Giants Extend Brandon Belt
The Giants announced Saturday that they’ve signed first baseman Brandon Belt to an extension through the 2021 season. The deal will pay Belt $8.8MM in 2017, and then $16MM in each of the next four years for a total of $72.8MM. There aren’t any options included in the contract, though Belt receives a partial no-trade clause that allows him to block trades to 10 teams, beginning next season. Belt is represented by Excel Sports Management.
Belt’s deal just tops the the six-year, $75MM extension Brandon Crawford signed with San Francisco in November. Belt’s $6.2MM contract for 2016 allowed him and the Giants to avoid an arbitration hearing, and Belt would have been arb-eligible for the third and final time next offseason before hitting the open market after 2017. Instead, this new extension will cover that last arbitration year and Belt’s first four free agent seasons.
Belt becomes the latest Giant signed to a major multi-year contract into the 2020s, joining Crawford, Buster Posey, Jeff Samardzija and (if he doesn’t exercise his opt-out clause) Johnny Cueto. While the Giants have the financial might to afford a large payroll, the club has some extra financial breathing room thanks to Matt Duffy and Joe Panik still being on pre-arbitration contracts, as well as Madison Bumgarner controlled through 2019 on what has become a very team-friendly extension signed between the ace’s first and second seasons in the bigs.
Belt, who turns 28 later this month, has a .272/.349/.456 slash line and 63 homers over 2061 career plate appearances. The advanced defensive metrics are very impressed by his glove, as Belt has +23 Defensive Runs Saved and a +6.1 UZR/150 over his career at first. Belt also has relatively even career splits against both left-handed (.784 OPS) and right-handed (.813 OPS) pitchers, though the Giants were prone to sit him against southpaws early in his career.
Despite these strong numbers, however, there is still a sense that the best could be yet to come. It took a while for Belt to firmly establish himself as the Giants’ regular first baseman, and he has also had a couple of notable injury concerns — he played in only 61 games in 2014 due to a broken thumb and a concussion, and he also missed time last season due to another concussion.
Perhaps with these injuries in mind and the fact that Posey may need more time at first base as the years go on, there were rumors earlier this winter that the Giants could be looking to trade Belt. As the offseason went on, however, trade speculation gave way to talk of an extension between the two sides, particularly after Crawford’s deal was finalized.
Alex Pavlovic of CSNBayArea.com was first to report that Belt and the Giants had agreed to terms. Shea was first to tweet that the deal was complete. John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reported the year-to-year breakdown. Pavlovic, Jon Heyman, Shea and FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal all reported details of the contract’s structure.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Wierzbicki/USA Today Sports Images
Minor MLB Transactions: 4/9/16
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league.
- Phillies outfield prospect Andrew Pullin has retired, reports Matt Gelb (Twitter). Pullin, 22, tied for the Florida State League lead with 14 home runs last season. A 2012 fifth round pick, Pullin had experience in parts of four professional seasons. No reason was cited for his retirement.
- The Angels have optioned hard throwing reliever Cam Bedrosian to the minors, the club reports. In a corresponding move, A.J. Achter has been promoted to the major league roster. Achter, 27, is a soft-tossing righty with an extreme fly ball tendency. In 13 major league innings last season, he allowed four home runs. Achter does have good command with a history of solid strikeout rates. Bedrosian continues to struggle with commanding his 95 mph fastball. The club likely hopes a stint in the minors can help him to locate better.
- Blue Jays starter Scott Copeland has reportedly been sold to a Korean team, tweets Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News. Copeland, 28, made his major league debut last season, pitching to a 6.46 ERA with 3.52 K/9 and 1.17 BB/9. He’s a command and control righty whose stuff works best in a Quad-A role.
- The Brewers have announced that they’ve outrighted righty Ariel Pena to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Pena has three days to decide whether to accept the assignment. Pena opened the season in Milwaukee’s bullpen, but the Brewers designated him for assignment this week when they acquired Sam Freeman. Pena split the 2015 season between Colorado Springs and Milwaukee, posting a 4.28 ERA, 8.9 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9 in six outings (including five starts) with the big club.
- The Dodgers will sign veteran lefty Sean Burnett to a minor-league deal with a May 1 opt-out date, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal writes (Twitter links). As Rosenthal notes, the Dodgers only have one lefty (J.P. Howell) in their current bullpen. Burnett pitched well for the Nationals this spring, but ultimately exercised his opt-out and was released. He last appeared in the Majors in 2014, and it’s been since 2012, when he pitched 56 2/3 innings with a 2.38 ERA with Washington, since he’s been a significant contributor. Since then, he’s struggled with elbow trouble.
- The Reds will select the contract of righty Tim Melville tomorrow so that he can make a spot start in place of Anthony DeSclafani, who’s dealing with an oblique injury, C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes. The Reds say that DeSclafani hasn’t had a setback, but isn’t quite ready to pitch. The Reds signed Melville to a minor-league deal in November after he posted a 4.63 ERA, 6.1 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 for the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate in Toledo.
Royals Re-Sign Duensing, Barmes, Snider To Minor-League Deals
APRIL 9: Duensing has a May 15 opt-out date, while Barmes and Snider can each opt out June 1, MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan tweets.
APRIL 1: The Royals have announced that they’ve re-signed lefty Brian Duensing, shortstop Clint Barmes and outfielder Travis Snider to minor-league deals. (Chris Cotillo of SB Nation had previously reported that the Royals were looking to re-sign Barmes.) All three had previously been in camp with the Royals, and all three had been released. (Duensing had also opted out of his minor-league deal with them.) Both Duensing and Barmes were Article XX(B) free agents, meaning the Royals would have had to pay them a $100K retention bonus had they remained with the organization through the week.
All three will provide the Royals with minor-league depth. The 33-year-old Duensing was previously a key part of the Twins bullpen, although his strikeout rate has dropped from 8.3 K/9 to 4.4 in the past two seasons. He has a career 4.13 ERA, 5.9 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in seven seasons in Minnesota (the first few of which he spent as a starter).
Barmes batted .232/.281/.333 in 224 plate appearances in 2015 with the Padres. He has also posted gaudy defensive numbers in the past, although UZR and DRS both saw the 37-year-old’s fielding as taking steps backward in the past two seasons. He can also play second base in addition to shortstop.
Snider hit .232/.313/.350 in 265 plate appearances last year with the Orioles and Pirates. The left-handed hitter is still just 28, however, and had a strong .264/.338/.438 season with the Bucs in 2014.
Minor MLB Transactions: 4/8/16
Here are the day’s minor moves:
- The Marlins have outrighted outfielder Cole Gillespie after he cleared waivers, per a club announcement. Gillespie, 31, has received only sporadic playing time over the last several years, but had his most productive campaign in 2015 for Miami, slashing .290/.333/.428 in 157 plate appearances. But with five names ahead of him in the outfield mix, Gillespie found himself in DFA limbo to open the year.
- Long-time big league infielder Josh Wilson has inked with the indy league York Revolution, the club announced (h/t Jason Bristol, CBS 21 News, via Twitter). Wilson, 35, has seen action in eight major league seasons, most recently with the Tigers, though he hasn’t topped 100 turns at bat in a season since his 2010 stint with the Mariners. All told, Wilson has compiled a .229/.280/.319 batting line in 1,190 plate appearances at the major league level, though obviously he’s valued mostly for his quality glovework.
Diamondbacks Designate Kyle Drabek, Select Matt Buschmann
The Diamondbacks have designated right-hander Kyle Drabek for assignment, per a team announcement (and as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic said was in the works, on Twitter). His roster spot will go to fellow righty Matt Buschmann.
Drabek ended up making just one appearance in a quick stint, but he did provide two much-needed innings in relief last night. He owns a 5.26 ERA over 179 2/3 career MLB frames, but has never made good on his former promise. Drabek, who entered the professional ranks as a first-round pick, once rated as one of the game’s very best pitching prospects.
As for Buschmann, he’ll get his first crack at the majors after ten years of minor league action. The 32-year-old signed a minor league deal with Arizona this winter, and obviously picked the right organization. Working at Triple-A last year as a starter with three different clubs, Buschmann ran up a 4.14 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 over 134 2/3 innings.
Padres Claim Brad Hand From Marlins
The Padres have claimed lefty Brad Hand off waivers from the Marlins, as MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell reports on Twitter. Hand was designated for assignment on Sunday.
San Diego seemed to be looking for swingmen to stash with the acquisition and subsequent waiving of Dan Straily, who ended up being claimed by the Reds. It’s possible we’ll see the same attempted with Hand, though he could go right onto the active roster with southpaw reliever Matt Thornton hitting the DL. (He’s being replaced, for now, by Robbie Erlin.)
The 26-year-old Hand has split his major league appearances roughly evenly between starting and relief roles. He owns a 4.71 career ERA, with 5.9 K/9 vs. 3.7 BB/9, over 288 2/3 frames spread across five campaigns. Unsurprisingly, Hand has been much more effectively when facing left-handed hitters (.614 OPS-against) and when working out of the pen (.652 OPS-against).
Padres Sign James Loney To Minors Deal
1:12pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that Loney secured an opt-out provision in his contract that allows him to take a Major League opportunity if it presents itself elsewhere (Twitter link). The Padres, though, do have right of first refusal, so they’ll have a chance to put him on their own big league roster first if another club does offer a 25-man roster spot.
APRIL 8, 8:00am: While there’s no official word from the team yet, Loney himself announced that he has signed in San Diego late last night (Twitter link).
APRIL 7: The Padres have agreed to a minor league pact with first baseman James Loney, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link). Loney had, of course, been released recently by the Rays, who remain on the hook for his $8MM salary for the coming season — less whatever he ends up earning in San Diego (or elsewhere), which almost certainly won’t exceed the league minimum rate of pay.
Loney, who’ll turn 32 in a month, was displaced by several offseason acquisitions by Tampa Bay. Coming off of a strong platform year, he inked a three-year pact with the Rays before 2014. Things didn’t go as hoped, however, as Loney took a step back in the first campaign and ended last year with a subpar .280/.322/.357 slash over just 388 plate appearances.
Despite showing some potential early in his career, power has never been Loney’s calling card. But at his best, he delivers a high average with solid on-base numbers while carrying a quality glove at first. Of course, advanced metrics soured on his work in the infield over the last two seasons. It’s worth noting, too, that Loney carries fairly drastic platoon splits, and is best off avoiding opposing southpaws.
For San Diego, Loney adds another piece to an organization that has struggled offensively out of the gates. Wil Myers figures to play every day at first, but could move to the outfield at times if the new addition becomes an option against righties. Of course, Brett Wallace occupies a similar role on the current roster, so Loney will have to earn an opportunity just to crack the majors.
Minor MLB Transactions: 4/8/16
Here are the day’s minor moves from around the league…
- The Athletics have formally selected the contract of left-hander Eric Surkamp, who will take the hill tonight against the Mariners in Seattle tonight. In corresponding moves, the team announced that first baseman/outfielder Andrew Lambo has been optioned to Triple-A, and right-hander R.J. Alvarez has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list (thus creating a 40-man roster spot). It was reported earlier this week that Surkamp, who enjoyed a strong Spring Training, would get the nod over Jesse Hahn today, but the corresponding 40-man move was not yet known.The 28-year-old Surkamp logged a 3.60 ERA with a 19-to-7 K/BB ratio in 20 spring innings and has a similarly solid track record at Triple-A, where he’s compiled a 3.61 ERA with 8.2 K/9 against 2.5 BB/9 across 264 innings. However, Surkamp hasn’t carried that success with him to the Majors, as evidenced by a lifetime 6.47 ERA in 57 innings between the Giants, White Sox and Dodgers.
- The Reds announced today that they have selected the contract of first baseman Brandon Allen, who will join the big league club and replace right-hander Robert Stephenson, who was optioned to Triple-A following his MLB debut. (Stephenson was reportedly likely to make just one start in his brief callup.) Allen is a well-traveled minor league veteran and formerly well-regarded prospect that last appeared in the Majors with the 2012 Rays. The 30-year-old has excelled at the Triple-A level throughout his career, batting .276/.371/.502 in 624 games. However, he’s never experienced much success in the Majors, where his batting line is a substantially inferior .203/.290/.375 in 389 plate appearances. Allen has walked at nearly an 11 percent clip in the Majors, but he’s also punched out in more than a third of his plate appearances as well. Cincinnati does not need to make a corresponding move, as the club had an open spot on its 40-man roster.
Blue Jays Outright A.J. Jimenez
Catcher A.J. Jimenez has been outrighted to Triple-A by the Blue Jays after clearing waivers, the club announced (on Twitter). Jimenez, 25, was designated for assignment late in camp when the Jays claimed Jesus Montero off waivers from the Mariners. (Montero himself has since been outrighted as well.)
The Puerto Rican backstop was a ninth-round selection of Toronto back in 2008, and he worked his way up to legitimate prospect status a few years back, when the Jays hoped that he could emerge as a long-term option behind the plate. However, despite possessing solid defensive chops, Jimenez’s bat has never come around; he’s a career .247/.292/.339 batter in 366 Triple-A plate appearances, and his .251/.297/.362 slash in 459 PAs at the Double-A level is hardly a marked improvement.
Jimenez is out of minor league options, so it’s not exactly a surprise to see him clear waivers; any club that claimed him would have had to carry him on its big league roster or run him through waivers a second time before being able to send him down to, hopefully, improve the offensive component of his game. Instead, the Jays will have a chance to stash him in the upper minors for the time being.
Dodgers Sign Sam LeCure To Minor League Deal
The Dodgers have signed right-hander Sam LeCure to a minor league contract, according to Oklahoma City Dodgers director of media relations Alex Freedman (on Twitter). The veteran right-hander will join the OKC Dodgers (the team’s Triple-A affiliate) today for their road game in Nashville, Freedman adds. LeCure, a client of the Beverly Hills Sports Council, hinted at the move himself last night when he tweeted that the Dodgers were his “new favorite team.”
LeCure, who will turn 32 early next month, signed a minors pact with the division-rival D-backs this offseason but was released late in Spring Training after he was informed that he hadn’t made the club. LeCure has extensive Major League experience, all of which has come with the Reds, for whom he pitched at the Major League level from 2010-15. In those six big league seasons, LeCure worked to a very solid 3.51 ERA with 8.4 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a 46 percent ground-ball rate. Somewhat curiously, he’s had considerably more success against left-handed batters than he has against right-handed batters across the past four seasons. It’s also worth noting that his strikeout rate dipped dramatically in 2014-15, and his average fastball velocity (which was never high in the first place), fell to 87.4 mph.
The veteran LeCure will give the Dodgers some additional depth in the bullpen. Los Angeles currently has Chris Hatcher, Yimi Garcia, Joe Blanton, Pedro Baez and Louis Coleman as right-handed options to help bridge the gap to standout closer Kenley Jansen. As such, LeCure will join fellow veteran Dale Thayer (who also recently signed a minors deal with L.A.) with the OKC Dodgers and hope to get a crack at the big league roster somewhere down the line.