Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for March 2016

AL Notes: Desmond, Rangers, Perez, Altuve, Rollins

By | at

Ian Desmond’s path to the Rangers all began earlier in the offseason, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News writes. The club let him know that they would have interest on the off chance that Desmond couldn’t find a multi-year deal and was willing to move to the outfield, says Grant, and that indeed turned out to be the case. “Things can change,” GM Jon Daniels explained. “You have to be prepared. You never know when a domino might fall. If you have any interest in that player, you have to express that early on.” Daniels has also made clear that he doesn’t believe there will be any difficulty in sorting out playing time when Josh Hamilton is ready to return.

Here’s more from Texas and the rest of the American League:

  • Rangers co-owner Ray Davis discussed his organization today, and Grant has the story. Most notably, he said that the club can still add payroll for a mid-season addition after signing Desmond. As for that move, he explained: “It was a matter of need and Jon Daniels and Thad Levine finding a way to do things creatively. They came to us and proposed a creative deal. For me, this is a process where nobody other than the baseball people make the player decision. My only role is an economic one. They have a plan and decision they make long before they come to me.”
  • Royals catcher Salvador Perez is excited at his new deal and hopes he’ll spend the rest of his career in Kansas City, writes Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star. From the team’s perspective, despite a team-friendly contract already being in place, it made sense to swing another deal. “We went into Salvy’s previous deal with expectations that obviously he was going to be a terrific player,” said GM Dayton Moore. “We’ve always believed in him — as a talent, as a person, as a teammate. And he’s out-performed that contract. He’s an underpaid player in the game.” Noting the sacrifice that Gil Meche made when he left money upon departing the team, Moore explained that the motivation extended beyond pure baseball economics. “You focus on what’s right for Sal,” Moore said. “We’ve said from day one, that we want to create an organization that we’d want our own sons and family to be a part of. Well, Salvy’s family.”
  • Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wonders whether other clubs will follow suit in rewarding underpaid players. He cites Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks, Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs, Jose Altuve of the Astros, Chris Sale of the White Sox, Madison Bumgarner of the Giants, and Chris Archer of the Rays as others on team-friendly pacts. From my perspective, most of those players line up more as traditional second extension candidates, in that their teams may well see some value in doubling down on their investments in the way that has occurred in the past for Troy Tulowitzki, Evan Longoria, Ryan Braun, Ryan Zimmerman, and others.
  • As for Altuve, the Astros aren’t currently holding extension talks, according to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle. Like his friend Perez, Altuve has greatly outperformed his own contract, which would stand to pay him just $25MM if Houston exercises its two options. As Drellich notes, though, Altuve would still stand to hit the market at 29 years of age and probably has a better chance at longevity than does Perez.
  • White Sox skipper Robin Ventura says that he envisions Jimmy Rollins making the club out of camp, as Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune tweets. “I expect him to make the team, unless something happens physically where it wouldn’t work,” said Ventura.

Poll: The Last QO-Bound Position Player Signings

By | at

The impact of the qualifying offer remains a hot topic around baseball, and it’s hard to deny the effects on several veterans this winter. In many ways, the biggest difficulty faced may not just be a pure reduction in price, but the alteration of the market development for players saddled with draft pick compensation.

Ultimately, there were bargains to be found late in the winter. That’s exemplified, perhaps, by the experiences of the last three QO-bound position players to sign this offseason: Howie Kendrick, Dexter Fowler, and Ian Desmond. All had reasonable expectations of significant, multi-year deals, but it did not work out that way in practice.

Kendrick ultimately went back to the Dodgers for two years and $20MM. He was something of a luxury for a club that already had numerous options installed in the infield, but space was created when the price dropped.

At one point, Fowler seemed ticketed for the Orioles on a three-year pact, but ultimately returned to the Cubs on a $13MM guarantee. As with Kendrick, Fowler was an opportunistic re-addition for the team that had originally extended him the qualifying offer.

As for Desmond, things shaped up in an even more curious way. He sat back as players with lesser recent stat lines, such as Alexei Ramirez and Asdrubal Cabrera, inked deals with clubs willing to install them as regular shortstops. Desmond ultimately settled for just $8MM on a one-year term to play the outfield for the Rangers.

Texas also gave up the 19th overall draft pick in the Desmond transaction. Los Angeles and Chicago, meanwhile, sacrificed the ability to obtain compensation. Of course, all of those teams will have a chance to cash in an additional draft choice if they extend qualifying offers to these players when their deals expire.

So, we’ll pose the following question to MLBTR’s readers: which of these deals represents the best late-breaking investment for these teams?

Minor MLB Transactions: 3/2/16

By | at

We’ll keep tabs on the day’s minor moves in this post …

  • First baseman Efren Navarro has signed with the Mariners on a minor league deal, as Shannon Drayer of Seattle’s 710AM ESPN reports on Twitter. He had been acquired by the Orioles from the Angels earlier this winter, but was ultimately cut loose by Baltimore. The 29-year-old reached the majors with Los Angeles in four of the last five years, though he saw only 280 total plate appearances. All told, he owns only a .246/.303/.324 slash in the majors. But Navarro has a lengthy track record at the Triple-A level, where he’s compiled a .316/.378/.449 batting line.
  • The Rangers have reached a minor league deal with righty Anthony Carter that would pay him $600K at the major league level, MLBTR’s Steve Adams reports (Twitter links). Carter underwent shoulder surgery last summer, but is said to be healthy at present. The 29-year-old last saw competitive action in 2014 in Japan, where he turned in 45 1/3 frames of 3.95 ERA pitching with 6.6 K/9 against 4.8 BB/9.

International Notes: Rays, Lazarito, Padres, La O, Rodriguez, Heredia

By | at

Major League Baseball announced today that the Rays will play an exhibition game against the Cuban National Team in Havana, Cuba on March 22, thus marking the first time an MLB club has visited the island since the Orioles played an exhibition game there in March of 1999. (Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times first broke the news that plans had been finalized.) “During a time of historic change, we appreciate the constructive role afforded by our shared passion for the game, and we look forward to experiencing Cuba’s storied baseball tradition and the passion of its many loyal fans,” said commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement announcing the game. Added MLBPA executive director Tony Clark: “We thank the Cuban National Team and all involved in hosting this game, as we are very excited to return to Havana to continue our efforts to strengthen the ties between our countries through our love and passion for the game of baseball.”

As the Rays gear up for a historic trip to Havana, here are a few notes pertaining to some of the top Cuban talent in the world…

  • The Padres are now the favorites to sign Cuban prospect Lazaro Armenteros, according to Baseball America’s Ben Badler (subscription required but highly recommended), though he notes that the Braves and Dodgers both have some interest. However, Badler notes that the player known as “Lazarito” has been “the subject of some of the most extreme sensationalism in public reports,” and ranks the 16-year-old 11th on his list of the top 15 Cuban players available to Major League clubs. Lazarito would add to what appears to be a potentially significant class of 2016-17 international prospects for San Diego, as Badler and ESPN’s Eric Longenhagen have both previously reported the Friars as the favorites to sign 19-year-old outfielder Jorge Ona (fourth on today’s rankings from Badler) and 17-year-old lefty Adrian Morejon (10th). It’s worth noting, too, that Badler isn’t downplaying Lazarito’s talent entirely; he does write that Lazarito’s talent is “right up there” with the other top international prospects that have signed in the 2015-16 international class, so the implication is merely that the “phenom” labels that have been placed on Lazarito are an overstatement.
  • Third baseman Luis Yander La O, currently a bonus-pool-exempt free agent, did not perform particularly well at a February showcase that was also impacted by poor weather, Badler notes in his rankings. La O still landed eighth on Badler’s list, but he notes that La O may schedule another showcase in an effort to put on a better show for interested clubs.
  • The Reds have seemingly changed course in their pursuit of shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez and will convince him to wait until July to sign, Badler reports while ranking Rodriguez 12th on his list. Had Cincinnati signed Rodriguez for his the $6MM bonus that was reported back in January, they’d have been barred from signing international amateurs for any more than $300K in each of the next two signing periods. Badler notes that as compensation for making Rodriguez wait, however, the Reds might end up giving him an even more sizable bonus than that $6MM sum (which, of course, will come with a 100 percent luxury tax).
  • Guillermo Heredia’s previously reported deal with the Mariners became official today, per a club announcement. Heredia signed a one-year, Major League contract with the Mariners that will pay him the league minimum salary, as Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports. At the time of the signing, details on the contract were vague and did not specify whether Heredia had secured a Major League deal or a minor league deal. He’s been added to the 40-man roster, according to the Mariners, with Jesus Sucre being shifted to the 60-day DL in order to clear a spot. For what it’s worth, Badler noted in the aforementioned piece that the Mariners got “a terrific bargain” on Heredia, even with questions about his bat. Badler has previously noted that Heredia is a plus defender in center field with good speed.

NL East Notes: Cuddyer, Arroyo, Badenhop, Hernandez

By | at

While some believed that Michael Cuddyer’s retirement saved the Mets the full $12.5MM he was owed for the 2016 season, that’s not the case, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post. Cuddyer was paid a buyout in the range of $2-3MM, according to Puma. GM Sandy Alderson told reporters today that he’d still have been able to pursue Yoenis Cespedes this offseason even if Cuddyer had remained with the club, though he did acknowledge that some of the Mets’ other moves might not have been realistic. The Mets made small to mid-range signings of Jerry Blevins ($4MM), Alejandro De Aza ($5.75MM), Bartolo Colon ($7.25MM), Antonio Bastardo ($12MM) and Asdrubal Cabrera ($18.5MM) on the free-agent market this offseason.

A few more items pertaining to the NL East…

  • Nationals right-hander Bronson Arroyo hopes to crack the rotation and return to the Majors this season, but he’ll receive some notice if that’s not likely to be the case, he told reporters yesterday (Twitter link via Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post). Arroyo’s deal stipulates that the Nationals inform him whether he’s made the team five days before Spring Training ends, presumably in order to allow him to latch on elsewhere if he doesn’t make the club in D.C. It’s been more than 18 months since Arroyo last pitched in a big league game after undergoing Tommy John surgery with the D-backs.
  • Right-hander Burke Badenhop spoke with Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post about the feeling of being a veteran player in camp hoping to win a roster spot. Badenhop explained that he landed with the Nationals in part because they showed a greater sense of urgency when pursuing him than other clubs, and also because playing for a contender with a number of experienced players held appeal to him. Interestingly, Badenhop tells Janes that he’s learned manager Dusty Baker is quite familiar with him; Baker revealed to Badenhop that the Reds tried to trade for him when Baker was managing the club. Assistant GM Doug Harris told Janes that Badenhop gives hitters a different look than the rest of their current ’pen candidates, which could be a point in his favor this spring.
  • David Hernandez looks to be the favorite to serve as the Phillies’ closer this season, writes MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. Hernandez’s very presence in Phillies camp might’ve seemed improbable to him several months ago, as he kicked off the winter by telling his agent he hoped to sign with a West Coast club that played its spring games in Arizona. However, Hernandez inked a one-year deal with an East Coast club that plays Spring Training in Florida, in part because the Phillies told him he could end up with an opportunity to close. Hernandez signed shortly before the trade of Ken Giles to the Astros, and as Zolecki notes, the club likely knew full well that a trade of Giles could come together in the near future, helping to stock the farm with young talent and create an opportunity for a free-agent to inherit the ninth inning role.

NL West Notes: Sierra, Coors Field, Pence, Ravin

By | at

Right-hander Yaisel Sierra has been cleared to begin workouts with the Dodgers now that his deal has become official, tweets Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Interestingly, Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times writes that manager Dave Roberts said Sierra is being viewed as a reliever and not as a starting pitcher. That affords Sierra a more easily accessible path to the Majors — the Dodgers’ rotation is rife with options, including Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir, Kenta Maeda, Alex Wood, Mike Bolsinger and rehabbing starters Hyun-jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy — but also serves to limit the immediate return on investment the Dodgers will receive. Sierra, of course, could be shifted into the rotation in future seasons.

Here’s more from the NL West…

  • The Rockies announced today that they will raise the fences at Coors Field, as Nick Groke of the Denver Post writes. The wall in right-center field will be raised by eight feet, nine inches in order to match the out-of-town scoreboard, Groke notes, and the wall straight down the left-field line will see an increase from five feet to 13 feet. Players offered some mixed reviews on the move, Groke writes, as Carlos Gonzalez didn’t seem worried that he’d lose many home runs. Charlie Blackmon, though, wasn’t pleased with the idea of losing a few of his homers or the fact that he and his outfield-mates will need to deal with new caroms off the walls.
  • An MRI on the Achilles tendon of Giants right fielder Hunter Pence revealed only inflammation as opposed to any sort of structural damage, tweets Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. Pence will be sidelined for a week of Spring Training but appears to have escaped any serious injury that could’ve impacted his availability for Opening Day.
  • Dodgers right-hander Josh Ravin suffered a fractured left forearm in a car accident yesterday, writes MLB.com’s Barry Bloom. The 28-year-old Ravin required surgery on Tuesday to repair the injury. As Bloom notes, Ravin was somewhat of a long shot to make the big league roster this spring due to the number of pitchers on the Dodgers’ roster, though his blistering fastball certainly made him an intriguing option. Ravin averaged 97.1 mph on his heater in 9 1/3 innings with the Dodgers last season and also whiffed 38 hitters in 28 Triple-A innings.

Aroldis Chapman Receives 30-Game Suspension

By | at

Newly-acquired Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman has been hit with a thirty-game suspension arising out of an investigation into domestic violence allegations, Billy Witz of the New York Times reports (links to Twitter).

The power lefty will not appeal the decision, which is the first issued by commissioner Rob Manfred under the domestic violence agreement entered into between MLB and the player’s association. In a statement, Manfred said that he determined Chapman’s behavior on the night in question to be “inappropriate … particularly his use of a firearm and the impact of that behavior on his partner.” He also expressed that he is pleased that Chapman chose to take responsibility and forgo an appeal.

Feb 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) poses for a photo during photo day at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In his own statement, Chapman confirmed that he will not appeal. (Via Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, on Facebook.) He continued: “I want to be clear, I did not in any way harm my girlfriend that evening. However, I should have exercised better judgment with respect to certain actions, and for that I am sorry.” In deciding against appeal, said Chapman, he sought “to minimize the distractions that an appeal would cause the Yankees, my new teammates and most importantly, my family.”

The outcome represents an important marker as Major League Baseball seeks to be proactive in addressing the types of domestic violence incidents that have recently plagued the NFL. Certainly, it sets a notable precedent as the league goes on to consider the case of Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes, who is currently set for trial after allegedly striking his wife. Reyes was recently placed on paid leave while his case is resolved.

For its part, the MLBPA expressed support for Chapman’s “decision to forgo his right to an appeal” in a written statement. It noted that the union “and its members do not condone the mistreatment of others by playing or non-playing personnel,” but nevertheless “remains committed to protecting and ensuring the rights granted to Players” in the domestic violence policy.

Needless to say, it’s been an eventful winter for the Cuban fireballer, who was reportedly ticketed for the Dodgers until the swap was scuttled. Reports later emerged that he had been involved in a dispute with his girlfriend at his residence. He was not arrested at the time, and charges were not brought, but the league pursued an investigation under its new protocol.

Chapman was ultimately shipped from the Reds to the Yankees at a discounted rate. He avoided arbitration for $11.325MM, but he’ll lose $1.856MM of that sum over the life of his punishment. The length of the suspension will not, however, be enough to prevent the ace reliever from qualifying for free agency after the coming season. Chapman will be eligible to participate in Spring Training games, per the report. He will, however, be required to submit to ongoing meetings with a treatment board and could be required to submit to counseling and forfeiture of weapons (including firearms).

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AL East Notes: Fowler, Markakis, Estrada, Cessa, Murphy

By and | at

In a recent interview on MLB Network Radio (Twitter links), Orioles executive Dan Duquette further responded to recent comments by agent Casey Close regarding the Dexter Fowler talks. “It would’ve been a good fit for us. We’re disappointed the deal didn’t come together [but] that’s the way it goes sometimes,” Duquette said. Duquette went on to say that he was puzzled by the statement and he didn’t quite understand why Close was upset. “When you show sincere interest in a player, it helps him get a better deal,” said the Orioles GM.

Here’s more out of Baltimore and the rest of the AL East:

  • The Orioles tried to open a conversation with the Braves about bringing back former right fielder Nick Markakis, Peter Gammons of GammonsDaily.com tweets. But Atlanta seemingly showed little interest in trying to work out a swap, per the report.
  • The qualifying offer had an impact not only on Fowler, but also on one player who never fully tested the market: Marco Estrada, who struck a two-year deal to remain with the Blue Jays. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca looks at the different experiences of Estrada and fellow Toronto signee J.A. Happ, who says he had interest from a dozen clubs on the first day of free agency. Estrada, meanwhile, says he “didn’t get a chance to really go through that process.” He added that he “probably should have done a better job of” assessing his market during his week-long consideration of the QO, and wishes he “could have gotten more years” in his deal, but ultimately says he’s happy to return to the Jays and was able to enjoy a more relaxing offseason after his early deal.
  • Yankees righty Luis Cessa will get a shot to make it as a starter after being involved in several prominent trades, as Ken Davidoff of the New York Post writes. GM Brian Cashman said that adding Cessa and Chad Green in exchange for Justin Wilson was about getting quality pitchers who provide the team with options. “We think he has starter capability, just like we think Green has starter capability,” Cashman said. “And then if not, all failed starters go to the pen. We feel we acquired, in Cessa’s case, a strike-thrower with a good arm.”
  • Newly-signed Red Sox outfielder David Murphy says that it’s “surreal” to return to the Boston organization, as Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports. Murphy says he knew he “was going to have to be patient” this winter, but nevertheless was surprised with how quiet market turned out to be. But he says he’s ready to “turn the page” on his disappointing winter and is looking forward to trying to crack the roster with the Red Sox — or, failing that, another club.

Brad Ausmus On Tigers’ Offseason

By | at

After four consecutive AL Central titles, the Tigers’ streak came to an end in 2015.  Eager to get back to the business of hoisting championship banners, Detroit got to work in the winter and landed some serious upgrades on the open market.  From signing Jordan Zimmermann to a five-year, $110MM deal in November to landing Justin Upton on a six-year, $132.75MM commitment in January, the Tigers went all out to ensure that they would be in position to return to the postseason once again. Brad Ausmus (vertical)

If the Tigers’ major additions took you somewhat by surprise this offseason, then you weren’t alone.  Detroit manager Brad Ausmus didn’t necessarily expect things to work out this way, either.

“I knew what the plan was.  It’s a lot easier to make a plan than it is to execute a plan,” Ausmus told MLBTR and other reporters on Tuesday morning at Joker Marchant Stadium.  “I knew that we were going to be aggressive in terms of trying to sign free agents, but we were probably much more successful in doing it than I would have anticipated.  It’s easy to talk about, it’s much more difficult to follow through on.  But, it worked well.”

Ausmus addressed reporters outside of the clubhouse where players were having a private union meeting.  With the MLBPA on-hand, the Collective Bargaining Agreement was fresh on everyone’s minds.  One of the key issues in the next round of CBA talks is expected to be the Qualifying Offer system and the union is expected to fight for an overhaul given how it has negatively impacted several notable players.

During his playing days, Ausmus served as a union representative, but he could not recall what year he was serving in that capacity or whether he added much in MLBPA meetings.  The former catcher says he was mostly an observer in “the back of the room” during some of the more substantive discussions taking place in the early 90s.  In 2016, six years removed from playing in the majors, he’s not terribly interested in offering up his opinion on the QO.  Still, he had to concede that the oft-criticized system helped lead one of the offseason’s top position players to Detroit.

“It might have helped us in the sense that [Justin Upton] was still out there in late January.  Without the [draft pick] compensation system, I guess there may have been more teams that would have been involved earlier.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows FOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top