Baseball News

Sabtu, 02 Februari 2013

AL East Notes: Yankees, Rhodes, Tatis, Rodney

« Outrighted To Triple-A: Carpenter, Mattison, Ramirez | Main | Mets Notes: Byrd, Outfield, Bourn »

No one should be surprised if the Yankees engage in a major spending spree during the 2014 offseason, writes Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd). The Bombers held off on going after the big free agents this winter as they look to get under the $189MM figure next year for tax purposes, but they'll get a clean slate on their luxury tax history after that point. General Manager Brian Cashman could reload his rotation in 2014 with a free agent class including Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, Felix Hernandez, and James Shields. If they want to take that route again the following year, the 2015 class offers David Price, Cliff Lee, Johnny Cueto, and Yovani Gallardo. Here's more from the AL East..

The Orioles are not expected to sign Arthur Rhodes or Fernando Tatis to minor league deals, a pair of sources tell Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (on Twitter). Yesterday, it was reported that the O's recently worked out both veterans. Rhodes, 43, didn't pitch in 2012 but he's looking to return to baseball this season. Tatis, 38, hasn't played in the majors since 2010.
Rays closer Fernando Rodney told MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez that a new deal with Tampa Bay is right around the corner. "It's in plans already," Rodney said in Spanish. "We've talked a few times, and I expect it to get finalized this month." Earlier today, agent Dan Lozano said that no talks have taken place on a new deal for Rodney but the closer says he's confident that an agreement will be reached.
Red Sox manager John Farrell is still interviewing candidates for the bullpen coach vacancy and may have a decision early next week, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

Mets Notes: Byrd, Outfield, Bourn

« AL East Notes: Yankees, Rhodes, Tatis, Rodney | Main | Quick Hits: Pirates, Liriano, Indians, Aviles, Rockies »

Earlier today, we learned that the Mets are pursuing Jose Valverde, and would even consider a reunion Francisco Rodriguez as they look to strengthen their bullpen. The Mets were also thinking outside the box when they approached Roy Oswalt about the possibility of serving as their closer in 2013, but the veteran isn't interested in signing on as a reliever and isn't likely to come to Queens. Here's more on the Mets..

Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson says "there are still a few options out there" when it comes to the possibility of trading for an outfielder, tweets Marc Carig of Newsday. Earlier tonight, they picked up another outfield option when they signed Marlon Byrd to a minor league deal with a major league spring training invite.
Speaking of Byrd, a Mets official told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter) that even though he was released by the Red Sox in June after getting hit with his 50-game suspension, it is viewed as already having been served.
Dave Cameron of Fangraphs looks at the case the Mets could make for protecting their first-round pick in the event that they decide to pull the trigger on signing Michael Bourn. Cameron doesn't like the Mets' chances of winning that battle, but he opines that a ruling in their favor would help promote MLB's claim that draft pick compensation is for the benefit of losing teams, rather than driving down salaries.

Quick Hits: Pirates, Liriano, Indians, Aviles, Rockies

« Mets Notes: Byrd, Outfield, Bourn | Main

Links from around baseball as Friday turns into Saturday..

Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington is non-committal about the likelihood of finalizing a deal with Francisco Liriano before the start of spring training, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 'The process continues,' Huntington said. 'We have ongoing conversations. I'm not an oddsmaker, so I don't know if it is likely or unlikely that we will add another pitcher.'
Indians GM Chris Antonetti says that it's hard to quantify the odds of the team working out a deal with Mike Aviles to avoid arbitration, writes MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, Aviles filed for a $3.4MM contract while Cleveland is offering $2.4MM.
The Rockies' biggest offseason addition has been the acquisition of reliever Wilton Lopez from the Astros, but they shouldn't be overlooked in 2013, writes Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com.

Jumat, 01 Februari 2013

Chase Headley Discusses Extension Talks

« NL East Notes: McCann, Phillies, Oswalt, Mets | Main | Quick Hits: Diaz, Tatis, Rhodes, Dodgers »

Chase Headley avoided arbitration with the Padres by agreeing to a one-year, $8.575MM contract for 2013, and it has been widely assumed that the club would also explore a multiyear extension with its third baseman. San Diego GM Josh Byrnes said that the two sides had tabled extension talks for now, and Headley confirmed that there was a significant gap between his demands and what the Padres were willing to offer.

'We talked about a long-term contract briefly at the start of these negotiations,' Headley told Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune. 'It was a quick discussion. We weren't on the same page right from the start. This close to free agency, it has to be a good deal for us. You can't sacrifice what's fair.

'If we can do something that makes sense, I'd love to stay a Padre.'

Headley, 28, has one remaining arb-eligible year and is set to become a free agent following the 2014 season. Over 70.1% of voters in a recent MLBTR Poll said that the Padres would be wise to lock Headley up to a long-term contract, and while the team has had trouble keeping its top stars over the years, the Padres' new ownership group is known to want to reverse this trend, beginning with Headley. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes suggested earlier this offseason that Headley could command a four-year deal worth between $41-$50MM.

Quick Hits: Diaz, Tatis, Rhodes, Dodgers

« Chase Headley Discusses Extension Talks | Main | AL East Notes: Overbay, Hafner, Yankees »

It's hard to top January 31 when it comes to notable baseball birthdays. Three of the game's biggest legends were born on this day: Nolan Ryan (celebrating his 66th birthday), "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks (his 82nd) and the late Jackie Robinson, who was born in 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. Here are some news items from around the majors as we head into February...

The Tigers have "mild interest" in Cuban shortstop prospect Aledmys Diaz, George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reports. At least ten teams (including the Cardinals, Twins and Athletics) are known to be interested in Diaz, though Major League Baseball is is investigating whether Diaz is younger than his alleged age of 23 years old.
Also from Sipple, it seems as if the Tigers will keep Jhonny Peralta, despite some trade rumors surrounding the shortstop this winter.
The Orioles watched left-hander Arthur Rhodes throw today at Camden Yards, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports (Twitter link). The 43-year-old Rhodes didn't pitch in 2012 but is looking to continue his 20-year Major League career. Rhodes was drafted by the O's in 1988, played for the team from 1991-99 and currently lives in Baltimore.
The Orioles also recently worked out utilityman Fernando Tatis, Connolly tweets. Tatis hasn't played in the majors since 2010 when he made 72 plate appearances for the Mets before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Tatis, 38, played for the Orioles in 2006 and has also suited up for the Mets, Expos, Cardinals and Rangers during his 11-year career.
The Dodgers could be looking to trade from its starting pitching depth, but Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times suggests the team should hang onto all eight starters given how many of them are battling injury problems.
The Dodgers' free-spending ways could come back to haunt them later in the decade, ESPN's Dan Szymborski writes (Insider subscription required). It also puts pressure on the team to win sooner rather than later: "A disappointing year or two, and it wouldn't be shocking if the biggest member of the [ownership] consortium started to find the guaranteed cash from the TV contract a lot more appealing than playing high-stakes fantasy baseball."
ESPN Chicago's Jon Greenberg talks to sabermetrician Tom Tango, who has worked as a consultant to several teams but is now working exclusively for the Cubs.
MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith and Jason Martinez of MLB Depth Charts discussed the Braves, the Rays, Shaun Marcum and Alex Rodriguez on the latest edition of the Rosters & Rumblings podcast.

AL East Notes: Overbay, Hafner, Yankees

« Quick Hits: Diaz, Tatis, Rhodes, Dodgers | Main

The Yankees and Red Sox have had decidedly different offseasons, but their winter plans converged yesterday when both teams added left-handed bats on relatively low-risk deals. The Yankees agreed to sign Travis Hafner and the Red Sox reached a deal with Lyle Overbay. Here's the latest from the AL East...

Hafner chose the Yankees over the Rays, ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes (Twitter link). The Rays already have a left-handed hitting designated hitter of their own in Luke Scott.
Before the Overbay deal was completed, the Red Sox had a National League team offer to get them Chris Coghlan from the Marlins in a three-way trade, Peter Gammons of MLB Network reports (on Twitter). As Gammons notes, the 27-year-old Coghlan has seen his production diminish annually since winning the 2009 Rookie of the Year award.
The Yankees appear to be the third best team in the AL East at this point, Richard Justice of MLB.com writes. However, the division seems so tight that almost any outcome is imaginable, so Justice explains how the Yankees can win again in 2013.

Kamis, 31 Januari 2013

Mets To Sign LaTroy Hawkins

« Quick Hits: Headley, Wells, Lowe, A-Rod, Mariners | Main | Rodriguez May Not Return To Yankees »

The Mets have signed LaTroy Hawkins to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale (on Twitter).

The 40-year-old Hawkins was effective in 42 innings for the Angels last season, pitching to a 3.64 ERA, 4.9 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. His fastball still averaged 92.3 mph, according to FanGraphs, though his 5.4% swinging strike rate was the lowest of his lengthy career.

If Hawkins makes the roster, the Mets will become the tenth team for which he's pitched at the Major League level. The Reynolds Sports Management client has a career 4.45 ERA, 6.0 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 and 47.8 percent ground-ball rate in 1303 2/3 innings. He's been significantly better as a reliever (3.36 ERA in 518 1/3 innings) than he was a starter early on in his career (6.11 ERA in 785 1/3 innings).

Hawkins is the second veteran right-handed bullpen option that general manager Sandy Alderson has added in the past 24 hours, as the Mets signed Scott Atchison to a minor league deal on Wednesday morning.