Archives for December 2011

Quick Hits: Fielder, Rangers, White Sox, Danks

By Zachary Links | December 26, 2011 at 1:50pm CDT

On this date in 1995, the Orioles acquired David Wells from the Reds for Curtis Goodwin and minor leaguer Trovin Valdez. This marked the second time Boomer was traded that year as he was shipped from the Tigers to Cincinnati at the July deadline. Today's links..

As Prince Fielder continues to look for his next home, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes a good look inside agent Scott Boras' infamous binder to see how he is framing his client. The book on Fielder not only compares him to the best sluggers from today but also puts him side-by-side with some of the best hitters of all-time.
Richard Justice of MLB.com takes a look back at some of Boras' best deals and tacticts that the agent has used in years past. Justice wonders aloud if the agent will employ "mystery teams" to drive up the bidding.
Even though the Rangers have a great deal of rotation depth with the expected addition of Yu Darvish, it's not a certainty that they will deal one of their starters, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider req'd). Even after the departure of C.J. Wilson, Olney rates the club's rotation as the sixth-best in baseball.
The John Danks extension seems to indicate that the White Sox aren't ready to rebuild, but MLB.com's Scott Merkin isn't yet sure of the club's intentions. Merkin says that the futures of Carlos Quentin, Gavin Floyd, and Matt Thornton will be telling.

AL East Notes: Rays, Yankees, Danks, Red Sox

By Zachary Links | December 26, 2011 at 12:42pm CDT

Here's a look at some items out of the only division to produce three 90-win teams in 2011…

As they have done in years past, the Rays' plan is to wait for the bigger names on the open market to find homes before they pounce, writes Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. If the club lands a "big-bucks" DH, Topkin suggests that they could look to fill their first base vacancy with a young, inexpensive option such as the Padres' Anthony Rizzo or the Angels' Mark Trumbo.
The Yankees had John Danks high on their wishlist before the left-hander inked a five-year, $65MM extension with the White Sox, writes Ken Davidoff of Newsday. Although starters like Edwin Jackson and Hiroki Kuroda remain on the open market, it seems like GM Brian Cashman look to bring in a "few warm bodies" like he did with Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia.
In an interview on WEEI, Red Sox pitching coach Bob McClure stated that the transitions of Daniel Bard and Alfredo Aceves to the rotation could help the bullpen more than anything, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. The Red Sox remain in the market for a starter and are said to still be in on Kuroda.

Yankees Unlikely To Make An Offer To Kuroda

By Zachary Links | December 26, 2011 at 12:05pm CDT

Earlier this week, it was reported that both the Yankees and Red Sox were pursuing free agent starter Hiroki Kuroda despite luxury tax concerns. However, baseball sources tell Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com that the Bombers are unlikely to make a bid for the soon-to-be 37-year-old.

Kuroda seeks a deal that will pay him roughly $12-$13MM per season, which translates to something closer to $17MM when factoring in the 40 percent luxury tax charge. Even though the Yankees like Kuroda, a club source told Matthews that the team simply doesn't have room in the budget for him. Wallace writes that the Yankees' supposed interest in the veteran is likely designed to drive the price up for Boston.

This morning, prior to this report, nearly 28% of MLBTR readers voted the Yankees as the most likely destination for Kuroda.

Poll: Which Team Will Sign Hiroki Kuroda?

By Zachary Links | December 26, 2011 at 10:35am CDT

As we approach the New Year, Hiroki Kuroda stands as one of the most attractive starters remaining on the open market. The possibilities for Kuroda seemed to be rather limited when the offseason began but are now wide open.

The hurler’s stated preference for remaining in Los Angeles led to him blocking deals that would have shipped him to a contender over the summer. Even though Kuroda wanted to work out a new deal with the Dodgers, their financial restrictions led them to spend elsewhere and sign Chris Capuano to a highly back loaded deal.

Now, Kuroda is reportedly willing to listen to offers from all suitors, though it seems that he would prefer to remain on the West Coast. The right-hander is after a $12-$13MM annual salary and at his age (37 in February), he won’t be seeking a long-term commitment.

The Yankees and Red Sox, two teams who were pushing for him in July, are said to be in the mix. The Diamondbacks and Rockies would each like to keep him in the NL West, though both clubs are budget-conscious as they look for a starter. Kuroda was reportedly close to signing somewhere last week but all of the aforementioned teams plus the Rangers and Mariners said that it wasn’t with them. Of course, there’s always the possibility that he’ll make his long-rumored return to the Hiroshima Carp. So, where do you see Kuroda landing?

Quick Hits: Indians, Red Sox, Ortiz, Beltran, Orioles

By Zachary Links | December 25, 2011 at 11:07pm CDT

Some links as Sunday turns into Monday…

In a mailbag, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain-Dealer says he still expects the Indians to pursue a veteran hitter before the season. The Tribe recently made a run at Carlos Beltran.
Each year is a different story for the Red Sox, but the club typically meets its biggest needs in November and December, writes Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. However, since the current ownership group took over a decade ago, they have made some key additions in January and February, including their pickup of David Ortiz off of waivers in early 2003.
The Red Sox were among several suitors for Carlos Beltran who dangled the designated hitter spot as a way to prolong his career, but the veteran wanted to continue to play in the outfield, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Blue Jays, and Indians were also among the American League teams in the mix for Beltran.
The Orioles aren't counting on Brian Roberts being ready for Spring Training, so Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com takes a look at the club's second base situation heading into 2012. Based on executive vice president Dan Duquette's comments yesterday, it doesn't sound as though the club is looking to trade for a solution at second.
Agent Scott Boras, who negotiated Daisuke Matsuzaka's six-year, $52MM deal in 2006, is no fan of the Japanese posting system, Silverman writes. Boras says that the actual talks with Boston weren't unpleasant, but he would have preferred to see his client choose between other cities that might have fit him better.

Poll: Which Team Will Sign Edwin Jackson?

By Mike Axisa | December 25, 2011 at 9:33pm CDT

Despite the perpetual demand for quality starting pitching around the league, Edwin Jackson’s market has been relatively quiet this winter. If you sort through our archive, you’ll see just a handful of items involving the right-hander dating back to October. That’s not typical for a Scott Boras client.

With Gio Gonzalez and Mat Latos both traded, C.J. Wilson signed, and the Yu Darvish bidding complete, Jackson’s market figures to pick up some steam soon. Big spenders like the Yankees and Red Sox need pitching help, and mid-range revenue clubs like the Blue Jays and Rockies have made it known that they’d like to add a starter. Even the Marlins continue to look for high-end pitching despite landing Mark Buehrle earlier this offseason.

Jackson, 28, is one of the few remaining free agent innings eaters left on the market. His last three seasons have been very comparable to John Danks’, who just landed a five-year, $65MM contract extension from the White Sox. Jackson could reasonably ask for a similar contract on the open market, but who will give it to him?

Morosi On Blue Jays, First Base, Starters, Cespedes

By Mike Axisa | December 25, 2011 at 7:43pm CDT

The baseball world figures to remain relatively quietly until after the New Year, but as Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes, there is still a lot of work to be done before the season begins. Let's round up Morosi's rumors…

The Blue Jays are saying they will not give a hitter a contract of more than five guaranteed years, though they'll likely have to violate that policy if they want to sign Prince Fielder.
The Brewers, Cubs, Nationals, Indians, Mariners, Orioles, Rangers, Rays, and Pirates are all considering non-Fielder upgrades at first base. Carlos Pena, Casey Kotchman, and Derrek Lee remain unsigned, among others.
Some within the game believe that Joakim Soria and Carlos Marmol could be had at the right price. The Cubbies are said to be planning a "complete and total rebuild."
Both Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook remain available, and the Rangers may be willing to trade Matt Harrison for a more established starter.
Most believe Yoenis Cespedes will sign for more than the $30.25MM Aroldis Chapman received because as a position player, he carried less risk. A larger number of interested teams and the new collective bargaining agreement will also help his cause.

MLBTR Originals: 12/18/11 – 12/25/11

By Mike Axisa | December 25, 2011 at 5:54pm CDT

The baseball world was busy this week (not so much this weekend), but we still provided a ton of original content. Let's recap the MLBTR week that was…

First and firemost, we're launching a new NBA rumors site and are seeking part-time writers. Click here for all the details about the job and how to apply.
Tim Dierkes took a look at the teams that have sat on the sidelines during free agency, and Ben Nicholson-Smith broke down the market for remaining free agent innings eaters.
The White Sox locked up John Danks to a big extension, which Ben then broke down in terms of its impact on the team, the player, and around the league.
Following the two big deals, we asked who won the Mat Latos trade and who won the Gio Gonzalez trade.
Luke Adams examined Matt Cain as an extension candidate, and Howard Megdal listed the mystery team's roster.
I rounded up the latest and greatest from around the web in this week's Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
Here is Ben's chat transcript.
Looking to receive MLBTR updates on the go? Then sign up for our text message alerts.

Week In Review: 12/18/11 – 12/24/11

By Zachary Links | December 25, 2011 at 3:58pm CDT

There was plenty of action this week as teams looked to get deals done before the holiday..

This week, the Nationals further bolstered their rotation by trading for Athletics pitcher Gio Gonzalez. The Nats acquired the 26-year-old and Robert Gilliam for four highly-regarded young players, including three of the Nationals' top ten prospects: right-handers A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock, left-hander Tom Milone and catcher Derek Norris. Gonzalez is under team control through 2015.
The Cubs shipped Sean Marshall to the Reds this week for for Travis Wood, Dave Sappelt, and Ronald Torreyes. The Reds have been in the market a closer, but it's not clear how they'll use Marshall and how his presence will affect Cincinnati's interest in relievers such as Francisco Cordero. The trade is the Cubs' first step towards a complete rebuilding.
The Rangers won the rights to Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish with a $51.7MM bid this week. The bid provides the Rangers with a 30-day negotiating window. If the sides don't agree to a deal within the next 30 days, Darvish will stay in Japan and the Nippon Ham Fighters won't obtain any cash from the Rangers. The Blue Jays apparently weren't close to beating out Texas.
Speaking of the Rangers, they're still eyeing Andrew Bailey.
The Cardinals agreed to terms with free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran on a two-year, $26MM deal that includes a full no-trade clause. Beltran, who turns 35 in April, hit .300/.385/.525 in 598 plate appearances for the Mets and Giants in 2011.
John Danks agreed to terms with the White Sox on a five-year, $65MM extension. Danks would have been eligible for free agency following the 2012 season, his final year as an arbitration eligible player. The White Sox are paying roughly $14-15MM for each of the four free agent seasons the deal buys out (Danks' age 28-31 seasons).
The Diamondbacks signed outfielder Jason Kubel to a two-year, $15MM deal with a mutual option for 2014. The 29-year-old is expected to play in left field for Arizona. Kubel spent his entire career with the Twins after being drafted in the 12th round in 2000.
Rockies outfielder Seth Smith is drawing interest from the Athletics, Rays, Mariners, Braves, and Mets.
Both the Yankees and Red Sox are pursuing Hiroki Kuroda now that he's willing to leave California.
The Orioles are interested in Prince Fielder but not at his current asking price. There's also a broad assumption from baseball execs that the slugger's best offer will come from the Nationals. The Mariners and Cubs remain interested in Fielder but the Rangers are out on him.
The Marlins are considering free agent southpaw Joe Saunders. Saunders was non-tendered by Arizona a few weeks back.
The Nationals agreed to sign utility player Mark DeRosa. The CSE client drew interest from at least four teams this offseason.
There is reportedly divide in both the Yankees' and Marlins' front offices on whether to pursue Yoenis Cespedes. While there have been conflicting reports on the Bombers interest in the outfielder, Miami is regarded by some teams as the favorite for him.
The Twins agreed to sign right-handed starter Jason Marquis to a one-year, $3MM contract. The Mets also had interest in the New York native this offseason.
Roy Oswalt is believed to have drawn some interest from the Red Sox, Nationals, Marlins, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rangers and Twins. It doesn't appear that a deal is close just yet, however.
Bobby Abreu would welcome a trade out of Anaheim, though he reportedly not the type to demand one. Abreu, 38 in March, will earn $9MM in 2012 before becoming a free agent after the season.
The Rockies continue to seek pitching help but they're unlikely to land either Joe Saunders or Hiroki Kuroda unless their asking prices come way down.
The Cubs signed right-hander Manny Corpas to a one-year deal.
The Angels are still exploring bullpen options and have been in touch with Darren Oliver's representatives and had scouts watch Joel Zumaya's recent showcase.
The Rockies signed Casey Blake to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract worth $2MM plus $1MM in performance bonuses.
The Royals signed Yuniesky Betancourt to a one-year, Major League contract. Betancourt's base salary is $2MM and he can earn an additional $500K in incentives.
The Angels signed outfielder Ryan Langerhans, right-hander Eric Hurley, and catcher Robinzon Diaz.
The Rangers acquired catcher Luis Martinez from the Padres in exchange for right-hander Ryan Kelly.
The Rays avoided arbitration with right-handed reliever Joel Peralta and agreed to terms on a one-year, Major League contract for 2012 worth $2.175MM.
The Pirates signed right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi to a minor league deal. Igarashi, who spent the past two seasons with the Mets, is a Wasserman Media Group client.
Some baseball people believe the Mariners are willing to trade closer Brandon League.
Milwaukee signed Cesar Izturis to a minor league deal.
The Nationals agreed to sign veteran outfielder Mike Cameron to a minor league deal. Cameron, 39 in January, also drew interest from the Indians this offseason.
The Indians inked Andy LaRoche to a minor league contract.
The Cubs and Reed Johnson have agreed to terms on a one-year contract.
The Rockies signed right-hander Carlos Torres to a minor league contract, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes learned.
The A's designated Jai Miller for assignment along with Landon Powell to get their 40 man roster back to the limit after the Gonzalez trade.
The Padres reached agreement with outfielder Jeremy Hermida on a minor league deal after non-tendering him last week.
The Giants signed arbitration eligible infielder Emmanuel Burriss to a one-year Major League contract and also signed left-hander Brian Burres this week.
The Reds claimed Josh Judy off waivers from the Indians.

Extension Candidate: Matt Cain

By Luke Adams 2 | December 25, 2011 at 12:57pm CDT

Heading into this offseason, pundits seemed unable to agree whether C.J. Wilson or Yu Darvish was the most desirable pitcher available to MLB teams. While a case could be made for either hurler, they likely would've been battling for second place had Giants right-hander Matt Cain not signed a contract extension delaying his free agency by a year. Prior to the 2010 season, Cain and the Giants agreed to a three-year, $27.25MM deal that will make him a free agent after 2012, rather than 2011.

The extension, Cain's second with the team, has worked out splendidly for San Francisco. The 27-year-old enjoyed arguably his best two seasons in 2010 and 2011, earning Cy Young votes for the first time while posting a 3.01 ERA, 7.2 K/9, and just 2.5 BB/9 in 66 starts. Cain will make $15MM in 2012, but if the Giants hope to keep him past next year, they'll have to commit significantly more money than that.

Earlier this month, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reported that the Giants figure to be aggressive in their attempts to lock up Cain before Spring Training. The club has also been said to prefer extensions of about four years, so what would a long-term deal for Cain look like?

The going rate for elite arms suggests Cain could aim for $20MM+ annually on a long-term deal on the open market if he pitches well again in 2012. Baggarly spoke to an executive who thought the Landon Williams client could land a $150MM deal as a free agent, and while that prediction may be a little bullish, it's not out of the realm of possibility. Cain will turn just 28 as the 2012 season ends, and recent marquee free agents like Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia signed for annual average values of about $23-24MM. Meanwhile, pitchers that signed extensions with their current teams, such as Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, and Roy Halladay, will make about $20MM for most of their free agent years. Although Cain may not quite be in the same company of those Cy Young winners, he certainly has a stronger track record than Wilson, whose new contract exceeds $15MM in annual average value and reportedly wasn't even his largest offer.

If we assume the Giants can get Cain to agree to a four-year deal, not including 2012, they could be looking at a commitment in the neighborhood of $100MM over the next five years — $15MM for 2012, $20MM each for the next four, and maybe a $5MM buyout on a 2017 option. Cain has played it relatively safe with his previous contract extensions, so perhaps he'd pass up a chance at the open market to remain with the Giants long-term at that price.

What remains to be seen, however, is whether the Giants even be willing to offer such a contract. Barry Zito still has $46MM remaining on his seven-year deal, Madison Bumgarner's cost will soon increase significantly (potentially next winter as a Super Two), and most importantly, the Giants would like to lock up two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, who could soon become the most expensive of all their starters. Given the club's struggles to produce offensively in recent years, it may not be viable to tie up so much money in the starting rotation.

In his previously linked piece, Baggarly wrote that there's a "feeling around the league" San Francisco will have to part with either Cain or Lincecum at some point, rather than keeping both on long-term deals. If that's the case, perhaps the Giants will tip their hand before the season begins — each of Cain's past two extensions were inked in March, before Opening Day.

Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

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