Quick Hits: Paul, Ross, Tanner, Wells, Martin
Let's check out some links as Saturday turns into Sunday..
- Outfielder Xavier Paul has signed with the Reds and will report to Triple-A Louisville, according to his agency Paragon Sports International on Twitter. Paul was granted free agency by the Nationals earlier this week.
- Cody Ross told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter) that he rejected a multi-year offer from the Braves to sign a one-year deal with the Red Sox this winter. Ross has a .275/.352/.560 slash line in 220 plate appearances this year.
- The Giants signed left-hander Clayton Tanner and assigned him to Triple-A after he was released by the Reds, according to the Fresno Grizzlies' tranactions page. Tanner, 24, spent several years in the Giants organization before being designated for assignment last summer.
- There is concern for the Angels that there could be distractions if Vernon Wells either grumbles about a lack of playing time upon his return or other players grumble about him taking at-bats away from Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo, writes Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. Wells is set to earn $21MM in each season through 2014 and moving him would be far from easy.
- Russell Martin's slump this year could cost him a great deal of money, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The catcher is believed to have rejected a three-year, $24MM offer from the Yankees this offseason, instead choosing to bet on himself.
- Orioles General Manager Dan Duquette confirmed to Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com that the club won't be signing Korean high school pitcher Seong-Min Kim. The O's signing of Kim this winter got them in hot water with the Korean Baseball Association which led to their $550K agreement being voided.
NL East Links: Hamels, Ross, Marlins, Bay
Four years ago today, the Nationals signed Odalis Perez to a minor league contract. He pitched to a 4.34 ERA in 159 2/3 innings for them that season, then didn't show up to Spring Training the next year. Three years ago today, the two sides came full circle and Washington released him. Here's the latest from Perez's old division, the NL East…
- Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels ruled out the possibility of signing in his hometown of San Diego, asking Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com "why would I want to go where fans only support you from the third inning through the sixth?'' (Twitter link). Hamels will hit free agency after the season if the Phillies don’t sign him to an extension.
- Cody Ross told Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that the Marlins’ decision not to give him a raise as a pre-arbitration eligible player bothered him and increased his willingness to go to an arbitration hearing against his former club.
- Brian Costa of The Wall Street Journal took a look at Jason Bay's contract and what the future could hold for the outfielder and the Mets. Bay is owed $16MM in 2012 and 2013, then a $17MM vesting option for 2014 comes into play.
- Here's the latest news regarding a contract extension for Ryan Zimmerman. The Nationals have approximately 36 hours to get their franchise player signed long-term before his self-imposed deadline. Zimmerman can't become a free agent until after 2013.
Red Sox Sign Cody Ross
The Red Sox have signed outfielder Cody Ross to a one-year deal, the team announced. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the agreement, and ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes reports the deal is worth roughly $3MM plus incentives (all Twitter links). Ross is represented by SFX.
Ross played all three outfield positions for the Giants last season and hit .240/.325/.405 line with 14 home runs in 461 plate appearances. A right-handed hitter, Ross projects to join the left-handed hitting Ryan Sweeney in a right field platoon, though Ross could also get a few starts in left field for Carl Crawford (also a lefty bat) against tough southpaws.
The Mets, Athletics, Reds, Braves and Rockies were all connected to Ross at various points this winter, with Boston seemingly moving into the lead once they freed up some payroll space by trading Marco Scutaro to Colorado. With Ross in the fold, a source tells Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that the Sox will still try to add a starting pitcher with the money saved from the Scutaro deal.
Cody Ross Decision Expected Today
6:56pm: The Red Sox have "made some progress" with Ross, a team source tells Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe (Twitter link).
4:33pm: It sounds like Ross will probably end up with the Red Sox, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Rubin suggests the Mets didn't want to spend more than $1MM.
3:59pm: The Braves aren't among the finalists for Ross, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution tweets.
2:56pm: Free agent outfielder Cody Ross is expected to pick a team by the end of the day, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News tweets. The Red Sox are having an ongoing dialogue with Ross, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick tweets.
The Mets also have some interest in the free agent outfielder, but the Red Sox can offer more money and a hitter-friendly home park, according to Baggarly. The Mets aren't sure Ross fits for them, so the Red Sox and others are more likely fits, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
Ross, 31, posted a .240/.325/.405 line with 14 home runs in 461 plate appearances for the Giants in 2011, while playing all three outfield positions. The SFX client has a career .282/.349/.563 line against left-handed pitching. Ross won the NLCS MVP in 2010, when he hit three homers against the Phillies. The Braves and Rockies have also been linked to Ross this winter.
Mets Interested In Cody Ross
SUNDAY: Andy Martino of the New York Daily News gets the feeling that the Mets' level of interest in Ross isn't very strong right now, and that there is certainly nothing imminent (Twitter link).
SATURDAY: The Mets are "making a run at signing" free agent outfielder Cody Ross, reports ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter link). Ross would give the Mets depth at all three outfield positions, join ex-Giants teammate Andres Torres in a center field platoon or join Scott Hairston as right-handed complements to the left-handed hitting Lucas Duda in right field.
The Braves, Rockies, Reds and Athletics have all shown some interest in Ross this winter, though the latter two teams have already largely addressed their outfield needs. We heard last month that the Rockies would look at Ross only if Seth Smith was dealt, so now that Smith has been sent to Oakland, Colorado could have renewed interest.
Ross, 31, hit .240/.325/.405 in 461 plate appearances for the Giants last season. He was reportedly looking for a two-year contract, but with his market thinning out, he may have to settle for a one-year pact.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Reds Have Some Interest In Ross, Ankiel, Ludwick
The Reds are looking for depth in left field, and though they maintain some interest in Cody Ross, they haven’t had discussions about Johnny Damon, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. GM Walt Jocketty acknowledged interest in Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The agent for Kosuke Fukudome called the team as well.
Left fielder Chris Heisey hit 18 homers and posted a .797 OPS in 2011, but the Reds have just four outfielders on their 40-man roster and will likely add depth before Opening Day. They traded outfield options Yonder Alonso and Dave Sappelt in recent deals for pitching.
The Mets and Nationals have been linked to Ankiel this offseason, while the Athletics and Giants have been linked to Ludwick. This is the first we’ve heard of Fukudome since the regular season ended.
Athletics Still Interested In Ludwick, Ross, Jackson
The Athletics recently committed $14MM to retain center fielder Coco Crisp, but they'll continue to talk to free agent outfielders such as Ryan Ludwick, Cody Ross, and Conor Jackson, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Oakland's corner outfield depth chart currently features Josh Reddick, Collin Cowgill, and Michael Taylor after losing Josh Willingham and David DeJesus to free agency and trading Jai Miller and Ryan Sweeney.
Ludwick, 33, shouldn't cost much after a .237/.310/.363 performance in 2011. Jackson had a similar line. Ross was somewhat more useful at .240/.325/.405. His asking price appears to have come down to the two-year, $10MM range. Other unsigned outfielders include Rick Ankiel, Johnny Damon, J.D. Drew, Kosuke Fukudome, Scott Hairston, Brad Hawpe, Raul Ibanez, Magglio Ordonez, Luke Scott, and Ryan Spilborghs.
ESPN's Buster Olney writes today that some executives believe $40MM is the unofficial budget floor MLB and the union would like to see from teams. As such, the Crisp signing may allow the A's to avoid a slap on the wrist. Including projected salaries for Crisp, Brandon McCarthy, and Joey Devine, the A's appear to have about $33MM in commitments to 11 players.
Braves Notes: Ross, Theriot, Pastornicky, Bourn
The Braves have had a relatively quiet offseason so far, as MLBTR’s Transaction Tracker shows. Their biggest move of the winter was sending Derek Lowe to the Indians for salary relief, but they could still use shortstop depth and may bolster their outfield before Opening Day. David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the latest rumors on the team:
- The Braves still have at least some interest in free agent outfielder Cody Ross, according to O’Brien. However, they’d want his asking price — currently in the two-year, $10MM range — to drop. The Rockies and Reds have also been linked to Ross this offseason.
- There’s a “decent chance” the Braves wait to obtain a shortstop/utility infielder and see who becomes available in Spring Training. As for rumors linking the Braves to free agent infielder Ryan Theriot, O’Brien suggests the team’s interest was “overstated” and points out that GM Frank Wren will likely look for a strong defensive shortstop.
- The Braves will likely start Tyler Pastornicky at short, partly because they’re eager to add his speed to the lineup.
- The Braves haven’t started extension talks with Michael Bourn. The Scott Boras client is set to hit free agency after the 2012 season.
- There are no indications that Liberty Media intends to sell the Braves soon.
Rockies Notes: Prado, Jurrjens, Spilborghs, Ross
Troy Renck of the Denver Post shared a number of Rockies tidbits with his Twitter followers this afternoon. Here are a few of the hot stove-related highlights…
- There hasn't been much movement in the Martin Prado trade negotiations between the Rockies and Braves but talks aren't "dead" since Atlanta likes outfielder Seth Smith. It would take a package of both Smith and center field prospect Tim Wheeler to acquire Prado but Renck says the Rockies "aren't doing" that particular deal.
- Colorado still has an interest in Jair Jurrjens, but the Braves' asking price could be "prohibitive" in the wake of what the Padres received from the Reds in the Mat Latos deal. The Rockies like Jurrjens "but aren't trading four guys for him."
- If Smith is dealt, Ryan Spilborghs' return to Colorado is "not necessarily" a given. Spilborghs was non-tendered by the Rockies earlier this month but we heard from Renck earlier this month that the club was interested in bringing the outfielder back at a lower salary than what he would've earned through arbitration.
- There is "very little" going on between the Rockies and Cody Ross, as the team is concentrating on finding pitching. Yesterday, a team source denied a Buster Olney report that the Rockies were in contract negotiations with Ross, though Olney specified that Colorado was only interested in Ross in the event that Smith is traded.
- Renck is "not sure" if the Rockies still have any interest in Paul Maholm. The Rockies and Cubs are the only two clubs known to be connected to Maholm this winter. The Cubs can possibly be counted out of the running due to their recent acquisition of Travis Wood, but more spots could open in the Chicago rotation should Matt Garza and/or Randy Wells be dealt.
- The Mariners' interest in Kevin Millwood won't affect the Rockies' pursuit of the veteran right-hander, as the Rockies only "see Millwood at [a] certain price." Of a group of pitchers that also includes Maholm, Jurrjens and Jeff Francis, Renck feels Millwood is the likeliest to join the Rockies.
- Colorado has been one of baseball's busiest teams this offseason, which Renck says is a reflection of the club's "great disappointment with last season" rather than any sense of 2012 being a "final chance" for GM Dan O'Dowd.
The Rockies And Cody Ross
WEDNESDAY, 12:05pm: "There is absolutely no truth to the Cody Ross stories," an excellent Rockies source told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. The source also told Saunders, "The Rockies have always liked Cody as a player but we have no fit at all in our outfield." Yesterday, Olney explained that the team's interest in Ross is conditional, based on whether they trade Smith.
MONDAY, 9:04am: The Rockies are in contract talks with Cody Ross, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Ross would presumably help the club create depth if they make a long-expected trade involving Seth Smith.
The outfielder was said to be seeking a three-year deal for some time but is now willing to sign a two-year pact. Earlier this month the Rockies seemed to have mild interest in Ross but it appears that they have ramped up their pursuit.
There's no shortage of suitors for Smith as he is drawing interest from the A's, Rays, Mariners, Braves, and Mets. Even though the talks that would have sent Martin Prado to the Rockies have gone cold, we learned over the weekend that Atlanta is still in on Smith.