Rumors for February, 2011
Braves extend contract of GM Frank Wren
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In a Tweet by GM MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, he reports the Atlanta Braves have given general manger, Frank Wren, a two-year contract extension that runs through 2013.
Braves president, John Schuerholz, announced the deal after the team completed their workout on Monday morning.
“This organization stands on continuity and continuing success,” Schuerholz said. “We did it for 15 years when we won all of those division championships. It was continuing of the same successful effort. Frank brings that to the role with him and will continue to do so for the next couple of years, at least.”
Wren has been with the Atlanta Braves since 2000 and was formally promoted to position of general manager and executive vice president in October 2007. His previous four-year contract would have been good until this end of the 2011 season.
“Organizationally, it doesn’t get any better than this,” Wren said. “Obviously, Atlanta is a great place to live. It’s been a great place to raise my family. There’s been a lot of things that has made it a perfect fit.
“At the end of the day, when you count the organizations that you feel will allow the general manager to do his job, have the resources and have the people surrounding him to put it all together, I think our organization is second to none.”
Robinson Cano won’t ask for a contract extension
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The New York Yankees still have control over their second baseman Robinson Cano through the 2013 season. He is owed $10 million this season and have club options for 2012 ($14 million) and 2013 ($15 million), with a $2 million buyout on each one.
Earlier this month, we learned that Cano hired Scott Boras to be his new agent, he was represented by Bobby Barrett and previously Joe Rosario and Peter Vescovo.
According to Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger, Cano said he will not ask the Yankees for a contract extension before his current deal expires. “I would never do that,” he said.
Craig adds that Cano’s options with the Yankees could be bargains if he continues to produce the way he did last season. The second baseman hit .319/.381/.534 with 29 HR’s, 41 doubles, 103 runs and 109 RBI’s in 626 AB’s with the Yankees in 2010.
Alfredo Simon expected to be cleared of murder
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Sources close to Britany Ghiroli of MLB.com say that pitcher Alfredo Simon is expected to be found not guilty and will be released within the next week to 10 days.
One source says that new information will become available by midweek that can “bust this thing wide open.”
The team previously placed Simon on the restricted list, and could remain on the list until he is ready to rejoin the team.
Only a couple of weeks ago Simon was denied bail for the News Years shooting that killed Michael Esteban Castillo and injuring the 17-year-old Starlin Castillo – the younger brother of Michael. While Simon was accused of the crime, the pitcher’s lawyer claims that his client fired the gun into the air.
Former teammate, Miguel Tejada, reportedly paid for Simon’s legal fees. The two were teammates with the Orioles in 2010. Had simon been convicted, he could have faced two years in prison.
Royals agree to terms with Alcides Escobar and Mike Aviles
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The Kansas City Royals have agreed to one-year deals with short stop Alcides Escobar and third baseman Mike Aviles according to the team (via Meridiano.com).
Escobar was part of the trade that involved right handed pitcher Zack Greinke this winter between the Royals and the Brewers. The Venezuelan short stop hit .235/.288/.326 with 4 HR’s and 41 RBI’s in 506 AB’s with the Brewers in 2010.
Aviles hit .304/.335/.413 with 8 HR’s and 32 RBI’s in 424 AB’s with the Royals in 2010.
RHP Andrew Carpenter clears waivers with Phillies
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According to Jim Salisbury of Comcast SportsNet, right-handed pitcher Andrew Carpenter has cleared waivers with the Philadelphia Phillies and has been assigned to Triple-A. He will return to the big league club’s Spring Training as a non-roster player.
Carpenter was designated for assignment by Philadelphia on February 15 to make room on the team’s 40-man roster for Brian Schlitter.
Carpenter, 25, has a career 1-1 record with a 9.31 ERA in five appearances (one start) with the Phillies over three seasons.
RHP Luis Atilano clears waivers with Nationals
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Right-handed pitcher Luis Atilano has cleared waivers with the Nationals and has been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse, Ben Goessling of MASN reports. He will still report to the big league club’s Spring Training camp.
Atilano was designated for assignment by the Nationals on February 16 to make room for Adam LaRoche on the team’s 40-man roster.
The 25-year-old starting pitcher made his Major League debut in 2010 where he went 6-7 with a 5.15 ERA in 16 appearances. In his debut on April 23, 2010, Atilano pitched 6 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers while giving up one earned run and five hits to pick up his first win.
Mets re-sign Jesus Feliciano, add Chris Shelton and Kent Tsujimoto on Minor League deals
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The New York Mets have re-signed Jesus Feliciano to a Minor League deal, and also added first baseman Chris Shelton and right handed pitcher Kent Tsujimoto to Minor Leagues deals, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.
Feliciano was originally drafted by the Dodgers in 1997 where he drifted around the minors and various independent leagues. He finally got his first big league action last season where he appeared in 54 games getting 108 at bats. In the limited action, Feliciano sported a .231 avg with 25 hits. Feliciano will more than likely be in the minor league system and provide the big league club “organizational depth.”
Shelton was an icon for the Tigers in 2006 for the first two weeks of the season as he hit 9 home runs in the first 13 games becoming the fastest player to reach that mark in AL history. Obviously that didn’t last as most people probably don’t know who he is. Shelton last saw major league action in 2009 with the Mariners where he sported a .231 avg in 26 at bats.
Tsujimoto is a 22-year-old Japanese right-hander who pitched for Na Koa Ikaika Maui of the Golden Baseball League in 2010. He pitched mainly as a relief pitcher where he recorded a 2.88 ERA. Tsujimoto was the youngest player to sign with Hanshin as he signed with them at age 15 (info obtained from David Lennon of NewsDay). Back issues have derailed his career though as he looks to put his health issues behind him.
Kevin Milwood rejects Yankees offer
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According to Joel Sherman of the New York post, right handed pitcher Kevin Millwood has rejected a Minor League offer from the Yankees. The deal was apparently structured similar to the one the team gave Freddy Garcia.
Sherman adds that although the sides are still talking, the Yankees are not planning to offer Millwood a Major League deal to compete for a back-of-the-rotation job. The Yankees want Millwood to earn his way onto the MLB roster.
The Cleveland Indians have been reported as a team making progress towards a deal with Millwood as well.
The free-agent could help the back-end of any team’s rotation. He made 31 starts and ate up 190 2/3 innings with Baltimore last season, but was a dismal 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA.
Nick Cafardo on Bochy, Millwood, Molina and more
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Here’s the latest from the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:
– Cafardo ranks Bruce Bochy as his top pick in the annual Spring Training manager rankings.
– Alfredo Aceves picked the Boston Red Sox over the New York Mets because Boston “offered the best deal.” Aceves will be paid $650,000 if he makes the Major League team and $200,00 if he pitches in the Minors.
– Joe Nathan is optimistic that he will be ready to be the Minnesota Twins’ closer at the beginning of the season. Nathan is 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss the 2010 season.
– Cafardo says that Scott Boras is playing Kevin Millwood’s opportunity correctly. Rather than sign with any team for a small contract, Boras is likely waiting for a team with a need for a starting pitcher to emerge. That team could be the New York Yankees.
– Free agent Bengie Molina is on the fence about retiring or playing another season. Cafardo says the Red Sox would be a good fit, but there wouldn’t be much playing time for him.
– Francisco Liriano could be a trade deadline candidate if the Twins get off to a poor start.
Will Tigers try to non-guarantee Cabrera’s contract?
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In the wake of the DUI arrest of Miguel Cabrera, some rival executives of the Tigers that are close to ESPN’s Buster Olney wonder if the team will alter the language of the deal to make the infielder’s current contract guaranteed to non-guaranteed.
The first baseman was arrested in St. Lucie County, Florida on Wednesday for driving under the influence after police smelled alcohol on the Venezuelan slugger. The 27-year-old was charged with resisting arrest in addition to DUI. He’s been advised to stay away from Tigers’ camp in order to get his issues dealt with.
In a Tweet on Saturday by Jayson Stark, GM Dave Dombrowski told the ESPN writer that “right now there’s no language that can void” Cabrera’s contract and the team is “not trying to do that.”
Cabrera is currently in the middle of an eight-year, $152.3 million contract that started in the 2008 season and goes through the 2015 season. The Mets unsuccessfully tried to not guarantee Francisco Rodriguez’s contract at the end of the 2010 season after he got into an altercation with his girlfriend’s father. The team was not successful at voiding the remainder of Rodriguez’s contract.
