Mark Cuban Had Interest In Dodgers, Could Make Bid
10:05pm: A spokesman for McCourt told Shaikin that the Dodgers owner hasn't interacted with Cuban. "He doesn't know Mark Cuban. He hasn't spoken with Mark Cuban. He hasn't had anyone speak with Mark Cuban on his behalf" (Twitter link).
8:23pm: Mark Cuban has interest in buying the Dodgers, but not unless the team's price drops. The high-profile Dallas Mavericks owner says he offered to buy the Dodgers from owner Frank McCourt several months ago, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. However, McCourt wanted $1-1.2 billion for the team, so Cuban held his cash.
"At that price, I wasn't interested," Cuban told Shaikin.
Cuban, who has bid on the Cubs and Rangers in the past, won't rule out buying the Dodgers if the price drops under $1 billion. McCourt and MLB are nearing an agreement on a bankruptcy settlement, according to Shaikin. Under the agreement, McCourt would sell the team, giving prospective owners a chance to purchase one of MLB's premier franchises.
Dodgers, Juan Rivera Closing In On Deal
10:01pm: The deal would guarantee Rivera approximately $4MM, according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.
7:59pm: Juan Rivera and the Dodgers are closing in on a one-year contract that would include a team option for 2013, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. The deal could be completed later in the week.
Rivera joined the Dodgers when the Blue Jays sent him to Los Angeles for a player to be named later in July. The 33-year-old posted a combined line of .258/.319/.382 with 11 homers and 23 doubles for the Blue Jays and Dodgers in 2011, his 11th season in the Major Leagues. SFX represents Rivera, as our Agency Database shows.
Rivera has produced against left-handed pitching over the course of his career (.830 OPS) and 2011 was no exception (.805 OPS). He played left field, right field and first base for the Dodgers and will likely play a similar role in 2012. He was not a ranked free agent, so the Dodgers could not have obtained compensation for losing him via free agency.
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt may sell the Dodgers this winter. Click here for Tim Dierkes' offseason outlook for the club.
NL West Notes: Harang, Bloomquist, Blanco, Dodgers
Earlier today the Giants agreed to a new two-year deal with Javier Lopez and exercised Jeremy Affeldt's 2012 option. Here's some links from around the rest of the division:
- Dan Hayes of the North County Times cites a Padres team source who doubts that Aaron Harang will be back with the team in 2012 (Twitter link). Hayes says that right now, it's not clear if Harang's $5MM mutual option was rejected by either side yet.
- The Diamondbacks are expected to exercise their half of the mutual options they hold on Willie Bloomquist and Henry Blanco, tweets Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
- Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Times notes that the Dodgers lead the Majors with 10 pending free agents. Dilbeck says that the club is looking to go young behind the plate next year, and doesn't expect to offer arbitration to Type B free agent Rod Barajas.
Latest On Dodgers Settlement Talks
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and MLB have reached a hurdle in their talks about a potential settlement, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. While MLB is willing to work with McCourt on an auction, it is not willing to guarantee him a specific sale price. In other words, MLB is not prepared to make up the difference if the Dodgers sell for less than expected.
The Dodgers’ bankruptcy trial was delayed yesterday. Settlement talks took place earlier this week, so the sides may not have to go to court. McCourt aims to sell the Dodgers' media rights, while the commissioner's office is pushing to sell the Dodgers to a new owner.
McCourt estimates that the Dodgers are worth over $1 billion, including Dodger Stadium and surrounding land. Forbes, however, valued the assets at $800MM earlier in 2011. McCourt may need more than $1 billion to break even after paying off debts, according to Shaikin.
Matt Kemp’s Agent Talks Extension
If the Dodgers attempt to lock Matt Kemp up to an extension this offseason, they shouldn't expect much of a hometown discount. Kemp's agent, Dave Stewart, told Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times that the center fielder cares about more than winning and team chemistry.
"It's also important for him to be seen by his peers as one of the best," Stewart said. "This isn't Matt saying this, this is me saying this … but, unfortunately, the way these things are seen is often based on how you're paid."
Kemp, 27, is a leading candidate for the National League MVP after hitting an NL-best 39 home runs with a .324/.399/.586 line. MLBTR projects a $16.3MM salary for Kemp in 2012, his final season before hitting free agency. He has said he won't discuss an extension once the 2012 season begins.
Last offseason's top outfielders, Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth, signed multiyear deals that valued their free agent seasons in the $18-21MM range. Perhaps the Kemp and the Dodgers would consider a seven-year deal that pays Kemp $15MM in 2012 and $20MM in each of the following six seasons for a seven-year total of $135MM.
MLB is in talks with owner Frank McCourt to try to make him sell the Dodgers. The team has another candidate for a substantial extension, starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
NL West Notes: Hill, Kuo, Ross
It's been a busy day in the NL West. The Padres announced a leadership change and the Dodgers' bankruptcy trial was delayed. Here's more news from the division…
- Aaron Hill has switched agents and is now a client of Greg Genske of Legacy Sports, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Hill, a former Beverly Hills Sports Council client, could return to the Diamondbacks in 2012 if the team picks up its $8MM option. Though the D’Backs would like Hill back, they’d rather work out a new deal, according to Gilbert. You can keep track of every player’s agent using MLBTR’s Agency Database.
- Dodgers left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his pitching elbow, according to the team (on Twitter). He would earn about $2.5MM if the Dodgers offer arbitration, which makes him a non-tender candidate. He intends to pitch in 2012, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (on Twitter).
- Cody Ross told Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle that he has not yet started negotiating a potential deal with the Giants. The free agent outfielder says the sides have mutual interest in a new deal, but Schulman doubts the Giants would match Ross' 2011 salary of $5.3MM (Twitter links).
Dodgers Bankruptcy Trial Delayed
5:01pm: MLB is in talks with McCourt to try to make him sell the team, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). Bill Shaikin of the LA Times confirms that McCourt and MLB discussed a settlement yesterday (Twitter link).
12:52pm: Settlement talks are expected to take place before the new trial date, reports Shaikin.
10:59am: The Dodgers bankruptcy trial has been delayed, reports Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times. The trial initially had been scheduled for October 31st through November 4th, but for unknown reasons it has been moved to November 29th through December 2nd. Baseball's Winter Meetings take place from December 5-8, so as Shaikin notes, there's no way current owner Frank McCourt could be replaced that quickly after the trial even if MLB succeeds in ousting him. Shaikin explains the focus of the bankruptcy hearing: "Can McCourt sell the Dodgers' television rights, over the objections of Fox Sports and Major League Baseball, and can the commissioner get the judge to order the Dodgers sold?"
My Dodgers Offseason Outlook was published on Tuesday, check it out.
Offseason Outlook: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers' ownership battle may be coming to a close, but Ned Colletti must endure uncertainty for one more offseason as he tries to improve the team's offense and sign a veteran starter.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Ted Lilly, SP: $25.5MM through 2013
- Chad Billingsley, SP: $35MM through 2014
- Juan Uribe, IF: $16MM through 2013
- Matt Guerrier, RP: $9.75MM through 2013
Arbitration Eligible Players (estimated salaries)
- Matt Kemp, CF: $16.3MM
- Andre Ethier, RF: $10.7MM
- Clayton Kershaw, SP: $8.4MM
- James Loney, 1B: $6.5MM (non-tender candidate)
- Hong-Chih Kuo, RP: $2.5MM (non-tender candidate)
- Tony Gwynn Jr., OF: $1.1MM (non-tender candidate)
Free Agents
- Hiroki Kuroda (SP), Jonathan Broxton (RP), Casey Blake (3B), Juan Rivera (OF/1B), Jon Garland (SP), Rod Barajas (C), Jamey Carroll (2B/SS), Vicente Padilla (RP), Mike MacDougal (RP), Aaron Miles (2B/3B)
Dodgers fans hope the end is in sight for the battle over ownership of their team. The bankruptcy hearings begin on Halloween, as current Dodgers owner Frank McCourt seeks the ability to auction the team's television rights while Fox and MLB seek termination of McCourt's ownership. Josh Fisher of Dodger Divorce said selling the TV rights is McCourt's only path to survival as the team's owner. The hearings will certainly keep Fisher and the L.A. Times' Bill Shaikin busy, but there are still crucial player personnel decisions to make for the Dodgers this offseason.
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said he has a basic idea of the team's budget. In September, he said his aim is improving the offense in "the most dramatic way," implying Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder could be targets. I just can't see the ownership situation resolved quickly enough for that to happen, though. Even if MLB does force the sale of the Dodgers, it'd take months to get new ownership approved. In the interim, it seems unrealistic for MLB to approve adding a massive amount of debt.
It'll be costly just for Colletti to resolve the Dodgers' internal business. Out of 209 arbitration eligible players, Kemp's settlement projects as the second-highest salary, Ethier's the fifth-highest, and Kershaw's the ninth-highest. Unless their salaries are reduced through multiyear deals, the trio could cost $35MM next year. If payroll is cautiously trimmed to say, $100MM for 2012, the Dodgers will have less than $20MM to work with to fill all kinds of holes.
Extensions for potential award winners Kershaw and Kemp should be Colletti's primary focus. We've seen top pitchers extended for about $30MM, but Kershaw might need $35MM just for his three arbitration years, and that might be a discount over going year-to-year. I think we'd be entering the $100MM range for a six year deal, which is incredible given that three of those would be arbitration years. Kemp's 2011 season could be under $15MM in a multiyear deal, but each season thereafter should cost at least $20MM. There's no harm in Colletti laying groundwork now for either player, but ideally a prospective new owner would have final say in March. Kemp does not want to negotiate once his potential contract year begins.
A non-tender decision is due on Loney on December 12th, and one more season at around $6.5MM is the right move for the Dodgers. If they somehow later sign Pujols or Fielder, they could probably move Loney's contract before the season begins. Uribe is penciled in at third base and Dee Gordon at shortstop, leaving an opening at second. An offensive-minded player like Kelly Johnson could be a good fit over internal options Justin Sellers and Ivan DeJesus. Jerry Sands merits an extended look in left field, while Tim Federowicz and A.J. Ellis will probably sit behind the dish. Gwynn and Rivera could return as bench players.
The Dodgers' rotation could be a strength again, especially if Kuroda is re-signed. It'd be difficult to replace Kuroda without overpaying someone else on a multiyear deal, though Colletti could look to other starters coming over from Japan. Nathan Eovaldi would be the fifth starter. Colletti likes his bullpen, but he'll look to add a veteran reliever.
Kelly Johnson alone wouldn't fix the Dodgers' offense, though decent seasons from Ethier, Uribe, and Sands would help. Hopefully, the Dodgers' ownership situation becomes resolved by July. If the team is in contention at that point, Colletti can explore the trade market. The Dodgers' 2011-12 offseason will be overshadowed by the Frank McCourt drama, perhaps for the last time.
Non-Tender Candidate: Hong-Chih Kuo
There is no position in baseball more volatile than relief pitcher, which is how Hong-Chih Kuo can go from being one of the most dominant bullpen arms in the game last September to taking about retirement this September. As a result of his 2011 struggles and off-the-field issues, the Dodgers' left-hander is a candidate to be non-tendered this offseason.
Kuo, 30, allowed just 29 hits and eight runs (1.20 ERA) in 60 innings in 2010, striking out 73 (11.0 K/9) and walking just 18 (2.7 BB/9). Left-handed batters had no chance against him that season, hitting just .095/.159/.111 with 28 strikeouts in 69 plate appearances. When Jonathan Broxton struggled in the second half, Kuo stepped in and went a perfect 9-for-9 in save chances in August and September. At $950K, he was a bargain.
That performance pushed Kuo's salary up to $2.725MM in 2011, his second time through arbitration. Unfortunately, his 2010 performance did not carry over. After walking four batters in his first 2 2/3 innings of the season (four appearances), the Dodgers placed Kuo on the DL with a lower back strain. He was activated on May 1st, struggled in his next five appearances (six runs in two innings), and was again placed on the DL on May 11th. This time he was dealing with social anxiety disorder.
One day later we heard that Kuo was not considering retirement, but it wasn't until June 19th that he was activated off the DL. He struggled the rest of the season, allowing 22 runs in 22 1/3 innings across 31 appearances. He did strike out 28 men, but he also walked 17. All told, Kuo pitched to a 9.00 ERA with 7.7 BB/9 in 40 appearances and 27 innings in 2011.
After the season, Kuo told MLB.com's Ken Gurnick that he needed a break from baseball and was unsure if he'd ever play again. "If I want to still play and somebody wants to give me a try, I'll play," he said. "If not, fine with me. I'll miss it." He indicated that his alternative to baseball would be returning home to Taiwan and opening a restaurant.
Our projections have Kuo's salary going down to $2.5MM next season, what would be his third time through arbitration. It's worth noting that he's been battling the injury bug for his entire career, one that's featured a total of four elbow operations, including a pair of Tommy John surgeries. Hard-throwing lefty relievers (he's averaged 93.4 mph with the fastball in his career) are a valuable commodity, but Kuo's bout with social anxiety disorder and extreme control problems in 2011 could lead to a non-tender. It'll be interesting to see if any teams are willing to offer him a guaranteed Major League contract if he does in fact hit the market.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Quick Hits: Messenger, White Sox, Indians, Rhodes
Some links from around baseball as we await Game Three tomorrow night..
- Former Mariners pitcher Randy Messenger has agreed to a contract to return to the Hanshin Tigers in 2012, a source tells Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. Messenger’s agent Matt Sosnick confirmed that the deal is for one-year with an option for 2013. MLBTR has learned that the two-year deal could be worth just under $5MM.
- If the White Sox stick to their plan of cutting their $127MM payroll, with $89MM already tied to eleven players, it's likely that John Danks or Mark Buehrle won't start next season with the team, writes MLB.com's Scott Merkin. The arbitration-eligible Danks would be one of the team's greater trade chips.
- Three days after the World Series, Indians GM Chris Antonetti will have to decide whether to exercise club options on center fielder Grady Sizemore and starter Fausto Carmona, writes Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Picking up the options of both would cost the Tribe $16MM in 2012.
- Shortstop Rafael Furcal wrestled with the decision of whether or not to approve the deal sending him from the Dodgers to the Cardinals, writes Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times.
- After clearing waivers, Cardinals lefty Arthur Rhodes could have wound up with any number of teams, writes Sam Donnellon of the Philadelphia Daily News.
- Blue Jays skipper John Farrell gained valuable experience in his first year as a big league manager, writes MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm.