Archives for January 2012

Athletics Interested In Manny Ramirez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 20, 2012 at 4:12pm CDT

The Athletics are "very interested" in adding Manny Ramirez as a designated hitter for 2012, Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com reports. The Orioles and Blue Jays also watched Ramirez hit at an indoor cage, Rojas adds.

MLB reinstated Ramirez from the voluntary retirement list in December, but he would still have to serve a 50-game suspension for violating MLB's drug policy if and when signs. The 39-year-old slugger has 547 home runs and a career batting line of .312/.411/.585 in 19 MLB seasons. He hit .298/.409/.460 for the Dodgers and White Sox in 2010, his last extended stint in the Major Leagues.

Yankees, Gardner Avoid Arbitration

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 20, 2012 at 2:47pm CDT

The Yankees and Brett Gardner have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. The Pro Star Management client will earn $2.8MM in 2012, the midpoint between his asking price of $3.2MM and the Yankee's offer of $2.4MM.

Gardner was arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason after posting a .259/.345/.369 line in 2011. The 28-year-old led the American League with 49 stolen bases last year. As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, Boone Logan and Russell Martin are the Yankees' remaining unsigned arbitration eligible players.

MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 20, 2012 at 2:25pm CDT

MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker already shows submissions from players and teams, midpoints and settlement amounts. The tracker can also filter by team and whether a hearing occurred. Today we're introducing three new features:

Service time data appears for all eligible players.
All of this year's super two players are now noted.
When you filter by team, you can see the total that the team will pay to retain the players who have already settled.

Matt Swartz has projected salaries for all of these players exclusively for MLBTR.

Dominican Police: Carmona Using Assumed Name

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 20, 2012 at 1:54pm CDT

FRIDAY: Carmona was released from court in the Dominican and asked for the forgiveness of fans, the U.S. government and the Indians, the Associated Press reports (via ESPN). It appears unlikely that the Indians will void Carmona's contract, but the right-hander has to get to the U.S. to get paid this year, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets.

THURSDAY, 3:25pm: The Indians issued the following statement regarding Carmona: “We were recently made aware of the situation that occurred today in the Dominican Republic and are currently in the process of gathering information,” GM Chris Antonetti said. “We are not prepared to make any additional comment at this time.”

2:23pm: Police in the Dominican Republic say Fausto Carmona's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia, Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes tweets. Dionisio Soldevila of the AP tweets that Carmona is 31, not 28 and Jorge Arangure Jr. of ESPN.com tweets that the right-hander's chances of obtaining a visa quickly don't seem good. Yancen Pujols first tweeted news of the identity issues.

The Indians exercised Carmona's option after the season, so he'll earn $7MM in 2012. The ground ball pitcher posted a 5.25 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 188 2/3 innings in 2011. The Marlins placed Leo Nunez/Juan Carlos Oviedo on the restricted list because of issues related to his assumed name. It's not clear whether Carmona will be able to pitch in the U.S. by Opening Day.

Red Sox Sign Aaron Cook

By Dan Mennella | January 20, 2012 at 1:40pm CDT

The Red Sox have agreed to terms with right-hander Aaron Cook on a minor league contract. The deal is worth $1.5MM prorated if Cook is called up to the Major Leagues, according to Rob Bradford and Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports that Cook, who has passed his physical, could earn an additional $2MM in incentives based on games started. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com first reported the deal.

Cook, 33 next month, has spent his entire Major League career to date with the Rockies, posting a 4.53 ERA in 1,312 1/3 innings over parts of 10 seasons. His best work came during a four-year stretch from 2006-09, when he averaged 187 innings per season and recorded a 4.11 ERA. At his peak in 2008, Cook was worth as many as 4.7 wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs.

The groundballer (57.4% career rate) battled injuries each of the past three seasons, however, with his 97 innings in 2011 marking his fewest since 2005. With Cook falling short of expecations the past couple seasons, the Rockies unsurprisingly declined his $11MM 2012 option in October, making him a free agent for the first time.

With the Red Sox, Cook will compete for a rotation spot, according to Rosenthal. If he's healthy and inducing wormburners, he could prove to be a valuable, low-cost addition for the Sox. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes included Cook among such candidates in a post last week.

Reds To Sign Ryan Madson

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 20, 2012 at 1:34pm CDT

If any doubt remained about the Reds' intentions for the 2012 season, it has now disappeared — they're going for it. GM Walt Jocketty continued adding to his new-look pitching staff by officially agreeing to terms with Ryan Madson on a one-year, $8.5MM deal. Scott Boras represents the right-hander, who will become the closer in Cincinnati's bullpen.

The contract includes incentives and a 2013 mutual option. Madson will earn $6MM in 2012 and the deal includes an $11MM option with a $2.5MM buyout for 2013.

Madson posted a 2.37 ERA with 9.2 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 48.8% ground ball rate in 60 2/3 innings for the Phillies in 2011. The 31-year-old saved 32 games in his first full season as a closer.

The Reds don't have to surrender a draft pick to sign Madson, but the Phillies will obtain two picks this June because they offered arbitration after the season. One selection will come before the Reds' second round pick and the other will come in the supplementary first round.

Madson could cash in next offseason if he repeats his 2011 performance in Cincinnati. He appeared to be close to signing a $44MM contract with the Phillies early in the offseason, but talks fell through and Jonathan Papelbon signed in Philadelphia, leaving Madson in a market that has slowed down for relievers.

Francisco Cordero had been talking with the Reds throughout the offseason, but it seems unlikely that he'll return to Cincinnati at this point.

Right-handers Nick Masset, Logan Ondrusek, Jose Arredondo, Sam LeCure and Andrew Brackman figure to join Madson in the Reds' bullpen mix in 2012. The Reds also have an impressive trio of left-handers: Sean Marshall, Bill Bray and Aroldis Chapman.

Jocketty has now addressed most of his offseason needs. He can consider an extension for Brandon Phillips and resolving arbitration cases for Masset and Arredondo.

Earlier in the month 17.7% of 13,700 MLBTR readers said they expect Madson to sign with the Reds. He ranked 14th on MLBTR's list of top free agents entering the offseason.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported the move. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick added the financial terms and John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon and ESPN's Jayson Stark added detail. Photo courtesy Icon SMI.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Darvish, Montero, Pineda

By Mike Axisa | January 20, 2012 at 1:10pm CDT

Three years ago today, Russell Martin and the Dodgers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $3.9MM, a record for a first time eligible catchers. Martin had hit .285/.373/.433 with 42 homers and 49 steals during the first three years of his career. Here's the latest from around the web…

1 Blue Jays Way spoke to top Jays prospect Travis d'Arnaud about his injury rehab.
Royals Review interviewed Royals vice president Mike Swanson.
Baseball Time In Arlington explained the genius of the Yu Darvish contract.
More Mariners explains what Jesus Montero will do for the Mariners.
Bunt Double is sad to see Montero go.
North and South of Royal Brougham wonders if Hector Noesi can replace Michael Pineda.
Know Hitter was surprised by the Montero-Pineda trade.
Yankees Fans Unite says Pineda will allow the Yankees to spend on offense in the future.
Red Sox Beacon took stock of the Red Sox following the Yankees' recent moves.
Rant Sports Red Sox tried to determine fair compensation for Theo Epstein.
Drunk Jays Fans wrote about the Blue Jays and where they the team is headed.
The Blue Jay Hunter explored a 1993 trade that would have sent Randy Johnson to Toronto.
Call to the Pen analyzed Pablo Sandoval's contract extension.
Fish Stripes broke down what a potential Mike Stanton extension could look like.
Brotherly Glove looked at the Phillies roster with Joel Pineiro and Kyle Kendrick.
Amazin' Avenue wrote about David Wright's immediate future.
Capitol Avenue Club thinks the Braves might be overpaying Eric O'Flaherty.
District on Deck wrote about the Nationals search for a center fielder.
Lookout Landing mused about the future of Franklin Gutierrez.
BoSox Injection thinks the Red Sox should pursue Gavin Floyd.
Redbird Rants wrote about the Yadier Molina dilemma.
The Todd Van Poppel Rookie Card Retirement Plan thinks the A's are botching their rebuild.
Pirates Prospects looked at Brandon Allen as a potential trade target.
Monkey with a Halo wrote about Erick Aybar's future with the Angels.
Wahoo's on First thinks the Indians overpaid Chris Perez.
McCovey Chronicles called the Giants' outfield situation mediocre.
Redleg Nation wishes the Reds would give Todd Frazier a chance.
Seedlings To Stars put together a list of the Reds' top prospects.
Camden Depot doesn't expect Yoshihiro Doi to help the Orioles much.
MLB Draft Insider ranks the 25 best prospects in next year's draft.
My MLB Draft put together a mock first round of next year's amateur draft.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

Giants, Romo Avoid Arbitration

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 20, 2012 at 12:59pm CDT

The Giants avoided arbitration with Sergio Romo, agreeing to a one-year deal, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News tweets. The 28-year-old right-hander will earn $1.575MM in 2012, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, Romo filed for $1.75MM while the Giants countered at $1.3MM for a midpoint of $1.525MM.

Romo posted a 1.50 ERA with 13.1 K/9 and 0.9 BB/9 in 48 innings for the Giants in 2011. The Meister Sports Management client is under team control through 2014. Tim Lincecum, who filed for a record $21.5MM, is San Francisco's lone unsigned arbitration eligible player.

Indians To Sign Ryan Spilborghs

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 20, 2012 at 12:42pm CDT

The Indians announced that they have agreed to sign free agent outfielder Ryan Spilborghs to a minor league deal. The Boras Corporation represents the outfielder, who was non-tendered in December.

Spilborghs posted a .210/.283/.305 line in 223 plate appearances for the Rockies in 2011, appearing at all three outfield positions. The 32-year-old has a career .273/.357/.443 line against left-handed pitching and could add balance to a Cleveland lineup that includes a number of outfielders who hit from the left side: Michael Brantley, Shin-Soo Choo, Ezequiel Carrera and Grady Sizemore. The Rangers also expressed some interest in Spilborghs, who has an overall career line of .272/.345/.423.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported the news on Twitter. Troy Renck of the Denver Post reported this morning that a deal was likely to occur and MLB.com's Jordan Bastian added detail.

Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 20, 2012 at 9:22am CDT

If you prefer your MLBTR fix limited to only your favorite team, we've got you covered. Below are links to our team Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds.

AL East