Brewers, Axford Talking Extension
Assistant GM Gord Ash confirmed today that the Brewers have discussed a multiyear contract with closer John Axford, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Adam McCalvy of MLB.com report. Ash said the sides will likely agree to a one-year deal for 2012 by Friday’s renewal deadline for pre-arbitration eligible players before resuming talks. It sounds as though Axford is optimistic about working something out.
“I’d love the security,” he said, according to McCalvy. “I love Milwaukee, I’d love to play there as long as I could. I would love to begin my career there and end my career there, in all honesty.”
The sides have discussed a deal of at least four years in length, according to Haudricourt. Axford will be arbitration eligible as a super two player following the 2012 season and he's under team control through 2016. A four-year deal that begins in 2012 would cover three of Axford’s four arbitration seasons. The Brewers would presumably look to obtain a club option or two in exchange for the long-term security.
Axford led the National League with 46 saves in 2011, posting a 1.95 ERA with 10.5 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 73 2/3 innings. Agent Dan Horwits of Beverly Hills Sports Council represents the 28-year-old.
Central Notes: Sizemore, Kendall, Reds, Votto
Here’s a look at some items out of the Central divisions..
- Even though the outfielder has suffered yet another setback, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com doesn’t see the re-signing of Grady Sizemore as a mistake for the Indians. The 29-year-old is set to earn $5MM with as much as $4MM in incentives in 2012.
- Jason Kendall enjoys serving as a coach for the Royals but still hopes to play again, writes Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star. The 37-year-old hasn’t played since his stint with Kansas City in 2010.
- Reds CEO Bob Castellini also gave a solid endorsement of skipper Dusty Baker, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The manager is in the final year of his contract.
- Castellini says that there’s mutual interest between the club and Joey Votto in completing a new deal, tweets Morosi. The slugger has been tight-lipped on contract talks but acknowledged that they are something of a distraction. Ben Nicholson-Smith recently wrote that it could cost as much as $160MM to keep Votto signed through 2020.
- Castellini also acknowledged that the club is active in talks with second baseman Brandon Phillips, Morosi tweets.
- Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio wants to wrap up contract extensions for GM Doug Melvin and manager Ron Roenicke before Opening Day, writes Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Meanwhile, Attanasio didn’t say much about free agents-to-be Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum.
Ryan Braun Reactions
There's plenty of news, commentary and analysis in the fallout of Ryan Braun's overturned suspension. Here's a look at what's being said about the reigning National League MVP:
- Baseball is left facing uncomfortable issues, writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, regarding the leak of Braun's result as well as the break in the chain of custody of his sample.
- The appeals system worked as it should, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, but Braun has nonetheless been victimized by a lack of confidentiality.
- Braun has been dealt a clean slate but, unfairly, a stained reputation, writes Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.
- The ruling is a blow to the testing system that Bud Selig believed would restore baseball's reputation after the steroid era, writes Jeff Passan of Yahoo!.
- T.J. Quinn and Mark Fainaru-Wada of ESPN.com outline some of the critical discrepancies between MLB's recounting of the events vs. Braun's.
- MLB and the MLBPA issued statements in response to Braun's comments at a press conference today, blogs Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Here is video from Braun's press conference.
- Confidentiality is certain to be a topic of discussion between MLB and the MLBPA, tweets Haudricourt.
- Braun will be a "rallying point" for MLB and the MLBPA for a long time, tweets Quinn.
NL Central Notes: Oswalt, Molina, Braun
Ryan Braun publicly denied taking banned substances at Brewers camp today, expressing a willingness to bet his life that the substance in question never entered his body. Braun called the current drug testing system ‘fatally flawed’ and respectfully disagreed with MLB’s reaction to yesterday’s news that he won his appeal. Here’s the latest from the NL Central…
- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears the Cardinals recently boosted their offer to Roy Oswalt to $5MM from $3MM (Twitter links). Oswalt announced yesterday that he will look to sign midseason.
- The Cardinals have made enough progress in extension talks with Yadier Molina that an agreement could be in place within a week, Strauss reports.
- Major League Baseball is a big loser in the aftermath of Braun's appeal, since an old wound has been re-opened, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes.
Ryan Braun Wins Appeal, Will Not Be Suspended
Ryan Braun has won the appeal of his failed banned substance test and will not be suspended for the first 50 games of the season, reports Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel. The union officially announced the win, saying both parties agreed to the announcement despite what is usually a confidential process. MLB has issued a statement saying it "vehemently disagrees" with the decision.
"It is the first step in restoring my good name and reputation," said Braun in a statement passed along by MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. "We were able to get through this because I am innocent … This is not just about one person, but about all current and future players, and thankfully the process worked."
Haudricourt says the appeal went Braun's way not because of the test result, but because of a technicality with the testing process. CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman and The New York Post's Joel Sherman report that part of Braun's argument was that the sample was not shipped in a timely fashion and that the chain of custody was broken for two days, meaning the sample was left unprotected (Twitter links). Independent arbitrator Shyam Das ruled in favor of the technicality, giving Braun the win by a 2-1 margin.
The reigning NL MVP is the first player to have a suspension successfully overtuned through the appeals process.
NL Central Notes: Braun, Molina, Crisp, Gimenez
Considerable uncertainty surrounds the Brewers, who don't yet know whether Ryan Braun will miss 50 games after a positive test for a banned substance. Here are the latest links from the NL Central, which will look much different than it did a year ago whether or not Braun plays a full season in 2012…
- Braun is on his way to Brewers camp and doesn’t know whether he’ll face a 50-game suspension yet, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. A decision is expected today or tomorrow.
- Brewers camp is looking different this year, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. There are more distractions than the Brewers would like, as Braun's possible suspension looms and the club moves on without Prince Fielder.
- Agent Melvin Roman recently met with Cardinals GM John Mozeliak to discuss an extension for Yadier Molina, Derrick Goold and Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report. The most recent round of discussions took place in the past two days and went well, the Post-Dispatch reports. Roman said Tuesday that the sides won't discuss an extension after Opening Day.
- Coco Crisp said the Cardinals offered him a multiyear deal this offseason, Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group tweets. The outfielder eventually signed a two-year, $14MM contract with the Athletics.
- The Pirates nearly signed Chris Gimenez earlier this month, the catcher told Bill Chastain of MLB.com. The Rays signed Gimenez soon after the Mariners released him.
NL Central Links: Renteria, Brewers, Molina
Here's the latest from the NL Central, on the day the Brewers signed Jay Gibbons…
- The Brewers were one of the teams that offered Edgar Renteria a minor league contract, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. “I don’t blame [him] for saying no,” said GM Doug Melvin. “He was a World Series MVP two years ago.” Earlier today we heard that Renteria was leaning towards retirement.
- Jeff Gordon of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch lists nine reasons why the Cardinals can't afford to lose Yadier Molina as a free agent at the end of the season.
- Earlier today we learned that there has been no progress in extension talks between the Reds and Brandon Phillips.
Brewers Sign Jay Gibbons
The Brewers signed outfielder Jay Gibbons to a minor league deal, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (on Twitter). Agent Bo McKinnis represents the 34-year-old, who played in the Brewers' organization in 2008,
Gibbons appeared in 24 games for the Dodgers last year, playing both corner outfield positions and posting a .255/.323/.345 line in 62 plate appearances. He has a .258/.318/.460 career line against right-handed pitching.
Brewers GM Discusses Greinke
Zack Greinke doesn't see the need for an agent currently, but Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel not to read into that. "I think he may end up doing a lot of this himself. Then, if it gets to a serious nature, he might get somebody to help," said Melvin.
Melvin said he first needs to talk to owner Mark Attanasio before he discusses a possible extension with Greinke. The GM implied he'd prefer not to talk contract during the season. Melvin cited four signed pitchers who I assume he considers comparable to Greinke; let's look more closely at each situation.
- Greinke, 28, has a 3.82 ERA over 1279 2/3 career innings, though his 8.0 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9, as well as his 2009 Cy Young award, suggest he's better than his ERA. A deal for Greinke would entirely cover free agent seasons, a key difference compared to some of the other contracts Melvin mentioned. Greinke would have been a free agent after the 2010 season had he not signed a four-year, $38MM deal with the Royals in '09. He's already made big money, unlike the comparables Melvin listed. We don't know if that will give Greinke the security to seek top dollar or compel him to do the exact opposite.
- Jered Weaver, a Scott Boras client, signed a five-year, $85MM extension with the Angels in August. The contract included his final year of arbitration, so it was $70MM over four free agent years, a $17.5MM average annual value. Weaver was also 28 at the time of the signing, and he had better career numbers than Greinke. Two factors suppressed Weaver's price and term significantly: he strongly preferred to stay close to home, and he was a year and a month away from free agency. Cole Hamels' agent has already stated the Weaver contract won't be a comparable, and Greinke might choose to toss it out as well.
- Justin Verlander, a client of SFX Baseball, signed a five-year, $80MM deal, and Felix Hernandez, an Octagon client, signed a five-year, $78MM deal. Both contracts covered two arbitration years and three free agent seasons, making them even worse comparables for Greinke. Verlander received $20MM per free agent year and Hernandez got $19.3MM. Verlander was coming off a better season than Greinke is, though he still had a 3.92 caree ERA at the time of signing.
- C.J. Wilson, a client of Select Sports Group, recently signed a five-year, $77.5MM deal with the Angels. Like Weaver, it appeared Wilson took less money because of his desire to play for the Halos. Wilson's contract was signed on the open market following two seasons as a starting pitcher. This seems closest to a legitimate comparable for Greinke, among the contracts Melvin named.
Despite the differences in service time in these comparables, the fact remains that Melvin cited a bunch of five-year deals in the $80MM range. The Brewers' ceiling probably isn't much higher. If Greinke is confident he can post a mid-3.00s ERA over 200 innings in 2012, he can land a six-year deal exceeding $100MM on the open market, even with the draft pick cost attached and possible competition from Matt Cain, Cole Hamels, and Anibal Sanchez. And if Greinke doesn't go for a typical agency relationship, he'll save millions on commission.
NL Central Links: Reds, Greinke, Marcum, LaHair
Here's the latest from the NL Central…
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty is "not even considering" signing Roy Oswalt, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Jocketty also said he is planning to talk with Brandon Phillips' agents about a contract extension for the second baseman at some point during the spring.
- Zack Greinke said "nothing's changed" about his extension talks with the Brewers and didn't want to talk about the subject to reporters today (including Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). Greinke also added that he has no immediate plans to hire an agent.
- The Brewers should wait before giving Shaun Marcum a contract extension, or perhaps they should let Marcum hit free agency next winter altogether, writes Eric Seidman for Fangraphs. "All of [the Brewers] rotation efforts this year should be focused on keeping Greinke, the better and younger pitcher who is more likely to remain among the elite throughout the life of the deal," Seidman writes. Marcum recently said that he'd love to remain in Milwaukee, though the Brewers haven't yet approached him about a long-term deal.
- Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer told Bryan LaHair that the Cubs had no interest in Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder, LaHair tells Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. As such, LaHair was able to ignore the rumors and focus on preparing for his first starting job in the big leagues. Over at Roto Authority, I recently looked at the fantasy potential of LaHair and the newly-acquired Anthony Rizzo.