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Hoops Rumors Has Your NBA Trade Deadline Coverage

By Steve Adams | February 18, 2016 at 1:01pm CDT

Head on over to Hoops Rumors for our NBA trade deadline coverage! The specter of a Dwight Howard trade is once more in play around the NBA as several deals are already going down in advance of today’s 2pm central trade deadline. The Cavs are acquiring Channing Frye from the Magic, who had flirted with sending him to the Clippers instead. In order to snag Frye, Cleveland parted with longtime LeBron James confidant Anderson Varejao.

The Thunder are also bolstering their bench, while the Pistons made another big move for a power forward, landing Donatas Motiejunas from the Rockets for a package that included a first-round pick.

Hoops Rumors will continue to update you as the trades, signings and other moves take place through the deadline and beyond. You can follow on Twitter @hoopsrumors.

Royals Extend Ned Yost, Dayton Moore

By Steve Adams | February 18, 2016 at 11:52am CDT

The Royals announced on Thursday that they have extended the contracts of manager Ned Yost and GM Dayton Moore. Yost will receive a two-year extension through the 2018 season, while the length of Moore’s contract was not disclosed.

Both Yost and Moore had been entering the final seasons of their respective contracts, with Yost having signed a one-year extension prior to the 2015 season and Moore having inked a two-year deal spanning the 2015-16 campaigns. Fresh off a World Series victory in 2015, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to see ownership lock up its top baseball operations decision-maker and on-field leader.

Yost, 61, is entering his sixth full season as manager of the Royals and also managed the club for about three quarters of the 2010 season as well. In his time with Kansas City, he’s compiled a 468-469 record, although the team has clearly taken a turn for the better in the past two seasons, as evidenced by a pair of World Series appearances (and their 2015 victory in that regard). Yost has drawn his share of criticism for his bullpen management and penchant for bunting, though his supporters will be quick to point out that the on-field results speak far louder than the critics. Yost is beloved among his players, as many of them explained to the New York Times’ Bruce Schoenfeld at the end of the regular season in 2015, and he’ll now be presented with the opportunity to guide the Royals back to the postseason for at least three more seasons.

As for Moore, he’s been the club’s general manager since the 2006 season. Moore made a name for himself as an executive with the Braves and was thought to be a GM-in-waiting. With Moore atop Kansas City’s baseball ops hierarchy, the team has drafted the likes of Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, traded for Lorenzo Cain, James Shields and Wade Davis, and signed free agents such as Kendrys Morales, Edinson Volquez and Jason Vargas. Of course, like any GM, Moore has had his misses (Jose Guillen, Omar Infante and a number of others would all be fair game to point out), but the Royals appear poised for a sustained run as contenders thanks in large part to their now-signature brand of baseball — defense, speed, contact and elite relief pitching — that is largely attributable to the two men whose contracts were extended today.

Rockies, DJ LeMahieu Agree To Two-Year Deal

By Steve Adams | February 17, 2016 at 3:47pm CDT

The Rockies and All-Star second baseman DJ LeMahieu have agreed to a two-year deal worth $7.8MM, reports Jon Heyman (links to Twitter). LeMahieu, a client of Excel Sports Management, will earn $3MM in 2016 and $4.8MM in 2017. LeMahieu’s case was the lone arbitration case left to be resolved not only for the Rockies but throughout the entire league. He’d filed for a $3.3MM salary, whereas the team countered with a $2.8MM sum, as can be seen in MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker.

LeMahieu, 27, is coming off the best season of his relatively young career, having batted .301/.358/.388 with six homers, 23 steals and solid defensive contributions. While those offensive numbers are bolstered by his home park of Coors Field (hence park-adjusted metrics like OPS+ and wRC+ feeling that LeMahieu was anywhere from eight to 11 percent below league average with the bat) and his defense has drawn better reviews in previous seasons, LeMahieu was nonetheless a very solid all-around contributor for the Rox last season. The deal does not extend Colorado’s control over LeMahieu, instead buying out the first two of his three arbitration years. He’ll be arbitration-eligible once more after the 2017 season and is slated to hit the open market following the 2018 campaign — in advance of his age-30 season.

That LeMahieu and the Rockies avoided a hearing means that there were only four arbitration hearings in total this winter — a marked decline from last year’s abnormally lofty total of 14 hearings. Three players — Drew Smyly, Jesse Chavez and J.J. Hoover — won arbitration hearings over their respective teams, while Astros catcher Jason Castro lost his side of a hearing.

Rangers Monitoring Market For Outfielders

By Jeff Todd | February 17, 2016 at 1:37pm CDT

Josh Hamilton reported to camp with inflammation in his recently-repaired left knee, as MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports. With ongoing uncertainty surrounding his availability, the Rangers are keeping an eye on several options for bolstering the club’s outfield depth, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports.

No deals are close to being struck at present, per FOX Sports, but the club is monitoring multiple possibilities. If it adds a bat, Texas would rather a left-handed hitter, though that isn’t seen as essential. The club wouldn’t be looking for a full-time regular so much as a veteran part-timer, it would appear.

One possibility raised in the report is a swap for Mets outfielder Alejandro De Aza. He was only just signed this winter — for one year and $5.75MM — and would therefore have the right to reject any deal. But De Aza has been discussed as a possible trade piece due to New York’s subsequent signing of Yoenis Cespedes.

Alternatives include free agents David Murphy and Will Venable, Morosi adds. Those two former Rangers remain unsigned, among several other notable players lined up as Dexter Fowler and Austin Jackson look for new homes. (For what it’s worth, Fowler and Jackson have long seemed speculative matches with Texas, though there’s no indication they are a present consideration.)

It’s interesting to wonder to what extent the Rangers would prioritize the addition of a center field-capable player. After all, as Sullivan notes, some combination of Justin Ruggiano and Ryan Rua (from the right side) and Joey Gallo, James Jones, or even Ike Davis (from the left) could potentially form a platoon in left if Hamilton misses time. Meanwhile, a potential partner for Delino DeShields Jr. wouldn’t be the worst idea, with only the unproven Jones representing an in-house candidate for that role. Both De Aza and Venable could present such an option.

Latest On Gurriel Brothers

By Jeff Todd | February 16, 2016 at 9:54am CDT

The current location of major Cuban ballplayers Yulieski Gurriel and Lourdes Gurriel is still unknown after their recent defection, but they tell MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez that they are training in secret in preparation for a move to a big league organization. As Sanchez notes, such an “underground” approach is not uncommon for players seeking to complete their journey away from Cuba.

There are many obstacles still left for the brothers to navigate, of course, but their intentions are not in doubt. “I know there are a lot of people who worried about us,” said Yulieski, “but we are working hard and training every day to accomplish our dreams to play in the Major Leagues.”

Notably, the pair does have hopes of signing as a package, which is certainly an intriguing possibility. “We would like to play together on the same team, have my brother near me,” Yulieski tells Sanchez. “But if the circumstances don’t permit it and we have to go different paths, that’s what we will do.”

As that quote hints, there very well could be a variety of practicalities that make a common team unlikely. For one thing, the elder Yulieski would likely do well to sign shortly after reaching eligibility, both to increase his value as a near-term contributor and to speed his ascent to the majors. But his younger sibling would need to wait until he turns 23 — and thereby sheds bonus pool limitations — to maximize his earnings.

Needless to say, it also isn’t clear whether the same teams that will be most interested in adding a veteran third baseman will also be best-positioned to make a more future-looking investment in Lourdes. Of course, as Dave Cameron of Fangraphs has recently suggested, the package concept could also provide some wiggle room for navigating MLB’s rules.

One important question is whether Yulieski has, as reported, achieved Panamanian residency. He declined to address that matter with Sanchez, but did say that he hopes to join a major league organization “this year” and has intentions “to play as soon as possible.” Notably, Panama’s top immigration officer has denied that Yulieski has current residency, per this Spanish-language link to La Prensa.

Orioles Discussing Three-Year Deal With Yovani Gallardo

By Jeff Todd | February 12, 2016 at 6:38pm CDT

FEB. 12, 6:38pm: A deal isn’t expected to come together this evening, Kubatko tweets.

9:06am: There’s some hope that the deal could be completed today, tweets Heyman, though the two sides are still debating whether the deal would be three years or three years plus an option, he notes. Once the Orioles have Gallardo’s deal wrapped up, the focus will shift to a bat, Heyman adds. They’ve been linked to Dexter Fowler, Jay Bruce and Pedro Alvarez recently.

FEB. 10, 5:07pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets that “if and when” the deal between the Orioles and Gallardo is finalized, he’ll be guaranteed $40-45MM over three years.

10:40am: There’s momentum toward a deal, but some “tweaks” in the proposed terms are needed to finalize a pact, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter links).

9:54am: The sides are “moving close” to a contract that would include three guaranteed years, Jon Heyman reports on Twitter. It’s possible that an opt-out would be included, adds Heyman, who notes that an agreement is not yet in place. Baltimore appears to be in the lead to add Gallardo and already recently began reviewing his medicals, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com adds.

9:30am: The Orioles are “making progress” in contract talks with free agent righty Yovani Gallardo, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. Baltimore has long been said to be interested in the soon-to-be 30-year-old, but this report provides the first indication of deepening negotiations.

Gallardo declined a qualifying offer from the Rangers at the outset of the offseason, of course, and thus requires a signing team to sacrifice a draft pick to sign. In the Orioles’ case, the team would stand to part with its first-round choice — currently, the 14th overall selection. And it has been hesitant to do that after already missing out on possible comp picks in two cases (Matt Wieters and Chris Davis).

It’s not clear to what extent other teams remain involved in the hunt for the veteran, but many of the organizations that seemed plausible landing spots have taken alternative routes to building out their rotation. For instance, the Astros signed Doug Fister and the White Sox added Mat Latos. Recent reports also suggest that the Rockies are no longer in pursuit of Gallardo.

The qualifying offer is obviously a factor in Gallardo’s market, as it is with any player who receives one, but the bigger question in his value lies in how you view his results against his peripherals. As Tyler Clippard’s signing just proved, a lengthy track record of excellence may not always translate to corresponding earnings in free agency, even for somewhat younger pitchers, where there’s a lot of wear-and-tear and signs of declining underlying ability.

In the case of Gallardo, there’s plenty to like about his recent run prevention record, which includes 184 innings of 3.42 ERA pitching last year. But he’s also seen his strikeout rate fall all the way to 5.9 per nine with his walks rising to 3.3 BB/9. And Gallardo’s average fastball has declined by more than two miles per hour from his highest annual mean velocity.

It’s obvious to see why the Orioles are interested in bolstering a rotation that’s now without Wei-Yin Chen (who at least left a comp pick when he departed). There are options, to be sure. But there isn’t much in the way of upside — Kevin Gausman probably carries the most — and even some of the depth comes with its own questions. Baltimore figures to utilize Gausman, Ubaldo Jimenez, Chris Tillman, and Miguel Gonzalez in the starting five, with pitchers such as Odrisamer Despaigne, Vance Worley, Mike Wright, and Tyler Wilson also factoring into the competition.

Ultimately, it’s not clear that Gallardo would end up representing a truly significant upgrade over Baltimore’s current options, but he’s an established arm with a nice track record of durability. It’s worth noting, too — as Steve Adams pointed out to me — that his strong groundball rate (49.3% last year) would figure to play well with a high-quality Orioles infield defense to back him.

Athletics Acquire Khris Davis, Designate Sean Nolin

By Jeff Todd | February 12, 2016 at 5:35pm CDT

The Athletics have acquired outfielder Khris Davis from the Brewers in a deal that will send catching prospect Jacob Nottingham and righty Bubba Derby to Milwaukee, per announcements from both teams. Oakland has designated pitcher Sean Nolin to clear roster space.

It’s certainly an interesting swap for both organizations. Oakland will presumably utilize the slugging Davis in left field, where he could share time with veteran Coco Crisp and another younger, right-handed slugger in Mark Canha. The move bolsters the club’s depth across the outfield grass while delivering some upside, too.

After all, Davis only just turned 28, will play at the league minimum this year, and can be controlled for three more seasons thereafter via arbitration. And he’s shown quite a bit with the bat, following a solid 2014 with an even better campaign last year. Over 440 plate appearances, he not only swatted 27 home runs, but posted a strong .247/.323/.505 overall batting line.

Davis is not very highly regarded with the glove, though defensive metrics have been mixed. He actually rated as a plus performer in left in 2014, but dipped into the negative territory last year.

The removal of Nolin from the 40-man roster is interesting to note, too. While he may yet remain with the A’s, if he can pass through outright waivers, the 26-year-old lefty was a not-insignificant part of last winter’s stunning Josh Donaldson trade. He wasn’t great in limited MLB action in 2015, allowing 17 earned runs and logging just 15 strikeouts in 29 frames, but had earned a promotion after battling through injury issues to post a 2.66 ERA with 7.2 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9 over 47 1/3 innings at Triple-A.

Looking at the Milwaukee side of the deal, the 20-year-old Nottingham looks like the jewel. He went to Oakland from the Astros — then the home of current Brewers GM David Stearns — as the key piece of last summer’s Scott Kazmir deal. He’s still a ways off, having only reached the High-A level, but does represent a theoretical long-term replacement for star catcher Jonathan Lucroy — who has, of course, been mentioned as a trade candidate quite often this winter.

Nottingham impressed last year, putting up a cumulative .316/.372/.505 batting line with 17 home runs over 511 plate appearances. Nevertheless, he did not crack Baseball America’s recent organizational top-ten list for A’s prospects, though others have been higher on him. John Sickels of SB Nation, for instance, rated him fifth among A’s prospects while noting that his bat is ahead of his glove. And Baseball Prospectus went so far as to place Nottingham as the 66th-best prospect league-wide.

Derby, a sixth-round pick in last year’s draft, had a strong debut in 2015. He only worked 37 1/3 total innings between Rookie ball and Low-A, but racked up 47 strikeouts while holding opposing clubs to just five earned runs. Soon to turn 22, Derby is a product of San Diego State University.

Parting with Davis appears to set up the Brewers to utilize youngster Domingo Santana in left field, giving him a clear shot at regular playing time. Milwaukee has several young players and rebound candidates who’ll be stepping into more regular roles, with an increasingly interesting slate of young talent approaching MLB readiness in the farm.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle first reported that a deal was nearing (Twitter links) and then tweeted that Davis would be heading to Oakland in the swap.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Yankees Avoid Arbitration With Aroldis Chapman

By Jeff Todd | February 12, 2016 at 5:22pm CDT

The Yankees have avoided arbitration with recently-acquired lefty Aroldis Chapman by agreeing to a one-year, $11.325MM deal, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

That figure comes in $275K above the midpoint between the two sides’ filing numbers of $13.1MM and $9MM. It does fall a fair sight shy of the $12.9MM payday projected by MLBTR coming into the winter.

Chapman, of course, came to the Yankees at a discounted price after it was revealed that he was allegedly involved in a serious domestic disturbance. While charges will not be filed against him, there is still a possibility of league discipline relating to the matter.

The Yankees will obviously hope that the investigation does not reveal cause for a lengthy suspension, with intentions of utilizing Chapman alongside fellow late-inning aces Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances in what could be the most fearsome trio of relievers ever seen in one pen. Anything close to a typical season from the dominating lefty would not only make the trade an easy win (from an on-field perspective, at least), but would set up New York to recoup a draft pick by making him a qualifying offer.

Last year may not quite have been Chapman’s very best overall campaign, but it probably cemented his status as the league’s best reliever regardless. He ended with a 1.63 ERA on the back of a ridiculous 15.7 K/9 strikeout rate. He did permit 4.5 free passes per regulation game, and doesn’t generate many grounders, but that hardly detracts from his near-invincible aura. Indeed, Chapman has struck out nearly half of the hitters he’s faced over the past two seasons and continues to work in the 99 to 100 mph range with his average fastball.

Jenrry Mejia Gets Lifetime Ban After Third Positive PED Test

By Jeff Todd | February 12, 2016 at 3:49pm CDT

Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia has been banned permanently from the majors after his third positive PED test, according to a league announcement. Remarkably, Mejia tested positive for the banned substance boldenone after earning two suspensions just last year.

It’s a truly stunning result, made all the more surprising given that Mejia was on track to resume his career with New York. Indeed, he recently agreed to a $2.47MM salary to avoid arbitration. While he was already to sacrifice a good portion of that money to finish serving his second suspension — which was of the 162-game variety — he’ll lose the remainder after today’s news.

Mejia becomes the first player to receive a permanent ban under MLB’s “three strikes and you’re out” PED policy. There is a provision that will allow the 26-year-old righty to seek reinstatement, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com notes on Twitter. But even if successful, he’d have to wait one year to ask and serve a minimum two-year ban.

In a statement, the Mets said that the club is “deeply disappointed” in Mejia. He had seemed destined to return to a prominent place in the club’s pen after finishing out his second ban. While New York seemed primed to cut ties at one point, the upside in Mejia’s cheap contract and rested, youthful arm certainly justified the risk. But Mejia somehow proved unable to avoid PED usage even while subject to stepped-up testing as a prior offender.

After failing to hold down a rotation job in 2014, Mejia had shown real promise in a relief role. He ended that campaign as the team’s closer, posting 28 saves and working to a 2.72 ERA over 56 1/3 innings out of the pen. While he has since been supplanted in the ninth by Jeurys Familia, Mejia certainly seemed to have a plausible chance of winning back a set-up role later in the 2015 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

MLBTR Seeking Part-Time Writer

By Tim Dierkes | February 12, 2016 at 12:41pm CDT

We’re looking to add one person to the MLBTR writing team, in a part-time position that pays hourly. The criteria:

Availability to regularly work an 8am-5pm (central time) news coverage shift every Sunday is required. We’re also seeking strong availability for other weekend and weeknight hours.
Exceptional knowledge of all 30 baseball teams, no discernible bias. Knowledge of hot stove concepts like arbitration, draft pick compensation for free agents and international/draft spending limitations.
A high school degree is required, and further education is preferred. Please include your highest completed level of education in your application.
Writing experience is necessary, and online writing experience is preferred.
Attention to detail and ability to follow the MLBTR style and tone.
Ability to analyze articles and craft intelligent, well-written posts summing up the news quickly and concisely.
Ability to use Twitter, Tweetdeck, and an RSS feed reader such as Feedly. In general, you must be able to multi-task.
The job may include opportunities for supporting research and social media tasks.
If you’re interested, email mlbtrhelp@gmail.com and explain how you stand out and qualify in a couple of short paragraphs. Please attach your resume to the email. We often receive several hundred applications, so unfortunately we will not be able to reply to each one.

In your application, please include the answer to this preliminary question: After which season is Corey Dickerson projected to reach free agency?

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