Red Sox, Ross Build Momentum Toward Contract
Contract talks between the Red Sox and Cody Ross have gained “some momentum,” Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. The Red Sox are attempting to re-sign the outfielder, who is on track to hit free agency once the World Series ends.
The Red Sox had some preliminary extension talks with Ross throughout the second half of the season, but the team never presented the SFX client with a formal offer, according to Bradford. Boston’s front office executives continued talks with Ross and fellow free agent David Ortiz earlier in the month.
Ross, 31, posted a .267/.326/.481 batting line in 528 plate appearances for the Red Sox this past season. He contributed 22 home runs and 34 doubles while playing all three outfield positions and earning $3MM.
Managerial Notes: Baker, Red Sox, Ausmus, Rockies
Joe Girardi won’t be named AL Manager of the Year for his efforts in the regular season — that honor will go to Buck Showalter or Bob Melvin — but he made the most memorable substitution of the year last night when he replaced Alex Rodriguez, one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history, with Raul Ibanez. As you know by now, Ibanez homered and then homered again as the Yankees took the lead over Showalter’s Orioles in the Division Series. Now for today’s managerial notes…
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty told reporters (including John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer) that he expects manager Dusty Baker and the coaching staff to return in 2013. Baker has completed his last year under contract with the Reds and said he's “not sure where my career is going here in Cincinnati. We’re going to talk about that in the next couple of days. But I’m not through managing. I have more to do.”
- The Red Sox are prioritizing Major League managing, coaching or playing experience in their search for a new skipper, which is why Triple-A Pawtucket manager Arnie Beyeler is not being considered, reports Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston. The Sox have yet to contact Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo or White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing (who was considered for Boston's managerial job last year).
- The Red Sox will interview Padres special assistant Brad Ausmus for their managerial job early next week, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). Ausmus, the former MLB catcher, isn’t the only NL West-based candidate who has caught the attention of Red Sox personnel. The Red Sox are also expected to interview Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach for the position.
- The Rockies announced that they will interview Tom Runnells for their managerial opening, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. Rockies executives will interview the 57-year-old bench coach today. Runnells, the former manager of the Montreal Expos, is up against Stu Cole, the manager of the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate.
MLBTR's Mark Polishuk also contributed to this post
Duncan, Repko, Carlin, Hoey Hit Free Agency
Outfielders Shelley Duncan and Jason Repko, catcher Luke Carlin and right-handers Jim Hoey and Robert Coello have hit free agency, according to the transactions page at CBSSports.com. Repko declared free agency while Carlin, Duncan, Hoey and Coello refused minor league assignments.
Duncan got more MLB playing time than the others in 2012. He spent much of the season as Cleveland's left fielder, and posted a .203/.288/.388 batting line in 264 MLB plate appearances. Carlin appeared in four games with the Indians this year, spending most of the season at Triple-A. The 31-year-old posted a .703 OPS in 244 plate appearances with Columbus.
Toronto outrighted Coello off of the 40-man roster two days ago after he appeared in six games with the club this past season. The 27-year-old also appeared in 19 games at Triple-A Las Vegas, posting a 3.00 ERA with 9.2 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 42 innings. Hoey pitched alongside Coello in Las Vegas, posting a 4.60 ERA in 60 2/3 innings.
Repko played in five games for the Red Sox this year and posted a .743 OPS in 228 minor league plate appearances.
Quick Hits: Sanchez, Leyland, Felix, Blue Jays
With Terry Francona now off the market, it wouldn't make a sense for the Tigers to let Jim Leyland go at the end of the year, opines Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press. Yesterday, Leyland confirmed that he wants to continue managing in 2013, but the veteran skipper's contract will expire at the end of the year. Here's more from around baseball..
- If the Tigers re-sign Anibal Sanchez, they'll have to move another one of their starting pitchers, opines Jason Beck of MLB.com. Beyond the simple numbers issue, the Tigers will be facing a payroll crunch if they choose to keep Sanchez with the same rotation in place. Justin Verlander will earn $20MM next season, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello will head to arbitration for the second time, and Doug Fister is first-time arb eligible. In theory, Detroit could part with one of the four and plug Drew Smyly in their place.
- Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach is set to interview with the Red Sox for their managerial vacancy next week, tweets Ken Gurnick of the Los Angeles Times.
- Mariners General Manager Jack Zduriencik wouldn't discuss whether he has had contract extension talks with ace Felix Hernandez, but reiterated that both sides are hoping that he will stay put in Seattle for the long-term, writes Greg Johns of MLB.com. Hernandez has two years and $40.5MM left on the five-year, $78MM deal he inked in 2010.
- Omar Vizquel opined earlier this year that the Blue Jays were in desperate need of veteran leadership, but Jose Bautista says that he doesn't agree with that assessment, writes Chris Toman of MLB.com. "I really don't understand why everybody is making — in my eyes — a big deal out of that subject," Bautista said. "It's not something that needs to be addressed in our clubhouse."
- Despite talk of the Phillies looking to improve with minor moves this winter, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News wouldn't rule out Ruben Amaro making a major splash by signing the likes of B.J. Upton or Michael Bourn.
East Notes: Braves, Red Sox, Wallach, Orioles
News and notes out of the Eastern divisions..
- Braves General Manager Frank Wren knows that the club may have some financial flexibility this winter, but he would prefer not to put all of his eggs in one basket, writes MLB.com's Mark Bowman. "We're going to be looking for premium players," Wren said. "I don't think there is any doubt about that. But there [are] a couple things we're always mindful of. We're putting a team together. We're not trying to put a player on this team. That's overriding philosophy — to put a team together. If we think we can add two players that give us more than one player, then we're going to do that."
- The Red Sox have been granted permission to interview Tim Wallach by the Dodgers, a source tells Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter). Earlier today we learned that Boston reached out to the third base coach to gauge his interest in their managerial vacancy. We can safely assume that Wallach is interested.
- As Ben Cherington & Co. work to revamp the Red Sox after a 93-loss season, the club will look to quantify what extent injuries played in their disappointing campaign, writes Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal. MacPherson notes that Boston was just 7.5 games behind the Orioles for the second wild card spot at the time of their blockbuster deal with the Dodgers. With Andrew Bailey, Carl Crawford, and Jacoby Ellsbury healthy for the first-half of the year, that differential likely would have been much closer and may have led to Cherington declining to blow up the team.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter) notes that the Orioles were the only club to offer right-hander Miguel Gonzalez a minor league deal in early March. The inexpensive, low-risk signing worked out well for the O's as he is tonight's starter against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS.
Managerial Notes: Red Sox, Rockies
The latest managerial news from around MLB…
- The Red Sox have contacted Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach to determine his interest in their managerial opening, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports. Wallach is interested and the Red Sox are expected to interview him in the coming days.
- Boston continues to target Blue Jays manager John Farrell, Silverman reports. However, hiring Farrell could involve compensation or take a long time, so the club's exploring options such as Wallach, who also drew interest from Boston last offseason. Padres special assistant Brad Ausmus is believed to be on Boston's list of possible candidates.
- The Red Sox intend to start interviews related to their managerial opening on Friday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. The process will likely continue over the weekend and early next week, Bradford reports.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports outlines the Rockies' managerial options, including Wallach. Under Colorado's new front office structure, director of Major League operations Bill Geivett assumes some of the responsibilities that would traditionally go to the field manager.
- MLBTR had two sets of managerial links yesterday which are worth checking out.
Rangers Notes: Hamilton, Holland, Ellsbury
The Rangers are one of three teams to win 90-plus games in each of the past three seasons (the Yankees and Rays are the others) but they’ll be spectators for the remainder of postseason following a loss to the Orioles in Friday night’s Wild Card play-in game. Here’s the latest from Texas…
- It wouldn’t shock baseball people if the Rangers walk away from Josh Hamilton altogether this offseason, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. The assumption around MLB is that the Rangers know Hamilton better than anyone else, so potential suitors will be carefully monitoring Texas’ bids. However, the Rangers intend to sit back and let other teams make the first move.
- It might be time for the Red Sox to use Jacoby Ellsbury as a trade chip for rotation help, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald writes. GM Ben Cherington is expected to consider a multiyear extension for the center fielder, but agent Scott Boras figures to seek a deal in the $160MM range. The Rangers could find themselves in the market for a center fielder this offseason, so Lauber wonders if they'd make Derek Holland available in a deal for Ellsbury.
- One MLB executive said there’s “zero” chance the Red Sox sign Ellsbury to a contract extension before he reaches free agency at the end of the 2013 season, Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com reported last month. Ellsbury has one more season of arbitration eligibility after earning $8.05MM in 2012.
Managerial Notes: Leyland, Rockies, Indians, Red Sox
Earlier today, we ran down the latest managerial news including word that Rangers skipper Ron Washington's job is safe despite the club's disappointing finish. Here's the latest on vacancies from around the major leagues..
- While the Tigers and manager Jim Leyland will address his contract situation at the end of the year, the skipper confirmed today that he wants to continue managing, writes Jason Beck of MLB.com.
- Rockies senior vice president Bill Geivett told Jim Bowden (via Twitter) on MLB Network Radio that both bench coach Tom Runnells and Triple-A manager Stu Cole are internal candidates for their managerial job.
- As of now, former Astros skipper Brad Mills is not joining the Indians staff under Terry Francona, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Mills served as Francona's bench coach while with the Red Sox.
- Red Sox General Manager Ben Cherington declined to comment when asked if he has requested permission to interview candidates from other clubs, tweets Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. Of course, there has been wide speculation that the Red Sox are interested in Blue Jays manager John Farrell.
- Mike Lowell told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that he would want to know the "ins and outs" of an organization before taking on the role of manager. Yesterday, Lowell told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that he's not looking to become a big league manager at this point in time despite being linked to the Marlins job.
Managerial Notes: Rangers, Red Sox, Rockies
Managers are in the spotlight more than ever in October, since in-game decisions are heavily scrutinized throughout the postseason and it’s a busy month for hirings and firings. The latest…
- Though there’s a lot of self-evaluation going on in Texas following the Rangers’ disappointing finish, manager Ron Washington will return in 2013, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Washington’s current contract covers the 2013-14 seasons.
- Candidates such as Tim Wallach, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Brad Ausmus would surely come up if the Rockies look outside of the organization for potential managers, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports (on Twitter). Jim Tracy resigned as the team's manager two days ago.
- The Red Sox will start their search for a new manager in earnest in the next few days, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. Boston will start by asking the Blue Jays for permission to speak with John Farrell, Olney reports. Ausmus could be a candidate in Boston, too.
- Bobby Valentine may have been paid not to criticize the Red Sox following his dismissal, rival officials suggested to Olney. Such financial incentives are not uncommon, according to Olney.
- In case you missed it, Ozzie Guillen's future with the Marlins remains unclear.
Discussions To Intensify For Ortiz, Red Sox
Serious conversations about a new contract for David Ortiz are expected to begin at some point next week, Joe McDonald of ESPNBoston.com reports. The Red Sox have already had some informal talks about contracts for Cody Ross and Ortiz, who are both on track to hit free agency next month.
"David is someone who we feel strongly about bringing back and we're trying to figure out a way to do that and we hope that happens," GM Ben Cherington said at the end of the regular season.
Ortiz, who turns 37 next month, posted a .318/.415/.611 batting line in 383 plate appearances this past season. He hit 23 home runs and 26 doubles, but appeared in just one game after suffering a right Achilles strain on July 16th. Ortiz is an SFX client.