Rangers Sign Justin Ruggiano
1:01pm: The Rangers confirmed the signing via press release.
1:00pm: It’s a one-year, $1.65MM deal (plus incentives) for Ruggiano, according to Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter).
11:13am: The Rangers are hoping to announce a deal with outfielder Justin Ruggiano today, according to Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter). On Wednesday, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) noted that the Rangers were working on a one-year major league deal with Ruggiano. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News recently reported on the Rangers’ interest in Ruggiano as a right-handed depth piece.
Ruggiano is a very tough out for opposing southpaws, creating a solid fit with the heavily left-handed Texas lineup. The 33-year-old turned things on after he was demoted early on by the Mariners, raking at Triple-A and even slashing a cool .291/.350/.618 in his sixty plate appearances with the Dodgers. For his career, Ruggiano owns a .256/.321/.436 slash line across seven seasons with the Rays, Marlins, Cubs, Mariners, and Dodgers. His lifetime line against lefties, of course, is a lot sharper: .272/.336/.520.
Interestingly, Wilson hears that Ruggiano will try out the first base position during spring training. The Austin, Texas native has never played first base in his big league career.
Indians Sign Rajai Davis
The Indians announced on Thursday that they signed veteran outfielder Rajai Davis to a one-year contract. The Relativity Sports client will reportedly be guaranteed $5.25MM plus incentives which can boost the value of the pact to $6.475MM. Specifically, Davis will reportedly earn $175K for upon reaching 400 plate appearances and receive an additional $175K for every 25 plate appearances from that point forth, until reaching 550 PAs, where his incentives max out
Davis, 35, has spent the past two seasons in the AL Central, appearing in 246 games and receiving 864 total plate appearances for the division-rival Tigers. With Detroit, the fleet-footed Davis batted a combined .272/.314/.418 with 16 home runs and 54 stolen bases. Over the course of his career, Davis has been a far more productive bat against left-handed pitching, posting a cumulative .296/.351/.448 triple-slash in parts of 10 Major League seasons.
From a defensive standpoint, Davis has had inconsistent marks throughout his career but is capable of manning all three outfield positions. He has at least 700 innings at all three spots, though the bulk of that time has come in left field and center field. Davis’ collective body of work in center field has received slightly above-average reviews from Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved, while he’s been below average in left field. Having turned 35 in October, it’s possible he’s slowing down a bit, as last season’s 18 stolen bases were the lowest mark of his career.
Cleveland has been in need of outfield depth, particularly with Michael Brantley likely to miss the start of the season. Davis now joins an outfield depth chart that includes Collin Cowgill, Abraham Almonte, and Lonnie Chisenhall.
The Twins and Rangers were also said to have had interest in Davis before he landed in Cleveland.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) first reported the agreement. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter) and Chris Cotillo of SB Nation (on Twitter) added contract details, and Heyman later broke down the incentives structure (Twitter link).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Indians Designate Chris Johnson For Assignment
The Indians announced that they have designated infielder Chris Johnson for assignment. The move will make room for the newly-signed Rajai Davis on the roster.
Johnson, 31, has a career slash line of .280/.316/.411 across seven big league seasons. He first arrived in Atlanta prior to the 2013 season as a part of the Justin Upton deal. This year, he was shipped to the Indians in a waiver trade that saw Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, and cash considerations go to the Braves.
Johnson signed a three-year, $23.5MM contract prior to the 2014 season. Then 29 years old, Johnson was coming off a career year in which he batted .321/.358/.457 with 12 homers. However, much of that production was the result of a .394 batting average on balls in play, and his overall numbers have come back down to Earth as his BABIP regressed to his career norm. He hasn’t looked like an ~$8MM player as of late, but he could be a useful platoon bat given his success against lefties.
Johnson now joins Tyler Olson (Mariners), Rey Navarro (Orioles), A.J. Achter (Phillies), and Dan Otero (Phillies) in DFA limbo. To keep track of everyone who gets designated for assignment, check out MLBTR’s DFA Tracker.
Indians To Sign Joe Thatcher
11:58am: Thatcher’s deal calls for him to earn a $1MM base salary if he’s in the majors with an additional $1.2MM available through incentives, Cotillo tweets.
9:53am: It’s a minor league deal with a spring training invite, according to Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter).
8:30am: The Indians and Joe Thatcher have reached agreement on a deal, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation tweets. The left-hander spent last season with the Astros. It’s not immediately clear whether the pact is of the minor league or major league variety.
Thatcher, 34, pitched to a 3.18 ERA with 10.3 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 across 43 appearances last season. The southpaw was added to Houston’s 40-man roster as an Article XX(B) veteran right before Opening Day. In July, he was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for another pitcher and subsequently elected free agency. He circled back to the Astros in August, however, and wound up finishing the year on the varsity squad. In an admittedly small sample size, Thatcher finished out the season strong. In seven fall appearances (3.2 IP), Thatcher allowed just two hits, fanned four, and walked only one batter.
The signing of Thatcher marks the Indians’ third free agent signing in 48 hours after they added Mike Napoli and Rajai Davis on Wednesday.
Pirates Re-Sign Sean Rodriguez
THURSDAY, 10:57am: The Pirates confirmed the signing via press release.
TUESDAY, 1:07pm: The Pirates have reached a deal to bring back free agent infielder/outfielder Sean Rodriguez, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter links). He’ll earn $2.5MM and can earn up to $500K in incentives, per Crasnick and Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter).
Rodriguez, 30, came to Pittsburgh last winter via trade. He earned $1.9MM via arbitration in 2015, so his new deal represents a slight bump up in earnings.
His primary value lies in his defensive versatility. He’s spent time at every position on the field other than pitcher and catcher. Though Rodriguez has spent a plurality of his innings at second base, he’s also accrued over 400 frames at first, short, third, and left field.
Last year, Rodriguez ended up being utilized most often at first base. He’s obviously not suited for that position from an offensive standpoint, as he slashed just .246/.281/.362 over his 240 plate appearances, but the club needed his glove there as Pedro Alvarez struggled defensively.
It seems likely that Rodriguez will be deployed more frequently elsewhere in the infield in 2016, especially early in the year. With Neil Walker now playing for the Mets and Jung Ho Kang looking to return from a significant injury, he’ll represent an important depth piece for the club. The veteran has shown more at the plate in the past, as he hit just shy of league average over 2013-14 in Tampa Bay, and a return to that level of production would make this deal an easy win for the club.
Twins Sign Fernando Abad
The Twins have signed left-hander Fernando Abad to a minor league deal (Twitter link via team PR man Dustin Morse). Abad’s deal includes an invite to spring training.
It’s Abad’s 30th birthday today, so it’s dual cause for celebration in his household. Last season was far from Abad’s best, so he’ll look to rebound and restore his value in 2016. The left-hander appeared in 62 games for the A’s last season, pitching to a 4.15 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9. In the year prior, however, Abad posted a 1.57 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9.
Abad’s 5.50 FIP in 2015 was even gloomier than his ERA, and he was hit exceptionally hard by left-handers, yielding a .277/.315/.545 batting line to same-handed hitters in 2015. MLBTR projected Abad to earn $1.5MM through arbitration, but Oakland instead decided to designate him for assignment in late November.
As shown in the MLBTR Agency Database, Abad is a client of Magnus Sports.
Angels Sign Daniel Nava
6:00pm: It’s a one-year, $1.375MM deal for Nava, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
5:32pm: The Angels announced that they have signed outfielder Daniel Nava to a one-year, major league deal. Nava, 32, was a free agent for the first time in his career this winter.
Nava, 33 in February, suffered through the worst season of his career but has been a regular or semi-regular contributor in each season dating back to 2010 (primarily with Boston). The switch-hitter batted only .194/.315/.245 in 166 plate appearances between the Red Sox and Rays this year but is a career .265/.358/.383 hitter overall and sports an even more impressive .281/.377/.409 batting line against right-handed pitching. Nava was projected to earn $1.9MM through arbitration in 2016 but the Rays designated him for assignment, prompting the veteran to elect free agency.
Nava’s track record against righties and history of above-average defense in the outfield corners led to interest from multiple teams this offseason. Nava could form a platoon in left field with the newly-signed Craig Gentry but it’s not immediately clear if that’s the plan. Gentry inked a one-year deal with the Halos that could be worth up to $1MM. Gentry is a career .274/.354/.366 hitter against lefties with a less impressive .256/.321/.311 line vs. righties.
The Rays wanted to bring Nava back on a minor league deal but they were rebuffed as he searched for a better opportunity. The Padres were also believed to have interest in Nava.
Braves Outright Dian Toscano
The Braves announced today that they have outrighted Dian Toscano to Triple-A Gwinnett, removing him from the 40-man roster. The outfielder’s spot will go to catcher Tyler Flowers, whose two-year contract to return to the Braves is now official.
Toscano, 26, was signed to a four-year, $6MM contract with the Braves one year ago yesterday, but visa issues kept him from officially joining the organization until November. It’s now been three years since Toscano played competitively in Cuba, making the fact that he cleared waivers unsurprising. He’ll remain with the organization, however, and hope to play his way back into the picture for the Braves in 2016 or 2017. Given the relatively minimal nature of his guarantee, he doesn’t need to do much at the big league level to justify the investment.
Toscano is a career .300/.403/.427 hitter in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, though many scouts pegged him to be more of a fourth outfielder at the Major League level. He’s drawn praise for his speed but is said to have a suspect arm.
Rockies Sign Mark Reynolds
DEC. 16: The Rockies have announced the signing of Reynolds to a one-year contract.
DEC. 10: The Rockies have reached an agreement with free-agent first baseman Mark Reynolds, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (Twitter link). It’s a one-year deal that will guarantee the Ballengee Group client $2.6MM plus the opportunity to earn more via incentives.
Reynolds, 32, spent last season with the Cardinals and batted .230/.315/.398 with 13 homers in 432 plate appearances. Once known for his prodigious power and enormous strikeout rates, Reynolds has seen his pop diminish in recent seasons, although a move to Coors Field could certainly boost his numbers in that regard.
The Rockies stand to lose Justin Morneau to free agency, though they have a younger left-handed option at first base in-house, in the form of Ben Paulsen. The 28-year-old Paulsen got his first extended look in the Majors this past season and batted .277/.326/.462 with 11 homers in 354 plate appearances. Paulsen, though, hit just .235/.285/.265 against fellow lefties, clearly illustrating the need for a platoon partner.
Reynolds, it seems, will fill that void without costing the Rockies a great deal, financially speaking. His agreement marks the third negotiated by GM Jeff Bridich down in Nashville, as the Rox have already added Jason Motte and Chad Qualls to their bullpen this week.
Braves Sign Tyler Flowers
DEC. 16: The Braves have now announced the signing.
DEC. 8: The Braves are in agreement on a two-year deal with catcher Tyler Flowers, pending a physical, multiple reports indicated on Tuesday evening. Flowers, a client of agent Tom O’Connell, will receive a two-year contract that guarantees him $5.3MM. He’ll reportedly take home $2MM in 2016 and $3MM in 2017 before the Braves decide on a $4MM option or a $300K buyout. Flowers can earn $1.5MM worth of incentives each season based on games caught (each year maxes out at 120 games), meaning he can earn up to $13.5MM over a three-year term in Atlanta.
With this signing, Flowers will return to the organization that drafted him back in 2005. He will presumably serve as a backup for A.J. Pierzynski, with whom he can form a solid platoon. Flowers, who will turn 30 in January, is a career .223/.289/.376 hitter across parts of seven seasons, but he’s produced offensively at a clip that is roughly average for catchers over the past two seasons (.240/.296/.378, 90 OPS+). He also delivered positive pitch-framing metrics in 2015 and has caught about 28 percent of attempted base-stealers over the past two seasons.
The addition of Flowers, on a multi-year deal no less, further calls into question the future of Christian Bethancourt with the Braves. Once viewed as Atlanta’s catcher of the future, the rocket-armed Bethancourt has struggled considerably at the plate in the Majors and also struggled tremendously with passed balls — an unexpected and unforeseen deficiency in his game. While it’s conceivable that Bethancourt will iron out the kinks in 2016 at the Triple-A level and be ready for a significant role in 2017, it has long seemed like the Braves may simply have lost faith in him. However, a club looking for a long-term upgrade behind the dish could certainly take a chance at buying low on him this offseason, as Bethancourt will be hard-pressed to earn playing time behind Flowers and Pierzynski in the coming season.
MLB.com’s Scott Merkin first reported the agreement (Twitter link). David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweeted shortly before Merkin’s report that the Braves were believed to have made some progress on a deal with Flowers. Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweeted the guarantee and incentives. Mark Bowman of MLB.com added the yearly breakdown (Twitter link).