Dan Duquette gave reporters (including MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli) a brief update on the state of Adam Jones' possible extension with the Orioles, saying that Jones was a "unique case" that led him to break his policy of not negotiating during the season. “There’s not a lot I can say about it, except I’m encouraged by the fact that Adam wants to stay in Baltimore, we would certainly like him to stay in Baltimore. And hopefully we can work something out here in the short-term," Duquette said. “I don’t have a real timeline on these things, but hopefully we can get something done.”
Some more from around the AL East…
- With Jones on the way to an extension, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters told reporters (including Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com) that he isn't concerned about a possible new contract for himself. MLBTR's Mike Axisa examined Wieters as an extension candidate in March, while MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith (via Twitter) speculates that a Wieters deal could be worth $30-35MM over four years.
- Also from Ben, he covered the Blue Jays and the Rays today in the latest instalments of MLBTR's 2013 Contract Issues series.
- Ross Ohlendorf has pitched well at Triple-A Pawtucket and is a strong candidate to be added to the Red Sox 40-man roster before June 1, writes WEEI.com's Alex Speier. Ohlendorf can opt out of his minor league deal with the Sox if he isn't on the 40-man by that date, though since he has a minor league option left, the team doesn't necessarily have to call him up to the majors.
- The Yankees have been relying on their veterans this season as their younger players have largely failed to step up, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. A "person who has worked with both" Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances tells Sherman that the two pitchers have a lack of command on their fastballs and "were overhyped" as prospects.
BradyAnderson
Wieters wont sign anywhere near 4/35…thats crazy talk son.
notsureifsrs
players with less than three years of service time don’t get market-rate salaries
BoSoXaddict
It’s still too low IMO.
BradyAnderson
Still low, especially with Boras. The gold glove alone warrants that price, and im sure they are counting on progressing offensive numbers from both sides of the plate.
notsureifsrs
montero just signed for 5/60 – all free agent years. wieters would be signing away three arb years in a 4/35 deal
boras is a good reason such a deal won’t be accepted, but it’s certainly not crazy talk
BradyAnderson
That shows the difference between offensive and defensive minded catchers.
Molina (GG, vastly defensive) – 5/75m
Montero (switch hit offensive, and not THAT great) – 5/60
Wieters (GG, arguably best defense in game, switch hitter with big offensive potential) – well see
granted, deals arent made on potential…and wieters has only either shown flashes of putting it all together, or separate seasons of monster numbers from opposite sides of the plate. i just feel that hes as sure fire to explode as anyone offensively having ceushed lefties and righties in different seasons. we shall see i guess
Jon Stark
Yadi has put together a couple really nice offensive seasons too. IT is unfair to cast his value as “vastly defensive.”
melonis_rex
it really doesn’t.
Molina and Montero were going to be free agents at the end of this season had they not signed their extensions.
Wieters isn’t a free agent until the end of the 2015 season (per Cot’s).
In other words, if the Orioles do nothing, they get him at arbitration rates, which are significantly cheaper than the deals Molina and Montero signed.
4/35 would be in line with what Wieters would get in arbitration for the next 3-4 years. If the O’s want to buy out free agent years (which I doubt Wieters/Boras would agree to), then they’ll be paying an AAV for those years similar to Montero/Molina’s.
BradyAnderson
i also think its a moot point, cause we’ll screw it up and wait to sign him after or during his breakout year. i feel that he and Boras probably have enough faith in his abilities to wait it out at least that long.
User 4245925809
Weiters is a lot better than Montero. With the bat and glove. Boras knows that and no chance he lets one of his upcoming poster children for ridiculous salary at a particular position go for close to market rate.
He knows can allow Weiters to just ‘walk” his way, ever so slowly upwards of 10m in 2-3 more seasons through the threat of arbitration alone and bust Molina’s 75m deal with ease.
Slopeboy
Joel Sherman’s piece is just another schlock article, written just to meet a deadline.
With A-Rod, Jeter,Tex,Granderson,Swisher,Ibanez,Jones, Kuroda,Rivera etc. What ‘younger’ players were the Yankees expecting to step-up?
Was anyone really expecting Gardner,Nunez,Pineda and Hughes to take the mantle and secure a championship? I don’t think so! The Yankees are a veteran or old team, if you like, with big long term contracts, which doesn’t leave room for many young players.Their triple A team is comprised of players that for the most are past the prospect stage and mostly are there for depth.
The rap against Betances and Banuelos is totally unfair and he knows it. As a beat writer he surely knows that both these ‘over-hyped’ pitchers were not expected to see any time with the big club until September, if at that. Both pitchers are seeing a full triple A season for the first time. So, that the Yanks are having to rely on their vets to carry the load is not news.
nick1538
So that is completely unbiased feedback?
Aaron Ebbs
Betances has thrown nearly 50 percent balls in most of his outings. Banuelas has battles injuries but Betances is awful.
JohnnyC
Sounds like sour grapes if it’s someone who “worked” with them (past tense). Wouldn’t surprise me it was Dave Eiland since KC just visited NYC this week. Wouldn’t want Sherman to actually develop a new source for his unnamed tips. Speaking of sour grapes…Sherman has a few stewing in his gut.