Quick Hits: Cespedes, Sanchez, Cabrera
The Twittersphere is um, atwitter, with Jeremy Lin chatter right now, but you'll have to head over to Hoops Rumors for the latest on the Knicks' sudden superstar. Here are a few baseball-related odds and ends to share as the night winds down …
- Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said on ESPN 1000 Radio today that while there's a lot to like about free agent Yoenis Cespedes, the outfielder doesn't come without some concerns. Guillen added that many teams are interested in Cespedes, implying that it's hardly a sure thing that the Cuban defector will sign with Miami.
- An arbitration expert told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the Marlins "blew it" by allowing Anibal Sanchez to earn a $4.3MM raise through arbitration coming off a season in which he won eight games and posted a 3.67 ERA (Twitter link). Sanchez will earn $8MM in 2012.
- An arbitration expert also told Heyman that the Indians did well in settling with shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera slightly above the midpoint of their exchanged figures, as the Tribe's original offer was low (via Twitter).
Quick Hits: Oswalt, Renteria, Pirates, Indians
Links for Friday…
- ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says Roy Oswalt is not going to sign with the Rangers or Phillies. The right-hander could end up in Boston, where he doesn't seem to want to play, or with the Cardinals, who are interested if Oswalt agrees to their terms.
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com suggests the Brewers, Cubs and Astros are all fits for Edgar Renteria, who intends to play in 2012 (Twitter link).
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review discusses the difficulty of luring free agents to Pittsburgh and points out that the Pirates have never signed a free agent for more than $10.5MM, which is what Clint Barmes obtained earlier in the offseason.
- The Indians don't have any guaranteed contracts on the books beyond 2012, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian points out (on Twitter).
- Keith Law lists sleeper prospects for all 30 teams at ESPN.com.
- Matt Eddy of Baseball America has the complete minor league transactions for February 2nd-7th.
Indians, Asdrubal Cabrera Avoid Arbitration
The Indians announced that they avoided arbitration with Asdrubal Cabrera, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal for 2012. Octagon represents the shortstop, who will earn $4.55MM in 2012, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (Twitter link).
Cabrera had filed for $5.2MM, while the Indians had countered with a $3.75MM submission, as MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows. The Indians have discussed a multiyear extension with Cabrera, who will remain under team control through 2013. Earlier in the offseason, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes suggested a four-year, $27MM deal could work for both sides.
The Indians have now signed all arbitration eligible players for 2012, so their streak of avoiding arbitration hearings continues. The club's last hearing took place in 1991.
AL Central Links: Indians, Ray, Lewis, Accardo
Two years ago today, the Twins signed Orlando Hudson to a one-year contract worth $5MM. He hit .268/.338/.372 in 126 games for Minnesota, then signed a two-year, $11.5MM deal with the Padres after the season. Here's the latest from the AL Central…
- "We spent a lot of time trying to identify guys that we felt could come in and win spots," said Indians GM Chris Antonetti to Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "If they didn't win spots, they could provide quality alternatives for us." Cleveland has signed 20 players to minor league deals this offseason, including Dan Wheeler, Jose Lopez, and Ryan Spilborghs.
- Within the same piece, Hoynes reports that Chris Ray can opt out of his minor league deal with the Indians on April 3rd. Fred Lewis and Jeremy Accardo can opt out of their contracts on June 1st.
- Baseball America's Ben Badler reports that Ramon Hernandez Jorrin's contract with the Royals is worth $500K. We first heard that Kansas City had signed the 22-year-old Cuban outfielder earlier this week.
Indians Acquire Russ Canzler
SATURDAY: The Rays received $100K from the Indians to complete the trade, reports MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (on Twitter).
TUESDAY: The Indians announced that they acquired Russ Canzler from the Rays for cash considerations. The Rays had designated the 25-year-old for assignment on Friday.
Canzler made his MLB debut in 2011, appearing in three games with the Rays as a September callup. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a .314/.401/.530 line with 18 home runs and 40 doubles in 549 plate appearances, and won the International League MVP.
Canzler appeared at all four corner positions in 2011. The right-handed hitter figures to add balance to an Indians lineup that features more than its share of left-handed hitters at third base and in the corner outfield spots. It's unclear whether the addition of Canzler will affect the Indians' interest level in free agent first baseman Casey Kotchman.
The Cubs selected Canzler in the 30th round of the 2004 draft. He has options remaining, so the Indians aren't obliged to keep him in the Major Leagues, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweets.
Indians Notes: Kotchman, LaPorta, Cabrera
The Indians made one of their most significant moves of the offseason yesterday signing Casey Kotchman to a one-year, $3MM contract. GM Chris Antonetti explained the deal this morning and Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Jordan Bastian of MLB.com have the details:
- Antonetti said the Indians are still working to create 40-man roster space for Kotchman, Hoynes tweets. The Indians were in on Kotchman last offseason, Bastian tweets.
- Matt LaPorta will have the chance to win the first base job in Spring Training, but the Indians intend for him to play every day, Hoynes tweets. Bastian suggests LaPorta, who has options remaining, will likely open the season in Triple-A (Twitter link).
- Asdrubal Cabrera is in Cleveland and the team is discussing a multiyear deal with the shortstop, Antonetti said, according to Hoynes. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes examined a possible extension for Cabrera about a month ago, suggesting that a four-year, $27MM contract could work for both sides. Cabrera asked for $5.2MM through arbitration and the Indians offered $3.75MM.
Indians Sign Casey Kotchman
The Indians announced that they have signed Casey Kotchman to a one-year contract. Casey Close of Excel Sports Management represents the first baseman, who will earn $3MM in 2012.
Kotchman signed a minor league deal with the Rays about a year ago, and posted an unexpectedly strong .306/.378/.422 line in 563 plate appearances. Kotchman, who turns 29 this month, is a ground ball hitter who had 36 extra base hits in 2011. UZR suggests he is an above-average defensive first baseman. He ranked 36th on MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents entering the offseason.
The right-handed hitting Matt LaPorta and the switch-hitting Carlos Santana had been projected to share time at first base in Cleveland this year. Kotchman, who bats from the left side, now figures to get most plate appearances against right-handers and Santana may still see time at first against left-handers.
Corner infielder/outfielder Shelley Duncan is out of options, while Laporta has options remaining, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. This could play into the team's decision process between now and Opening Day. The Indians acquired another first base option, Russ Canzler, earlier this week.
The first base market has settled in recent weeks, with Kotchman, Carlos Pena and Prince Fielder all finding new teams. Derrek Lee is one remaining free agent first base option, but it's unclear whether he'll play in 2012.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first tweeted news of the agreement, with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer adding the terms of the deal (Twitter links).
Quick Hits: Jackson, Fielder, Rollins, Hall, Ortiz
Here's a wrap-up of news from around the majors on the day that Edwin Jackson and Casey Kotchman both found new teams…
- The Indians had interest in Jackson but "were not close" to matching the contract Jackson received from the Nationals, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
- Jackson turned down a three-year, $30MM offer to sign his one-year deal with Washington, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports looks at how Jackson, Ryan Madson and Francisco Rodriguez (all Scott Boras clients) settled for "pillow contracts" this winter to better position themselves for larger deals next year.
- Prince Fielder, however, never considered a one-year deal, Boras tells James Schmehl of MLive.com. Boras also says Fielder could have signed earlier in the offseason but was on vacation with his wife, delaying his meetings with interested teams.
- Jimmy Rollins' $11MM option for 2015 will vest if he makes 600 plate appearances in 2014, or if he makes a combined 1100 PAs in 2013 and 2014, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter link).
- Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall says he has been contacted by some potential Dodgers owners about a job in Los Angeles, but Hall tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he's very happy with the Snakes. Hall has four years remaining on his contract with Arizona.
- David Ortiz's arbitration case with the Red Sox is analyzed from both sides by former Astros president Tal Smith, in conversation with Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.
- Fangraphs' Wendy Thurm begins a series looking at which players were the best values at each position over the last two decades, starting with catcher, first base and second base.
- "The Indians’ bullpen has much more flexibility and depth heading into camp this year," writes MLB.com's Jordan Bastian in his breakdown of the Tribe's relief options.
Indians, Rafael Perez Avoid Arbitration
The Indians announced that they avoided arbitration with left-handed reliever Rafael Perez, agreeing to a one-year contract for 2012. Perez will earn $2.005MM plus incentives this year, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweets. Drew Seccafico represents the lefty.
As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, Perez filed for a $2.4MM salary and the Indians countered with an offer of $1.6MM. Asdrubal Cabrera is Cleveland's lone unsigned arbitration eligible player.
Central Notes: Qualls, Luhnow, Indians
A few items to pass along from the Central divisions as Tuesday becomes Wednesday …
- The Cubs were interested in Chad Qualls before the right-hander eventually signed with the Phillies, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. As it stands now, the back end of the Cubs' bullpen features setup men Jeff Samardzija and Kerry Wood, and closer Carlos Marmol.
- Astros GM Jeff Luhnow has begun the process of overhauling Houston's identity during a time of transition, writes Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com. Luhnow has already made several key hires toward the goal of shifting the organization's focus to a combination of better scouting and more advanced statistical analysis. A reputed ideas man, Luhnow pitched Astros ownership a 25-page plan for repairing the organization before getting the job, according to Castrovince.
- With arbitration hearings scheduled with two players – Asdrubal Cabrera and Rafael Perez – the Indians' 20-year streak of avoiding arbitration could come to end, writes Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. However, Indians assistant GM Mike Chernoff told Hoynes that "both parties are clearly trying to get things done." Check out MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker to see where the Tribe stands with their arbitration eligibles.