Rumors for contract
Blue Jays sign Vladimir Guerrero to a Minor League deal
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The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a Minor League deal with veteran outfielder/designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports. He adds that Guerrero will report to extended spring training and “proceed from there.” The deal is worth $1.3 million and according to Rosenthal “prorated for time in majors.”
Guerrero worked out for the Diamondbacks back in April. Last season, he hit .290/.317/.416 with 13 HR’s and 63 RBI’s in 562 AB’s for the Orioles. The 37-year old Guerrero didn’t put a glove on all of last year as he spent time only at DH for the Orioles (and has only 20 appearances in the field since 2009).
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Diamondbacks’ contract talk with Montero could re-open soon
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Back in April we learned that catcher Miguel Montero was looking for a contract similar to the one Victor Martinez received from the Tigers back in 2010 (four-year, $52 million) but the D’Backs weren’t planning to hand him such a contract. Yesterday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com said that it’s possible that negotiations between the two sides could resume during the season.
According to Gilbert, “both sides said toward the end of Spring Training that negotiations on an extension had not progressed far enough along for a deal and they would hold off talking until the end of the regular season.” But apparently that could change.
“We agreed with Miggy and his agent that we’d give it until the end of Spring Training, and if nothing happened then, we’re certainly open throughout the season if he feels like he’s comfortable,” General Manager Kevin Towers said. “But any negotiations that we have, both sides decided to keep it confidential.”
In 2011, Montero hit .282/.351/.469 with 18 HR’s and 86 RBI’s. He had a 34 VORP, a 2.0 FRAA and a 3.8 WARP. This was Montero’s best offensive season to date in his six year career.
This season, the 28-year old catcher is hitting .277/.371/.366 with 2 HR’s, 16 RBI’s and a 102 OPS+ in 101 AB’s with the D’Backs.
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Rangers re-open negotiations with Josh Hamilton
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In the wake of Josh Hamilton’s historic night, where he hit 4 home runs in one game, the Rangers have decided to re-visit contract negotiations with the stellar outfielder and his representatives according to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan. Twice this year we’ve talked about Hamilton, whether if the Rangers should sign him to a contract extension and how much is he worth, and Passan notes that the team “remains wary of handing Hamilton the sort of deal” Albert Pujols (10-year, $240 million) or Prince Fielder (9-year, $214 million) received from the Angels and Tigers respectively.
The problem here is not about talent, because he is one of the most talented players in the Majors right now. The problem is his drug and alcohol abuse past, the fact that he had another alcohol-related episode this past off season and that he has a “deep injury history” as Passan points out.
Hamilton signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the Rangers that covers the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and this season he’s leading the Majors in HR’s (14), RBI’s (36), BA (.406), SLG (.840) and WARP (2.7), so he’ll definitely ask for a raise. Back in April, we suggested that he could manage command a seven-year $154 million deal, because the problems we mentioned before and the fact that he will have to compete with two other good outfielders on the market like Andre Ethier and Nick Swisher.
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Brewers finalize extensions for Melvin and Roenicke
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The Milwaukee Brewers announced that they have finalized contract extension for manager Ron Roenicke and General Manager Doug Melvin. Aaron Gleeman of NBCSports adds that Melvin’s deal “runs through 2015,” and Roenicke’s deal “runs through 2014″ with team option for 2015.
In 2011, his first year as a manager, Roenicke led the team to their first NL Central title with a 96-66 record. This season they’re in fifth place with a 13-17 record. Melvin has been the team’s general manager since 2002 and has been responsible for acquiring important players like Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke via trade.
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Minor Legue deals: Miguel Tejada, Kip Wells, Anthony Reyes and Tommy Manzella
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– The Baltimore Orioles signed veteran shortstop Miguel Tejada to a Minor League deal according to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. He adds that Tejada was the designated hitter in an extended Spring Training game yesterday. “I don’t know Miguel that well,” said manager Buck Showalter. “I’ve heard good things about him from guys that were here with him, as far as a teammate and everything. Everybody speaks real highly of him. I don’t know him that well. I’ll lean on the people in extended, and we’ve got good people down there.”
– The San Diego Padres signed pitchers Anthony Reyes and Kip Wells to Minor League deals, and will add depth for their Triple-A team in Tucson according to Corey Brock of MLB.com.
– According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Milwaukee Brewers signed shortstop Tommy Manzella to a Minor League deal in order to add some depth at the position due to Alex Gonzalez’s knee injury.
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Nationals sign reliever Mike Gonzalez
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The Washington Nationals announced that they have signed left handed reliever Mike Gonzalez to a minor league deal. Gonzalez passed on numerous offers this offseason including a non-roster invite from the Rangers. The Red Sox also kicked the idea around of signing Gonzalez but were not able to offer him a guaranteed roster spot, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford notes.
Gonzalez was recovering from a torn meniscus in his left knee late last season with his knee completely giving out in game 7 of the World Series.
The signing makes sense for the Nationals who need bullpen help as they recently lost Brad Lidge to the DL and already had Drew Storen on it.
In 2011 for the Orioles and Rangers, Gonzalez posted a 4.39 ERA, 8.6 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 1.18 HR/9.
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Brewers wrapping up contract extensions for Doug Melvin and Ron Roenicke
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The Milwaukee Brewers are close to wrapping up contract extensions for GM, Doug Melvin and manager, Ron Roenicke according to their owner Mark Attanasio (via Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel).
In 2011, his first year as a manager, Roenicke led the team to their first NL Central title with a 96-66 record. This season they’re in fourth place with a 12-16 record. Melvin has been the team’s general manager since 2002 and has been responsible for acquiring important players like Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke via trade.
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Dodgers agree to deal with Bobby Abreu
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached to a deal with outfielder Bobby Abreu CBSSports’ Jon Heyman reports. He adds that Abreu will be a pinch hitter and a part-time outfielder with the Dodgers.
I don’t foresee any chemistry issues or issues with playing time as Abreu knew what his role would be before he signed with the Dodgers.
Two days ago, we reported that both parties were in “serious talks,” but details still needed to be worked out. Abreu, who is making $9 million this year (which will be paid by the Angels minus the pro-rated veterans league minimum which his the Dodgers will pay), was released by the Angels last week to make room for top prospect Mike Trout. The 38-year old OF/DH was hitting .208/.259/.333 with 5 RBI’s in 24 AB’s for the Angels this season. He is a career .293/.397/.480 hitter with 284 HR’s and a 129 OPS+.
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Yankees sign Cuban outfielder Adonis Garcia for $400K
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According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, the New York Yankees have signed Cuban outfielder Adonis Garcia for $400,000. The 26-year old Garcia played in the Venezuelan Winter League this year and hit .270/.313/.461 in 152 AB’s.
To read a scouting report I wrote about Garcia back in February click here.
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Dodgers in serious talks with Bobby Abreu
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According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in serious talks with recently released Bobby Abreu. He adds that the deal is not done, “as details need to be worked out.”
Abreu, who is making $9 million this year (which will be paid by the Angels minus the pro-rated veterans league minimum which his new team will pay), was released by the Angels last week to make room for top prospect Mike Trout. The 38-year old OF/DH was hitting .208/.259/.333 with 5 RBI’s in 24 AB’s for the Angels this season. He is a career .293/.397/.480 hitter with 284 HR’s and a 129 OPS+.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License Agreement.
