Quick Hits: Rangers, Weaver, Rodriguez, Thome
We saw one trade completed today and, as our list of players to clear waivers shows, there are more potential deals on the horizon. Here are the latest links from around MLB…
- Rangers GM Jon Daniels told Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he doesn't expect to make a trade this month, though he's considering waiver trade candidates every day.
- Angels ace Jered Weaver had a refreshing take on his team friendly five-year, $85MM extension, as Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times writes. “If $85 million is not enough to take care of my family and other generations of my family, then you’re stupid," he said. "I play baseball for the love of the game, for the competitive part of it.”
- A's GM Billy Beane told Tyler Kepner of the New York Times that the gap between baseball's haves and have-nots has widened. "The window for small-market clubs is shorter and shorter,” Beane said.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports breaks down some possible trade scenarios between the Rockies and Astros involving the recently-claimed Wandy Rodriguez.
- Rodriguez drew interest at the trade deadline, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter). The Yankees were prepared to give up a player for the left-hander, who they valued at $21MM.
- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says he'd love to bring Jim Thome back to Chicago, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. Thome hit waivers yesterday.
Top Starters Eschew Free Agency
Boras Corporation client Carlos Gonzalez bucked the agency's trend in January, signing a seven-year, $80MM deal instead of going to free agency as soon as possible. Publicly, Scott Boras said, "I was very much on board with this decision," though the agent made sure to show CarGo what he was missing. Since the deal was a record contract for a two-plus player, Boras at least had that feather in his cap.
Angels righty Jered Weaver is not a two-plus player; he has five-plus years of service time and had to get past only the 2012 season before a likely $100MM+ free agent deal. Instead he signed for five years and $85MM. One way to look at that is since Weaver could have gotten $13MM in arbitration for '12, he gave up four free agent years for $18MM apiece, without negotiating on the open market. That is decidedly not the Boras Way.
Talking to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Boras explained, "He knows his value. He had close to 30 illustrations given to him to understand his value. He knows not becoming a free agent would cost him millions and millions of dollars. But the necessity to stay home was compelling." Nightengale estimates a potential $60MM loss for Weaver. For a 30-year-old ace, $23MM per year over six free agent seasons would have been possible, and $24-25MM over seven may have been within reach depending on various factors.
Boras acknowledged that with so many top starting pitchers locked up, the free agent demand will be greater and teams will be aggressive. For the upcoming offseason, that means huge deals for C.C. Sabathia and C.J. Wilson; I think Wilson can reach $100MM. Guys like Edwin Jackson and Hisashi Iwakuma may be lifted up as well.
Following the 2012 season, Matt Cain, John Danks, Zack Greinke, Cole Hamels, Shaun Marcum, Colby Lewis, and Anibal Sanchez project to be among the top starters available. But how many of them will be locked up in the next 15 months? Hamels appears open to a new extension, telling Nightengale, "Teams are being a lot smarter now, When they have somebody they want to keep, they make sure to get it done. They don't want to let it get to an iffy situation. The Phillies ought to know me pretty well by now, too, so we'll see what happens."
AL West Notes: Weaver, Mariners, Athletics
The Angels extended Jered Weaver yesterday and it didn’t take long for some initial reactions to surface. Here are more reactions to the Weaver deal, plus other notes from the Angels’ division…
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports that executives around MLB were stunned that Weaver accepted the Angels' five-year, $85MM extension offer. They expected the Scott Boras client to hold out for more or test his value on the open market.
- Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles examines the Weaver deal and what it means for the Angels and their ace before concluding that "Weaver and the Angels needed each other."
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs shows that Weaver pitches in one of the best environments possible for his skills. Though Weaver probably left money on the table, Cameron says the deal is a good one for Weaver and the Angels.
- Writing at U.S.S. Mariner, Cameron suggests the Mariners might want to spend their money on a third baseman this winter, even though they already have the disappointing Chone Figgins under contract for 2012. However, there's not much out there aside from Aramis Ramirez, so the Mariners will likely have to decide between so-so secondary options and in-house solutions.
- The A's demoted catcher Landon Powell to Triple-A Sacramento so that he could get some regular at bats, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Coco Crisp and Rich Harden were claimed on waivers and pulled back, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. If Oakland puts the players on waivers again, they won't be able to pull them back. The A’s first placed Harden and Crisp on waivers a week ago.
Initial Reactions To Jered Weaver’s Extension
The unexpected news of Jered Weaver's five-year extension with the Angels elicited a wide range of responses Sunday night. Here are some of the early takes from reporters and pundits:
- The extension is a win for the Angels, tweets Scott Miller of CBSSports.com, as Weaver would have been in line for a big pay day after 2012.
- Likewise, Bob Nightengale of USA Today thinks the extension is a "great deal" for the Angels (via Twitter).
- It's not a steal for the Angels, according to Keith Law of ESPN.com (via Twitter), but he likes the deal for the team.
- Weaver "took control" in his decision to remain in Anaheim long-term, tweets Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.
- Ben Nicholson-Smith of MLBTR reminds us that while the contract appears favorable for the Halos, Weaver was still 14 months away from free agency (via Twitter).
- Weaver could have commanded a nine-figure deal as a free agent, opines Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Olney commends Weaver for spurning the usual tack of Scott Boras clients, which is to go to free agency (via Twitter).
- The no-trade clause in Weaver's deal is a "good get" by Scott Boras, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post, who notes that teams typically try to avoid them.
- Weaver's deal sets a ceiling for free-agent-to-be C.J. Wilson, according to Evan P. Grant of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter).
- Weaver's extension sets a floor for Cole Hamels' contract talks, tweets Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Hamels is a free agent after 2012.
- Ubaldo Jimenez was seeking a similar deal with the Rockies before being traded to the Indians, according to Renck (Twitter link).
Angels Extend Jered Weaver
The Angels have signed ace Jered Weaver to a five-year, $85MM contract extension, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter). The deal includes a full no-trade clause, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), and various "significant" bonuses for winning the Cy Young and MVP awards and for earning All-Star berths, writes Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.
Weaver, a Boras Corporation client, as MLBTR's Agency Database shows, was slated to hit free agency after 2012, so this extension buys out his final year of arbitration eligibility and four years of free agency at an average annual salary of $17.5MM. He earns $7.37MM in 2011 after losing an arbitration hearing with the Halos prior to this season. Tim Dierkes explained in May that Weaver could have earned as much as $15MM in 2012 after another round of arbitration.
Weaver's deal is similar in terms to the ones Felix Hernandez signed with the Mariners (five years, $78MM) and Justin Verlander (five years, $80MM) inked with the Tigers prior to the 2010 season, as noted by Heyman (Twitter). The difference, though, is that both Hernandez and Verlander had two remaining years of arbitration eligibility when they signed, whereas Weaver is nearer to free agency with only one remaining. The contract is the largest for a pitcher in Angels history, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).
As Jeff Passan of Yahoo! notes, the projected class of free-agent starters in 2013 is deep, headlined by Cole Hamels, Zack Greinke, Matt Cain, Shaun Marcum, John Danks, Anibal Sanchez and Francisco Liriano (Twitter link). So, perhaps Weaver and his representatives were motivated to get a jump on that market, as Boras Corporation clients typically go to free agency. Buster Olney of ESPN.com thinks Weaver could have fetched a nine-figure contract on the open market after 2012 (Twitter link).
The 28-year-old right-hander, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2004 draft, is in the midst of a career year, posting a 2.10 ERA (178 ERA+), 7.6 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9. He is among the favorites to win the American League Cy Young Award, along with Verlander and CC Sabathia of the Yankees.
The deal will be announced by the club on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Brewers Notes: Fielder, Lopez, Arnett
As the Brewers do battle with the Mets at Citi Field this afternoon, here's the latest news out of Milwaukee…
- Prince Fielder's suitors this winter could include the Brewers, Nationals, Cubs or, as a "possible sleeper," the Rangers, reports ESPN's Buster Olney (Twitter links). Both of the Los Angeles teams aren't likely to get involved — the Dodgers because they likely won't have new owners in time and the Angels possibly due to their lack of a strong relationship with Fielder's agent Scott Boras.
- MLB.com's Adam McCalvy looks at how the Brewers may have to make a 40-man roster move between games of their double-header with the Pirates on Monday. Manager Ron Roenicke said top prospect Wily Peralta won't be called up, while McCalvy speculates that right-hander Michael Fiers will instead get the call.
- As to who could be removed from the 40-man roster with Chris Narveson returning from the disabled list, both McCalvy and Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link) think Felipe Lopez could be the odd man out. Lopez, acquired last month to help fill in for the injured Rickie Weeks, has hit just 186/.250/.186 in 50 plate appearances with Milwaukee.
- Right-hander Eric Arnett is struggling in Class A ball, but the Brewers are still confident in the 2009 first-round draft pick, reports McCalvy. "You have to remember that Eric was a late bloomer at Indiana. It took him until his third year to kind of put it together," says Milwaukee amateur scouting director Bruce Seid. "I think Eric got into our organization, and, as we've talked about many times before, he put a lot of pressure on himself. He got off to a slow start, and it kind of tailspinned for him." Arnett has a 5.31 ERA in 11 combined starts at Class A and rookie ball this season.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Edgar Gonzalez, Reggie Willits
Saturday's outright assignments…
- The Rockies have outrighted Edgar Gonzalez to Triple-A according to Pacific Coast League transactions page. The 28-year-old righty appeared in just one game for Colorado before being designated for assignment to make room on the roster for J.C. Romero.
- The Angels have outrighted Reggie Willits to Triple-A according to PCL transactions. He came to the plate just 28 times for the Halos this year, then was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Jerome Williams.
Angels Designate Reggie Willits For Assignment
The Angels designated outfielder Reggie Willits for assignment, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times (on Twitter). They're calling up journeyman right-hander Jerome Williams, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Times (on Twitter), and optioning Trevor Bell to the minors in a related move.
Willits, 30, placed fifth in the 2007 Rookie of the Year balloting after stealing 27 bases and posting a .293/.391/.344 line for Los Angeles. He hasn't matched that level of productivity since and has just one double and four walks in 28 MLB plate appearances this year. He has spent most of this season in the minors, where he has a .255/.378/.296 line in 305 plate appearances.
Revisiting The Mike Napoli Trades
Typically when you take on most of one of the worst contracts in baseball, you don't have to give up anything of value. However, the Angels did just that by including catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli in their January trade with Toronto for outfielder Vernon Wells.
The Halos probably weren't keen on paying Napoli $5.8MM in 2011. They were never big on his work behind the plate, and at the time of the trade probably expected first baseman Kendrys Morales to be ready for Spring Training. The Angels were committed to Bobby Abreu and understandably wanted to move him to DH, another role Napoli can fill. Still, even at the time, it seemed plausible that the Angels would have found Napoli 400 plate appearances at his various spots. He'd hit 20+ home runs for three consecutive years, and it's surprising the Angels felt they could spare the power bat. Even if the Angels were dead set on acquiring Wells, I doubt Napoli was a requirement for the Blue Jays.
The Angels failed to get value for Napoli, but the Jays didn't consider him an ideal fit either. In theory, Napoli could have complemented Adam Lind at first base, backed up J.P. Arencibia behind the plate, and filled in at DH for Edwin Encarnacion or Juan Rivera when needed. Perhaps if the Blue Jays had found an immediate taker for Rivera, they would have kept Napoli.
Instead, Napoli was quickly sent to the Rangers for reliever Frank Francisco and less than $1MM in cash. The Rangers were perhaps the worst fit for Napoli of the three teams, as they had Yorvit Torrealba and Matt Treanor behind the plate, Mitch Moreland and Chris Davis as first base options, and Michael Young to DH and rove around the infield. Acquired as a bench player in January, Napoli has started all but nine of his 77 games to date with Texas (he missed almost a month with an oblique strain).
It's only been 285 plate appearances, but Napoli has flourished with the Rangers, hitting .290/.386/.592 with 19 home runs. His chance of being tendered a contract after the '11 season was once in doubt, but now seems like a lock. Depending on how many plate appearances he ends up with, a salary approaching $8MM for 2012 is possible for Napoli. Unlike the Angels and Blue Jays, the Rangers are happy to have him.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
American League Over Slot Signings
Most teams will exceed MLB's slot recommendations on at least a few players. Here's the latest on such signings from the American League:
- The Mariners signed second rounder Brad Miller for $750K, according to Callis (on Twitter).
- The Orioles signed sixth rounder Nicky Delmonico for $1.525MM, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Earlier on, the Orioles agreed to sign second rounder Jason Esposito for $600K, according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo (on Twitter). Before that, the Orioles signed 26th round pick Zach Davies for $575K, reports Baseball America's Jim Callis. The high school righty has drawn some Mike Leake comparisons, writes Callis. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun was told last night that this deal isn't done, but it could be headed in the right direction.
- Red Sox seventh rounder Cody Kukuk signed for $800K, according to Callis (on Twitter). Boston also signed fourth rounder Noe Ramirez, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. The right-hander obtains a $625K bonus, according to Speier and Callis.
- The Blue Jays signed seventh rounder Christian Lopes for $800K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The Blue Jays also signed 13th round pick Matt Dean, tweets Callis. The high school third baseman signed for $737.5K, tweets ESPN's Keith Law. BA considers him the best prep third base prospect in the draft.
- The Yankees signed Greg Bird for $1.1MM, according to Zoodig, an athlete digital media platform, on Twitter. The Yankees signed sixth rounder Jake Cave for $825K, according to Callis (on Twitter). The Yankees also signed third rounder Jordan Cote for $725K, according to Callis. The high school right-hander has a fastball in the 90 mph range and stands 6'5". Earlier today, the Yankees signed 20th round pick and high school lefty Daniel Camarena for $335K, tweets Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA.
- The Indians signed 18th rounder Shawn Armstrong for $325K, according to Rogers (on Twitter). The Indians also announced that they have signed second round right-hander Dillon Howard. He gets a $1.85MM bonus, according to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com (on Twitter).
- The Royals signed 16th rounder Jack Lopez for $750K, according to Callis (on Twitter). The Royals have also signed third rounder Bryan Brickhouse for $1.5MM, reports Callis. The high school right-hander received the second largest bonus outside of the top 18 picks so far. Earlier today, the Royals signed fourth round pick and high school righty Kyle Smith for $695K, reports Callis. The Royals also signed 29th round pick Jake Junis for $675K, reports Callis. Junis, an athletic high school righty from Illinois, is represented by Frontline.
- The Angels have agreed to terms with sixth rounder Austin Wood, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). The USC righty got $150K.
- The Twins signed tenth rounder Brett Lee for $150K, according to John Manuel and Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter).
- The Tigers signed 15th round pick and high school outfielder Tyler Gibson for $525K, tweets Rogers.