Angels To Sign Sean Burnett
The Angels reinforced their bullpen with another free agent today, reaching an agreement with lefty Sean Burnett on a two-year deal with a club option, according to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. The deal is worth $8MM, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, and includes a $4.5MM vesting option for 2015 with a $500K buyout. Burnett is represented by Jim Munsey.
Burnett, 30, had been drawing strong interest as one of the best free agent lefty relievers available this offseason. He posted a 2.38 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, 0.64 HR/9, and 57.4% groundball rate in 56 2/3 innings for the Nationals in 2012.
The Angels signed righty Ryan Madson last month, though they also subtracted Jordan Walden in the Tommy Hanson deal.
Earlier today, the Cardinals reached an agreement with lefty Randy Choate on a three-year, $7.5MM deal. Last month, the Giants re-signed southpaw Jeremy Affeldt to a three-year, $18MM contract.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported a deal was close. Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.
Cardinals Out On Sean Burnett
The Cardinals are no longer in the running to sign Sean Burnett, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis had been one of eight teams in the mix for arguably the top left-handed reliever remaining on the market.
With St. Louis no longer involved, Burnett figures to be drawing interest from a group of suitors that includes the Angels, Brewers, and perhaps the Nationals, among others.
Free Agent Rumors: Rolen, Bourn, McCarthy, Drew
A number of free agents have found deals in Nashville this week, but there are still a ton available, including 29 of our top 50. Here's the latest on a few of the remaining options:
- Scott Rolen remains undecided on whether he'll retire or continue his playing career, his agent tells John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. If Rolen decides he wants to play, Fay believes the Reds could be interested in bringing him back in some role.
- Former Rockie Ryan Spilborghs is drawing serious interest in Japan, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link).
Earlier updates:
- The Mariners like Michael Bourn "very much," though the Phillies and Rangers remain in on the speedy outfielder, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
- A couple reasons the Angels' interest in Brandon McCarthy has picked up in Nashville are his age (29) and the fact that he likely won't command more than a two-year deal, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
- Stephen Drew figures to land at least a two-year deal, which would probably take the Tigers out of the running, says MLB.com's Jason Beck. The Red Sox continue to be in on Drew, however, according to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.
- In their hunt for left-handed relief help, the Cardinals have inquired on Manny Parra and explored what it would take to sign Sean Burnett, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cards are expected to find their man fairly soon, says Goold.
- Dan Johnson, who was non-tendered by the White Sox last week, is interested in returning to the Rays, but may end up in Japan, tweets Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Angels Close To Deal With Sean Burnett
The Angels are close on free agent lefty Sean Burnett, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Burnett, 30, had been drawing strong interest as one of the best free agent lefty relievers available this offseason. He posted a 2.38 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, 0.64 HR/9, and 57.4% groundball rate in 56 2/3 innings for the Nationals in 2012.
NL East Notes: Sean Burnett, Reed Johnson, Nolasco
The Mets are talking R.A. Dickey trades, the Marlins' highest-paid player wants out and the team is shopping its second-highest, and the Phillies have moved on to other outfielders with Angel Pagan off the board. More from around the NL East…
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo does not "see a fit financially or term-wise" with free agent lefty Sean Burnett, he told reporters including Mark Zuckerman today, but he won't rule anything out as the team seeks a second lefty in the bullpen to pair with the newly re-signed Zach Duke.
- Braves GM Frank Wren spent part of the day talking to the agents of free agent bench candidates, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. O'Brien says the team is believed to have an offer out to bring back outfielder Reed Johnson.
- Wren told reporters including MLB.com's Mark Bowman that while no player is untouchable, shortstop Andrelton Simmons is "unreachable." Pitching prospects Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado aren't off-limits, but "if we’re going to trade one of those guys it’s going to be a significant deal," explained Wren.
- Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post has more from Nolasco's agent Matt Sosnick, who explained that his client would "be a completely happier player playing somewhere else."
Brewers Notes: Grilli, Sean Burnett, Josh Hamilton
The Brewers are looking to make some additions to their pitching staff; here's the latest.
- GM Doug Melvin said he has talked to Gary Sheffield, who represents reliever Jason Grilli. He's also been in touch with Sean Burnett's agent (Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporting).
- Regarding the recent chatter that the Brewers are unwilling to do more than two years for a pitcher, Melvin quipped, "I'll do a 10-year deal if the money is right. $1 million a year."
- Despite mounting evidence that it won't happen, the Josh Hamilton rumor won't die. The Brewers "do appear to be involved at least to some degree," tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Asked whether the Brewers could get involved on Hamilton or Zack Greinke, Melvin said today, "No. It sounds like they're getting market value."
Eight Teams Interested In Sean Burnett
9:05am: The Angels are one of the eight teams interested in Burnett, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link), who classifies the team's interest as "serious."
4:07am: Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a rundown of the Cardinals' gameplan for the Winter Meetings, and within it he writes that St. Louis is one of at least eight teams to have reached out to lefty Sean Burnett.
Burnett figures to be the premier left-handed reliever available in this year's free agent crop now that Jeremy Affeldt has re-upped with the Giants on a three-year deal. Burnett's agent, Jim Munsey, recently refuted a report that his client was seeking a four-year deal.
The Brewers are said to be prioritizing left-handed relief this week, and the Nationals have made it known that they'd like Burnett to return for a fifth season. Burnett declined his half of a mutual option with the Nats last month in order to seek a multi-year free agent deal.
Central Notes: Reds, Chicago, Brewers, Pirates, Twins
Here are the latest news and notes from the NL and AL Central divisions:
- Sources tell FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal the Reds like Dexter Fowler and the Rockies like Homer Bailey. Now the question is whether their mutual interest crystallizes into trade discussions during the Winter Meetings.
- The Brewers are prioritizing a left-handed reliever with the available free agent possibilities including Sean Burnett, Randy Choate, Mike Gonzalez, J.P. Howell, and Tom Gorzelanny, tweets Morosi.
- Cubs officials have yet to confirm or comment on reports of their signing of Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa, writes Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. The Cubs, however, are willing to talk about their need for a third baseman, an outfielder, and pitching depth. Muskat adds the Cubs could re-sign third baseman Ian Stewart after non-tendering him on Friday.
- The White Sox and Phillies are the two most aggressive teams in pursuit of a third baseman, a source tells Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com. Kevin Youkilis is the object of both team's pursuit. Hayes writes the Sox may have to move another high salary in order to afford Youkilis and floats the names of Jeff Keppinger, Mark Reynolds, and Eric Chavez as alternatives.
- The Pirates feel they are better equipped to restock their bullpen, despite the free agency of Jason Grilli and the recent trade of Chris Resop, and may be interested in turning closer Joel Hanrahan into a much needed starting pitcher, according to MLB.com's Tom Singer.
- The Twins plan to focus more on free agents than trades during the Winter Meetings, tweets Phil Mackey of 1500ESPN.com. The Twins have already dealt their best trade chip in Denard Span and plan on keeping Josh Willingham, writes Mackey in a separate piece.
Sean Burnett Not Seeking Four Years
In response to a rumor regarding free agent lefty reliever Sean Burnett seeking a four-year deal, agent Jim Munsey told MLBTR tonight, "Those words have never come out of my mouth nor Sean's. We are not seeking a four-year deal and it's crazy to hear such rumors out there. Complete fabrication by someone."
Munsey told MLBTR he's pleased with the amount of interest in his client, and looks forward to the free agent process playing out. Burnett, 30, is the top free agent lefty reliever on the market. I would expect Jeremy Affeldt's three-year, $18MM contract to be a point of reference in negotiations.
Cardinals Rumors: Burnett, Mozeliak, Non-Tenders
The latest on the Cardinals..
- The Cardinals aren’t interested in giving Sean Burnett a four-year deal, according to Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
- The Cardinals have interest in left-hander Sean Burnett, a source tells Bill Ladson of MLB.com (via Twitter). Burnett is looking to get a four-year deal but Ladson (Twitter link) doesn’t see the Nationals going beyond two. The reliever posted a 2.38 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 through 56.2 innings of work last season.
- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter) expects General Manager John Mozeliak to swing a trade at the Winter Meetings.
- Strauss adds also believes that the Cardinals will have interest in one of the recently non-tendered players (Twitter link). You can peruse the full list using MLBTR’s Non-Tender Tracker and look at the notable non-tendered players here.