Extension Candidate: Robinson Cano
Two of the game's best second basemen have agreed to contract extensions in the past 24 hours. Ian Kinsler took five years and $75MM from the Rangers while Brandon Phillips took six years and $72.5MM from the Reds, setting the market for elite players at the position. The Yankees and Robinson Cano were surely paying attention.
Cano, 29, will become a free agent after the Yankees exercise his no-brainer $15MM option for 2013. Kinsler – who is only five months older than Cano – was in a similar situation before signing his extension, with the Rangers holding a $10MM club option for 2013. The two are very different players – Cano hits for a much higher average while Kinsler offers some more power and speed – but they rate similarly in wins above replacement, or WAR. Since the start of 2009, Cano has compiled 16.3 WAR while Kinsler is at 15.8 WAR according to FanGraphs.
The two players may be similar, but Cano's credentials give him a better shot at a huge contract. He's a three-time All-Star, has twice finished in the top six of the MVP voting, was the Rookie of the Year Award runner-up in 2005, and has played in at least 159 games in each of the last five seasons. Kinsler is a two-time All-Star, has zero top-ten finishes in the MVP voting, and made at least one trip to the DL in five of his six big league seasons. Cano also has gaudier RBI totals, and that stuff pays.
Kinsler's extension contains the largest average annual value ($14MM) ever given a second baseman, though that will change when Cano's option is exercised. I'm sure the Yankees would love to give their second baseman the same five-year, $75MM contract Kinsler received, but that would represent a pay cut for Cano based on his salary for next season. Cano hired Scott Boras last February, and a player usually doesn't hire the super-agent so close to free agency unless he's looking for a monster payday.
Fair or not, the Yankees are going to have to give their second baseman a contract larger than what Kinsler and Phillips received if they intend to keep him beyond next season. Cano is primed for a six or seven-year guarantee with an annual salary somewhere in the $15-20MM range. If he takes a step forward and wins an MVP award this year or next, he could command even more on the open market. The Yankees insist on not negotiating new contracts until the current one expires, but they broke that policy once for Cano and it would not be surprising if they did it again.
Photo courtesy of US Presswire.
AL East Notes: Yankees, Pettitte, Rays, Blue Jays
The last time the Yankees and Red Sox both started the season 0-3 was all the way back in 1966. Boston finished 9th in the AL while New York wound up 10th. The World Series champions that year? – the Orioles. Here's a look at what's happening in the AL East today..
- Yankees Manager Joe Girardi told reporters including Bryan Hoch of MLB.com that Andy Pettitte will make the first start of his comeback attempt on Monday for Class-A Advanced Tampa. The left-hander has said that he hopes to join the big league team in May.
- Even though it's (very) early in the season, the Rays' decision to hold on to their pitching depth appears to be a wise one at the moment, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay was widely expected to add a bat by dealing Jeff Niemann or Wade Davis, but Davis has helped to provide bullpen support with Kyle Farnsworth sidelined.
- The Blue Jays promoted Aaron Laffey from Triple-A to join the bullpen, tweets Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. Laffey's minor league deal with the club calls for him to earn $800K for making the big league roster.
Astros Claim Justin Maxwell Off Waivers
The Astros have claimed outfielder Justin Maxwell off of waivers from the Yankees, the club announced. Maxwell will report to the Major League club on Monday and the Astros will make a corresponding roster move after he reports. Houston's 40-man roster now stands at 39.
Maxwell, 28, was out-of-options and designated for assignment by the Bombers on Wednesday. The outfielder saw his 2011 season cut short with an injured shoulder but hit .260/.358/.588 with 16 homers in Triple-A up until that point.
The Yankees acquired Maxwell from the Nationals in February for minor league right-hander Adam Olbrychowski. The Astros and the Orioles were said to have interest in Maxwell prior to Opening Day.
NL West Notes: Padres, Dodgers, Phelps
Three NL West teams — the Giants, Diamondbacks and Rockies — open their seasons today. Here are some links from the NL West…
- The Padres' 20-year TV deal with FOX Sports San Diego is "all but finalized" and should be announced within one or two days, Dan Hayes of the North County Times reports. The deal could be worth $1 billion or more. "Life is good and I'll leave it at that," Padres majority owner John Moores said.
- MLB officials are concerned that the winning bidders for the Dodgers have been slow to produce details about themselves and their bid, Tom Verducci of SI.com reports. Some owners are questioning why the group fronted by Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten hasn't filed a more detailed Purchase and Sale Agreement.
- Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reports that the terms of the Dodgers’ sale are scheduled to be filed in court today.
- The Giants originally requested right-hander David Phelps from the Yankees for catcher Chris Stewart, George A. King III of the New York Post reports. The Yankees ultimately sent right-hander George Kontos to San Francisco.
Make Or Break Year: Phil Hughes
Phil Hughes is still only 25 years old, but the Yankees' right-hander has ridden the career roller coaster since making his debut in 2007. He knows what it's like to be a highly touted prospect, to deal with injury, to be a dominant setup man, a quality starter, an All-Star, a World Champion, and a disappointment. The 2012 season figures to be the most important season of his career.
After helping the Yankees to the 2009 World Series as Mariano Rivera's setup man, Hughes moved into the team's rotation in 2010 and rewarded them with an 18-8 record. That record had more to do with all the terrific run support he received, though the advanced metrics indicate that his performance was almost exactly league average. His 4.19 ERA was backed up by a 4.25 FIP. League average isn't too shabby for a 23-year-old in the AL East.
Because he had worked primarily as a reliever in 2009, Hughes threw 80 1/3 more innings in 2010 than he had the year before. He also showed up to camp overweight in 2011. The combination of being out of shape and having a big workload increase led to shoulder issues. Hughes missed the majority of last season and wasn't particularly effective when he was on the mound, pitching to a 5.79 ERA (4.58 FIP) in 74 2/3 innings. His fastball velocity was gone and his breaking ball had no bite.
After making $2.7MM as a first-time arbitration-eligible player last year, Hughes got a very slight raise to $3.2MM this year. He rededicated himself to conditioning this offseason and came to camp in much better shape, showing renewed life on his fastball and break on his curveball. He came back like the 2010 version of himself, and the Yankees rewarded him with a rotation spot thanks in part to Michael Pineda's sore shoulder.
That said, no one will care how Hughes looked in Spring Training during his first start of the season this weekend. He has to show that he's back to being an effective starter, because another disaster season like 2011 could very end with him being non-tendered in December. Hughes is scheduled to become a free agent after next season, when he'll still be just 27. An effective season this year and next could lead to a significant payday, so Hughes stands to gain or lose quite a bit in 2012.
Photo courtesy of US Presswire.
Yankees Claim Cody Eppley
The Yankees claimed reliever Cody Eppley off of waivers from the Rangers, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets. The Rangers had designated the right-hander for assignment yesterday.
Eppley appeared in ten games with the Rangers early on last year, but spent most of the season at Triple-A. The 26-year-old posted a 3.90 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 5.5 BB/9 in 55 1/3 innings of relief with Round Rock. They Yankees will send him to Triple-A.
Quick Hits: Lannan, Payrolls, Moyer, Eveland
Here are some links from around the league as Wednesday turns into Thursday…
- John Lannan requested a trade earlier tonight, but MLB.com's Bill Ladson hears the Nationals aren't close to making a deal. They've talked to at least 20 teams about the southpaw, but his $5MM salary is a sticking point. Washington wants prospects or bench players in return.
- Unsurprisingly, the Yankees top baseball with a $197.9MM payroll according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (Twitter links). It's their lowest payroll since 2007. The Padres bring up the rear at $53.9MM.
- Nightengale reports (on Twitter) that Jamie Moyer will earn $1.1MM with the Rockies this season. The 49-year-old made the club after signing a minor league deal this winter.
- Orioles GM Dan Duquette said there is no update on Dana Eveland, according to Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com (on Twitter). The left-hander was designated for assignment last week and they are still going through the process.
- The Orioles are expected to acquire Chris Robinson, reports Melewski (on Twitter). The catcher hit .316/.345/.396 in 240 plate appearances while in the Cubs' farm system last year. He is now listed on the roster of Baltimore's Triple-A affilliate.
Yankees Sign Ramon Ortiz
The Yankees signed right-hander Ramon Ortiz, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. It's a minor league deal, Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger tweets. The Giants recently released the 39-year-old Praver/Shapiro client.
Ortiz appeared in 22 games for the Cubs last year, posting a 4.86 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 33 1/3 innings. The 11-year MLB veteran also made 16 starts at Triple-A, completing 99 1/3 innings with the Iowa Cubs. The Yankees acquired catcher Chris Stewart from the Giants earlier today.
Bill Hall Elects Free Agency
Utility player Bill Hall elected free agency upon learning that he didn't make the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Daniel Barbarisi of the Wall Street Journal tweets. Hall wants a Major League job and will try to sign with another club.
The Yankees had signed Hall to a minor league deal in February. The contract would have been worth $600K plus incentives at the Major League level and it included an opt-out clause in case Hall didn't make the Opening Day roster. The 32-year-old played for the Astros and Giants in 2011, posting a .211/.261/.314 line in 199 plate appearances. He played second base and left field last year, but has MLB experience at a wide array of other positions.
Yankees Designate Justin Maxwell For Assignment
The Yankees have designated Justin Maxwell for assignment, reports Mark Feinsand of The New York Daily News (on Twitter). Maxwell is out of options.
Maxwell, 28, hit .260/.358/.588 with 16 homers and 11 steals in 204 Triple-A plate appearances last season before injuring his shoulder. The outfielder had a strong showing in Spring Training could get claimed off waivers.