Minor Moves: Ford, Hernandez, Pagnozzi, Brown
The most recent minor moves from around MLB…
- The Mariners signed Darren Ford to a minor league deal, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times (on Twitter). The Giants had designated him for assignment last month.
- The Astros announced that they signed infielder Diory Hernandez to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training. The 27-year-old, who has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Braves, posted a .201/.229/.308 line in 289 Triple-A plate appearances this past season.
- The Rangers signed catcher Dusty Brown, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, who has details on the week's minor moves. Brown, 29, has big league experience with the Red Sox and Pirates. He posted a .285/.367/.506 line in 199 Triple-A plate appearances in 2011.
- The Indians announced that they signed catcher Matt Pagnozzi to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training. Pagnozzi, who has appeared in the big leagues in each of the past three seasons, posted a .275/.337/.421 line for the Rockies' top affiliate in 2011.
13 Teams Eligible For First Competitive Balance Lottery
The new collective bargaining agreement calls for a competitive balance draft pick lottery beginning in 2013, and MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo has details. 13 teams will be eligible for the first lottery based on their market size and revenue: the Diamondbacks, Orioles, Indians, Royals, Athletics, Pirates, Padres, Rays, Reds, Rockies, Marlins, Brewers, and Cardinals. The lottery gives each of these teams the chance to win one of six extra picks in the 2013 draft, which will come after the compensation picks for free agents. The odds of winning a pick will be based on each team's winning percentage in the previous season.
There will be another group of six picks after the draft's second round. The teams in the mix for these will be the ones that did not win a pick in the first lottery, as well as any other team that receives revenue sharing.
Mayo says lottery picks can be traded, but only once by a team and only during the regular season. The picks cannot be sold for cash.
A third lottery will be held for picks forfeited by teams that exceeded their bonus pools. Teams that did not exceed their pools will be eligible, with odds based on a formula of revenue and winning percentage. Got all that? There will be a quiz tomorrow.
Quick Hits: Dodgers, Feliz, Nathan, Rangers, Indians
On this day fifteen years ago, the Angels traded first baseman J.T. Snow to the Giants for Fausto Macey and Allen Watson. Snow would go on to play nine seasons with San Francisco with a slash line of .273/.369/.438. Here are some links for Saturday night..
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has a thing for acquiring journeyman relievers in the offseason and will probably do the same this winter, but he does have a proven arm in Blake Hawksworth, writes Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times. The 29-year-old is entering his final year under team control.
- Peter Gammons of MLB.com writes that the Rangers' signing of Joe Nathan puts Neftali Feliz in his rightful place, the starting rotation. Texas might have overpaid for Nathan, but waiting to get the veteran at a bargain could have resulted in having to turn to a different free agent closer who would require a longer deal.
- Teams are still trying to digest all the details of the new collective bargaining agreement, writes Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer. The CBA will change the way the Indians do business as they have spent a good amount on the draft and on international free agents in recent years.
- With the owners and players coming to terms on a five-year labor agreement, it's apparent that the two sides learned some important lessons from the 1994 work stoppage, writes Tracy Ringolsby of FOXSports.com. Ringolsby also weighs in on the changes to the amateur draft and points out that the new agreement takes leverage away from agents and provides a boost for college baseball.
Blue Jays Acquire Luis Valbuena From Indians
The Indians have traded Luis Valbuena to the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations, according to the team's officlal Twitter account. The infielder was designated for assignment on November 18th.
Valbuena spent the majority of 2011 with Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate where he hit .302/.372/.476 with 17 homers in 472 plate appearances. The infielder, who turns 26 on November 30, played 194 games for the Indians' varsity squad in 2009 and 2010 and saw a good deal of time at second base.
Reds Shopping Yonder Alonso For Pitching
The Reds are offering Yonder Alonso as trade bait in their search for a closer or a No. 2 starter, reports Yahoo Sports' Tim Brown. Reds GM Walt Jocketty has spoken to several teams — including the A's, Blue Jays, Indians and Rays — about Alonso, though we heard earlier this week that the Reds thought Alonso was too much to give up for Oakland closer Andrew Bailey.
Alonso is regarded as Cincinnati's top hitting prospect, if one without a Major League position since Joey Votto is cemented at first base. The 24-year-old has an OPS of .837 in four minor league seasons and hit .330/.398/.545 in 98 plate appearances with the Reds last year.
If the Reds were willing to move him, you would think Alonso would be too much to deal for any closer, not just Bailey. Jocketty has said his club's top priority is finding a starting pitcher this offseason, so while the Jays and Indians have some good young arms, they wouldn't be willing to deal a top-of-the-rotation caliber of starter for which the Reds are looking. The Jays and Tribe also have other options at first base, though Adam Lind, Edwin Encarnacion and Matt LaPorta wouldn't be major obstacles if Toronto or Cleveland had a legitimate shot at Alonso. The A's and Reds might not be a match on Bailey, but Jocketty might deem possibly-available pitchers like Gio Gonzalez or Trevor Cahill worthy of moving Alonso.
The most logical match would appear to be Tampa Bay, who has a big hole at first base, lots of pitching and a need for a controllable young talent like Alonso. The Rays could offer Wade Davis or Jeff Niemann, though the Reds are more likely looking for a pitcher like James Shields. (Obviously David Price and Jeremy Hellickson are staying put.)
Quick Hits: Red Sox, Sizemore, Padres, Chen
Links for Wednesday night as we await arbitration decisions from the National and American Leagues…
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com surveyed this offseason's stronger-than-usual relief market with the help of many Major League GMs. The Red Sox aren’t desperate for a closer, because Daniel Bard and Bobby Jenks are already in their ‘pen, but GM Ben Cherington figures to explore the market for closers after losing Jonathan Papelbon to the Phillies.
- The Phillies, Rockies and Cubs had more interest in Grady Sizemore than any teams except the Indians, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter links). Hoynes has the details on Sizemore’s incentives: the outfielder obtains $1MM if he reaches 500 plate appearances and $500K for every 25 plate appearances until he reaches 650.
- The Padres aren’t likely to sign any free agent pitchers to Major League deals this offseason, according to MLB.com’s Corey Brock (on Twitter). Padres GM Josh Byrnes sent starter Wade LeBlanc to Miami yesterday.
- The Rockies had mild interest in Bruce Chen before he re-signed in Kansas City, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter).
- The Twins and Cubs were Chen’s primary suitors other than the Royals, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
Quick Hits: Street, Garza, Red Sox, Sizemore
Some links to check out as we await tonight's 11pm central time arbitration deadline…
- Though teams are interested, there's nothing imminent regarding a trade of Huston Street, tweets Troy Renck of The Denver Post. A source also tells Renck that the Rockies have not spoken with the Cubs about Matt Garza.
- The Red Sox won’t reach a decision on their new manager before tomorrow, a team source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
- Indians GM Chris Antonetti doesn't expect Grady Sizemore to play 150-160 games next year, but does think that the center fielder will play the "vast majority of games" in 2012, tweets Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer.
Indians Re-Sign Grady Sizemore
Grady Sizemore will remain with the Indians in 2012, announced the team today. Sizemore receives a $5MM base salary and $4MM in incentives on a one-year deal, tweets SI's Jon Heyman. He has a chance to reach the value of the option the Indians turned down, with the incentives kicking in at 450 plate appearances according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. Sizemore would get $500K for winning the Comeback Player of the Year award, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. A corresponding 40-man roster move is a few days away, according to the team.
The Indians chose a $500K buyout over Sizemore's $9MM option in October, and with at least eight teams showing interest it seemed that he'd play elsewhere for the first time in his big league career. Sizemore, 29, is a risky player given his health issues the last three years. From 2005-08, he was one of the game's best players for the Tribe, garnering MVP votes in each season.
Since 2009 Sizemore has missed time due to injuries to his elbow, abdominal wall, and left knee, the last of which required microfracture surgery in June of 2010. He had surgery for a sports hernia this year, and a right knee injury culminated in an October arthroscopy. He's expected to be ready for Spring Training. Sizemore's agent, Joe Urbon of CAA Sports, says his client will continue to play center field for the Indians.
Sizemore ranked 26th on my top 50 free agents list. With six of the 50 having signed so far, five of the 5,020 entrants in MLBTR's free agent prediction contest have four correct picks.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported Sizemore's likely return to the Indians on Friday, with SI's Jon Heyman declaring it official this morning.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Quick Hits: Draft, Papelbon, Indians, D’Backs, Pirates
Some links as Tuesday turns into Wednesday…
- The new Collective Bargaining Agreement will implement some major changes to the draft, but Baseball America's Jim Callis says the spending limitations won't be as drastic as initially thought.
- Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reports (on Twitter) that slots for the first four picks for the draft will be $7.2MM, $6.2MM, $5.2MM, and $4.2MM. Teams are not required to spend that much, however.
- In an Insider-only breakdown, ESPN's Keith Law analyzed the new CBA point-by-point. "The net result here is a big negative for the sport," he says. Click here for some more CBA reactions.
- The Rangers were not in on Jonathan Papelbon before he signed with the Phillies, reports WEEI.com's Rob Bradford (on Twitter). Texas signed Joe Nathan to close yesterday.
- MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says (on Twitter) that the Indians will give Lonnie Chisenhall every chance to win their third base job in Spring Training, so don't expect their search for offense to result in an upgrade at the hot corner.
- In a second tweet, Bastian says the one-year deal between the Indians and Grady Sizemore should be announced soon, perhaps on Wednesday.
- The Diamondbacks announced their minor league coaching staffs in a press release. Former D'Backs Jay Bell and Robby Hammock have joined the club's player development staff.
- Rob Biertempfel of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review passes along some changes the Pirates have made to their scouting department.
Indians “In Serious Discussions” With Grady Sizemore
11:49am: "We will continue to work through details with the Indians over the weekend," said Urbon to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter links). "During that time we will have no further comment.''
SATURDAY, 8:50am: Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer says the one-year deal would include a low base salary and incentives that could push the total value to $9MM, the same amount as the option the Indians declined after the season. Hoynes also mentions that the two sides discussed a deal like this before the option decision was made.
FRIDAY, 8:52pm: "The Indians came at us with an aggressive offer,'' Sizemore's agent Joe Urbon tells ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. "Grady has always maintained that he would be interested in returning to Cleveland. We've exchanged proposals, but there's nothing more I can say at this point.'' Crasnick's ESPN colleague Buster Olney hears from a source that the deal "will be done" between the two sides (Twitter link).
8:11pm: Urbon confirmed to Rosenthal (Twitter link) that the negotiations with the Indians are taking place. "Our efforts right now are to see if we can make that happen," Urbon said.
6:34pm: The Indians and Grady Sizemore are having "serious discussions" about a one-year contract, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link). One of Rosenthal's sources says a deal is "very likely," while another source is only slightly less optimistic, pegging the chances of an agreement at "70-30."
Several teams have shown interest in Sizemore this winter but a source tells Rosenthal that Sizemore is "pulling back" from talks with other clubs in order to pursue this new deal with Cleveland. Things could be finalized between the two sides by this weekend.
As Rosenthal noted in a follow-up tweet, the Tribe's medical personnel knows Sizemore best and with just a one-year contract, he could pursue a bigger deal next offseason. There isn't much risk involved for the Indians — a healthy and in-form Sizemore helps the team contend in the AL Central or, if Cleveland falls out of the pennant race, Sizemore would be a sought-after commodity at the trade deadline even as a rental player.