Josh Hamilton’s Asking Price Is Seven Years, $175MM
Josh Hamilton, ranked second on MLBTR's Top 50 Free Agent List, is said to be looking for a seven-year contract worth $175MM, tweets John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus (h/t the Dallas Morning News).
While the asking price doesn't match the length Albert Pujols received from the Angels last offseason, it would put Hamilton, represented by Moye Sports Associates, on par in terms of average annual salary at $25MM. Hamilton is widely regarded as the best free agent position player available, but he may have trouble finding a club with the financial flexibility to sign him. It hasn't, however, stopped reports of teams like the Braves and the Brewers being intrigued by the possibility of signing the five-time All-Star.
Hamilton said last month he will give the Rangers an oppportunity to match any offer he receives. The Rangers reportedly aren't prepared to offer Hamilton a long-term deal, but did extend him a qualifying offer worth $13.3MM. He has until next Friday to either accept or decline the tender. If Hamilton declines, any team signing him will also have to factor in the cost of losing a top draft choice.
MLBTR asked its readers last month whether Hamilton will remain with the Rangers and more than 73% of you believe he will play elswhere in 2013.
Quick Hits: Hamilton, Indians, Cardinals, Rockies
Links from around baseball..
- David Lennon of Newsday ran down his predictions for the top free agents on this winter's market. Lennon sees Josh Hamilton landing with the Brewers on a five-year deal and B.J. Upton getting a six-year pact from the Phillies. Of course, MLBTR readers can put themselves in the mix for great prizes in our second annual free agent prediction contest.
- The Indians should follow the example of the Athletics and overhaul their team this offseason, opines ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider sub. req'd). Olney suggests that Cleveland can start the fire sale by trading shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to a team such as the A's, Mariners, Red Sox, or Yankees.
- Speaking of the Tribe, Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer looks at how a tight financial situation and bad trades combined to hurt the Indians in recent years.
- MLBTR has learned that Orioles left-hander Zach Phillips has rejected his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elected free agency. Phillips, 26, posted a 3.17 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 42 Triple-A outings last season.
- The Cardinals may pursue short-term fixes at both shortstop and second base rather than entrust their depth to organizational players such as Pete Kozma, Ryan Jackson, or Kolten Wong, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- The Rockies could decide on their new manager early this week, writes Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. Bench coach Tom Runnells, veteran slugger Jason Giambi, former Rockies shortstop Walt Weiss, and current Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams make up the club's final four of candidates.
- Scott Boras takes a few minutes out of his busy schedule to chat with FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi about the offseason and how new television revenue will fuel spending over the next few months.
- While strong numbers during a contract year may benefit free agents, teams aren't guaranteed to see a repeat performance from their new investments the following season, writes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.
Daniel Seco contributed to this post.
Brewers Sign Michael Olmsted
The Brewers have signed minor league free agent Michael Olmsted and placed him on the 40-man roster, reports Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel. The right-hander stands a robust 6-foot-7, 245 lbs.
Olmsted, 25, pitched to a 1.52 ERA with 14.0 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 59 1/3 relief innings between Double-A and Triple-A in the Red Sox's system last year. MLB.com's Peter Gammons wrote about Olmsted's amazing story this past August, which includes Tommy John surgery, the death of his mother, and a stint in the Japanese minor leagues.
Travis Ishikawa Elects Free Agency
Brewers first baseman Travis Ishikawa has elected free agency, according to our own Ben Nicholson-Smith (via Twitter). Ishikawa was outrighted off of Milwaukee’s 40-man roster yesterday.
The 29-year old played in 94 games for the Brewers last season and posted a batting line of .257/.329/.428 with four homers. In parts of five big league seasons, Ishikawa has hit .264/.328/.405 for the Giants and Brewers.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Ishikawa, Torres, Ford, Nickeas
Tonight’s outright assignments..
- The Brewers announced via press release that they have outrighted first baseman Travis Ishikawa to Triple-A Nashville. Ishikawa, 29, hit .257/.329/.428 with four homers in 94 games last season.
- The Rockies announced (via Twitter) that they have outrighted right-hander Carlos Torres. In related moves, the club selected the contracts of right-hander Josh Sullivan, reinstated Todd Helton, Juan Nicasio, and Christian Friedrich from the 60-day DL. The right-hander appeared in 31 games for the Rockies this season posting a 5.26 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9.
- The Orioles announced (via Twitter) that they have outrighted Lew Ford, Zach Phillips and Steven Tolleson to Triple-A Norfolk. Ford turned in another strong Triple-A batting line in 2012, hitting .331/.390/.550 with 11 homers in 62 games.
- Mets catcher Mike Nickeas cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Las Vegas, tweets Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger. Nickeas saw time in 47 big league games for the Mets this season as one of several backstops to pitch in at the position.
- The Twins announced that right-hander Sam Deduno has been assigned outright to Triple-A Rochester. The move will help make room for the acquisitions of Thomas Field, Josh Roenicke, and Alexi Casilla off of waivers.
- The Royals sent catcher Manny Pina to Triple-A Omaha on outright assignment, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. In related moves, left-hander Danny Duffy and right-hander Felipe Paulino have been reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. Pina, 25, hit .260/.389/.397 in 162 Double-A plate appearances last year.
Kameron Loe, Nyjer Morgan Elect Free Agency
Right-hander Kameron Loe and outfielder Nyjer Morgan have elected free agency after declining outright assignments to Triple-A, the Brewers announced. Milwaukee had outrighted Morgan off of the 40-man roster yesterday.
Both players would have been arbitration eligible this coming offseason, but with projected salaries of $2.6MM each, they were considered non-tender candidates. Loe, 31, appeared in 70 games this past season, posting a 4.61 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9. The 32-year-old Morgan had his offensive numbers decline in 2012. He hit .239/.302/.308 in 322 plate appearances while playing all three outfield positions.
Brewers Claim Arcenio Leon
The Brewers announced that they claimed right-hander Arcenio Leon off of waivers from the Astros.
Leon spent the 2012 season pitching in relief for Houston's Double-A affiliate. The 26-year-old appeared in 44 games, posting a 4.38 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9 in 63 2/3 innings. He has had trouble limiting walks in eight seasons as a professional, as his career rate of 5.2 BB/9 indicates.
NL Central Links: Dempster, Hamilton, Brewers, Cards
It was on this day in 1962 that Joe Morgan signed his first pro contract, joining the Houston Colt .45s as an amateur free agent. Morgan spent his first nine seasons in Houston before being traded to the Reds and establishing himself as arguably the best second baseman in baseball history.
Here's the latest from the NL Central…
- Cubs GM Jed Hoyer confirmed to ESPN Chicago's Doug Padilla that the team had made "contact and it was preliminary" with Ryan Dempster, though Hoyer was quick to minimize the importance of the meeting, saying "it was sort of a bump-into thing." It was reported earlier today by MLB.com's Carrie Muskat that the Cubs had been in touch with Dempster's agent.
- "We’ve got the connection with (hitting coach) Johnny Narron but we don’t have the connection with U.S. Bank,” Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the chances of the Brewers splurging on Josh Hamilton this winter. Melvin noted that he would like to acquire relief pitching this offseason but was wary given the rising prices of quality bullpen arms.
- Also from Haudricourt, he hears from Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash that the club has no plans to re-sign either right-hander Jose Veras or outfielder Nyjer Morgan, both of whom were outrighted off Milwaukee's 40-man roster over the last two days.
- The Cardinals have signed 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Henry Alvarado to a $150K contract, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America. Alvarado is described as being best suited to left field or possibly first base, and he "stands out for his righthanded bat, sound approach and occasional power."
Outrighted To Triple-A: Astros, Morgan, Veras, Braves
The latest outright assignments…
- The Astros announced that Fernando Abad, Sergio Escalona, Edgar Gonzalez, Jose Valdez, Kyle Weiland and the recently-DFA'ed Matt Downs have been outrighted to Triple-A. All will become free agents except Weiland, who has been placed on the Triple-A roster.
- The Brewers have outrighted Nyjer Morgan to Triple-A, the team announced. Morgan was a key part of the Brewers' NL Central-winning team in 2011 but struggled last season, hitting .239/.302/.308 and getting less playing time in the Milwaukee outfield. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes recently projected Morgan as a non-tender candidate.
- The Brewers also confirmed that Jose Veras has elected to become a free agent after being outrighted off the 40-man roster yesterday.
- The Braves outrighted right-hander Erik Cordier to Triple-A, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports (Twitter link). The 26-year-old pitched at three levels this past season, posting a 5.85 ERA with 7.5 K/9 in 32 1/3 total innings. He walked 32 of the 155 batters he faced, however. The Braves announced that they also outrighted catcher J.C. Boscan and left-hander Robert Fish off of the 40-man roster. Boscan elected free agency, according to the team.
Brewers Place Jose Veras On Waivers
7:41pm: McCalvy hears that Veras is still going through the waivers process, so he is not a free agent just yet (Twitter link).
7:10pm: Right-hander Jose Veras has elected free agency after being outrighted off the Brewers' 40-man roster, agent Bryce Dixon told MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The right-hander would have remained under team control in 2013 as an arbitration-eligible player.
Veras, 32, pitched to a 3.63 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 in 67 innings for Milwaukee this season. They acquired him from the Pirates last winter for Casey McGehee, who, coincidentally enough, also elected free agency today.