Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.
- David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution spoke with several members of the Braves who say that they are glad the club didn't shake things up this winter. Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado were at the center of many offseason trade rumors but Frank Wren didn't find suitable deals for either player.
- Astros GM Jeff Luhnow told reporters that he hasn't been instructed to limit or cut payroll, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. The overall goal, he says, is to make the team more competitive over a three-to-five year time frame.
- Overall, the Marlins don't have a great deal of MLB-ready talent in the minors as their most promising players are at the lower levels of their farm system, tweets Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel.
Marlins Make Offer To Yoenis Cespedes
3:00pm: Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (via Twitter) hears that the Marlins offered Cespedes less than $40MM.
1:54pm: Yoenis Cespedes met with Marlins brass this week and returned to the Domincan Republic with an offer worth roughly $40MM over six years, a source close to the negotiations told Eric Reynoso of Cafe Fuerte. Cespedes, according to the source, still doesn't have any immediate plans to meet with other teams.
Prior to meeting with Cespedes, Marlins president David Samson hinted that the club would make an offer to the Cuban outfielder. The interest seems mutual as Cespedes told reporters that he would like to play in Miami.
Also within the piece, Reynoso writes that utility player and fellow Cuban Adonis Garcia became a free agent on Thursday. Agent Carlos Perez says that he has fielded interest from six teams, though the Marlins are not among them. The 26-year-old, who has shown the ability to hit for power, spent this winter with the Magellan Navigators of the Venezuelan League.
Quick Hits: Ankiel, Kuo, Oswalt, Reds, Nationals
On this date in 1983, the Blue Jays traded Leon Roberts to the Royals for a minor leaguer by the name of Cecil Fielder. Fielder made his Major League debut in 1985 and played for the Blue Jays through 1989 before having his contract sold to the Hanshin Tigers. Fielder returned to MLB with the Detroit Tigers in 1990 where he made three All-Star appearances in his first four years with the club. Here's a look at tonight's links..
- Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) points out that the Mets had been eyeing Rick Ankiel, who signed with the Nats earlier today. The Mets are in search of a left-handed bat off of the bench and have also been linked to Kosuke Fukudome, Raul Ibanez, and Johnny Damon.
- Clubs that have been interested in Hong-Chih Kuo believe that he'll wind up signing with the Mariners, tweets Jayson Stark of ESPN.com. Earlier today, agent Alan Chang told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times that his client is close to deciding on a team.
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that it would be tough to clear the payroll space necessary to sign Roy Oswalt. Fay writes that the only tradeable member of the Reds' rotation making significant money is Homer Bailey. Moving Bailey's $2.425MM contract to make room for one year of Oswalt would be risky, but the club has exhibited an all-in attitude recently.
- If GM Mike Rizzo doesn't add another center fielder, Rick Ankiel should have a decent opportunity to win a spot in the Nationals' Opening Day lineup and perhaps platoon with fellow veteran Mike Cameron in center field, writes Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider.
- Earlier this offseason, sources said there was a feeling within the organization that Ankiel might not be able to maintain the offensive productivity he showed in spurts last season if he's primarily coming off of the bench, writes Amanda Comak of The Washington Times.
The Six-Figure Contract Club
So far this offseason, we have seen whole lot of big money contracts handed out. In early December, Albert Pujols signed with the Angels for an eye-popping $240MM over ten years. Some speculated that Prince Fielder might not get a deal on the same scale as suitors appeared to drop out but the slugger hooked up with the Tigers on a nine-year, $214MM deal. This winter also brought significant paydays for Jose Reyes, C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle, Jonathan Papelbon, and others.
However, there were also plenty of bargains to be had this offseason and so far we have seen nine players ink guaranteed deals worth less than $1MM in base pay. Using MLBTR's Transaction Tracker, here's a look at some of the most payroll-friendly Major League signings of the 2011-12 offseason..
- Chris Snyder: $850K with the Astros
- Matt Treanor: $850K with the Dodgers
- Joel Zumaya: $800K with the Twins
- Adam Kennedy: $800K with the Dodgers
- Brian Schneider: $800K with the Phillies
- Clay Hensley: $750K with the Giants
- J.C. Romero: $750K with the Cardinals
- Jack Cust: $600K with the Astros
- Andrew Brackman: $480K with the Reds
This marks Treanor's second consecutive induction into the Six-Figure Contract Club as he re-upped with the Rangers on an $850K guaranteed deal last year. Each deal listed is for one year but the contracts of Treanor, Snyder, and Cust all include options for the 2013 season. With Spring Training just around the corner and several big vets still remaining on the open market, we're sure to see some high-profile inductees added to this list.