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Archives for March 2012

Dodgers Notes: Ownership, Kemp, Kershaw

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To nobody's surprise, Vin Scully topped a recent Fangraphs poll that asked readers to rate each club's TV broadcast crew.  As Fangraphs' Carson Cistulli put it, "Vin Scully has been an excellent broadcaster since that time in our nation’s history when men wore fedoras unironically."  2012 will mark Scully's 63rd season calling Dodgers baseball.

Some more news about L.A.'s blue team…

  • Jared Kushner has dropped his bid to buy the Dodgers, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.  Kushner, the owner and publisher of the New York Observer, withdrew despite an invitation to either restructure his bid or to join another of the seven remaining groups vying to buy the club from Frank McCourt.
  • Matt Kemp had no problems looking past the Dodgers' ownership issues to sign his long-term extension with the team, reports MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.  "This is where I wanted to be," Kemp said. "It happened kind of fast. They started talking about the numbers, and, 'Oh my God, for real?' It was kind of cool. It was a fun process, but I also had to ask myself, 'Am I really in this position right now?' All I could think about was being a sixth-round pick, not sure if I even wanted to play baseball, and now I was getting a long-term deal. For me it was a dream."
  • Also from Gurnick's piece, Clayton Kershaw said his recent two-year extension "was just the terms and the years," and had nothing to do with any concerns about the ownership sale.  "As far as I'm concerned, I can play baseball for two years, and I'm good with that," Kershaw said.  "You've just got to perform no matter what the contract is."  Kershaw's two-year contract means he will still be eliglble for arbitration following the 2013 season and free agency after 2014.
  • You can keep up with all of MLBTR's Dodgers coverage on our Dodger-centric Facebook and RSS pages, and by following us on Twitter at @mlbtrdodgers.

AL West Notes: Beane, Hunter, Dipoto, Perez, A’s

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Adam Moore's quest to make the Mariners' Major League roster hit a big roadblock after the catcher suffered a broken wrist during Tuesday's game against the Reds.  Moore will likely miss the rest of Spring Training at the minimum and he's seeing a hand specialist today to determine the severity of the injury.  Moore was battling for a spot as Seattle's backup catcher, which could have been available given that Jesus Montero is expected to see a lot of time at DH this season.

Here's some more news from the AL West…

  • Athletics GM Billy Beane chatted with Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News about such topics as Yoenis Cespedes, the challenges of taking the A's through another rebuilding process and the team's desire to resolve their stadium situation and possibly relocate to San Jose.
  • Torii Hunter would "take less money" to return to the Angels next season, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.  "They have so many young guys coming up, guys they want to give playing time to, so I know it could be difficult for me," Hunter said. "But if they're willing to keep me here, I would love to stay." Hunter's five-year, $90MM contract expires after this season and though the outfielder has said he wants to play for two or three more years, his top priority is to play for a contender, preferably the Halos.
  • Angels GM Jerry Dipoto sees the battle for playing time on his club's roster as a strength, he tells MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez.  "The next team that wins a world championship with 25 guys, they will be the first," Dipoto said.  "It keeps players fresh, it puts them in good matchup situations, it gives you depth, interchangeable pieces….Do I believe there's enough at-bats for the players here? Absolutely."
  • Oliver Perez's minor league deal with the Mariners will pay him $750K if he makes the 25-man roster, reports MLB.com's Greg Johns.  Perez can earn another $250K in incentives tied to innings and games pitched.
  • The Mariners' wealth of minor league talent makes them "the next Tampa Bay Rays," writes ESPN's Jim Bowden (Insider subscription required), though the Mariners' higher payroll gives them a leg up on the Rays.  Bowden is very high on Seattle's young pitching corps, comparing them to not just the Rays' current staff, but also to Oakland's Tim Hudson/Mark Mulder/Barry Zito trio of the early 2000's and the great Braves rotations of the 1990's.
  • The Athletics and Giants released competing press releases yesterday in regards to the ongoing dispute between the two clubs over the Athletics' attempt to move to San Jose.  John Shea and Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle recap the more pertinent passages from each release, as the two teams argue over which has territorial rights to Santa Clara County.

AL East Notes: Rivera, Roberts, Moore, Cherington

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It was on this day in 1985 that the Blue Jays and Dave Stieb finalized one of the more unique contracts in baseball history — an 11-year deal worth a guaranteed $16.6MM and (with incentives) possibly worth as much as $25MM.  Larry Stone of the Seattle Times looked back at the contract in 2010, noting that while the Jays absorbed some criticism for the deal at the time, they got a bargain in the long run when Stieb developed into one of the best pitchers of his era.  In 1991, the Jays reworked three years of the contract to pay Stieb an extra $4.35MM as a gesture of gratitude for his performance.

Here's some news from all around the AL East…

  • Yankees closer Mariano Rivera denied a New York Post report from yesterday that claimed he would announce his possible retirement plans before the All-Star Break.  Rivera told Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York that "nothing's changed" about his future plans and that he will "tell everybody what my plans are at the same time after the season."
  • Brian Roberts isn't sure when, or even if, he'll be able to return to the Orioles following a series of concussions, he tells Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  Roberts says he has stopped trying to guess when he may be able to resume his career, though he notes that his recovery is "progressing" and he "has more good days than bad days."
  • Rays southpaw Matt Moore tops Baseball America's preseason list of the top 20 rookies in the game.  Moore is the only AL East representative on the list, though former Yankee prospect Jesus Montero (now with the Mariners) clocks in at the #3 position.
  • "We need some guys to step up on our pitching staff," Red Sox GM Ben Cherington tells MLB.com's Ian Browne.  The Sox will be looking at pitching or outfield depth as they conduct their usual scouting of other teams' Spring Training camps.  Also in this in-depth interview, Cherington discusses his first winter as a general manager, the difficulty in parting with long-time Red Sox stars Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, and what he learned from Theo Epstein.
  • The Blue Jays may be the only team that could be a fit for Derrek Lee, writes Fangraphs' Chris Cwik.  Lee could be an alternative to Adam Lind at first if Lind struggles, or Lee could at least platoon if Lind again struggles to hit left-handed pitching.  Though Cwik was pretty hesitant about Lee's chances of playing anywhere in the Majors in 2012, I'm not sure Toronto works as a landing spot either; the Jays have Edwin Encarnacion backing up at first, Travis Snider or Eric Thames as DH candidates, plus Ben Francisco and Rajai Davis as right-handed bench bats.   

Braves Notes: Bourn, McCann, Jurrjens, Prado

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Here's the latest on the Atlanta nine…

  • In a Q & A with Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Michael Bourn reiterated that the Braves haven't approached him about a contract extension, and said that he doesn't want to get into negotiations during the season.  Re-signing with Atlanta is "always a possibility," Bourn said. "I like playing where I’m wanted. That’s one thing that I always say."
  • Braves GM Frank Wren is also quoted in Vivlamore's piece, describing Bourn as "the perfect fit for us" and stating that the team wants to retain him beyond 2012.  "Our basic philosophy is we have expressed that we would like to retain Michael and then, from there, we go silent," Wren said. "When we approach him, before or after the season, those are things we prefer not to talk about."
  • MLB.com's Mark Bowman doesn't think Bourn will re-sign with the Braves, believing that the team won't give a five-year deal "to a speed guy who will be 30 years old at the start of the contract."  Looking at Bourn as an extension candidate in January, MLBTR's Mike Axisa postulated that a five-year, $50MM contract would be fair for both sides.
  • Also from Bowman's online chat with fans, he thinks "at least one of" Jair Jurrjens or Martin Prado will be traded before Opening Day 2013 and that Brian McCann won't sign an extension with the Braves this year now that Yadier Molina's new deal with the Cardinals has changed the market for catchers.  Bowman isn't sure Atlanta will be able to afford a new deal for McCann, especially since AL teams can offer McCann the luxury of the DH spot in the latter years of a contract.
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports takes a somewhat pessimistic view of the Braves' 2011 season and their late-season collapse, wondering "what if last year’s first half was the aberration?"

Cole Hamels Links: Thursday

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Cole Hamels allowed four hits and recorded two strikeouts over 3 2/3 shutout innings today in a Spring Training start today against the Pirates.  Here's the latest on the possible 2013 free agent, as rumors continue to swirl about his long-term future with the Phillies…

  • John Boggs, Hamels' agent, has left Florida after having "several conversations" with Phillies management about an extension for the southpaw, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark.  "At this point, we're not going to discuss the negotiations," Boggs said.  "But I'm trying to remain positive. And that's all I'd like to say."  Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. also didn't comment on negotiations, as per club policy.
  • Jimmy Rollins tells CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury that he thinks the Phillies will spend whatever it takes to ensure that Hamels remains in Philadelphia. “He’s not going anywhere. He was drafted by this organization, raised by this organization and became a superstar in this organization," Rollins said.  "If you know anything about this organization, that means he’s not going anywhere….I don’t give a damn about the luxury tax or nothing. It’s not a financial situation. You sell out a hundred something straight games, they have plenty enough money to sign a pitcher like Cole Hamels."
  • Another of Hamels' teammates, Cliff Lee, weighed in on the importance of performing in a contract year, reports MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince.  "[Hamels] finally gets a chance to get what he's worth," Lee said. "You've finally got some control over your future and what's going to happen. It's an earned right. He's to that point. So, this year is obviously a big year for him."  

Greinke Plans To Hire An Agent After Season

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THURSDAY: Greinke will hire an agent if he reaches free agency next winter, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets.  The right-hander is open to discussing a long-term deal with the Brewers on his own.  Michael Weiner of the MLBPA told Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio that he's not concerned that Greinke doesn't have an agent (Twitter link).

WEDNESDAY: Zack Greinke plans to hire an agent, ESPN's Jim Bowden learned after talking with the Brewers righty on Sunday.  Greinke, one of the biggest names eligible for free agency after the 2012 season, has been without an agent for several months after leaving CAA.  According to Bowden, Greinke is expected to consider hiring Brodie Van Wagenen of CAA, Casey Close of Excel Sports Management, Adam Katz of Wasserman Media Group, and Seth Levinson of ACES.  With a potential $100MM contract on the way, competition will be fierce to represent Greinke.

In February, Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Bowden he and owner Mark Attanasio plan to discussion an extension with Greinke this spring.

Oswalt Open To Playing Anywhere

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Roy Oswalt spent most of the offseason telling teams that he'd prefer to sign close to his Mississippi home, but the free agent right-hander will now consider other opportunities. He's telling clubs he'll play anywhere, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (all Twitter links).

Oswalt said last month that he's looking at a possible midseason return and the probable timeline for a deal hasn't changed, according to Crasnick. By June Oswalt's kids will have finished school, and a potential move would be easier on his family at that point in the season. Oswalt's decision may depend on which contender needs pitching depth a few months from now, Crasnick writes.

Central Notes: Perkins, Quade, Luhnow

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Three of the four teams that reached last year's League Championship Series play in MLB's central divisions. Let's check in on the central with less than four weeks to go before Opening Day…

  • Glen Perkins will earn $2.5MM in 2013 and $3.75MM in 2014 and 2015 on his new extension with the Twins, Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune tweets. The deal includes a $4.5MM club option for 2016 with a $300K buyout.
  • Former Cubs manager Mike Quade told Yahoo’s Tim Brown that he may take the summer off, but will coach again eventually (Twitter link). The Cubs dismissed Quade early in the offseason before hiring Dale Sveum to manage the team.
  • Astros GM Jeff Luhnow apologized to Rangers president Nolan Ryan and GM Jon Daniels after saying last week that the Rangers spend on the international market “like drunken sailors.” Luhnow said his remarks were taken out of context, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. “It was not a dig against that organization because they’ve done a great job there,” Luhnow said.

Marlins Have Discussed Extension For Stanton

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11:42pm: The team hasn't yet reached out to Stanton about a potential contract extension, reports MLB.com's Peter Gammons (on Twitter).

8:13am: The Marlins have discussed the possibility of presenting Giancarlo Stanton with a "big, crooked" contract offer, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter). Wasserman Media Group represents Stanton, who isn't yet arbitration eligible.

When MLBTR's Mike Axisa examined the possibility of an extension for Stanton earlier this offseason, he pointed out that Justin Upton ($50MM), Jay Bruce ($51MM) and Carlos Gonzalez ($80MM) signed recent long-term deals that could be relevant to Stanton's case. We can now add Andrew McCutchen ($51.5MM) to the list as well.

Gonzalez, Upton, Bruce and McCutchen had accumulated two or more years of service time by the time they signed long-term, but Stanton has just one year and 118 days of MLB service at this point. He won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season.

Stanton's career power numbers and rate stats are comparable to the ones Gonzalez had when he signed a year ago, so Gonzalez's seven-year, $80MM contract could be a target for Stanton. If he signs long-term, his contract may include an escalator in case he qualifies for super two status following the 2012 season.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Mets Notes: Wright, Wilpon, Weiner

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The Mets, winners of 77 games a year ago, lost their franchise shortstop this offseason and lowered payroll by approximately $52MM. Here are some links pertaining to the team…

  • Mets GM Sandy Alderson told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that he’s looking forward to seeing what David Wright can do in 2012. “He is not trade bait,” Alderson said. “Is he part of the future? I hope the answer is yes. Let’s see how he bounces back this season.” As Sherman points out, third base in New York city is as uncertain as it’s been since 2004.
  • MLBPA leader Michael Weiner voiced support for Mets owner Fred Wilpon and his family in Mets camp today, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com writes. “The Wilpons want to win,” Weiner said
  • Weiner also said it’s good for the game if the Mets prosper, and not just because that would make them bidders for top players. “It’s not as narrow a concern as, ‘Well, we want the Dodgers or the Mets to be able to bid for free agents.’ If the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are prosperous, the game does better,” Weiner said.

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