Players Avoiding Arbitration: Friday

« Indians, Stubbs Avoid Arbitration | Main | Blue Jays Notes: Reyes, Lyon, Happ »

Dozens of players will agree to terms with their respective teams today and avoid arbitration. We'll have detailed posts on the top earners around MLB, and we'll track more modest agreements -- those worth less than $4MM -- right here. MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker will have all of the details.

Teams have until 12pm CDT today to exchange filing numbers with their arbitration eligible players. Generally speaking the deadline creates lots of discussion and leads to early deals. Plus, for 'file and trial' teams this marks the final chance for negotiations in advance of a hearing. Here are the latest agreements from around MLB...

• The Indians avoided arbitration with Lou Marson, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports (Twitter links). The catcher will earn $1MM on a one-year deal in 2013.

---

Indians, Stubbs Avoid Arbitration

« Padres Avoid Arbitration With Thatcher, Cabrera | Main | Players Avoiding Arbitration: Friday »

The Indians avoided arbitration with Drew Stubbs, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter). The LSW Baseball client will earn $2.825MM in 2013 on a deal that includes $50K in performance bonuses.

Stubbs had a projected salary of $2.9MM following a season in which he posted a .213/.277/.333 batting line with 14 home runs in 544 plate appearances as Cincinnati's starting center fielder. The Indians acquired the 28-year-old from the Reds in a three-team trade last month.

As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, the Indians have six outstanding arb cases. Matt Albers, Mike Aviles, Lou Marson, Justin Masterson, Chris Perez and Joe Smith remain eligible.

---

Blue Jays Notes: Reyes, Lyon, Happ

« Players Avoiding Arbitration: Friday | Main

Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos introduced Jose Reyes in Toronto yesterday, explaining that players of Reyes' caliber are difficult to find. 'He's electric,' Anthopoulos said. 'High energy, smile on his face, just so many things. This is a rare guy to find. Leadoff, shortstop, energy, makeup -- check off every single box.' Here are some more notes on the Blue Jays with Spring Training just a month away...

• Before the Blue Jays acquired Reyes, they had been 'really close' to another trade that would have had a similar impact on their 2013 payroll, Anthopoulos said. They discussed the deal toward the end of October, when option decisions were due.
• The Blue Jays continue to seek a 25th man to round out their roster. Anthopoulos said last week that the Blue Jays would like to add a right-handed bench player capable of playing multiple infield positions. That said, the Blue Jays could add such a player in Spring Training.
• Don't expect another deal in the near future. 'We're not having any dialogue at all with respect to trades,' Anthopoulos said.
• The Blue Jays could add a player or two on minor league deals and under the right circumstances they could add a player to the 40-man roster.
• Anthopoulos hopes the rotation provides enough innings that the team doesn't need to seriously consider an eight-man bullpen. The Blue Jays have a pretty full bullpen, so it doesn't appear as though free agent right-hander Brandon Lyon will return. 'I don't want to ever close the door on him, since he did a great job for us,' Anthopoulos said.
• The GM stressed the importance of starting pitching depth and explained that players such as Justin Germano, Brad Lincoln and J.A. Happ provide the club with options.
• The Blue Jays are a 'file and trial' team meaning if they exchange filing numbers with players they go to a hearing. Anthopoulos said he's 'hopeful' and 'optimistic' that the Blue Jays could reach deals with their three remaining eligible players by today's deadline. Emilio Bonifacio, Happ and Josh Thole are Toronto's eligible players, as MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows. Assistant GM Jay Sartori is leading the way for the Blue Jays as they negotiate with their players.
• Though the Blue Jays look like an improved team, Anthopoulos cautioned that many of their American League rivals have also added significant pieces. 'You can't take anything for granted,' he said. 'We haven't even played a game yet. We still have to win a game, and we have to win a lot more than one. The whole division is outstanding.'

---

AL East Notes: Oliver, Price, Red Sox, Hendrickson

« Zduriencik Happy To Add "Big-Time Power" To M's | Main | Quick Hits: D'Backs, Wilson, Braves, Beane, Cubs »

Jeff Frye, Darren Oliver's agent, was apparently not speaking for his client when Frye said earlier this month that Oliver wanted a raise to return to the Blue Jays or else the veteran southpaw would retire, Oliver said during a conference call with reporters (including Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca).  "I was out of town when that article was written, and I didn't say those things, that was coming from Jeff Frye," Oliver said. "Obviously if I had something to say, I would have said it a long time ago, not once did I ever demand anything from the Blue Jays or Alex [GM Alex Anthopoulos]."  The Jays announced today that Oliver would return to pitch in Toronto in 2013.

Here are some more items from around the AL East...

• David Price's one-year deal with the Rays was structured in a way that both saved Price several hundred thousand dollars in taxes and also gave the Rays the ability to potentially save $4MM in salary deferred to Price in 2014 if the southpaw is dealt by then, reports Jon Paul Morosi for FOX Sports.
• Price loves playing in Tampa Bay but knows the franchise has financial limits and feels a responsibility to get a fair multiyear contract, the Rays ace tells Yahoo Sports' Tim Brown.  "I don't want to mess up for the future of other guys that could be in my position as well," Price said.  "You don't want to do that, because that's not only affecting you, that affects everybody else. I want to be happy. I don't want to sell myself short. I guess 'appreciation' is the word I could use the most. I just want to feel appreciated."
• The Red Sox talked to the Nationals about Mike Morse but Washington's asking price was too high, reports Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.  Now that Morse has been dealt to the Mariners, Abraham wonders if Mike Carp is now expendable in Seattle and could fit as left-handed bench depth in Boston.
• Xander Bogaerts is "as close to untouchable as any player in the Boston organization," writes CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam in an interview with the highly-touted Red Sox prospect.  Sox GM Ben Cherington reportedly turned down several trade offers involving Bogaerts this winter.
• Mark Hendrickson looked good during a tryout at the Orioles' minicamp today and will pitch again for the team on Friday, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.  We heard earlier this week that Hendrickson is trying to return to the Major Leagues as a sidearm pitcher.
• In AL East news from earlier today, the Orioles extended Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette, the Yankees avoided arbitration with Phil Hughes and the Red Sox made progress with Mike Napoli.

---

Quick Hits: D'Backs, Wilson, Braves, Beane, Cubs

« AL East Notes: Oliver, Price, Red Sox, Hendrickson | Main | Red Sox To Sign Mike Napoli »

The Diamondbacks had insisted on receiving Major League-ready talent in any trade for Justin Upton, but were willing to accept prospects in last week's proposed deal with the Mariners that Upton blocked with his no-trade clause.  D'Backs GM Kevin Towers tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that the change in philosophy was due to the rising cost of free agents and the fact that the Snakes had added outfield depth in Cody Ross.

"It's easier to do more of a prospect-driven deal than before. To me, it would have to be the right prospects," Towers said.  "We're targeting people's best prospects and upper-level guys that we think are close -- if not (major league-ready) this year, then next year.'

Some more news from around baseball...

• The Diamondbacks seem intent on trading Upton, leaving MLB.com's Matthew Leach puzzled at why the club would move a talented young player on a controllable contract.
• The Mets haven't given up on the possibility of offering Brian Wilson a Major League contract, reports Newsday's Marc Carig (Twitter link).  We heard earlier today that the Mets were unimpressed when they watched Wilson throw over the weekend.
• The Braves have one of the least-profitable TV deals in baseball but team CEO Terry McGuirk says that low broadcasting revenues aren't hampering how the club does business, McGuirk tells David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  The Braves have 14 years left on their current TV deal, which McGuirk describes as 'iron-clad."
• Athletics GM Billy Beane said it was difficult to move a highly-regarded pitching prospect like A.J. Cole, CSN Bay Area's Casey Pratt reports. However, the GM said it had to be done to help the A's contend in 2013.  "We're shifting all of our focus on the Major League club and trying to take as much advantage as we can of the opportunity we have," Beane said.
• Beane said he prepared to go with a platoon of Derek Norris and George Kottaras behind the plate, MLB.com's Jane Lee reports (Twitter links).  "Only if it was John Jaso" would he have made a move to improve Oakland's catching.  Beane said he had been trying to acquire Jaso from the Mariners over the last couple of months.
• Buster Posey tops the list of baseball's best 25-year-old players, according to ESPN's Keith Law (ESPN Insider subscription req'd).
• Cubs president Theo Epstein told reporters (including Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune) that Edwin Jackson's age and track record made the team comfortable enough to sign him to a big free agent contract. 
• In another item from Sullivan, Epstein said that he expects the Cubs to contend in 2013 despite the fact that they're still ostensibly rebuilding.  "Otherwise, there's no reason to show up or build a team,' Epstein said. 'It's postseason or bust every year. That's what our goal is."

---

Red Sox To Sign Mike Napoli

« Quick Hits: D'Backs, Wilson, Braves, Beane, Cubs | Main

The Red Sox and Mike Napoli have reached an agreement on a new contract, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. The Paragon Sports International client is believed to be getting a one-year deal.

The sides had agreed to a three-year, $39MM contract earlier in the offseason, but the deal didn't go through as expected. Napoli has a hip issue that prompted the Red Sox to seek protective language in the deal.

However, the 31-year-old remained a top first base target for Boston throughout the process. Despite the hip issue, Napoli expects to be ready for Opening Day, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Napoli drew interest from other teams after the initial delay in finalizing the agreement. Meanwhile, the Red Sox considered other options for first base such as Adam LaRoche and Michael Morse.

Napoli posted a .227/.343/.469 batting line in 2012, reaching the 20-home plateau for the fifth consecutive season with 24. The right-handed hitter made the All-Star team for the first time in his career, but missed time with a quadriceps injury. Ultimately Napoli fell short of the career-best numbers he posted in 2011: 30 home runs and a .320/.414/.631 batting line. The Red Sox project to rely on Napoli as their primary first baseman, but he did catch 72 games with Texas in 2012. 

Napoli ranked 14th on MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents entering the offseason. He wasn't linked to draft pick compensation, as the Rangers decided not to make him a qualifying offer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

---

Dodgers Sign Jesus Flores

« Quick Hits: Capuano, Stanton, Rays, Arbitration | Main | Interest In Kyle Farnsworth Intensifying »

The Dodgers signed catcher Jesus Flores to a minor league deal that includes in invitation to Spring Training, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter). Praver/Shapiro represents Flores, who was non-tendered by the Nationals earlier in the offseason.

Flores appeared in 83 games for the Nationals this past season. The 28-year-old posted a .213/.248/.329 batting line with six home runs and 12 doubles in 296 plate appearances. Flores, who bats and throws right-handed, prevented 27% of stolen base attempts against him in 2012. He'll provide depth behind A.J. Ellis along with Tim Federowicz.

---