Rumors for November, 2010
PRO Rumors 2010 Free Agent and Arbitration Tracker
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Check out the PRO Rumors 2010 Free Agent and Arbitration Tracker here.
By Tuesday evening (midnight EST), November 22, 2010, teams will have to make a decision on whether or not to offer their free agents arbitration.
For some teams, it’s a big decision. Depending on the player, if a team offers them arbitration and they decide to go elsewhere then the team could be entitled to one or two compensation draft picks. A good example is today’s decision by the Philadelphia Phillies to offer Jayson Werth arbitration. Because if Werth goes to another team, they’ll get two draft picks. Otherwise, if he decides to stay, then the Phillies will be entitled to sign him for a one-year contract at a reasonable salary.
Should a team offer arbitration, and the player accepts then a team could be stuck with the player that it may not want and it loses potential draft picks.
To make things simple, PRO Rumors has created a 2010 free agent and arbitration tracker. You can see it here:
http://www.prorumors.com/free-agents-2010
This feature was requested by one of our daily readers such as the Instant Action Email and Text Alerts and the many features on the iPhone app. We’ll continue to add additional features to the tracker as we feel necessary.
If you have a great idea, then please feel free to send an email to support@prorumors.com and we’ll see if we can create it. Happy Hot Stove!
Yankees would like to offer Mariano Rivera a one-year deal
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***PRO Rumors incorrectly published information about Mariano Rivera and a contract offer from the Yankees earlier. That information was incorrect. We apologize for the inconvenience.***
According to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan, the Yankees will likely offer closer Mariano Rivera a one-year deal. Rivera is apparently seeking a two-year deal worth around $18 million per year.
Rivera, 41, told friends (via Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman) that he would like to get a two-year deal form the team. The sides have yet to talk terms of a new contract.
When GM Brian Cashman was asked last week if other teams were pursuing free agents Derek Jeter and Rivera, he said, “I hope not. But I’m sure we’ll wind up paying them as if there are.”
The Panamenian hurler was a 3-3 with a 1.80 ERA and 33 saves in 2010 with the Yankees. He made $15 million last season, in the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract.
Jon Miller severs ties with ESPN
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Baseball announcer, Jon Miller, has officially wrapped up his tenure with ESPN according to Carl Steward of the Bay Area News Group. Miller will broadcast a full 162-game season with the San Francisco Giants starting in 2011.
“I’m going to just do the Giants games, that’s it,” Miller said. “I’m excited about just being to focus on one thing.”
Earlier this month, ESPN declined to renew the contract of Miller’s broadcast partner, Joe Morgan. The network asked Miller to stay on as their radio voice for their Sunday night games, but with today’s announcement from Miller, he’s decided to focus on the Giants.
It’s likely that Miller and Morgan will be replaced by Dan Shulman and Orel Hershiser. It’s also possible that Bobby Valentine may add a third voice to the Sunday night broadcast.
Dodgers agree to Minor League contract with LHP Dana Eveland
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According to a baseball source close to the Los Angeles Times’ Dylan Hernandez, the Dodgers have agreed to a Minor League deal with left-handed pitcher Dana Eveland.
The 27-year-old pitched in 12 games with the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010. During the season, he went 3-5 with a 6.79 ERA.
Phillies to offer Jayson Werth Arbitration
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Sources close to MLB.com’s Todd Zolicki say that the Philadelphia Phillies will offer salary arbitration to Type-A free agent outfielder Jayson Werth.
If Werth signs with another team as expected, the Phillies will receive two draft picks. If Werth accepts arbitration, the Phillies will be able to keep Werth on a one-year contract.
The Phillies did not offer Type-B right-handed free agent pitcher Chad Durbin arbitration, but they are interested in bringing him back. Philadelphia can continue to negotiate with Durbin in hopes of working out a deal with a lower anunal salary than Durbin would have received if the Phils had offered him arbitration and he had accepted ($2.125 million in 2010).
Diamondbacks sign 3B Sean Burroughs to Minor League deal
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The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed third baseman Sean Burroughs to a Minor League deal, according to Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein.
The 30-year-old infielder was a first-round pick in 1998 out of high school. He’s had mostly a disappointing Major League career, but he did bring Long Beach, California back-to-back Little League Championships.
Hisashi Iwakuma’s agent clears up situation via Twitter
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Hisashi Iwakuma’s agent, Don Nomura, is clarifying the negotiation situation between his client and the Oakland Athletics via Twitter.
Yesterday, sources close to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle said that the A’s and Iwakuma had broken off talks and Iwakuma had been looking for a Barry Zito-type deal of $18 million per year.
In a series of tweets, Nomura says the A’s offer was for four-years for $15.25 million (an average of $3.81 million per season). With the $19.1 million posting fee, the cost for Iwakuma would be around $8.5 million. This eventually spiraled out of control and likely led the public to believe that Hisashi was looking for Zito-type money.
The posting fee would go straight to Rakuten, so that number had no impact for Iwakuma. It eventually came down to a “take it or leave it” situations with the A’s threatening to send out a press release that the negotiations had ended.
Nomura says the door isn’t shutting the door and he’ll be happy to continue to negotiate until December 8th – the last day the A’s and Iwakuma can work out a deal per the posting system. He told the Slusser in an email, “I don’t know if the talks are dead,” Nomura wrote. “I am assuming it’s over, however I am open for discussion until 11: 59 p.m. Dec 7.”
Brewers sign Zach Segovia to a Minor League deal
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The Milwaukee Brewers have signed right-handed pitcher Zach Segovia to a Minor Leageu deal with an invitation to Spring Training, according to the Journal Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt.
Segovia, 27, last pitched in the Major Leagues for the Washington Nationals. He went 1-0 with a 7.84 ERA in 8 appearances.
Reds to approach Joey Votto about long-term deal soon
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The Cincinnati Reds were just waiting for the MVP award to be handed out before the team approached Joey Votto about a long-term contract, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Fay.
Votto was named the 2010 National League MVP earlier today in an almost near-unanimous vote from the Baseball Writer’s Association of America.
When Votto was asked about a new contract, he said, “We haven’t had any talks. How open am I to that? I don’t know. You’d have to see the figures and talk about the years. Because we haven’t have any conversations about it. It wouldn’t be fair to comment on it. I’m not trying to dodge the question. But I’ve got nothing. That’s OK right now. . . I don’t want to be peppered with contract stuff all offseason.”
Votto will be under team control through the 2013 season, but a club insider in October said that Votto could get a deal in the four-year, $40 million range (pre-MVP award). That would buy out Votto’s remaining arbitration years, and his first-year of free agency. However, if Votto has another monster year, he could be worth maybe twice that.
The downside is that Votto could risk his long-term security if he waits another year. This could lead to a bad year or an injury. If he pulls out another successful season he could be in Albert Pujols or Ryan Howard contract territory.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka could impact trade market for Jason Bartlett
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Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka’s posting period is set to expire on Tuesday at 5 pm EST. Clubs are required to submit bids to the Chiba Lotte Marines to obtain the exclusive negotiating rights for Nishioka.
FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi says that if Nishioka agrees to come to the United States, it could impact the trade market for Jason Bartlett.
Bartlett has been drawing interest from teams in need of an experienced shortstop such as the Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. Bartlett’s current team, the Tampa Bay Rays, could wait until Tuesday’s announcement before pursuing a deal with one of these clubs.
The 31-year-old Bartlett will likely command $5 – $5.5 million through salary arbitration.
