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Minor Moves: Indians, Hu, Padres, Rangers

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Today's minor moves, courtesy of Baseball America's Matt Eddy..

  • The Indians and Phillies reversed a trade from earlier this winter which sent Chin-lung Hu to Philadelphia.  Cleveland then released Hu soon after.  The middle infielder joined the Phillies in camp in late March but wound up failing his physical.  Hu, 28, spent his entire MLB career in the Dodgers organization before being traded to the Mets last offseason. 
  • The Padres released right-hander Dennis Tankersley who signed with his former club a month ago in an attempted comeback.  The 33-year-old was ranked as San Diego's second-best prospect in 2002 (behind Sean Burroughs and ahead of Jake Peavy) but hasn't appeared in the majors since '04 and the minors since '08. 
  • The Rangers cut former Rule 5 pick Mason Tobin, who appeared in a handful of games for Texas last season but spent most of the year on the disabled list.  The right-hander has been beset by arm trouble since 2008.

Rangers Notes: Kinsler, Hamilton, Pitching

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Ian Kinsler and the Rangers have been working hard to hammer out a contract extension but so far the two sides have yet to reach agreement.  Here’s more on the second baseman and other items out of Arlington..

  • Buster Olney of ESPN.com’s (via Twitter) gut feeling is that second baseman Ian Kinsler and the Rangers will work out a long-term deal.  Earlier this week the two sides were working towards a new deal that would guarantee Kinsler’s 2013 option at $10MM and add five seasons at about $14MM per year.
  • In a piece for ESPN Insider (sub. req’d) Christopher Cwik of Fangraphs writes that Josh Hamilton’s move to center field could cost him millions on the open market.  Hamilton will hit free agency along with a group of other defensively-talented players at the position including Michael Bourn, Shane Victorino, and B.J. Upton.
  • It has taken the Rangers about six years of commitment to transform into a pitching-first organization but they’ve pulled it off, writes Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.  “We were known as an offensive organization,” club president and CEO Nolan Ryan said. “We chose to put at least as much emphasis on pitching as we did hitting…We were committed to becoming the most balanced organization we could be.”

Cafardo On Kinsler, Cox, Damon, Prior, Lannan

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It's clear to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that the collapse of last September bothered some Red Sox players more than others.  While some are using it as fuel for motivation, others seem eager to leave it in the past completely.  Former Braves manager Bobby Cox told Cafardo that he preferred the latter. "The way I looked at it, you let it go both ways. If we win the World Series, I’d say enjoy it but time to get ready for the next year. Every season is different. I don’t think there should be carryover either way," Cox said.  Here's more from Cafardo..

  • Major league sources say that Ian Kinsler should average $13-$14MM over five or six years once his deal is done.  While he and the Rangers couldn’t come to terms by Opening Day, it’s not out of the question that something gets done during the season.  Brandon Phillips of the Reds should be in the Dan Uggla range – about five-years for $60MM.  Dustin Pedroia's six-year, $40.5MM deal with the Red Sox now looks like bargain as it goes through 2014 with an $11MM option for 2015.
  • When asked if he would consider managing again, Cox didn’t give a resounding no. "I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m done," he said. But he added, “I miss it. I miss it every day." While Cox has deep ties to Dodgers president Stan Kasten, he said he would not consider going back to being a GM.  Cox is signed to be an adviser for the Braves through the 2015 season.
  • When asked about Johnny Damon remaining on the open market, one AL GM was perplexed and suggested that the Rays, Indians, Orioles, and Tigers could all use him.
  • Cafardo's "all-free agent team" features right-hander Roy Oswalt, Damon in center field, Hideki Matsui as DH, Vladimir Guerrero in left field, Magglio Ordonez in right, catcher Ivan Rodriguez, first baseman Derrek Lee, second baseman Aaron Miles, shortstop Felipe Lopez, third baseman Casey Blake.  Oswalt tops the rotation alongside Javier Vazquez, who he notes has not officially retired.  Cafardo also lists Mike Gonzalez and Arthur Rhodes as the top relievers available.
  • Mark Prior’s throwing sessions have looked decent, according to major league sources, and he may be getting ready to throw for teams soon.
  • Nationals pitcher John Lannan remains in limbo as he pitches in Triple-A, but as injuries mount his trade request may be heard.  The left-hander is only 27 and could fit on many staffs as a fourth or fifth starter, but his $5MM salary is an obvious hurdle.

Rosenthal On Hamels, Greinke, Cain, Kinsler

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The season is underway and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (video link) is back with Full Count..

  • Cole Hamels didn't set an Opening Day deadline in his contract talks, but if the Phillies want to hammer out a deal mid-season they'll have to make him a bold and aggressive offer.  Otherwise, the pitcher likely wouldn't listen midseason.  Matt Cain's new deal is the baseline for Hamels and unless they'll venture into Cliff Lee territory (five-years, $120MM), they probably shouldn't bother restarting the talks.
  • The Cain deal also puts the Brewers in a tough spot with Zack Greinke.  Cain has been much more consistent than Greinke in the last five years but he's seen a bit of a drop over the last two seasons.  The Brewers might want to wait to see more before offering $100MM+ plus, though his second-half last season was a sign of great things to come.
  • For the Giants, the Cain signing is a buffer against potentially losing Tim Lincecum.  Lincecum could cost the Giants upwards of $25MM a year, but Rosenthal says to keep two factors in mind.  First, the contracts of Aaron Rowand and Barry Zito will be off the books by the time Lincecum's next deal begins.  Secondly, the club's annual debt payments on AT&T Park – roughly $20MM a year – end after the 2017 season.
  • The Rangers have discussed four- and five- year deals with Ian Kinsler but aren't eager to give him free agent money when he's under control for two more years.  The danger for Texas is that the Yankees could potentially sign Robinson Cano to a monster deal, effectively raising Kinsler's price.  Both players are eligible for free agency after the 2013 season.

West Links: Lincecum, Giants, Rangers, Moyer, Angels

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Yoenis Cespedes of the Athletics is the current MLB home run leader with … two. He hit this mammoth shot against Jason Vargas and the Mariners last night. Here's the latest from baseball's two West divisions…

  • The Giants’ ability to hold on to Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner down the line depends largely on having prospects work out as low-cost, high-impact players, writes Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.
  • Rangers GM Jon Daniels expressed some concern about his team's bench when speaking to Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas yesterday. "Listen, no club is flawless," he said, "and not to suggest that's our only one, [but] we got some guys on the bench that have some ability … if it's something we need to address we've shown in the past we will."
  • Jamie Moyer will start for the Rockies today, but GM Dan O'Dowd told Troy Renck of The Denver Post that having the 49-year-old left-hander on the roster is about more than on-field production. "He brings a set of intangibles that will really benefit our club and our pitching staff. He loves to share information," said the GM.
  • The Angels could make the playoffs without Albert Pujols, says Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. He says the club has enough talent "that even a slow start by their superstar won’t doom them."

Rangers Re-Sign Brad Hawpe

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The Rangers re-signed Brad Hawpe to a minor league contract, Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com reports (Twitter link). Hawpe, who was released by the Rangers last week, will open the season with Double-A Frisco.

Hawpe posted a .231/.301/.344 line in 216 plate appearances with the Padres in 2011, playing first base and right field. The 32-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow last June. He owns a .284/.380/.493 line in 2,678 career plate appearances against right-handed pitching, so he's a possible weapon against righties.

No Deal Yet For Kinsler, Rangers

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Ian Kinsler and the Rangers don't have an agreement on a long-term deal. The second baseman told reporters, including MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, that the sides got close enough to be “disappointed that it’s not done.”

The sides had been working toward an extension that would have guaranteed Kinsler's 2013 option at $10MM and added five seasons at $14MM or so per year. The proposed six-year total would have been in the $80MM range — close to Chase Utley's record for second basemen.

Kinsler has said he doesn't want to negotiate once the season begins. The 29-year-old repeated today that he doesn't want to be involved if the Rangers continue talking with his representatives at BBI Sports Group. He hit 32 home runs and posted a .255/.355/.477 lin in 723 plate appearances a year ago.

Quick Hits: Phillips, Kinsler, Podsednik, Moyer

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Links for Thursday, as the first full day of the regular season wraps up…

  • The Reds and Rangers are working towards contract extensions with Brandon Phillips and Ian Kinsler, respectively, and ESPN's Jim Bowden says (on Twitter) there's some work left to be done on each. Phillips is expected to get $12.5-13MM annually, Kinsler $13.5-14MM.
  • Scott Podsednik will report to the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, his agent confirmed to David Murphy of The Philadelphia Daily News. Podsednik was not technically a Major League free agent this offseason since he spent all of last year in the minors, so he was unable to opt-out of his contract at the end of Spring Training.
  • Jamie Moyer's can make $2MM in incentives op top of his $1.1MM base salary, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports (on Twitter). The 49-year-old left-hander will open the season in the Rockies’ rotation.
  • Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright took note when Matt Cain of the Giants signed earlier in the week, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. "Obviously, you have to pay attention to it,"Wainwright said. "It's a tremendous deal for him." Cain obtained $112.5MM in new money from the Giants, establishing a record for right-handed pitchers.
  • Ivan Rodriguez is working out and says he's in shape, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Heyman suggests the Rays could be a fit for the veteran free agent.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Rangers Working Towards Extension With Ian Kinsler

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The Rangers and Ian Kinsler are working towards a five-year contract extension worth approximately $14MM per season, reports ESPN's Jim Bowden (on Twitter). The deal would exercise his $10MM option for 2013 and tack the additional five years on top of it. The total package would be six years and approximately $80MM.

Kinsler, 29, called the negotiations a "very confusing process" earlier today. The new extension would eclipse Dan Uggla's five-year, $62MM guarantee with the Braves, but it would fall short of Chase Utley's second base record of seven years and $85MM. Kinsler's contract could impact talks between the Reds and Brandon Phillips, as well as the Yankees and Robinson Cano down the road.

Extension Rumors: Zack Greinke, Ian Kinsler

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The baseball world is still reeling from the two historic contract extensions handed out earlier this week. Here's the latest on two players in line for similar deals…

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