Rumors for December, 2009
Josh Johnson Secrets: Contract extension, trade to Rangers, Yankees, Mets or Angels?
Posted by: | CommentsESPN Insider reports on the future of Josh Johnson pitcher of the Flordia Marlins. MLBSecrets.com has blogged that Johnson wants a four-year deal, but the Marlins want to give him a three-year deal. The Texas Rangers have previously offered prospects Justin Smoak and Neftali Feliz in exchange for Johnson, but the Marlins did not move on this opportunity.
ESPN Insider says that Johnson’s agent, Matt Sosnick, is using Zack Greinke’s four-year, $38 million deal from last year a basis for Johnson. Sosnick wants at least four-years and $42 million. ESPN believes that these numbers can increase if Seattle’s ace Felix Hernandez gets an extension this winter. It’s expected that Hernandez could get an extension worth $100 million or more.
If the demands increase, Johnson could be dealt to teams needing starting pitching including the Yankees, Mets and Angels – three teams that missed out on John Lackey and Roy Halladay. One suggestion is that the Angels part with prospects Travis Rackling and Jordan Walden in order improve their rotation.
The 25 year old Johnson had a 15-5 record with a 3.23 ERA in 2009 with the Marlins. He’s eligible for arbitration, and should expect a good raise given his success last season.
Chapman waiting for offers
Posted by: | CommentsCuban defector, Aroldis Chapman is now waiting for offers according to ESPN’s Jorge Arangure Jr. In Houston yesterday, Chapman threw for 15 minutes in front of 50 scouts inside the Baseball USA complex. He threw 40-50 pitches in sneakers and off of a wooden mound where he topped out at 97 mph, though most of the pitchers were in the 92-93 mph range. One high-level executive of a team interested in Chapman told La Esquina that the overall impact of the workout was, “minimal.” Several team representatives reported that the 6′4″, 210 pound Chapman appeared in great shape despite the reputation of being a person who partied.
Rodney Fernandez, one of Chapman’s agents, said “Starting today, teams can start making offers. He could be signed in a matter of two minutes or two months. It all depends on the negotiations.” The Red Sox are the only team to have made a contract offer to Chapman, believed to be for $15.5 million.
One small snag that can affect Chapman’s stay in the United States came from yesterday’s lawsuit. Chapman’s former agency, Athletes Premier International, accuses the Hendricks brothers, Chapman’s current agency, with interference. Because API’s president, Mejia, was the sponsor of Chapman, and because he is no longer with Mejia, Chapman may be in violation of his visa.
Met's Secrets: Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Bengie Molina, Joel Pineiro
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s a roundup of today’s rumors from the New York Mets:
They are still interested in Jason Bay. They have tweaked their previous offer of 4-year, $63-65 million contract in order to fulfill Bay’s five year request. It’s believed the Met’s are willing to give 5-year, $75 million to Bay. However, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Bay wants a sixth year from the Mets.
Met’s General Manger, Omar Minaya, is starting to get back into the Matt Holliday sweepstakes. He’s expected to speak with Holliday’s agent, Scott Boras soon. This could be a “talk through the media” ploy to get Bay to sign the Met’s offer by leveraging Holliday’s uncertainty against Bay.
Heyman also reports that free agent catcher Bengie Molina and the Mets are at a standstill. Molina wants a 3-year, ~$20 million deal. The Mets want to give Molina a 2-year, around $10 million deal. It is also believed that free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba is being considered by New York. Torrealba and the Colorada Rockies are trying to work out a two-year deal right now.
The Mets are also interested in picking up a starting pitcher or two. Heyman says they have interest in Joel Pineiro, Doug Davis, Jon Garland or Jason Marquis. Pineiro is seeking a four year contract and Marquis is seeking a three year contract which makes Garland or Davis more favorable.
LaTroy Hawkins signs 2 year deal with the Brewers
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 12/16 14:44 PST: The Brewer’s website indicates that the LaTroy Hawkins deal has been finalized now that Hawkins passed his physical. It’s a 2-year contract worth $7.5 million. You can read Hawkins’ complete stats here.
Pending a physical, relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins has agreed to a 2 year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers as confirmed by Ken Rosenthal’s Tweet of Sports Illustrated. Terms of the deal are not available.
Hawkins, 37 by Opening Day 2010, had a record of 1-4 with a 2.13 ERA in 65 games with the Houston Astros in 2009.
Johnny Damon with the New York Mets?
Posted by: | CommentsFree agent Johnny Damon was quoted recently by the New York Post regarding his job search. Damon said, “I am going to start looking around. Teams are getting better and there are teams interested”. There has been little discussion between Damon, his agent Scott Boras and the New York Yankees. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said “No” when questioned about anything new regarding Damon. ESPN.com reports that Damon does not want to take a pay cut and is requesting $13 million per season. Boras says that Damon deserves a three to four year pact.
With free agents Matt Holliday and Jason Bay expecting to sign big dollar contracts, you would expect that Johnny Damon’s salary would be right behind those figures. The New York Post suggests that one possible destination is the New York Mets. The Mets offered Bay a 4-year for $63-65 million. If Bay continues to search for his elusive five year contract, Damon can swoop in and fulfill the Met’s need of a big bat outfielder. You can see Johnny Damon’s complete stats here.
Ramon Santiago agrees to 2-year contract with Tiger
Posted by: | CommentsESPN.com confirms that infielder Ramon Santiago has agreed to a 2-year, $2.5 million contract.
The report goes on to say that Santiago will primarily backup Adam Everett. He might get a chance to be Detroit’s starting second baseman if Scott Sizemore has trouble recovering from left ankle surgery. Santiago has a career .244 batting average while hitting a total of 17 home runs in eight seasons with the Tigers and Mariners. You can see Santiago’s contract and statistics here.
Lackey to sign with Red Sox?
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 12/16 12:51pm PST: Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports Tweet: Lackey breakdown: 3.5M signing bonus, 18M first year, 15.25M each of next four. Front-loaded deal.
Update 13:46: John Heyman of SI.com reports that the agreement in place is five-year, $85 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.
Several sources indicate that free agent pitcher John Lackey has undergone a physical for the Boston Red Sox including Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com. He reports that the deal is expected to be similar to the five-year, $82.5 million deal that A.J. Burnett signed with the Yankees last year. Lackey, 31, was 102-71 with a 3.81 career ERA in eight seasons with the Angels. You can see his complete stats here.
If the Red Sox can close this deal, then it will only be matter of time before consolation prizes such as Joel Pineiro, Doug Davis, Jon Garland. and Jason Marquis will be snatched up. Teams that are in need of starting pitching include the Orioles, Nationals, Phillies, Mets, Angels, and Rockies.
Blue Jays to trade Michael Taylor to Oakland for Brett Wallace
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 12/16 12:22pm PST: Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun Tweets: MRI on Wallace’s shoulder clears Taylor-to-Oakland deal. Jays get Wallace from A’s plus Drabek and D’Arnaud, from Phils, 3 former No. 1s.
Update 09:14am: Brett Wallace was originally drafted by the Blue Jays in 42nd round of the 2005 draft. He decided to go to college at Arizona State, and reentered the draft in 2008 to be picked by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round (13th pick). Wallace was involved with in the trade that sent Matt Holliday to the Cardinals last July.
Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine Tweets that the Toronto Blue Jays will trade outfielder Michael Taylor (acquired from the Phillies in the 3-team trade) to Oakland for 3B Brett Wallace as soon as the 3-team trade involving Halladay and Lee is complete.
Mariners sign 19 y.o. shortstop Pedro Okuda
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, the club signed 19-year-old amateur shortstop Pedro Okuda to a Minor League contract on Wednesday.
Okuda is expected to join the Mariners’ Venezuela Academy after he graduates from high school this spring and will play there during the 2010 season. He was born and raised in Brazil, but went to high school in Japan.
The 5′ 10″, 160 pound left handed hitting shortstop was first noticed at a youth tournament in Sao Paolo, Brazil in May 2006 and signed by scouts Yasushi Yamamoto and Pat Kelly.
