Archive for February, 2008

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Sweeney, Dodgers agree on one-year deal

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008

Mark Sweeney, second on the all-time pinch-hit list, has finalized his one-year, $600,000 contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to a major-league source.

Sweeney, a left-handed hitter, also can earn a $125,000 roster bonus if he makes the Opening Day roster, and the deal includes performance-based incentives that can push his total earnings to $900,000.

The Atlanta Braves also were a finalist for Sweeney, but he believed that he stood a better chance of sticking with the Dodgers, the source said.

Sweeney, a 13-year veteran, began last season with the Giants before getting traded to the Dodgers. In 141 total plate appearances, he batted .260 with a .350 on-base percentage and .382 slugging percentage.

Tags:
Posted in Dodgers | No Comments »

After long process, Mariners finally get Bedard

Friday, February 8th, 2008

Left-hander Erik Bedard was acquired by the Seattle Mariners from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday in a long-delayed trade for five prospects. Baltimore received outfielder Adam Jones, who probably will start in center field in opening day. The Orioles also obtained reliever Georg Sherrill and pitchers Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mickolio.

Bedard, Baltimore’s opening-day starter last year, joins a rotation that includes newly signed Carlos Silva and holdovers Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn and Miguel Batista.

The departure of Bedard is yet another move to youth by the Orioles under president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Shortstop Miguel Tejada, a former AL MVP, was traded to Houston on Dec. 12.

Baltimore had failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension with Bedard, who can become a free agent after the 2009 season. He went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA last season and set a franchise record with 221 strikeouts. Opponents batted .212 against Bedard, including an AL-low .196 on the road.

The 28-year-old Bedard ranked among the AL leaders in several pitching categories before a rib injury ended his season in late August. He was leading the league in strikeouts at the time and, although he finished third, his average of 10.93 strikeouts per nine innings was tops in the AL and an Orioles record.

Jones, 22, was Seattle’s top pick in the 2003 amateur draft. He batted .246 in 41 games with the Mariners last season and hit .314 with 25 home runs and 84 RBIs for Triple-A Tacoma. He began his career in 2006 with an 0-for-12 drought that ended in Baltimore on July 18, when he got his first major league hit.

Sherrill went 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA and three saves in seven opportunities in 2007. He will probably be given a look as the closer for Chris Ray, expected to miss the season after elbow ligament replacement surgery on Aug. 16.

Tillman, 19, was Seattle’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2007. Neither Tillman, Butler or Mickolio were on the Mariners’ 40-man roster.

Tags:
Posted in Mariners | No Comments »

Marlins, Gonzalez finalize 1-year deal

Friday, February 8th, 2008

Outfielder Luis Gonzalez finalized his $2 million, one-year contract with the Florida Marlins on Thursday, adding experience to a young roster. The 40-year-old, who can make an additional $1 million in performance bonuses, hit .278 with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played in 139 games but became a part-time player in the second half of the season.

To make room on their 40-man roster, the Marlins designated right-handed pitcher Marcos Carvajal for assignment. They have 10 days to trade him, release him or send him outright to the minors.

Posted in Marlins | No Comments »

Report: Red Sox tried to void Schilling’s deal

Thursday, February 7th, 2008

Curt Schilling has an injured right shoulder, and the ballplayer and the Boston Red Sox have been squabbling over whether he should have surgery that could cost him the season or try something less drastic.

The Boston Herald reported on its Web site on Thursday that Schilling may have injured his rotator cuff or labrum, a problem serious enough to consider surgery that could keep him out for the whole 2008 season. The 41-year-old right-hander said in November after agreeing to an $8 million, one-year contract that this will be his last year. But The Boston Globe reported later Thursday that Schilling had opted not to have an operation for a partial tear of the rotator cuff. Even without the surgery, the paper said, Schilling would be out until at least the All-Star break. The Globe also reported that the Red Sox went so far as to try to void the pitcher’s $8 million contract for 2008.

The dispute over Schilling’s treatment went far enough to lead Schilling to consult with the players’ union over his rights. According to a side letter to the collective bargaining agreement, the player has the right to seek a second opinion from his own doctor, but it’s in dispute what happens when the team’s doctor and the player’s disagree on the treatment.

Schilling, who spent seven weeks on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis last year, went 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA during the regular season last year. In the playoffs, he went 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA to help the Red Sox win their second World Series in four seasons. He agreed in November to a contract that allows him to earn an addition $5 million in performance and weight bonuses.

Tags:
Posted in Red Sox | No Comments »

Brewers, RHP Bush reach $2.55M deal

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

Dave Bush and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a $2.55 million, one-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing. The right-hander, who made $400,000 last season, had asked for $3 million in arbitration while the Brewers offered $2.25 million. Under Tuesday night’s agreement, Bush could make an additional $50,000 if he pitches 210 innings.

Bush has been a rotation mainstay, making at least 31 starts each of the past two years with records of 12-11 and 12-10. This year, though, his ERA increased to 5.12 from 4.41 while he led the team in strikeouts (134).

Bush has a 34-36 career record with a 4.53 ERA in 103 career starts and five relief appearances over four seasons with Milwaukee and Toronto.

The only Brewers player still in arbitration is shortstop J.J. Hardy.

Posted in Brewers | No Comments »

Rios agrees to 1-year, $4.835M deal with Jays

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

Outfielder Alex Rios avoided salary arbitration by agreeing Tuesday to a $4,835,000, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Rios has career highs with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs last season while batting .297. He gets a $3.5 million signing bonus and a salary of $1,335,000. He would make an additional $15,000 if he is selected for the All-Star game. Rios had asked for $5.65 million and the Blue Jays countered at $4,535,000 when the sides exchanged arbitration figures last month. Rios earned $2,535,000 last year.

While the 26-year-old Rios is not eligible for free agency for another three years, Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi has expressed interest in signing him to a multiyear extension. On Jan. 25, Ricciardi said he had held “productive” talks with Rios’ agent about a long-term deal.
A two-time All-Star, Rios was Toronto’s first-round pick in the 1999 amateur draft. He broke into the majors in 2004.

The Blue Jays have not gone to arbitration with any player since Ricciardi became general manager before the 2002 season. The last Blue Jays player to go to arbitration was right-hander Bill Risley in 1997.

Tags:
Posted in Blue Jays | No Comments »

Freddy Sanchez gets 2-year, $11M deal

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

For a player who needed nearly five seasons to get out of the minors, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez’s career is accelerating at a relatively late stage. In only two years, Sanchez has gone from being a utility infielder to an NL batting champion and a two-time All-Star. He was rewarded Tuesday with an $11 million, two-year contract that includes a 2010 option that could make the deal worth $18.4 million. The contract allowed the 2006 NL batting champion to avoid an arbitration hearing. Sanchez, who made $2.75 million last season, sought $4.9 million and the team offered $4.1 million.

The 30-year-old Sanchez didn’t become an everyday player until a month into the 2006 season but went on to win the batting title with a .344 average. It was the highest average by a Pirates regular since Roberto Clemente hit .345 in 1969. Sanchez also drove in 85 runs despite hitting only six homers.

Sanchez is the first Pirates infielder to hit .300 in consecutive seasons since third baseman Bill Madlock in 1982-83, based on a minimum of 450 plate appearances. Sanchez was a third baseman in 2006.

Tags:
Posted in Pirates | No Comments »

Tigers, Granderson agree on 5-year deal

Monday, February 4th, 2008

The Detroit Tigers could have kept Curtis Granderson around for a while, retaining his talents with one-year deals until he became eligible for free agency after the 2011 season. The Tigers, though, don’t just wait around to make moves these days. Granderson and baseball’s busiest team agreed Monday to a $30.25 million, five-year contract that includes a club option for 2013 that could make the deal worth up to $43.25 million.

Granderson had a breakout season last year, hitting .302 with 23 homers and 74 RBIs along with 38 doubles, 23 triples and 26 stolen bases. He led the majors in triples with the highest total since Ty Cobb had one more in 1917. He joined Willie Mays and Frank “Wildfire” Schulte as the only players in major league history with 20 steals, 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 doubles. Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins became a part of the 20-20-20-20 club later in the season
Schulte was the first to accomplish the feat in 1911 while playing for the Chicago Cubs, and Mays did it in 1957 with the New York Giants.

In 373 games with the Tigers, he is hitting .280 with 50 homers, 162 RBIs, 232 runs, 76 doubles and 36 triples.

Granderson gets $1 million this year, $3.5 million in 2009, $5.5 million in 2010, $8.25 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012. The Tigers have a $13 million option for 2013 with a $2 million buyout. Depending on criteria such as All-Star selection and postseason awards, the price of the option could escalate to $15 million.

Tags:
Posted in Tigers | No Comments »

Santana passes physical, finalizes Mets deal

Sunday, February 3rd, 2008

Santana passed his physical Saturday, finalizing the ballyhooed swap that sent him to New York for four prospects: outfielder Carlos Gomez and right-handers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra.

After an offseason of shopping the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, Minnesota considered hanging onto him. Without a new deal, Santana, who will turn 29 next month, could have become a free agent following this year’s World Series. The Twins offered him an $80 million, four-year extension, but he turned it down.

The Mets and Twins announced the trade one day after Santana agreed to a $137.5 million, six-year contract with New York – record riches for a pitcher. With an option for a seventh season, the deal could be worth $157 million. The left-hander gets $19 million this year, $20 million in 2009, $21 million in 2010, $22.5 million in 2011, $24 million in 2012 and $25.5 million in 2013, according to terms obtained by The Associated Press. The Mets have a $25 million option for 2014 with a $5.5 million buyout, and the option could become guaranteed based on Santana’s innings and finish in postseason award voting. Of each year’s salary, including the option season, $5 million will be deferred.

Tags:
Posted in Mets | No Comments »

Padres close to terms with SS Greene

Sunday, February 3rd, 2008

Khalil Greene’s big 2007 season with the San Diego Padres is about to pay off with a nice contract that will allow the shortstop to avoid arbitration. The two sides spoke Saturday and were closing in on a two-year deal worth roughly $11 million, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been finalized. Greene reportedly was going to ask for $4.9 million in arbitration, while the club was expected to offer $4 million.

The soft-spoken Greene was named the team’s 2007 MVP after hitting .254 and setting career highs with 27 homers, 44 doubles and 97 RBIs. He also played in a career-best 153 games after missing time in previous seasons due to injuries. Greene set a club record with a .984 fielding percentage over 690 chances.

Retaining Greene is important since he’s one of the Padres’ few homegrown talents. He was the 13th pick overall in the 2002 draft and made his big league debut on Sept. 3, 2003.

In December, the Padres gave another homegrown player, NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, a $52 million, three-year contract extension. It is the biggest deal in club history.

Tags:
Posted in Padres | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »