Rumors for January, 2011
Reds officially announce the signing of RHP Johnny Cueto
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In an announcement by the team, the Cincinnati Reds have officially signed right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto to a four-year contract.
According to the Associated press, Cueto will earn $3.4 million in 2011, $5.4 million in 2012, $7.4 million in 2013, $10 million in 2014, and a $10 million option for 2015, with an $800,000 buyout (via John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer).
Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com first reported that the sides agreed to a four-year, $27 million deal on January 20, 2011.
The parties originally submitted numbers by the deadline this week, but the extension allows them to avoid the arbitration process. Cueto asked for $3.9 million and the team offered $3 million. His new contract will pay him an annual average of $6.75 million over four-years.
Cueto, 24, was 12-7 in 31 starts last season for the Reds. The contract buys out all of his arbitration years and his first year of free agency. The right-hander will be eligible to test the free agent market in 2015.
Red Sox interested in Joe Beimel
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Yesterday, we learned that there were five teams interested in left handed pitcher Joe Beimel, with the Orioles being one of them.
Today, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says that the Red Sox are interested in Beimel too. According to Beimel’s agent, Joe Sroba, the left handed decision on where he’ll pitch in 2011 could happen as soon tomorrow.
A couple of days ago, we heard that Beimel had “several irons in the fire,” and he’s had several offers on the table, but he’s willing to be patient to get the right opportunity.
Beimel was 1-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 71 relief appearances for Colorado in 2010.
Twins claim Dusty Hughes off waivers from the Royals
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The Minnesota Twins have claimed left handed pitcher Dusty Hughes off waivers from the Royals according to Kelly Thesier of MLB.com.
The Twins also designated right handed pitcher Rob Delaney for assignment in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Hughes.
Yankees sign Bartolo Colon to a Minor League deal
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The New York Yankees have agreed to terms with right handed pitcher Bartolo Colon according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.
Joel Sherman of the New York Posts adds that Colon will earn $900,000 if he makes the team, and the right to be released at the end of Spring Training if he doesn’t.
The Yankees, Rangers and Indians expressed interest in the veteran hurler back in December.
“I’ll go with the one that signs me,” the 37-year-old Colon said.
In Colon’s last year of Major League service in 2009, he was 3-6 with a 4.19 ERA over 12 starts with the Chicago White Sox.
Left-handed pitcher Mike Maroth to retire
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Left handed pitcher Mike Maroth is set to retire as a baseball player according to Matt Weber of MLB.com. The 33-year old told FOXSports.com on Tuesday about his decision (via Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSPorts).
“I gave it everything I had,” said Maroth from his Florida home. “I feel confident that I’m making the right decision. I’d love to keep playing, but I realize that I don’t have it in me. I have no regrets. I put forth all of the effort possible to continue to play, but I believe my body just can’t do it anymore.”
“I’ve given myself every opportunity to come back. It’s just to a point where it’s time to move on.”
The left-hander became the only Major League pitcher in the last three decades to lose 20 or more games in a season. Maroth played for the last time in the Majors in 2007 when he was 5-7 with a 6.89 ERA in 116.1 innings with the Tigers and Cardinals.
Rocco Baldelli will announce his retirement today
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Tampa Bay Rays, Rocco Baldelli, is expected to announce his official retirement as a baseball player today according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.
“I don’t anticipate ever playing baseball again. I’m retired. The paperwork will be filed,” Baldelli said Tuesday night. “And you know what. The only time I feel like it’s good to retire is when you’re happy to retire. And I’m happy.”
Topkin adds that Baldelli will be assigned as a special adviser in the Rays’ front office. He will work scouting players and studying their development.
Baldelli, 29, played six Major League seasons, five with the Rays and one with the Red Sox. The right handed hitter had a strong rookie season, followed by another good year, but a series of injuries and an illness that sapped his energy and affected his muscles terminated his promising career.
“I don’t regret anything. You know what’s sad is that I love to play, and I really didn’t get a chance to do it as much as I wanted to,” said Baldelli.
“But I don’t live angrily; I live kind of happy. Why would I look at the negative aspects of everything that I’ve been through and live the rest of my life talking about those things that aren’t the important things to me? The important things to me were all the wonderful things I got to do.”
The 29-year old only played 10 games in 2010 with the Rays. He hit .208 with 1 HR and 5 RBI’s.
What’s next for the Cardinals and Albert Pujols?
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Are the St. Louis Cardinals ready to commit themselves for the next 10 years, to their franchise first baseman? The team has less than a month to figure that out. By mid-February, Albert Pujols and the rest of the Cardinals team will report to Spring Training and the first baseman will cease negotiations until the season ends.
Despite what may be the negotiation of all negotiations this winter, many baseball officials close to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark say that Pujols is going nowhere.
“It’s hard for me to believe he’s going anywhere,” said an official of one big-market team.
“C’mon, where’s he going?” asked a veteran agent. “The only problem they’re going to have is figuring out all the deferrals.”
“Albert is the brand of the Cardinals,” said one agent. “Period. [Bill] DeWitt should have sold the team if he didn’t think they could sign Albert Pujols.”
It appears that Pujols is looking for a contract in the ten-year, $300 million range. Earlier this month, rumors leaked out that the Cardinals offered something a little less than $200 million to their All Star. If the Cardinals and Pujols, can’t come together on a contract, he’ll test the open market and one executive said that you can’t rule out the Yankees or Red Sox to bid on him.
Keep in mind that Pujols can’t be traded without his consent since he has 10-and-5 rights. Traditionally a team would move a high-priced and soon-to-be free-agent come July, but unless they kick him back an incentive, he may just wait out the remainder of his contract and leave the Cardinals with basically nothing come next winter.
Blue Jays have not made Jose Bautista a long-term contract offer yet
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The Toronto Blue Jays have not offered slugger Jose Bautista a long-term contract this winter, according to the player’s agent (via Jon Paul Morosi and FOXSports). Joel Sherman of the New York Post says he’s likely to go to arbitration.
“Jose is interested in exploring it, but they have not made any multiyear proposals,” the agent, Bean Stringfellow, said.
Bautista is arbitration-eligible and has asked for $10.5 million while the team countered with $7.6 million. The Blue Jays have already committed to a hearing.
“As the (hearing) date gets closer, we’ll see what direction we’re going to go,” Stringfellow said. “It takes two sides to engage in talks.
“Jose is content going either way. He loves playing for the Blue Jays. He also understands that he’s a free agent at the end of this current season. Alex and the people in Toronto have treated him so well.”
Going to a hearing could hurt the chances of the Blue Jays signing him to a long-term deal next winter. The team may be hesitant in investing a large sum of money to a player that may have had a fluke 2010 season. Another strong season in 2011 will guarantee Bautista a tremendous payday.
Astros sign Wandy Rodriguez to a 3-year deal
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According to a source close to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes, the Houstos Astros and left handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez have agreed to a three-year $34 million deal.
Rojas adds that Rodriguez’s deal will include an option that could take the deal to $44.5 million.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post Rodriguez will receive a $1.5 million signing bonus, $7 million in 2011, $10 million in 2012, $13 million in 2013 and a $13 million vesting option for 2014 with a $2.5 million buyout.
Back in November, we learned that the Astros started to talk about a multi-year deal with Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is under team control through the 2011 season. He went 11-12 with a 3.60 ERA last season.
Mariners sign Chris Ray to a Minor League deal
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According to the team’s official Twitter account, the Mariners have signed right handed pitcher Chris Ray to a Minor League deal with an invitation to the Major League Spring Training.
Ray was 5-0 with a 3.72 ERA in 55.2 innings throughout 63 games in 2010 with the Rangers and Giants.
