Rumors for January, 2010
Matt Stair Rumors: "I'm still open for invitations"
Posted by: | CommentsESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says free agent Matt Stairs has shed 31 pounds this winter in hopes to land a job at age 41. He’s down to 199 from 230, the lightest he’s been in about 15 years.
Stairs felt that he needed to lose weight to enhance his mobility in the field in the event he lands a job with a Major League team. He’s willing to sign a Minor League contract with an invitation to a Major League camp.
“I’m still open for invitations,” Stairs said. “I’m ready to go. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I understand that as well.”
Stair agent, Bob Garber said, “We have some interest from a few teams and should be making a decision soon.”
Stairs hit .194 (20 for 103) with 5 home runs and 17 RBIs in 2009 with the Phillies. Earlier this off-season Jack Cust had several offers on the table before he eventually re-signed with the Oakland A’s. It was believed that the Tigers, Royals, Giants and Rangers were interested in Cust. While the Giants and Rangers are probably off the board now, Cust may look to Detroit or Kansas City as possible destinations.
You can see Matt Stairs’ contract history and statistics here.
Tim Lincecum Rumors: Why did he file for only $13 million?
Posted by: | CommentsMany speculated that Tim Lincecum would ask for $20+ million in his first year of arbitration eligibility. However, when it came time for numbers to be exchanged, Lincecum’s camp came out with $13 million as their number.
According to the San Jose Mercury, because of the relatively low number, one executive expects the arbitration case to go all the way to a hearing. “Maybe they thought it’s a number they could defend if it actually goes to a hearing,” the executive said. “If you file an obscenely high number — say $20 million and the Giants offer $8 million — your client ends up losing real dollars. (The $13 million proposal) is still an incredibly high number, but if it’s realistic you give yourself a shot.
It is possible that this case will be settled before going in front of an arbitrator since most do, but Lincecum’s agent, Rick Thurman, has said that he hasn’t spoken to the team since numbers were exchanged.
Thurman also would not comment on any long-term discussions regarding Lincecum. It is likely that Lincecum will go year-to-year to maximize his contracts until he’s a free agent after the 2013 season. If possible, players tend to sign long-term deals for security, but in exchange they provide the team a discount.
LA Dodgers avoid arbitration with Broxton, Ethier, Sherrill, Kuo, Marin and Loney
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/21 05:21am: According to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, Broxton’s contract has an escalator clause that can increase his second year salary by as much as $500,000 based on number of games finished or his placing in the Rolaids Relief Award.
Tony Jackson of ESPN.com reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided going to salary arbitration by coming to an agreement with several players: reliever George Sherrill (one-year, $4.5 million), reliever Hong-Chih Kuo (one-year, $950,000), catcher Russell Martin (one-year, $5.5 million) and first baseman James Loney (one-year $3.1 million).
The team also signed closer Jonathan Broxton and right fielder Andre Ethier each to two-year deals pending the outcome of physical examinations. Terms of the deals were not immediately available.
Vicente Padilla Rumors: Dodgers focused on keeping Padilla
Posted by: | CommentsESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers are focusing their attention to free agent pitcher Vicente Padilla now that they lost out on Joel Pineiro to the Angels.
MLBSecrets suggested yesterday that both the Mets and Dodgers, the two teams that were aggressively pursuing Pineiro, should focus on Padilla. Padilla, 33, was 12-6 with a 4.43 ERA with the Dodgers and Rangers in 2009. Of that, he was 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA in 7 games started with the Dodgers, so the Los Angeles team is familiar with the former All Star. You can see Padilla’s contract history and statistics here.
Another option for the Dodgers would be Jarrod Washburn who has been pursued by the Brewers and Twins this off-season. Most recently, Washburn turned down a one-year, $5 million offer from the Twins, so the Dodgers know that they’ll need to up the bidding to get a starting pitcher.
MLB Secrets: Preston Wilson, Verlander, Sullivan, Byrnes
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s some information from Wednesday that you may find useful:
- Preston Wilson is trying to make a comeback and is willing to take a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training.
- Alyson Footer Tweets that the Houston Astros signed OF Cory Sullivan to a Minor League contract. Jason Bourgeois has cleared waivers.
- The Phillies are trying to get Joe Blanton, Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz to sign contract extensions.
- The Diamondbacks made it official by releasing OF Eric Byrnes.
- Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports that the Colorado Rockies signed Jay Payton and Paul LoDuca to Minor League deals. Both will be competing for reserve duty.
