Jorge Julio Signs With Indians
According to MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince, the Indians have signed reliever Jorge Julio to a minor league deal. He’ll join a battle for the team’s one open ‘pen spot.
Julio at least has relative youth and velocity on his side. He turns 29 in March. He had a 5.23 ERA in 62 innings in ’07, posting an 8.1 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9. Control and home runs allowed have often been a problem for Julio.
Santana Contract Could Spell Sabathia Departure
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes today that a six-year extension in the $130-150MM range for Johan Santana is likely to spell an end to C.C. Sabathia‘s Indians career after this season. The Indians made an offer to Sabathia in December, something probably in the range of four years and $70MM. It would be hard for Sabathia to pass on the chance to double that total.
Sabathia does want to stay and believes negotiations for an extension are progressing (he’s let his agent handle it so far). Indians GM Mark Shapiro would probably like to avoid an in-season contract distraction but no one’s suggested any deadlines out yet.
Odds and Ends: Dotel, Valverde, Wilkerson
Some Saturday odds and ends to mull over…
- The Yankees considered bringing Octavio Dotel back, but wouldn’t go two years on him.
- Richard Justice thinks Astros GM Ed Wade is making a mistake by setting a deadline and going to arbitration hearings with Jose Valverde and Mark Loretta. I doubt the Astros wanted Loretta to accept their offer of arbitration in the first place, but they took the $4-5MM gamble hoping to get a draft pick. But they actively sought out Valverde, and this might not bode well for him staying past 2009.
- Can’t promise anything, but my source is saying Brad Wilkerson is likely to become a Mariner on a one-year deal. Put this in the unconfirmed category for now.
- Did the Rangers DFA Armando Galarraga in anticipation of including him in a trade?
- Troy Tulowitzki explanation: he can opt out of his $15MM club option for 2014 if he’s traded. Tracy Ringolsby also reports that Garrett Atkins had unfruitful extension talks with the Rox last year and would still like to stay.
- "No substantive negotiations" on a multiyear deal for Ryan Zimmerman.
- Casey Blake‘s agent put in a counteroffer but hasn’t heard back from the Indians yet; the two sides are $1.5MM apart on his ’08 salary.
State Of The Indians
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer talked to Mark Shapiro about the Indians’ relatively quiet offseason. Interesting quote from Shapiro:
Every single major guy that has been traded, with the exception of Johan Santana, we’ve been involved in the conversations.
We knew the Tribe poked their head in on Miguel Cabrera and Dan Haren. But does this mean they also inquired on Miguel Tejada, Jose Valverde, Nick Swisher, Brad Lidge, Edgar Renteria, Jim Edmonds, and Josh Hamilton? Hard to say where Shapiro draws the line at "major guy," but he must’ve looked into some of these.
As far as signing C.C. Sabathia long-term, Shapiro said:
I don’t see us ever closing the door. There’s no reason to do it. Even if he files for free agency, I still think we’ll be an active player.
Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com notes that the Indians made an initial offer to Sabathia, and that’s all we know for sure. He believes it’s safe to assume that the Indians are reluctant to give him five guaranteed years.
Betancourt Signs Multiyear Deal
UPDATE, 1-23-08 at 10:43am: According to MLB.com, Betancourt has signed a two-year deal with an option for 2010.
FROM 1-22-08 at 10:51am:
Indians reliever Rafael Betancourt recently asked for a $2.5MM salary, while the Indians submitted a $1.75MM figure. A multiyear deal is a possibility; we should know soon.
Betancourt has four years of service time, so a three-year deal would buy out one year of free agency. We discussed this in early December, and commenters noted that the possibility of saves for Betancourt could complicate the contract. It’s funny how a dominant setup man can earn significantly less than a mediocre closer.
Odds and Ends: Hinske, Doumit, Colon, Greene
It’s up to an impressive 5.7 degrees where I am, but I still don’t think I’ll be going outside much today. Hence, some odds and ends.
- Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald believes Eric Hinske might sign with the Diamondbacks this week. The 30 year-old former ROY has a career line of .255/.336/.434, with much better work against righties.
- John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus says the Red Sox are interested in the Pirates’ Ryan Doumit. However Perrotto says the Bucs are reluctant to trade the versatile Doumit, who turns 27 in April. Only past Doumit rumor I can find was from Will Carroll in May of ’06, saying he and Oliver Perez were being dangled to the Phillies.
- Perrotto believes the Royals could sign Bartolo Colon if he’ll take a one-year deal; that may be true for several clubs. Paul Hoynes reports that the Indians watched Colon pitch, but weren’t impressed with his sub-90 velocity. Hoynes says Kris Benson will have another throwing session and the Tribe will be in attendance.
- According to Marc Topkin, the Rays are talking with lefty reliever Trever Miller. The two sides haven’t agreed on the term yet.
- Padres GM Kevin Towers commented about the team’s rejected long-term overtures toward shortstop Khalil Greene. Towers brought a three or four year proposal to Greene but does not expect anything to get done. He stated Greene’s possible desire to be on the East Coast as a factor.
- Vince Gennaro does an economic analysis of the Johan Santana rumors, indicating that the acquisition makes the most sense for the Mets.
Rolen For Glaus Finalized
UPDATE, 1-14-08 at 5:44pm: And it’s official, news conference Wednesday.
UPDATE, 1-14-08 at 2:15pm: Both players passed their physicals, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This could be officially a done deal later today. By the way, the Belleville News-Democrat discusses some of the failed Rolen scenarios here (including one that involved Jhonny Peralta, Cliff Lee, and Anthony Reyes).
UPDATE, 1-14-08 at 10:57am: A small amount of money will change hands – the Jays will send $1.8MM to the Cards, pending commissioner approval. Given that Rolen has more money on his contract, it’s surprising to see the Jays sending money.
UPDATE, 1-13-08 at 12:12pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says the agreement has been reached; the deal will be done if both third basemen pass physicals on Monday. The Cardinals required that Glaus exercise his $11.25MM player option for ’09 as part of the trade – they didn’t want him to have a big ’08 and then opt for free agency. No money changed hands, which makes the deal look like a win for St. Louis.
FROM 1-12-08 at 11:00am:
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Blue Jays and Cardinals are "closing in" on a trade of Troy Glaus for Scott Rolen. Both would have to pass physicals first. Rosenthal adds that both players agreed to waive their no-trade clauses and the Cardinals might need to cough up some cash as well.
Glaus, 31, hit .262/.366/.473 in an abbreviated 2007 season. He had nerve decompression surgery for his foot in September, which will hopefully relieve his plantar fasciitis. Also that month, Sports Illustrated reported that Glaus received multiple shipments of steroids as a member of the Angels. Glaus is set to earn $12.75MM in ’08 and $11.25MM in ’09.
Rolen, who will turn 33 in April, hit .265/.331/.398 in a similarly abbreviated season. He also had September surgery, a shoulder cleaning that involved removing scar tissue. Rolen also had shoulder surgery in ’05, but did show good power for the first five months of ’06. His other wart is a strained relationship with Tony La Russa. He’ll earn $12MM in ’08, ’09, and ’10.
It’s hard to say which team won the swap, though I lean towards the Cardinals. They get a younger player with a less serious health issue and a shorter commitment. The reason I think it’s close is that Rolen is a superior defender. Can you imagine hitting a groundball to the left side when Rolen and John McDonald are both on the field?
Perrotto’s Latest: Sabathia, Varitek, Crede, Villone
John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus checks in with his usual Sunday column. He’s got some new hot stove material to consider.
- Perrotto says the Indians are holding firm at an offer of four years plus an option for C.C. Sabathia. As of a week ago, the Indians were said to have an offer on the table for him. I suggested that the Tribe might top out around four years, $72MM plus an option for 2013.
- Perrotto writes that "Boston is expected to sign catcher Jason Varitek to a two-year extension worth around $20 million." Varitek could retire after that.
- Perrotto suggests that Joe Crede is on the Giants’ radar if they don’t re-sign Pedro Feliz (hat tip South Side Sox). Crede seems like he’ll be involved in one of those late Spring Training deals, given the need to prove his health.
- The Yankees, Mets, and Pirates are interested in free agent lefty reliever Ron Villone.
Erik Bedard Rumors: Mariners, Reds, Indians
Erik Bedard staying put in Baltimore this winter? Maybe not. Ken Rosenthal and Jason Churchill both busted out brand new material this evening with the latest Bedard chatter. The upshot is that the Mariners seem to have a decent shot at him.
- Rosenthal says the Mariners will put Adam Jones, Jeff Clement, and Matt Tuiasosopo in the deal. He indicates that the Orioles could push to substitute and get one of Tony Butler, Chris Tillman, and Carlos Triunfel. Looks like Bill Bavasi is sticking to the idea of keeping Brandon Morrow. Rosenthal hedges his bets, but admits to "growing indications that the teams could be moving closer to a deal."
- Churchill says something similar: the Mariners and Orioles "may very well be making significant progress." Churchill sees a package of Jones, Triunfel, and George Sherrill as the likely scenario.
- Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein recently listed his Top 11 Prospects for the Mariners. Clement was a five-star, Tillman and Triunfel four-stars, Butler a two-star, and Tuiasosopo an honorable mention. Jones would be first were he still considered a prospect.
- Both Ohio teams have interest in Bedard as well, but a trade to the Indians or Reds seems less likely. The Reds still won’t give up Jay Bruce.
Cubs, Indians Interested In Roberts
Ken Rosenthal is back with a bang, penning a new article about Erik Bedard and Brian Roberts trade possibilities. We already updated you on the Bedard situation over yonder.
Rosenthal says the Cubs are still the best fit for Roberts, also noting interest from the Mets and Indians. Last we heard, the Cubs’ offer included Sean Gallagher and Matt Murton but not Rich Hill or Felix Pie. Ronny Cedeno, Sean Marshall, and Donnie Veal could also be in the mix.
Interesting to hear that the Tribe is quietly taking a look at both Roberts and Bedard, just as they were quietly players for Dan Haren. Bedard could fill the void if C.C. Sabathia were to leave via free agency. What would a Roberts acquisition mean? Asdrubal Cabrera to short, Jhonny Peralta to third or traded?