Rumors for January, 2011
Reds sign RHP Chad Reineke to Minor League contract
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According to a source close to Dave Gershman of SPANdemonium, the Cincinnati Reds have signed right-handed pitcher Chad Reineke to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
The 28-year-old Reineke, has five (four starts) Major League games under his belt with the Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres. He’s 2-1 with a 5.48 ERA in 23 innings pitched.
Reds think Jim Edmonds will retire
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Could it be the end for Jim Edmonds?
Cincinnati Reds GM Walt Jocketty and Jay Bruce think it is. Jocketty said, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, “He’s probably going to retire.”
Back in October, Edmonds himself said, “I’m done,” so all that’s left is for him to make it official by submitting the paperwork.
The 40-year-old Edmonds unexpectedly came out of retirement this last winter when he signed a Minor League deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in August to help the team make a post season run.
Mets invite Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Kai Gronauer to Spring Training
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The New York Mets have invited prospects outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis and catcher Kai Gronauer to the Major League Spring training according to the team’s official Twitter account.
Nieuwenhuis spent the 2010 season in Triple-A, he hit .225 with 2 HR’s and 17 RBI’s in 120 AB’s. Gronauer played for the Mets Class-A+ team and hit .324 with 2 HR’s and 20 RBI’s in 139 AB’s.
Kyle Farnsworth agrees to a one-year deal with the Rays
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Right-handed pitcher Kyle Farnsworth agreed to a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays on January 12, as first reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times adds that Farnsworth will make $2.6 million in 2011 with a team option in 2012 for $3.3 million or a $650,000 buyout. He may earn up to $300,000 in incentives based on games finished.
Shin-Soo Choo open to long-term contract extension
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Despite being a client of Scott Boras and his philosophy of rarely giving up arbitration-eligible years in exchange for financial security, Cleveland Indians outfielder, Shin-Soo Choo is open to a long-term contract extension. Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports that despite having three more season of arbitration-eligibility before he becomes a free agent, Choo would listen to what the Indians have to say during Spring Training.
“I really trust my agent, Scott Boras,” Choo said. “My arbitration year, I didn’t call him at all. I just trust him, and he takes care of me.”
The sides avoided going in front of an arbitrator by settling on a one-year, $3.975 million deal this winter.
Choo and Cleveland have been discussing a contract extension for some time with no indication as to which way the talks have been leaning towards.
“We’re still in the midst of discussions,” said GM Chris Antonetti recently said, according to Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer. “I don’t view it as the negotiations being closed.”
New York Mets to host 2013 MLB All-Star Game
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According to sources close to Jon Heyman and Sports Illustrated, the New York Mets will host the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field. However, the decision has not been made official by Major League Baseball, but plans are already in the works.
The Mets have not hosted the All-Star Game since 1964, the longest drought of any franchise. However, the Yankees hosted the Mid-Summer Classic in 2008 during the old Yankee Stadium’s final season.
The 1964 game, the 35th All Star Game, was held on July 7, 1964 at Shea Stadium where the National League won 7-4 with a walk-off home run by Johnny Callison – the last MLB All-Star game to end with a walk-off home run.
Vladimir Guerrero Rumors: Orioles done negotiating?
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It looks like the Baltimore Orioles are done negotiating with free agent designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero. Buster Olney of ESPN says that Baltimore wants Guerrero at their price (believe to be in the $4.5-5 million range). If Guerrero doesn’t accept, they’ll likely pass.
The sides have been negotiating throughout the week, and it appeared that discussions were trending positively.
The designated hitter had been asking for a two-year, $16 million deal earlier this winter, but had dropped his asking price to around one-year, $8 million deal. Now that the market has cooled, he may be baseball’s best bargain at the sub-$5 million range. He was hoping to cash in on his solid 2010 campaign where he hit .300 with 29 HR’s and 115 RBI’s last year with the Rangers.
Albert Pujols will reject all trade offers
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Only two things will happen with Albert Pujols: he’ll get a contract extension or he’ll become a free agent, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. Don’t expect Pujols to accept any trade offers should the Cardinals not be able to wrap up a contract extension by the beginning of Spring Training.
The sides have been negotiating for the past several weeks, and it’s been reported that St. Louis offered something a little less than $200 million to their All Star.
Being a long-time Major Leaguer with the Cardinals, Pujols has earned 10-and-5 rights which means that if a player has 10 or more years of service time and 5 or more years on the same team, the team cannot trade the player without their consent. Traditionally a team would move a high-priced and soon-to-be free-agent come July if they know they cannot extend the players contract, but the Cardinals lose this ability because of Pujols’ 10-and-5 rights. Should Pujols become a free agent, the best the Cardinals can get is a two additional draft picks assuming Pujols gets Type-A free agency classification.
Mets and R.A. Dickey agree to two-year deal
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The New York Mets have avoided arbitration with right-handed pitcher R.A. Dickey by agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with a club option for a third year, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. The deal is pending a physical which is expected to take place on Monday in New York.
An industry source close to Mike Puma of the New York Post says that the two-year deal is worth $8 million – an average annual value of $4 million per season. On a single-year, arbitration-basis, Dickey filed for $4.7 million while the team offered $3.35 million.
The contract buys out Dickey’s final year of arbitration and his first-year of free agency.
Dickey, 36, was 11-9 with a 2.84 ERA in 20 starts with the Mets in 2010.
Blue Jays sign RHP Jason Frasor to one-year contract
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The Toronto Blue Jays have signed right-handed pitcher Jason Frasor to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration, according to a team press release. Frasor will be paid $3.5 million for the 2011 season with a club option for 2012 at $3.75 million.
Frasor was a Type-A free agent this winter, but was offered arbitration by the Blue Jays. It was speculated that Frasor may have had problems in the free agent market because of his Type-A status. Teams that offer Type-A free agents arbitration will receive a draft pick from the signing team in addition to a supplemental pick should the player go elsewhere.
The 33-year-old is coming off a season in which he earned $2.65 million and posted a 3.68 ERA.
