Reds Re-Sign Corky Miller
The Reds announced that they re-signed Corky Miller to a minor league deal after the catcher cleared waivers, refused an outright assignment and elected free agency. The 34-year-old batted .243/.282/.392 in 79 plate appearances for the Reds in 2010.
Miller threw out 27% of would be base stealers while backing up Ramon Hernandez and Ryan Hanigan. The ten-year MLB veteran figures to take on a similar role for the Reds in 2011.
Laynce Nix Becomes A Free Agent
Laynce Nix has cleared waivers, refused an outright assignment and become a free agent, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon (on Twitter). The 30-year-old batted .291/.350/.455 in 182 plate appearances this year after the Reds signed him to a minor league deal.
Nix played all three outfield positions for the second consecutive season, spending most of his time in left field. However, he missed weeks with a sprained left ankle in August and September and saw his homer total drop from 15 to four. The left-handed hitter has handled righties (.738 OPS) much better than lefties (.521 OPS) over the course of his eight-year MLB career.
Reds Rumors: Cairo, Hernandez, Rhodes, Arroyo
Reds GM Walt Jocketty told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that he doesn’t expect to sign a big name free agent this winter. Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee will likely be playing elsewhere next year, though the Reds will boost payroll in 2011.
“I’m always trying to do something, but [signing a top free agent] would be pretty tough,” Jocketty said.
The Reds have had preliminary talks with the agents for Miguel Cairo, Ramon Hernandez and Arthur Rhodes, but Jocketty says he hasn’t yet exchanged potential salaries. The Reds have not spoken to Bronson Arroyo about an extension since picking up his option last week and they are not currently discussing long-term deals with Joey Votto or Jay Bruce.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote yesterday that he expected the Reds to complete a two-year extension with Arroyo this week. Jocketty has said he'd like to reach a deal before the 2011 season begins, but the potential contract may not become a priority until later this offseason.
Rosenthal On Uggla, Arroyo, Angels
Plenty of intriguing new hot stove info from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla rejected a four-year, $48MM extension offer. Uggla is one season away from free agency, and may prefer to hold off. SI's Jon Heyman wrote on Thursday that the offer was to pay $8MM in 2011 and that Uggla sought five years. Assuming Uggla is in line for $10MM or so in arbitration, he must feel he can top what equates to a three-year, $38MM free agent offer.
- Rosenthal expects the Reds to complete a two-year extension with Bronson Arroyo this week. Arroyo's 2011 option, which apparently is worth $13MM, was already picked up. So this new deal would add the '12 and '13 seasons.
- The Angels may be forced to deal with Scott Boras this offseason, especially if they fail to sign Carl Crawford. Boras represents potential targets Jayson Werth, Adrian Beltre, and Rafael Soriano.
Bruce, Perez, And Others Get Super Two Status
Twenty players including Reds right fielder Jay Bruce and Indians pitcher Chris Perez have qualified for Super Two status, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of CBSSports.com. Evan Longoria has also made the cutoff but will not reap the benefits as he signed a long-term deal with the Rays in April of 2008.
Players with two years and 122 days of service were granted Super Two status this winter. Prior to this year, no player was awarded Super Two status with less than two years and 130 days of service time. MLBTradeRumors first reported the lowering of the cutoff in June.
Super Twos get to go to arbitration four times instead of the usual three. Players such as Bruce, and Perez are now in line for significant raises in 2011. As for Bruce, the 23-year-old recently said that he would be open to discussing a long-term deal with Cincinnati for "five or six years."
To brush up on exactly what Super Two status means and how one obtains it, you can check out our handy post right here. Below, you will find the complete list of players who have now been granted Super Two status.
Burke Badenhop, Florida 2.143
Travis Buck, Oakland 2.122
Jay Bruce, Cincinnati 2.125
Dana Eveland, Pittsburgh (outrighted) 2.152
Josh Fields, Kansas City 2.159
Armando Galarraga, Detroit 2.148
Alberto Gonzalez, Washington 2.135
Chase Headley, San Diego 2.123
Luke Hochevar, Kansas City 2.151
Jim Johnson, Baltimore 2.165
Kyle Kendrick, Philadelphia 2.159
Jensen Lewis, Cleveland 2.133
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay 2.170
Darren O'Day, Texas 2.128
Ross Ohlendorf, Pittsburgh 2.139
Felipe Paulino, Houston 2.163
Chris Perez, Cleveland 2.136
Ian Stewart, Colorado 2.154
Sean White, Seattle 2.156
Brad Ziegler, Oakland 2.122
NL Central Notes: Sandberg, Rasmus, Pirates, Arroyo
Here are some news items from the National League's middle division…
- Ryne Sandberg has turned down an offer to return as the Cubs' Triple-A manager, tweets MLB.com's Carrie Muskat, and Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com reports that Sandberg won't be with the organization at all in 2011. Sandberg was heavily rumored to take over managing the Cubs after Lou Piniella's retirement, but Chicago instead gave the job to interim manager Mike Quade.
- A roundtable of Cardinals writers collected by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch discussed the Colby Rasmus trade rumors and the majority don't like the idea. Comments range from "there would be no logic behind a trade" to "trading Rasmus would be incredibly stupid unless it’s an offer that’s so ridiculously good that it cannot be rejected."
- Pirates president Frank Coonelly discussed the team's manager search and other topics in a chat with fans on MLB.com.
- Steven Jackson, Brandon Moss and Justin Thomas can all become minor league free agents after being outrighted to Pittsburgh's Triple-A affiliate, reports MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. Sean Gallagher, who was also outrighted, can declare free agency on Saturday but Langosch says the Pirates will try to sign the pitcher to a contract before then.
- Walt Jocketty tells MLB.com's Mark Sheldon that the Reds want to work out a contract extension with Bronson Arroyo before Opening Day. "I don't want to go into the season negotiating," Sheldon said. "We'll try to [get it done] before the start of the season."
- Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Times praises Milwaukee's hire of Ron Roenicke as manager.
- Former Phillies hitting coach Milt Thompson has interviewed for the hitting coach job in Houston, reports MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.
Reds Finalize Option Decisions As Expected
The Reds picked up Jonny Gomes' 2011 option and declined the options for Orlando Cabrera and Aaron Harang, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Gomes' option is for $1.75MM, Cabrera's buyout is for $1MM (instead of a $4MM salary) and Harang's buyout is for $2MM ($12.75MM salary). As expected, the Reds exercised their 2011 for Bronson Arroyo earlier today.
Harang is an unranked free agent, but Cabrera is a Type B, so the Reds could technically obtain a draft pick if he turns down arbitration to sign elsewhere. It seems unlikely that the Reds would offer arbitration, since they turned down Cabrera's option.
Reds Exercise 2011 Option For Bronson Arroyo
The Reds officially exercised their 2011 option for Bronson Arroyo, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). GM Walt Jocketty said last month that he would pick up the option, so the decision was expected. The Reds have expressed interest in extending the deal to keep Arroyo in Cincinnati beyond 2011.
Arroyo, 33, logged at least 200 innings for the sixth consecutive season in 2010, posting a 3.88 ERA with 5.0 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9. He will earn $13MM in 2011.
Jocketty Named Sporting News Executive Of Year
Cincinnati GM Walt Jocketty won the 2010 Sporting News Executive of the Year Award after leading the Reds to their first winning season in a decade and their first playoff berth since 1995. Jocketty, who took over the Reds in 2008, is now a three-time winner of the award. He also won in 2000 and 2004 as Cardinals GM.
Jocketty outbid a number of teams for Aroldis Chapman, acquired Scott Rolen and Orlando Cabrera and showed faith in Mike Leake as Joey Votto and Jay Bruce played at an elite level.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels, Giants GM Brian Sabean and Twins GM Bill Smith are some of the execs who also had a legitimate chance of winning the award this year. Dan O'Dowd (Rockies, '09), Andrew Friedman (Rays, '08), Sabean (Giants, '03), Doug Melvin (Rangers, '96) and Andy MacPhail (Twins, '91) are among the current GMs/presidents of baseball operations who have won the award.
Cafardo On Greinke, Arroyo, Hall, Rays, Ortiz
In today's column for the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo examines the possibility of a Zack Greinke trade, noting that the Red Sox should at least inquire, given Allard Baird's history with the Royals and Greinke. Here are some of Cafardo's other notes:
- One AL GM on Greinke vs. Cliff Lee: "There may not be anyone better than Lee right now, but how long is that going to last? …. If you’re looking to build around someone, you would roll the dice with Greinke and hope that what he showed this season is an off year and not a sign of things to come. You’d have to do due diligence, but the upside with Greinke is pretty good."
- The Reds are attempting to work out an extension with Bronson Arroyo that would keep him in Cincinnati for a few years and slightly reduce his 2011 salary ($13MM). That way, the team could have some flexibility to add free agents this winter, and would lock up one of its best arms to a long-term contract.
- Bill Hall will look to find a full-time job at one position this offseason, but "people around Hall" are suggesting the all-purpose utility role he played in Boston might be better suited for him.
- The Rays are expected to field trade offers for B.J. Upton, Jason Bartlett, and maybe James Shields.
- David Ortiz and the Red Sox have had some contract discussions, but there's no resolution yet on either an extension or Ortiz's 2011 option. Boston will have until three days after the World Series ends to decide on the $12.5MM option, last month, we heard the Sox were prepared to exercise it.