Quick Hits: Ramirez, Stanton, Blue Jays
Manny Ramirez, who is now playing in the Dominican Winter League postseason, wants to continue his MLB career, agent Barry Praver told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Ramirez last appeared in an MLB game in 2011, but the A's did sign him last February. Here are some more links from around MLB…
- Seattle’s offer for Justin Upton tells you they’ll be major bidders once the Marlins start listening to offers for Giancarlo Stanton, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes (on Twitter). The Mariners were prepared to send Taijuan Walker, Nick Franklin, Charlie Furbush and Stephen Pryor to Arizona to obtain Upton.
- Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca explains that the signing of Henry Blanco could save the Blue Jays some money behind the plate and enable them to spend on a late-inning reliever in free agency.
- With the return of Darren Oliver, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com (Twitter links) now sees six Blue Jays relievers competing for three spots. Among those six are Esmil Rogers and Jeremy Jeffress, who are both out of options.
- Former MLB first baseman/outfielder Ben Broussard worked out for five teams in Austin, Texas today, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The 36-year-old, who played winter ball in Mexico, took grounders at first base and fly balls in left field during his audition (Twitter link). Broussard last appeared in the majors with the Rangers in 2008.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Marlins Sign Austin Kearns
The Marlins signed Austin Kearns to a minor league deal with an invitation to MLB Spring Training, Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post reports. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald wrote this weekend that the Marlins were expected to bring Kearns back.
Kearns played in 87 games for the Marlins this past season, playing first base and both corner outfield positions. The 32-year-old posted a .245/.366/.367 batting line in 175 plate appearances with Miami. SFX represents Kearns, a veteran of 11 MLB seasons.
Justin Upton Rumors: Wednesday
We heard yesterday that the Mets won’t trade Zack Wheeler to acquire Justin Upton from Arizona, and that there's not much momentum in talks between the Mets and Diamondbacks. Here are today’s Upton-related rumors, with the most recent updates up top…
- Some MLB people say teams such as the Rangers may prefer to keep their prospects for now in order to make stronger offers if and when David Price and Giancarlo Stanton become available in trades, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports (Twitter links). Price, the defending AL Cy Young winner, will earn $10.11MM in 2013 and won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2015 season. It won't be surprising if the Rays consider trades for him next winter. Stanton could also be available a year from now, when he becomes arbitration eligible for the first time and his salary increases substantially.
- Olney believes the Braves “could and would” part with a strong package of prospects for Upton and could be the best match for the 25-year-old right fielder.
Quick Hits: Capuano, Stanton, Rays, Arbitration
Here's a look at the stories and news making headlines on Tuesday evening…
- Chris Capuano arguably had the best year of his career in 2012 but finds himself without much job security with Spring Training mere weeks away, writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. The Dodgers left-hander can only point to his team's decision to forgo any semblance of a budget and add the best available players at any and every position.
- Two months after the Marlins left themselves with a bare bones roster thanks to a blockbuster deal with the Blue Jays, Miami star Giancarlo Stanton remains upset about the team's future, says Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports.
- Rays Executive VP Andrew Friedman spoke with the media on Tuesday while 30 prospects went through training exercises at Tropicana Field, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Friedman pointed to the designated hitter position as an area of concern, which the team may attempt to address through free agency.
- According to the MLBPA, 133 Major League players filed for arbitration on Tuesday. Players and teams will swap salary proposals on Friday with hopes of reaching an agreement without having to appear in front of an arbitration panel. Keep updated on the latest arbitration-related transactions by utilizing MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker.
Marlins To Sign Mike Wuertz, Nick Green
We'll track the day's minor moves right here…
- The Marlins agreed to sign reliever Mike Wuertz to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training, according to the Beverly Hills Sports Council (via Twitter). The 34-year-old last appeared in the big leagues in 2011 with the Athletics as his lack of control (7.0 BB/9) led to his eventual release. Wuertz enjoyed success earlier in his career with the Cubs where a high K/9 ratio (9.3) with stronger command made him an asset to the Chicago bullpen. The newest member of the Marlins organization did not pitch at any level during the 2012 season.
- Miami also struck a minor league deal with infielder Nick Green that includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. The veteran will have an"excellent chance" to make the team as a backup infielder, Frisaro writes. Green, 34, appeared in seven games with the Marlins in 2012, but he spent more time at Triple-A, where he posted a .344/.397/.599 batting line with 12 home runs in 237 plate appearances. Green battled a thumb injury last year, but has since recovered.
Daniel Seco contributed to this post.
Quick Hits: Wuertz, Webb, Wheeler
Rafael Soriano’s two-year, $28MM agreement with the Nationals dominated headlines this afternoon, but let’s not let the news overshadow some other notes from around MLB. Here are Tuesday’s links…
- Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN in Minneapolis suggests reliever Michael Wuertz will soon sign a minor league deal with a National League team (Twitter link).
- NL East teams such as the Phillies, Marlins, Nationals and Mets are keeping tabs on free agent right-hander Brandon Webb, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
- The Mets won’t trade Zack Wheeler to acquire Justin Upton from Arizona, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter link). The Mets and Diamondbacks don’t see a fit for a deal involving Upton at this point, Heyman adds. New York does have interest in high-profile outfielders such as Upton.
- The Red Sox have seen all of Javier Vazquez's starts in Puerto Rico, Peter Gammons of MLB Network reports (on Twitter). Many clubs will be watching the free agent right-hander pitch today, Gammons notes. Vazquez, 36, has said he's not in a hurry to sign.
Quick Hits: Giants, Byrd, Reyes, Jurrjens
As arbitration eligible players around MLB agree to terms with their respective teams, be sure to use MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker. The tool allows users to search in many ways, including by team and by service time. Here are the latest links from around MLB…
- The Giants' multiyear deals with Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro are among five free agent contracts that could backfire, ESPN.com's Jim Bowden writes.
- The Giants would offer Brian Wilson a big league contract, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (on Twitter). The Mets are also in on Wilson, who was non-tendered by San Francisco at the end of November.
- Doug Lara, Marlon Byrd's personal hitting coach, told Puro Beisbol last week that the outfielder is in discussions with the Marlins. Byrd has been playing for the Tomateros de Culiacán this winter (translation via Nick Collias).
- Dennys Reyes told Puro Beisbol that he has offers from the Dodgers, Orioles, and Blue Jays. Among the three, Reyes said, "I'd like to return to the Dodgers," the team he debuted with as 20-year-old in 1997 (translation via Nick Collias).
- Free agent right-hander Jair Jurrjens told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that he feels good physically and has begun throwing bullpens (Twitter link).
Florida Notes: Lee, Morrison, Capps, Kearns, Rays
Seventeen years ago today, Cuban defector Livan Hernandez inked a four-year, $4.5MM contract with the Marlins, which included a record $2.5MM signing bonus. Hernandez made his Major League debut just eight months later as a September call-up. Hernandez was instrumental in the Marlins' 1997 World Series title run earning NLCS MVP honors and being named the MVP of the Fall Classic after winning both of his starts against the Indians. Hernandez has found steady employment ever since donning the uniform of the Giants, Expos, Nationals, Diamondbacks, Twins, Rockies, Mets, Nationals (again), Braves, and Brewers. The 37-year-old right-hander pitched for the latter two clubs in 2012 compiling a 6.42 ERA, 6.4 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, and 2.0 HR/9 in 67 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. The Praver/Shapiro client has said he wants to pitch in 2013. In other other news involving MLB's Florida teams:
- The Marlins have no interest in re-signing first baseman Carlos Lee despite concerns about the health of Logan Morrison, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. Morrison, recovering from right knee surgery, isn't expected to begin running until a week into Spring Training.
- The Marlins are one of several teams in talks with free agent reliever Matt Capps, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
- Within the same piece, Jackson writes the Marlins are expected to sign Austin Kearns. Clark Spencer, Jackson's colleague at the Herald, adds the deal includes an invitation to Spring Training. Kearns spent 2012 in Miami posting a slash line of .245/.366/.367 in 175 plate appearances while playing both corner outfield positions, first base, and serving as DH in interleague play and as the team's primary right-handed pinch hitter.
- Jackson also writes Marlins owner Jeffery Loria has told team president David Samson he can no longer do interviews. This comes in the wake of Loria banning Samson from doing his radio show. Jackson opines this is a mistake because Samson has made himself more accountable and accessible than many team presidents, even amid unpopular decisions made solely by Loria, who, Jackson adds, has refused to speak to the media since mid-November.
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The Rays will hold their annual development camp this week for 31 of their top prospects. One point of emphasis will be baseball's drug policy in the wake of the organization seeing six of their minor leaguers receive 50-game suspensions in 2012, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "It stunk, very disappointing," Rays Director of Minor League Operations Mitch Lukevics said of the suspensions. "We spend as much time on the education of 'Do's and Don'ts' and derailers as much as we do hitting or pitching or throwing. It was very disappointing, there's no getting around it."
NL Notes: D’backs, Rafael Soriano, Posey, Marlins
Seven years ago today, the Diamondbacks came to terms with Justin Upton, the first overall selection in the 2005 amateur draft, on a five-year, $6.1MM contract. The deal marked the largest signing bonus given in a minor league contract for a drafted player, who was not a free agent. Today, Upton is the prime trade target of the offseason. Just within the last 24 hours, we learned there is no match with the Padres, the Braves haven't engaged in Upton talks since before Christmas, and speculation that a deal will happen as soon as Arizona is offered the right mix of players. In non-Upton news involving the Diamondbacks and the rest of the Senior Circuit:
- If the Diamondbacks don't move one of their outfielders, look for Adam Eaton to open the season at Triple-A, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. "That's not in a perfect world what we want to have happen," GM Kevin Towers told Gilbert. "But we're not going to move an outfielder in a lousy deal just to move an outfielder."
- Within the same piece, Towers says discussions have been held with the Diamondbacks' six arbitration eligible players and he expects those negotiations to go down to the wire. You can follow the Diamondbacks' arbitration cases and those of MLB's other 29 teams with MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker.
- Acknowledging it sounds crazy and doesn't really think it's going to happen, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post urges the Nationals to sign free agent closer Rafael Soriano. Kilgore sees agent Scott Boras convincing owner Ted Lerner the franchise has a finite window of competing for titles and Soriano is the final, missing piece.
- Earlier today, ESPN.com's Buster Olney suggested the Giants should look into signing Buster Posey to a Joey Votto-type extension. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, however, would be surprised by such a deal because the Giants have been burned by long-term contracts given to Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand. Schulman tweeted a good starting point in Posey talks would be the $53.5MM given to Tim Lincecum during his four-years of arbitration eligibility.
- The Marlins are sifting through the batch of unsigned free agent relievers and are able to sign an inexpensive arm or two with the salary relief leftover from trading Yunel Escobar, according to the Miami Herald's Clark Spencer.
- Rick VandenHurk, released yesterday by the Pirates, will sign with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization, according to Naver, a Korean news service, confirming a report first tweeted by Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net.
Marlins Haven’t Talked Stanton Trade, Even Internally
There has been heavy trade speculation surrounding Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton ever since the club's blockbuster deal with the Blue Jays and the outfielder's subsequent displeasure with the team. The Marlins also publicly acknowledged that they are willing to listen on Stanton and any other player, as per their club policy. However, a team source tells Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald that they haven't even discussed the possibility of trading Stanton internally.
The source said flatly that the Marlins "are not moving" Stanton while another source who is familiar with the Marlins' intentions says that the club still plans to have him start the season in Miami and occupy the clean-up spot.
It was reported last night that the Padres and Marlins had preliminary talks about the 23-year-old, but Spencer was told that isn't the case.