Rangers May Explore Long-Term Extensions
Rangers GM Jon Daniels says that the club still may explore long-term extensions with some players before Spring Training ends, writes MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. The club currently has four notable players who could be candidates for new deals.
Even though he won't be a free agent until after the 2015 season, Elvis Andrus could be in line for an extension. As Sullivan points out, the Rangers worked out a multiyear deal with Ian Kinsler at a similar point in his career to skirt future arbitration years. Rightfielder Nelson Cruz has three years left before he can test the open market but a multiyear deal would mean avoiding two years of arbitration.
Club officials have suggested that an extension is unlikely with left-hander C.J. Wilson, who is a free agent after this season. Same goes for slugger Josh Hamilton who recently signed a two-year, $24MM deal to avoid arbitration. Even though Hamilton is the biggest name in the quartet, Sullivan writes that because the deal was just completed, the two parties probably aren't in a rush to hammer out a new one right away.
Meanwhile, the Rangers would also like to get a deal done with Daniels. Club president Nolan Ryan is confident that the two sides will work out an extension, though he won't put a timetable on it.
Rangers To Discuss Extending C.J. Wilson, Others
The Rangers are looking to discuss a contract extension with left-hander C.J. Wilson in the coming weeks, reports FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi. Wilson, 30, avoided arbitration with Texas by agreeing to a one-year, $7MM pact last month and will be a free agent after the 2011 season.
Wilson was drafted as a starting pitcher in 2001, but made just six Major League starts in his 2005 rookie season before being converted to a reliever. He pitched well enough out of the bullpen that the Rangers stretched him out and gave him a rotation spot last spring, and Wilson delivered in spades. Wilson posted a 3.35 ERA and a 1.83 K/BB ratio, though he also allowed a league-leading 93 walks. With Cliff Lee once again a Phillie, Wilson is ostensibly the ace of the Texas staff.
In addition to Wilson, Rangers GM Jon Daniels says the team is also looking at signing other "core players" to multiyear deals. Daniels didn't name names, but Morosi cites Elvis Andrus and Neftali Feliz as extension candidates. Andrus will be arbitration-eligible for the first time next winter, while Feliz is just finishing his first full season in the majors.
Feliz, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, could have more in common with Wilson than just a contract extension. The Rangers plan to try Feliz out as a starter this spring, so if the transition goes smoothly, Texas could save itself a lot of future arbitration dollars on a future ace by locking Feliz up right now.
Odds & Ends: Church, Macha, Farrell
Some more reading for the last Friday night of the 2009 regular season….
- Mark Bowman of MLB.com wonders if Ryan Church has played his last game for the Braves. Bowman thinks, because of Church's back injuries, the Braves may not want to pay for a salary bump through arbitration.
- Brewers GM Doug Melvin has not yet met with Ken Macha to discuss his future in Milwaukee, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. It looks as if Macha will be back in the Brewers' dugout in 2010, but Melvin probably won't make it official until after Sunday's finale.
- Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell attempts to dispel rumors that he'll be the next manager in Cleveland, via Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer looks at the AL Rookie of the Year race and concludes that the candidate he'd most like to have for the next few seasons is Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter) is surprised the Orioles picked up Dave Trembley's 2010 option.
- If Bobby Jenks is back in Chicago in 2010, White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper expects a better season out of the closer, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
- Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal writes that the Indians are still feeling the "punch to the gut" of losing Victor Martinez.
- T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com notes that it's not certain whether Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo will be back in Texas in 2010.
Odds & Ends: Church, Macha, Farrell
Some more reading for the last Friday night of the 2009 regular season….
- Mark Bowman of MLB.com wonders if Ryan Church has played his last game for the Braves. Bowman thinks, because of Church's back injuries, the Braves may not want to pay for a salary bump through arbitration.
- Brewers GM Doug Melvin has not yet met with Ken Macha to discuss his future in Milwaukee, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. It looks as if Macha will be back in the Brewers' dugout in 2010, but Melvin probably won't make it official until after Sunday's finale.
- Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell attempts to dispel rumors that he'll be the next manager in Cleveland, via Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer looks at the AL Rookie of the Year race and concludes that the candidate he'd most like to have for the next few seasons is Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter) is surprised the Orioles picked up Dave Trembley's 2010 option.
- If Bobby Jenks is back in Chicago in 2010, White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper expects a better season out of the closer, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
- Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal writes that the Indians are still feeling the "punch to the gut" of losing Victor Martinez.
- T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com notes that it's not certain whether Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo will be back in Texas in 2010.
Odds And Ends: Atkins, Ortiz, Bedard
Some links for your Friday morning…
- Garrett Atkins hit a pair of homers yesterday, emerging from an extended slump and taking the first step towards restoring his trade value.
- Could Big Papi's struggles be related to a vision problem? Ron Borges of the Boston Herald reports that David Ortiz will get his eyes tested.
- On the Newberg Report Jamey Newberg sees Elvis Andrus as the leader of great Rangers teams to come. Newberg passes along a comment from Baseball America's Jim Callis: Andrus would be "in the mix" for the second overall pick in this year's draft if he were eligible.
- Erik Bedard said on ESPN radio that he loves Seattle and doesn't concern himself with trade rumors. He added that the Mariners haven't approached him about a contract extension, but sounded open to the idea (Hat Tip: Bleeding Blue and Teal).
- Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram points out that if no one wants Vicente Padilla now, he's not likely to be hotly pursued this offseason if the Rangers buy out his $12MM option for 2010.
- Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Pirates president Frank Coonelly maintains the team hasn't given up on 2009. He even says he expects the Pirates to contend.
- Laura Keeley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that fans are not happy about the McLouth trade in Pittsburgh.
Verducci: “It’s A Young Man’s Game”
SI.com's Tom Verducci links two of the year's most-discussed trends: the demand for young players and the demand for good defense, writing that "the renewed emphasis on defense hasn't helped the value of older players." As a result, teams are reluctant to sign older free agents like Frank Thomas and Jim Edmonds. Many of the older players who signed contracts this offseason are struggling; Verducci mentions Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera among others. Of course it's too early in the season to make sweeping generalizations, but Verducci concludes that baseball's "a young man's game."
Rosenthal On Edmonds, Cooper, Angels
The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Jim Edmonds still wants to play in 2009. Rosenthal learned from his agent that the outfielder intensified his workouts recently. It still may take him up to three weeks to be game-ready.
- Rosenthal finds the Astros' decision to exercise Cecil Cooper's 2010 option questionable. Rosenthal had wondered earlier in the week if Cooper might be the first manager fired. While we're on the topic, Ron Washington's job in Texas does not seem to be in jeopardy according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.
- Rosenthal notes that calling up Derek Holland now instead of letting him break camp with the Rangers will delay his free agency by a year. The Rangers were willing to make that sacrifice with Elvis Andrus (assuming he's not demoted in the future).
- The Angels could consider several recently-designated pitchers: Steven Shell, Wil Ledezma, Darren O'Day, Nelson Figueroa, and Philip Humber.
Rangers Sign Francisco, Close With Vizquel
11:37pm: An agreement has been reached with Francisco, according to the AP. He gets $1.615MM.
9:56pm: According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers will avoid an arbitration hearing with reliever Frank Francisco. He is expected to sign a one-year contract on Tuesday.
Sullivan is also reporting that free agent shortstop Omar Vizquel is close to signing with the club and that a deal could be done as soon as Tuesday. Vizquel will be invited to spring training as a utility infielder and backup to rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Rangers Interested In Vizquel
T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that the Texas Rangers are interested in signing Omar Vizquel to a one-year deal.
Vizquel would help the Rangers for a year in the event that Elvis Andrus isn’t major league ready in 2009. It again appears that Michael Young will not be playing shortstop for the Rangers anytime soon.
Writes Sullivan, "A source said there is a good chance the deal will get done."
Michael Young Agrees To Play Third
According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, Michael Young has agreed to play third base for the Rangers this year. Young has also taken back his request for a trade.
This creates room for Rangers shortstop prospect Elvis Andrus.