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Archives for February 2016

D-Backs Exercise Chip Hale’s 2017 Option

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8:07pm: Arizona has exercised its option over Hale for 2017, Jon Heyman reports (Twitter links). As things stand, though, there’s no new contract.

3:06pm: The Diamondbacks and manager Chip Hale have agreed to a contract extension that will run through “at least” the 2017 season, reports Jon Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Hale had been entering the final guaranteed season of a contract that included a club option for the 2017 season.

Hale, 51, initially signed a two-year deal with the Diamondbacks in what has been his first stint as a big league manager. Hale, a former utility infielder for the Twins and Dodgers from 1989-97, does have extensive experience on Major League coaching staffs, however, and had previously managed at the minor league level as well. Hale led the 2015 Diamondbacks to a 79-win season — a better outcome than many anticipated. The D-backs, in fact were within striking distance of the division lead as late into the season as Aug. 23, when the club sat five games out of first place.

Expectations will be wildly different for Hale as he enters his second season at the helm in Arizona. While few pegged them to even sniff the .500 mark last season, Arizona’s high-octane offseason included the signings of Zack Greinke and Tyler Clippard as well as a blockbuster trade for Shelby Miller. With Greinke and Miller atop the rotation and a full year of Patrick Corbin, who missed the beginning of the 2015 season recovering from 2014 Tommy John surgery, Arizona’s front office has placed pressure on its field staff and player personnel to deliver not only a winning club, but one that can contend for a postseason berth in what should be a competitive NL West division.

MLBTR Podcast: Giants Second Baseman Joe Panik

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All-Star Giants second baseman Joe Panik joins host Jeff Todd on this week’s edition to discuss his offseason rehab from a back injury, the development of his power at the plate, and how his background as a finance major impacts how he follows contractual matters in baseball. Panik offers insight into his incorporation of statistical analysis in his day-to-day preparation for opposing pitchers and also shares fond memories of retired teammates Jeremy Affeldt and Tim Hudson as well as a story of an influential conversation with teammate Hunter Pence early in his career. Following that, MLBTR’s Steve Adams hops on the show to discuss some of the most glaring team needs from around the league that, to this point, haven’t been addressed.

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The MLB Trade Rumors Podcast runs weekly on Thursday afternoons.

AL Central Notes: Harrell, Uribe, Freese, Stammen, Hunter

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Here’s the latest out of the AL Central:

  • The Tigers were said to be looking around at depth arms to bring into camp, per MLB.com’s Jason Beck (Twitter links), with former big leaguer Lucas Harrell among those under consideration. But the team’s addition of righty Bobby Parnell likely rounds out the organization’s pitching moves heading into camp, per Beck. It seems that the 30-year-old Harrell will look to catch on with another club. He spent last year pitching in Korea, racking up 171 2/3 innings of 4.93 ERA pitching with 7.9 K/9 and 5.7 BB/9.
  • Third base remains an area of focus for the Indians with camp opening, MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian reports. Cleveland is still monitoring the free agent market, with both Juan Uribe and David Freese potentially under consideration. As Bastian notes, Giovanny Urshela showed the ability to man the hot corner last year, but failed to demonstrate a similar readiness at the plate.
  • Meanwhile, the Indians don’t appear to be expecting either Craig Stammen or Tommy Hunter to be ready for Opening Day, manager Terry Francona told reporters including Bastian (Twitter links). It seems that Stammen may actually be slightly ahead in his timeline than Hunter. Of course, he’ll still need to earn a roster spot since he signed a minor league deal.

AL East Notes: Hunter, Chapman, Rays, Ramirez

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The Yankees have, rather notably, failed to sign a single free agent to a major league contract this winter. But that doesn’t mean the team hasn’t tried. In fact, the team had a two-year deal for between $11.5MM and $12MM in place with righty Tommy Hunter, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. But an unidentified issue cropped up in his physical, leading the club to blow up the deal (the timing of which is unclear). Hunter ultimately received just $2MM in guaranteed money from the Indians, of course, though that perhaps also reflected the fact that he needed core muscle surgery in early January and will miss the start of the season.

Here’s more from New York and the rest of the AL East:

  • The Yankees’ opportunistic acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, in the midst of a still-ongoing investigation into domestic violence allegations, raises some hard and uncomfortable questions for the organization, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports writes. Meanwhile, New York is still waiting to learn what kind of punishment may be doled out, Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News reports. Indeed, the club is not even sure when it will be informed of a decision. Chapman himself says that he has been interviewed by the league and would appeal any suspension, Passan tweets.
  • Rays president of baseball operations Mathew Silverman indicated that he’s not ruling out trade activity this spring, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Silverman explains that the “transaction window is open longer” now than in the past, with other organizations seeming to show an increased willingness to strike deals during camp.
  • While the Red Sox are optimistic that Hanley Ramirez can be a productive contributor at first base, writes ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, the club has ways to fill in if the experiment fails. Of course, as Olney notes, there’s plenty of time for assessment before any tough choices are made.

Nationals To Sign Burke Badenhop

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The Nationals have struck a minor league deal with veteran reliever Burke Badenhop, Jonah Keri reports on Twitter. He’ll receive an invite to MLB camp this spring.

Badenhop, who just turned 33, hit the open market when the Reds declined a club option at the start of the offseason. He didn’t turn in his finest campaign in his single season in Cincinnati, working to a 3.93 ERA with 4.9 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, and a 46.7% groundball rate. But he was much better after a rough opening run to the season.

That overall output fell shy of the good work Badenhop provided in the 2012-14 period. Over 195 1/3 innings logged in that span, he posted a cumulative 2.90 ERA while inducing grounders on over half of the balls put in play against him (topping out at 61% in 2014).

While he’ll have to earn his position on the Nats roster, the 6’5 sinkerballer should have his fair share of opportunity. Washington has reworked its entire pen, and still seems to have some slots up for grabs. Badenhop will likely compete with fellow veterans Yusmeiro Petit and Matt Belisle, along with younger incumbents such as Blake Treinen and Felipe Rivero, to round out the relief corps.

(By the way, if you’re interested in learning more about Badenhop, check out the interview he gave on the MLBTR Podcast last winter.)

Royals Sign Barmes, Duensing, Ohlendorf To Minor League Deals

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2:39pm: Duensing would receive a $2MM base salary upon making the club, tweets Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

1:35pm: The Royals announced that they have signed infielder Clint Barmes, left-hander Brian Duensing and right-hander Ross Ohlendorf to minor league contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training.

Barmes, 37 in March, will compete for a job as a backup infielder in Kansas City. The 13-year veteran spent the 2015 season with the Padres and struggled at the plate, batting just .232/.281/.353 in 224 plate appearances. Barmes has never been too much of a threat with the bat, as his .231/.285/.340 slash over the past five seasons indicates, but he has an excellent defensive reputation and can serve as a backup at either shortstop or second base if necessary. Omar Infante and his contract are entrenched at second base, while Alcides Escobar is slated to man shortstop and Christian Colon figures to be the primary utility option, but Barmes could play his way onto the roster with a solid spring showing.

Duensing, 33 this weekend, is an Omaha native and former college roommate of Royals icon Alex Gordon from the pair’s days at the University of Nebraska. He’s spent his entire career with the Twins since being selected in the third round of the 2005 draft. After struggling as a starter early on, Duensing carved out a spot as a lefty reliever and put up solid bottom-line numbers with Minnesota in 2013-14, logging a 3.67 ERA with 6.9 K/9 against 3.3 BB/9. However, he slipped to a 4.25 ERA last season and averaged just 4.4 K/9 against 3.9 BB/9 in 48 2/3 innings with the Twins. If Duensing lands with the Royals out of camp, it’ll likely be due to his ability to control left-handed hitters; opposing southpaws have managed just a .238/.289/.325 batting line against him throughout his career, although the flipside of that is that righties have roughed him up at a .292/.352/.462 clip. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN reports (on Twitter) that Duensing’s contract can max out at $2.6MM if he’s in the Majors all season, though the specifics of his base salary aren’t known.

The 33-year-old Ohlendorf spent the 2015 season with the Rangers, posting a 3.72 ERA in 19 1/3 innings out of the Texas bullpen to go along with a 4.17 ERA in 36 2/3 innings for Triple-A Round Rock. Ohlendorf spent a pair of seasons in the Pirates’ rotation from 2009-10 but struggled with the Bucs in 2011 and continued to struggle with the Padres in 2012. He’s enjoyed reasonable success as a swingman in his past two big league stints — 3.39 ERA in 79 2/3 innings between the Nats and Rangers — and will look to land a similar job with the defending World Series champs in 2016.

Rockies Claim Tony Wolters From Indians

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The Rockies announced that they have claimed catcher/infielder Tony Wolters off waivers from the Indians. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, right-hander Adam Ottavino (who is recovering from Tommy John surgery) has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post first reported that the waiver claim would happen (Twitter link).

Wolters, 23, was a third-round pick of the Indians back in 2010 and spent the 2015 season with Cleveland’s Double-A affiliate, where he struggled to a .209/.290/.280 batting line in 271 plate appearances. However, he brings a rare skill-set to the table, as a former shortstop that shifted behind the plate in 2013 but still plays the middle infield on occasion. Wolters is a career .258/.335/.349 hitter in the minors, and he consistently rated among Cleveland’s top 30 prospects in the eyes of Baseball America from 2010-15. BA noted last winter that the move behind the plate didn’t do his offense any favors, but the Rockies will attempt to get his bat back up to speed in an effort to eventually reap the benefits of Wolters’ rare breed of defensive versatility.

Nick Punto Retires

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Veteran infielder Nick Punto has decided to officially retire, he announced last night on Dodgers Talk with David Vassegh (audio link). Punto signed a minor league deal with the D-backs last offseason but had a change of heart and backed out of the deal and sat out the 2015 season due to a desire to spend more time with his family. While Arizona manager Chip Hale stressed at the time that Punto was not retiring, it seems that the versatile utility man has now elected to formally conclude his playing career after spending parts of 14 seasons in the Majors.

The 38-year-old Punto was originally a 21st-round pick of the Phillies back in 1998 and saw limited action in Philly from 2001-03 before being packaged alongside Carlos Silva and Bobby Korecky to acquire lefty Eric Milton from the Twins. Punto served as a utility option for the Twins in 2004-05 before spending much of the 2006 season as Minnesota’s everyday third baseman and batting .290/.352/.373 with brilliant defense in what was the best all-around season of his career. Punto helped propel the Twins to a postseason berth that year — one of four trips to the playoffs he had with that organization — but it wasn’t until his 2011 campaign with the Cardinals that Punto was able to reach a World Series and experience the feeling of capturing a World Series title.

Punto’s overall offensive contributions in his Major League career were modest, at best, as he’ll retire with a .245/.323/.323 batting line in 3734 plate appearances between the Phillies, Twins, Cardinals, Red Sox, Dodgers and Athletics. However, Punto was a brilliant defender at three different positions: third base (+40 Defensive Runs Saved, +20.6 UZR/150 in his career), shortstop (+21 DRS, +17.4 UZR/150) and second base (+21 DRS, +5.7 UZR/150). Punto brought plenty of speed to the table, as evidenced by his 104 career steals, and he was known for his competitive nature and hard-nosed style of play, which earned him his nickname: “The Shredder.” That attitude and his brilliant defense helped Punto to earn more than $23MM in his playing career, per Baseball-Reference. We at MLBTR wish Punto and his family continued success and happiness in his post-playing endeavors.

Hoops Rumors Has Your NBA Trade Deadline Coverage

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Head on over to Hoops Rumors for our NBA trade deadline coverage!  The specter of a Dwight Howard trade is once more in play around the NBA as several deals are already going down in advance of today’s 2pm central trade deadline. The Cavs are acquiring Channing Frye from the Magic, who had flirted with sending him to the Clippers instead. In order to snag Frye, Cleveland parted with longtime LeBron James confidant Anderson Varejao.

The Thunder are also bolstering their bench, while the Pistons made another big move for a power forward, landing Donatas Motiejunas from the Rockets for a package that included a first-round pick.

Hoops Rumors will continue to update you as the trades, signings and other moves take place through the deadline and beyond.  You can follow on Twitter @hoopsrumors.

Royals Extend Ned Yost, Dayton Moore

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The Royals announced on Thursday that they have extended the contracts of manager Ned Yost and GM Dayton Moore. Yost will receive a two-year extension through the 2018 season, while the length of Moore’s contract was not disclosed.

Both Yost and Moore had been entering the final seasons of their respective contracts, with Yost having signed a one-year extension prior to the 2015 season and Moore having inked a two-year deal spanning the 2015-16 campaigns. Fresh off a World Series victory in 2015, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to see ownership lock up its top baseball operations decision-maker and on-field leader.

Yost, 61, is entering his sixth full season as manager of the Royals and also managed the club for about three quarters of the 2010 season as well. In his time with Kansas City, he’s compiled a 468-469 record, although the team has clearly taken a turn for the better in the past two seasons, as evidenced by a pair of World Series appearances (and their 2015 victory in that regard). Yost has drawn his share of criticism for his bullpen management and penchant for bunting, though his supporters will be quick to point out that the on-field results speak far louder than the critics. Yost is beloved among his players, as many of them explained to the New York Times’ Bruce Schoenfeld at the end of the regular season in 2015, and he’ll now be presented with the opportunity to guide the Royals back to the postseason for at least three more seasons.

As for Moore, he’s been the club’s general manager since the 2006 season. Moore made a name for himself as an executive with the Braves and was thought to be a GM-in-waiting. With Moore atop Kansas City’s baseball ops hierarchy, the team has drafted the likes of Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, traded for Lorenzo Cain, James Shields and Wade Davis, and signed free agents such as Kendrys Morales, Edinson Volquez and Jason Vargas. Of course, like any GM, Moore has had his misses (Jose Guillen, Omar Infante and a number of others would all be fair game to point out), but the Royals appear poised for a sustained run as contenders thanks in large part to their now-signature brand of baseball — defense, speed, contact and elite relief pitching — that is largely attributable to the two men whose contracts were extended today.

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