Rumors for January, 2010
Florida Marlins Rumors: Increased spending to keep Johnson and Uggla?
Posted by: | CommentsNow that the Florida Marlins have an agreement with the union to increase spending on player’s salaries, you may see the team target pitcher Josh Johnson and Dan Uggla by giving them long-term deals.
Yesterday, the Marlins, the union and Major League Baseball announced that the team will increase spending towards player’s salaries. There have been complaints that the team’s payroll has been so small that it violates baseball’s revenue sharing provisions. The Marlins have been last in payroll in three of the last four years, but have outperformed teams spending much more money.
With this increased requirement to spend on salaries, the Marlins may give Johnson the elusive four-year deal that the he wants. Johnson is in line to make about $4.2 million in arbitration this year if both sides do not agree to a long-term deal. The Marlins have been offering a three-year deal, but Johnson and his agent, Matt Sosnick have insisted on a four-year deal. You can see Johnson’s contract history and statistics here.
Uggla is in the second year of arbitration. His 2010 salary is expected to exceed $7 million through arbitration this year. Now that the Marlins have the commitment to spend money, they may focus their attention at retaining Uggla for the long-term and bypass arbitration. You can see Dan Uggla’s complete contract details and statistics here.
Chicago Cubs going after Ben Sheets
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/13 08:27am: Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com says that Ben Sheets is not going to the Cubs at a discount, so the signing with the Cubs appears remote. Sheets wants $7-8 million, which is more than what the Cubs want to pay.
1/12: According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Cubs plan to make a run at free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets.
General manager, Jim Hendry declined to comment, but he spoke to Sheets’ agent at the baseball Winter Meetings last month. The Cubs are one of Sheet’s preferred teams.
Sheets has been asking for a two-year deal between $10-12 million per year, but the Cubs believe they can get him with an incentive-laden deal.
Sheets, 31, did not pitch in 2009 due to a torn flexor tendon. He was 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 198 1/3 innings for the Brewers in 2008. Other teams that have been interested in Sheets during the off-season include the Texas Rangers, New York Mets and New York Yankees.
You can see Ben Sheets’ statistics here.
Joel Pineiro Rumors: Mets & Dodgers show interest
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/13 03:56: Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers have spoken with Pineiro’s agent, Adam Katz. No additional details were provided regarding their conversation.
If the Dodgers sign Pineiro, it would require financial creativity by the club and flexibility by Pieneiro due to the pending divorce of owner Frank McCourt and his estranged wife Jamie which has handcuffed the team’s front office from making significant off-season transactions.
1/12 00:54: According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, the New York Mets are talking to right-hander Joel Pineiro about a two-year, $15 million contract. On the other hand, Tim Brown of Yahoo Tweets that the Los Angeles Dodgers are working on a way to sign Pineiro.
Pineiro has been looking for a Randy Wolf type of deal of three-years, $30 million.
Pineiro, 31, went 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA over 214 innings with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009 while making $7.5 million. Others teams that are going after or believed to have been going after Pineiro include the Yankees, Angels, Rays and Mariners.
You can see Joel Pineiro’s statistics here.
To see other Joel Pineiro rumors, click here.
Pittsburgh Pirates Rumors: Adding 3 relief pitchers
Posted by: | CommentsDejan Kovacevic reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates are working on signing three relief pitchers. The Pirates’ management has spoken with Octavio Dotel and D.J. Carrasco, with the expectations that Carrasco is getting a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training.
The team is also going after another free-agent right-handed pitcher, but it is unknown who that may be at this time. Possibilities include Jamey Wright, Kiko Calero, Brendan Donnelly, Seth McClung, Russ Springer and Chan Ho Park with the Pirates having shown previous interest in Wright.
In 11 seasons, the 36-year-old Dotel has compiled a 46-39 record with a 3.73 ERA and 83 saves over 770 1/3 innings pitched. You can see Dotel’s complete statistics here.
Carrasco, 32, has pitched for the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox. In his five season career, he has a 20-16 record with a 4.45 ERA and 1.474 WHIP in 362 1/3 innings. He made $440,000 in 2009. You can see Carrasco’s contract history and statistics here.
Adam Kennedy Rumors: Washington Nationals interested
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to William Ladson of MLB.com, he Tweets that the Washington Nationals have interest in free agent Adam Kennedy. Mostly a second baseman throughout his career, the versatile Kennedy started 49 games at second base and started 78 games at third for Oakland in 2009.
Kennedy has drawn attention from the Mets and Diamondbacks this Winter.
Kennedy, 34, played with the Oakland A’s in 2009 where he hit .289 with 11 home runs and 63 RBIs in 129 games. You can see Adam Kennedy’s contract history and statistics here.
Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area blogged about the Oakland Athletic’s third baseman, Eric Chavez. Here are a few highlights:
- Chavez, 32, is feeling fine except for the occasional “jolt” of pain when he bends over to scoop up one of his children.
- “I want to go out there full-bore, enjoy the game and give it the best effort I can. So let’s just get it on. My body is either going to hold up at this point or it’s not. I’ve had enough time to heal.” – Chavez
- “Playing five or six days a week, that might be a thing in the past for me,” he says. “I’d love to say I can get there, but I don’t know how realistic that is. A good measure for me would be three or four days a week.” – Chavez
- The A’s general manager, Billy Beane and Chavez discussed part-time work as a designated hitter, but Oakland recently re-signed Jack Cust, who is another left-handed-hitting slugger.
- Chavez is open to playing other positions with the A’s. In addition to being a part-time designated hitter, the article talks about first base being an option for Chavez.
- The third baseman will make $12 million this year with a club option of $12.5 million with a $3 million buyout for 2011. Chavez is open to the A’s buying him out next year and re-signing at a cheaper rate. His goal is to play three more years and end his career in Oakland.
- Chavez has played only 121 games over the past three seasons. In his 12 season career, Chavez has won 6 gold gloves, hit 229 home runs and had a batting average of .268. You can see Chavez’s contract history and statistics here.
Kansas City Royals Rumors: Close to agreement with Paul Carlixte
Posted by: | CommentsESPN’s Keith Law reports that the the Kansas City Royals are near an agreement with Dominican shortstop Paul Carlixte. Indications are that the deal will exceed $1 million.
Carlixte is a “great-looking shortstop with soft hands and a very quick bat.” He was probably a top top, and definitely a top-20 rated international prospect going back to July, but MLB’s age investigations turned up irregularities that threw Carlixte’s valuation into flux.
Bengie Molina Rumors: Lowered his asking price
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/12 13:13: According to ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian, the Mets could possibly sign Molina in “the next 48 to 72 hours”.
1/12 10:32am: According to Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, free agent catcher Bengie Molina has lowered his asking price.
Molina and the New York Mets have been negotiating all Winter. The hold up has been the Met’s reluctance to offer Molina a third guaranteed year. The club has offered a two-year, $12 million contract.
Molina, 35, wrapped up a three-year contract with the San Francisco Giants last season. In 2009, he had a batting average of .265, he hit 20 home runs and drove in 80 RBIs.
You can see Bengie Molina’s statistics here.
