Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Dodgers Rumors

Dodgers, Kershaw Discussing Extension

By | at

SUNDAY: Kershaw is seeking $225MM, but talks have gone on too long for people familiar with the discussions to suggest the sides are close to a deal yet, according to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman.

SATURDAY: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw are making progress on an extension. Rosenthal notes that the potential deal will be for at least $180MM. 

The left-handed Cy Young winner has long been thought as a candidate for an extension, with fellow aces Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander recently landing massive deals. According to Rosenthal, deals of up to twelve years and $300MM had been discussed, in addition to the seven-year contract currently being negotiated.  

At just 25 years of age, Kershaw has the combination of age and pitching performance that could justify the record-breaking contract he is likely to receive.  CC Sabathia (seven-year, $161MM) currently holds the record for largest contract for a pitcher in terms of new, guaranteed money. 

Kershaw has pitched to a .271 ERA, 9.2 K/9, and 3.2 BB/9 in 1044 1/3 career innings. The Excel Sports Management client is currently in the second season of a two-year, $19MM contract, although he is still under team control for one more year. 

Edward Creech contributed to this post.

Dodgers Notes: Kershaw, Puig, Crawford

By | at

Yesterday we learned that the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw are making progress on a contract extension that will be worth at least $180MM.  In fact, deals for up to 12 years and $300MM have been discussed, in addition to the seven-year deal already being worked on.  Here's more on the Dodgers' star pitcher and other news out of L.A…

  • The Dodgers have been waiting for the resolution of their TV contract situation wtih Major League Baseball before picking up talks with Kershaw in earnest, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (on Twitter).  It initially appeared that the Dodgers' massive TV deal was going to be largely immune to revenue sharing, but they'll now have to kick in an additional $1B over the course of 25 years.
  • In speaking with reporters, including Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (on Twitter), Kershaw sounded upset with what he believed to be a leak from the organization and called it a "distraction".
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post recounted the bizarre story of how the Dodgers wound up signing Yasiel Puig, despite having very little intel on him.  Within the story, Sherman writes that the Mets were never involved with him and the Yankees didn't make an offer.
  • Not much of a surprise here, but manager Don Mattingly says that Puig will probably remain in the majors even if/when Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford return to action, tweets Hernandez.

Dodgers Claim John Baker

By | at

The Dodgers have claimed John Baker off waivers from the Padres, as first tweeted by Peter Gammons of MLB Network.  The catcher was designated for assignment earlier this week to make room for the return of Logan Forsythe from the 60-day disabled list.

Baker, 32, played in just 16 games for the Padres this season, hitting .150/.261/.150 in 46 plate appearances. Over parts of six Major League seasons with the Marlins and Padres, Baker has hit .258/.342/.364.  Baker, who was on the field for the wild brawl between the Dodgers and Padres, has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

West Notes: Kershaw, Dodgers, Angels

By | at

It looks like the Astros and Mark Appel will avoid a lengthy signing negotiation, with the sides reportedly agreeing to a deal today. The right-hander was not only the draft's first overall selection, but the Astros first selection as an American League team.   Here's the rest of tonight's notes from baseball's west divisions..

  • CC Sabathia represents a best-case scenario for a possible Clayton Kershaw extension, argues Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.  In Shaikin's opinion, Kershaw will command at least $200MM, and the Dodgers would do well to get the kind of production the Yankees have received from Sabathia. 
  • Shaikin also writes about how the Dodgers' sale affected the Angels' television revenue.  Angels owner Arte Moreno based the team's last deal off of the Dodgers agreement negotiated under Frank McCourt that ended up being voided by the commissioner's office.  The Angels are stuck with the terms of that deal, while the Dodgers have landed a record revenue stream.
  • The Athletics have their key offseason additions to thank for their offensive success, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Rosenthal cites John Jaso and Jed Lowrie as quality hitters who have transformed the A's offense. 

Quick Hits: Molina, Rangers, Hoyer, Yankees, Dotel

By | at

Earl Webb's Major League record of 67 doubles in a season has stood since 1931 but Orioles phenom Manny Machado could be putting that mark in jeopardy.  Machado now has 30 doubles through 68 Baltimore games after collecting a pair of two-baggers in Friday's 2-0 win over the Red Sox.  Only five 21st century players have come within even 11 doubles of Webb's record, one of whom was Machado's teammate Brian Roberts, who hit 56 doubles in 2009.

Here's the latest from around the baseball world…

  • Yadier Molina's value to the Cardinals is immeasurable, CBS Sports' Danny Knobler writes, and for a team that has been comfortable letting many key figures go in recent years, the Cards made a point to lock their catcher up to a five-year, $75MM extension in March 2012.  "[Owner Bill DeWitt and I] talked about players who were coming up on free agency, and we'd ask how do you replace them. He and I always felt that [Molina] was the one where we had no answer," Cards GM John Mozeliak said.  "It was imperative that we kept him."
  • Rangers GM Jon Daniels is waiting to see how his team performs over the next few weeks before determining what possible upgrades are needed at the trade deadline, Daniels said during an appearance on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's Fitzsimmons and Durrett Show (passed on by ESPN Dallas' Richard Durrett).  Daniels also noted that the club may keep Jurickson Profar on the Major League roster even after Ian Kinsler is back from the DL, and that Profar could get some outfield time if he is in fact sent back to Triple-A.
  • ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden lists 20 pitchers he feels could be traded this summer.
  • Cubs GM Jed Hoyer felt Kris Bryant was "the best player on the board" when Chicago had the second overall pick in the draft, though Hoyer tells Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune that pitching "is an organizational weakness….I don’t think it affects our timing, but it does mean that pitching will be an emphasis in future drafts and any kind of trades we might make, and in free agency.”
  • The Yankees' makeshift lineup has remained in contention but ratings on the YES Network are down 38% from last season, leading Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal to speculate if the Bombers may feel obligated to acquire star players in order to maximize fan and business interest.
  • Tigers reliever Octavio Dotel's elbow injury could endanger his season, and since Dotel is 39, MLB.com's Jason Beck wonders if the veteran's career could also be threatened.
  • Andre Ethier isn't letting trade speculation bother him since "it's nothing you can have a say about except to go out there and play hard," he tells Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.  Ethier could be expendable in the Dodgers outfield once Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp return from injury, given Yasiel Puig's emergence.
  • Baseball America's staff checks in on the progress of the 2012 first round draft picks.

Draft Signings: Evans, Armstrong, Horstman

By | at

Here are today's most notable signings from Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft (slot information courtesy of Baseball America)…

  • The Royals signed fourth round draft pick Zane Evans, Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets.  Evans signed for $400K, below the $450.4K assigned slot value for the 114th overall pick.  Evans was both a catcher and a right-handed relief pitcher at Georgia Tech and Callis believes Kansas City will use him as a catcher.
  • The Reds have signed third-rounder Mark Armstrong, Callis reports (via Twitter).  Armstrong, a high school right-hander who had committed to Pitt, signed for exactly his assigned slot value of $496K.
  • The Mariners have signed St. John's left-hander Ryan Horstman, Callis reports (via Twitter).  Horstman, one of the few college freshmen eligible for the draft, was taken in the fourth round by the M's and signed for $550K, a significant bump up from his slotted price of $437.6K.
  • Junior college right-hander Kenyan Middleton tweeted that he has officially signed with the Angels earlier today. Middleton, the No. 95 overall pick, is advised by Tripper Johnson of Sosnick & Cobbe. His slot carries an assigned pick value of $541K.
  • The Cardinals signed third-rounder Mike Mayers for a little more than a $500K bonus — about $58K below his assigned pick value — according to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Mayers is a right-hander out of Ole Miss.
  • Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets that the Phillies signed fourth-rounder Jake Sweaney for $400K. Sweaney's deal is $21K below slot. The high school catcher was committed to Oregon and has a plus arm with power potential in his bat.
  • The Twins signed third-rounder Stuart Turner for a $550K bonus that is well below the No. 78 pick's assigned value of $703K, Callis tweets. The Mississipi backstop was regarded as the best catch-and-throw college catcher in this year's draft, and Callis notes that he had a strong year at the plate too.
  • Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports that the Cardinals have agreed to an over-slot deal with 10th-rounder Malik Collymore. The Canadian high school second baseman will receive a $275K signing bonus, which is significantly larger than the recommended $135K.
  • Eleventh-round selection Spencer Navin also received a significantly over-slot deal, tweets Callis. The Dodgers gave the Vanderbilt backstop $300K — three times the $100K maximum for draft picks after the 10th round. Players drafted after the 10th round don't count toward a team's bonus pool as long as they sign for $100K or less. In other words, the $200K excess to sign Navin will count against the Dodgers' draft pool.
  • The Astros have signed fourth-round pick Conrad Gregor for a bonus of $482K, tweets Callis. The Vanderbilt first baseman has good patience and athleticism but has yet to tap into his power, Callis adds. Gregor signed for full slot value.

Dodgers Designate Ramon Hernandez For Assignment

By | at

The Dodgers have designated Ramon Hernandez for assignment, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). The move allows the Dodgers to re-instate A.J. Ellis from the disabled list and keep Tim Federowicz on board as a backup.

The 37-year-old Hernandez came to the Dodgers on April 6 in exchange for Aaron Harang, who had been designated for assignment himself. The veteran backstop saw only 55 plate appearances for Los Angeles, batting .208/.291/.438. He did hit three homers and throw out two of the six potential base stealers he was faced with.

In parts of 15 Major League seasons between the A's, Padres, Orioles, Reds, Rockies and Dodgers, Hernandez is a .263/.327/.417 hitter. He is currently in the final year of a two-year, $6.5MM deal he signed with the Rockies in the 2011-12 offseason. Hernandez has just a .628 OPS and eight homers in 69 games over the life of that deal.

Draft Signings: Tarpley, Dixon, Bellinger, Smith

By | at

Here are Thursday's notable signings from Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft (all slot info courtesy of Baseball America) …

  • The Orioles have agreed to terms with Scottsdale Community College lefty Stephen Tarpley, the team's third-round choice, according to Baseball America's Jim Callis (via Twitter). Tarpley, who reportedly touches 95 with his fastball, was signed for just $500 under the recommended $525,500 bonus for the 98th overall choice.
  • Third-round draft choice Brandon Dixon has signed with the Dodgers for the slot recommendation of $566,500, tweets Callis. The University of Arizona third baseman could become a corner outfielder, according to Callis, and is noted for his power potential.
  • The Dodgers have signed fourth-round choice Cody Bellinger, a high-school first baseman, for $700k, tweets Callis. Los Angeles pried Bellinger away from the University of Oregon with the largest over-slot signing to date (by percentage), nearly doubling the recommended $409k bonus. Bellinger is being advised by the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
  • The Blue Jays have agreed to terms with their fourth round pick, left-handed high-schooler Evan Smith, according to Callis (on Twitter). Smith, who stands at 6'5", has reportedly touched 93 with his fastball. $96.1k 
  • Cody Dickson, a "projectable" left-hander out of Sam Houston State, will sign with the Pirates for $375k, Callis says on Twitter. The fourth-round pick's bonus falls $54,200 under the slot recommendation.
  • The Reds have signed fourth-rounder Ben Lively for $350k, Callis tweets. The righty mixes four pitches, including a 90-93 MPH heater. His signing bonus comes in at a modest $17.9k under slot. 
  • The Rockies inked fifth-rounder Blake Shouse for $353,900, his exact slot allocation, according to a Callis tweet. Per Callis, the two-way player sits in the low-to-mid 90's with his fastball and also features a hard curve.
  • Third round pick Patrick Murphy signed with the Blue Jays for $500K, Callis tweets.  The Arizona high school right-hander missed the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.  In the past, he has displayed a 93 mph fastball and solid curveball.  Murphy is advised by Jonathan Pridie of Sosnick Cobbe.
  • The Yankees signed third-rounder Michael O'Neill for $501K, according to Callis (via Twitter). The Michigan outfielder is quick and could wind up in center field.
  • Rangers fourth-round pick Isaiah Kiner-Falefa signed for $202K, per Callis (on Twitter). The Hawaiian high school shortstop is a solid defender with a contact-oriented approach. He signed for nearly $184K under slot.
  • Catcher/right-hander Tanner Murphy, a fourth-round pick of the Braves, agreed to a $250K bonus to forego his commitment to Southern Illinois, Callis tweets. Murphy has power in his bat and a strong throwing arm behind the dish, and he's also been clocked at 92 mph on the mound. He signed for a healthy $125K below slot.
  • The Angels have signed third-round pick Kenyan Middleton for a bonus of $450K, tweets Callis. Middleton is a two-sport athlete out of junior college in Oregon who touches 95 mph with his fastball and features a tight slider as well. He signed $91K under slot.
  • The Rays have signed fifth-round selection Johnny Field for a bonus of $250K, Callis reports (on Twitter). Field, an outfielder out of the University of Arizona, will convert to second base and provides most of his value with his bat. He signed for nearly $45K under slot.

Draft Signings: Ledbetter, Rhame, Westbrook

By | at

Here's a look at the latest notable draft signings from Day 2 and Day 3..

  • The Mariners inked sixth-rounder Corey Simpson to an above-slot $400K deal (suggested value: $245K), Callis tweets.  The Texas high school catcher/first baseman possesses massive power and a strong arm.
  • The Rangers signed third-round right hander David Ledbetter, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.   Ledbetter's deal comes with a $350K bonus, less than the slot amount of about $521K, tweets Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com.
  • Dodgers sixth-round pick Jacob Rhame agreed to a deal worth $300K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter).  The right-hander, who boasts a solid sinker, got about $70K more than the suggested value for his slot, per BA's rundown.
  • The Diamondbacks went well above slot to sign shortstop Jamie Westbrook, according to Callis (on Twitter).  The fifth-rounder got $450K, more than the suggested $318K for his draft position.
  • One of the fastest players in the draft didn't waste much time in putting his name on the dotted line.  The White Sox inked third-round pick Jacob May to a $525K deal, tweets Callis.
  • Orioles 16th round pick Randolph Gassaway agreed to sign, Callis tweets.  The high school first baseman will get a bonus of $100K.
  • Outfielder Charcer Burks signed for $170K with the Cubs, tweets Callis.  That's slightly more than the suggested ~$149K for where he was taken in the ninth round.

Dodgers Sign First-Rounder Chris Anderson

By | at

The Dodgers have signed first-rounder Chris Anderson for a signing bonus of $2,109,900, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The Jacksonville University right-hander is advised by ACES. Anderson's bonus matches the assigned pick value (per Baseball America) for the No. 18 selection exactly.  Anderson-2

Anderson, who turns 21 late next month, ranked as the draft's 16th-best prospect according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, the 25th-best prospect per ESPN's Keith Law and the 45th-best in the eyes of Baseball America. Prior to the draft, Mayo wrote that Anderson, whose fastball touches 97 mph, may have boosted his stock more than any arm in this year's college class. Law notes that he faded down the stretch, perhaps due to over-usage, but has the potential for two plus pitches.

Anderson is the second college pitcher selected by the Dodgers in the past three drafts, as they also selected Stanford left-hander Chris Reed back in 2011 with the No. 16 overall pick. Both Anderson and second-round pick Tom Windle are Minnesota natives. Windle, a left-hander who attended the University of Minnesota, agreed to terms with Los Angeles last week. Anderson's deal means that there are now seven first-round picks who have signed just six days after the draft.

Photo courtesy of Jacksonville University.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows scroll to top