SUNDAY: Ogando has elected to become a free agent, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes has learned.
FRIDAY: The Red Sox announced a series of moves this afternoon, including the re-signing of catcher Sandy Leon. Boston also outrighted several players off of its 40-man roster (joining Ryan Cook, who was claimed by the Cubs).
Leon was given a major league deal, but simultaneously was outrighted off of the 40-man roster to Triple-A. He’ll earn $534K in the big leagues and $273K in the minors, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports (Twitter links). The move was obviously conceived of as a mechanism to keep him around as a back-up plan behind the plate without committing a 40-man roster spot.
Meanwhile, Boston has outrighted first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig along with relievers Alexi Ogando and Jean Machi. Craig, of course, is still playing under a significant extension and has now twice been outrighted off of the team’s big league roster. Ogando and Machi were both eligible for arbitration — with MLBTR projecting salaries of $2.4MM and $900K, respectively. Obviously, the club was not interested in committing to that level of pay to the pair of righties.
Jeff–Is Craig stuck either accepting the assignment or walking away from the contract because of service time considerations?
I was curious of this myself so I looked it up. Since he’s vet he can’t be sent to the minors without his consent. If he refuses the assignment the Sox either have to put him on the major league roster or release him. Regardless, he agreed to a contract and that contract will still be valid.
I get that Craig can demand to be released the question is if Craig does that, does he give up the right to receive the millions left on the contract.
found this on MLBTR from May, when he was sent down ‘Craig, technically, has the right to refuse his outright assignment, but doing so would mean forfeiting the money remaining on his contract, so he’ll remain with Triple-A Pawtucket in hopes of rediscovering his stroke.”
Craig probably forfeits the remaining money on his deal if he asks to be released. His best bet is to probably accept the assignment, get healthy in the offseason, and showcase himself in the spring and beginning of next season.
I assumed that he forfeits the money if he demands his release, but was wondering if anyone actually knew that was the case.
So long, OH God, NO!