Angels Notes: Madson, Pujols, Morales, Trumbo
Going forward, Angels owner Arte Moreno has made it clear that he wants to leave baseball decisions up to the baseball department as opposed to manager Mike Scioscia. Here's a look at what the Halos might do next..
- The Angels are considering free agent closer Ryan Madson, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. However, in order to stay under the cap, the club would likely have to backload his contract. Madson's market has thinned out somewhat and nearly 32% of MLBTR readers polled believe that the right-hander will sign with the Angels.
- Speaking of backloaded deals, Heyman has more details on Albert Pujols' ten-year contract. Yesterday we learned that Pujols will earn $12MM in 2012 and $16MM in 2013. Heyman adds that the slugger will make $23MM, $24MM, $25MM, $26MM, $27MM, $28MM, $29MM and $30MM in the following years, according to sources.
- Every indication from the Halos suggests that they're willing to hold on to Mark Trumbo and Kendry Morales right now, but eventually they will have to move somebody, writes MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. If Trumbo can play third base, Alberto Callaspo or Maicer Izturis could be expendable.
Blue Jays Sign Aaron Laffey
The Blue Jays have signed left-hander Aaron Laffey to a split contract, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes has learned. The Royals non-tendered Laffey earlier this month.
Laffey, 26, turned down a pre-tender deal with the Royals in order to find an opportunity to pitch as a starter. Three teams told Laffey that he could compete for a spot in the rotation and ultimately the pitcher decided that the Blue Jays presented him with the best opportunity to do that.
Laffey made 47 appearances for the Yankees and Mariners in 2011, posting a 3.88 ERA with 5.1 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9. In 49 major league starts, Laffey owns a 4.35 ERA with 4.3 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9.
Tigers Join Pursuit Of Matt Garza
The Tigers have emerged as a suitor for Cubs starter Matt Garza, according to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. The increased interest in Garza from multiple teams seems to indicate that the right-hander will be dealt before the start of Spring Training.
The Yankees are also known to be interested in Garza but according to one source, they are not currently engaged due to the Cubs’ asking price. Garza’s rising salary could also be an issue for the Bombers as they approach the luxury-tax barrier. The hurler projects to earn $8.7MM in 2012 with another year of arbitration afterwards.
Boston and Toronto have also been connected to Garza but sources say that there hasn't been much momentum towards a deal for either team. It’s also unclear if the Red Sox have the prospects to land Garza after dealing minor league depth to acquire Andrew Bailey and Mark Melancon.
Cubs GM Theo Epstein recently said that Garza is the type of pitcher that he would like to build around, but as the club looks to rebuild he'll listen on everyone.
The Rockies And Cody Ross
WEDNESDAY, 12:05pm: "There is absolutely no truth to the Cody Ross stories," an excellent Rockies source told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. The source also told Saunders, "The Rockies have always liked Cody as a player but we have no fit at all in our outfield." Yesterday, Olney explained that the team's interest in Ross is conditional, based on whether they trade Smith.
MONDAY, 9:04am: The Rockies are in contract talks with Cody Ross, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Ross would presumably help the club create depth if they make a long-expected trade involving Seth Smith.
The outfielder was said to be seeking a three-year deal for some time but is now willing to sign a two-year pact. Earlier this month the Rockies seemed to have mild interest in Ross but it appears that they have ramped up their pursuit.
There's no shortage of suitors for Smith as he is drawing interest from the A's, Rays, Mariners, Braves, and Mets. Even though the talks that would have sent Martin Prado to the Rockies have gone cold, we learned over the weekend that Atlanta is still in on Smith.
Quick Hits: Fielder, Rangers, White Sox, Danks
On this date in 1995, the Orioles acquired David Wells from the Reds for Curtis Goodwin and minor leaguer Trovin Valdez. This marked the second time Boomer was traded that year as he was shipped from the Tigers to Cincinnati at the July deadline. Today's links..
- As Prince Fielder continues to look for his next home, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes a good look inside agent Scott Boras' infamous binder to see how he is framing his client. The book on Fielder not only compares him to the best sluggers from today but also puts him side-by-side with some of the best hitters of all-time.
- Richard Justice of MLB.com takes a look back at some of Boras' best deals and tacticts that the agent has used in years past. Justice wonders aloud if the agent will employ "mystery teams" to drive up the bidding.
- Even though the Rangers have a great deal of rotation depth with the expected addition of Yu Darvish, it's not a certainty that they will deal one of their starters, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider req'd). Even after the departure of C.J. Wilson, Olney rates the club's rotation as the sixth-best in baseball.
- The John Danks extension seems to indicate that the White Sox aren't ready to rebuild, but MLB.com's Scott Merkin isn't yet sure of the club's intentions. Merkin says that the futures of Carlos Quentin, Gavin Floyd, and Matt Thornton will be telling.
AL East Notes: Rays, Yankees, Danks, Red Sox
Here's a look at some items out of the only division to produce three 90-win teams in 2011…
- As they have done in years past, the Rays' plan is to wait for the bigger names on the open market to find homes before they pounce, writes Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. If the club lands a "big-bucks" DH, Topkin suggests that they could look to fill their first base vacancy with a young, inexpensive option such as the Padres' Anthony Rizzo or the Angels' Mark Trumbo.
- The Yankees had John Danks high on their wishlist before the left-hander inked a five-year, $65MM extension with the White Sox, writes Ken Davidoff of Newsday. Although starters like Edwin Jackson and Hiroki Kuroda remain on the open market, it seems like GM Brian Cashman look to bring in a "few warm bodies" like he did with Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia.
- In an interview on WEEI, Red Sox pitching coach Bob McClure stated that the transitions of Daniel Bard and Alfredo Aceves to the rotation could help the bullpen more than anything, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. The Red Sox remain in the market for a starter and are said to still be in on Kuroda.
Yankees Unlikely To Make An Offer To Kuroda
Earlier this week, it was reported that both the Yankees and Red Sox were pursuing free agent starter Hiroki Kuroda despite luxury tax concerns. However, baseball sources tell Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com that the Bombers are unlikely to make a bid for the soon-to-be 37-year-old.
Kuroda seeks a deal that will pay him roughly $12-$13MM per season, which translates to something closer to $17MM when factoring in the 40 percent luxury tax charge. Even though the Yankees like Kuroda, a club source told Matthews that the team simply doesn't have room in the budget for him. Wallace writes that the Yankees' supposed interest in the veteran is likely designed to drive the price up for Boston.
This morning, prior to this report, nearly 28% of MLBTR readers voted the Yankees as the most likely destination for Kuroda.
Poll: Which Team Will Sign Hiroki Kuroda?
As we approach the New Year, Hiroki Kuroda stands as one of the most attractive starters remaining on the open market. The possibilities for Kuroda seemed to be rather limited when the offseason began but are now wide open.
The hurler’s stated preference for remaining in Los Angeles led to him blocking deals that would have shipped him to a contender over the summer. Even though Kuroda wanted to work out a new deal with the Dodgers, their financial restrictions led them to spend elsewhere and sign Chris Capuano to a highly back loaded deal.
Now, Kuroda is reportedly willing to listen to offers from all suitors, though it seems that he would prefer to remain on the West Coast. The right-hander is after a $12-$13MM annual salary and at his age (37 in February), he won’t be seeking a long-term commitment.
The Yankees and Red Sox, two teams who were pushing for him in July, are said to be in the mix. The Diamondbacks and Rockies would each like to keep him in the NL West, though both clubs are budget-conscious as they look for a starter. Kuroda was reportedly close to signing somewhere last week but all of the aforementioned teams plus the Rangers and Mariners said that it wasn’t with them. Of course, there’s always the possibility that he’ll make his long-rumored return to the Hiroshima Carp. So, where do you see Kuroda landing?
Which Team Will Sign Hiroki Kuroda?
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Red Sox 27% (3,277)
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Hiroshima Carp 16% (1,896)
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Yankees 14% (1,677)
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Another team not listed 12% (1,388)
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Mariners 10% (1,166)
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Dodgers 9% (1,101)
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Diamondbacks 6% (697)
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Rockies 4% (428)
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Rangers 3% (419)
Total votes: 12,049
Quick Hits: Indians, Red Sox, Ortiz, Beltran, Orioles
Some links as Sunday turns into Monday…
- In a mailbag, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain-Dealer says he still expects the Indians to pursue a veteran hitter before the season. The Tribe recently made a run at Carlos Beltran.
- Each year is a different story for the Red Sox, but the club typically meets its biggest needs in November and December, writes Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. However, since the current ownership group took over a decade ago, they have made some key additions in January and February, including their pickup of David Ortiz off of waivers in early 2003.
- The Red Sox were among several suitors for Carlos Beltran who dangled the designated hitter spot as a way to prolong his career, but the veteran wanted to continue to play in the outfield, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Blue Jays, and Indians were also among the American League teams in the mix for Beltran.
- The Orioles aren't counting on Brian Roberts being ready for Spring Training, so Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com takes a look at the club's second base situation heading into 2012. Based on executive vice president Dan Duquette's comments yesterday, it doesn't sound as though the club is looking to trade for a solution at second.
- Agent Scott Boras, who negotiated Daisuke Matsuzaka's six-year, $52MM deal in 2006, is no fan of the Japanese posting system, Silverman writes. Boras says that the actual talks with Boston weren't unpleasant, but he would have preferred to see his client choose between other cities that might have fit him better.
Week In Review: 12/18/11 – 12/24/11
There was plenty of action this week as teams looked to get deals done before the holiday..
- This week, the Nationals further bolstered their rotation by trading for Athletics pitcher Gio Gonzalez. The Nats acquired the 26-year-old and Robert Gilliam for four highly-regarded young players, including three of the Nationals' top ten prospects: right-handers A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock, left-hander Tom Milone and catcher Derek Norris. Gonzalez is under team control through 2015.
- The Cubs shipped Sean Marshall to the Reds this week for for Travis Wood, Dave Sappelt, and Ronald Torreyes. The Reds have been in the market a closer, but it's not clear how they'll use Marshall and how his presence will affect Cincinnati's interest in relievers such as Francisco Cordero. The trade is the Cubs' first step towards a complete rebuilding.
- The Rangers won the rights to Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish with a $51.7MM bid this week. The bid provides the Rangers with a 30-day negotiating window. If the sides don't agree to a deal within the next 30 days, Darvish will stay in Japan and the Nippon Ham Fighters won't obtain any cash from the Rangers. The Blue Jays apparently weren't close to beating out Texas.
- Speaking of the Rangers, they're still eyeing Andrew Bailey.
- The Cardinals agreed to terms with free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran on a two-year, $26MM deal that includes a full no-trade clause. Beltran, who turns 35 in April, hit .300/.385/.525 in 598 plate appearances for the Mets and Giants in 2011.
- John Danks agreed to terms with the White Sox on a five-year, $65MM extension. Danks would have been eligible for free agency following the 2012 season, his final year as an arbitration eligible player. The White Sox are paying roughly $14-15MM for each of the four free agent seasons the deal buys out (Danks' age 28-31 seasons).
- The Diamondbacks signed outfielder Jason Kubel to a two-year, $15MM deal with a mutual option for 2014. The 29-year-old is expected to play in left field for Arizona. Kubel spent his entire career with the Twins after being drafted in the 12th round in 2000.
- Rockies outfielder Seth Smith is drawing interest from the Athletics, Rays, Mariners, Braves, and Mets.
- Both the Yankees and Red Sox are pursuing Hiroki Kuroda now that he's willing to leave California.
- The Orioles are interested in Prince Fielder but not at his current asking price. There's also a broad assumption from baseball execs that the slugger's best offer will come from the Nationals. The Mariners and Cubs remain interested in Fielder but the Rangers are out on him.
- The Marlins are considering free agent southpaw Joe Saunders. Saunders was non-tendered by Arizona a few weeks back.
- The Nationals agreed to sign utility player Mark DeRosa. The CSE client drew interest from at least four teams this offseason.
- There is reportedly divide in both the Yankees' and Marlins' front offices on whether to pursue Yoenis Cespedes. While there have been conflicting reports on the Bombers interest in the outfielder, Miami is regarded by some teams as the favorite for him.
- The Twins agreed to sign right-handed starter Jason Marquis to a one-year, $3MM contract. The Mets also had interest in the New York native this offseason.
- Roy Oswalt is believed to have drawn some interest from the Red Sox, Nationals, Marlins, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rangers and Twins. It doesn't appear that a deal is close just yet, however.
- Bobby Abreu would welcome a trade out of Anaheim, though he reportedly not the type to demand one. Abreu, 38 in March, will earn $9MM in 2012 before becoming a free agent after the season.
- The Rockies continue to seek pitching help but they're unlikely to land either Joe Saunders or Hiroki Kuroda unless their asking prices come way down.
- The Cubs signed right-hander Manny Corpas to a one-year deal.
- The Angels are still exploring bullpen options and have been in touch with Darren Oliver's representatives and had scouts watch Joel Zumaya's recent showcase.
- The Rockies signed Casey Blake to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract worth $2MM plus $1MM in performance bonuses.
- The Royals signed Yuniesky Betancourt to a one-year, Major League contract. Betancourt's base salary is $2MM and he can earn an additional $500K in incentives.
- The Angels signed outfielder Ryan Langerhans, right-hander Eric Hurley, and catcher Robinzon Diaz.
- The Rangers acquired catcher Luis Martinez from the Padres in exchange for right-hander Ryan Kelly.
- The Rays avoided arbitration with right-handed reliever Joel Peralta and agreed to terms on a one-year, Major League contract for 2012 worth $2.175MM.
- The Pirates signed right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi to a minor league deal. Igarashi, who spent the past two seasons with the Mets, is a Wasserman Media Group client.
- Some baseball people believe the Mariners are willing to trade closer Brandon League.
- Milwaukee signed Cesar Izturis to a minor league deal.
- The Nationals agreed to sign veteran outfielder Mike Cameron to a minor league deal. Cameron, 39 in January, also drew interest from the Indians this offseason.
- The Indians inked Andy LaRoche to a minor league contract.
- The Cubs and Reed Johnson have agreed to terms on a one-year contract.
- The Rockies signed right-hander Carlos Torres to a minor league contract, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes learned.
- The A's designated Jai Miller for assignment along with Landon Powell to get their 40 man roster back to the limit after the Gonzalez trade.
- The Padres reached agreement with outfielder Jeremy Hermida on a minor league deal after non-tendering him last week.
- The Giants signed arbitration eligible infielder Emmanuel Burriss to a one-year Major League contract and also signed left-hander Brian Burres this week.
- The Reds claimed Josh Judy off waivers from the Indians.