McCourt Expects To Make Payroll Next Week
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has told MLB officials that he expects to make payroll next week, reports Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times. If he does make the May 31st payroll, it would avoid the prospect of MLB stepping in and seizing control of the team, at least temporarily.
Shaikin hears from a source that McCourt needs approximately $9.8MM to make payroll next week, and he could raise some of that money by "accelerating payments the Dodgers were due later this season." The team's payroll will rise next month when a $6MM deferred payment to Manny Ramirez must be made at the end of June. McCourt and his lawyers met with the league on Tuesday to again discuss a television deal with FOX that would infuse the team with some much needed cash.
Dodgers Sign Ian Snell
Ian Snell has ended his short-lived retirement and signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter).
Snell retired after the Cardinals sent him to minor league camp in Spring Training. The Cardinals officially released him and before long, he was considering a return. The 29-year-old posted a 3.76 ERA with 7.7 K/9 in 208 innings for the 2007 Pirates and was rewarded with a three-year, $8.6MM extension. However, from 2008-10, Snell posted a 5.31 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 for the Pirates and Mariners.
Dodgers Designate Lance Cormier For Assignment
The Dodgers designated Lance Cormier for assignment to create roster space for Rubby De La Rosa, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times (on Twitter). Cormier signed a minor league deal worth $1.2MM in February.
The 30-year-old right-hander pitched 13 2/3 innings for the Dodgersthis yearand posted a 9.88 ERA with 4.6 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9. Cormier, an eight-year veteran, has a 5.07 ERA with 5.3 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 over the course of 290 big league appearances, mostly in relief. His 63.8% ground ball rate places him tenth among relievers with at least ten innings pitched (Cormier's career mark is 51.6%).
De La Rosa, 22, has a 2.92 ERA with 11.7 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 at Double-A this year. Before the season, the right-hander placed third on Baseball America's list of top Dodgers prospects and 90th in all of baseball.
2012 Contract Issues: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are next in our 2012 Contract Issues series. Here's what the team faces after the 2011 season:
Eligible For Free Agency (11)
- Starter Hiroki Kuroda, 36, is rolling along with another strong season. I'm guessing the Dodgers will have another shot to sign him to a one-year deal after the season, as Kuroda has a full no-trade clause.
- Jonathan Broxton lost the closer job again this season, and he's currently on the DL with an elbow injury. At one point he seemed destined for a monster free agent contract, but instead he might want a one-year deal to rebuild value.
- Rod Barajas leads all NL catchers with seven home runs, though it doesn't get much worse than a .260 OBP. The Dodgers may give some thought to re-signing him on a one-year deal.
- Jamey Carroll has been quite valuable filling in for Rafael Furcal; his .374 OBP leads all MLB shortstops. Carroll should top his last two-year deal and ought to seek a team that will play him every day. Before then, he could be popular at the trade deadline.
- Vicente Padilla had the Dodgers' closer role for a short period of time, but then landed on the DL with more forearm concerns. We'll have to see how the rest of his season goes before assessing his value.
- Lance Cormier has been terrible, and might not make it to the end of the season with the Dodgers.
- Dioner Navarro missed most of April with an oblique injury and hasn't done anything yet.
- Marcus Thames hasn't played much this year due to a quad injury. Vision problems have sidelined Jay Gibbons.
- Mike MacDougal is doing his usual tightrope act, but the beleaguered Dodgers bullpen needs him right now.
- Aaron Miles is also eligible for free agency. The Dodgers could see quite a bit of turnover next year.
Contract Options (3)
- Rafael Furcal: $12MM club option with a $1.3MM buyout. Furcal's latest Dodgers contract has been a frustrating one due to injuries. I can't picture the Dodgers exercising this, and I can envision them moving him this summer depending on what his no-trade clause allows.
- Casey Blake: $6MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout. Blake is finishing up rehab for an elbow injury. He was hitting well before that in a small sample.
- Jon Garland: $8MM club option with a $500K buyout; vests with 190 IP. At his current pace, another 22 or 23 starts would not be enough for Garland to reach 190 innings. It'd be the first time he's failed to do so since he was a reliever a decade ago. I don't picture the Dodgers exercising at a $7.5MM net price.
Arbitration Eligible (7)
- First time: Clayton Kershaw, Ramon Troncoso
- Second time: Tony Gwynn Jr.
- Third time: Matt Kemp, James Loney, Hong-Chih Kuo
- Fourth time: Andre Ethier
The Dodgers have an interesting arbitration group. Kershaw should top Jered Weaver's first-time record for a starting pitcher, though David Price may beat Kershaw and in a way the record is technically and should remain the Giants' $8MM filing for Tim Lincecum last year. Kemp and Ethier both kept their final arbitration years open, and now it's time to get paid. Ethier is operating from a higher salary point, but each player should be able to exceed $12MM. Targets for their agents may include Mark Teixeira's $12.5MM in '08 or even Prince Fielder's $15.5MM this year.
Loney probably should have been non-tendered or dealt last offseason; he's highly unlikely to be tendered a contract this time. Kuo, on the DL with anxiety disorder, is an unknown. Troncoso and Gwynn could be cut, though they wouldn't cost much to retain. For my rough estimate I'll put Kershaw at $6MM and Kemp and Ethier at $13MM each, plus Kuo at $3MM for a total of $35MM.
2012 Payroll Obligation
The Dodgers' 2012 payroll obligation, according to Cot's, is $48MM if you include all three buyouts on the options. Our arbitration estimate puts them at $83MM, a solid $37MM short of this year's payroll without considering minimum salary players. The big question, of course, is the team's ownership situation. If by November Bud Selig successfully removes Frank McCourt from the picture entirely and installs a new owner, the Dodgers figure to be major players in free agency. If not, I have to think payroll would be cut. In that case GM Ned Colletti would still have some spending money, just not for the big names.
Rosenthal’s Full Count Video: Pence, Phillies, Sabathia
Here's the weekly 'Full Count' video from Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com…
- Three different scouts have told Rosenthal that the Phillies have asked the Astros about Hunter Pence. A deal seems unlikely for a number of reasons — Pence's salary (he's owed roughly $5MM more this season), the Phillies' reluctance to move top prospects in a deal, and the fact that Jim Crane wouldn't want to begin his ownership of the Astros by dealing their best player.
- Ruben Amaro tells Rosenthal that Phillies ownership hasn't yet given him direction about what the GM can or can't do at the deadline. Amaro says the Phillies could find some payroll space without having to deal Joe Blanton, which might be impossible anyway given Blanton's struggles, high salary and the fact that Blanton is currently on the DL.
- The Angels are looking to acquire a corner infielder with some pop. Rosenthal suggests Russell Branyan, just released by Arizona, could be signed to share time at first base with Mark Trumbo. Wilson Betemit could be acquired to play third, since the Royals will shop Betemit to clear space for Mike Moustakas.
- Ian Stewart is another possible target for the Halos, but the Rockies aren't likely to deal him since they don't have any other answers at third base. The Rockies are also "relucant to sell low" on the struggling Stewart; Rosenthal says the Pirates recently asked about Stewart but were "simply bottom-feeding" rather than making a serious offer.
- The Dodgers were one of C.C. Sabathia's "top choices" when he was a free agent after the 2008 season, and he would "love to have the Dodgers as leverage" when he (as expected) opts out of his contract with the Yankees this winter. As Rosenthal says, impending free agents hope the Dodgers solve their ownership problems quickly so the team can resume its status as a big-market destination.
- Jose Reyes "is going to make a killing" in free agency this winter and Jimmy Rollins should also do well given the lack of quality shortstops around the league, Rosenthal predicts. The Brewers, Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Athletics are just a few of the teams that could be in the market for a shortstop in the offseason. The Giants and A's may be a particular fit for Rollins, an Oakland native.
- The Phillies, of course, could re-sign Rollins themselves. Rosenthal notes it would be difficult for the Phils to part with their long-time shortstop, particularly if the club makes another deep postseason run.
Quick Hits: Dodgers, DeRosa, LaRoche
Some items of note on Friday night as Danny Espinosa looks to collect a double to complete the cycle in the slugfest between the Nationals and Orioles …
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti admitted that he is exploring trade opportunities to help boost his sagging club, but he cautioned that it's tough to complete deals at this time of year without overpaying, writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
- Giants utility man Mark DeRosa will see a specialist about his injured left wrist, for which he's already undergone two surgeries, but he's not considering retirement if doctors think he can make a full recovery, writes Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche said offseason negotiations with the Orioles never got serious enough that his decision to sign with Washington was especially tough, writes Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com. Not to pile on the O's, but Mark Teixeira echoed a sentiment similar to LaRoche's a couple days back.
Quick Hits: Mortensen, Dodgers, Benoit
On this date 101 years ago Cy Young became the first pitcher in baseball history to win 500 games. We don’t pay too much attention to pitcher wins at MLBTR, but 500 of them sure are impressive. Here’s the latest from around the league…
- Clayton Mortensen told Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post that his goal is simple: maintain a spot on the Major League roster for as long as possible. The right-hander has a 2.01 ERA through 22 1/3 innings in his first season with the Rockies.
- An attorney for Dodgers owner Frank McCourt told Bill Shaikin of the LA Times that they aren't even thinking about selling the team (Twitter link).
- The Joaquin Benoit deal won’t be a total waste of money, but will be a bad contract, according to Jamie Samuelsen at the Detroit Free Press. Benoit signed a three-year, $16.5M deal with the Tigers over the winter and has since posted a 7.98 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 14 2/3 innings.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman and Mets GM Sandy Alderson talk to Newsday’s Ken Davidoff about the challenge of balancing a team’s needs with personal relationships with players.
Draft Notes: Bundy, Bradley, Lee
Baseball’s amateur draft takes place in exactly three weeks. Here’s the latest on some of the top draft prospects and one 2010 draftee who is thriving six appearances into his pro career…
- Teams are hearing that the asking price for Dylan Bundy is $30MM for six years and that it will cost $20MM over five years to sign Archie Bradley, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (Twitter links). No draft deal has ever been worth $20MM, so the high schoolers' asking prices are sure to scare away less serious teams.
- MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes introduced us to Bradley earlier today.
- Dodgers right-hander Zach Lee is adapting well to the mental side of the game, Kevin Baxter writes in a piece for Baseball America (subscription required). Lee, who signed last year for a Dodgers-record $5.25MM, chose baseball over football and the results have been good for the 19-year-old. He has a 1.17 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in six starts at Class A.
- Click here to read Q&As with some prominent members of this year’s draft class.
Quick Hits: Dodgers, Cardinals, Inglett, Broderick
Saturday evening linkage…
- Frank McCourt told Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times that the Dodgers' roster would look the same even if the team didn't have financial problems. He was also vague about future payroll plans if the multi-billion dollar deal with FOX were to be approved (Twitter link).
- B.J. Rains of FOXSportsMidwest.com points out that the Cardinals will have to make room for Brian Tallet when the lefty comes off the disabled list next week (Twitter links). He doesn't think they'll cut ties with the struggling Ryan Franklin, but he says it's "debatable."
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that Joe Inglett has accepted his outright assignment and will join the Astros' Triple-A affiliate (on Twitter). Inglett could have elected free agency after clearing waivers earlier in the week.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo believes that pitcher Brian Broderick has a bright future in the big leagues, despite being DFA'd by the club earlier today, writes Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
- Manager Dusty Baker is curious to see if the newly activated Jose Arredondo can provide the Reds with the kind of pitching they expected upon signing him.
- Dave Gershman of Beyond The Box Score examined the market for Padres pitcher Dustin Moseley.
NL West Notes: Dodgers, Starling, Jimenez
The Padres (127 runs scored), Giants (128) and Dodgers (140) are all among the four most feeble offenses in the National League so far. Here's the latest on the NL West…
- Despite a weakened bullpen and a thin lineup, the Dodgers are within 3.5 games of the division lead. The team's rotation is the reason things aren't worse, manager Don Mattingly told Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.
- D'Backs GM Kevin Towers and vice president Jerry Dipoto scouted high schooler Bubba Starling in person, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The two-sport star is athletic enough to make Bryce Harper take note; some say he can hit the ball a mile, throw 95 mph as a pitcher and toss a football 50 yards from his knees.
- It should come as no surprise that the Scott Boras client will be an expensive sign, Piecoro explains. Nebraska wants Starling to play quarterback and center field on a scholarship, so he has leverage. Arizona has the #3 and #7 selections in the first round this June.
- The Rockies "no longer have an ace," according to Tom Verducci of SI.com, who hears from one scout that Ubaldo Jimenez is pitching like he's hurt. His fastball has slowed down, but the Rockies say Jimenez is healthy and dealing with mechanical and command issues.