National League Non-Tenders
Here are today’s National League non-tenders. All decisions must be in by 11pm CT tonight. Be sure to track all tender decisions using MLBTR's Non-Tender Tracker. Related resources include our list of non-tender candidates, our projected arbitration salaries and our arbitration eligibles series.
- The Diamondbacks have non-tendered Wil Nieves according to Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com (on Twitter).
- In addition to John Lannan, the Nationals have also non-tendered Tom Gorzelanny and Jesus Flores according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
- The Cubs have non-tendered Ian Stewart, Jaye Chapman, and Zach Putnam according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (on Twitter).
- The Padres have non-tendered left-hander Juan Oramas, the team announced. He had Tommy John surgery this summer and is expected to miss the start of next season.
- The Mets also non-tendered Andres Torres and Manny Acosta, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). Mike Pelfrey has been informed he'll be non-tendered by the Mets, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports (on Twitter). The Mets were expected to non-tender Pelfrey.
- The Braves will non-tender Jair Jurrjens and Peter Moylan.
- The Phillies plan to non-tender Nate Schierholtz, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter).
- The Pirates will non-tender Jeff Karstens, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports (on Twitter). Technically the Pirates are designating Karstens for assignment, Michael Sanserino of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (on Twitter). The team confirmed the move.
- The Brewers have non-tendered left-hander Manny Parra, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports (on Twitter).
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: Volstad, Pena, Balester, Solarte, Buck
Here are Wednesday's minor moves…
- Right-hander Chris Volstad and catcher Brayan Pena have rejected their outright assignments and elected free agency, the Royals announced (on Twitter). Both players were designated for assignment last week.
- The Rangers have signed Collin Balester to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The 26-year-old right-hander allowed 14 runs in 18 innings for the Tigers this year while pitching to a 3.64 ERA in 47 Triple-A innings.
- The Rangers have also signed Yangervis Solarte to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training according to Morosi. The 25-year-old infielder hit .288/.340/.405 with 11 homers in 568 plate appearances for Texas' Triple-A affiliate this season.
- The Padres have signed Travis Buck to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, report Baseball America's Matt Eddy (on Twitter). Buck, 29, hit .216/.284/.311 in 81 plate appearances for the Astros this year.
- The Padres also re-signed catcher Eddy Rodriguez and right-hander Daniel Stange to minor league deals with invites to camp, according to Eddy. The 26-year-old Rodriguez went 1-for-5 with a homer for San Diego this year, his big league debut.
SoCal Links: Walden, Angels, Fujikawa, Field, Kuroda
The Angels finalized their contract with Ryan Madson today, but here's some more out of Southern California…
- In the wake of the Madson signing, the Angels are letting teams know Jordan Walden is "very available" according to ESPN's Jayson Stark (on Twitter). The 25-year-old right-hander pitched to a 3.46 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 in 39 innings this year.
- Angels GM Jerry Dipoto would not say whether he was still pursuing Japanese free agent reliever Kyuji Fujikawa, reports Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times (on Twitter).
- The Angels will tender contracts to all four arbitration-eligible players according to DiGiovanna (on Twitter). Kendrys Morales, Alberto Callaspo, Jerome Williams, and Kevin Jepsen represent the team's class of arb-eligibles.
- The Angels have claimed shortstop Thomas Field off waivers from the Twins, the team announced. The 25-year-old has hit .260/.315/.260 in 54 plate appearances with the Rockies over the last two years.
- The Padres offered Hiroki Kuroda a one-year deal worth $17-18MM, reports George A. King III of The New York Post. The right-hander instead took a one-year, $15MM deal to return to the Yankees.
- Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports hears Brian Wilson's first choice (aside from the Giants) would be to pitch for the Dodgers next year (Twitter links). Wilson lives in Los Angeles during the offseason and will likely be non-tendered later this week.
Rangers Acquire Cory Burns
The Rangers have acquired right-handed reliever Cory Burns from the Padres for a player to be named later, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter). The Padres had designated Burns for assignment eight days ago.
Burns made his MLB debut in 2012, appearing in 17 games out of the San Diego bullpen. The 25-year-old posted a 5.50 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 in 18 innings at the MLB level. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he pitched to a 3.14 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 66 innings of relief.
West Notes: Teahen, Napoli, Padres
Some Monday night links pertaining to baseball's two western divisions…
- The Diamondbacks have signed Mark Teahen to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training according to the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro (on Twitter). Teahen looked to have a bright future in the middle of the Royals' lineup back in 2006, but has seen his production steadily decline. He spent 2012 with the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, batting .260/.328/.360 in 124 games.
- The Rangers will meet with Mike Napoli on Tuesday to see where the two sides stand in regard to each other, writes Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Rangers elected not to extend a qualifying offer to Napoli due to his dip in production and because of the fact that he's viewed as more of a part-time catcher than someone who can catch 130+ games.
- The Padres have had more discussions about trades than they have free agency, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock (on Twitter).
- In a piece for MLB.com, Brock writes that the Padres would like to add two starting pitchers to their rotation this season, but quotes GM Josh Byrnes as saying they're not in a position to take fliers on injury risks. Brock speculates that Joe Blanton could be a fit for the Pads, which I agree makes sense for them.
Daisuke Matuszaka Interested In Pitching For Padres
The walls are coming in at spacious Petco Park this offseason, but that hasn't stopped one reclamation project pitcher from wanting to play there. Daisuke Matsuzaka has interest in pitching for the Padres next season according to Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune, and money is not the biggest factor for the right-hander.
Matsuzaka, 32, pitched to an 8.28 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 45 2/3 innings this season after returning from Tommy John surgery. Center says the former Red Sox hurler seemed to enjoy both San Diego and Petco Park while playing there in the World Baseball Classic. The Padres reportedly have a list of starting pitchers they're targeting this offseason, but it's unclear if Dice-K is on it.
Padres Notes: Haren, Marcum, Trades
Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune shares a few Padres hot stove items in his weekly chat with readers…
- The Padres are interested in Dan Haren, though "it's going to be a wait and see game" if Haren is available in San Diego's price range. We've heard that teams are hesitant to offer Haren more than two years due to lingering questions about Haren's health, so the Padres could get an edge by offering Haren two years (or even two years with an option). Haren is from southern California and has "an excellent working relationship" with Padres GM Josh Byrnes from their time together with the Diamondbacks.
- Shaun Marcum is the Padres' secondary pitching target after Haren, Center reports.
- Center thinks the Padres are more likely to acquire a starting pitcher in a trade rather than in free agency, which fits with what Byrnes told MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith earlier this month at the General Managers' meetings. Center thinks if the Padres traded for a lower-tier, "classic risk-reward acquisition" pitcher like Ubaldo Jimenez, the club could have more payroll space left to sign the likes of a Haren.
- The Padres aren't likely to pick up a major bat this winter, Center believes.
- Center also shoots down the likelihood of the Padres trading for Giancarlo Stanton, Jeremy Hellickson and Ricky Nolasco, with the first two carrying too great a cost in prospects while Nolasco is too expensive and only under contract through 2013.
Padres Designate Cory Burns For Assignment
The Padres have designated right-hander Cory Burns for assignment, according to a club press release. In corresponding moves, the Friars purchased the contracts of outfielder Yeison Asencio, outfielder Jaff Decker and right-hander Adys Portillo.
Originally an eighth-round pick of the Indians in the 2009 amateur draft, Burns joined the Padres last December in the trade that sent Aaron Cunningham Cleveland. Burns made his Major League debut in 2012, posting a 5.50 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18 relief innings for San Diego. Burns has been impressive in the minors, with a career 2.36 ERA, 5.12 K/BB ratio and an 11.2 K/9 rate in 184 minor league games, all out of the bullpen.
Padres Exercise Bud Black’s 2014-15 Options
The Padres have exercised the 2014 and 2015 club options they hold on manager Bud Black, the team announced via Twitter.
Since taking over for former manager (and now division rival) Bruce Bochy prior to the 2007 season, Black has managed the team to a 464-509 record. That six-year run includes a surprising near-playoff berth in 2010 when the Padres, who many had projected to finish in last place, finished with a 90-72 record. That surprising playoff push was enough to earn Black NL Manager of the Year honors in 2010.
In a press release issued by the team, GM Josh Byrnes offers high praise for Black:
“Buddy has a keen insight into team dynamics and creates a great environment for the players and coaching staff,” said Byrnes. “He is a gifted leader with a terrific mind for the game and a genuine interest and curiosity related to all areas of our organization.”
The Padres finished up the season going 49-37, and that .570 winning percentage under Black's leadership was the fifth best in all of Major League Baseball from June 28 on.
Padres, Blanks Avoid Arbitration
The Padres avoided arbitration with Kyle Blanks, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter). The Sosnick/Cobbe client will earn $605K in 2013.
Blanks, 26, appeared in just four games this past season, undergoing season-ending labrum surgery in April. The right-handed hitter has a career batting line of .219/.316/.421 with 20 home runs in 488 career plate appearances. Matt Swartz's projections for MLBTR had Blanks at $600K, so the agreed upon salary doesn't come as a surprise.