Olivo’s 2011 Option Is Now Mutual
Catcher Miguel Olivo's option for next season went from club to mutual after he made his 110th appearance in today's contest against the Giants. However, the Rockies can still opt to buy out his 2011 for $500K rather than bring him back for $2.7MM.
Olivo's return to Colorado could create an uncomfortable situation with Chris Iannetta, writes Jim Armstrong of The Denver Post. The Rockies signed Iannetta to a three-year, $8.35MM deal before the season in the hopes that he would take hold of the everyday job behind the plate. If Olivo returns, he will earn more than the 27-year-old who believes that he is a starting major league catcher.
In his first season with the Rockies, Olivo has hit .271/.317/.447 with 13 homers. His option was initially worth $2.5MM but he boosted that figure to $2.7MM by reaching 100 and 110 appearances this year.
Pelfrey Open To Extension With Mets
Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey is open to a contract extension with the club, writes Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The righthander will be under Mets control until 2014 but would like to remain in Queens for even longer.
"I would be interested," the 26-year-old said about the possibility of a contract extension. "They'd have to bring it up, but I'm sure we'll explore it. I'm definitely open to it."
Despite Pelfrey's interest, the Mets have not approached Pelfrey about an extension. The hurler will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter. While Pelfrey seems to like the idea of signing a long-term deal which would buy out his remaining arbitration years and beyond, his agent Scott Boras probably feels differently.
Pelfrey's four-year, $5.25MM contract with New York expired prior to this season. The righty is making just $500K for the 2010 season, his best to date. Pelfrey has registered a 3.75 ERA with 5.1 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 31 starts.
Ozzie Guillen Wants Contract Extension?
FRIDAY, 8:00pm: Guillen clarified today that he isn't specifically seeking out or asking for a contract extension, but "he just wants to know where he stands in the eyes of the organization," tweets Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales passes on this quote from the White Sox manager (via Twitter): "My thing is, every year, every manager, every player, they want to know what’s my stance. That’s it."
WEDNESDAY, 7:36pm: White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen told reporters this evening that he is seeking a contract extension, writes Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
"My mind is ready," Guillen said, while adding that he plans to sell his home in Miami and buy a house in Chicago. "I want to be here as long as I can. I want to be with the White Sox for the rest of my career, but this is a business. I like to know what they have in mind. It's nice to have an extension. You have security but meanwhile, I have another year on the contract."
The controversial manager also stressed that he is not tempted to test the waters of a potentially wide-open free agent market. Guillen's current deal is guaranteed through the 2011 season.
Cardinals Notes: Westbrook, Carpenter, La Russa
In a recent chat, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post Dispatch writes that few appreciate how much turnover could occur if Tony La Russa does not return to the Cardinals next season. Let's see what else he has for us..
- Offering Jake Westbrook arbitration would be a risky move for the Cards as he is virtually guaranteed to receive an increase over this year's $11MM salary. If St. Louis does want to keep the soon-to-be 33-year-old in the fold, Strauss believes that they will open talks before the free agency filing period like they did with Joel Pineiro and and Kyle Lohse. However, the club locked up Pineiro and Lohse with multi-year deals at market or above-market rates, something that they're probably not capable of doing at this time with Westbrook.
- Speaking of starters, it's hard to imagine the Cardinals giving Chris Carpenter similar money to what he makes now if they re-sign Albert Pujols. Carpenter's contract calls for him to earn $15MM next season with a $15MM club option ($1MM buyout) for 2012.
- It's fair to say that Felipe Lopez found himself unmotivated to perform after the Cards acquired Pedro Feliz last month. The infielder struggled at the plate this season, hitting just .231/.310/.340 with seven homers in 425 plate appearances. The club sent Lopez packing yesterday afternoon.
- Strauss expects to see La Russa back in St. Louis unless he hears something that he doesn't like from the ownership or front office.
Odds & Ends: Stairs, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Nats
Links on a very rainy evening in the Bronx..
- Matt Stairs nearly retired this winter but now he tells Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter) that he wants to play for another year or two.
- The Diamondbacks will decide interim manager Kirk Gibson's fate soon, writes MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
- Toronto could give their entire staff a makeover upon hiring a new manager, writes Shi Davidi of The Canadian Press.
- Stan Kasten told Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post that he's still not sure if he'll return to the Nats next season.
- The Mets may already have their 2011 second baseman in Daniel Murphy, writes Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
- The Reds won't be auditioning Yonder Alonso for a potential deal as Joey Votto is set to return to action on Friday, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
- Mets GM Omar Minaya told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com (via Twitter) that he's not concerned about speculation over his job security.
- It's a good time for ex-Mariners managers, tweets Larry Stone of the Seattle Times.
Cabrera: Ordonez Hopes To Return To Tigers
While Magglio Ordonez hasn't been seen in the Tigers' clubhouse since he underwent season-ending surgery last month, he has kept in touch with teammates such as Miguel Cabrera. Earlier this evening, Cabrera told reporters that his good friend wants to remain in Detroit next season, writes Jason Beck of MLB.com.
"I've talked to [Ordonez]," the first baseman said. "He said he feels better. He wants so bad to play, but his injury, he feels bad. He wants to come back next year here. He wants to stay here."
Ordonez seemed likely to return to the club as he needed just 540 plate appearances or 135 starts in order for his $15MM option for 2011 to vest. However, a broken ankle suffered in late July made it an impossibility.
The 37-year-old slugger hit .303/.378/.474 with 12 homers in 84 games this season.
Konerko Could Retire If Unsatisfied With Options
White Sox veteran Paul Konerko may walk away from baseball if he finds himself unsatisfied this offseason, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. When asked if he would follow a path similar to the one taken by his former teammate Jermaine Dye, Konerko acknowledged that it's a possibility.
"I would hope that I have enough perspective where, the game of baseball has been great, it's been great for me, and I've worked hard at it and been good to the game, but I think I've had enough to where if I was out of the game for whatever reason, it's not something that … I'll have other things going on, you know," said the 34-year-old.
If the four-time All-Star does opt to call it a career, he'll certainly be leaving the game of baseball on a high note. In 600 plate appearances this season, Konerko hit .315/.397/.588 while belting 37 home runs. According to Baseball Reference, Konerko has earned nearly $90MM in 14 big league seasons.
Brewers Will Not Exercise Davis’ Option
The Brewers will not pick up their end of pitcher Doug Davis' 2011 mutual option, GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Milwaukee will pay the left-hander a $1MM buyout rather than activate his $6.5MM salary for next season.
Davis, who will turn 35 next week, appeared in just eight games for the Brewers this season, turning in a 7.51 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9. The lefthander was then sidelined for several months with a virus in the lining of his heart and then missed more time with elbow tendinitis.
In 12 big league seasons, Davis has a 4.38 ERA with 6.7 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9.
Rockies Acquire Octavio Dotel
The Dodgers have traded Octavio Dotel to the Rockies for a player to be named later, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The two sides will split Dotel's remaining salary and the buyout for his 2011 option, leaving Colorado on the hook for $250K (Twitter link). Since the Rockies are playing the Dodgers in L.A. today, Dotel will simply change locker rooms.
Dotel came to the Dodgers at the deadline in exchange for pitcher James MacDonald and Andrew Lambo as they looked to make a postseason push. The 36-year-old registered a 3.38 ERA with 10.1 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 across a 19-game span in which the club fell out of playoff contention.
The contract that Dotel signed with the Pirates last winter included a $4.5MM club option for 2011. However, when Pittsburgh traded the veteran reliever to the Dodgers, the option became mutual. Renck (Twitter link) doesn't expect the Rockies to exercise the option, even with some money coming off their books this offseason.
Having been traded after August 31st, Dotel will not be eligible for the postseason. The Rockies could certainly use the help however as they trail the Padres by 1.5 games in the NL West and the Braves by 2.5 games in the Wild Card chase.
Rosenthal On Darvish, Towers, Pirates, Brewers
Let's check out what Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has for us in his latest edition of Full Count..
- A source tells Rosenthal that Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish is highly likely to be posted this offseason. The Yankees, unsurprisingly, are keeping close watch on the righthander. One scout says that he doesn't see the 24-year-old as being much more than a No. 3 starter. The ball in Japan is smaller, starters only work once a week, and as we've seen the transition for those starters can be very problematic.
- If Kevin Towers becomes GM of the Diamondbacks, it could wind up haunting not only his former employers, the Padres, but also the Dodgers. When Dennis Gilbert tried to buy the Rangers he was ready to name Towers as his GM and now Gilbert could be a buyer for the Dodgers if they are sold. Towers, however, isn't going to wait around for the dust to settle in Los Angeles. If he does become the D'Backs GM, the guy he would replace, interim GM Jerry Dipoto, could become a candidate for the Mets.
- Pirates president Frank Coonelly has said that the club's losing is unacceptable and rival execs expect the team to make changes. Both GM Neal Huntington and manager John Russell are under contract through next season but the team has offered no assurances that either man will return next season. Russell appears to be in greater danger of getting the axe than Huntington as the GM was tabbed by Coonelly.
- Brewers manager Ken Macha is "almost certain" to be fired and his coaches are also uncertain to return. That includes bench coach Willie Randolph who was once seen as the heir apparent to Macha's position and could include pitching coach Rick Peterson, who has a year remaining on his deal.