By the end of today, teams and players must decide on all 2012 contract options. Here's what's left:
Cardinals
- Rafael Furcal – $12MM club option with a $1.3MM buyout. This is a lock to be declined, unless the Cardinals sign him to an extension first.
- Octavio Dotel – $3.5MM club option with a $750K buyout. I'm guessing the Cardinals will exercise this option.
Yankees
- Rafael Soriano – may opt out of remaining two years, $25MM. Scott Boras says Soriano is "highly unlikely" to opt out.
The Dude
CC Sabathia 7 years 180 Mil, Texas.
0bsessions
Coming off of a mediocre, injury plagued year with lingering questions about his health in a very strong closer class compared to last season? Soriano would be nuts to opt out. He’d be lucky to get two years to begin with, much less two years at his current salary.
John 87
I know
jwsox
I dont know he has a great agent who can sweet talk the best of them. He probably wouldnt be able to get the per year average. But more years would be a possibility for him.
Joey Stanley
Saw in the AJC this morning that McLouth’s option was officially declined…not a shocker there.
chico65
While not quite a Blanco check, 1.15MM is nothing to sneeze at. I think Henry will go for it.
stl_cards16
Cardinals are holding a press conference here soon, not sure what for. hmmmmmm
chico65
Albert already, or something more mundane?
Congrats on the series win.
MistahGuy
LaRussa is coming back, 1 year per usual. Possibly may announce a Molina extension as well…
stl_cards16
It’s on now. Larussa is retiring.
stl_cards16
TLR retires! Congrats on a great career Tony! and thank you!
start_wearing_purple
A little surprising. But it’s always nice to see a guy leaving on his on terms.
notsureifsrs
time to offer dave duncan the first ever $10M pitching coach salary
jwsox
he was the only manager to ever retire after winning the world series…thought that was interesting to hear
Joey Stanley
I wouldn’t mind seeing Furcal back in a Braves uniform for one more season while Pastornicky gets ready in AAA, but he’s said he wants to return to St. Louis. While Alex Gonzales has been great defensively, his bat is not very consistent…plus, I’m sure he’d want a longer deal than one year, which is all the Braves want to sign a SS for because Pastonicky should be ready by next year.
NYBravosFan10
I agree totally. If we’re gonna get a shortstop via free agency it’s going to be a 1-year deal with possibly a team-option in case Pastornicky still isn’t ready. I’m going to predict that Alex Gonzalez comes back.
NYBravosFan10
Thanks for “liking” that. It was my 1000th lol
ChiefTomahawk
Furcal would be a nice fit for a one year deal. He is a B-level shortstop and probably one of the best available, arguably as good as Rollins. Furcal is also a slight upgrade over A Gon. He has comparable defense but his OBP is great.
East Coast Bias
Wasn’t there a falling out between Furcal and Wren, or Braves, when he signed with LA a few years back?
Joey Stanley
Yeah, Furcal led the Braves to believe he was going to re-sign, but he basically did that to increase the offer from LA. So he used the Braves to get a bigger pay day in LA…and the Braves had announced they were re-signing him before it was official, which was a little embarassing for Wren & Co.
NYBravosFan10
Why the whoosafudge does it take so long for the Braves to do things when there is a time limit? They always wait until the last minute to decide options and rarely make early trades at the deadline.
Julian Dahlquist
Sweet Jesus, Henry Blanco is still playing
John W
Does anyone know, do teams retain the “exclusive negotiating window” on players that they decline options on?
Jay
I do believe they do cause they are now free agents and there is that window all teams get with their former players.
55saveslives
Is it too early to decline Zito’s 2014 option?
crashcameron
Ask Aaron Rownd
Jay
Really curious which way the Reds are going to go on Phillips and Cordero. I agree with what was said on top but honestly I am really hoping they announce a reasonable deal with Phillips for a multiyear deal. Cordero had a nice comeback year this year over his previous few with Cincy. I would not be upset keeping him a few more years either. Needs to be around 7 millionish though. Not anything over 9 million.
GSJays
Tim Dierkes would be more credible if he did more research. Soria’s option is vested as a result of innings pitched in 2011.
Jimbo
It’s a rumors website, not MLB.com, take a deep breath and hold it, preferrably for a long long time.
Shu13
His option vested w/ only 39 innings pitched?
I was under the impression it was a player option not a vesting option….
crashcameron
you’d be more credible if … well, you had any
rapdawg
DBacks should decline on hill and trade Wade Miley to the Nationals for Ian Desmond, would be a win for both sides especially if the DBacks intend on tendering Joe Saunders.
East Coast Bias
Sabathia has a few more hours to opt out…
Guest 6347
Weird it hasn’t happened yet. Makes me believe there is some last minute discussion btw his agent and the Yankees to get a deal done. Only thing I can think of for the moment.
East Coast Bias
YES!
chico65
I love it when the Yanks fans turn on each other, especially when arguing about Sox players. Priceless.
Guest 6343
Just a little misunderstanding interpreting value. No rubbernecking. Move on.
Nick Gohr
So im assuming since we haven’t heard anything out of St. Louis, that the Cardinals are going to decline both options of Furcal and Dotel?