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Checking In On The Latest $100MM Contracts

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Every year a few players join baseball’s exclusive $100MM club with free agent deals and mega-extensions. Last offseason was no different — eight players signed nine figure deals. The contracts were all for five years or more, so it’s far too early to call them successes or failures. As the season approaches its halfway point, let’s check in on baseball’s newest $100MM contracts:

  • Albert Pujols, ten-year, $240MM contract - Pujols had a painfully slow start, but he has raised his batting line to a respectable .270/.332/.461. His last 40 games have been legitimately Pujols-like: 11 home runs and an OPS over 1.000.
  • Joey Votto, ten-year, $225MM extension - It's impossible to have a complete discussion about baseball's best hitters without considering Votto. The 28-year-old leads the National League in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, walks, doubles and wOBA, so this deal couldn't be going any better for the Reds.
  • Prince Fielder, nine-year, $214MM contract - Fielder continues to hit at an All-Star level, though he has a relatively modest total of 12 home runs. Unfortunately for Tigers fans Mike Ilitch's bold investment hasn't been enough to keep the team above .500.
  • Matt Kemp, eight-year, $160MM extension - Hamstring issues have sidelined Kemp, who was the best hitter in the National League for the first month of the season.
  • C.C. Sabathia, five-year, $122MM extension - Sabathia, now on the disabled list with a strained groin, is in the midst of yet another tremendous season. He has a 3.45 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 107 innings.
  • Matt Cain, five-year, $112.5MM extension - Cain's enjoying his best season as a Major Leaguer. He has a career-best ERA (2.27), strikeout rate (9.0 K/9) and walk rate (1.9 BB/9) through 107 innings. The Giants' decision to invest in Cain still looks like a good one.
  • Jose Reyes, six-year, $106MM extension - Reyes' offensive numbers have dropped off across the board this year, no thanks to a 60 point dip in batting average on balls in play.
  • Ryan Zimmerman, six-year, $100MM extension - Zimmerman's off to a slow start at the plate despite two home runs in his past three games. He missed two weeks with shoulder soreness earlier in the year and has just a .235/.297/.350 batting line.

Quick Hits: Wells, Attanasio, V-Mart, Mariners

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The Padres franchise is still looking for its first no-hitter, as Andrew Cashner's no-hit bid was ended after 6 1/3 innings tonight.  It still ended up being a good night for San Diego, however, as the Friars rallied for a six-run ninth inning in their 7-3 win over the Astros.

Some notes from around the majors…

  • Vernon Wells tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that he has no plans to waive his no-trade clause since he enjoys playing for the Angels, though he may not receive much playing time once he returns from the DL.  Morosi speculates that the right-handed hitting Wells could be a fit for the Dodgers, Reds or Indians.  Any trade would involve the Angels eating the large majority of the approximately $53MM Wells is still owed through the 2014 season.
  • Brewers owner Mark Attanasio covered many topics during a Q&A with local business owners (reported on by Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), such as the team's payroll, the change in how the Brewers are perceived around baseball and how the team is having "an uncomfortable time" deciding whether or not they're contenders or sellers.
  • If Victor Martinez is able to play this season, it won't until mid-September at the earliest, Tigers head trainer Kevin Rand told reporters (including Chris Iott of Mlive.com).  Martinez is recovering after tearing his ACL in January.
  • The Mariners aren't on pace to contend before Felix Hernandez's contract is up at the end of the 2014 season, argues Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, and should thus explore trading the ace right-hander.
  • With just a few days left before the July 2 international signing deadline, Ben Badler of Baseball America discusses some of the top prospects with various international scouting directors.
  • The Cardinals are looking for both starting and relief pitching, and Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch examines whch is a greater need for the club.
  • The Yankees announced that right-hander Adam Warren has been placed on the 25-man roster and signed to a Major League contract.  In corresponding moves, Ryota Igarashi was also called up while C.C. Sabathia was placed on the 15-day DL and Andy Pettitte went on the 60-day DL.  Warren, a fourth-round pick in the 2009 amateur draft, has a 3.05 ERA in 79 career minor league starts and he'll make his Major League debut on Friday in Sabathia's rotation spot.
  • The week's minor league transactions are recapped by Matt Eddy of Baseball America.

Zack Greinke Rumors: Thursday

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Zack Greinke picked up his ninth win of the season last night, allowing two runs in six innings of work during the Brewers' 8-4 win over the Reds.  Here's the latest hot stove chatter on the Milwaukee ace…

  • "A couple of teams," including the Yankees, feel that Greinke may not be suited for pitching in a large market, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  Greinke did tell the Yankees he would pitch for them when he was in the process of being dealt from the Royals to the Brewers. 
  • At the time Greinke turned down a trade to the Nationals, as he felt the Brewers were in better position to immediately contend.  As Washington has since acquired Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson, the Nats are unlikely to be looking for pitching at the trade deadline.
  • Heyman says that the Brewers were looking to offer Greinke an extension similar to Jered Weaver's deal with the Angels (five years, $85MM) but talks between Greinke and the Brewers broke off in April just after Matt Cain's five-year, $112.5MM deal contract with the Giants re-shaped the market.
  • The Braves would only be interested in trading for Greinke if they could sign him to a new long-term contract, writes MLB.com's Mark Bowman.  The Braves could, as rumored, use some of the money budgeted for their 2013 payroll to accommodate adding Greinke or another pitcher.  As Bowman points out, the Braves will have almost $36MM (Chipper Jones, Derek Lowe and Michael Bourn's contract) coming off the books this winter, though the club will need some of those funds to re-sign Bourn or spend on another outfielder.
  • Besides Greinke, Bowman lists Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster and Edinson Volquez as "potential targets" for Atlanta.
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports added some more news about Greinke earlier today.

Minor Moves: Yankees, Angels, Guzman, Bogaerts

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Today's minor moves..

  • The Yankees released Double-A right-hander Adam Miller, tweets Josh Norris of The Trentonian.  Miller was ranked as Baseball America's #16 prospect after the 2004 season.
  • Right-hander Ysmael Carmona was released by the Angels, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (via Twitter).  Carmona made the club's 40-man roster after the 2010 season but has struggled with shoulder issues ever since. 
  • The Reds released Double-A first baseman Joel Guzman, Eddy tweets.  The 27-year-old last appeared in the majors with the Rays in 2007.
  • The Cubs cut first baseman Jair Bogaerts, the twin brother of Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts, according to Eddy (via Twitter).  Bogaerts came to Chicago as a throw-in in the Theo Epstein compensation trade.
  • The Indians released outfielder Ben Copeland, tweets Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.  The fourth-round pick in 2005 was a former member of the Giants farm system.
  • The Pirates have traded minor league right-hander Shairon Martis to the Twins, tweets Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.  Biertempfel also tweets that the two sides have yet to work out what the Pittsburgh will receive in return.  Martis, 25, has a 4.96 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 15 appearances in Double-A and Triple-A.  The hurler also appeared in 20 games for the Nationals in 2008 and 2009. 

Draft Signings: Marzilli, Randall, Johnson, Encinosa

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Let's keep track of the day's non-first and supplemental first round signings here…

  • The Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with eighth rounder Evan Marzilli, tweets Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. The South Carolina outfielder's season came to a conclusion on Monday after losing to Arizona in the College World Series finals.
  • The Tigers have signed seventh rounder Hudson Randall, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The right-hander will obtain a $142K bonus, which is the full slot value for the selection. 
  • The Giants have inked sixth rounder Stephen Johnson, tweets Callis. The collegiate right-hander will receive an above slot $180K bonus.
  • Seventh rounder E.J. Encinosa has also signed with the Giants and will receive a $144K bonus, reports Callis (on Twitter). The Miami right-hander is noted for his size and hard sinker.
  • Yankees second rounder Peter O'Brien, a Miami catcher who signed with the team last week, will obtain a below slot $460K bonus, tweets Callis.
  • The Twins have signed eighth rounder Christian Powell, according to Callis (on Twitter). The College of Charleston right-hander, who features a mid-90s sinker, will receive a $140K bonus.

AL East Notes: Guthrie, Yankees, Stewart, Red Sox

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Items out of the American League East..

Central Notes: Greinke, Brewers, Liriano, Byrd

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A Rangers scout is in town for Zack Greinke's start against the Reds this afternoon, and that's no accident, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).  Morosi speculated yesterday that Texas could be in on the right-hander as they were also interested in him before Kansas City traded him to the Brewers.  As we know, Milwaukee is prepared to move Greinke before the deadline if they can't sign him to a new deal.  More news out of the Central divisions..

  • Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano could draw serious interest as the deadline approaches, but he scares a lot of evaluators around baseball, writes ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider sub. req'd).  Three evaluators that Olney spoke with were skittish about the 28-year-old and two said that they preferred Matt Garza even though he's the more expensive option.
  • The Yankees also have a scout on hand for Greinke's start today, but that appears to be just be regular coverage and Morosi (via Twitter) would be surprised if they make a play for him.
  • The Cubs won't recoup any of the $6.5MM released outfielder Marlon Byrd is being paid this year despite his unpaid 50-game suspension, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Minor Moves: LaRoche, Meloan, Williamson

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We'll keep track of today's minor moves right here…

  • The Indians announced that infielder Andy LaRoche has been released from Triple-A Columbus (via Twitter). LaRoche, 28, was once a modest prospect with the Dodgers but hasn't been able to make the most of big league playing time with Los Angeles, the Pirates and Athletics.
  • The Yankees have signed Jonathan Meloan and assigned him to Double-A, reports Mike Ashmore of The Trentonian. The 27-year-old right-hander had been pitching in an independent league and turned down offers from Mexico and Asia to sign with New York. Meloan owns a 4.58 ERA in 17 2/3 big league innings with the Dodgers, Indians, and Athletics.
  • The Braves have signed Fabian Williamson according to the MLB.com transactions page. The 23-year-old left-hander had been pitching in an independent league and has previously been involved in trades for David Aardsma and Eric Patterson. Williamson owns a 4.00 ERA in 472 minor league innings and has never appeared in the show.

AL East Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Stroman, Gausman

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Derek Jeter turns 38 years old today, and the Yankees shortstop is hitting .304/.353/.412 with seven homers and six steals this season, his 18th in the big leagues. The game's active career hits leader with 3,181, he could move into the all-time top-ten with a strong second half. Here's the latest from the only division Jeter has known, the AL East…

  • “I’d rather not do anything, if possible,” said Yankees GM Brian Cashman to Anthony McCarron of The New York Daily News, referring to the upcoming trade deadline. “I’d rather keep our prospects, keep our payroll down. That’s what I’d always like to do. But at the same time, I want to get better.”
  • Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says (on Twitter) that the Yankees expect Brett Gardner back from his elbow injury in late-July, but will pursue a speedy center field type if he takes longer than expected.
  • Red Sox GM Ben Cherington told Casey Stern and Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio that starting pitching remains his team's top target between now and the trade deadline.
  • With Kevin Youkilis traded, the Red Sox are likely to remain quiet for the next few weeks according to Sean McAdam and Maureen Mullen of CSNNE.com. If Boston decides to sell at the deadline, Kelly Shoppach, Ryan Sweeney, Scott Atchison, and Matt Albers could be trade candidates.
  • The Blue Jays are offering 22nd overall pick Marcus Stroman the $1.8MM slot bonus, reports Richard Griffin of The Toronto Star (Twitter links). He notes that even though that pick is compensation for failing to sign last year's first rounder, the Jays will get another compensation pick next year if they fail to sign Stroman thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement.
  • Agreements between the Orioles and first rounder Kevin Gausman and second rounder Branden Kline are not imminent according to MLB.com's Britt Ghiroli, but the two sides are negotiating. “Nothing unusual about the way it’s progressing,” said scouting director Gary Rajisch.

Yankees Claim Danny Farquhar Off Waivers

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The Yankees have claimed Danny Farquhar off waivers from the Athletics, the team announced. Oakland designated the right-hander for assignment over the weekend.

Farquhar, 25, was claimed off of waivers by the Athletics on June 9th after he was let go by the Blue Jays. The pitcher posted a 2.97 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 20 Double-A appearances for Toronto's affiliate and pitched eight innings for the A's Triple-A squad this year.

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