Archives for February 2012

Orioles Release Rick VandenHurk

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 3, 2012 at 12:59pm CDT

FRIDAY: VandenHurk cleared waivers and was released, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun tweets.

THURSDAY: The Orioles have placed Rick VandenHurk on release waivers, Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com reports (Twitter links). The right-hander, who was designated for assignment last week, could be claimed by another team before his release becomes official tomorrow.

VandenHurk, 26, has experience in five big league seasons, but he appeared in just four games for the 2011 Orioles. He spent most of the season as a starter at Triple-A, where he posted a 4.43 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 154 1/3 innings. The 6'5" native of the Netherlands has a 5.97 ERA with 8.8 K/9, 4.7 BB/9 and a 27.9% ground ball rate in 181 career innings with the Marlins and Orioles.

MLBTR Seeking Part-Time Ad Sales Person

By Tim Dierkes | February 3, 2012 at 12:32pm CDT

MLBTR is seeking a part-time ad sales person willing to work on commission only. Experience in online ad sales is preferred. If you are interested, please send an email to mlbtradrep@gmail.com with your qualifications.

Minor Moves: Tallet, Smith

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 3, 2012 at 12:25pm CDT

The latest minor moves from around MLB…

The Pirates signed left-hander Brian Tallet, Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus tweets. In 13 1/3 innings for the Cardinals and Blue Jays last year, Tallet posted a 9.45 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9. He was effective against left-handed hitters in 2010, but missed time in 2011 with a broken left hand and then a right intercostal strain.
The Angels signed left-hander Greg Smith to a minor league deal, Matt Eddy of Baseball America tweets. Smith, who last appeared in the Majors in 2010, posted a 4.16 ERA in 32 starts as a rookie with the 2008 Athletics. The 28-year-old posted a 3.88 ERA with 6.1 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in the minor leagues last year.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Jackson, Oswalt, Trout

By Mike Axisa | February 3, 2012 at 11:34am CDT

One year ago today, Andy Pettitte officially announced his retirement from baseball. The southpaw finished his career with a 240-138 record and a 3.88 ERA. He was part of eight pennant winning teams in his 16 seasons, taking home five World Series rings. Although he was only a three-time All-Star, he finished in the top six of the Cy Young voting five times. Here's the latest from the baseball corner of the internet…

Tulane University Law School is conducting a baseball arbitration competition next week, and SaBEERmetrics interviewed the club head.
Chicken Friars interviewed baseball player and author Dirk Hayhurst.
Marlins Nation spoke to top Marlins prospect Christian Yelich.
Call to the Pen analyzed the Nationals signing of Edwin Jackson.
Federal Baseball wrote about Washington's improved rotation.
Redbird Rants says it's time for the Cardinals to sign Roy Oswalt.
AL Eastbound & Down wonders if the Blue Jays should target Oswalt.
Wahoo's On First lauds the Casey Kotchman signing and the Russ Canzler trade.
BrewCrew365 discussed Ryan Braun's appeal and Prince Fielder's departure.
Halos Heaven mused about a Mike Trout-for-Bryce Harper challenge trade.
River Ave. Blues wrote about the future of the Yankees' front office.
Over The Monster made a case for the Red Sox to pursue John Lannan.
Baseball New England reviewed the Red Sox's offseason.
Dr. Strangeglove reviewed the Pirates' offseason.
Motor City Bengals says the Tigers need Jhonny Peralta to repeat last season.
Through The Fence Baseball calls Rich Harden a diamond in the rough.
Twins Fan From Afar tries to come up with expectations for Joe Mauer.
The Baseball Opinion looked back at the trade that sent Carlos Delgado to the Mets.
House of the Bluebird examined at the curious case of Travis Snider.
NASORB says Mariners prospect Francisco Martinez deserves more respect.
The Entrepreneurial Oriole looked at the Orioles' on-base skills.
Warehouse Worthy wonders were the Orioles go from here.
Tomahawk Take broke down the Braves and their payroll.
Lasorda's Lair penned an open letter to the next owner of the Dodgers.
Shutdown Inning looked back on the career of Ruben Mateo.
The Hardball Times dissected Freddy Garcia's mystery pitch.
Marlin Maniac posted some photos of the Marlins' new stadium.
MLB Reports previewed the American League closers.
Full Spectrum Baseball lists ten minor leagues you should draft in your fantasy league.
M.C. Antil listed nine underrated baseball movies.
District on Deck looked at what might have been had Tom Brady chosen baseball over football.

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

Rockies To Extend Matt Belisle

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 3, 2012 at 10:59am CDT

The Rockies agreed to a one-year extension with right-handed reliever Matt Belisle, the team announced (on Twitter). CAA Sports represents Belisle.

Belisle was already under contract for 2012 ($3.775MM salary) under an extension he signed a year ago. The new deal is worth an additional $4.35MM, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com tweets.It covers the 2012 and 2013 seasons and includes a mutual option for 2014. Belisle, 31, posted a 3.25 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9 in 72 innings last year. His extension resembles the one the Rockies and right-hander Rafael Betancourt agreed to last month.

Indians Notes: Kotchman, LaPorta, Cabrera

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 3, 2012 at 9:45am CDT

The Indians made one of their most significant moves of the offseason yesterday signing Casey Kotchman to a one-year, $3MM contract. GM Chris Antonetti explained the deal this morning and Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Jordan Bastian of MLB.com have the details:

Antonetti said the Indians are still working to create 40-man roster space for Kotchman, Hoynes tweets. The Indians were in on Kotchman last offseason, Bastian tweets.
Matt LaPorta will have the chance to win the first base job in Spring Training, but the Indians intend for him to play every day, Hoynes tweets. Bastian suggests LaPorta, who has options remaining, will likely open the season in Triple-A (Twitter link).
Asdrubal Cabrera is in Cleveland and the team is discussing a multiyear deal with the shortstop, Antonetti said, according to Hoynes. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes examined a possible extension for Cabrera about a month ago, suggesting that a four-year, $27MM contract could work for both sides. Cabrera asked for $5.2MM through arbitration and the Indians offered $3.75MM.

Nationals To Sign Edwin Jackson

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 3, 2012 at 9:12am CDT

The Nationals haven't finished above .500 since moving to Washington in 2005, but there's reason to expect significant improvement from the 2012 club. GM Mike Rizzo continued bolstering his pitching staff today, agreeing to terms with free agent right-hander Edwin Jackson.

The team announced the one-year deal, and Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, who first reported the news (all Twitter links), says the agreement is valued at $11MM. The Scott Boras client will earn $11MM plus incentives this year, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.

The Nationals' projected starting rotation includes Jackson (pictured), Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Chien-Ming Wang. Every one of the starters except Wang had an average fastball velocity of at least 92 mph in 2011. John Lannan and Ross Detwiler would provide rotation depth, though Lannan is now on the trade block.

Jackson, 28, posted a 3.79 ERA with 6.7 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 with a 43.8% ground ball rate in 199 2/3 innings for the White Sox and Cardinals this past season. The hard-throwing right-hander has averaged 208 innings per season with a 3.96 ERA since 2009, but has a career ERA of 4.46 with 6.7 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 since he debuted with the Dodgers on his 20th birthday in 2003. Jackson ranked sixth on MLBTR’s list of top free agents entering the offseason.

Jackson profiled as a Type B free agent after the season and the Cardinals offered him arbitration. They'll obtain a compensatory draft pick in the supplementary first round of this year's amateur draft, but it won't come from the Nationals.

As MLBTR's Agency Database shows, the Boras Corporation has quite a presence on the Nationals' roster. Danny Espinosa, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Stephen Strasburg and Jayson Werth are all Boras clients.

Last week the Nationals added Brad Lidge to a bullpen that includes Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard and Henry Rodriguez. Washington's offense finished 24th in MLB in runs scored last year, but improvements to the pitching staff could make them a threat in the NL East this coming season.

Photo courtesy Icon SMI. Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio first tweeted the value of the deal.

Cubs, Garza Avoid Arbitration

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 3, 2012 at 8:52am CDT

The Cubs avoided this morning's scheduled arbitration hearing with Matt Garza, agreeing to a one-year, $9.5MM contract for 2012. Garza's agency, CAA, tweeted the news and noted that the deal includes performance bonuses.

The Cubs had offered $7.95MM and Garza had asked for $12.5MM for a midpoint of $10.225MM. As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, the Cubs have agreed to terms on 2012 contracts with all of their arbitration eligible players.

Garza, 28, posted a 3.32 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 198 innings for the Cubs last year. He's a super two player who will be arbitration eligible for a fourth and final time next offseason. I examined the possibility of an extension between Garza and the Cubs earlier this offseason.

Updated Look At The 2013 Free Agent Starters

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 3, 2012 at 8:48am CDT

As the 2011-12 offseason concludes, next winter's market becomes easier to anticipate, since team needs are clearer and the 2012-13 free agent list is taking shape. The Nationals agreed to terms with Edwin Jackson on a one-year deal yesterday and Roy Oswalt is expected to sign a one-year deal of his own before long, so both right-handers will likely reappear on the free agent market a year from now.

Four All-Star caliber starters are projected to join them: left-hander Cole Hamels and right-handers Zack Greinke, Matt Cain and Anibal Sanchez. Jackson, Hamels, Greinke, Cain and Sanchez each contributed at least 3.8 wins above replacement in 2011 and they're all 27 or 28 years old. If they continue pitching at an All-Star level in 2012, they'll be candidates for substantial long-term deals in free agency.

Ryan Dempster, Jeremy Guthrie, Hiroki Kuroda, Colby Lewis, Shaun Marcum, Jonathan Sanchez, Brandon McCarthy and others add depth to the projected free agent market. Some of those pitchers could position themselves for multiyear deals with strong seasons, while others will end up signing one-year contracts.

Keep in mind that this isn't a final look at the starting pitching market. Last year four starters signed extensions between the beginning of February and the end of April, as MLBTR's Exension Tracker shows. Some of the starters listed above will likely sign multiyear deals and weaken the projected 2013 free agent class in the process.

Indians Sign Casey Kotchman

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 3, 2012 at 7:33am CDT

The Indians announced that they have signed Casey Kotchman to a one-year contract. Casey Close of Excel Sports Management represents the first baseman, who will earn $3MM in 2012.

Kotchman signed a minor league deal with the Rays about a year ago, and posted an unexpectedly strong .306/.378/.422 line in 563 plate appearances. Kotchman, who turns 29 this month, is a ground ball hitter who had 36 extra base hits in 2011. UZR suggests he is an above-average defensive first baseman. He ranked 36th on MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents entering the offseason.

The right-handed hitting Matt LaPorta and the switch-hitting Carlos Santana had been projected to share time at first base in Cleveland this year. Kotchman, who bats from the left side, now figures to get most plate appearances against right-handers and Santana may still see time at first against left-handers.

Corner infielder/outfielder Shelley Duncan is out of options, while Laporta has options remaining, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. This could play into the team's decision process between now and Opening Day. The Indians acquired another first base option, Russ Canzler, earlier this week.

The first base market has settled in recent weeks, with Kotchman, Carlos Pena and Prince Fielder all finding new teams. Derrek Lee is one remaining free agent first base option, but it's unclear whether he'll play in 2012.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first tweeted news of the agreement, with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer adding the terms of the deal (Twitter links).

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