[February 13, 2014]
(The Sports Xchange) —
Major League Baseball player notes:
Atlanta Braves:
Freeman, Freddie
1B Freddie Freeman's eight-year contract for $135 million is by
far the largest in Braves history. The contract soars in 2017, when
the Braves move into their new stadium and Freeman could have become
a free agent. Freeman is to receive $20.5 million that year,
followed by $21 million each of the next two seasons and then $22
million in 2020 and 2021. He gets a $2.875 million signing bonus and
$5.125 million contract this year, followed by $8.5 million in 2015
and then $12 million in 2016.
Atlanta Braves: Kimbrel, Craig
RHP Craig Kimbrel is headed to an arbitration hearing Monday in St.
Petersburg, Fla. Kimbrel, the youngest pitcher to record 50 saves,
asked for $9 million, while the Braves countered with $6.55 million — still more than the record for a player in the first year of
arbitration eligibility. Kimbrel, who led or tied for the National
League lead in saves each of his first three full seasons, made
$655,000 in 2013.
Atlanta Braves: Heyward, Jason
RF Jason Heyward, limited to 104 games last season, agreed to a
two-year contract that guarantees him $13.3 million over the 2014
and 2015 seasons. Heyward, who will be eligible for free agency
after the completion of the deal, received a $1 million signing
bonus, $4.5 million in salary for this season and $7.8 million next
year.
Atlanta Braves: Beachy, Brandon
RHP Brandon Beachy was throwing without issue before the start of
spring training and expects to further issues with his surgically
repaired elbow after having a setback in his return from Tommy John
surgery last season. He needed a second procedure last September
after two bouts with inflammation. Beachy made just five starts for
the Braves in 2013.
Atlanta Braves: Garcia, Freddy
RHP Freddy Garcia, who was re-signed to a minor league deal as
rotation insurance, can exercise an out in his contract if not put
on the major league roster by March 25. Garcia, 37, had a 1.65 ERA
in 27 1/3 innings for the Braves last September and made a start in
the playoffs against Los Angeles. If he makes the team, he will have
a salary of $1.25 million plus incentives.
Seattle Mariners: Rodney, Fernando
RHP Fernando Rodney comes to Seattle in line to claim the closer's
job, but he is not the team's only reliever came with experience in
that role. RHP Tom Wilhelmsen thrived in the ninth inning for about
a season and a half before inexplicably falling into a rut over the
second half of last season. RHP Danny Farquhar stepped in for
Wilhelmsen and converted 16 of 20 chances last year. The Mariners
added Rodney for an upgrade at the position, but the 36-year-old
veteran blew eight saves last season, and he easily could be
replaced if he struggles in spring training.
Seattle Mariners: Iwakuma, Hisashi
RHP Hisashi Iwakuma reported to camp Feb. 12 with a finger issue
that might cause him to miss the start of the regular season.
He suffered a strained tendon in his right middle finger during a
Jan. 20 workout. Iwakuma told reporters that he caught the finger in
the netting of a protective screen while training with teammates at
a baseball field in California. The 32-year-old No. 2 starter is
expected to be shut down for three weeks, and he probably won't be
ready to pitch in a game for four to six weeks.
"I want to be ready for the start of the season," Iwakuma said
through an interpreter, according to The Tacoma News Tribune.
"Realistically, I don't know if I can make that happen."
GM Jack Zduriencik said, "Luckily, this does not appear to be a
serious injury."
Free agent: Morales, Kendrys
1B/DH Kendrys Morales possibly could return to Seattle. Morales, who
hit .277 with 23 home runs and 80 RBIs as the Mariners' primary DH
last season, was looking for a long-term deal but doesn't appear to
have the market value he expected heading into free agency. If no
team ends up throwing big bucks his way, Morales could be back in
Seattle — although that appears like a long shot.
Seattle Mariners: Hart, Corey
1B/OF Corey Hart appears the most likely to serve as the Mariners'
primary designated hitter this season, provided his surgically
repaired knees hold up. However, Seattle was still flirting with
former Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz in the week leading up to
spring training, and it is not entirely out of the realm of
possibility that free agent 1B/DH Kendrys Morales could be brought
back.
Seattle Mariners: Wolf, Randy
LHP Randy Wolf was signed to a minor league contract Feb. 11 to give
the Mariners another southpaw option should rookie James Paxton
falter. Wolf is anything but a sure thing — he didn't pitch last
season following Tommy John surgery, and in 2012 he went 3-10 with a
5.69 ERA in 24 starts with Milwaukee. However, Seattle is hoping
that he has a solid spring as veteran Jeremy Bonderman did last
season after coming off major surgery.
Seattle Mariners: Buck, John
C John Buck gives the Mariners a veteran option behind 23-year-old
Mike Zunino. Buck signed a one-year contract in mid-January, and he
will battle Humberto Quintero and Jesus Sucre for the backup job
after hitting .219 with 15 home runs with the Pirates and Mets last
season. The 33-year-old is the latest veteran being brought in on a
team that went through five catchers last season.
Seattle Mariners: Gutierrez, Franklin
OF Franklin Gutierrez is getting one last shot to solidify his place
as a long-term starter at the major league level after signing a
one-year deal with the Mariners in December. Gutierrez has been with
the Mariners since 2009, but the organization refused to pick up his
$7 million option after yet another injury-plagued season last year.
The new deal could save Seattle up to $6 million, and the Mariners
are hoping that Gutierrez can not only stay healthy but also push
for a starting job in center field. He also adds a right-handed bat
to an outfield heavy on lefties.
St. Louis Cardinals: Rosenthal, Trevor
RHP Trevor Rosenthal, who dazzled in the last two postseasons as a
reliever, seems to be warming to the closer role he had at the end
of last season and is expected to have at the start of this season.
Rosenthal aspired to be a starter but he said, "To be the last man
standing is cool."
St. Louis Cardinals: Motte, Jason
RHP Jason Motte will not be throwing with the other pitchers early
in camp. But the Cardinals' former closer, who missed last season
after an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, has been
throwing long-toss with no discomfort. Pitching coach Derek
Lilliquist said he expected that Motte would be ready by late April,
if not by Opening Day.
St. Louis Cardinals: Garcia, Jaime
LHP Jaime Garcia, who had shoulder surgery after winning five games
early last season, is pain-free now. He said he did not regret
trying to pitch through discomfort last year but said, "It was a lot
of pain. During the game. After the game. Pain every single pitch. I
was still trying to find ways to get people out. My stuff was good.
My mechanics were good. ... But it was not fun. Not fun. Not fun
having to go through that."
St. Louis Cardinals: Wong, Kolten
2B Kolten Wong, who hit just .153 in his big-league debut late last
season, said, "That humbled me. That's the biggest thing I can take
out of that. I'm fired up to show I can play at this level. I'm
definitely going to prove everyone wrong. I worked so hard with my
dad this offseason (in Hawaii) that, for me to fail, it's going to
take a lot." The speedy Wong is presumed the leader at second base
but the Cardinals signed veteran INF Mark Ellis as insurance.
St. Louis Cardinals: Taveras, Oscar
OF Oscar Taveras, coming off ankle surgery last summer, is running
extensively for the first time after the injury short-circuited his
2013 season to 46 games at Triple-A Memphis. "It sounds like
everything is moving forward very well," said manager Mike Matheny.
"He's been working hard, doing a lot of short movements, explosive
movements. This should lead him to being ready to go."
Seattle Mariners: Chavez, Endy
OF Endy Chavez was signed to a minor league contract, which is the
same path he took in making the Mariners' roster in 2012. Chavez
could join an already-crowded outfield, and his left-handed bat
joins those of Dustin Ackley and Michael Saunders — two players
competing for a starting role. Chavez's speed and experience make
him a valuable commodity, but it might take an injury to another
player for him to solidify a spot on the 25-man roster coming out of
the spring.
Seattle Mariners: Morrison, Logan
OF/1B Logan Morrison officially signed a one-year deal with the
Mariners in early February after being acquired from Miami for RHP
Carter Capps in a December trade. Morrison reportedly lost more than
20 pounds since the end of last season — from 248 down to 224 — and he told MLB.com that he is as healthy as he has been in years.
Knee problems limited Morrison for much of the past two seasons, but
he appears ready to contribute with a healthy body this year. "I'm
just coming in in the best shape as I can," he told MLB.com earlier
this month. "I don't care where I play, as long as I'm in the
lineup. I want to play every day." Morrison, 26, hit .242 with six
home runs and 36 RBIs in 85 games with the Marlins last season.
1B/DH Jesus Montero opened spring training by apologizing to the
Mariners and their fans for his role in the Biogenesis controversy.
Montero was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball, the
indignity in a lost 2013 season that also included a demotion to
Triple-A, a position change from catcher and a serious knee injury.
This time last year, Montero was vehemently denying any use of
performance-enhancing drugs and seemed genuinely shocked that his
name came up in Biogenesis discussions. On Feb. 12, 2014, the day
pitchers and catchers reported this year, Montero showed up and took
ownership of his actions. "I made a big, bad mistake last year," he
said. "I don't know what I was thinking. I'm here right now, this
new year, to be better and to help my teammates and to help the team
to win. I feel bad for all of my family and all of my teammates for
what I did."
Seattle Mariners: Walker, Taijuan
RHP Taijuan Walker was impressive in his short stint at the
big-league level (1-0, 3.60 ERA, 12 strikeouts in 15 innings over
three starts), and now the organization's top prospect looks ready,
at just 21 years old, to compete for a spot in the Opening Day
rotation.
Seattle Mariners: Romero, Stefen
OF Stefen Romero could be an interesting player to watch this
spring, especially if he duplicates what he did this time last year.
The Mariners' 2012 player of the year, when he was an infielder, hit
.500 in 14 at-bats with a 1.500 OPS in spring training last season
and got off to a hot start against Triple-A pitching early last year
before health issues tapered off his production. With most of
Seattle's top prospects from last season having already been called
up, Romero could be the next hitter to push for a promotion.
Seattle Mariners: Almonte, Abraham
CF Abraham Almonte showed some nice flashes of speed and ability
during a September call-up. However, he needs to show more
consistency and better decision-making in the field to have a
serious chance of making the 2013 Opening Day roster.
Seattle Mariners: Hultzen, Danny
LHP Danny Hultzen (left shoulder surgery in September 2013) doesn't
appear likely to be a part of the Mariners' plans this season.
Shoulder problems limited Hultzen to 35 2/3 innings in the minor
leagues last season.
Seattle Mariners: Pryor, Stephen
RHP Stephen Pryor (right triceps surgery in August 2013) had a torn
lat muscle re-attached. His chances of being in the bullpen anytime
before the All-Star break appear to be slim. Team trainer Rob Nodine
told MLB.com in January that there is no timetable for Pryor's
return, adding that Pryor won't even be able to take the mound to
start throwing until May at the soonest.
Seattle Mariners: Hart, Corey
1B/DH Corey Hart (right knee surgery in January 2013, left knee
surgery in July 2013) told The Tacoma News Tribune in January 2014
that his knees held up through running sessions and that he expects
to be ready for spring training. "It's been progressing," Hart said
of the rehab he underwent after missing the entire 2013 season.
"I've been able to do everything. It's been nice."
Seattle Mariners: Peterson, D.J.
3B D.J. Peterson (broken jaw) has yet to hit against live pitching
since he was injured last August. The Mariners' first-round pick in
last June's draft, Peterson is expected him to be ready to
contribute when spring training begins. Peterson will open at the
team's minor league camp, where he will wear a protective guard in
the batting box.
New York Mets: Valverde, Jose
RHP Jose Valverde reached agreement on a minor league contract with
the Mets on Feb. 12. A former closer for the Tigers, Valverde had 35
saves in 2012 and has 286 for his career. But he was released by the
Tigers last August after posting an 0-1 record with nine saves and a
5.59 ERA in 20 appearances in 2013. According to CBSSports.com,
Valverde's salary for 2014 will be $1 million if he makes the major
league team.
Kansas City Royals: Holland, Greg
RHP Greg Holland reached agreement with the Royals on a one-year,
$4,675,000 contract. The two sides staved off arbitration after
Holland sought $5.2 million and the Royals countered with a $4.1
million offer. The deal includes a $50,000 bonus for making the
All-Star team, The Kansas City Star reported Feb. 12.
Holland, 28, is coming off an impressive 2013 season that included
47 saves and a 1.21 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 67 innings.
Cleveland Indians: Davies, Kyle
RHP Kyle Davies signed a minor league contract with the Indians, and
he received an invitation to spring training with the major league
team. Davies, 30, is attempting a comeback from shoulder surgery
that forced him to miss the 2012 season and pitch in the minor
leagues in the Minnesota Twins' organization last season.
In 12 minor league starts in 2013, Davies had a 4-3 record with a
3.41 ERA.
Before the injury, Davies pitched for the Royals and the Braves. He
has a career major league record of 43-65 with a 5.59 ERA in 144
starts and seven relief appearances.
Detroit Tigers: Paulino, Ronny
C Ronny Paulino was suspended for 100 games by Major League Baseball
on Feb. 12 for violating the drug prevention and treatment program.
It is Paulino's second violation. He was suspended for 50 games in
2010-2011. Currently on the Triple-A roster of the Toledo Mud Hens,
Paulino will sit out once the season begins. He tested positive for
exogenous testosterone. He spent last season with the Orioles' and
Tigers' Triple-A affiliates after spending the previous eight
seasons in the majors with the Pirates, Marlins, Mets and Orioles.
New York Yankees: Jeter, Derek
SS Derek Jeter announced Wednesday on his Facebook page that the
2014 season will be his last in the major leagues. Jeter, who turns
40 in June, will enter his final season with 3,316 hits, which ranks
10th in baseball history, and a career .312 batting average. His
accomplishments include five World Series championships, five Gold
Gloves and the 1996 American League Rookie of the Year Award.
The past year and a half signaled the beginning of the end for
Jeter. A broken ankle suffered in the American League playoffs in
October 2012 was slow to heal, and he played in only 17 games in
2013.
Jeter's departure at the start of 2015 could coincide with the
return 3B Alex Rodriguez from a one-year suspension. The timing of
Jeter's announcement gives the team plenty of advance notice to line
up a replacement at shortstop.
Philadelphia Phillies: Hamels, Cole
LHP Cole Hamels told MLB.com that he is behind schedule because of
left biceps tendinitis. He has yet to throw off a mound but could be
ready not long after Opening Day, he said.
Hamels, 30, previously had shoulder issues in 2006 and 2011 and also
had elbow surgery in 2011. However, he has averaged 213 innings and
32 starts per season since 2008.
In 33 starts last year, Hamels posted an 8-14 record with a 3.60 ERA
in 220 innings. His career record is 99-74 with a 3.38 ERA in eight
seasons with the Phillies.
Philadelphia Phillies: Burnett, A.J.
RHP A.J. Burnett found a new home on the eve of spring training,
agreeing to a one-year, $16 million deal with the Phillies, multiple
media outlets reported Feb. 12.
Burnett, 37, pitched for Pittsburgh the past two seasons, and it was
assumed that he would return to the Pirates or retire. He mulled
stepping away from the game permanently during the winter after the
Pirates did not make him a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer,
but he decided to return for one more season.
Reports indicated that the Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Washington
Nationals were among the bidders for Burnett.
In 30 starts last season for Pittsburgh, Burnett posted a 10-11
record with a 3.30 ERA, 67 walks and 209 strikeouts in 191 innings.
Milwaukee Brewers: Hand, Donovan
RHP Donovan Hand, designated for assignment by the Brewers on Feb.
7, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville on Feb.
12. Hand, 27, went 1-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 31 games (seven starts)
for Milwaukee last year.
Cincinnati Reds: Marshall, Brett
RHP Brett Marshall changed teams for the second time in two months
when he was claimed off waivers by the Reds from the Cubs on Feb.
12. The Cubs claimed him off waivers from the Yankees on Dec. 23.
Marshall, 23, made three relief appearances for New York last year,
finishing with no decisions and a 4.50 ERA. In 25 games, all starts,
for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he went 7-10 with a 5.13 ERA.
Cincinnati Reds: Rodriguez, Henry
INF Henry Rodriguez was designated for assignment by the Reds on
Feb. 12 to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for newly acquired RHP
Brett Marshall. Rodriguez, 24, played nine games for Cincinnati last
year, going 1-for-9 with no RBIs. He spent the bulk of the season
with Triple-A Louisville, hitting .274/.319/.335 with four homers
and 41 RBIs in 126 games.
Atlanta Braves:
Freeman, Freddie
