Rumors for January, 2011
Giants sign Francisco Cruceta to a Minor League deal
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The San Francisco Giants have signed right handed pitcher Francisco Cruceta to a Minor League deal according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com. The Dominican hurler will get an invitation to the Major League Spring Training.
Cruceta last visited the Majors in 2008 with the Tigers. He was 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 13 games.
Cashman was against Soriano’s deal
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Not too long before the Yankees decided to sign Rafael Soriano, New York’s GM, Brian Cashman, said that he wasn’t willing to lose a draft pick. With that said, many thought that Yankees would be out on the relief pitcher because he was classified as a Type-A free agent. Shortly after his statement, the Yankees surprised many by signing the 2010 American League saves leader.
Today, at the Yankees press conference to introduce Soriano as a part of the team, Cashman made it known to all that it wasn’t his decision to sign Soriano. Rather, the driving force to have him apart of the team was from the ownership.
“This certainly will help us try to win a championship, there’s no doubt about that, so that’s in the plus column,” Cashman said. “But I didn’t recommend it, just because I didn’t think it was an efficient way to allocate the remaining resources we have. We had a lot of debate about that.” (via Brian Hoch of MLB.com)
Hoch reported that it was Yankees managing general partner, Hal Steinbrenner, and team president, Randy Levine, who ultimately sealed the deal.
Cashman was against losing the team’s first round pick in 2011 draft pick and paying closer-type money to a setup man.
“He’s a tremendous player in what he does,” he said. “But for me, I’m pretty transparent in how I’ve evolved in building your team. Early on, we’ve obviously committed a lot of money to relievers and had some difficulties with that. And you’ve seen the success we’ve had over the last number of years.”
Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com believes that Cashman was wrong about the deal, but he respects Cashman for sticking to his principles, and for having the integrity not to lie or back down or change his story regarding Soriano.
Yankees and Andruw Jones close to a deal
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According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, the New York Yankees and Andruw Jones are closing in on a deal that will make Jones the team’s fourth outfielder. Costello says the sides remain apart on the contract terms, but the a source says the sides are moving closer.
Sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports say that the Yankees continue to look at both Jones and Johnny Damon.
Rosenthal adds that Jones’ agent, Scott Boras, will be in New York for the press conference of his other client, Rafael Soriano. It’s possible that the deal could close tomorrow.
It’s been reported that the Yankees have about $20 million left in their 2011 budget, so Jones will easily fit within their constraints.
Although the Yankees’ number one concern is starting pitching. PRO Rumors believes that the addition of a veteran outfielder such as Jones could help them to balance their line up filled with left handed hitters, and help platoon in any of the outfield position. He can still hit for power and drive in some runs. He had 36 HR’s and 91 RBI’s in the last two seasons.
Kevin Millwood open to returning to the Orioles
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Right handed pitcher Kevin Millwood told Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com today that the Orioles are still a possibility for him. Millwood’s agent, Scott Boras, mentioned the Orioles among other teams that have expressed interest in him, although the pitcher does not know to what extent their interest is.
“I don’t think the door is closed. It’s always a possibility until I sign,” Millwood said. “Scott [Boras] went over teams that were interested and he mentioned Baltimore, but I’m not sure about the level of interest.”
Millwood has been tracking the Orioles off-season activities. “They’ve definitely made themselves a better team,” he said. “They’ve done a lot good things.”
Other teams that have been linked to the veteran starter are the Yankees, Indians, Royals and Rockies.
Millwood could help at the bottom of any team’s rotation. He had 31 starts in 2010 with the Orioles and was 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA. He doesn’t sense that he’s close to signing with another team, but with all the interest he’s been drawing from those teams it shouldn’t take too long before he signs a contract.
Giants settled arbitration case with Santiago Casilla
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The San Francisco Giants have settled their arbitration case with right handed pitcher Santiago Casilla according to Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com.
Casilla was 7-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 55.1 innings throughout 52 appearances with the Giants in 2010.
Twins agree to terms with Carl Pavano
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The Minnesota Twins have agreed to terms with pitcher Carl Pavano, according to Ken Davidoff of Newsday. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Pavano will make $16.5 million over two-years ($8 million in 2011 and $8.5 million in 2012)
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds that Pavano can earn $500,000 in incentives: $100,000 if he reaches 190 innings pitched, $100,000 if he reaches 200 innings pitched, $150,000 if he reaches 2010 innings pitched in 2011 and $150,000 if he reaches 220 innings pitches in 2011.
The sides have been working on a deal for quite some time, but it was not until Tuesday evening that they were working on the final details of the contract, according to the Star Tribune’s Joe Christensen.
Padres officially agree to terms with Chad Qualls
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According to the team, the San Diego Padres have announced that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with right-handed relief pitcher Chad Qualls.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports first reported on January 13 that the sides were close to agreeing on a one-year deal plus a club option.
In late December, as many as six teams were interested in the right-handed pitcher.
The Mets were rumored to be interested in the 32-year-old reliever, but nothing substantial materialized. Qualls went a combined 2-3 with a 7.32 ERA in 70 relief appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays in 2010. Because Qualls is a Type-B free agent, the Tampa Bay Rays will receive a supplemental draft pick.
Indians and Shin-Soo Choo dicussing contract extension
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The Cleveland Indians aren’t pressed for time yet, but at some point they will need to get on the ball to extend the contract of outfielder Shin-Soo Choo. The Indians bought some time by agreeing with the outfielder to a one-year, $3.975 million contract to avoid the arbitration process, but it appears that the Indians want to keep him around for quiet some time.
“We’re still in the midst of discussions,” said GM Chris Antonetti, as reported by Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer. “I don’t view it as the negotiations being closed.”
When Choo’s agent, Scott Boras, was asked about the possibility of his client signing a long-term deal, he said,. “My role as an attorney for a player is to listen to all and then advise.”
The 28-year-old Choo is not a free until after the 2013 season, and Boras traditionally does not give up free agent years in order to maximize his client’s value. It would take an overwhelming offer from the Indians to make Boras change his mindset.
Team president Nolan Ryan addressed a few subjects about the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com:
– The team would like to add a veteran hitter to come off the bench. “It’s always nice to have a veteran bat off the bench,” Ryan said. “It gives you an opportunity late in the game if you don’t like the matchups. I’m not sure that person is out there.”
– Vladimir Guerrero and Manny Ramirez do not fit the team’s veteran hitter profile. “We thought [Jim] Thome had a niche you’d like,” Ryan said. “I don’t think some of the other free agents fit that niche. I don’t picture Guerrero as a player in that role after the year he had for us last year and the role he played on the team. I’d have to think both of them are looking for more at-bats and playing time on a day-to-day basis.”
– The team doesn’t think it’s realistic that they can acquire a veteran starting pitcher that will give them innings and get them deep into the game.
– They hope to get an extension for GM Jon Daniels soon. “That will be a priority in the next couple of weeks,” Ryan said.
Nationals release RHP J.D. Martin
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In a Tweet by the Washington Nationals, the team announces that they have unconditionally released right-handed pitcher J.D. Martin.
Martin’s release was done to make room for Adam LaRoche on the team’s 40-man roster.
